1
Celtics
Third in offense. Fourth in protection. First in web ranking. Best document. The Celtics have been the league’s premier staff earlier than the All-Star break. Jayson Tatum has been the important thing, and ought to be mentioned extra prominently in MVP conversations. The Celtics’ web ranking improves by an unbelievable 11.4 factors per 100 possessions when Tatum is on the ground, largely because of his career-best 30.6 factors per recreation and .608 true taking pictures share. Jaylen Brown is the perfect No. 2 subsequent to Tatum, whereas Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White have offered precisely what they want. This is a deep, proficient staff that has positioned itself to doubtlessly have home-court benefit all through the postseason.
1
42-17
2
Nuggets
Denver has been one of many three greatest groups within the league all season thanks to a different MVP-caliber marketing campaign from Nikola Jokic, a return to pre-injury kind by Jamal Murray and a breakout efficiency from Aaron Gordon on each ends of the ground. They have the league’s greatest offense and the third-best web ranking, making the Nuggets the category of the Western Conference with a large lead heading into the house stretch.
3
41-18
3
Bucks
The Bucks are sixth within the NBA in web ranking, however have the league’s second-best document because of an unreal 22-6 efficiency in clutch video games — and that is principally with out Khris Middleton, who is usually their go-to scorer in such conditions. Give credit score to the league’s second-ranked protection, led by Jrue Holiday on the perimeter and Brook Lopez within the center, mixed with one other famous person marketing campaign from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s averaging a career-high 31.8 factors to go together with 12.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
2
41-17
4
76ers
The 76ers shook off a tough begin to go 26-7 of their final 33 video games, the league’s greatest document throughout that stretch. They’ve been dominant on each ends with Joel Embiid and James Harden on the ground, whereas Embiid is as soon as once more in MVP rivalry with averages of 33 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists per recreation on 54 % taking pictures. Harden is placing up 21.4 factors and a league-leading 10.8 assists per recreation on 39 % 3-point taking pictures, his greatest mark since his ultimate 12 months with the Thunder in 2012.
—
38-19
5
Cavaliers
Led by twin towers Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the Cavs have the league’s greatest protection — however that was not less than considerably anticipated. The offense has been robust too, nevertheless, behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, making the Cavs considered one of simply three NBA groups to land within the prime 10 in each offensive and defensive effectivity (the others are Boston and Philadelphia). Cleveland has the league’s second-best web ranking, which traditionally profiles them as a real title contender.
2
38-23
6
Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have been battling Denver for the highest spot within the West earlier than a 4-9 hiccup getting into the All-Star break. Memphis has been unbelievable with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane on the ground, boasting a plus-15 web ranking in 30 video games, whereas the Grizzlies have held opponents to a frugal 103 factors per 100 possessions with All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. on the courtroom.
1
35-22
7
Kings
Third within the West on the break is just about best-case situation for the Kings, who’ve exploded for the league’s second-best offense behind All-Stars Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. Sacramento has an absurd offensive ranking of 132.4 in clutch conditions, greatest within the league, thanks largely to unbelievable work from Fox. The Twenty second-ranked protection has been the problem all season lengthy, however they’re nonetheless in robust place to interrupt their 17-season playoff drought.
1
32-25
8
Knicks
Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have carried the league’s seventh-ranked offense, whereas the protection has remained regular at fifteenth. Brunson is near 50/40/90 splits and Randle is averaging a career-high in factors and rebounds. The addition of Josh Hart may assist remedy among the Knicks’ second-unit woes they skilled earlier than the All-Star break.
1
33-27
9
Clippers
Same outdated story for the Clippers: Great when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are on the courtroom, however they’re simply not often on the courtroom. A wholesome stretch from their two-way wing duo has led to an increase within the standings, whereas Norm Powell is popping in a possible Sixth Man of the Year season with 17 factors per recreation on 42 % 3-point taking pictures. The Clippers’ Twenty first-ranked offense rises from 112.6 factors per 100 possessions to 121.8 with Leonard and George on the ground collectively, so there’s ample hope for the stretch run and postseason.
3
33-28
10
Nets
Welp, this one’s a little bit tough to gauge. If we’re rating their total pre-break season, the Nets have been top-of-the-line within the league — going 18-2 over a stretch from late November to early January. That staff now not exists, nevertheless, so we’ll should see how the gathering of strong position gamers with no clear star coalesces in the course of the ultimate 24 video games.
4
34-24
11
Suns
Given the harm points they’ve confronted, the Suns should be comfortable to be sitting at fifth within the crowded West with a supernova like Kevin Durant set to enter the fold a while after the break. Their eighth-ranked protection may take a slide with the departure of Mikal Bridges, however Durant’s arrival ought to catapult the offense from its present place at 18th. Devin Booker has been his traditional, wonderful self when on the courtroom, and the Suns have gone 21-12 when he performs.
3
32-28
12
Pelicans
New Orleans regarded like a sneaky title contender to begin the season earlier than accidents took their toll. The Pelicans should nonetheless be assured, nevertheless, as they’ve boasted a ridiculous plus-16.5 web ranking with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on the ground collectively in 10 video games this season. Williamson has been merely unstoppable when wholesome, placing up 26 factors, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists per recreation on 61 (!) % taking pictures.
4
30-29
13
Mavericks
The Mavericks have been middling round .500 and Luka Doncic was reportedly asking for a change — and a change he did obtain. The early returns for the Doncic-Kyrie Irving pairing have been as dynamic as anticipated, however there are many questions surrounding them, not the least of which is protection.
2
31-29
14
Heat
Miami has skilled its traditional injury-related absences all through the season, however they’ve gutted it out to get inside placing distance of a center seed within the East playoffs regardless of struggling by way of the league’s fifth-worst offense. Erik Spoelstra’s fifth-ranked protection is the rationale they have been aggressive, with 41 of their 59 video games qualifying as “clutch” (inside 5 factors with 5 minutes remaining). Bam Adebayo has been a star on each ends, averaging a career-high 21.6 factors on 54 % taking pictures.
4
32-27
15
Timberwolves
A gradual begin was exacerbated by a major harm to Karl-Anthony Towns, however the Wolves have persevered because of a leap from Anthony Edwards, who has averaged 27 factors, six rebounds and 4.5 assists over his final 30 video games whereas incomes his first All-Star nod. Rudy Gobert has made the anticipated defensive affect, because the Wolves enable 6.2 fewer factors per 100 possessions with him on the ground — however the offense has been considerably worse throughout these minutes.
—
31-30
16
Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has formally made the leap to famous person standing, serving to to propel OKC right into a respectable playoff contender. Josh Giddey and rookie Jalen Williams have turned in wonderful campaigns and appear to be true constructing blocks round SGA. The Thunder are thirteenth in offense and eleventh in protection, giving them a top-10 web ranking within the league. They ought to most likely have a greater document, however they’ve struggled in clutch video games this season at 13-20.
2
28-29
17
Warriors
Defense has been the principle offender for the defending champs’ constantly mediocre marketing campaign, as they’ve fallen from second final season to twentieth. They’ve additionally been uncharacteristically dangerous in late-game conditions, blowing a number of fourth quarter leads. Steph Curry and Draymond Green are each having wonderful seasons, whereas Klay Thompson has averaged 26 factors on 42 % 3-point taking pictures since Christmas. The protection and talent to shut video games simply have not been there.
—
29-29
18
Raptors
Overall it has been a disappointing season for the Raptors, who elected to carry onto their key items on the commerce deadline moderately than promoting them off for a possible rebuild. The protection has slipped from ninth within the league final season to seventeenth, which largely accounts for his or her drop within the standings. Pascal Siakam turned in a superb pre-break marketing campaign, incomes an All-Star choice with 25.2 factors, 7.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists per recreation on 48 % taking pictures.
2
28-31
19
Jazz
Though they’ve steadily dropped within the standings since a sizzling begin, the Jazz have lots to be happy with after being projected as one of many worst groups within the NBA this season. Lauri Markkanen has been a revelation, changing into a real No. 1 choice whereas boasting ridiculous 51/41/88 taking pictures splits.
—
29-31
20
Wizards
After a tough stretch to start December, the Wizards have gone 17-10 of their final 27 video games with the league’s eight-best offense and Twelfth-best protection over that stretch. Lineups with Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma have been wonderful, although they’ve solely performed 27 video games collectively because of harm. Porzingis has been stingy within the paint defensively, permitting the fewest factors per possession on the rim for any participant with not less than 150 such possessions, per Synergy Sports.
1
28-30
21
Hawks
Despite a powerful efficiency from prime offseason addition Dejounte Murray, the Hawks merely have not been in a position to put issues collectively to this point. Trae Young is having the worst taking pictures season since he was a rookie, however Atlanta remains to be superb offensively with him on the ground. Overall the offense has fallen from second final season to sixteenth, whereas the protection has remained within the backside 10.
8
29-30
22
Trail Blazers
Offseason defensive reinforcements have not helped, because the Blazers sit fourth-worst within the NBA on that finish. No complaints concerning the offense, which has carried out brilliantly behind a career-best 31.4 factors per recreation from Damian Lillard and 20-plus factors per recreation from each Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant. Good offense and dangerous protection normally spells a .500 staff, and that is what Portland has been.
1
28-30
23
Lakers
LeBron James has been nice. Anthony Davis has been harm. Russell Westbrook was a distraction. Things have mainly gone as we anticipated for the Lakers, who hope {that a} flurry of commerce deadline acquisitions will assist proper the ship within the ultimate stretch. What they have been, nevertheless, is barely lower than mediocre — twentieth in offense, 18th in protection, twenty fourth in web ranking.
1
27-32
24
Bulls
Welcome to Bizarro Land, the place the Bulls have a top-10 protection and a bottom-10 offense. It does not make a complete lot of sense, however the offensive struggles stem from a infamous lack of 3-point taking pictures — they rank lifeless final within the league with 10.3 makes and 28.8 makes an attempt per recreation. Lineups that includes Chicago’s three greatest offensive gamers, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, have generated 111.3 factors per 100 possessions, the equal of the fifth-worst offense within the NBA. Not good.
2
26-33
25
Pacers
A tough skid of late hasn’t soured the hope sparked by a surprisingly robust begin to the season by the Pacers behind first-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton. With him, rookie Bennedict Mathurin and newly prolonged large man Myles Turner, Indiana has an thrilling younger core to construct round.
1
26-34
26
Magic
Something clicked for Orlando a pair months into the season, because the Magic have gone 19-15 since Dec. 7 with the league’s eighth-best protection over that stretch. Paolo Banchero has proven why he was the highest decide along with his scoring and playmaking, whereas Franz Wagner has made the second-year leap, enhancing his numbers and effectivity throughout the board. In what may have simply been a misplaced tank season, Jamahl Mosley and his workers deserve a ton of credit score for constructing progress with their younger group.
1
24-35
27
Hornets
LaMelo Ball has been the lone vivid spot this season for the Hornets, who’ve battled accidents en path to one of many league’s worst information. It was an attention-grabbing determination to not half methods with a few of their vets (Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Kelly Oubre) on the deadline, maybe a sign that they hope for a fast return to playoff rivalry subsequent season with assistance from a prime draft alternative.
2
17-43
28
Pistons
The Pistons have expectedly struggled with Cade Cunningham enjoying simply 12 video games this season earlier than being shut down. Jaden Ivey has been dynamic however inefficient, as many high-usage rookie guards are, whereas Jalen Duren has been a pleasing shock, contributing 12.4 factors, 12.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per 36 minutes because the youngest participant within the NBA.
1
15-44
29
Rockets
It’s been tough for the Rockets, who’ve the league’s worst document and are lifeless final in offensive effectivity. Jalen Green has elevated his scoring, however has been dreadful from the sector, as have Kevin Porter Jr. and rookie Jabari Smith Jr. They’ve discovered a bit extra success operating the offense by way of intriguing large man Alperen Sengun, with the offense enhancing by 8.6 factors per 100 possessions with him on the ground.
1
13-45
30
Spurs
The Spurs have received two video games in 2023 … sure, you learn that appropriately. They even have the league’s worst web ranking, by far, at minus-10.1. It’s by design, in fact, to attempt to get extra ping pong balls, nevertheless it hasn’t been fairly of late. On the plus aspect, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson appear to be severe items transferring ahead, and rookie Jeremy Sochan has proven intriguing flashes.
—
14-45
