We are pressing our way to the 25-game mark for most teams, so we are starting to get a gauge of what teams are sticking out the most. We have some teams such as the Warriors and Suns looking like real championship contenders, while others are proving the preseason rankings wrong. Others are hoping for the lottery tomorrow but will have to finish over 50 more games this year.
- Best – Golden State Warriors
- Worst – Detroit Pistons
- Offense – Charlotte Hornets
- Defense – Golden State Warriors
- Entertaining – Chicago Bulls
- Surprising – Washington Wizards
- Disappointing – Los Angeles Lakers
- Best Home Team – Golden State Warriors
- Best Road Team – Phoenix Suns
- Worst Home Team – Detroit Pistons
- Worst Road Team – Houston Rockets
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Since we have enough data to make some decisions, it’s time to look at the best and worst teams, as well as some other statistical categories. These are the best and worst teams per category.
Best – Golden State Warriors
When the Phoenix Suns impressed the league with an 18-game winning streak, it certainly gave the team some reason to be mentioned in this category. With that said, the Warriors are the best team on paper. The team has the third-best scoring offense, top defense, and the best point differential (+13.0) in the league. Steph Curry is competing for a second straight scoring title to lead the team’s 20-4 overall record, which is tied with Phoenix for the best record in the league.
It was the Warriors that defeated the Suns to break their 18-game winning streak last week. The team is doing this all without Klay Thompson, so keep that in mind. Once Thompson comes back, any form of contribution is going to help this team. The experience alone of making five straight NBA Finals and three championships is an upgrade in some capacity.
Runner-Up – Phoenix Suns
Worst – Detroit Pistons
The Pistons expected to be in the cellar of the standings after receiving the No. 1 overall pick last year. Cade Cunningham has been struggling, but he is just 19 years old. Give him some time and he should develop, but the team owns just four wins this year. The Pelicans looked like the worst team in the league, but something has to be said about Zion Williamson’s absence.
With Detroit sinking to the bottom, fans can only hope that Chet Holmgren comes to town. The duo of Cunningham and Holmgren would give fans hope for the future. Killian Hayes is also only 20 years old too. As we get closer to the deadline, we should expect to hear more interest in Jerami Grant getting traded, which could net Detroit another first-round pick.
Runner-Up – Orlando Magic
Offense – Charlotte Hornets
Statistically speaking, the Hornets are the best offense in the league. That’s right. Even with Curry, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading teams, the LaMelo Ball-led Hornets are averaging the best offense with 115.8 points per game. If the Hornets played a little defense, their overall point differential would be higher, but the team is a real playoff contender this year.
A lot of their production has to do with a variance of items. For starters, Ball looks like a borderline All-Star candidate, averaging 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. Miles Bridges is the frontrunner for Most Improved Player of the Year, averaging 20.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. Terry Rozier is averaging 17.7 points, while Gordon Hayward is averaging 17.3 points.
Runner-Up – Utah Jazz (114.0 PPG)
Defense – Golden State Warriors
There is not a single team holding opponents to less than 100 points this season. The Warriors lead the pack by holding teams to 100.6 points per game. The Warriors are holding opposing teams to the second-lowest rebounding total. Another fun fact is that the team is doing this without James Wiseman in the lineup.
Kevon Looney has been solid, to say the least as he owns the ninth-best rebounding percentage, while Otto Porter Jr. is leading the league in overall defensive rating. The player behind him is Curry. Draymond Green could make a bid for Defensive Player of the Year even if he doesn’t win as he continues to defend two different positions on the court.
Runner-Up – Cleveland Cavaliers (102.4 PPG Allowed)
Entertaining – Chicago Bulls
When the Bulls dished out two first-round picks for Nikola Vucevic, the team gave Zach LaVine his first true All-Star teammate. Then, the team lured Lonzo Ball to orchestrate the offense, while executives called the signing of DeMar DeRozan the worst overall move. Instead, the combination of parts has looked spectacular. The big three of LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic have this team thinking about making the NBA Finals.
The surrounding cast is equally fun. Jevontae Green should be considered for the Slam Dunk Contest. Derrick Jones Jr., a former Slam Dunk Contest, should join him. Ayo Dosunumu is playing great defense for a rookie and gets the crowd going with corner threes. And, how can we forget Alex Caruso, who gets MVP chants from the United Center crowd? This team is fun on all levels of basketball.
Runner-Up – Golden State Warriors
Surprising – Washington Wizards
The Wizards were leading the Eastern Conference at one point and are contending for a top half seed in the conference. This comes after the team traded Russell Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double last season. Getting rid of Westbrook was a must, but nobody expected all the traded pieces to fit this well right out of the gate.
Bradley Beal is not being pressed to score 30 points each night, so he can take better shots. Montrezl Harrell is shooting lights out when he shoots and could be the Most Improved Player this year. Kyle Kuzma is potentially the best role player in the league, while Spencer Dinwiddie is proving to be a great signing. The Wizards own a better record than the Lakers, which is who the media pegged as the favorite to win the title when Westbrook came over.
Runner-Up – Chicago Bulls
Disappointing – Los Angeles Lakers
Speaking of the Lakers, the world didn’t expect the team to be 12-12 and the No. 8 seed through the first 24 games of the season. The Lakers were a consensus pick to make the NBA Finals when the team acquired Westbrook in the offseason to make a big three with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Instead, the offense has looked cluttered, while Westbrook is among the league leaders in turnovers.
If the playoffs started today, the Lakers would be in the play-in tournament as the eighth seed. With that said, four through eight seeds could be separated by two games or less. The Lakers were seen as a top team in the conference though, so even having these conversations is a disappointment given the expectations the team had going into the season.
Runner-Up – Philadelphia 76ers
Best Home Team – Golden State Warriors
The Warriors own the best home record in the NBA with a 13-2 mark at the Oracle Arena. If you remember watching the Warriors on television during their five-year Finals run, you could hear the arena make their mark with how loud it can be. Their wins include taking care of business at home against the Clippers, Grizzlies, Thunder, Hornets, Pelicans, Rockets, Hawks, Timberwolves, and Bulls at the beginning of the season. The team opened the year playing nine of their first 12 games at home, including eight straight.
Their other home wins include beating the Raptors, 76ers, Trail Blazers, Orlando, and their epic beatdown of the Suns who were looking to win 19 straight. Their 112-107 loss to the Spurs the next day put a damper on the homestead, but make no mistake. When you play at the Oracle, you have to be ready.
Runner-Up – Phoenix Suns
Best Road Team – Phoenix Suns
The Suns and Bulls have the most road wins this season, but the Suns are 9-2, while the Bulls are 9-4. For now, the Suns get the nod as the best road team. Their road wins this season include the Lakers, Kings, Grizzlies, Rockets, Timberwolves, Spurs, Cavaliers, Knicks, and Nets. During the team’s 18-game winning streak, their second road trip was capped off with a win over Brooklyn. In seven straight road games, Devin Booker has led the team in scoring, including 30 points against the Nets.
The Suns lost their second game on the road at Golden State in a battle of the league’s two best teams. The Warriors are 7-2 on the road this season, so once some of these teams start playing more road games, we will have a better gauge. With that said, the Suns showed they could win on the road and that effort has carried over into this season.
Runner-Up: Chicago Bulls
Worst Home Team – Detroit Pistons
The Pistons expected to be in the cellar of the standings after receiving the No. 1 overall pick last year. Cade Cunningham has been struggling, but he is just 19 years old. Give him some time and he should develop, but the team owns just four wins this year. The Pelicans looked like the worst team in the league, but something has to be said about Zion Williamson’s absence.
With Detroit sinking to the bottom, fans can only hope that Chet Holmgren comes to town. The duo of Cunningham and Holmgren would give fans hope for the future. Killian Hayes is also only 20 years old too. As we get closer to the deadline, we should expect to hear more interest in Jerami Grant getting traded, which could net Detroit another first-round pick.
Runner-Up: Orlando Magic
Worst Road Team – Houston Rockets
As bad as the Rockets were projected this season, the team is 6-5 at home. When the team starts to travel, that is when it starts to get messy. When the Rockets are on the road, they have compiled a 1-11 record, which is barely better than the Trail Blazers, who are 1-10 on the season away from home.
The Rockets own a 15-game losing streak this season, which featured road losses at the Lakers twice, Suns, Nuggets, and Warriors. After two home losses, they then lost to the Thunder, Knicks, and Celtics before breaking their losing streak against the Bulls at home. Now, the team is on a six-game winning streak, which includes their one road win at OKC.
Runner-Up – Portland Trail Blazers
