The NBA 2022-23 has seen most teams play enough games so far, making it a considerable sample size to predict where they rank around halfway through the season. Starting with the Eastern Conference standings, it is obvious that the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are the two best teams, with the likes of the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Cleveland Cavaliers creeping up behind them.
In the Western Conference, the two best teams all year long have been the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, who are making the case that they want to win it all. Of course, there are always the dark horse factors of the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers if they ever get healthy. While we know the top teams, there have also been a ton of disappointments.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been disappointing yet again, while the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors have been well below their usual levels. In the East, the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat have struggled far more than anyone thought they would, and both teams could be looking to make moves before the trade deadline. Without further ado, here’s where the teams and their competition stand as we separate them into tiers.
The Best Team Right Now
Boston Celtics
The Celtics’ season has been about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown because the two stars are All-Stars with elite scoring abilities. But Tatum has to receive the bulk of the credit as a top-3 MVP candidate. Jayson is posting 31.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 4.3 APG while shooting 46.8% from the field, 35.1% from three, and 87.1% from the line. Tatum is becoming a superstar before our very eyes if he hasn’t reached that level already. Jaylen is doing his thing also, averaging 26.9 PPG and 7.1 RPG as the second-best player on the team and possibly the closer.
The Celtics have held it together following the Ime Udoka situation, and that means coach Joe Mazzulla could be in the running for Coach of the Year. So far, it seems like the Celtics are the favorites to make the NBA Finals again, although the Milwaukee Bucks are hot on their trails. The loss to the Golden State Warriors last year is weighing hard on the Celtics, and instead of sulking, they are playing championship-level basketball all year.
Championship Contenders
Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets
Nobody will be shocked if the Milwaukee Bucks make the Finals again, as they currently hold the 2nd best record in the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo might be the best player in the league, considering his two-way dominance, and the Bucks will go as he goes. So far, the 2-time MVP is playing at an elite level by putting up 31.3 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 5.2 APG. Other than Giannis, the Bucks are a great team on both ends of the floor and will likely turn it on after the All-Star break even more. Khris Middleton is absolutely key, so hopefully, the Bucks will wait on him to come back strong soon.
The Denver Nuggets are also in the mix, with MVP favorite Nikola Jokic doing magical things for them. The two-time reigning MVP is once again putting up monster numbers, 25.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 9.9 APG, as he continues to guide the Denver Nuggets to the best seed in the West while coming close to posting a triple-double. If Murray and Porter Jr are playing well and stay healthy, Denver is a legitimate title contender and the best team in the West all year, ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis are a legitimate title contender, even if they are young. Memphis has been scorching hot over the year and a half, blitzing teams with pace and athleticism. Ja Morant is at the core of it, a superstar point guard that brings athleticism and offense every night. A deserved All-Star starter, Morant is putting up 27.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 7.9 APG for the Grizzlies so far this season. Other than Morant, the team is built to be a contender with a host of solid role players, including Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Steven Adams.
Cleveland made a massive move to bring in Donovan Mitchell, who is an MVP candidate and one of the top-ten players in the world right now. Obviously, his 71-point game shocked the NBA world, and he did it in a winning effort as well. Darius Garland deserves to be an All-Star again by averaging 21.7 PPG, 8.1 APG and has been exceptional alongside Mitchell. The duo has been exceptional together, and they are bolstered by the presence of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love, and Isaac Okoro. Nobody thought Cleveland would be title contenders so soon, but they are coming as they are 5th in the East with 2.0 games behind the second seed.
Joel Embiid is one of the top-five talents in the world, and that is enough to take the Philadelphia 76ers to legitimate contending status. The 76ers are supposed to be one of the top-3 seeds in the East because their big man is putting up 33.6 PPG and 9.8 RPG this season, elite numbers from an elite player. The 76ers need to stay healthy, something we have been saying for years because anything can happen if they do end up with a top-3 seed in the East. Currently, they are second with a 30-16 record and James Harden is having another All-Star season posting 21.5 PPG and 11.2 APG as the sidekick to Embiid. For the first time, the Philadelphia 76ers have a reliable 3rd option in Tyrese Maxey, who is averaging 21.1 PPG, 3 RPG, and 3.8 APG, which will make him a very important factor in the playoffs.
Finally, nobody thought the Brooklyn Nets would get it together after all that off-season drama. But they have, and credit to, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for being superstars all year long. Durant has been exceptional, as he has posted 29.7 PPG, although he has been sidelined with a knee injury. Kyrie has helped pick up the slack as much as he could, averaging 26.7 PPG and keeping the Nets within striking distance of the top seeds wat 4th place so far.
Playoff Teams
Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns
The Sacramento Kings are finally a playoff team for the first time since 2006. The Kings have been balling all year long thanks to a breakout season from De’Aaron Fox and the All-Star presence of Domantas Sabonis. The Kings are surprisingly third in the West with a 26-19 record, and the duo of Fox and Sabonis is good enough to keep them there this season. With so much inconsistency in the West, the Kings have to keep their foot on the pedal.
Atlanta added Dejounte Murray, but they aren’t expected to do too much because the roster still needs work. The Hawks just need to find more shooters because only De’Andre Hunter can make shots consistently from the perimeter when receiving passes from the All-Star guards, and John Collins has been in trade rumors all year long. The Hawks will be a playoff team, but not a single contender fears them on either end of the floor.
Miami has picked up their season finally, hovering above .500 and holding the 6th seed in the East. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro are All-Star-level talents, but they need to add another big name to revamp their attack. Miami is never an easy team to beat, and they don’t care what seed they have, as they will attack each opponent the same way. Watch out because the Heat can sneak into the Eastern Conference Finals again, even if they wait until the offseason to make blockbuster moves.
Luka Doncic is the best offensive player in the world right now. That is mainly what Mavericks fans have to be excited about because the young man is simply a dominant offensive player. As he approaches his prime over the next few years, it will be exciting to see what he does for a Mavericks team that continues to make the playoffs. Dallas needs to find another star to pair with Luka because it is hard to see the team winning it all just yet, despite the Slovenian posting 33.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 8.7 APG.
The New Orleans Pelicans’ entire season lies in the hands of superstar Zion Williamson. One of the most dominant players in the league when healthy, Zion has posted 26.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 4.6 APG while shooting 60.8% from the field. Not to mention, the team is filled with solid sidekicks, including Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, under a great head coach in Willy Green. If Zion returns to full health, nobody will be happy to see the energetic Pelicans.
The Clippers have been a major disappointment and have been since Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George got together. Why can’t they stay healthy? They must be suffering severe injuries because it is abnormal how often both have been absent. The Clippers roster has enough depth to hold a playoff seed, but without chemistry, Los Angeles will fall in the playoffs and waste what could be an all-time great team. To make it clear, don’t expect Los Angeles to blow it up either because the franchise seems patient.
Could this be the final year for Chris Paul and crew? The Suns have dropped in the rankings, sitting 7th in the Western Conference. Chris Paul and Devin Booker have been a dynamic duo, and Deandre Ayton was supposed to be the dominant center alongside them. No doubt, there is drama underneath the Suns’ organization, and Chris Paul’s leadership has kept this team afloat for long enough. Phoenix has time to pull it together because we have not reached the All-Star break yet, but the Suns could be pulling the trigger on an Ayton trade. The big man is unhappy, unmotivated, and could have a major problem with head coach Monty Williams. It is a shame that this core could be breaking up soon.
Play-In Teams
Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors
The Los Angeles Lakers are yet again the most disappointing team in the NBA because a trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook should be one of the top-3 seeds in the West. Instead, the Lakers are at risk of missing the playoffs yet again as they sit under .500. Rui Hachimura is a nice addition, but the team needs to give LeBron James another All-Star if they want to win a championship. Expect Russell Westbrook to continue to be shopped because the Lakers might have momentum after their most recent trade.
Minnesota looks good one day, then awful the next. That could be a sign that the team is learning how to win because Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are a heck of a duo, and Rudy Gobert has built a reputation as a dominant defensive player with the Jazz. As long as Towns continues to be an All-Star and commits to the Timberwolves long-term, the franchise should be in good hands moving forward. But Towns could be sick of being average with Minnesota, and Gobert hasn’t proved to be a difference-maker.
The Jazz is playing well, considering they traded their two All-Star players, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Ever since getting rid of Mitchell and Gobert, the team is playing inspired basketball, with the young guys doing well. Lauri Markkanen is balling out of his mind, posting 24.8 PPG and 8.7 RPG on 52.0% from the field and 42.7% from three. Utah will fight for the play-in tournament because why wouldn’t they? Hopefully, they can make it because it is a positive story if they do.
We should have enjoyed the Knicks’ surge in 2021 because they look like a shell of themselves since then. Jalen Brunson has played well (19.5 PPG and 6.8 APG) and has proven to be a great pickup by the Knicks franchise. RJ Barrett is still trying to piece his game together, Julius Randle has his ups and downs, and the rest of the roster is average. Nobody is afraid of the Knicks because even if they do end up sneaking into the playoffs, a first-round exit is written.
The Chicago Bulls have proven to be one of the most inconsistent teams in the East this season. The injury to Lonzo Ball hurts, and the duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine has been decent but unexceptional so far this year. It might be time for Chicago to blow it up because dwelling as a play-in team despite having two All-Star talents is a waste of time and talent. Expect the Bulls to be major sellers before the trade deadline, or at least by next season.
Indiana is in a good place right now because they have moved on from Domantas Sabonis and are looking to focus their rebuild on Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin. Both players are considered untouchable right now, but they need to make moves and start getting rid of win-now players (Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, for example). The Pacers have played pretty well to start the season, but expect them to drop to the lottery as the weeks and months go by, especially if they do trade Turner and Hield.
Golden State is unbelievably in a play-in spot despite winning the NBA championship last year. The problems are evident: Draymond Green is likely done as a Warriors player, and the rest of the roster needs tweaking. The Warriors will likely keep Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole untouchable, but adding size or possibly another All-Star could catapult this team to contending status. This season could be a case of championship hangover because it took a lot out of the team to win it last year, as Curry believes the team should stay intact, more or less.
Play-In Contenders
Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors
Portland is not doing well and has dropped out of the play-in spot. But as long as Damian Lillard is on the team, Portland will be fighting for the playoffs because the point guard is still a superstar on the offensive end. Lillard has come out and spoken about his team’s struggles, but he remains the same hopeful star that the front office will continue to build around him. So far, the Trail Blazers will be lucky to make the play-in tournament.
To start the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to be happy to tank. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a baller and will be an All-Star this year, and there could be an All-Star player in Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren as well down the line. With their incredible collection of first-round picks at their disposal, the Thunder could be a force with their draft decisions in the future. But currently, the players are doing better than we thought and will compete for the play-in spot.
Washington might be wholesalers because they just traded Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. The Lakers won this trade, and the Wizards might be stuck in a rock and a hard place with their talent right now. Bradley Beal is a baller, and Kristaps Porzingis might be returning very soon. The Wizards could be in the mix for a play-in spot, and that might not be the best idea for them.
Toronto will fight for the play-in tournament, and the Raptors are not a great team in terms of being playoff contenders. Scottie Barnes hasn’t hit the ground running just yet (15.6 PPG and 7.1 RPG), and everyone else seems to be wavering so far. Toronto seems to be a franchise that works best when making a risky blockbuster move because they are a squad with second and third options without a true superstar.
Lottery Time
Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets
Detroit has some nice young pieces in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, but the team does not play well on the floor just yet. They are pushovers in the league this season because they rank 25th in scoring, 26th in assists, and 27th in field-goal percentage. The Pistons are simply a bad team as things stand, and that is reflected by their 12-37 record.
The Houston Rockets are the worst team in the league by far in terms of all-around talent and style of play. They do have some bright spots in youngster Jalen Green (21.7) and Kevin Porter Jr (19.2 PPG), but they have not found a way to compete at a high level just yet. This team needs a lot of work, but luckily, Victor Wenbenyama is getting drafted next season, and James Harden could be returning if the reports are true.
Orlando is awaiting the full return of Jonathan Isaac, as that could help bring this team to respectability. Paolo Banchero will likely win Rookie of the Year because he is posting 20.7 PPG and 6.5 RPG and has looked like the most NBA-ready player in the NBA for a rookie. At 18-29, the Magic are in the lottery and are glad to be because they want another young star to build around the 20-year-old Banchero.
The Spurs want Victor Wenbenyama because he can be the next Tim Duncan. Based on what we have heard from scouts, he can possibly usurp what Duncan has done as an individual talent. San Antonio is dumping their best players for picks and young players, and the Dejounte Murray trade was evidence of that. At 14-32, the Spurs are no good, but they are happy with that.
The Charlotte Hornets are not supposed to be in the lottery, but they are because LaMelo Ball has only played 22 games so far this season, and Miles Bridges has been dealing with off-court issues. The Hornets have been atrocious all year, and with a 13-34 record in the East, they might as well continue losing to possibly acquire another young prospect to pair with LaMelo Ball. Hopefully, Ball and company can bring back excitement to the city of Charlotte because it has been a while since Chris Paul was running things as an MVP candidate.
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