The NBA’s Regular Season Midterm Grades
With the NBA’s regular season just past its halfway point, it’s the perfect time to hand out midterm grades to all 30 teams. These grades, based on performance to date, are strongly influenced by a team’s expectations entering the season.
For context, we’ve included ESPN BET’s projected over/under win total for each team from the preseason alongside the current projection provided by ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, which incorporates win-loss record and accounts for injuries.
Beyond wins and losses, we’re also considering how well teams are executing their goals, including developing young talent and securing lottery positioning. Generally speaking, a “B” grade means a team has met expectations thus far, meaning overperformance is required to get an A.
Here are some of the standout teams from each grade range:
A Grades
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: boasting the NBA’s best record and potential All-Stars in Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley.
2. Detroit Pistons: surging in the standings behind the development of Cade Cunningham.
3. Houston Rockets: overachieving with a young roster and strong performance from Jalen Green.
4. LA Clippers: exceeding expectations with strong defense and key contributions from Kawhi Leonard.
5. Memphis Grizzlies: thriving despite injury challenges and impressive performances from Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder: surprising everyone with impressive wins and a MVP-worthy performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
7. Denver Nuggets: making a strong comeback in the West behind the chemistry of Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic.
B Grades
1. San Antonio Spurs: showing progress under Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul but struggling with defensive consistency.
2. Atlanta Hawks: excelling beyond expectations with standout performances from Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson.
3. Brooklyn Nets: seeing ups and downs but aiming for a top-10 draft pick.
4. New York Knicks: benefiting from strong play by Karl-Anthony Towns and aiming to improve defensively.
5. Orlando Magic: staying competitive despite shooting struggles and striving for better 3-point performance.
6. Dallas Mavericks: facing challenges with injuries but focused on staying healthy.
7. Boston Celtics: maintaining a strong point differential but aiming for better consistency.
8. Indiana Pacers: gradually improving and focusing on offensive pace and efficiency.
9. Sacramento Kings: undergoing coaching changes and looking to secure a playoff spot.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves: aiming for better results in close games to secure a higher seed in the West.
C Grades
1. Los Angeles Lakers: facing challenges despite health and talent, focusing on defensive improvement.
2. Miami Heat: fighting for a playoff spot and dealing with issues around Jimmy Butler.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: making progress with young talent but struggling with point differentials.
4. Charlotte Hornets: improving defensively under Charles Lee but facing offensive challenges.
5. Chicago Bulls: aiming for a play-in spot while managing a top-10 protected pick.
6. Toronto Raptors: looking to improve young talent performance and secure a top pick in the draft.
7. Washington Wizards: focusing on player development and aiming to avoid the most losses in league history.
8. Golden State Warriors: facing challenges with 3-point shooting and transition defense.
9. Milwaukee Bucks: relying on strong defense but aiming for better offensive performance.
10. Utah Jazz: focusing on continued improvement from young players and positioning for the draft lottery.
D Grades
1. New Orleans Pelicans: facing injuries and challenges, aiming for lottery positioning and potential trades.
2. Phoenix Suns: struggling to secure a playoff spot despite high expectations and salary investments, looking towards potential trades to boost performance.
F Grade
1. Philadelphia 76ers: battling injuries and underperformance, looking to improve and possibly secure a playoff spot.