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  • Flop that could trigger huge trade; ‘championsh or bust’ team: NBA playoffs pressure gauge

    Flop that could trigger huge trade; ‘championsh or bust’ team: NBA playoffs pressure gauge

    The NBA’s play-in tournament is here, with the possibility that one of the league’s superstars in LeBron James and Steph Curry could not feature in the playoffs.

    But before eight teams from the Eastern and Western Conference try to keep their championship hopes alive, foxsports.com.au has assessed just how much pressure every franchise is under heading into the postseason.

    Factoring in expectations, recent playoffs success and failure along with the state of their salary cap and impending contract calls, each team was rated from 1 to 10.

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    EASTERN CONFERENCE

    1. Boston Celtics — 10/10

    It seems like the majority of people have locked in the Celtics for the Finals, such is both their dominance in the regular season and the sorry state of the rest of the Eastern Conference. But there still are a few sceptics, wary of backing Boston in too strongly considering what has happened the past few years. Namely, blowing a 2-1 lead against the Warriors in the 2022 Finals and then falling to the Jimmy Butler-led Heat in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. This is a different Boston team with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis while someone like Derrick White has been a genuine difference-maker at stages this season. It makes it that much harder for teams to game plan around simply getting the ball out of either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown’s hands. It makes the Celtics, who finished the season No.1 in offensive rating and No.2 in defensive rating a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut. But that is exactly the reason why there is so much pressure to go all the way this time around. How Tatum performs in particular will help answer whether the supermax he is poised to sign this summer, which could be worth over $300 million, is worth it.

    The Celtics need to make the Finals. Sean Gardner/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    2. New York Knicks — 4/10

    The injury to Julius Randle was a gut punch that makes it hard to envision them going all the way to the Finals, although the Knicks have been the kind of team all season that doesn’t go down without a fight so it isn’t out of the question. Still, unlike previous years, there doesn’t seem to be the same level of expectation heading into the playoffs for New York, potentially because when healthy this team has proved it is capable of pushing any team in the NBA. It eases the pressure on the Knicks to go big-name hunting this summer too, given it is realistic that they could run it back with the same group and hope for more injury luck, otherwise Randle, Bojan Bogdanovich and Mitchell Robinson are the kind of pieces who could be central to a potential trade.

    3. Milwaukee Bucks — 9/10

    Fortunately for the Bucks, they were able to agree to a three-year, $186 million contract extension with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the start of the season. If he hadn’t, you can just imagine how much pressure would be on Milwaukee heading into the playoffs. Still the pressure is on the Bucks to get to the Eastern Conference Finals given the starpower in their roster, headlined by Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. If not, it is likely most of the blame will fall on coach Doc Rivers, who has struggled to generate any real consistent play since taking over Adrian Griffin while it seems like he is coming under scrutiny after every press conference for dodging self-accountability in some fashion. Lillard too is under pressure to perform after being traded to Milwaukee with the hope of finally being in a position to compete for a title. The Bucks are built to win right now but with an aging roster, who knows how much longer they will be in this position, even with Antetokounmpo’s future settled.

    Doc Rivers is under pressure. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    4. Cleveland Cavaliers — 9/10

    Things have not been pretty since the All-Star break and entering the playoffs off a game where you were booed by your own fans isn’t exactly ideal. But that is exactly what happened after Cleveland, resting Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Caris LeVert, lost to Charlotte.

    With it, the Cavs avoided a potential first-round match-up with the No.7 seed Philadelphia but now find themselves on the same side of the playoffs brackets as the Celtics. Given how the regular season finished, it is hard to see Cleveland going far in the playoffs. That is a problem given Mitchell is set to enter the final guaranteed year of his current contract next season should the Cavs not secure a contract extension for him this summer. NBA insider Marc Stein reported this month that there is a “growing belief among rival teams” that Cleveland will be “forced to trade” their superstar guard if the franchise cannot come to terms on an extension. It comes after a report from Joe Vardon of The Athletic in February on the “deep, psychological effect” Cleveland’s first-round exit against the Knicks last playoffs had on the team, adding “Mitchell’s decision on a contract extension likely [is] tied to how good he thinks the Cavs can be”. A repeat of last year’s swift playoffs failure could see Mitchell turn his attention elsewhere and could put the spotlight on coach J.B. Bickerstaff too.

    5. Orlando Magic — 1/10

    Sure, you never want to take for granted being in the playoffs. But the Magic have a bright future and this is only the start. Regardless of how far Orlando goes, this season was a big success and unless the Magic collapse dramatically in the postseason, there won’t be any real pressure heading into the summer.

    6. Indiana Pacers — 2/10

    Another team that is young and ahead of schedule. Indiana has had Milwaukee’s number this season, so it wouldn’t be a shock for the Pacers to push — and potentially eliminate — the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs. But even if they don’t, a solid enough showing where they don’t get swept should be enough to consolidate what has been a positive season for a Pacers team that booked its first trip to the postseason in four years, led by Tyrese Haliburton.

    7. Philadelphia 76ers — 6/10

    An Eastern Conference Finals appearance has eluded Philadelphia for some time now, with the Sixers qualifying for the playoffs for six straight years without ever making it past the semifinals. With that in mind, there is always going to be some level of pressure on the 76ers and specifically reigning MVP Joel Embiid to prove they are genuine contenders. However, Philadelphia’s decision not to chase a big name before the trade deadline means the Sixers are loaded with ammunition to go star chasing in the summer. With that in mind, the 76ers have room to improve next season, especially if Embiid can stay healthy. Of course, if Philadelphia somehow didn’t even make it out of the play-in tournament or was eliminated in the first round it would be a massive disappointment. But the silver lining of what is to come in the summer would at least help ease some of the pain.

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    Joel Embiid is back but the 76ers have to first make it out of the play-in tournament. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    8. Miami Heat — 5/10

    Surely they can’t do it again? This Heat team doesn’t look to have the consistency the make another unlikely run to the NBA Finals after a regular season that never really hit any heights. Of course, you can never rule out the possibility of ‘Playoff Jimmy’ taking over, and it hadn’t helped the Heat either that they dealt with lingering injuries that tested their guard depth. Ultimately, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of external pressure on Miami to replicate last year’s magical run, but just how far the Heat go could have implications on Jimmy Butler’s future with the team. The 34-year-old, who has two years and $100 million left on his current deal, is eligible for an extension this summer. To a similar extent, the Heat — should they make it to the playoffs — will also get an extended look at whether the Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier combination will work moving forward after injury-interrupted seasons.

    9. Chicago Bulls — 1/10

    Perennial play-in tournament contenders and nothing more. This is what the Chicago Bulls are right now and that doesn’t look like changing after another middling season. There is little pressure on Chicago because, frankly, there aren’t really any expectations on this Bulls team to do much in the postseason. Instead, the bigger priority for Billy Donovan needs to be working out what this team looks like moving forward given the development of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, especially when considered alongside the headache that is Zach LaVine’s contract and where potential free agent DeMar DeRozan fits in the timeline.

    10. Atlanta Hawks — 1/10

    Like the Bulls, there isn’t much pressure on Atlanta given the fact the Hawks also finished the regular season with a losing record and hence shouldn’t really be a threat to do anything in the playoffs. With such low expectations comes an opportunity to overachieve or, at worst, only further push the front office towards trading either Dejounte Murray or Trae Young in the summer. It seems to be the direction the franchise is heading, with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting the Hawks are “likely” to trade either of their star guards this offseason.

    Boban hits God status after free chicken | 00:30

    WESTERN CONFERENCE

    1. Oklahoma City Thunder — 2/10

    Like the Magic, Thunder fans can just enjoy the fact they find themselves in this position, sitting on top of the Western Conference with a young core that will only get better and a multitude of draft picks to build on this season’s success. Unlike Orlando there are more expectations that come with finishing the top seed and a potential first-round match-up against the Lakers would be particularly tough. But even if the Thunder went out in that scenario, it would at least help crystallise the changes OKC needs to make in the offseason, should the size mismatch be exposed.

    2. Denver Nuggets — 7/10

    A similar situation to the Celtics, although to a lesser extent given Boston’s record is far superior and the Western Conference is much more competitive. With that in mind, it would hardly be shocking to see the Nuggets rolled in the semifinals. Still, the assumption for most of the regular season has been that the Celtics and Nuggets are on a Finals collision course and anything less than that would be a disappointment for last year’s reigning champions.

    3. Minnesota Timberwolves — 6/10

    After making a blockbuster trade for Rudy Gobert, things didn’t go to plan for Minnesota last season, struggling for chemistry before drawing the unfortunate straw of having to play the eventual champions Denver in the playoffs. This season though things are different and with that comes higher expectations. It is not championship-or-bust as the Timberwolves have young players in Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels to build their future around, but they at least need to show they are heading in the right direction. That makes the semifinals a bare minimum, although the Conference Finals are a realistic goal too.

    The Timberwolves have a future with Anthony Edwards. David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    4. Los Angeles Clippers — 9/10

    After giving up assets for James Harden, the Clippers are light on for future draft capital should this version of the team not go deep into the playoffs and, potentially, win a title. That has to be the goal after all, with Harden the third best player on a roster that features Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. George could become a free agent this summer and a standout postseason run would put him in a strong position to either leverage the Clippers for more money or become the hottest available name on the market. Regardless of which decision he makes, Los Angeles can’t take for granted the position it finds itself in right now, entering the playoffs with all four of its star players healthy. With an aging roster and limited draft capital to work with, there is plenty of pressure on the Clippers to make it count now. In a stacked Western Conference though, the path to a title is tricky.

    5. Dallas Mavericks — 6/10

    There is always a decent level of pressure when you have Luka Doncic. He alone has been enough to single-handedly win Dallas games before, although this time around the Slovenian superstar has plenty of help in the form of Kyrie Irving and trade deadline additions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. It only adds to the pressure for the Mavericks to at least get past the first round of the playoffs, having made genuinely positive moves to bolster their roster and build around Doncic with the goal of taking a swing at the title. The Mavericks ended the regular season with a 16-2 record to wrap up the fifth seed before resting their stars. It also means there will be high expectations for a deep playoff run, although the pressure isn’t as high given they have key players under contract for a few years to come while Gafford and Washington will have the summer to further integrate themselves into the team.

    6. Phoenix Suns — 10/10

    Well, avoiding the play-in tournament was definitely a step in the right direction because not even making the playoffs in the first place would have been an abject failure for the Suns. Still, Phoenix enters the postseason as one of the most under-pressure teams after going all-in once again last year in a trade for Bradley Beal. Like the Clippers, the Suns have traded away most of their future draft capital, not owning or controlling a first-round pick until 2031. Adding depth to the roster next season will also be tough as Phoenix is over the second-apron ($182.5 million of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement), meaning the Suns don’t have access to the Mid-Level Exception or Bi-Annual Exception and will only be able to add free agents through minimum contracts.

    Grayson Allen has just signed a new four-year contract extension. David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    There is at least now the guarantee of sharpshooter Grayson Allen staying put after news the Suns have extended him on a four-year deal worth nearly $70 million.

    Royce O’Neal is another key piece Phoenix could lose and, again, only be able to replace with minimum players. ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown in March that the reality of the salary cap puts “tremendous pressure” on the Suns to pay those players and keep them. “Suns owner Mat Ishbia has operated with a relative disregard for the new salary cap realities of the NBA, essentially in a championship or bust mentality over the next couple of years,” Wojnarowski said. This year’s playoffs could go a long way to deciding whether it works out or not.

    7. New Orleans Pelicans — 5/10

    The Pelicans have to be one of the most confounding teams in the league right now. At one point this season they looked like pushing for the top seeds in the Western Conference but dropped four straight games in early April before suffering a 124-108 loss to the Lakers on Monday. A win would’ve kept New Orleans out of the play-in tournament but now the Pels need to go about it the hard way. If anyone is under pressure entering the postseason it is Zion Williamson, who has never played in a playoff game and will be looking to rebound from the disaster that was New Orleans’ in-season tournament thumping at the hands of the Lakers. It will also be interesting to see how the Pelicans deal with their lack of elite center play against the top teams and what impact it has on the future of Jonas Valančiūnas, who is headed towards free agency. With all of that in mind, New Orleans still looks like a playoff team but not a genuine contender and if there is any question mark it is less on the team’s biggest names and more on coach Willie Green and his rotations.

    8. Los Angeles Lakers — 5/10

    LeBron James could become a free agent this summer, although the focus for the Lakers superstar has always been getting the chance to play with son Bronny. With that in mind, even if Los Angeles doesn’t replicate last year’s playoffs run or crashes out of the play-in tournament, results alone won’t be the only determining factor in James’ decision. The other question mark for the Lakers is what they do with D’Angelo Russell, who has a $18.69 million player option for the 2024-25 season, which he would surely decline given the level he has been playing at. Complicating matters is the fact The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported multiple sources believe the Lakers will go “third-star hunting” this summer. All of this is to say it will be an intriguing summer for the Lakers and perhaps a deep playoff run could convince the front office a third star isn’t necessary, or alternatively postseason results may only highlight shortcomings in the roster that make another high-level scorer a must. Either way, there will always be some level of pressure on the Lakers given the James factor and their popularity in the league, but it isn’t championship-or-bust as has been the case in the past.

    Don’t miss the best of the first round NBA Playoffs LIVE on ESPN available on Kayo New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    Where will LeBron James play in the 2024-25 season? Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    9. Sacramento Kings — 3/10

    The Kings were one of the fairytale stories of last season. But that was last year. Now they have somewhat regressed while the rest of the Western Conference has improved, meaning the Kings may not even make it to the playoffs this time around. Again, there isn’t too much pressure because this is a young team who weren’t really widely expected to build on last season’s success. In fact, most people seemed to be tipping them to fall back a bit. That in itself is a problem though and speaks to the fact Sacramento at this stage looks like a solid play-in tournament team who could snag a first-round series but not much more. Whether that prompts the front office to make a big swing in the postseason remains to be seen. But a swift exit this year should at least prompt the Kings to consider what the ceiling is for the roster as currently constructed.

    10. Golden State Warriors — 3/10

    Another team, like the Lakers, who are under pressure primarily on name value and nothing else. It is clear that the Warriors are in a transitional period and coach Steve Kerr has accepted it too, giving the team’s younger players like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski a chance to push for more minutes while experimenting at times with Klay Thompson’s role. If anything, the pressure is on Thompson to prove he can still be a difference maker as the Warriors prepare to make a call on his future with the team. Maybe this is the last time we see Thompson, Draymond Green and Steph Curry on a court together in Golden State colours. Even if that is the case though, it no longer seems like that reality would be the undoing of Golden State or leave the Warriors in a worse position than they find themselves in right now. In fact, it was only once Kerr embraced youth that the Warriors started to improve and there are no indications at this stage that Curry is unhappy or wants out of Golden State if there is no playoff run this year.

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  • The contender in a league of their own… as another faces ‘potential disaster’: NBA Playoffs Primer

    The contender in a league of their own… as another faces ‘potential disaster’: NBA Playoffs Primer

    The NBA playoffs are just over a month away and while the Boston Celtics are clear frontrunners in the East, there is a three-way tussle for supremacy over in the West.

    Here foxsports.com.au breaks down where every NBA team finds itself ahead of the run home, placing them into five tiers — contenders, dark horses, teams making up the numbers, those planning for next year and teams who should also turn their attention towards 2025.

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    There is one exception though, which brings us to the first team in the Eastern Conference.

    EASTERN CONFERENCE

    IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

    1. Boston Celtics (48-12)

    In the Western Conference the top teams are separated into a tier of contenders. But in the East that doesn’t apply. The Celtics are just in a tier of their own, most recently destroying the much-improved Warriors by 52 points in yet another reminder of their championship credentials. “I think the entire league needs to be watching what the Boston Celtics are doing and understanding that they are the team to beat,” Richard Jefferson said on ABC during that game. “I understand that the Denver Nuggets are the defending champions but to me there is no greater threat to them really going on a run and winning a couple than what the Boston Celtics are presenting this season.”

    The Celtics are on another level. Brian Fluharty/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    The challenge when it comes to Boston is just how talented and deep this roster is, to the extent that you can’t send help to double Jayson Tatum, for example, because whoever you leave open is going to make you pay. Just as the Warriors learned after intentionally sagging off Jaylen Brown near the perimeter in the opening quarter. The result? He had 19 points in seven minutes. Boston ranks first in the league in offensive rating and second in defensive rating. It is hard to see the Celtics not making the NBA Finals considering how good they have been, although performing in the playoffs hasn’t always been a guarantee from Boston in recent seasons.

    CONTENDERS

    2. Milwaukee Bucks (41-21)

    When the Bucks sacked first-year coach Adrian Griffin it came as a bit of a surprise, at least on the surface, since the team ranked second in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-13 record. But there was a prevailing thought that Milwaukee was achieving those results in spite of Griffin, particularly given the lack of improvement on the defensive end under him. So, understanding they needed to capitalise on their current championship window, the Bucks made a ruthless call to sack Griffin and hire Doc Rivers. For all the talk about Rivers’ inability to take accountability, the results on defence speak for themselves so far.

    The Bucks have gone from recording the 22nd best defensive rating in January to the third-best under coach Rivers while the transition defence in particular has improved from 20th to second-best in the NBA. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the way the Bucks shouldn’t have too many dramas scoring points either, especially in the fourth quarter. It may still take some time to gel but the defence is no longer a major area of concern.

    3. Cleveland Cavaliers (39-21)

    Given what happened last year, where the Cavaliers finished fourth in the East only to be easily handled 4-1 in a first-round series defeat to the Knicks, we can’t get too ahead of ourselves here. But then again, this is a different Cleveland team to the one that didn’t make any noise in the 2022-23 playoffs. This Cavaliers team is stacked with 3-point shooting options off the bench with Sam Merrill shooting 44.1 per cent from downtown while Isaac Okoro is even going at a 40 per cent clip. Max Strus hasn’t been the most consistent outside shooter, averaging 34.0 per cent from deep, but is capable of big games like the one when he went 7-for-10 on 3-pointers against the Mavericks. Elsewhere, Dean Wade is healthy and offering solid production while Craig Porter is a handy depth option too at guard. Of course, then you add in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt and backcourt duo Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs have been one of the hottest teams in basketball, winning 20 of their 26 games since the new year.

    The Cavaliers are a contender. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    4. New York Knicks (36-25)

    Under Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks have become a hard-edged, gritty, defensive-minded team that scraps for every win. And they’re certainly scrapping for every result at the moment, with All-Star guard Jalen Brunson the latest Knicks starter to go down. Brunson was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after landing awkwardly on his leg in New York’s win over Cleveland earlier this week. Already without starters Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks have had their depth tested recently, losing eight or their last 15 games. The door is open for the Knicks to book an Eastern Conference Finals berth against the Celtics. They just need to stay healthy.

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    Brunson limps off moments after tip-off | 00:43

    5. Philadaelphia 76ers (35-25)

    It all hinges on Joel Embiid’s health. Without him, the Sixers belong in the tier below. Embiid spoke to media earlier this week and said he plans to return at some point before the end of the regular season, regardless of what the team’s record looks like. The reigning MVP has been sidelined since late January after undergoing a procedure to “address an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee”. The Sixers have been able to stay afloat without Embiid, winning six of 14 games to sit in fifth position in the Eastern Conference, although the seventh-placed Heat are just one game back from Philadelphia facing the prospect of having to fight its way through the play-in tournament. The Sixers rank 20th in offensive rating and second-last in defensive rating in their 14 games without Embiid. They can’t afford to rush him back though given they still have the ammunition to go after a big name over the summer and put all their focus into the 2024-25 season.

    7. Miami Heat (34-26).

    If we learned anything from last season, it is that you can never count out Jimmy Butler, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat. Of course, Miami’s magical run to the NBA Finals had as much to do with Max Strus and Gabe Vincent as it did the team’s superstar forward, who averaged 21.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists in the month of February. The Heat have won eight of their last 10 to sit 0.5 games short of the sixth-placed Orlando Magic and just 1.5 games behind the fourth-placed Knicks, who are now vulnerable with their recent run of injuries. Miami has ranked eighth and third in offensive and defensive rating during that period. Miami’s backcourt depth has been tested with injuries to Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, although the additions of Terry Rozier via trade and Delon Wright have helped bolster its guard stocks. The Heat even added Patty Mills in a low-risk move ahead of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Duncan Robinson has improved into a more well-rounded player to go from out of the rotation to pushing for a starting spot. And then there is rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr., who has been an immediate contributor averaging 12.7 points.

    Knicks lose Brunson, but still beat Cavs | 00:55

    MAKING UP THE NUMBERS

    6. Orlando Magic (35-26)

    This young Magic team made a statement before the season proper even started, showing early signs they could become the best isolation defence teams in the league. Those pre-season performances didn’t end up being a fluke either, with Orlando’s top-tier one-on-one defenders helping the Magic to the fifth-best defensive rating this season and, at the moment, sixth spot in the East. It is hard to see Orlando going deep in the playoffs given this is still an inexperienced team but like Oklahoma City in the West, it doesn’t matter all too much. The Magic are quickly building one of the most exciting, young rosters in the league and will only continue to get better with emerging and already emerged talent in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr. and Anthony Black.

    Paolo Banchero is one of Orlando’s rising stars. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    8. Indiana Pacers (34-28)

    The numbers tell quite a simple story. This is one of the most dynamic scoring teams in the league but their best chance of doing anything in the playoffs involves outgunning their opponent because they aren’t going to win on the back of their defence. The Pacers currently have the second-best offensive rating and fifth-worst defensive rating in the league. After the All-Star break though Indiana’s offensive rating has dropped to eighth-best in the NBA while the defence has improved, but only slightly, to sixth-worst. That coincides with Tyrese Haliburton slowing down after a stunning start to the season which saw him average 28.6 points and 11.7 assists per game in November. Haliburton admitted on J.J. Redick’s podcast last month that he had rushed back from his hamstring injury because of the 65-game threshold he needed to reach to be eligible for the All-NBA team and a potential $41 million bonus. Whether Haliburton is still feel the ill-effects on that or taking on too heavy a workload in his return is something only the All-Star guard himself can answer.

    Emotional Paolo discusses game-winner | 00:45

    SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR

    9. Chicago Bulls (29-32)

    DeMar DeRozan said last summer that the Bulls were too “inconsistent” in the 2022-23 season. Well, guess what? Inconsistency has again been Chicago’s biggest issue and it makes it incredibly hard to get a read on the Bulls ahead of the playoffs. Are they capable of winning one playoffs series? Sure. But a lot of things would have to go right and that is definitely true if Chicago is somehow going to make a deep run. The Bulls looked to be building something when they beat the Timberwolves and Grizzlies earlier this month but went on to drop four of their next six games, including a 10-point loss to the lowly Pistons. They then backed that defeat up with an overtime win over the Cavs before a 16-point loss to the Bucks. Consistently inconsistent is what the Bulls have been all season long. Just not good enough to take the leap, which makes their inactivity at the trade deadline all the more puzzling. At least the improvement of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu gives Bulls fans something to look forward to.

    Coby White has had a big year. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    10. Atlanta Hawks (26-34)

    The Hawks were always going to be a frisky play-in tournament team with a chance of pulling off an upset in the first round of the playoffs and nothing more. An injury to star guard Trae Young, however, has Atlanta in danger of falling out of the play-in tournament entirely with the 25-year-old undergoing surgery on a torn radial collateral ligament in the fifth finger of his left hand. Young is going to be re-evaluated in four weeks and while the Hawks won their first two games without him they have since dropped two straight against the Nets. Regardless, Atlanta has the second-worst defensive rating in the league so it was hard to see the Hawks going deep in the playoffs even with Young healthy.

    11. Brooklyn Nets (24-37)

    They are technically still in the hunt but things really took a turn for the worse before the Nets sacked Jacque Vaughn, with Kevin Ollie taking over as interim coach. The results since have been mixed, with Brooklyn winning three of its last five games. But the Nets have also been blown out by the Raptors, Timberwolves and Magic since Ollie’s appointment. This is a team still trying to figure out its identity and injuries to emerging guard Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons only makes things harder, especially given the Australian was such a central part of Brooklyn’s plans on offence — especially in transition. Mikal Bridges continues to prove why he was such an in-demand target at the trade deadline while Dennis Schroder is proving a handy pick-up, averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 assists since joining the Nets.

    Struss sinks ABSURD halfcourt winner! | 01:04

    12. Toronto Raptors (23-38)

    Another team that at this point is better using the remaining games of the season to develop its on-court chemistry after the departures of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby before the trade deadline. The injury to Scottie Barnes, which was later revealed to be a fracture to his third metacarpal bone in his left hand, will only make things harder for the Raptors given he is unlikely to return before the end of the regular season. One shining light to emerge in the second half of the season is the form of RJ Barrett, who has impressed with a career-high 20.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists since making the move from New York via trade. Meanwhile, fellow former Knicks teammate Immanuel Quickley is growing in confidence as a playmaker and in particular when operating in the pick-and-roll with big-man Jakob Poeltl.

    ALREADY PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR

    13. Charlotte Hornets (15-46)

    Can we just have one season with a healthy LaMelo Ball? The 22-year-old guard has been sidelined since late January with an ankle injury after managing just 36 games in the 2022-23 season. Ball is the biggest name missing but Seth Curry, Cody Martin, Nick Richards and Mark Williams are all also battling injuries while the Hornets have now dropped five of their last six games after a promising stretch of results earlier in February.

    14. Detroit Pistons (9-51)

    After a disastrous start to the season the Pistons have picked up a few wins and are now level with the Wizards on nine wins. There is still plenty of potential in this young team, with Cade Cunningham the most likely player to emerge into a genuine top-tier star in the NBA. Although there are still question marks over what his ceiling looks like and obviously injury setbacks since his rookie season haven’t helped. Elsewhere, there are concerns over Ausar Thompson’s shooting while Jalen Duren’s defence remains a work in progress. More than anything, patience is needed if this is the young core Detroit wants to build around.

    Pistons coach FIRES UP after Knicks loss | 02:27

    15. Washington Wizards (9-52)

    Watch out Pistons, the Wizards are coming for you. Washington has dropped 15 games in a row and if its losing ways continue, coincidentally Detroit would have the opportunity to inflict a 28th defeat in a row on the Wizards, tying its record losing skid. Unlike the Pistons and Hornets, the Wizards are right at the start of a full-scale rebuild after trading away Bradley Beal so it may be a long time before Washington is relevant again. Of course, usually being the worst team in the NBA isn’t such a bad thing when it involves the potential of a high draft pick but this year’s class lacks top-tier talent — at least the kind of talent that can turn around this franchise’s fortunes right away.

    PLAYOFFS SERIES IF SEASON ENDED TODAY:

    (1) Celtics vs. (8) Play-In Winner

    (2) Bucks vs. (7) Play-In Winner

    (3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Magic

    (4) Knicks vs. (5) 76ers

    Play-in tournament

    (7) Heat vs. (8) Pacers

    (9) Bulls vs. (10) Hawks

    WESTERN CONFERENCE

    THE CONTENDERS

    1. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-19)

    While the Clippers may have the bigger names, this is the team that has already caused real problems for the defending champion Nuggets this season. Minnesota and Denver play each other three more times before the playoffs but it was a comprehensive 110-89 win for the T’Wolves in their one meeting earlier this season as Nikola Jokic was held to just three assists. The Timberwolves settled to letting Jokic score in exchange for taking away his playmaking, effectively using Karl-Anthony Towns as an on-ball defender while having Rudy Gobert roam the paint. It proved the right strategy on that occasion and when you add in the rising superstar that is Anthony Edwards, a 3-and-D wing in Jaden McDaniels and the experience of Mike Conley, this is a team that could go deep and potentially all the way to the Finals considering the match-up problems they could present the Nuggets.

    NBA Wrap: Slow burn Lakers silence OKC | 01:33

    2. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-19)

    The Thunder are ahead of schedule so there is the temptation to not entirely buy into their contender status because it just seems to all be happening so fast, as if this young group needs a bit more time and a bit more playoff experience before making a deep run. But keeping OKC out of this tier would be a disservice to just what this team has achieved in the regular season under Mark Daigneault, led by star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Of course, playoff basketball is another beast entirely but the Thunder have built their success off doing things differently, putting together a roster stacked with playmaking, positional size and high basketball IQ that makes them uniquely well-positioned to make things uncomfortable for rival teams in the post-season despite their inexperience.

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    What will the Thunder do with Josh Giddey’s minutes in the playoffs? (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The big question mark is what role Josh Giddey plays given the way opposition defences have already treated him in the post-season, often leaving the Australian wide-open until his outside shooting in particular improves. The acquisition of Gordon Hayward at the trade deadline offers OKC an experienced option with similar skills to lean on more heavily should Giddey continue to struggle and be more heavily targeted on defence. It is not necessarily that Giddey won’t play but that his minutes will be staggered to better surround him with shooting and have the Australian play on the ball more. The only complicating factor is that Jalen Williams has done particularly well running OKC’s second unit so it is hard to go away from what works.

    3. Denver Nuggets (42-19)

    Based on their recent stretch of form since the All-Star break, the defending champions look to be building towards another run at the title. The Nuggets dropped three games in a row early last month, including heavy defeats to the Kings and Bucks, but have since won six straight despite a few lingering injury concerns. Jamal Murray has been playing through shin splints while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was dealing with a hamstring injury before the break. Murray had been really heating up before suffering an ankle injury against the Heat, scoring 59 points in wins over the Warriors and Kings. Fortunately he returned for the Nuggets’ victory over the Lakers, putting up 24 points and 11 assists. Of course, Nikola Jokic remains a walking triple-double while Michael Porter Jr. has been lights out recently. Add in the two-way impact of Aaron Gordon and the presence of the always ready Justin Holiday off the bench and the Nuggets looked primed to give the West another shake. Denver is in a good position to take top seed in the conference with the 11th easiest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon.

    Nuggets win NBA finals rematch | 01:04

    4. Los Angeles Clippers (39-21)

    Health was always going to be the key for the Clippers and fortunately for them Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have been able to stay on the court more often than not this season. A fractured hand for Russell Westbrook won’t help given the success Los Angeles had after the guard reportedly volunteered to come off the bench after the Clippers suffered six straight losses. Although Westbrook had been in a rough shooting stretch lately anyway. Westbrook though isn’t the only one who has put the team first this season, with James Harden also embracing his role as the third option in this Clippers offence since making the move from Philadelphia. In fact, Harden’s usage percentage is the lowest since his second NBA season with the Thunder, which in some ways will be a relief in the post-season where there won’t be as much pressure on the 34-year-old with Leonard and George running the show. Speaking of which, if Jokic didn’t exist Leonard may well be a leading contender in the MVP race. Leonard is averaging 24.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists and provided he stays healthy, the Clippers could be poised to make the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history (53 years).

    Kawhi Leonard is fit and firing. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    THE DARK HORSES

    5. New Orleans Pelicans (36-25)

    Like the Clippers, this one is all about health. Losing Australian Dyson Daniels, who underwent a successful meniscectomy on his left knee in mid-February, doesn’t help. For his shortcomings on the offensive end, Daniels is one of the most disruptive perimeter defenders in the league and formed a fearsome tandom with teammate Herb Jones, helping create fast-break opportunities. Otherwise, New Orleans has a clean bill of health — a stark contrast to where New Orleans found itself last season after injuries spoiled a strong start to the year. If anything, finding ways for Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to continue playing off each other into the post-season will be central to determining just far the Pelicans can go. On a personal level, both Williamson and Ingram have been able to stay on the court and in the case of the former, he is looking explosive again finishing at the rim. And when Williamson isn’t doing that he’s running the offence, with New Orleans quickly realising it is at its best with ‘Point Zion’.

    6. Phoenix Suns (35-26)

    There is little doubting the Suns have the offensive firepower to challenge for a title. But what about the defence? Phoenix currently ranks 13th in the league for defensive rating (114.3), which isn’t too bad. But this just doesn’t look like a team that is complete enough to challenge the likes of Boston and Denver. It is similar to Dallas. Phoenix could absolutely upset a higher seed in the first round of the playoffs, especially when you have Devin Booker and Kevin Durant averaging 27.5 and 27.8 points per game respectively. But the Suns just haven’t been able to build the kind of chemistry needed to make a deep playoffs run, especially when you consider Bradley Beal’s injury woes. Now Booker is dealing with an ankle injury. Phoenix currently sit in sixth position but is at risk of dropping into the play-in tournament with Sacramento, Dallas, Golden State and Los Angeles lurking.

    Cavs shock Mavs with crazy buzzer-beater | 01:08

    Working against the Suns is the fact they have the hardest schedule remaining according to Tankathon, having to play the Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Clippers twice before the end of the season. ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on ‘NBA Today’ that it would be a “potential disaster scenario” for the Suns to fall into the play-in tournament. “They went all-in for this team and just haven’t seen it together. When they’ve been together they’ve been really good but once you’re in the play-in you are super vulnerable to not even getting into the playoffs or getting a match-up where it is super hard to win even two or three rounds,” Lowe added.

    8. Dallas Mavericks (34-27)

    Honestly, the temptation was there to put Dallas in just making up the numbers given its inconsistent recent form. Last month the Mavericks beat up on the Thunder and scored wins over the Knicks and Suns but also went down to the undermanned Sixers, were thumped by the Celtics and Pacers and pipped by a Max Strus prayer shot. It is just hard to see Dallas playing at the consistently high level that is needed to make the NBA Finals, let alone go deep in the competitive Western Conference. The additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford though give the Mavericks something they haven’t always had in previous years — high-calibre depth. It means the burden shouldn’t always be on Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving to produce the kind of big games that Dallas previously needed to even stand a chance in the post-season. Whether it is enough to compete with well-drilled teams that seem to have a better understanding of their identity remains to be seen.

    MAKING UP THE NUMBERS

    7. Sacramento Kings (34-26)

    The Kings were one of the big surprise packets last season and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference. In a lot of ways, not a whole lot has changed for Sacramento, who entered the All-Star break with a 31-23 record, which was identical to where the franchise stood at the same point last season. The biggest difference? The West is much more competitive this season and so while the Kings again look like a solid playoff team, it is hard to see them making the jump to genuine contender status this year. Another first-round series defeat or even a play-in tournament exit looks the likeliest option.

    9. Los Angeles Lakers (34-29)

    The Lakers will go as far as LeBron James and Anthony Davis can take them. Although a repeat of last year’s charge to the Western Conference Finals may be tough to come by if Los Angeles is again forced to win its way through the play-in tournament. That may be the reality for LeBron and co. though as they face the fifth toughest remaining schedule according to Tankathon, having to play the Timberwolves and Bucks twice in the run home. A resounding win over the Thunder though, even if it just one game, proves the Lakers could be a problem in the playoffs with the right match-up. But it is hard to buy them sustaining that level of play to get all the way to the Finals. Of course, James’ potential impending free agency status looms large but even if the Lakers aren’t able to replicate last season’s post-season run their main selling point will be the trade assets they have up their sleeve this summer. That will somewhat soften the blow if the Lakers make an early exit.

    All hail the King! LeBron reaches 40k! | 00:37

    10. Golden State Warriors (32-28)

    Playing against the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics is one way to get a sense for just how close — or far away — you are from contending for a championship this season. And in the case of the Warriors, it was a timely wake-up call as Golden State was blown out by 52 points. This was a Warriors team that had won 13 of their past 16 games to potentially emerge as a championship dark horse that may have been better placed with the above three teams. From Draymond Green’s welcomed return and the associated re-emergence of Andrew Wiggins to Klay Thompson embracing his new role after moving to the bench, these Warriors looked to be building something. They still could be. The Celtics are just that good that sometimes you’re going to have losses like the one Golden State had on Monday. But it was a reminder of just how far ahead the better teams in the league are this season, including the Nuggets who overcame a slow start to finish well on top of the Warriors last week. Golden State currently sits in 10th in the West, meaning they would be facing the Lakers in a do-or-die play-in tournament game if the season stopped right now.

    SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR

    11. Utah Jazz (28-34)

    It has been a rough recent stretch for the Jazz, who have dropped eight of their last nine games to fall to 11th in the West and it is hard to see them making up enough ground to challenge either the Lakers or Warriors for a spot in the play-in tournament. The Jazz have the worst defensive rating (123.3) in the league over the last 15 games, punished in size mismatches while Lauri Markkanen hasn’t been able to keep up the kind of production that had Utah moving up the standings earlier in the season.

    12. Houston Rockets (26-34)

    Like the Jazz, the Rockets just haven’t been consistent enough to anticipate the kind of run they need to make in the next month to qualify for the play-in tournament. Although the fact Houston is even on the playoff bubble has to be a positive given expectations were relatively low for the rebuilding Rockets this season. The focus in the summer though will be working out how Houston approaches the next stage of its rebuild, whether it is continuing to patiently develop its young core or package some of its assets for a star player via trade.

    BasketBRAWL: Butler ejected in NOLA | 01:10

    ALREADY PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR

    13. Memphis Grizzlies (21-41)

    The Grizzlies were already up against it before the season tipped off, with superstar guard Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games. Memphis looked to be building something when Morant returned but it was short-lived as the 24-year-old was later ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder. The injury list keeps growing too, with Ziaire Williams And Derrick Rose the latest names set for time on the sidelines. Bring on next year.

    14. Portland Trail Blazers (17-43)

    Another team that was expected to be sitting down the bottom of the Western Conference after trading Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Although the Blazers didn’t enter full-scale rebuilding mode, holding onto players like Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams at the trade deadline. Where they fit in the team’s long-term plans remains to be seen but Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe are still key building blocks for the future.

    15. San Antonio Spurs (13-48)

    This season was all about the Victor Wembanyama experience, with the No.1 overall pick firmly in Rookie of the Year calculations. Wembanyama has averaged 20.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.3 steals in his rookie season. Finding a starting point guard still remains the likely next move for the Spurs, who have leaned on Tre Jones to fill the void left by Dejounte Murray for the time being.

    PLAYOFF SERIES IF SEASON ENDED TODAY

    (1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Play-In Winner

    (2) Thunder vs. (7) Play-In Winner

    (3) Nuggets vs. (6) Suns

    (4) Clippers vs. (5) Pelicans

    Play-in tournament

    (7) Kings vs. (8) Mavericks

    (9) Lakers vs. (10) Warriors

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  • Steph reality as Warriors hit new low; shock turnaround few saw coming: NBA Report Card

    Steph reality as Warriors hit new low; shock turnaround few saw coming: NBA Report Card

    We’ve just about hit the midway point of the marathon 82-game NBA season.

    And so we’ve ran through all the 30 teams and graded them based on their performance in the first half of the campaign. Read on to see foxsports.com.au’s report card for every NBA side so far in the 2023/24 campaign.

    *All stats accurate at time of writing on the 17th of January

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    ATLANTA HAWKS (16-23) – D

    Atlanta is seven games below .500 to sit outside the play-in in a season getting away from the franchise despite Jalen Johnson taking a big leap in year three. Dejounte Murray is reportedly on the trade block with several teams interested, and a move feels likely. Murray’s back-court pairing with Trae Young simply hasn’t worked – despite Atlanta giving up multiple first-round picks to land Murray – amid the team’s woes – particularly defensively despite scoring a bunch at the other end under the Young-led offence. It’ll be intriguing what avenue the Hawks take if Murray is traded given they’re currently built to contend for playoffs. And can we free Patty Mills, please?

    BOSTON CELTICS (31-9) – A+

    It couldn’t be going more according to script for Boston right now after its big off-season splash. The Celtics hold the best record in the NBA, are ranked top three in both offensive and defensive rating as the clear championship favourites and could have as many as four All-Stars. No matter what moves other teams make by the trade deadline, the Porzingis-Tatum-Brown-White-Holiday starting five is clearly the premier opening unit in the league. Perhaps the only concern is the fact that, given the Celtics are the clear No. 1 side, opposition sides have a whole season to pick them apart and try and decipher a way to beat them in the playoffs. Though it’s hard to see them losing a seven-game series to anyone as things stand.

    The Celtics will look to go one better this season. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    BROOKLYN NETS (16-23) – D+

    After a promising start to the season where the Nets navigated a host of injures to stay around .500, the wheels are starting to come off – having dropped eight of their last nine games. Ben Simmons remains sidelined with a lower back injury that’s kept him off the court since early November in yet another tough setback for the Aussie and big blow for Brooklyn. You can’t help but ponder the impact an up-and-running Simmons would provide at both ends of the floor – particularly for the Nets’ 21st ranked defence. It feels like a team still searching for its identity after blowing up the Irving-Harden-Durant big three, while it has a host of role players that could appeal to teams ahead of the deadline.

    CHARLOTTE HORNETS (8-29) – F

    Any hope the Hornets had of making a run for the play-in this season vanished when LaMelo Ball suffered yet another ankle setback in late November in another grim season for the franchise. Ball returned from his 20-game absence last week, and while there’s still a whole half of the campaign to go, even the star guard mightn’t be able to help this sinking ship. Charlotte has just one win from its last 17 games, and is ranked bottom four in offensive and defensive rating. As big a void as Ball leaves, the Hornets are a legitimate lottery team without him, which doesn’t bode well for their overall prospects. Sitting seven games outside the play-in, the team with the longest playoff drought dating back to 2016 looks set for that drought to continue.

    CHICAGO BULLS (19-23) – C

    Recovering from a slow start to the season, when they looked destined to blow up their roster, the Bulls are officially back in business. Along with a much-improved defence, Coby White has led the revival and given the team more flexibility with what direction is takes after the emerging guard stepped up in a big way when Zach LaVine was sidelined. Even with LaVine back in the mix, Chicago has won four of its last six games to sit a game and a half inside the play-in. Heck, the Bulls are now just three games behind Orlando in a wild turn in fortunes for both sides.

    Will the Bulls be sellers at the deadline? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (23-15) – A-

    Sometimes, less is more. The Cavaliers have charged back into the season without both Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Not that Cleveland was ever going that bad, but the team has suddenly won 10 of its past 12 games to climb into the fourth seed in the East. With the full frontcourt to himself, Jarrett Allen has gotten back to some of his absolute best form and been central to the Cavs’ sixth-ranked defence, while Donovan Mitchell continues to do Donovan Mitchell things. If they can seamlessly reintegrate Garland and Mobley without disrupting he current chemistry and keep up this level of play, look out.

    DALLAS MAVERICKS (24-17) – B-

    Any team with Luka Doncic running the show is going to be an offensive powerhouse, and that’s again been the case, however the Mavs have again struggled at the other end of the floor. Under the lead of Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavs got off to a particularly hot start before sliding down the West standings in recent times while the pair have battled injuries, going 6-5 in their last 11 games. Doncic is putting together another MVP calibre season, but Dallas just hasn’t been good enough to make him a legit contender against the likes of Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum. Another fun story has been the revival of Aussie Dante Exum’s career, now playing alongside fellow countryman Josh Green as key pieces fir the Boomers moving forward.

    DENVER NUGGETS (28-14) – A

    The Nuggets are basically in ‘we won the title and are just cruising until late April’ mode while keeping the wins ticking over. Nikola Jokic has been a juggernaut yet again to sit firmly in contention for his third MVP, leading a starting five that can hang with any other in the NBA. Jamal Murray will however probably miss out on that elusive All-Star honour, for now at least, given the sheer amount of superstar guards in the league. The only concern around the Nuggets is their bench and depth as a whole – despite Peyton Watson showing promising signs in year two, specially in recent weeks – but any team that wins a championship tends to lose key role players, like Denver lost Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, and suffer as a result.

    The Nuggets are contenders again. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    DETROIT PISTONS (4-36) – F

    Fair to say it’s going to be a long season in Detroit. Owning the worst record in the NBA and having suffered a 28-game losing streak – the longest ever losing streak in a single season – there’s been problems everywhere. It includes the Pistons being a mess at both ends of the floor amid a lack of cohesion and chemistry, injuries, players struggling to fill certain roles and Monty Williams constantly juggling the rotation. The team will now just hope to take something away in the second half of the season, perhaps most importantly, establishing their rotation and the guys who are going to lead this team into the future. It’s also not a good season to be bad, with a draft class that isn’t believed to have a consensus top prospect like Victor Wembanyama and Paolo Banchero of recent years.

    GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (18-22) – D-

    It’s been a turbulent season in Golden State – largely due to Draymond Green and the franchise’s overall decline – as it stares down the potential end of its golden era. A loss to a Grizzlies side missing Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart was a new low. There’s only so much Steph Curry can do, with his fellow veteran stars struggling to impact the way they have in recent years to see Golden State’s next wave of talent take on bigger roles. Four games below .500 and currently sitting outside the play-in, the Warriors have had major issues on the defensive end of the floor and loom as one of the big teams to watch ahead of the trade deadline to retool their roster and make one last run while Curry is in his prime.

    The Warriors will likely make changes before the trade deadline. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    HOUSTON ROCKETS (19-20) – B+

    One of the big improvers have proven themselves as a legitimate playoff threat. Behind the Rockets’ group of exciting youngsters including a true breakout season from Alperen Sengun, the lead of new head coach Ime Udoaka’s as well as valuable off-season additions Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, the Rockets have established a tougher identity and emerged as a serious basketball team. Though Houston has had issues offensively and is just 4-14 on the road – where it simply must improve – the Rockets have been one of the better defensive teams this season to show Udoka is really making his mark. Most importantly, the future is bright (though we’d like to see more Jock Landale right now please).

    INDIANA PACERS (23-17) – A-

    It’s been some sort of fun season in Indiana as one of the most watchable teams in the league. That’s correlated to wins too, with the Pacers sitting sixth in the East and of course making the In-Season Tournament Final. Tyrese Haliburton has evolved into a superstar before our eyes, leading Indiana’s powerhouse offence that’s ranked No. 1 in the NBA in shades of the Steve Nash-Phoenix Suns era. For this team to become more legit, it does need to tighten up defensively – where it’s ranked bottom five – while it also be curious to see if the Pacers make any moves by the deadline – and if they’re buyers or sellers.

    LA CLIPPERS (26-14) – A-

    The turnaround from a mockery to a legit contender in the James Harden era has been one of the most remarkable stories of the season. Yes, if you’re not on the Clippers bandwagon yet, it’s time to start believing. LA’s recent 18-3 run saw it climb into the fourth seed in the West, it’s ranked top six in offensive rating and has shown signs it can be a strong defensive unit. Following concerns that their stars would all need the ball to be effective, Russell Westbrook has selflessly embraced a move to the bench, while Harden has flourished as a facilitator and made Tyron Lue’s squad more polished and organised. It’s helped Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the rest of the team be the best version of themselves – a team that’s deep and loaded with veterans. Leonard signing a reduced three-year extension mid-season tells you everything you need to know.

    The Clippers have turned things around. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    LA LAKERS (20-21) – C-

    It hasn’t been nearly as rosy in the other LA camp in a season fast going south after the Lakers’ In-Season Tournament triumph. Sure, they’ve battled injuries and thus have struggled with continuity of rotations. But both Anthony Davis, who’s been at the peak of his powers, and the evergreen LeBron James, who’s still dominant at age 39, have been healthy for virtually the entire season, and still, LA is alarmingly outside the play-in amid a grim 4-7 stretch. It’s the offensive end of the floor where the Lakers have really struggled, and you sense they’ll address that at the trade deadline in some shape or form. We’ve seen this story before, with the Lakers starting slow out of the gates last season before going on an epic run all the way to the conference finals in the second half of the campaign. They’ll need to get a move on though as pressure builds on Darvin Ham.

    MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (15-25) – D-

    Who walked under a bunch of ladders? It’s been a genuine season from hell for the Grizzlies ruined by injury. If Ja Morant missing the first 25 games of the season wasn’t bad enough, the superstar guard, after playing just nine games, underwent campaign-ending shoulder surgery. Then Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane were ruled out for at least six weeks with their own injury setbacks … yikes. At this point, Memphis just has to accept it’s going to be a wasted season. But in a silver lining, it should end up with a high draft pick to add to the rest of the returning cast next year – a squad that’s shown it can be a legit contender. For now though, the Griz face a long 42 games ahead – where they could be seller’s at the trade deadline – as Jaren Jackson Jr. and a bunch of role players and youngsters attempt to steer the ship in the right direction. We’re sparing them a fail given how brutal their injury luck has been.

    MIAMI HEAT (24-16) – A-

    There might be better teams in the NBA, but there’s arguably none with a better culture and overall professionalism than the Heat. Despite battling injuries to each of their big three superstars, Miami somehow still sits fifth in the East and is again well placed to make deep playoff run. Erik Spoelstra, who was recently rewarded with a lucrative eight-year extension, has again done a sensational job of getting the best out of his team, which is ranked top 10 in the NBA defensively, while rookie Jaime Jaques Jr. has made an instant impact as a key member of the rotation already in a great story. No one would want to come up against the Heat in the playoffs.

    Can Jimmy Butler and the Heat do it again? Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    MILWAUKEE BUCKS (28-12) – A

    Despite criticism around whether the Bucks are good enough defensively to win the championship, they’d be more than content with where things sit overall. Still figuring things out with a new rotation including the addition of Damian Lillard, the Bucks’ juggernaut offence led by the superstar guard and Giannis Antetokounmpo has carried it to the second seed in the East with the third-best record in the NBA. It includes a statement mauling over the Celtics last week, where you saw how dominant this Bucks side can be at its best. Antetokounmpo’s MVP-calibre season has in many ways gone under the radar, while Khris Middleton is back up and running and looking like the Middleton of old again after off-season surgery. If Milwaukee can sharpen up defensively, it’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

    MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (28-11) – A+

    The No. 1 seed in the West, yet somehow still something of a dark horse in the title race. The Rudy Gobert-Karl-Anthony Towns twin tower frontcourt is finally living up its immense defensive potential, with Minnesota having claim to the best defensive rating in the league. Anthony Edwards continues to get better as one of the most exciting rising superstars in the league, even if at times the Wolves’ offence relies too heavily on the forward. It’s the defensive end of the floor Chris Finch’s side can consistently hang its hat on that should take it far in the playoffs, particularly if Minnesota finishes top three in the West.

    NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (24-17) – B

    There’s a lot to like about what the Pelicans are doing in an overall promising season for a team on the rise. So much hinges on Zion Williamson, with the former No. 1 pick still struggling to consistently produce at a superstar level he’s capable of every game. Until Williamson fulfils his enormous potential, the Pelicans just aren’t in the same echelon as the West’s best teams – even if co-stars Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are turning in big seasons and New Orleans has arguably the deepest team in the NBA. That includes exciting Aussie young gun Dyson Daniels, whose role continues to grow in Willie Green’s rotation.

    NEW YORK KNICKS (23-17) – A-

    Has the OG Anunoby trade turned the Knicks into a legit contender to come out of the East? While it might be too early to say, New York has certainly taken a big leap forward since the defensive stud’s arrival in the Big Apple – and it appears to be closer to the likes of Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Tom Thibodeau’s side is 6-2 since acquiring Anunoby – a stretch it’s been ranked first in the NBA defensively – including taking the scalps of the Timberwolves and 76ers. The trade has also helped simplify the Knicks’ offence around Jalen Brunson, the engine of this team, and Julius Randle, who deserves credit for turning around his season after a slow start.

    OG Anunoby has made an immediate impact. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (27-1) –A+

    Many predicted the Thunder would make a leap this season, but not many saw them becoming a genuine contender to win the whole thing. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing at an insanely high level as a legit MVP contender, Chet Holmgren has provided more than the Thunder could’ve dreamt of in his first year, and basically the rest of the supporting cast has gotten better including a big second-year leap from Jalen Williams. Josh Giddey still hasn’t quite hit his straps despite an uptick in form in recent weeks, but there’s plenty of time for the 21-year old to turn things around in what looms as an important second half of season for the Aussie. Sitting second in the West with the fourth-best record in the league and the second-best net rating, Mark Daigneault is a worthwhile Coach of the Year candidate.

    ORLANDO MAGIC (22-18) – B+

    Starting the season in such strong form including occupying the second seed in the East for a key stretch, the Magic, hampered by injuries, have lost their way in recent times. Orlando has dropped six of its last nine games to slide down to a play-in spot, currently sitting eighth in the East. Both Markelle Fultz and Joe Ingles recently returned from injury in a welcome boost, but Franz Wagner’s ongoing absence continues to hurt them. Producing an All-Star calibre season, Paolo Banchero needs more help, making the Magic an interesting team to keep an eye on as potential buyers at the trade deadline. Still, they have a top-three ranked defence and are one of the big improvers.

    PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (26-13) – A

    The Sixers are again one of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference, with Joel Embiid arguably the most dominant player in the league. Should Embiid play enough games, the superstar centre will be firmly in the mix to claim a second-straight MVP, having led the team at both ends of the floor – where it’s ranked top five both offensively and defensively. Running partner Tyrese Maxey has also been superb as the frontrunner for Most Improved Player of the Year, and the collection of players Philly got in the James Harden trade has helped round its roster with considerable depth. The big question is whether Darryl Morey thinks the current roster has enough to contend for the title, or if he looks to make another big move by the deadline. For as constructed, the Sixers would have space for another max contract in the off-season.

    Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate again. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    PHOENIX SUNS (22-18) – C-

    While we don’t have a proper gauge on how good the Suns could be with their Durant-Booker-Beal big three on the court together amid constant injury setbacks, that’s becoming a concern at the midway point of the season for one of the most hyped teams going into the campaign – and rightfully so. This is a team too talented to only be sitting in the play-in right now. In saying that, Phoenix has looked much better recently, going 7-3 over its last 10 games, while the team is ranked 11th in offensive rating and 16th in defensive rating in areas of their game with clear upside with more continuity. Again, everything is predicated around their stars staying healthy, which has proven hard to trust. No matter, it’s a team you wouldn’t want to face in the post-season. Need to see more.

    PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (10-29) – D

    The youth movement is in full effect at Portland, and at least you can see the vision, with Scoot Henderson recently getting greater opportunities as the starting point guard alongside Anferne Simons in the back-court. You sense that trend will only continue in the second half of the season, even when the Blazers get all their players back from injury, as the franchise commits to prioritising the development of their young guns and getting more high-end draft picks. Deandre Ayton’s absence has opened the door for Dup Reath to draw several starts at centre, with the 26-year old Aussie making the most of his opportunities in an impressive stretch.

    SACRAMENTO KINGS (23-17) – B+

    Another team that always seems to put on a show every game it plays, with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading the way again for the Kings. Their high-octane offence has dipped slightly from last season – dropping from first to 14th – though it’s more a by-product of the rest of the league scoring more. Keegan Murray has meanwhile produced the best stretch of his career in recent weeks as a legit third option, and he should only get better and better from here on in. Sitting seventh in the West, you get the impression the Kings are a move away from being legit contenders in the stacked conference.

    SAN ANTONIO SPURS (7-32) – D-

    Outside of Victor Wembanyama, there hasn’t been a whole lot to get excited about for the Spurs, who sit dead last in the West in what’s been a dismal season for the once powerhouse franchise. It included San Antonio suffering a franchise record 17-game losing streak earlier this season, where it was clear how inexperienced and far behind this young team is. Gregg Popovich has officially given up on the Jeremy Sochan point guard experiment, with Tre Jones recently being reinstalled in the role. The only thing saving them from a fail has been the aforementioned Wembanyama, with the prodigal No. 1 draft pick as good as advertised, if not better, locked in a battle with Chet Holmgren for the Rookie of the Year award.

    Victor Wembanyama has enormous potential. Alex Slitz/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    TORONTO RAPTORS (15-25) – D

    A team that has the tools to be competitive has very much underwhelmed – a whole 10 games below .500 in the East’s 12th seed. And so the franchise has continued to retool its roster by sending OG Anunoby to the Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in a move that gives the Raptors two exciting young pieces to move forward with. Maybe Barrett can reach his potential, or at least become the best version of himself, in his home country, while Quickley shapes as the team’s long-time point guard. There’s still a potential Pascal Siakam trade to come at the trade deadline, with Toronto on blow it up watch.

    UTAH JAZZ (22-20) – B

    Here they come! The Jazz’s dire start to the season is now a distant memory, having won six games in a row including 12 of their last 14 to get above .500 and climb into the ninth seed in the West, currently sitting above Houston. Over its last 15 games, Utah ranks top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating and has the league’s fifth-best rating. Lauri Markkanen probably isn’t getting enough respect for backing up his epic All-Star season, while Colin Sexton has been outstanding since getting moved into the starting line-up. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Jazz sold one of their veterans, like Jordan Clarkson or Kelly Olynyk, to a contender at the deadline in the perfect sell-high moment to get Utah more long-term assets.

    WASHINGTON WIZARDS (7-32) – F

    The only bigger disappointment in the Eastern Conference than the Pistons has been the Wizards. While not many thought Washington would do much this season, it was hard to foresee it being this bad. For a team in tanking/rebuild mode, there hasn’t been many positives by the way of exciting young players, with Pick 7 Bilal Coulibaly having some bright moments but being held back at times. Heck, the Wizards would’ve probably been better off keeping Chris Paul and his expiring deal instead of effectively flipping him for Jordan Poole, who suddenly has one of the worst contracts in the NBA.

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  • Image reveals Warriors’ huge Curry problem… and the moves that could fix mess

    Image reveals Warriors’ huge Curry problem… and the moves that could fix mess

    What’s happened to the Golden State Warriors?

    For the first time in over a decade, there’s wholesale problems for the once invincible organisation – some more obvious than others – with a man by the name of Steph Curry seemingly holding it all together.

    Indeed, let’s not forget this team was only recently the envy of the NBA, winning four championships from 2015 to 2022 in one of the most dominant dynasties in the history of the game — for some, the greatest ever side

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    Every move the Warriors have made in recent times has been to try and prolong and squeeze every last drop out of this golden era, led by Curry and coach Steve Kerr.

    It’s not outlandish to think that dynasty could yet continue, particularly with Curry still in his absolute prime at age 35. One thing is however clear — what’s worked in the past isn’t working anymore, with change in shape or form needed.

    Where to here for the Warriors?Source: FOX SPORTS

    After already declining last season, the Warriors have been wildly inconsistent through the first quarter of this campaign. They have a 10-13 record to currently sit 11th in the Western Conference, meaning if the post-season started today, they wouldn’t be in the Play-In tournament.

    The analytics (17th in the NBA offensive rating, 16th in defensive rating, 18th in net rating) suggest they’re below average at either end of the court, with limiting turnovers still a big blemish, while Curry’s dominance has probably further masked those issues.

    The stars aren’t producing, Kerr is reluctant to give the young players bigger roles and they’re now engulfed in Draymond Green drama amid his indefinite suspension.

    Golden State just doesn’t have the same aura it once did when it was once the most watchable, flawless team in all of basketball and made everything look easy. It’s now in fact the opposite as it desperately searches for a spark to steady the ship.

    Below is a breakdown of the Warriors’ key issues, factors at play, what moves they could make and what all the big voices in the NBA fraternity are saying …

    (MORE) DRAYMOND DRAMA

    Let’s get the Draymond Green mess out of the way first, with the veteran forward’s indefinite NBA suspension probably the most pressing issue.

    Love him or hate him, Green has been the definition of the perfect glue guy for the Warriors as a key member on all four of those championship sides. His resume speaks for itself — a four-time champion, four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA player, eight-time All-Defensive player and Defensive Player of the Year.

    Some would even say he’s the best defensive player they’ve ever seen.

    And even though he’s not the player he once was, Green is still an integral member on the court for Kerr’s team and makes them significantly better … when he’s out there.

    Green for the second time this season has been banned by the NBA, on this occasion indefinitely, for a spinning punch on Phoenix centre Jusur Nurkic. It resulted in Green’s third ejection this season and continued a host of recent misdemeanours from the 33-year old.

    Only a few weeks ago, Green copped a five-game suspension from the NBA for putting Minnesota big Rudy Gobert in a sleeper hold. At the time, the league cited Green’s history of repeat offences as a reason for his lengthy ban.

    It came after Green in October last year escaped suspension by Golden State after punching then teammate Jordan Poole during pre-season practice in a bizarre incident that some believe contributed to the team’s undoing last season and appeared to expose cultural issues.

    Green was ejected from the Warriors’ clash with Phoenix after hitting Nurkic (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
    Nurkic laid on the floor after being struck by Green (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    So yes, the Warriors officially have a major Green problem, with the NBA saying his open-ended ban is a result of “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” adding that he would be “required to meet certain league and team conditions” before he’s allowed to return to play.

    “My first reaction was shock then sadness. What was striking to me was you looked at the reaction from the Warriors coaches on the bench – it happened right in front of them – and Steve Kerr’s very quick comments after the game,” ESPN journalist Zach Lowe said on NBA Today.

    “There’s just a resignation at this point. There are no more defences, it’s just an exhausted organisation and exhausted defences.

    “It’s just sad we’ve reached a point where a Hall of Fame level player is at least going to be half remembered for handicapping his team by being unavailable due to violent acts.

    “I think the Warriors’ resignation was very very telling … I think the Warriors are sitting around today almost helpless. They don’t know what to do or what’s next.”

    It comes after the Warriors only this off-season re-signed Green to a $100 million, four-year extension in a showing they still value him as a core piece to continue with … would they be regretting that now?

    For however long he’s sidelined, which is a massive blow from an on-court perspective in itself, the Warriors will need to navigate with a $25 million black hole to their squad.

    Green suspended by NBA ‘indefinitely’ | 00:34

    It will give more opportunities to their young players, namely Jonathan Kuminga (but more on that later) and could galvanise the Warriors in some way and force Kerr to experiment with his roster —both for the now and the future.

    Green’s suspension also makes him untradeable, so you can count him out of any hypothetical deals. It also impacts the front office’s impact to make other trades given how much the dynamic changes without him — unless it just doesn’t factor Green into the team’s future.

    His $100 million contract however will remain in pen on their books.

    What can’t be denied is the absence of Green lowers the Warriors’ floor and makes it even harder to see a path where the team gets back to looking like a contender, at least until, or if, he returns.

    In saying all that, Green is only part of the problem …

    IS IT TIME TO PASS THE TORCH?

    Even when Green was playing, he was below his best. But he wasn’t alone.

    Perhaps the biggest drawback for the Warriors this season has been the lack of production from their struggling veteran stars around Curry — a supporting cast that’s let down the two-time MVP.

    It’s simply not something a team with the biggest payroll in the NBA at over $211 million can afford.

    Andrew Wiggins has been a shadow of the player who helped lead the team to the 2022 championship — when he was basically the team’s second best player behind Curry.

    Wiggins has averaged a career-worst 12.1 points on 41.3 per cent shooting from the field, 27.9 per cent from three and 62.7 per cent from the line with 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists. It’s simply not enough production from a guy playing 27 minutes a night contracted for three more seasons for a total of $108 million (a contract that would also be hard to move).

    As quickly as the romantic story came together that was Wiggins finally living up to his potential by buying into a different role, it’s vanished.

    Could the Warriors trade Wiggins or Thompson? Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Source: FOX Sports

    Then there’s Klay Thompson, who though his form hasn’t been quite as dire, the sharpshooter is in a similar boat and on the decline.

    Thompson, who’s on a $43 million expiring deal, meaning he can hit free agency in 2024, has averaged 15.4 points per game – his worst return since his sophomore season – on a career-low 39.7 per cent shooting from the field and 34.3 per cent from beyond the arc.

    It comes amid uncertainty around Thompson’s future at the Warriors following a report from Shams Charania the team pulled a $48 million offer it had tabled to him over the pre-season and separate reports of tension between the player and organisation.

    Both Wiggins and Thompson have been benched by Kerr throughout key stretches in recent times in favour of his younger options like Kuminga, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. Is this a trend we expect might continue if the stalwarts aren’t getting it done?

    But if not the veterans, can the Warriors genuinely rely on the likes of Kuminga to get their season back and track — and push them into the next echelon — while the majority of their salary cap sits on the bench? These are the ongoing problems the franchise would be grappling with.

    Unfortunately, former Pick 6 Kuminga so far failing to take that next step as well as former Pick 2 James Widesman not panning out — culminating in his trade to the Pistons — has been a key drawbacks in the overall direction of the team given they were slated to be future stars and franchise cornerstones. That’s on the front office.

    Chaos! Giannis SPRINTS into Pacers rooms | 01:19

    It’s ideally now about finding the right balance between experience and the youth they do have and pushing the right buttons. That’s on coach Kerr.

    “I get the impression (Kerr’s) having a hard time with the political aspect of the minutes on this team where he’s favouring his veterans. In some regards, I understand the challenge Kerr is facing, but the reality is I’m not sure those guys can be the second or third-best player anymore,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said on The Mismatch Podcast.

    “Kerr is going to have to figure out: ‘How do I figure out the best balance of giving veterans opportunities and leaning on those guys like I have for 10 years now versus giving an opportunity to young guys who look worthy of the opportunity and players who can help assist Stephen Curry in continuing to be a high level team?’

    “Steph is the one guy you can’t question on the Warriors right now and the one guy who remains dominant. He’s having nearly a 50-40-90 season, he’s averaging nearly 30 points per game, so you can’t take for granted what the Warriors have still in Steph at 35 years old.

    “More than anything else I think they need to first figure it out internally with the guys that should be playing and how to manage those egos of some of those guys who have fallen off.”

    As O’Connor pointed out, before the Warriors contemplate any bigger moves, they first need to get a proper look at what they already have, and that can’t be deciphered over a 23-game sample when Kerr has largely leaned on his stalwarts.

    Kuminga is set to get more opportunities for the Warriors (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: FOX Sports

    Though we’re starting to see in real time his patience wavering.

    According to ESPN reporter Kendra Andrews, frustration is starting to wane over the organisation amid its slow start and myriad of problems as it looks to pass the baton to younger players in hopes of injecting some energy onto the court.

    “The locker room after (the Suns loss) was so bleak, empty and quiet – there was just no people in there,” she said on NBA Today.

    “There’s a lot of frustration from every angle – Draymond not being able to be on the court, with Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins and the starting line-up struggling so much.

    “They say: ‘We can’t talk about it anymore, we have to be about change’. We saw that first change when Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins were both benched in the fourth quarter.

    “So moving forward, we expect more Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moodey and Brandon Podziemski and less Wiggins and Thompson.

    “The young guys and Steph Curry, that’s what the Warriors are leaning on now.”

    CURRY FACTOR

    Most other teams in a similar position to the Warriors could simply accept defeat and undergo a rebuild.

    You won your championships and your guys are getting old, so push the reset button and go again

    But the Warriors are still armed with a superstar in Curry producing at a MVP-like level — he’s averaged 29.1 points on 46.8 per cent shooting from the field, 42.2 per cent from beyond the arc and 93.6 per cent from the line with five triples, five rebounds and 4.4 assists.

    So long as that remains (and he’s shown no signs of slowing down), Golden State will always pose a threat in the title race.

    After all, they’re not that far off now.

    Other teams spend years, if not decades, trying to land a player of Curry’s ilk including countless trips to the draft or all-in moves mortgaging surplus of draft picks and other assets.

    History shows you simply can’t compete for the top prize without a top five caliber player. So when you have one, you hang on for dear life, and it’s central to all your decisions and dictates everything you do,

    It further complicates Golden State’s situation as it’ll still be desperate to try and put talent around Curry capable of contending during the star guard’s peak. The fact he’s remained so calm and loyal during the team’s recent turmoil speaks volumes about his character, too.

    Exum SHINES as Mavs dismantle Lakers | 01:45

    Though we did start to see frustrations boil over on the court form Curry during this week’s loss to the Phoenix Suns.

    It’s a frustration that would echo throughout the entire Warriors organisation right now, and as ESPN’s Zach Lowe points out, his brilliance in some ways only adds to the despair of the current situation.

    “Steph Curry can still be the best player on a championship team, that’s what makes this all the more sad and frustrating. This guy is still the guy and the team around him is currently dysfunctional,” Lowe said on NBA Today.

    “They’re going to try and get creative around the trade deadline, because they know they know: ‘We’ve got a guy, the guy who’s been the foundation of everything we’ve built here. Steph Curry is still that good and we are failing him’.

    “I just don’t know what the solutions are.”

    Curry is still performing at an elite level for the Warriors (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    NBA analyst Chris Vernon meanwhile suggested the Warriors have to stay on their current path of attempting to contend so long as Curry is in his prime — and tweak the roster around him as necessary.

    “You’re never done being a contender if you’ve got one of the five best players on Earth,” Vernon told The Mismatch Podcast.

    “It is a matter of building out around them, it’s what Denver has done so well. It’s the challenge we talk about every off-season when it comes to Luka and the challenge we talk about with Joel Embiid.

    “The history of the NBA tells us you have to have one of those guys to be there in the end. And if you do have one those guys, you’ve got a chance.”

    Well then, what moves can they make to try and make this thing work?

    POTENTIAL MOVES

    The Warriors technically already made their ‘big move’ — or at least key change — in the off-season when they essentially flipped Jordan Poole for Chris Paul.

    But so far the 38-year old Paul hasn’t provided enough to take the team to the next level, and if anything, the veteran guard is on the decline.

    Plus there’s always the risk of the injury prone Paul suffering another setback, having already missed time this season.

    A kicker in the Paul trade however is that he has a non guaranteed deal for next year, meaning his $30 million salary is essentially an expiring deal — which would appeal to teams in a trade.

    Green ejected for wild swinging arm | 00:54

    The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor believes a combination of Paul and a young player/long-term asset such as Kuminga are the best assets the Warriors can offer in a deal to rejig the roster.

    “I believe they need to make some tweaks in order to sustain contention. Whether it’s trading Klay, which is the hard thing to do, because he’s Klay and he can still produce. Or trade Chris Paul, which I think is the solution, and trade Kuminga,” O’Connor said on The Mismatch Podcast.

    “Some of the young guys and future picks, that’s how you help shape the team around Stephen Curry in a way that allows him to continue flourishing in the post-season.

    “In reality, the issue is the diminishing talent level around Stephen Curry … they need to make a move for somebody else out there in the league.”

    Trading Thompson would also be a bold call given his status within the organisation — particularly with Green’s recent behaviour. How could they possibly off-load Thompson and basically show more devotion to Green?

    If Thompson leaves on his own accord as a free agent, so be it. But it’s a delicate balancing act for the organisation from a strategic point of view while trying to keep a positive culture, and most importantly, keep Curry, who according to multiple reports wants to finish his career with Thompson and Green, happy.

    In a story on theringer.com, O’Connor said the Warriors should call Toronto about Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby, Washington for Kyle Kuzma and Chicago regarding Alex Caruso.

    Could the Warriors target Anunoby or Siakam? (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)Source: FOX Sports

    Thinking bigger and as something as a hail mary, O’Connor also suggested Golden State at least asks the question of Clippers duo Kawhi Leonard or Paul George or even Utah’s Lauri Markkanen.

    Meanwhile, NBA analyst Bill Simmons ultimately believes the Warriors “have the wrong roster” and are “not big enough.”

    Having previously proposed a Kuminga-Wiggins for Siakam swap with Toronto, Simmons thinks the Warriors have to somehow find a way to add size to better match up with the other key contenders in the NBA.

    “They don’t have enough length and over and over again they’re getting overpowered,” Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

    “The way the league is going when you’re talking about Minnesota, the Lakers, Jokic, Embiid and the Celtics – all these teams have real size.

    “The 2016 model doesn’t work anymore. The league is different.

    “They have to either get (Wiggins) going or trade him. They can’t wait this Curry season. If this was LeBron, he’d be going nuts right now … they don’t have enough size and they need Wiggins to go. And if he’s not going to go, you’ve got to trade him.

    “I think that team is a trade waiting to happen.”

    ESPN’s quarter season awards! | 01:52

    ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski highlighted any team at the trade deadline has to weigh up “risk v reward”, suggested the Warriors would be pondering if there’s any move that can genuinely pish them into the next tier.

    For if a Siakam or Anunoby, for example, aren’t going to be difference makers, Golden State would simply be giving away assets for no gain.

    In the case with Siakam and Anunoby, they can also both become free agents next off-season along with other big names who are seen as gettable including DeMar DeRozan.

    “If you look at the standings and being honest with yourself as an organisation and aren’t a contender, you have to ask yourself if it makes sense to trade young players and draft assets. To chase something that isn’t there anymore,” Wojnarowski told NBA Today.

    “This group has to show management and ownership by the trade deadline they have righted this – they have become more careful with the basketball, stop fouling and make themselves available for games.

    “Because you get to a point where it doesn’t make sense, there are only so many moves to make and only so many assets you have to make them.

    “The Warriors have to believe they’re a legit contender to really go in and make some risks with the few assets they do have.”

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  • Perfect marks for four teams amid shock surges… but two glaring fails: NBA quarterly grades

    Perfect marks for four teams amid shock surges… but two glaring fails: NBA quarterly grades

    As we reach the quarter-way mark of the NBA season, it’s the perfect time to hit the pause button and reflect on how all 30 teams have fared.

    It’s been a campaign filled with epic match-ups, big breakouts, incredible superstar performances, drama and entertainment including the league’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, while a host of shock contenders have emerged and others have endured a tumultuous start.

    Taking into account the expectations for every team, their front office decision-making and generally what each franchise is hoping to achieve this season, here’s how we’ve graded the entire league through the first quarter.

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    Grades for all 30 teams at the quarter-way mark of the season.Source: FOX SPORTS

    ATLANTA HAWKS (9-13) — C-

    Contending for a Play-In spot and hovering around .500, the Hawks are pretty well on pace to what most expected, if not slightly underwhelming. One thing’s clear — Quin Snyder’s team is just a middle of the road team and not a contender to come out of the East as constructed. Atlanta will at least score a ton, however is ranked among the worst teams defensively. And what’s the splash move they can make without breaking up Trae Young and Dejounte Murray? Jalen Johnson was enjoying a breakout season prior to getting struck down with injury in an untimely setback for both the third-year forward and Hawks at large.

    BOSTON CELTICS (16-5) — A+

    The clear frontrunner in the title race. It’s been a hot start to the season for a Celtics powerhouse that has gotten even stronger after the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis — even if their true worth will be determined at the business end of the season – to boast the clear best starting five in the NBA. The early signs couldn’t be much better, with Porzingis in particular helping take Joe Mazulla’s team to another level at both ends of the floor as a rim protecting shot blocker and floor stretching five. Boston has the best record in the league, No. 4 defensive rating and No. 7 offensive rating. Full marks.

    BROOKLYN NETS (12-10) – C+

    Despite arguably battling the worst injury toll of any side in the league, the Nets sit just a game behind the sixth-seeded Cavaliers, and when healthy, have shown they can be a real handful. It’s largely been built around Brooklyn’s high-octane offence – ranked eighth in the league – as Cam Thomas has shined in a bigger role and Mikal Bridges has flourished as the true leader of the team. Ben Simmons’ ongoing back issue is however getting alarming. The Aussie could help the Nets improve offensively to give them a more well-rounded game. But when, or if, Simmons returns remains very much up in the air.

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    CHARLOTTE HORNETS (7-14) – D+

    Yes, the Hornets sit third-last in the East, but there’s a few things to factor in, largely their injury situation. Charlotte was without Miles Bridges for the first 10 games due to his suspension, while Terry Rozier also missed a key stretch. Since the aforementioned duo returned, LaMelo Ball suffered a nasty ankle injury, so we haven’t gotten a proper look at this Hornets team as constructed at full strength — a core that had the potential to contend for a Play-In spot. In saying all this, the Hornets have been a mess on the defensive end and have the fifth-worst net rating in the league, so they have a ways to improve, and injuries can’t be solely to blame for a team with the longest active playoff drought in the league dating back to 2016.

    CHICAGO BULLS (9-15) – D

    Are the Bulls … better without Zach LaVine? After a really grim start to the season, Chicago has curiously improved to 4-1 since LaVine was struck down with injury … time for a trade? You’d think Chicago has to pull the trigger on a move for either (or a collection of) LaVine, DeMar DeRozan or Nikola Vucevic at some stage to bring in long-term assets and continue to expose the likes of Coby White and Patrick Williams to bigger roles, as they have in recent times. Because what they have right now is the profile of a near enough lottery team despite being built to win now, so it desperately needs a reboot as the franchise arguably in the worst position of any. A big few months ahead for the front office.

    CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (13-10) – C+

    The Cavaliers have been simply solid this season. But for whatever reason, something has been off, while they haven’t had the same spark as last campaign and continue to struggle offensively. As good as Donovan Mitchell has been, just about every other Cleveland player bar Max Strus has struggled to take a step forward … plus is the Jarrett Allen/Evan Mobley froncourt viable long term? A team that was considered to be on the rise with a ton of potential has underwhelmed, even if its 13-10 record is far from disappointing. It comes in a particular crucial period with the franchise hoping to convince Mitchell to re-sign.

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    DALLAS MAVERICKS (14-8) – B

    Another team that has probably surpassed expectations, sitting fourth in the West as an offensive powerhouse, even if the Mavs have struggled defensively. Luka Doncic has done Luka Doncic things, but beyond the Slovenian superstar and Kyrie Irving, the Mavs lack consistent production from the rest of their squad and have really struggled on the defensive end — even with exciting rookie Derek Lively providing a real presence as a centre. And how much do we trust Irving to stay healthy and/or to not act up? It’s been an overall positive season, but until they fix their defensive issues, Jason Kidd’s side can’t be considered a true contender to come out of the West.

    DENVER NUGGETS (15-9) – A-

    The defending champs are in cruise control, though Nikoka Jokic has somehow gotten better to really cement himself as the consensus best player in the league/world. With Jokic running the show in the Mile High City, it’ll always be a dominant force, but they’ve at times been too reliant on him, particularly when Jamal Murray was sidelined despite Reggie Jackson stepping up in a starting role. Of course, prioritising health and peaking come May and June is the prime concern for Mike Malone’s squad as opposed to regular season wins and finishing as high as possible, with things ticking along just fine despite a recent three-game skid and some question marks about their bench and depth as a whole following the departures of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green.

    Shades of the King – Bronny makes debut | 01:15

    DETROIT PISTONS (2-21) – F

    A season from hell. Things can’t get much worse than what they are right now for the Pistons … can they? They’ve dropped a franchise record 20 games on the trot and have a league-worst 2-21 record. Monty Williams is constantly changing the line-up in hopes of finding a spark – but that in itself has been a problem as nothing has felt settled or stable. The sporadicness of Jaden Ivey – both the guard’s form and how he’s being used by Williams – has personified the team’s struggles. And while Bojan Bogdanovic recently returned to give them some veteran leadership, it’ll take more than that to turn things around.

    GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (10-12) – D+

    Is the dynasty Warriors era finally over? It certainly appears to be amid a rough stretch with just four wins from their last 14 outings. Steph Curry is doing everything he possibly can right now, but where’s the help? And what would happen if he got injured? Veterans Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have underperformed and Chris Paul already suffered his first injury setback, while Andrew Wiggins looks a shadow of the star that helped guide the team to the 2022 championship. Meanwhile Jonathan Kuminga has struggled to evolve into the player the team would’ve hoped for, and their other youngsters don’t appear capable to take on bigger roles – or at least Steve Kerr hasn’t been willing to give it to them – so there’s more issues than answers right now. A shake-up could be coming, either to the rotation or via trade.

    HOUSTON ROCKETS (11-9) – B+

    There’s been some hiccups along the way, but it’s been an overall promising season for the West’s seven seed. Ime Udoka has brought an intensity, defensive focus (ranked second in the NBA) and professionalism to the team we haven’t seen in years — boosted by the additions of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks as well as Alperen Sengun taking his game to another level. Some cracks started to appear over the last month or so and it felt like things could fall apart, but the Rockets have since steadied the ship in signs of genuine maturation. Houston does need to replicate its home form on the road, with just one away win so far (over reigning champ Denver), but there’s so much to like overall at the moment.

    Davis dominates in mid season title win | 02:31

    INDIANA PACERS (13-8) – A

    That In-Season tournament run felt massive including taking down Eastern Conference powerhouses Boston and Milwaukee en route to the championship game. Even if they didn’t raise the trophy, the Pacers would’ve gained a ton of confidence and respect. Plus, not only did it give Indiana playoff-like atmosphere experience against some of the best teams in the league, it was the coming out of a superstar in Tyrese Haliburton under the bright lights. Can we finally admit the Pacers won the Sabonis trade? There’s simply a ton of excitement surrounding Indiana right now as one of the most fun teams to watch and best stories of the first quarter of the season that current sits fifth in the East. It’s largely been because of the Pacers’ potent No. 1 rated offence, though they’ve leaked points on the other end.

    LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (12-1o) – B-

    Should the league be officially on notice? The Clippers are two games above .500 after winning nine of their last 12. The slow start in the James Harden era is a thing of the past as Tyrone Lu’s side is figuring things out and looking a genuine threat with a new starting line-up after Russell Westbrook’s move to the bench. We’re also seeing all of their big three, Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, playing well in the same games more consistently, while the Clippers have the NBA’s No. 8 defensive rating and No. 8 net rating. It comes in a crucial season for the franchise, having gone all-in with this roster ahead of the opening of its new stadium next year. You still can’t help but think, as quickly as things have come together, they could again fall apart, with the health of their injury-prone stars key.

    LOS ANGELES LAKERS (14-9) – A-

    They have to get extra marks for winning the In-Season Tournament, even if it ultimately counts for nothing from a bigger picture perspective. It’s otherwise been a similar-looking Lakers to last season — a robust defence but lacklustre offence and need for more consistent scoring alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with Austin Reaves struggling to step up in a bigger role and having more success as a sixth man. Through it all, LA is still 14-9 and getting close to full strength, with the likes of Jared Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent missing key time, while Cam Reddish has been a solid addition. The evergreen and soon-to-be 39-year old James is ageing like a fine wine and doing straight up freakish things at his age. Between James and Davis, who’s having one of his best defensive seasons, this team will always be a threat, plus you sense this Lakers team has room to grow with more continuity and could go on a run at some stage like last season.

    MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (6-16) – D-

    Operation keep their head above water until Ja Morant returns next week has been a fail for the Grizzlies, who’s also been without Marcus Smart and lost Steven Adams on the eve of the season to leave a bunch of key voids. Tyus Jones’ departure also can’t be understated as a guy who knew their system so well and how to run it whenever Morant was out. With that in mind, you can’t be too harsh on Taylor Jenkins’ crew. Morant will clearly provide a much-needed boost on the offensive end, but they also can’t expect him to return and magically solve all their problems. Not many lesser Memphis players have otherwise really stepped up with extra responsibilities, while Jackson Jr. hasn’t looked like the same defender without Adams there. The Griz have at least showed better signs in recent times to creep closer to having a somewhat respectful record and look capable of turning around its season with Morant and Smart back in the fold.

    MIAMI HEAT (13-10) – B

    You can be glass half full or half empty on the Heat depending on what your expectations are. But never sleep on Erik Spoelstra and company — and this season has proven no different despite Miami being without Tyler Herro for a key chunk of the season (though it’s becoming increasingly hard to trust the team to ever be consistently healthy). Miami just finds useful pieces to surround Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo with including draftee Jaime Jaquez Jr., while Duncan Robinson has enjoyed a bounce back season and the returning Josh Richardson has been a useful addition. There’s still a few question marks, with the Heat rated average on both ends of the floor amid a stretch of five losses from their last eight, but they’re in a good spot when Herro and now Adebayo return from injury all things considered.

    Silver breaks silence on Giddey drama | 00:43

    MILWAUKEE BUCKS (16-7) – A-

    It’s all kind of just going according to script for any team that lands a superstar in the off-season. Sure, the Bucks still have to improve significantly to just become an OK defensive team as they adjust to life with Damian Lillard. But through what’s felt like a slow start to the season under new coach Adrian Griffin, Milwaukee sits equal second in Eastern Conference and just a game behind Boston with the equal-third best record in the entire league. Not only are the Bucks figuring out how to best integrate Lillard with the rest of the team — most importantly, alongside star teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo — as well as other new pieces, but Khris Middleton is still (very slowly) being ramped up to full minutes. Reports of locker room drama involving Bobby Portis and Griffin is also a worry so early in the campaign. In some ways, all the apparent concerns make their .696 winning percentage even more impressive, but it’s very much is championship or bust season in Milwaukee, so expectations are rightfully high.

    MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (17-5) – A+

    Ticks all around for the team with the fourth-best net rating in the league. Seemingly the most improved team in the NBA this season, or at least, the team that’s made the jump from a playoff side to a true contender. Indeed, what the Timberwolves are doing feels real, built around the league’s No. 1 ranked defence led by Rudy Gobert getting back to some of his best form at that end of the floor. Minnesota has elite size otherwise that’s really worried opposition teams, while Karl-Anthony Towns is playing at a high level to function effectively alongside Gobert in the frontcourt, while Anthony Edwards just keeps getting better and better. And all of this despite Jaden McDaniels only appearing in roughly half their games due to injury.

    NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (13-11) – B-

    Are they good or not? The opinion on this team seems to flip-flop quicker than any either — and the Pelicans are an enigma of sorts. But when they’ve been at full strength, there’s an argument the Pelicans can compete with anyone in the Western Conference. The Pels have in recent times shown what they can do with all their pieces on the court together including winning seven of their last 11 games. Willie Green’s side has weapons at both ends of the floor and is deep, while Zion Williamson has looked fantastic at times despite some queries around his overall professionalism and commitment to his craft. Though a blowout loss at the hands of the red-hot Lakers in the In-Season Tournament semis was a misstep, there’s reason to be bullish about how far New Orleans could go this season if things click.

    NEW YORK KNICKS (13-9) – B

    It’s been a solid, but unspectacular start to the season for the Knicks, who have struggled against the best teams but are rated top 10 in all three of offensive, defensive and net rating. Despite this, New York still appears to be a move away from being a true contender that’s capable of hanging with the likes of Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia out East. Mitch Robinson being ruled out for at least the next two months after ankle surgery is clearly a big blow, while the wing/guard rotation feels crowded after New York brought in Donte DiVincenzo. Quintin Grimes even expressed frustration over his role given so much of the team’s offence is predicated around Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. How far can a team go that leans so heavily on those three on the offensive end?

    Curry tops Wemby in battle of the stars | 01:11

    OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (15-7) – A+

    The rebuild couldn’t be going much better. In fact, could the Thunder be sneaky contenders in the West? They’ve exceeded expectations this season to surge ahead of their time as the third-youngest team in the NBA. OKC is the only team in the NBA with a top six offensive and defensive rating, while it’s third in net rating. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a legit MVP contender, Chet Holmgren has been Rookie of the Year good to provide another dimension to Mark Daigneault’s squad and Jalen Williams has taken a leap forward in his second season. Plus, whoever Daigneault puts on the court, which can at times be fluid, always competes hard and buys in on the defensive end. All of this with a mountain of draft picks at their disposal to further upgrade their roster, there’s perhaps no team better positioned overall. The only real negative has been Josh Giddey’s underwhelming form on the court — not helped by the off-court investigation — as the Aussie struggles to find his role in an altered system.

    ORLANDO MAGIC (16-7) – A+

    The unexpected dark horse in the Eastern Conference behind it’s No. 2 rated defence and budding young guns. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are blossoming into stars, leading a team with killer instinct that’s taken several big scalps including the Nuggets and Celtics – arguably the best two teams in the NBA. It’s been all the more impressive considering Marklette Fultz has been limited to only five games due to an ongoing knee injury, though the guard’s absence has at least opened up more opportunities for the likes of Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony to really take their games to the next level. Meanwhile Joe Ingles has added an invaluable veteran presence off the bench.

    Embiid passes Barkley in stellar fashion | 01:23

    PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (15-7) – A

    You’ve got to respect the way the Sixers consistently remain in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, particularly after overcoming the James Harden drama that was. With Joel Embiid leading the charge in another MVP-calibre season and Tyrese Maxey emerging as a superstar, anything feels possible with these Nick Nurse-led Sixers. A faster-paced offence (ranked second in the NBA) and still rock solid defence (ranked ninth) under Nurse’s system has so far equated to the best net rating in the league. Veterans Nicholas Batum and Robert Covington have meanwhile been valuable additions on the wing from the Harden trade and provided better depth — plus Philly has a bounty of draft picks it can use to further bolster its roster. Should again be one of the key contenders to come out of the East, if not go a step further.

    PHOENIX SUNS (12-10) – B-

    It’s hard to get a proper read on Frank Vogel’s Suns given their new big three is still yet to share the court together this season. That was set to change this week with Bradley Beal’s imminent return, but now Kevin Durant is out, so the trio staying healthy will always be a concern. But Beal’s absence doesn’t completely let Phoenix off for a near .500 start given the franchise has gone all-in on a title with this roster, particularly given the defensive concerns have so far been validated. While it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, the Suns have still managed to stay in touch with the top teams in the Western Conference and shown they can compete with anyone. Though Durant has wound back the clock, this team will go as far as Devin Booker takes it in a new point guard role, while their role players have stepped up to fill voids.

    Celtics reign top of the East | 00:59

    PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (6-16) – D+

    To no great surprise, it’s been tough goings for the new-look Blazers this season as they move into rebuild mode after trading away Damian Lillard – but still have a blend of veterans in key roles. That slow start has been exasperated by Anferne Simons being sidelined for most of the season to date due to injury, while a host of other key names have also missed time. Portland has actually been solid on the defensive end, however is ranked second-last offensively in an area Simons will improve it. It feels like it’s only a matter of time before Scoot Henderson is handed the keys as the starting point guard role, with the Pick 3 draftee, Simons and Shaedon Sharpe the future of this franchise.

    SACRAMENTO KINGS (13-8) – B+

    After a slow start to the season, the still heavily offensive-focused Kings have gotten a roll in recent times with five wins from their last seven to make a charge in the Western Conference standings. De’Aaron Fox just keeps getting better and better, in the best form of his career and playing at an MVP level with a much-improved three-point stroke, while Malik Monk might be the most underrated player in the NBA as a sneaky Sixth Man of the Year candidate. The issues on the defensive end remain a problem though and have halted Sacramento from making the jump from being a fun – but potent – team last season to a legit West contender to be taken more seriously.

    SAN ANTONIO SPURS (3-19) – D-

    Expectations recalibrated. A team some thought was capable of making a run for the Play-In with the addition of Victor Wembanyama has been a mile off and is in contention for having the worst record in the league. They’ve dropped a franchise record 17 straight games and … well, look like a young team still figuring things out and their identity as a whole. The Spurs have been a mess at both ends of the floor – rankled dead last offensively and sixth-last defensively for the league’s worst overall net rating. The Jeremy Sochan point guard experiment has been abandoned, and right now, outside of Wembanyama, there’s not a heap to be bullish about on the roster for the future (though Wembanyama might be more than enough). But again, this is a team that was always going to suffer from some type of growing pains and can at least say they planned for such pain by committing to a rebuild — even if they weren’t expected to be this bad. Hard to give a team a fail that just landed a generational talent, who’s looked as a good as advertised.

    ‘Not who we are!’ Pop BURNS home crowd | 00:30

    TORONTO RAPTORS (9-14) – C-

    A contender for most confusing team in the NBA in terms of what it’s trying to accomplish, currently sitting outside the Play-In qualification. The Raptors have dropped four in a row amid struggles at both ends of the floor under new coach Darko Rajaković. If they can’t get things together soon, a trade involving Pascal Siakam and/or OG Anunoby by the deadline seems likely given both can become free agents at the end of the season. It very much feels like Scottie Barnes’ team now in a brilliant third season from the forward as the franchise cornerstone they should build around, while every other Raptor feels expandable.

    UTAH JAZZ (7-16) – D

    How long until the Jazz commit to all-out rebuild mode? Despite having a surplus of draft picks from the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades, Utah has attempted to regenerate its roster on the run and stay competitive in the always loaded West — evident by its off-season move for John Collins. However the team has really struggled this season compared to last. While the absence of Lauri Markannen in recent times hasn’t helped and Walker Kessler has also missed a key chunk of the season, the Jazz have dropped five of their last six games and are plummeting quickly in the West standings in campaign getting away from it. Given Utah owes OKC a top-10 protected pick, don’t be surprised if Will Hardy shakes things up soon and puts his younger players into bigger roles, while the Jazz could also be sellers ahead of the trade deadline to ensure the franchise takes something away from this season.

    WASHINGTON WIZARDS (3-19) – F

    It’s been bad. The Wizards have just one win from their last 15 games to remain anchored in a bottom two seed with Detroit in the East. While it’s been by design after Washington off-loaded Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis in the off-season for long-term assets, there hasn’t been much get excited about by the way of young players impressing. And so there’s not many positive takeaways for this season outside of the Wizards potentially ending up with a top draft pick. This year’s Pick 7 Bilal Coulibaly figures to move into a bigger role as the season goes on, while Washington’s other high-end draftees look like misses that haven’t warranted increased opportunities. Jordan Poole has been a big disappointment, while the ex-Warrior and/or Tyus Jones could find themselves in another jersey by the deadline.

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  • Clear No.1 plus shock riser nobody saw coming as contender falls from grace: NBA Power Rankings

    Clear No.1 plus shock riser nobody saw coming as contender falls from grace: NBA Power Rankings

    We’re six weeks into the NBA season in one of the most even title races in recent history… barring one clear standout.

    It’s come amid a host of big improvers in an exciting new era of stars, while several other sides have disappointed.

    Read on for the latest NBA Power Rankings. All records/numbers accurate as of Thursday night AEDT.

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

    What are the Power Rankings? This is our attempt to rank every NBA team from best to worst. We take wins and losses into account, but also the quality of opposition faced and whether teams are likely to get healthier or improve going forward. It’s a little bit ‘who’s hot and who’s not’; part predictive, part analysis of what’s happened. If Team A is above Team B, we’d probably tip A to beat B at a neutral venue.

    Every NBA team analysed in our Power Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS

    1. BOSTON CELTICS (14-4)

    Who else but? Continuing on from last campaign’s dominant regular season, the Celtics appear to have gotten even stronger with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Integrating such key pieces to a rotation can take time for teams to adjust, but not Boston, having posted a top eight offensive rating and top three defensive rating. Still undefeated at home, the Celtics’ +9.6 point differential is the best in the league. Not only do they have top-line stars, most notably Jayson Tatum, who’s having another MVP-calibre season, but Joe Mazulla’s rotation is arguably the deepest and most talented in the NBA. It’ll help them mitigate injuries (provided they don’t come at the business end of the season). Can anyone stop them? The clear best team in the league right now.

    2. DENVER NUGGETS (13-6)

    The reigning champs have been in cruise control in the early parts of the season, while Jamal Murray has been limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury … yet they still sit second in the West standings at 13-6 and have a top 10 offensive and defensive rating. It included a particularly strong start to the season before the Nuggets hit a lean patch, dropping four of five games as their less experience and depth compared to last season showed. But a road win over the Clippers on the second half of a back-to-back without Murray, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon displayed championship DNA at its finest and would build huge belief in the second unit and team as a whole. Jokic remains out-of-this-world good as the current frontrunner for the MVP in what’d be his third overall. Oh and they’re also the only other team still unbeaten at home.

    ‘Wait a minute!’ Smith blasts ‘idiots’ | 02:01

    3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-4)

    One of the big surprise packages so far, Minnesota is emerging as a legitimate contender before our eyes. In fact, it’s the Wolves we thought we were getting last season after three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert joined the team, as his twin tower frontcourt pairing with Karl Anthony-Towns is starting to flourish. Sitting first in the West with the best defensive rating in the entire NBA – built around Gobert, and great size and flexibility that’s really troubled opposition – the Wolves have taken the leap into the top tier of teams. Then there’s the Anthony Edwards piece, with the star guard evolving into a MVP-level superstar that plays both ends of the floor and has a certain dog and killer instinct about him that reminds you of some of the game’s all-time greats.

    4. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-5)

    The new-look Bucks are starting to figure things out – and that’s a scary prospect for the rest of the NBA. After a slow start, Milwaukee has won eight of its last nine games and is beginning to live up to the hype after recruiting Damian Lillard to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and create one of the most dominant one-two offensive punches in the NBA. Though the Bucks have the fourth-best offence in the league, there’s still issues at the other end of the floor, with a bottom 10 defensive rating. Brook Lopez is starting to rediscover his dominant defensive form from last season, but misses having Jrue Holiday out on the perimeter, while Khris Middleton is still ramping up to full health after off-season knee surgery. If they can make improvements on the defensive end to at least be middle of the road, the Nuggets showed last season you don’t necessarily need to have an elite defence to win it all. Could they simply score their way to a title?

    5. PHILADLEPHIA 76ERS (12-6)

    Couldn’t have navigated the James Harden trade saga much better. It was addition by subtraction for the Sixers, with Harden’s departure paving the way for Tyrese Maxey to evolve into a superstar – even if he’s cooled off from his epic early-season heights – while Joel Embiid continues to do Joel Embiid things. The star centre has also improved as a facilitator, averaging a career-best 6.6 assists per game. Philly also added a host of handy role players in the Harden trade plus assets it could use to recruit another star by the trade deadline. They sit top four in the East and have the second-best points differential (+8.7) in the NBA, having shown a ruthlessness to really crush teams. Nick Nurse’s team has the second-best offence – playing with more movement and freedom than last season – to go with a top 10 defence. A team with all the tools to make another deep playoff run.

    6. ORLANDO MAGIC (13-5)

    The other shock riser – and this one has been even more unexpected – including riding a current seven-game winning streak. Orlando was seen as a fun, budding team on the rise, but not many could’ve predicted Jamahl Mosley’s side would be this good, this fast. The Magic have the third-best record in the East and their improvement has largely come behind a more robust defence – currently the second-best in the league. They simply have guys who compete hard every game like Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony, while Paolo Banchero has taken his game to new heights alongside co-star Franz Wagner, an elite running partner who’s still somehow underrated. Joe Ingles has also provide invaluable leadership and stability off the bench. The Magic, who’ve taken down arguably the best two teams in the NBA in Boston and Denver, have done all of this with Markelle Fultz missing most of the season with a knee injury!

    Booker torches the Garden with dagger 3 | 00:37

    7. PHOENIX SUNS (11-6)

    The Suns are coming. Despite Bradley Beal being restricted to three games due to a back issue and Devin Booker also battling injury, they’re still sitting in the upper echelon of the always competitive West. Kevin Durant has wound the clock back to look like… well, prime Kevin Durant, while Booker too has had some monster performances top really ascend his status to the top-line superstars. What’s also been encouraging is how recruits Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen have stepped up with more opportunities and Jusuf Nurkic might have found his perfect landing spot. It’s the defensive end of the floor where there’s still some issues, but sitting 11-6 despite their new big three having never played together yet and there’s huge reason for optimism in the Valley of the Sun.

    Giddey starts for OKC amid investigation | 00:50

    8. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (11-6)

    Another big improver and team that looks genuinely ready to contend, perhaps slightly ahead of its time. OKC is ranked top seven both offensively and defensively and doesn’t seem to fear anyone. The impact of former Pick 2 Chet Holmgren has been significant, with the gun big man emerging as the unlikely frontrunner for Rookie of the Year over Victor Wembanyama, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be crazy good to back up his breakout 2022/23 season. Mark Daigneault is generally getting better production across the board from the likes of Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe, allowing him to be more flexible with his line-ups. The hovering allegations about Josh Giddey have been the only real downside amid an indifferent start to the season for the Aussie, but there’s so much to like about what the Thunder are doing. And all of this with a mountain of draft picks at their disposal to upgrade the roster when they see fit. Look out.

    9. DALLAS MAVERICKS (11-6)

    The forgotten contender in the arms race following last season’s big disappointment, even after they acquired Kyrie Irving. But Luka Doncic looks like a man on a mission – with a better roster around him including a barrage of three-point shooters. It’s the offensive end of the floor where Dallas has really excelled – boasting the No.3 offensive rating – while they do have a ways to improve defensively to be taken more seriously as a legit contender. But the Doncic-Irving duo has proven to be a real handful, plus in Dereck Lively II the Mavericks have a promising big man for the first time in several years. It’d be nice to see more consistency from Josh Green, though the Aussie remains an important member of the rotation and has had some bright moments.

    Kings topple Warriors for Group C throne | 00:57

    10. SACRAMENTO KINGS (10-7)

    The beam is starting to come alight. After a 2-4 start to the campaign where the Kings looked like a big regression contender, they’ve rediscovered their spark, going 8-2 over their last 10 games including 4-2 over a recent road trip. The offence from last season is starting to come back too, led by De’Aaron Fox amid a spectacular start to the season from the star guard, who’s averaged a career-best 3.1 three-pointers per game. And Mike Brown’s team has improved at the other end of the floor to become middle-of-the-road defensively. Keegan Murray hasn’t quite taken the second-year leap in what could really propel the Kings to another level, which might be more likely to come in the forward’s third season.

    11. LA LAKERS (11-8)

    It’s been an up and down start to the season for the Lakers — and perhaps they’re ultimately not the contenders we thought they were amid a host of other Western Conference sides improving. While it’s still early days, LA has had issues at both ends of the floor — mainly the offensive end (ranked bottom three in three-point shooting) — as Darvin Ham works through finding his best line-ups after a few off-season changes to the roster. They’ve also been affected by injury and have struggled on the road (3-6). Beyond Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who’s still freakishly good at near age 39, there’s a lack of other consistent production, even if D’Angelo Russell has bounced back from a disappointing playoff series, while Austin Reaves hasn’t had the breakout season come expected in year three and has been moved to the bench.

    LeBron suffers WORST loss in NBA career | 00:51

    12. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10-8)

    The Cavs have overcome a slow start to the season to get on a roll in recent times, having won six of their last eight games. We frankly haven’t seen Cleveland at full strength enough yet this season to get a real grasp of where this team is at – a team that finished top four in the East last season. The core remains as talented as some of the top sides and the addition of Max Strus has been a big win to add much-needed three-point shooting on the wing. The Caves don’t really want for anything, though there’s question marks of whether the Even Mobley-Jarrett Allen frontcourt is viable long-term given the spacing issues. It comes in an important juncture and season at large for the franchise as it’ll be hoping to convince Donovan Mitchell to stick around long-term, in one of the potential trade narratives to keep an eye on.

    13. NEW YORK KNICKS (10-7)

    When it’s all clicking for the Knicks, they’re a strong unit. Jalen Brunson proved last season was no aberration, backing up his breakout campaign to again lead this team, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett haven’t been quite as consistent even though the latter has shown an improved three-point stroke. New York does have a top-five ranked defence and the 11th-best offence, but Tom Thibodeau’s squad has struggled against the best teams in the league. From that perspective, how far can a Brunson-Randle-Barrett trio go — even with an improved roster around them? Might be one big move away from seriously contending.

    Knicks stun Heat with comeback in NY | 01:16

    14. INDIANA PACERS (9-7)

    With Tyrese Haliburton in this kind of form, anything might be possible. Haliburton is putting together an All-NBA level season, averaging stupidly good numbers across the board (25.9 points on 51 per cent shooting, 3.8 triples and 11.9 assists per game). It’s been key to the team’s promising 9-7 start to the season, with claim to the league’s No.1 offensive rating while averaging 127 points per game. It’s completely opened the Pacers up defensively though …and where’s Haliburton’s help coming from? Myles Turner’s minutes are down, while Rick Carlisle seemingly can’t decide if he wants to develop Benedict Mathurin as a starter or just play veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield heavy minutes, with the latter more of a win-now move. Bruce Brown has been a handy addition, but he’s more a role player than anything. Another team to watch ahead of the trade deadline.

    15. MIAMI HEAT (10-8)

    Another team that’s hard to figure out, albeit hampered by injuries, As if coming off an NBA Finals appearance as the eighth seed didn’t already make it tricky enough! The Heat have at least navigated the majority of the opening weeks without star guard Tyler Herro, who looked set for a huge breakout season as Miami’s leading scorer, and they’ve clearly missed his offence. The good has been good — including a seven-game winning streak and Bam Adebayo rolling in a career-best season to take on the mantle as Miami’s alpha. But the bad has been bad — opening the campaign 1-4 and currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, while there’s question marks of the team’s depth.

    16. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (10-9)

    One of the biggest enigmas in the NBA … are still an enigma? There’s been some good and some bad — including a five-game losing streak — and they’ve all-round just been an average side. It’s a somewhat disappointing return for a franchise that spent parts of last season as the No.1 seed in the West and could be so much more with Zion Williamson. But the former No.1 pick hasn’t yet lived up to expectations and has appeared frustrated at times with how the team is going and his role. Frankly, we haven’t seen Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on the court together enough to get a proper gauge of how good they can be. McCollum’s lung injury did open the door for Dyson Daniels to play more minutes though and show a glimpse of the Aussie young gun’s promising future.

    17. LA CLIPPERS (8-9)

    Still adjusting to life with James Harden, the Clippers might’ve worked things out. After starting the Harden era 0-5, Tyronn Lue’s side has since won five of its last seven games as it starts to move up the West standings. There were always to be growing pains with Harden and a need to fine-tune rotations, which has ultimately seen Russell Westbrook move to the bench. Well, over their last six games, the Clippers have the best defensive rating in the league, while Harden is coming off his best game yet as a Clipper with a season-high 26 points, five triples and five steals. Paul George’s hot start to the season hasn’t been talked about enough too amid the team’s struggles.

    18. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (8-10)

    It’s hard to know what to make of Golden State at times and how much we judge Steve Kerr’s team on reputation. Some predicted the addition of Chris Paul would take the Warriors to the next level, but right now they’re sitting just inside the Play-In qualification. It’s been the same story as last season — they rely too much on Steph Curry, Klay Thompson has been inconsistent and unreliable, Draymond Green has been engulfed in drama and the young players haven’t stepped up (but haven’t necessarily had opportunities to). Andrew Wiggins has meanwhile fallen off a cliff to leave a big scoring void, but Kerr doesn’t quite seem prepared yet to pass the baton to the next crop. They’ve gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and Paul has already suffered his first injury setback of the season.

    Curry tops Wemby in battle of the stars | 01:11

    19. HOUSTON ROCKETS (8-8)

    Ime Uodka has done some sort of job in his first 16 games as Rockets coach. A team considered a potential improver looks like a genuine playoff team. It’s been a bit of a seesaw — with revolving winning and losing streaks — but this team is highly disciplined defensively, helped by the addition of Dillon Brooks, is deep and has beaten reigning champion Denver twice. Having an established point guard in Fred VanVleet has provided more overall structure and Alpereen Sengun looks like a mini Jokic in a brilliant breakout season from the 21-year old centre. And to think the Rockets tried — and failed — to land Brook Lopez in the off-season in what would’ve almost certainly prevented Sengun from doing what he’s doing now. A really impressive start in H-Town in a big tick overall. Now just to replicate their home form (8-1) on the road (0-7) — and more Jock Landale too please!

    20. ATLANTA HAWKS (8-9)

    One thing you can count on with Atlanta — it’s going to score in bunches. The Hawks have the No. 5 offensive rating this season while averaging 122.5 points per game — trailing only Indiana — driven by Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Jalen Johnson’s emergence has offset John Collins’ departure, and so the forward’s injury leaves a big hole in Quin Snyder’s streamlined rotation — that has featured Patty Mills for all of five total minutes this season. After a promising start to the season, the Hawks have gone 2-5 over their last seven games, so they have a few things to figure out ahead of tough upcoming schedule including playing Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Denver in their next five games. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu remain locked in a minutes split at centre, but you sense it’s only a matter of time before Okongwu is given full rein.

    21. BROOKLYN NETS (9-8)

    The Nets have managed to keep their head above water despite battling a host of injuries to the likes of Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas. Considering the amount of changes to the line-up, Brooklyn would be happy to currently be sitting ninth in the East including currently riding a three-game winning streak. The team has also had the sixth-toughest schedule in the league, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, while Mikal Bridges hasn’t quite had the breakout season some anticipated yet. With all that in mind, there’s a fair bit of upside when — or if — the Nets get fully healthy.

    22. TORONTO RAPTORS (9-10)

    Offence has been the main concern for the Raptors — in particular their bottom-five ranked three-point shooting. As good as Scottie Barnes has been in a breakout season from the forward, it’s hard to get a grasp of this team’s identity. One game it’s Barnes leading the charge, the next it’s Pascal Siakam, while OG Anunoby has struggled amongst it all and Jakob Poeltl has been used sparingly despite costing the team a first-round pick and getting a juicy contract extension. Could they be sellers at the deadline? Dennis Schroder has at least enjoyed a strong season as the team’s new point guard to get back to some of his best form of years past.

    23. UTAH JAZZ (6-12)

    Lauri Markkanen is doing everything he can, but fair to say this season hasn’t started nearly well as last for the young Jazz. You could see it going either way in Utah — but it’s been tough goings for Will Hardy and company. After struggling in the opening games before getting injured, Walker Kessler now finds himself coming off the bench, though that should change soon, while Keyonte George has moved into the starting line-up in Hardy’s bid for more playmaking and movement in that opening five. The Jazz however still have major issues at both ends of the floor, and at some stage, they’ll need to commit to a path of either competing for the playoffs or rebuilding, as right now it feels like they’re trying do both but failing to achieve anything.

    24. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (5-11)

    Just when the Hornets were starting to turn their season around, the near worst possible thing happened – LaMelo Ball suffered another setback to his troublesome ankle that required surgery earlier this year. At full strength, Charlotte has a solid roster that could contend for the playoffs, but it hasn’t had all its key pieces on the floor together at once, with Ball central to everything. Controversial forward Miles Bridges has taken no time to get up to speed since returning from suspension, and now he and Terry Rozier in particular will need to take on a much bigger load with the Hornets’ franchise superstar sidelined for the next several weeks.

    25. CHICAGO BULLS (5-14)

    If it wasn’t already clear, it’s time to blow it up. Things are a mess for the Bulls right now — a team built to win now is a ways off and is sitting all the way down as the Eastern Conference 13th seed amid a five-game losing streak — including dropping eight of their last nine. If Chicago’s situation doesn’t improve, which, right now, it’s hard to see how it does, expect one — or both — of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to be wearing a different jersey by the trade deadline. At least then Chicago can start building with a new nucleus, because the current one is stuck in NBA purgatory — where no team wants to be.

    26. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (5-12)

    Going according to script after the Damian Lillard trade as the Blazers prioritise developing their emerging crop of youngsters including Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who should eventually take over the starting point guard job. Portland recently snapped an eight-game losing streak, with its offence the key area letting it down. Anfernee Simons having only played one game due to a thumb injury clearly hasn’t helped. Elsewhere, Aussie duo Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath are getting more opportunities in the rotation to show their worth, with the former’s defensive prowess again proving valuable.

    27. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (4-13)

    When is Ja Morant free to return again? It’s the question the Grizzlies would be repeatedly asking themselves amid a grim 4-13 start to the season as perhaps the most disappointing team. Because sure, having no Morant for over a quarter of the season is significant, but the Grizzlies have looked like a lottery team without him. It includes the Griz being ranked dead last in three-point shooting with the second-worst rated offence. Unlike Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. has struggled to step up with extra offensive opportunities. And as if it couldn’t get any worse, Marcus Smart is now sidelined for the next several weeks after suffering a nasty ankle injury. They did finally end their 0-8 winless drought at home — the last team to do so — after beating Utah on Thursday.

    28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (3-14)

    The Spurs are probably lucky they’re not even lower (not that there’s much scope). But it’s been the very definition of growing pains and teething issues for the rebuilding team in welcoming Victor Wembanyama into its young core despite the No.1 pick’s sensational start to his career. San Antonio is in the midst of a 12-game losing streak to sit dead last in the West, while its -12.9 point difference is the worst in the NBA. Maybe expectations were simply set too high amid the hype around ‘Wemby’ — but just because they’re not playing well doesn’t mean their future isn’t bright. The Spurs are simply in experiment and trial and error mode — so even a Play-In appearance feels unlikely right now. Devin Vassell missing five games due to an adductor injury hasn’t helped their cause.

    Spurs fall short despite Wemby heroics | 00:51

    29. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (3-15)

    Not that the Wizards were expected to be any good this season, but it’s probably been even worse than imagined, with Kyle Kuzma the sole shining light. It took for Washington to play the Pistons to end a nine-game losing streak and pick up its fifth overall win nearing the quarter-way mark of the season. Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones have underwhelmed, though neither have played big minutes amid some curious rotation decisions from Wes Unseld Jr. Ranked bottom 10 at both ends of the floor, the Wizards are officially in all-out tank mode and could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.

    30. DETROIT PISTONS (2-16)

    Perhaps the most alarming thing is that the Pistons started the season 2-1 and looked like a sneaky improver! Well, they’ve since lost 15 on the trot to hold the worst record in the NBA, with the eighth-worst defence and fourth-west offence. This is a team some thought could start climbing the standings after spending years going to the draft. But Detroit is still behind newer rebuilding teams like Portland, San Antonio and Washington, while Monty Williams can barely figure out his rotation and which players will help take this franchise forward. Having Cade Cunningham back has been important and rookie Ausar Thompson and second-year centre Jalen Duren have both impressed, but it looks set to be another long season in the Motor City — even if Bojan Bogdanovic’s imminent return will help.

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  • NBA 2023: Season predictions, overreactions, major awards, MVP, most improved player, defensive player, coach of the year, sixth man, Finals, latest news

    NBA 2023: Season predictions, overreactions, major awards, MVP, most improved player, defensive player, coach of the year, sixth man, Finals, latest news

    It’s still only late November and less than a quarter way through the NBA season.

    But what better time to make some (way-too-early) predictions for the major awards and season ahead? This includes a mix of overreacting to things we’ve seen so far this season along with general thoughts.

    With that, below are foxsports.com.au’s way-too-early predictions for the NBA regular season awards, plus the Finals.

    *All stats/numbers accurate ahead of Thursday’s games (AEDT).

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

    3! – Ingles sends multiple men jumping | 00:27

    MVP – Nikoka Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

    Running out of things to stay say about the Joker. Put simply, no other NBA player is on the same level as him. With Jamal Murray sidelined again, Jokic has had to take on another monster load for the 10-5 Nuggets this season. He’s averaged a career-best 27.4 points to go with 13.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game and continues to do things on the court we’ve never seen before from a player his size as an unstoppable juggernaut. In fact, his 32.84 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is the second-best ever in NBA history – trailing only his own 32.85 PER from his second MVP season in 2021/22. Perhaps Jokic’s best quality if however how he makes the players around him better, which is the true testament of an MVP, while his improvement on the defensive end has made him an all-round package. Plus, now that Jokic is regarded as the consensus ‘best player in the world’, how many extra votes will he receive? Particularly after he led the Nuggets to last year’s championship in a season he was snubbed the NBA’s top individual honour in favour of Joel Embiid.

    Jokic remains a juggernaut force (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/ Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

    CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder)

    Not far down the MVP ratings at this point. Gilgeous-Alexander has backed up his tremendous breakout 2022/23 season with another massive start to this campaign, leading the much-improved Thunder to a 11-4 start – the third-best record in the entire league. Of course, this is specifically an award about the best clutch player – so it’s a tough one to predict given it’s predicated on particular late-game moments. But in terms of which player we’d most want the ball in the hands of in such situations, you can’t go past Gilgeous-Alexander for his sheer efficiency on the offensive end in perhaps his greatest trait. This season he’s shot a career-best 53 per cent from the field with 1.4 triples (up from 9.9 last season) and 92.8 per cent from the line on 6.4 attempts (down on his ridiculously high 10.9 attempts last season). If he’s not scoring, he’s getting to the line and just never seems overawed by the big moments. Good luck stopping him from getting a bucket.

    ‘Shai challenged the GSW organisation!’ | 01:15

    COACH OF THE YEAR – Mark Daigneault (OKC Thunder)

    Continuing on from the Gilgeous-Alexander praise, the Thunder have been outstanding – and Daigneault deserves a ton of credit. The Coach of the Year Award usually goes to either the coach in charge of the outright best team or the coach leading a team well beyond expectations. Daigneault isn’t far off ticking both boxes right now, even though OKC was expected to take another leap. As mentioned, the Thunder’s 11-4 record is third-best in the entire NBA with a top seven offensive rating and top four defensive rating, while only Boston has a better overall net rating. Perhaps what’s most impressive is, outside of Gilgeous-Alexander (and now maybe Chet Homgren), the Thunder don’t have any clear-cut All-Stars and are still really young, while Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams have been a little up and down. It’s the Daigneault-led system that’s been so important, so it’s scary to think how good this team can be when it all comes together.

    Daigneault has done a tremendous job this season (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

    DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

    Time to give Gobert his flowers. For all the slack he copped last year and criticism of the mega haul the Timberwolves gave up to acquire him, the French centre and defensive beast is now delivering and then some. Any elite defence is built around its centre, and Minnesota has the No. 1 defensive rating this season led by Gobert, who’s averaged 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks (ranked top four in the NBA in both categories) – well up on his 1.4 blocks last season. We’re seeing the Utah Gobert of old again in terms of the way he can impact games defensively when he’s on. His main rival right now would be Anthony Davis, but given Minnesota’s hot 11-3 start to the season, we’ve given Gobert the edge – and it’d be remiss to not to acknowledge the Wolves in some way!

    Gobert looks like the Utah Gobert of old (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

    MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)

    We’re seeing a superstar evolve before our very eyes. Even if he’s cooled off slightly from the first few weeks, Maxey has taken his game to insane new heights this season– and seemingly made the Sixers better post the James Harden trade – as the team’s new co-star alongside Joel Embiid. Maxey has posted career-highs across the board including 27 points per game, 3.4 triples, shooting 93 per cent from the free throw line, 4.7 rebounds and seven assists. A lot was made about Philadelphia not getting a star back in the Harden deal, but it was addition by subtraction and giving a clear runway for Maxey to be able to do what he’s doing that’s proven to be a master stroke. And they still have assets to recruit another star – though you’d think it’d now have to be someone who fits in as the third star in the pecking order given Maxey’s ascension. Toronto’s Scottie Barnes is also in the mix for Most Improved, while Houston’s Alperen Sengun is starting to mount his case.

    Thunder strike Warriors in huge road win | 01:04

    ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Chet Holmgren (OKC Thunder)

    That’s right – not Wemby! It’s a clear two-horse race between Holmgren and Victor Wembnayma, but if you had to enter your ballot right now, you’d be picking the Thunder big man. After missing all of what would’ve been his rookie season due to a foot injury, Holmgren is making up for lost time in a massive way. He’s averaged 17 points per game, 1.6 threes, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per contest and is currently posting 50-40-90 shooting splits (field goal, three-pointer and free throw percentage) – splits not achieved since 2019 and only nine other players have posted in NBA history – to emerge as OKC’s second star alongside Gilgeous-Alexander. It included a monster performance against Golden State (36 points, two triples, 10 rebounds, five assists) where Holmgren hit a huge three-pointer to force overtime. We knew Holmgren was going to be good and fill a key big man need on the Thunder’s roster … but this good? Better than Wembanyama good!? The fact he’s played such a big role on one of the top sides and has been so efficient is why we’ve tipped him (for now at least) over Wembanyama.

    Holmgren has much a huge first impression (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

    SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR – Austin Reaves (LA Lakers)

    The award that’s perhaps most up in the air right now with no clear standouts. But since Darvin Ham moved Austin Reaves to the bench against Phoenix earlier this month, the Lakers have gone 6-2 and he’s maintained solid production, averaging 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals across the season. Even if Reaves hasn’t made the third-year leap some expected – particularly coming off a USA World Cup campaign – he’s still a valuable player able to impact games in multiple ways. And so extrapolating his stats – maybe with slightly improved scoring – and the Lakers’ uptick in form across a whole season and he’d likely be recognised as the league’s premier reserve. Of the other contenders, Dallas’ Tim Hardaway Jr. has enjoyed a hot start to the campaign and New York’s Immanuel Quickley has also been solid – but in a more crowded rotation – though Reaves, should he remain on the bench, might just have the clearest runway.

    NBA Wrap: Lebron’s record points haul | 02:03

    NBA FINALS – Boston Celtics defeat Denver Nuggets

    To cap things off, we’ve given our predictions for the Finals. It’s hard to go past the Celtics right now with what they’re doing, They have the NBA’s best record at 12-3 (meaning they’d have home-court advantage), the No. 1 overall net rating, No. 2 defensive rating and sixth-best offensive rating. The additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have given Joe Mazulla’s team more versatility and overall starpower on the floor, and it’s going to take some sort of effort to take four games from this team in a seven-game series. Philadelphia has been phenomenal in its own right and Milwaukee is figuring things out with Damian Lillard, but the Celtics remain the side to beat in the East. Out West, perhaps only Nikola Jokic and the reigning champion Denver can stop the Celtics. Minnesota and OKC are dark horses too to reach the NBA’s grand stage – and don’t count out the Suns or Lakers – but the experience and chemistry of Mike Malone’s side sets it apart. Plus, the Nugs have the best player in the world. To go back-t0-back, however, they’ll need to go through the Celtics, who appear to be a different beast to any team last year.

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  • Simmons truth we must accept; Heat’s major trade regret — Early NBA overreactions

    Simmons truth we must accept; Heat’s major trade regret — Early NBA overreactions

    The NBA is officially back in business.

    While we may only be a couple of weeks into the new season, there’s enough data points to make (unnecessarily early) takeaways from what we’ve seen so far.

    And so foxsports.com.au has below dived into some bold predictions, hot takes and general overreactions for the marathon season ahead.

    Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

    Ejected for this?! Giannis cracks it | 00:54

    LAVINE TRADED … TO PHILLY?

    Things are a mess in Chicago right now.

    A team built to win now is nowhere near it and currently closer to the other end of the standings at 3-6.

    In fact, the Bulls are probably the most disappointing team in the NBA so far for that reason, with sides below them either sitting where they’re supposed to be or with a valid reason to be struggling.

    Caught in basketball purgatory — where no team wants to be — Chicago isn’t contending nor rebuilding as one of the league’s most confusing sides.

    And so it’s time to trade Zach LaVine, who’s contracted until 2028, while the 28-year old guard still holds value.

    But where could he land?

    Philadelphia looms as a potential landing spot — or at least have the assets to make a deal — loaded with draft picks and expiring contracts after trading James Harden to the Clippers.

    Could LaVine get traded? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    LaVine would slot in as Philadelphia’s third star alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and help give it the firepower top contend with Boston and Milwaukee in the East (despite sitting above both right now), while the Bulls commit to a regenerating their roster and bringing in young talent.

    Of course, the Sixers might be happy to stay put, and you could argue they got better from last season with Nick Nurse at the helm and the Harden dark cloud lifted — sitting first in the East with the NBA’s second-best record at 6-1. But there’s also a fair argument they’re one more major piece away from being formidable.

    They could simply wait to lure a star free agent next off-season for no cost from a trade perspective, though would ultimately want to do something before Maxey is due to sign a max contract extension.

    Could say an OG Anunoby be a better fit?

    As for the Bulls, don’t be shocked if DeMar DeRozan and/or Nikola Vucevic followed LaVine out the door, too.

    JOKER ADDS THIRD MVP, NUGS GO BACK-TO-BACK

    As much as things change, they stay the same — Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are still really freakin’ good.

    Jokic has been at his dominant best, if not better. The superstar dual MVP winner has averaged a career-high 29.1 points to go with 12.9 rebounds and eight assists, recently moving past LeBron James with the fourth-most triple-doubles in NBA history.

    You have to wonder if Jokic missing out on MVP last year, then leading the Nuggets one of the most dominant title runs in recent memory, will earn him sympathy votes in this year’s ballot for the game’s top individual unless there’s another clear standout player on a top side.

    The Serbian centre has powered the Nuggets to an NBA-best 8-1 start to the season, with the reigning champs ranked second in the league in offensive rating and ranked seventh in defensive rating.

    Nuggets withstand Warriors to top group | 01:34

    The Luka Doncic led-Dallas Mavericks look much improved and the Golden State Warriors will always be a force with Steph Curry, but no other team in the West has looked on the same level as Denver through the early part of the season.

    While Jamal Murray will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, the Nuggets have the depth to cover the star guard, getting solid production from the likes of Reggie Jackson, Christian Braunn and PJ Watson off the bench as well as rookie Julian Strawther.

    It’s why losing gun sixth man Bruce Brown last off-season and not adding — or having the flexibility to add — any other meaningful pieces to their roster hasn’t been as dramatic a loss.

    Scary times for the rest of the league.

    WOLVES ARE LEGIT CONTENDERS

    Minnesota is ready to swim with the big boys.

    The 5-2 Timberwolves look like one of the most improved teams in the NBA this season that’s capable of making a deep playoff run, with everything starting to fall into place for this budding side.

    They did of course end both Denver and Boston’s unbeaten runs and have a certain killer instinct about them.

    Anthony Edwards just keeps getting better and is worthy of at least being in the MVP discussion, with the former No. 1 draft pick averaging a career-best 27.9 points per game.

    The Karl Anthony-Towns-Rudy Gobert twin tower frontcourt pairing is finally beginning to work as intended, helping the Wolves post the No. 1 defensive rating.

    The Wolves have started the season hot (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    Towns still isn’t quite performing at his best individually — or at least to the level of a second star on a genuine contender — but there’s time to figure that out and even potentially deal him for another valuable piece.

    The Wolves otherwise have great size and flexibility — including one of the game’s premier defenders in Jaden McDaniels — and depth at every position.

    Minnesota ultimately doesn’t really want for anything, and if it can improve a touch offensively, has all the tools to contend with Denver in the West.

    BUT LAKERS AREN’T A LOCK

    It was easy to be a Lakers believer this season.

    After going on an epic surge in the second half of last campaign all the way to the conference finals, LA arguably got better over the US summer by topping up its roster with Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish and re-signing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.

    But just like last season, LeBron James and company have started slow out of the gates at 3-5 and have one of the worst offensive ratings in the NBA.

    This isn’t to write the Lakers off in any way shape or form — and seeding and regular season form isn’t necessarily the priority — but are we sure they’re a certainty to again go deep in the playoffs?

    ‘Psychologically warped’ Smith slams LBJ | 02:13

    Despite nearing 39, James is ageing like a fine wine, but is still ageing, with Darvin Ham admitting he’s likely to be managed more this season. Anthony Davis has already had his first setback of the season, and the health of he and James is clearly central to LA’s success, which has been hard to rely on.

    This speaks more to the fact that several teams in the West appear to have gotten stronger including the Mavericks, Timberwolves, Warriors and Thunder, plus Phoenix hasn’t had its new big three share the court together yet this season.

    It’s early days, but the Lakers might just feel the crunch of a stronger Western Conference.

    PORZINGIS THE BEST OFF-SEASON ADDITION

    Boston was bold in upgrading its roster in the off-season, and boy does it look like a force as a result.

    Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have helped unlock a new level of the Celtics, who had the second-best record in the NBA last season, to now look stronger than ever before in the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown era.

    Boston boasts the NBA’s sixth-best offensive rating and third-best defensive rating, with the addition of Porzingis in particular providing line-up flexibility lanes on offence Joe Mazzulla’s side didn’t have last season.

    Porzingis has at times been maligned during his time in the NBA, so his move to the Celtics was arguably undersold amid a host of other blockbuster trades and signings.

    Porzingis and Holiday have been strong additions to the Celtics (Photo by Maddie Schroeder/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    But it’s arguably gotten to the point where Porzingis is underrated, with the Latvian centre averaging 20.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this season to emerge as the most valuable addition for any side.

    Chris Paul has been a significant upgrade for Golden State’s bench as perhaps the next best claim. However
    of the other big moves, there’s been defensive issues in Milwaukee integrating Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal has only played one game for Phoenix.

    Plus all Boston gave up to get Porzingis was Marcus Smart, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscula and Pick 35.

    It’s early days, and Porzingis does have a history of injury concerns, but the trade is so far paying dividends for the C’s.

    HEAT’S DAME REGRET

    While the Celtics are prospering from their big swing, the Heat missed a trick by not getting Damian Lillard.

    The seven-time All-Star was there for the taking for the Heat as the team he nominated to join before talks with Portland ultimately fell through and Lillard instead joined the Bucks.

    But with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in their primes and Miami coming off an NBA Finals appearance, what exactly are the Heat hoping to achieve by not getting Lillard?

    If there was a time to strike and go all-out for a championship push, it was now, with Lillard’s trade request coming at the ideal time. If not, what are we doing here?

    Bucks outlast Knicks in tight finish | 00:44

    It still feels like Miami is another piece short, particularly after the top of the East got stronger in the off-season and it lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.

    Even if it meant parting ways with Tyler Herro, the Heat just had to pull the trigger on a Lillard trade. As exciting as Herro is, Lillard is a clear upgrade for a similar type of player, whereas the Bucks swapping out Jrue Holiday changes the dynamic and their identity as a whole.

    Miami must’ve thought adding Lillard wasn’t the move that would’ve pushed it over the top and that it’d prefer to continue on the path of grooming Herro with Adebyayo. But even if Herro develops into the best version of himself, you’ve got yourself a Lillard.

    Sitting 4-4 to start the season after overcoming a 1-4 start, Miami is going to have to again embrace the underdog tag, and wonder what could’ve been watching Lillard in a Bucks jersey.

    SIMMONS IMPROVED … BUT TIME TO END ALL-STAR TALK

    Both of these statements can both be true …

    Simmons has gotten back to being a valuable player this season.

    Simmons won’t ever be the All-Star Simmons of old again.

    It seems every off-season we see the highlights video of a healthy Simmons working out and hype that he’ll get back to his dominant best in the forthcoming campaign.

    That same story played out in recent months, and so far the results have been more promising than ever.

    Simmons has looked better this season (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    The Aussie has averaged a career-best 10.8 rebounds per game to go with 6.7 assists, impacting the game in multiple ways like he’s made a career of — like something of a poor man’s Draymond Green — to be a strong contributor for the Brooklyn Nets.

    But his days as an elite — or even solid — scorer have long gone, with Simmons averaging a career-worst 6.5 points per game. Not only does Simmons’ jump shot remain non existent, he’s not attacking the basket like he used to.

    Health is clearly key for Simmons, so the 27-year old missing the Nets’ last game is of concern.

    Perhaps with more continuity on the court and he can yet reach another level, but those still clinging to the idea he can be an All-Star again need to accept reality.

    NOT EVEN JA CAN SAVE THE GRIZZLIES

    We knew it was going to be tough goings for the Grizzlies to start the season sans Ja Morant.

    But no one thought it was going to be this bad, with Memphis desperate to get its superstar guard back on the court (and so is my fantasy team).

    The Griz the worst record in the entire NBA at 1-7 including losses to the lowly ranked Wizards, Jazz and Trail Blazers.

    While Taylor Jenkins’ side’s defence has fallen away dramatically — ranked middle of the road after being ranked third last season — it’s the other end of the floor where it’s having major issues — ranked dead last offensively

    The Grizzlies are desperate for Morant to return (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)125-85Source: FOX SPORTS

    In the past Memphis, has gotten by without Morant just fine, but his absence has exposed other holes in their roster this time round. A season-ending knee injury to Steven Adams has clearly been a significant blow, too.

    Part of the issue has been the void left by Tyus Jones, who’s historically provided elite level production when filling in for Morant or in general running the second unit, after he was traded to Washington.

    Not a knock on Marcus Smart, it’s just an adjustment period for the Grizzlies playing with an entirely near point guard compared to the two they’ve had for several seasons.

    Memphis will have December 20 firmly marked in its calendar for the date Morant is eligible to return, but even then there will be a ramp up period, and it’ll likely take some time for the two-time All-Star to hit his straps.

    The Grizzlies just need to keep their head above water until them, but right now they’re sinking.

    WIZARDS TO HAVE WORST RECORD

    It’s going to be a long season in Washington (though by design).

    After trading away Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, the Wizards have made their intentions for this season clear even if they brought in useful pieces in Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole.

    But the Wizards’ rotation thins out quickly including Daniel Gafford being their only capable centre, hence the team’s second-worst defensive rating in the NBA.

    Outside of maybe Portland, who’s been competitive so far this season and has a solid spread of contributors, there’s no team better placed to finish with the worst record — and thus have the best lottery odds — than Washington.

    NBA Wrap: LeBron’s Lakers fall short | 02:32

    Fellow bottom dwellers like San Antonio and Houston seem to have gotten better, while Charlotte and Detroit have already gone to the draft and will also be looking to build.

    And frankly, the Wizards need more young talent with a lack of exciting youth coming through.

    It’s just unfortunate they got the tanking memo a year late.

    WEMBY WINS ROTY, LEADS SPURS TO PLAY-IN

    That leads directly into the next point, with the French phenom and No. 1 draft pick as good as advertised, if not better.

    Wembanyama is simply doing things on the court we’ve never seen from a rookie, at least not in recent times. The 19-year old blocking shots all over the court with unprecedented defensive versatility and has incredible shooting range for a 7-foot-4 giant.

    The Spurs sensation has been the clear premier rookie despite Chet Holmgren’s stellar form. Despite being eligible for Rookie of the Year, the Thunder big man is technically in his second season after missing the 2023/23 campaign through injury.

    Wemby drops career high 38 against Suns | 00:58

    And so Rookie of the Year is a clear two-horse race between the two, but the hype and excitement of Wembanyama should ultimately be overwhelming for the voters.

    Wembanyama has averaged 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest and led the Spurs to a solid 3-5 start to the season to have them in contention for a play-in appearance.

    Something of a wildcard team going into the season, the addition of Wembanyama could literally be the difference between San Antonio making the play-in. Yes, he’s that good.

    Sure, it’s going to be a bump road along the way, and winning games mightn’t be the Spurs’ main priority right now. But you sense they’ll be hovering around the 10 seed or close enough to for much of the season under the might of Wembanyama.

    TIME TO MOVE WESTBROOK TO BENCH

    The Clippers having four primary ball handlers — Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and James Harden — in the one unit was always going to be the big question mark after Harden’s blockbuster move from Philadelphia.

    And two games into the Harden era — for two losses — the Clippers clearly need to tinker with their starting line-up to get the best out of this roster.

    While it’s too early to even overreact to what sort of impact Harden can have on the Clippers, it’s clear one of the team’s four stars needs to move to the bench — and the odd man out is Westbrook.

    It shouldn’t be treated as a demotion, it’s just hard to see how a Leonard-George-Westbrook-Harden line-up can function with all four at their optimum.

    Westbrook had success as the Lakers’ sixth man last season before being traded across town, and he and Harden in the same starting five just doesn’t make sense — nor did it work for Houston all those years ago.

    Harden playmaking for Leonard and George then Westbrook coming on to run the second unit as a sparkplug seems more logical from an offence perspective, and that may well be the plan when Terance Mann returns from injury.

    The Clippers paid up for Harden and have gone chips in with this roster, so they’ll be desperate to make it work.

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  • The TV commercial snub and telling silence driving ‘disrespected’ NBA ‘juggernaut’

    The TV commercial snub and telling silence driving ‘disrespected’ NBA ‘juggernaut’

    Disrespect is nothing new for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

    After all, in case you forgot, Jokic — the two-time MVP who just added Western Conference finals MVP accolade to his resume — was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial.

    Who will win it all? Watch every game of the 2023 NBA Finals between Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat LIVE on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

    Obviously no one knew at the time that Jokic, who was selected as a complete unknown by the Nuggets with the 41st pick, would instead end up being the face of the franchise.

    For Jokic and Denver though, it was just a brief glimpse of what was to come. Just another example of what Nuggets fans had already known for so long. For 47 years really.

    But last Tuesday Denver made history, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time after sweeping away the Los Angeles Lakers — and some of those 47 years of disrespect in the process.

    That disrespect though, the chip-on-their-shoulder attitude that coach Michael Malone has instilled in this team, is a big part of why the Nuggets are in this position in the first place.

    And it starts with Jokic, because even if it took the rest of the basketball world much longer to take notice, Malone always knew.

    He always knew the true genius of Jokic’s game. He always appreciated the Serbian superstar for what he was and not what he wasn’t. Most importantly, he always knew Jokic was capable of taking the Nuggets all the way.

    Now they are just four wins away from lifting the Larry O’Brien championship trophy.

    Nikola Jokic celebrates with teammates after receiving the Most Valuable Player trophy for the Western Conference Finals. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “For me, he hasn’t proven anything,” Malone said recently when asked what Jokic had proven in the Western Conference Finals.

    “And why do I say that? Because I already know he’s a great player.”

    It is not like that is a matter of opinion anyway. The numbers back it up too.

    They tell you that Jokic is averaging 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists in these playoffs. Even the history books tell you he is the first player to average a triple-double through the first 15 games of the postseason.

    But you don’t even need the advanced statistics to tell you that Jokic has been the best player in the playoffs and was one of the best in the regular season. You just need to watch him.

    The way he and Jamal Murray have mastered the art of the pick-and-roll. The open 3-pointers for sharpshooters like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a result of Jokic’s gravitational pull.

    According to the NBA’s official website, Denver had an offensive rating of 124.2 with Jokic on the court during the regular season. That dropped to 103.1 with the two-time MVP on the bench.

    In the playoffs the numbers tell a similar story, with an offensive rating of 123.1 with Jokic on the court and 101.1 with him off it.

    Although, in what could be seen as yet another example of the disrespect facing Jokic and the Nuggets, ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters admitted before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals that she hadn’t even watched the two-time MVP in person.

    Nikola Jokic put up another MVP-calibre season. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    “This is really the first time I’ve had a chance to watch him play, and I’ve got to admit, I have been sleeping on this guy,” Salters said on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’.

    “He is spectacular. He is ridiculously good.”

    Salters went on to explain that it had been 10 years since she had worked a game in Denver, which makes what she said easier to place into context but still just as revealing.

    Out of sight, out of mind. This is a small-market team that has long been ignored by national media, even if it was this season led by the reigning two-time MVP of the league.

    Again, that is nothing new for these Nuggets, as Michael Porter Jr. said earlier this month.

    “I mean, I think that’s probably how it is with most small-market teams,” he said.

    “And in this stage, it’s just so different. This is a huge stage. A lot of people are probably watching these games that don’t normally watch the NBA.

    “… We’ve got a lot of dudes who aren’t really big into the social media thing or feeding into that, which I think that plays to our advantage being the type of small-market team that we are. I don’t think we mind that at all.”

    At some point though it does have to get tiring, being told that no matter how good your basketball is, you are “just not a compelling team to talk about or write about”.

    That instead of focusing on how the Nuggets won, it is about how the Lakers lost. Or how in the aftermath of Game 1, so much of the talk was about the adjustments L.A. made to spark a near-comeback win.

    “Even if you remember, even in the bubble when we beat Utah, they were talking about how they blew the lead,” Jokic said last week, giving another example.

    “When we beat the Clippers, how they blew the lead. Nobody talking about how we won the game. It’s normal for us. To be honest, I don’t pay attention at all.”

    Coach Malone does though.

    “You win Game 1 and all everybody talked about was the Lakers,” he said before Game 2.

    “Let’s be honest, that was the national narrative, ‘Hey, the Lakers are fine. They’re down 1-0 but they figured something out’. No one talked about Nikola who just had a historic performance.

    “What he’s doing is just incredible. But the narrative wasn’t about the Nuggets, the narrative wasn’t about Nikola. The narrative was about the Lakers and their adjustments.

    “You put that in your pipe, you smoke it and you come back and you know what… we’re going to go up 2-0.”

    Then Denver went up 3-0. And later 4-0 up, eliminating the Lakers and leaving the national media without much of a choice but to focus on these Nuggets.

    Michael Malone has defended his players all season. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Well, that is once all the talk about LeBron James and the interest in his potential retirement dried up.

    But that’s the thing. As critical as Malone has been about the national narrative this post-season, it’s not like it’s unexpected or anything new.

    LeBron and the Lakers were always going to be the focus of this series. The same goes for the Phoenix Suns, who made a move for Kevin Durant before the trade deadline in a bid to win it all.

    That didn’t happen. So, naturally, conversation was going to be dominated by what the loss meant for Phoenix’s superstar core of Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

    “The outside noise is the outside noise,” Murray said earlier in the month.

    “We’re the Denver Nuggets, we’re used to that. Even when we win, they talk about the other team.

    “Same old, same old. It fuels us a little more and will be sweeter when we win the chip.”

    Even sweeter considering Denver was widely-expected to be found out in the semi-finals when it faced off against the conference favourites Phoenix.

    That was despite the Suns’ new-look trio having little time on the court together.

    The Nuggets, on the other hand, were a dominant force for the most of the regular season and had hardly missed a beat in a 4-1 series win over the Timberwolves.

    “Nobody watches us. That’s why,” replied Bruce Brown when asked why Denver had been doubted in that series against Phoenix.

    That’s about to change and in a big way. After all, mountain time zone tip-offs aren’t exactly convenient for audiences on the East Coast.

    From Friday [AEST] though, real basketball fans won’t have any excuse not to be watching these Nuggets and seeing what Malone has known for so long.

    If you don’t want to take his word for it, how about listening to one of the best players the NBA has ever seen.

    “Me and AD (Anthony Davis) were just talking in the locker room for a little bit,” Lakers superstar James said after the Game 4 loss to the Nuggets.

    “We came to the consensus, this is one of the best teams, if not the best team, we’ve played together for all four years. Just well orchestrated, well put together.

    “They have scoring. They have shooting. They have playmaking. They have smarts. They have length. They have depth.”

    LeBron is right. As much as Jokic dominates the headlines as a two-time MVP, there are so many reasons for this team’s success this year.

    Starting with Murray, who has formed a lethal combination with Jokic this season to produce one of the most unstoppable two-man games in the league.

    Jamal Murray has come up clutch for the Nuggets during the playoffs. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    And if you want some more Nuggets history, Murray became the first player to finish a best-of-seven series sweep with a 50-40-90 shooting split.

    Then you add in Porter Jr., Denver’s biggest X-factor player for the Finals, whose maturation as a player has given Malone more flexibility with his rotations in the post-season.

    Aaron Gordon, meanwhile, is one of the league’s more underrated success stories this season and gives the Nuggets a hard edge on both ends of the floor.

    Then you add in Caldwell-Pope’s shot-making and disruptive defence, Bruce Brown’s consistent bench production, Jeff Green’s veteran presence and even Christian Braun’s youthful energy.

    Braun didn’t get minutes in the final game of the series against the Lakers and is still a work in progress but the way he throws his body at rebounds is just one example of the win-at-all-costs mentality he offers this group.

    This is a complete team that is ready to take home the title. They could also enter the history books in the process, with a chance to become just the second NBA team in the last 16 seasons to have a record of 16-4 or better in the playoffs.

    “The Nuggets are a juggernaut,” Harrison Wind said on the DNVR Denver Nuggets Podcast.

    “There were a juggernaut during the regular season and have been in the playoffs but no one looks at them like that because it says Nuggets on their jersey.

    “But doing that would be the ultimate stamp on the perfect season … number one seed in the West, cruising through the playoffs … I think it would put a nice bow on the season.”

    A season that has been dominant and impressive in so many different ways. A season that deserves to be remembered that way.

    NBA FINALS SCHEDULE (Times in AEST)

    Game 1: June 2 at Denver, 10.30am

    Game 2: June 5 at Denver, 10am

    Game 3: June 8 at Miami, 10.30am

    Game 4: June 10 at Miami, 10.30am

    Game 5: June 13 at Denver, 10.30am (if necessary)

    Game 6: June 16 at Miami, 10.30am (if necessary)

    Game 7: June 19 at Denver, 10am (if necessary)

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  • NBL’s ‘great disappointments’ after shocking world; side that defied all odds — every team rated

    NBL’s ‘great disappointments’ after shocking world; side that defied all odds — every team rated

    What an NBL23 season we‘ve just had. The finals are still to come over the next month but the regular season came down to the very last second to determine which six teams would take part in the post-season action.

    Aron Baynes returning to basketball through the Brisbane Bullets and the Adelaide 36ers shocking the NBA‘s Phoenix Suns saw the NBL in the headlines before the season even started, and put those teams in the spotlight.

    Watch every game live of the 2022/23 NBL Season on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

    Wildcats nick NBL finals spot late | 00:30

    While their seasons never went to plan, the race for the top six positions proved fascinating with the Perth Wildcats needing to beat the Sydney Kings by 11 points in the last game of the regular season, and winning by 12 to finish sixth and knock out Melbourne United.

    It was a fitting way to end an NBL season that delivered so much from the inaugural Christmas Day game, to record crowds around the country and outstanding play from everyone from Xavier Cooks to Mitch Creek to Bryce Cotton to Keanu Pinder to Milton Doyle to Antonius Cleveland and countless others.

    Before the finals begin this Thursday night with play-in games featuring the Cairns Taipans at home to the Tasmania JackJumpers, and the South East Melbourne Phoenix hosting the Perth Wildcats, let‘s look at how each team performed in NBL23.

    SYDNEY KINGS (19-9, First)

    The defending champions had to replace all three imports for their title defence, but they‘ve done a terrific job and have been the standout team all season to claim the regular season championship and now are sitting back to find out their semi-final opponents.

    What worked: Replacing championship winning import trio Jarrell Martin, Ian Clark and Jaylen Adams wasn‘t an easy task, but they did it well. Tim Soares has proven a more than handy centre, Justin Simon has been tremendous in that three spot at both ends and then Derrick Walton Jr has been more than adequate as point guard replacing MVP Adams. Xavier Cooks has gone to another level to be a strong chance to be league MVP but more than anything it’s how deep the Kings go. Jaylin Galloway, Shaun Bruce, Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter and Kouat Noi come off the bench and they lose nothing. They play at the fast pace in the league, the second best offensive rating, third best defensive rating and rightfully are the regular season champions and title favourites.

    What didn‘t: Their free-throw percentage of 72 per cent is only third worst in the league, but it remains the potential to be their undoing in clutch moments when they get their second most times out of any team. If that’s your biggest concern, though, you are in pretty good shape. There has been patches of the season where turnovers have been an issue and so have fourth quarters, but at 19-9, that’s nit-picking.

    Xavier Cooks of the Kings shoots a free throw during the round 18 NBL match between Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings at RAC Arena.Source: Getty Images

    The outlook: The immediate focus is freshening up and getting ready to host Game 1 of the semi finals on Wednesday February 15, and to make a run at back-to-back championships. They should be at full health too with Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr having plenty of time before that first semi-final game. They are going to be mighty tough to stop and it might only be themselves that can be their undoing if their free-throw and turnover woes rear their heads when it matters most. But if they play anywhere near their best, they are clearly the best team in the competition.

    Potential award winners: Xavier Cooks is the favourite to win the MVP award while Chase Buford is right in the hunt for Coach of the Year. It was a shock to many that Justin Simon wasn’t nominated to be Best Defensive Player while point guard Derrick Walton Jr should be named in one of the All-NBL teams.

    Final Grade: A. Whether it‘s an A+ or not will be determined over the next month and if they win the championship or not, because that’s the bar this team has set. But they haven’t put a foot wrong to claim top spot as defending champs despite swapping over three imports.

    NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS (18-10, Second)

    After a horror two years thanks to COVID, the New Zealand Breakers didn’t have it easy again this season but what they have done is come together as a cohesive unit, built everything on defence and developed a tremendous spirit and culture, and now have earned an automatic semi-final berth.

    What worked: Building back the chemistry and culture that was such a key part to the Breakers winning four NBL championships in five years between 2011-15. Coach Mody Maor deserves enormous credit in achieving that and by bringing in players that fit the character and mindset he wanted to be team first, defensively oriented players. They have had plenty thrown at them, but with the leadership of their coach and the players fully buying in, they‘ve overcome it all. They got the imports right to start with. Dererk Pardon is the ideal modern day big, Jarrell Brantley is a brilliant all-round four man and then Barry Brown Jr gives that potent scoring punch. Add in Will McDowell-White and Izayah Le’afa to the backcourt, the youth of Rayan Rupert and experience of Tom Abercrombie, and then strong roles played by Rob Loe, Cam Gliddon and Tom Vodanovich, and everyone’s played their role to a tee. They are the best defensively rated team in the league and that’s what they’ve based everything on, being physical and intense defensively, and then efficient offensively.

    NZ Breakers lock in second spot in NBL | 00:57

    What didn’t: Being healthy. It took until their 19th game of the season to have a full roster available. Tom Abercrombie suffered a freak eye injury in pre-season and from there, Barry Brown Jr, Will McDowell-White, Rayan Rupert and Rob Loe have all been sidelined for multiple games. They also had to deal with some horror travel schedule, a three-week COVID enforced break and even the recent Auckland floods, but nothing has denied them because of the spirit and culture in the group they’ve built.

    The outlook: Finishing second was every bit as important in terms of what an achievement it was for where they‘ve come from, but also because it gave them almost two weeks to freshen up and get healthy for their semi-final series against either the Cairns Taipans or Tasmania JackJumpers. They will know who they play after Thursday night’s game in Cairns and then can get ready for that Game 1 on Sunday February 12 at Spark Arena. Barry Brown Jr will have time to get over his hand injury and they should be at full strength for just the seventh game all season long.

    Potential award winners: Barry Brown Jr appears just about a lock to be named Best Sixth Man by putting up 19.5 points a game. Dererk Pardon is a good chance to take out the Damian Martin Trophy as Best Defensive Player while Mody Maor is a shot at Coach of the Year. Point guard Will McDowell-White is in the mix for Most Improved Player and Brown, Pardon and forward Jarrell Brantley are all good chances to find places in the All-NBL teams.

    Final Grade: A+. Coming off two years of hell, nothing has come easy for them this season either. They‘ve had some horror travel schedules, rarely been at full strength, dealt with a three-week COVID break and still have finished second to be straight into the semi finals.

    CAIRNS TAIPANS (18-10, Third)

    Coach Adam Forde wanted to put his stamp on the group in his second season in charge and get a team to suit the style he wanted to play. He did that and got full buy in from the group, and the end result is they finished third, only narrowly missed second and will be giving this championship a real shake.

    What worked: Dealing with adversity. Tahjere McCall missed five games early in the season. Keanu Pinder missed nine of the last 11 games and Sam Waardenburg missed three games too but even without key players they played tremendously with others stepping up. That‘s especially been the case without Pinder where they’ve won eight of nine games without him. What has worked started in the off-season. Coach Adam Forde knew how he wanted to play but needed to recruit players to suit that style. The Taipans backed him in to do that and he’s found the perfect pieces. DJ Hogg and Shannon Scott have been the cool and composed imports who deliver no matter the situation while Pinder’s gone to another and formed a potent front court with Waardenburg. Bul Kuol has had a terrific second season at both ends, McCall has been a tremendous leader with the energy and hustle he brings, and then Ben Ayre and Majok Deng have played key roles. As a result, they play at the second highest pace, shoot the most three-pointers and do it at 32.5 per cent and have the second best defensive rating.

    Melbourne lose out in epic final NBL day | 03:09

    What didn‘t: Surprisingly playing at full strength didn’t work too well for them. They found their groove early in the season and then blending Tahjere McCall back in didn’t immediately click. And then after winning six straight without Keanu Pinder, they lost both games with him before he got hurt again. That’s more than likely just a curiosity though rather than an issue. In the end, losing three of four games before Friday night’s breakthrough win in Perth is what cost them second spot and an automatic place in the semi finals.

    The outlook: They gave themselves a chance to finish second with a stirring win on Friday night in Perth despite the absence of Keanu Pinder and Tahjere McCall. They could have used the extra time and automatically qualifying for the semi finals, but it wasn’t to be. Now they have a short turnaround from playing in Perth on Friday, spending all Saturday travelling, having to go to the NBL awards in Melbourne on Tuesday, coming home to practice on Wednesday and then hosting the Tasmania JackJumpers on Thursday night. Winning that will see them straight into the semi finals or else they have to back up to play either South East Melbourne or Perth on Sunday. Pinder won‘t be back unless they reach the Grand Final but McCall should be right to play Tasmania this Thursday.

    Potential award winners: Keanu Pinder slipped from MVP contention with his two late season injuries but he remains the raging favourite to go back-to-back in the Most Improved Player award. Sam Waardenburg was also locked in as Rookie of the Year before that was scrapped in favour of the Next Generation Award, which he is a chance to win. Both DJ Hogg and Bul Kuol had cases for Best Defensive Player nominations while Adam Forde would be a more than deserving Coach of the Year winner. Hogg and Pinder should find spots on All-NBL teams.

    Final Grade: A+. What a performance it‘s been to go from second last to third and to have done it by putting together a playing group perfectly suited to how coach Adam Forde wanted to play.

    TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS (16-12, Fourth)

    Nobody gave them a chance in their inaugural season and they shocked everyone by reaching the Grand Final. Even fewer people gave them a chance of backing it up in NBL23, but they have again finished fourth and played with tremendous heart and spirit, are coached outstandingly by Scott Roth and you wouldn’t write them off from going all the way over the next month.

    What worked: It surprised many when the JackJumpers didn’t bring back Josh Adams after his playoff heroics last season, but his replacement Milton Doyle has been nothing short of brilliant. Then there‘s the continued growth of Jack McVeigh who has become an inspirational presence. Will Magnay had a rough first season and-a-half with the JackJumpers, but his back end of this season has been encouraging too and the growth of Sean Macdonald has seen him emerge has one of the more effective Australian guards in the league even though he’ll still be a development player in NBL24. More than anything it’s the spirit they have once again played with and heart they’ve shown. Not everything’s gone to plan this season, but they have bounced back strongly on each occasion. Their defensive rating is just fourth best in the league but they conceded the second least points a game at 81.7 and their offence has more potency.

    Jackjumpers thrash Hawks in Wollongong | 01:12

    What didn‘t: Captain Clint Steindl’s season has never quite got going after he missed the first 10 games while injury has also limited the impact of fellow key players Matt Kenyon and Sam McDaniel. Consistency has also been a bit of a problem with the JackJumpers never winning more than three games straight or losing more than the three in-a-row they started with, but they did close out winning eight of the last 12 to finish fourth. They also struggled more at home than you would expect given the incredible atmosphere they play in front of, going 7-7 between Hobart and Launceston. They are another team who only played six games all season with a full squad available and they will be missing Josh Magette likely for the entire finals series.

    The outlook: The JackJumpers locked away fourth spot in Wollongong on Saturday, but it came at a cost. It looks unlikely now that point guard Josh Magette will play again this season with a facial injury while there‘s an injury cloud over captain Clint Steindl ahead of Thursday’s play-in match up with the Cairns Taipans. Rashard Kelly will return and both teams will have their injury woes and a win in that game to go straight into the semi finals and avoid a cut-throat match up on Sunday with either the Phoenix or Wildcats will be crucial.

    Potential award winners: Scott Roth can consider himself unlucky to not be nominated to go back-to-back in Coach of the Year awards. Development player Sean Macdonald has been nominated for the Most Improved Player award and Rashard Kelly is in the running for Best Sixth Man. Milton Doyle wouldn’t have been far off an MVP nomination and will be in one of the All-NBL teams.

    Final Grade: A. They might not have the same defensive grunt as they did last year, but they are a bit more offensively dangerous and in many ways this has been a better achievement this season to be fourth than it was last year.

    SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX (15-13, Fifth)

    At full strength, this South East Melbourne Phoenix team has looked a championship calibre unit. The problem is, they have rarely had everyone available and time will tell if that happens in the finals, but they‘ve at least made it and that’s the first box ticked for this team that is not short on talent.

    What worked: Mitch Creek and Alan Williams up front proved to be quite the impressive one-two punch for the Phoenix. Creek had the best and most consistent season of his 316-game career to be in the MVP hunt while Williams became a powerful presence once he figured things out, averaging 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds. Gary Browne when healthy became the ideal point guard for this team too and had the team running smoothly when at his best. They made it a focus to be an inside focused team and that helped them be terrific rebounding the basketball, being the strongest rebounding team in the league with 38.6 boards a game and 12.3 at the offensive end. Combined with the third fewest turnovers in the league and that helped them win the possession battle most nights, and give themselves a chance. They showed good heart throughout the season too. They had personnel issues the whole way, but rebounded from an early three-game losing run and late five-game losing streak to go on winning runs on both occasion to end up deservedly in the finals.

    What didn‘t: Being at full strength has been their biggest problem. They started the season missing imports Gary Browne and Trey Kell III along with Ryan Broekhoff. Then the signing of Zhou Qi never paid off, he only ended up playing nine games and never returned after heading back to China for family reasons. He had the potential to be a real difference maker with his size and like to offset the powerful presence Alan Williams provided. They did struggle shooting from the outside going at just 32.3 per cent from three to be only ahead of the Illawarra Hawks while they did struggle at times to contain their opponents, giving up 89.7 points a game and having the fourth worst defensive rating.

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    The outlook: They had a horribly nervous wait over the past week to find out if they would reach the finals or not, but things worked out as well as could have been expected by ending up in fifth spot to get to host the Perth Wildcats this Thursday night. They will be fresh having had the week off so whether or not they come off well after a break or not will remain to be seen, but their bodies should be healthier at least. Ryan Broekhoff is an outside chance to return to face the Wildcats while they‘ll be at full strength aside from that if you don’t factor in the continued absence of Zhou Qi. Their outlook is good because of how well they match up with Perth. They have a significant advantage on the Wildcats up front and should they win on Thursday, they’ll like their chances against the loser of the Taipans-JackJumpers match up with both those teams battling physically right now.

    Potential award winners: Mitch Creek is one of three nominees in the MVP award and he would be a deserving winner after the best and most consistent season of his career. He should be named to the All-First NBL Team too but it might be slim pickings for the Phoenix at the awards night outside of that. Alan Williams deserves consideration in an All-NBL Team though.

    Final Grade: B. They had to deal with plenty throughout the season and to steady the ship late to win three of their last four games before the nervous wait and now earn a home final is a good effort.

    PERTH WILDCATS (15-13, Sixth)

    What a ride it was for John Rillie in his first season as a coach in the NBL. The pressure was on for the Perth Wildcats to return to the finals after the streak ended last year, and they‘ve ended up doing that albeit only secured on the very last second of the regular season. However, now that they are there they have enough firepower to do some damage.

    What worked: It might not have been John Rillie‘s plan when he took over, but this Wildcats team became quite the offensive threat. They averaged 92.1 points a season to be ranked second with the highest offensive rating across the league. They shot the fourth most three-pointers a game and did it well with a second best percentage of 36.6 as a team. You can’t ignore the brilliance of Bryce Cotton this season, leading the league in minutes played and points scored. He didn’t always get enough help, but Brady Manek continued to grow as a scoring threat as the season went on and Corey Webster proved his ideal sidekick once put in the starting group. Luke Travers also showed terrific three-point shooting improvement the longer the season went.

    What didn‘t: Rebounding and defence proved their two glaring weaknesses as the season went on. They finished with the least number of rebounds of any team across the league with just 33.5 per game with the worst defensive rebounding rating, and second worst at the offensive end. Then there’s the defence, they just couldn’t stop teams scoring and at times looked decidedly disinterested at the defensive end. They conceded 91.7 points a game while having the worst defensive rating across the league. The longer the season went, the shorter coach John Rillie’s rotation became and that became horrible news for veterans Mitch Norton, Todd Blanchfield and Majok Majok who all saw their playing time almost shrink to zero with the trio all having the least productive and fewest minutes on court in their NBL careers (aside from Majok’s lone season in New Zealand).

    Wildcats nick NBL finals spot late | 00:30

    The outlook: Returning to the finals was the first goal of this season after the playoff streak ended a year ago and they‘ve done that – albeit just. Now that they’ve made it, they will like their chances of making the most of it considering they have the best player in the competition with Bryce Cotton, and the offensive weapons of Brady Manek, Corey Webster, Tai Webster, TaShawn Thomas and the emerging Luke Travers. The Phoenix loom as a horror match up for them because of how dominant they were inside against them last time, but if their front court can stand up, they are a chance to get through on Thursday and then throw everything at the JackJumpers or Taipans to earn a crack at the Sydney Kings in the semi finals.

    Potential award winners: Bryce Cotton is every chance to win a fourth MVP award after being the league‘s leading scorer with 23.5 points a game to go with 4.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Luke Travers is in the running for the Next Generation Award too and Brady Manek can consider himself unlucky to not have been nominated for that. Cotton is just about a lock for the All-First NBL Team too but it might be a quiet awards night for the ’Cats outside of him.

    Final Grade: C. They made finals so that‘s an improvement, but only by the slimmest possible margin. They never got going defensively or rebounding wise, but pure talent has got them into the top six.

    MELBOURNE UNITED (15-13, Seventh)

    What a rollercoaster ride this season was. At 5-10 they looked dead and buried, but they went 10-3 the rest of the way and it was one solitary basket that cost them a spot in the finals. They overcame plenty to become a standout team in the back end of the season so can take heart from that.

    What worked: The way they finished the season deserves a lot of credit because at 5-10 things could have capitulated. However, coach Dean Vickerman released the shackles on the team from there and encouraged them to play at a faster pace with more offensive freedom. Finishing 10-3 over the last 13 games suggests they are just about the best team across the league across the second half of the season, but they left themselves too much to do. The backcourt combination to close the season of Chris Goulding, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Rayjon Tucker was exciting and just about unstoppable when the shackles were taken off. Marcus Lee‘s inclusion proved tremendous as well even if he didn’t get a lot of time with Isaac Humphries to show what a centre combination they could be. David Okwera’s emergence shows what a bright future he has and what they did over the last 13 games will leave them frustrated they missed out on finals – by two measly points.

    What didn‘t: Things began to go wrong in the off-season when they lost Matthew Dellavedova and Jack White unexpectedly to the NBA. Then on the eve of the season, Next Star Ariel Hukporti ruptured his achilles and couldn’t be replaced due to not taking up a roster spot, so they would have been three of their five starters. There was plenty of faith put into Shea Ili to be the point guard without Dellavedova but on-going concussion issues limited his impact and he only played 14 games while Dave Barlow also missed the last five games through concussion. Jordan Caroline didn’t work out early in the season particularly as someone to step up to replace Hukporti, but Marcus Lee proved ideal. Had they had their team together for the full season, they will be left wondering what could have been had they managed to sneak into the top six. Ultimately blowing that eight-point lead with 45 seconds to go in Perth is what cost them above everything else.

    Melbourne United star Chris Goulding.Source: Getty Images

    The outlook: There will be a lot of dissection over what went wrong this season because Melbourne just isn‘t used to missing out on taking part in finals, but a lot of this can be put down to bad luck. Moving forward, they could do worse than bringing back the import trio of Rayjon Tucker, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Marcus Lee. They showed great heart and chemistry in the run home. Lee and Isaac Humphries up front for a whole season would be dominant, and another season of Tucker, Rathan-Mayes and Chris Goulding in the back court will be tough. The health of Shea Ili will be a big factor. If he looks able to play a full season, he can be locked in as the starting point guard. Otherwise they’ll need to go hunt a new playmaker. They’ll also need to find some added help up front and to bring in a strong power forward either as a marquee local or an import. Basically their two needs are in what they lost – Jack White and Matthew Dellavedova. They should feel good about hitting back strongly though.

    Potential award winners: If Rayjon Tucker had started the season playing the way he finished, then he would be right in contention for both the MVP award and a spot on the All-First NBL team. If Xavier Rathan-Mayes had also played as well in the middle patches as he did at the start and finish, then ditto. If Shea Ili played more than 14 games, he would be a legitimate Best Defensive Player option too. Unfortunately for United, their season was basically split in two and as a result they might not be up on stage too often.

    Final Grade: C. Their first half of the season was rough and being 5-10 left them in a hole they couldn‘t quite get out of. But going 10-3 the rest of the way is to be commended.

    ADELAIDE 36ERS (13-15, Eighth)

    The great disappointments of NBL23. They put together an exciting roster, shocked the world by beating the Phoenix Suns and then in the NBL season proper, just never clicked, never got going and the result is a fifth consecutive season out of the finals.

    What worked: For everything this team promised when they beat the Phoenix Suns in the pre-season and with the roster put together, it‘s really hard to say too much at all worked given a team with such aspirations finished at 13-15. Perhaps the greatest positive was the remarkable home support they received, continually setting new records at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Antonius Cleveland lived up to his billing too, improving on what he did last season at the Illawarra Hawks. He played with great heart and defensive intensity, and his offensive game rose so he can hold his head high. Another positive was Anthony Drmic. In his second stint at the Sixers, he could very well have had the best season of his 199-game NBL career. But really, it’s not a season where they will feel much worked or went to plan at all.

    What didn‘t: Bringing together so many potential stars always has the issue of developing the right chemistry, and figuring out how to play as a cohesive unit. Let’s be honest, that never happened with this Adelaide team. A lot of that early was blamed on Craig Randall but it never really improved after he left. While winning against the Phoenix Suns was a historic event, having to miss the first two weeks of the season as a result and the sideshow that created might have also done more harm than good. More than anything, though, what hurt them was an apparent lack of interest and effort defensively. With Mitch McCarron, Sunday Dech and Antonius Cleveland, this should have been a good defensive team. They finished as the third worst defensive team in the league. Coach CJ Bruton also wasn’t fully able to put his imprint on having a team play to his identity.

    Adelaide 36ers keep finals hopes alive | 00:59

    The outlook: Five straight years out of the playoffs and patience is wearing thin in Adelaide. The city couldn’t be more behind the team breaking attendance records game after game, but they deserve a winning team now. Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland are locked in to return and so are Sunday Dech, Mitch McCarron, Kyrin Galloway and Nick Marshall. The writing is on the wall that Daniel Johnson‘s time in Adelaide is up and it would be unlikely for Kai Sotto and probably Ian Clark to return. Anthony Drmic was terrific and should be welcomed back. CJ Bruton has talked about wanting his team to more play to the identity of their coach next season so he’ll be recruiting to fit what he wants, but ideally a strong and powerful big man presence and then a quality point guard would be high on the agenda because they are well covered in the two, three and four spots. Without doubt it’s a make a break season in NBL24 not only for Bruton as coach, but the whole organisation.

    Potential award winners: Antonius Cleveland holds the best hopes of anyone from Adelaide to grab the limelight on Tuesday night. He is nominated for the Best Defensive Player and is every chance to make it consecutive Damian Martin Trophy wins. He should also find a place in an All-NBL Team. Kai Sotto would have to be the runaway favourite to win the Fans MVP too on the back of having all of the Philippines voting for him again.

    Final Grade: D. So much was expected of them but at no point did they come together as a cohesive team. They showed flashes, but equal flashes of disunity. Make or break time now in NBL24.

    BRISBANE BULLETS (8-20, Ninth)

    There was such excitement around them coming into NBL23. Many had them as championship fancies, but the season never got off the ground. They had three coaches in three weeks, import changes and for a while lacked competitiveness, but they at least finished off on a more positive note.

    What worked: It‘s hard to say too much worked well but things really threatened to spiral out of hand with a record 49-point loss to Sydney, but they at least played with some pride and heart the rest of the season. They won three of four games directly out of that game to their credit. Bringing in Tyler Johnson proved to work well once he figured out the league and DJ Mitchell’s emergence was a definite highlight. Greg Vanderjagt’s performance as coach is something that must be commended too and he showed that he has a future as a head coach in the league either remaining with the Bullets or elsewhere. The home crowd support was also tremendous from the Brisbane locals despite the struggles of the team topped off by a sold out 5253 in their final game on Saturday against the New Zealand Breakers.

    What didn‘t: The off-court turmoil in the first half of the season just got out of hand. James Duncan was unceremoniously dumped as coach just hours before the team flew out to New Zealand, with him replaced by GM Sam Mackinnon rather than one of the assistants. Then just as the team was flying to Cairns, Mackinnon was replaced by Greg Vanderjagt, it’s just unfathomable how it was all handled. Releasing Devondrick Walker was also baffling when it took them so long to bring in Andrew White III meaning they played eight games with Tyler Johnson their lone import. And as good as it was to see Aron Baynes back playing basketball, at no point did they ever fully get the most out of what he could have provided both through him not getting enough touches in the right spots and his frustrations with the officiating.

    Aron Baynes.Source: Getty Images

    The outlook: This is the biggest unknown out of every team. Firstly they need to decide on their coach. Do they back in Greg Vanderjagt to continue in the role after the players appeared to respond to him, do they appoint a quality local like Pero Cameron or Anthony Petrie, or look completely out of the box. That is going to be the biggest question and will determine where they go with their player personnel. Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes are locked in contractually, but there‘s a lot to go under the bridge before Baynes is guaranteed back. That leaves them with three import spots to fill and they need to find a genuine point guard but the other two spots largely depend on Baynes. Should he not return, they’d need an import centre but if not, they could go for a three/four man as import and potentially try to lure Tyler Johnson back. They have great potential with DJ Mitchell, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, Gorjok Gak and Kody Stattman as the core of locals to build around while it’ll largely be up to Jason Cadee if he wants to remain at the Bullets or not.

    Potential award winners: It will be a quiet night for the Bullets at the Gazey‘s. Tyler Johnson has been nominated as Best Sixth Man and he deserves serious consideration for that award, but that might be about it in terms of anyone from Brisbane being recognised. DJ Mitchell made his point on Saturday night that he deserved a look in for the Next Generation Award too after putting up 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting tremendously in his first NBL season, but he wasn’t nominated.

    Final Grade: D. This threatened to get out of hand with that record loss to Sydney on the back of the three head coaches in a matter of weeks and import changes. They finished the season better, though, to give some positivity.

    ILLAWARRA HAWKS (3-25, 10th)

    They might have finished with the worst record in franchise history, but that should be put in perspective of the fact they had a rookie coach, lost four imports to season-ending injuries and did a lot of good in the second half of the season building for the future.

    What worked: They had every excuse in the world to think it was all too much for them, but the great positive is how hard they fought especially through the second half of the season. Sure, the wins didn’t come, but they gave themselves countless chances and made themselves hard to beat and provided hope for the future with that competitive spirit, and blooding fresh talent. Tyler Harvey was the almost complete defensive focus of opposition teams but he still put up 18.9 points a game including 10 straight late 20-point performances while Sam Froling had to do a lot of the heavy lifting, and strong so they provided impressive leadership as co-captains. Emerging guards Lachie Dent and Davo Hickey showed good signs while the return of Dan Grida from a horror injury run was encouraging and Deng Deng had his best career season with increased opportunities up front.

    What didn‘t: The tone was set in the very first game of the season when Justin Robinson went down with a season-ending knee injury. He was ultimately replaced by Peyton Siva who only played 11 games before his own shoulder injury. George King didn’t pan out and left injured after nine games too and Michael Frazier II proved a tremendous replacement, but he broke his arm after playing eight matches. Losing four imports in one season to long-term injuries is unheard of. While they were competitive for the most part, they did struggle to close out games and execute late which is why they lost 14 games by 10 points or fewer. Ultimately they just didn’t have enough help for Tyler Harvey in the backcourt or Sam Froling up front with too much left to rest on their shoulders.

    The outlook: It might seem strange to say after a team just went 3-25, but the outlook looks relatively bright. Tyler Harvey and Justin Robinson are locked in to be the import back court they were hoping to have this season before Robinson got hurt in the very first game. Having another quality playmaker alongside Harvey will only make him more dangerous. Sam Froling will only be better after the role he was put in this season and the minutes put into Lachie Dent and Davo Hickey should pay off. Michael Frazier II deserves the chance to come back but that likely depends on if they can find a quality local big man to be their marquee. If not that role would need to be filled by an import because Froling and Deng Deng need more help up front. Having Harvey, Robinson and Froling as the centre pieces, the potential of Frazier, a marquee big and then solid role players like Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Deng, Dent, Hickey and Alex Mudronja should ensure their competitiveness provided they get a better run with luck.

    Potential award winners: It wouldn’t shock to see Tyler Harvey sneak in for a spot on the All-Second NBL Team after the way he battled through the season and averaged 18.9 points including 10 straight 20-plus point games. Sam Froling has to be favourite for the Next Generation Award having put up 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds so the co-captains could be recognised on Tuesday night in Melbourne.

    Final Grade:C-. Sure, 3-25 looks horrible. But deeper investigation and losing four imports along the way, blooding plenty of young talent and the way they battled in the second half of the season deserves to be acknowledged.

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