Report Card: Grades for Each NBA Team So Far This Season

For the first time in NBA history, the league started playing games on Christmas Day.

Over the last several weeks, NBA fans have seen good wins, tough losses, significant injuries and teams performing at levels either higher or lower than was expected. 

Depending on the team, the starts they have had in this lockout-shortened season have surprised some and disappointed others. 

The following slides will show overall grades for each team so far this season. 

Teams are not in a ranked order or graded against each other except for head-to-head wins and losses. 

Grades for each team will differ because not every team has had the chance to play each other at this point of the season. 

Atlanta Hawks

Record: 9-4

Grade: A-

The Atlanta Hawks have started out with a good record this season and have played the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls closely in two games each.

Of the four losses, they don't really have a bad one, but the recent injury to Al Horford will shape the way the season turns out for the Hawks. 

Key Wins: Heat, Bulls, Timberwolves

Big Losses: Heat, Bulls, Pacers, Rockets

Boston Celtics

Record: 4-7

Grade: C

The once-mighty Big Three of the Boston Celtics are struggling this season, and it looks like it is the beginning of the end for this aging team. 

The Celtics are stuck in the middle of a four-game losing streak, and half of their win total comes against the Washington Wizards. 

Kevin Garnett knew that the rushed start to this season was going to be hard for the team, but he may not have thought it would be this rough.

Key Wins: Pistons, Wizards, Nets

Big Losses: Hornets, Pacers, Mavericks, Knicks, Heat, Bulls

Charlotte Bobcats

Record: 3-10

Grade: C

With the young players the on the Charlotte Bobcats, expectations were not very high coming into the season, and their record is about what was to be expected. 

Things are looking up for the team as they picked up a home win against the Golden State Warriors that saw rookie Kemba Walker score 23 in his first NBA start. 

If Walker continues to play like that, he will lead the Bobcats to a decent record and be named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Key Wins: Bucks, Knicks, Warriors

Big Losses: Cavaliers, Knicks, Rockets, Pistons, Hawks

Chicago Bulls

Record: 12-2

Grade: A

The Chicago Bulls are off the the best start in the league this season and are making the wins happen defensively. 

In addition to the offensive weapons that they have, the Bulls have held opponents to less than 85 points in eight games already this season. 

Key Wins: Lakers, Clippers, Magic, Celtics, Hawks

Big Losses: Warriors, Hawks

Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 5-6

Grade: B-

Despite having a record below .500, the Cavaliers' grade here is because they did not have huge expectations coming into the season to begin with. 

Kyrie Irving is playing well, and except for a few rookie-like games, he is living up to his top overall selection in the draft. 

He had a career-high 26 points recently against the Phoenix Suns.

Key Wins: Timberwolves, Suns, Bobcats, Nets, Pistons

Big Losses: Lakers, Jazz, Raptors, Pacers, Trail Blazers

Dallas Mavericks

Record: 8-5

Grade: B

The defending champion Dallas Mavericks started the season very slowly, but have improved lately. 

After a Christmas Day loss to the Miami Heat, the Mavericks went 3-4 before winning their last five in a row. 

They do have a tough test coming up when they meet both Los Angeles teams on the road.

Key Wins: Thunder, Celtics, Suns, Hornets

Big Losses: Timberwolves, Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Heat

Denver Nuggets

Record: 8-5

Grade: B+

The Denver Nuggets seem to be doing well in their first season without Carmelo Anthony.

Point guard Ty Lawson has done well for the Nuggets this season, and the team looks like it could do well in the Western Conference.

The team has already split with the Los Angeles Lakers, topped the Dallas Mavericks and beaten the Miami Heat by 13. 

The Nuggets do face a tough stretch where they will play seven of their next 10 games on the road. 

Key Wins: Heat, Lakers, Mavericks, Jazz

Big Losses: Hornets, Spurs, Lakers, Trail Blazers, Jazz

Detroit Pistons

Record: 3-10

Grade: D+

The Detroit Pistons do get some credit for beating the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers, but those are the only bright spots of the season. 

Outside of those wins, the team is playing badly and not getting much production from anyone. 

As a team, they are second to last in points scored per game and in the bottom of the league both offensively and defensively. 

New head coach Lawrence Frank has a big job ahead of him if he is to get this turned around. 

Key Wins: Magic, Pacers, Bobcats

Big Losses: Bucks, Cavaliers, Pacers, 76ers, Knicks

Golden State Warriors

Record: 4-8

Grade: C

After a good first week of the season which saw Golden State Warriors knock off the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks, the team has only won two more games. 

To their credit, one of them was against the Miami Heat in overtime. 

The team has been slowed by injuries to Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright and Kwame Brown and has not looked good for much of the season. 

Still able to score, the team is working on defense for new head coach Mark Jackson.They must get some help from other players until Curry returns from his ankle problems.

Key Wins: Bulls, Heat, Knicks

Big Losses: Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Clippers, Lakers, Magic

Houston Rockets

Record: 5-7

Grade: C+

The Houston Rockets have endured a very difficult early schedule but seem to be digging out of it. 

The team started out 2-6, but has gone 3-1 over the last week. New head coach Kevin McHale and his Rockets will be in better shape moving as players settle in together and the schedule gets easier over the next stretch. 

Key Wins: Spurs, Hawks, Trail Blazers

Big Losses: Spurs, Grizzlies, Clippers, Thunder, Lakers, Magic

Indiana Pacers

Record: 9-3

Grade: A-

The Indiana Pacers are enjoying the benefit of several offseason moves that they made last summer.

Coupled with the improvement of young players, the Pacers are off to one of the better starts among teams this season. 

Except for a solid win against the Atlanta Hawks, the Pacers are playing like a talented young team who has not yet been tested by matching up against the NBA's elite.

So far, they have only played against Eastern Conference teams but play eight of their next 10 games on the road starting with a stretch on the West coast. 

Key Wins: Celtics, Hawks, Raptors, Nets, 

Big Losses: Pistons, 76ers, Heat

Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 6-3

Grade: A-

The Los Angeles Clippers have posted good back-to-back wins against the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The team has played only nine games, and the three losses were against good teams. 

In addition to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin playing well, they are also getting good contributions from DeAndre Jordan. 

The Clippers are quickly becoming one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NBA. 

Key Wins: Heat, Lakers, Trail Blazers, Warriors

Big Losses: Bulls, Trail Blazers, Spurs

Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 9-5

Grade: B+

Despite having a good record at this point in the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are not the same team that they have been in years past. 

Since Andrew Bynum was able to play following his suspension, he has been a good contributor, but the injury struggles of Pau Gasol and the loss of Lamar Odom has added increased pressure to Kobe Bryant.

His streak of scoring at 40 or more points is impressive, but also is of concern if that is the way that the Lakers wins must come this season.

Even Kobe has got to have some help.

Key Wins: Grizzlies, Knicks, Nuggets, Jazz, Suns

Big Losses: Kings, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Bulls

Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 5-6

Grade: B-

The playoff success of the Memphis Grizzlies may have negatively affected the expectations of this young team heading into this season. 

Losing Zach Randolph to injury and the difficult early schedule the team has played has not helped them out much, but the team should improve as the talent on this roster better settles into the season. 

Key Wins: Timberwolves, Knicks, Rockets, Hornets, Kings

Big Losses: Jazz, Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, Bulls

Miami Heat

Record: 8-4

Grade: A-

Before last week, the Miami Heat deserved the highest grade, but had a very difficult West Coast road trip where they lost three straight. 

With three consecutive losses to the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, it would be easy to panic, but it is too early to write this team off just yet. 

The foot injury to Dwyane Wade is not currently helping, but the team plays eight of their next 10 games at home and should break out of this short losing streak.

Key Wins: Pacers, Hawks, Mavericks, Celtics, Timberwolves

Big Losses: Warriors, Nuggets, Clippers, Hawks

Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 4-7

Grade: C-

The Milwaukee Bucks seem to have picked up where they left off last season with having difficulty offensively, and have missed the presence of Andrew Bogut, who has been away from the team. 

The team was able to break a five-game losing streak with a nice home win over the San Antonio Spurs, but have a lot of issues to address going forward this season. 

Key Wins: Spurs, Timberwolves, Pistons, Wizards

Big Losses: Bobcats, Kings, Suns, Jazz

Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 4-8

Grade: C

With all of the attention surrounding rookies Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio and the contract status of Kevin Love, the team is still in about the same position record wise that they were in last season. 

They have picked up a couple of good wins against the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, but  the excitement surrounding the team is not yet translating to wins. 

The young Timberwolves have a pretty even schedule ahead of them and should continue to improve as the team learns to play together. 

Key Wins: Spurs, Mavericks, Hornets, Wizards

Big Losses: Bucks, Cavalier, Raptors, Grizzlies

New Jersey Nets

Record: 3-10

Grade: D

Things went from bad to worse for the New Jersey Nets when they lost Brook Lopez to a foot injury just before the start of the season. 

The team has managed to beat three struggling teams, but have not looked good in losses to both good and bad teams. 

Unless the Nets can turn things around quickly, it does not seem likely that Dwight Howard will join the team, and they could lose Deron Williams in free agency as well. 

Key Wins: Suns, Raptors, Wizards

Big Losses: Cavaliers, Jazz, Nuggets, Pacers, Celtics, Hawks, Heat

New Orleans Hornets

Record: 3-9

Grade: D

As if losing Chris Paul and David West was not enough before the season, the loss of Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon to injuries has not helped the team.

It was expected that the Hornets would struggle this season as they rebuild, but the team has lost nine out of their last 10 games and have a difficult schedule ahead. 

Key Wins: Nuggets, Suns, Celtics

Big Losses: Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Kings, Suns, Jazz

New York Knicks

Record: 6-6

Grade: B-

After a promising Christmas Day win against the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks have struggled to a .500 record. 

This is not the way that the season was supposed to be for the Knicks, who are not meeting expectations.

Injury concerns to Carmelo Anthony are not going to help the team who has relied on him this season. 

Key Wins: 76ers, Celtics, Pistons, Kings, Bobcats

Big Losses: Bobcats, Raptors, Grizzlies, Warriors, Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 11-2

Grade: A

So far this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are making it look easy. 

The biggest setbacks so far are the loss of reserve point guard Eric Maynor and reports of arguments between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

The Thunder did drop consecutive games for their only losses, but also sailed quietly through their first back-to-back-to-back set earlier this month. 

Barring major injuries, the Thunder look like they will equal the expectations put on them at the start of the season. 

Key Wins: Magic, Spurs, Knicks Grizzlies, Rockets, Mavericks, Suns

Big Losses: Mavericks, Trail Blazers

Orlando Magic

Record: 8-3

Grade: B+

Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic are off to a good start but do have some concerns. 

Point guard Jameer Nelson is not playing as well as last season, and the bench has been inconsistent.

Most remarkably is the class that Dwight Howard has shown despite being constantly involved in trade rumors and media speculation. 

Howard has done well to do his job and just broke a 50-year-old NBA record.

The Magic only have one real slip up this season to the Detroit Pistons with their other losses to the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Key Wins: Trail Blazers, Rockets, Warriors, Raptors

Big Losses: Pistons, Thunder, Bulls

Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 9-3

Grade: A

Even though they have dropped three games, the Philadelphia 76ers have been a surprise team this season. 

The team has gotten solid play from their young players and have exceeded expectations. 

The 76ers are getting it done on both ends of the court, where they rank high statistically on both sides of the ball.

Things look like they will continue for the team, as they will play 13 of the next 15 games at home in the coming weeks.

Key Wins: Pacers, Warriors, Suns, Raptors, Hornets

Big Losses: Trail Blazers, Jazz, Knicks

Phoenix Suns

Record: 4-8

Grade: D

The Phoenix Suns got off to a bad start, worked their way up to .500 and have since lost four games in a row. 

Their best game so far was a 25-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers, but they have not been able to keep that going. 

If the nagging injuries of ageless veterans Steve Nash and Grant Hill get any worse, the team could be in for a very long season. 

Key Wins: Trail Blazers, Warriors, Bucks, Hornets

Big Losses: Nets, Hornets, Cavaliers, Spurs, Mavericks

Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 7-5

Grade: A-

The Portland Trail Blazers are putting together a good season despite playing a very difficult early schedule. 

So far, the Blazers have beat some pretty good teams, and two of their losses were by three points of less. 

Led by often overlooked power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, the team has six players who are averaging double figures in points scored per game. 

Gerald Wallace, Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton are all helping Portland to be a team that no one will want to face later this season in the playoffs. 

Key Wins: 76ers, Thunder, Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets

Big Losses: Suns, Rockets, Spurs, Clippers, Magic

Sacramento Kings

Record: 4-9

Grade: D

The Sacramento Kings are already in the middle of a royal mess this season. 

As if already having made a head coaching change was not enough, the offensive potential that each individual player possesses has not yet found a way to translate into team success. 

The Kings rank near the bottom of the league offensively despite having a collection of outside scorers and a strong inside presence in DeMarcus Cousins. 

If new head coach Keith Smart can not get this team to pass the ball and play nicely together as a team, it is going to be a long season for the Kings.

Key Wins: Lakers, Raptors, Hornets, Bucks

Big Losses: Grizzlies, Knicks, Nuggets, Rockets, Mavericks

San Antonio Spurs

Record: 9-4

Grade: B+

The San Antonio Spurs started out the season at .500, but have won six of their last eight. 

Even with the loss of Manu Ginobili to a hand injury, the team is starting to look more like the team who took the top spot in the Western Conference last season.

At this point in the season, things are looking good for the team who is entering a brutal next few weeks where they will play 16 of their next 21 on the road. 

Key Wins: Trail Blazers, Clippers, Mavericks, Rockets, Jazz

Big Losses: Bucks, Timberwolves, Rockets, Thunder

Toronto Raptors

Record: 4-9

Grade: D+

The Toronto Raptors entered the season with some good young players who were set to have a breakout season. 

One team focus for new head coach Dwayne Casey was going to be on defense, where the Raptors have shown improvement. 

Offensively, the team has had a hard time putting together any consistency, but Andrea Bargnani is playing well overall.

Being the first team to lose to the Washington Wizards doesn't help much.

Key Wins: Knicks, Timberwolves, Cavaliers

Big Losses: Wizards, Nets, Kings, Mavericks

Utah Jazz

Record: 8-4

Grade: B

After two straight blowouts to start the season, the Utah Jazz have won six home games and have put together a nice record. 

Currently enjoying a month with more games at home than on the road, the Jazz are getting more consistent play from their big men and are finding a more set rotation. 

The challenge for this young team will come in February, when they play 14 of 20 games on the road and start facing tougher opponents. 

Key Wins: 76er, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Warriors, Bucks

Big Losses: Nuggets, Lakers, Spurs

Washington Wizards

Record: 1-11

Grade: F

If there was anything such as an F+, the Wizards would have earned it for finally getting a much-needed win over the Toronto Raptors. 

Despite the single win, the Wizards are a trainwreck that is performing at a level that is far below expectations. 

Heading into the season, there was some excitement surrounding this team and the young talent it had, but that is all but gone due to the difficult start. 

Flip Saunders, who may not be the head coach for long, has got to find a way to get this team to play together instead of seeing who can have the best individual game each night. 

Key Wins: Raptors

Big Losses: Nets, Bucks, Celtics, Knicks