Grading Every NBA Team: Hot or Not

In the NBA, it's all about being hot. 

I'm not talking about making sure that the arenas are kept at a high temperature or that all the players look good. I'm talking about winning games and playing well when it matters. 

Not every team can be hot though, since someone has to lose every game. 

So which ones are hot and which are cold? 

You'll have to read on to find out. 

Atlanta Hawks

For a supposed low-level contender in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks sure haven't lived up to that status lately. 

Over their last 10 games, the team that features the high-flying Josh Smith and smooth-shooting Joe Johnson has only managed to win five games, and two of those were against the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings. 

Although Zaza Pachulia has been rebounding the ball like crazy, the rest of the Hawks are going to have to step it up and stop playing .500 ball. Fortunately for the team, the next five games don't present too much of a challenge. 

Verdict: Lukewarm

Boston Celtics

Rajon Rondo, you can take off those sunglasses—your team hasn't quite reached hot status in recent days. Plus, you know, you're indoors. 

The aging core of the Boston Celtics has had to struggle through injuries and has managed to win six of its past 10 games. That's all the more impressive when you consider the fact that the victories include ones over the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks. 

I can't imagine this team staying hot for too long, but they're getting close. 

Verdict: Warm

Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats have three wins in their last 10 games. 

That says it all. Look outside for flying pigs. 

Verdict: Scorching hot (for the Bobcats)

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls just continue to impress. 

Even with reigning MVP Derrick Rose sidelined for the time being with a groin injury, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and the rest of Rose's supporting cast has looked pretty sharp. The team has won eight of its last 10 games and is now 10-4 without the starting point guard on the court. 

Although some people are starting to wonder if that should detract from Rose's status as the best point guard in the league, I think that's more of a testament to just how good this team is. 

Verdict: Hot

Cleveland Cavaliers

The bad news is that the Cleveland Cavaliers have fallen to 17-26 after a 4-6 stretch over the last 10 games. 

But the good news is that Kyrie Irving, who just recorded his first career double-double, is only getting better and better. 

Before the All-Star break, the most recent No. 1 overall pick averaged 18.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 turnovers per game. But since the midseason break, Irving has averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 turnovers per game. 

He's already one of the better point guards in the game and he's just going to keep improving. 

Verdict: Cold

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have been on a tear lately, winning their last four contests against the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets. While two of those wins aren't very impressive, the other two most assuredly are. 

Although the reigning champions lost three games in a row just prior to the winning streak, the most important thing for them right now is the fact that Dirk Nowitzki is rolling again. 

The hot-shooting big man is averaging 28.5 points per game over the course of the winning streak and has led the Mavs in scoring in all four contests. 

Verdict: Hot

Denver Nuggets

Over the past seven games, the Denver Nuggets haven't managed to win or lose back-to-back games even once. 

But with six wins in the last 10 contests and the losses coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks, I'm willing to give this deep team the benefit of the doubt. 

Plus, if Kenneth Faried continues to improve, look out Western Conference. 

Verdict: Lukewarm

Detroit Pistons

Since the Detroit Pistons were 4-20 at one point during the season, their 16-29 record at the current moment should actually be kind of impressive. 

Greg Monroe has helped lead the team to a .500 record over the past 10 games, even though Brandon Knight has continued to be incredibly inefficient and the last two games have gone down as losses. 

If the rookie point guard can get his act together, this team may actually start to win more games than it loses. 

Verdict: Lukewarm

Golden State Warriors

It's hard to win games without Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry. 

Ellis is now a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and Curry is indefinitely sidelined with his ongoing ankle problems. 

This situation isn't going to get better anytime soon unless you're rooting for the Golden State Warriors to get a high lottery pick. 

Verdict: Ice Cold

Houston Rockets

Once 21-14 and in great shape in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets have stumbled to a 25-22 record after winning just four of their past 12 games. 

There don't appear to be many signs indicating a turnaround in the near future, and if they continue to struggle, the Rockets could be pushed out of playoff contention and forced to stay home all summer. 

Verdict: Cold

Indiana Pacers

Over the course of the last 10 games, the Indiana Pacers have won four games and lost six. 

But I'm actually impressed that they've managed to escape the murderous part of their schedule with a 26-18 overall record. 

After all, those six losses came against the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks (twice). 

Verdict: Cold (but justifiably so)

Los Angeles Clippers

How weird is it to say that going 4-6 over the past 10 games is actually disappointing for the Los Angeles Clippers?

As good as they've been this season, it truly is. 

Even more problematic is that two of the losses have come to the Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets. 

Verdict: Cold

Los Angeles Lakers

Seriously, Kobe Bryant needs to stop shooting the ball so much. If he wins the scoring title, the Los Angeles Lakers will not have reached their maximum potential. 

Bryant has been shooting 41.4 percent from the field after the All-Star break and has hoisted up 23 shots per game over the past five contests despite shooting only 37.4 percent.

There's such a thing as being a conscienceless shooter. Then there's Kobe Bryant. 

The Lakers are 6-4 over the past 10 games, but the losses have come to the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons. 

Let's look a little closer at the Jazz game. In the four-point loss, Kobe made just three shots in 20 attempts. Andrew Bynum made a ridiculous 12 of his 14 attempts and Pau Gasol wasn't far behind with eight makes in 12 attempts. 

Anything wrong with that picture?

Verdict: Warm

Memphis Grizzlies

With four losses in their last six games, the Memphis Grizzlies are currently in a bit of a free-fall, which is surprising given the return of Zach Randolph. 

But when Z-Bo is back in form and pairs up with Rudy Gay, this will become a team that no one wants to face. 

That said, it's hard to avoid the dreaded "cold" verdict when you've recently lost to the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors. 

Verdict: Cold

Miami Heat

Right now, the Phoenix Suns are as hot as any team, so beating Steve Nash's team on Tuesday night is not an achievement to take lightly. 

The Miami Heat are truly one of the best teams in the league and they consistently prove it by winning a lot of games and only losing the occasional contest to another contender. Over the last 10 games, they've gone 6-4, but the losses have come to the Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers. 

Really though, is it possible for the Heat to not be hot? (I promise that's not just a lame pun about their name.)

Verdict: Hot

Milwaukee Bucks

Thanks to their current six-game winning streak, the Milwaukee Bucks have climbed back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference and barely trail the New York Knicks for the final spot in the playoffs. 

Led by Brandon Jennings and Drew Gooden, the Bucks haven't had a bad loss since they fell to the New Orleans Hornets on Feb. 15. 

As well as this team is playing right now, they're only going to get better now that Monta Ellis is playing with them. 

Verdict: Red hot

Minnesota Timberwolves

As incredible as Kevin Love has been over the last five games (27.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per contest), the Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled to be as dangerous ever since Ricky Rubio went down. 

Rubio was having a sensational rookie season even though the statistics led me to believe that his contributions were a little bit overrated. But stats don't always tell the whole truth and Rubio has proven to be truly essential to the team's success. 

The Timberwolves are 2-4 since Rubio tore his ACL and have fallen back below .500—the place we're used to seeing them. 

Verdict: Cold

New Jersey Nets

What the New Jersey Nets have done on the court lately is completely and utterly irrelevant. 

They didn't land Dwight Howard and that's all that really matters right now. 

Verdict: Absolute Zero

New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets have gone 3-7 over the past 10 games and with the return of Eric Gordon seemingly never coming, the status quo in New Orleans is going to continue to be the status quo for a long time. 

There have been bright spots for this team, like forcing overtime with the Los Angeles Lakers and beating the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the dark spots still prevail. 

Verdict: Cold

New York Knicks

Things are looking good so far for the New York Knicks under new head coach Mike Woodson. 

Jeremy Lin is meshing well with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler has continued to play like an elite center. 

Most importantly, though, the wins are coming again. After a six-game losing streak, the Knicks have rebounded and won four in a row after last night's victory over the Toronto Raptors. 

They now sit just two games back of .500. 

Verdict: Warm

Oklahoma City Thunder

After going 31-8 to start the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have actually been struggling for their first prolonged stretch. 

Over the past week-and-a-half, the Thunder have yet to string together back-to-back wins and have gone just 3-4, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz. 

It's hard to imagine Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka actually losing more games than they've won over the last few days, but that's exactly what's happened. 

Verdict: Cold

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic get bonus points in the verdict here because they managed to retain the services of a certain Mr. Dwight Howard. 

Not that they really need any bonus points. 

The Magic may only be 6-4 over the past 10 games, but the unexpected loss to the Charlotte Bobcats in the middle of the Howard drama is the only true blemish. The other losses were all excusable since they came against three of the best teams in the league: the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. 

Verdict: Hot

Philadelphia 76ers

The next three games (against the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs) are going to tell us a lot about just how good these Philadelphia 76ers are. 

Andre Iguodala and company have won only five of their past 10 games but the losses have mostly come to excellent teams. 

A return to form from Spencer Hawes, recently returning from an extended absence, could help out this team significantly. 

Verdict: Lukewarm

Phoenix Suns

Just a month ago, the Phoenix Suns were well out of the playoff race with a 12-19 record. Now, they're 23-23 after a disappointing loss to the Miami Heat thanks to a late 17-0 run by LeBron James and company. 

Even with that loss, Steve Nash has rejuvenated this team and they've gone 11-4 over the past month and 7-3 over the last 10 games. 

Despite the lack of talent on the roster, the Suns are a team that you just don't want to play right now. 

Verdict: Scorching

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have been absolutely awful lately and that's not going to change now that their second-best player, Gerald Wallace, has been shipped off to the New Jersey Nets. 

Portland has slipped to 21-25 after last night's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and has now lost nine of its last 12 games. 

The team's recent victory against the Chicago Bulls doesn't make any sense. 

Verdict: Freezing

Sacramento Kings

The 17-29 Sacramento Kings have won three games in a row after defeating the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies in a span of five days.

That qualifies as hot in my book. 

Verdict: Hot

San Antonio Spurs

Just as you'd expect from one of the best teams in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs have been beating the teams they're supposed to take down and only losing to the contenders. 

Over the past 10 games, the Spurs have only lost four games. Those setbacks have come against the Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. 

I'd like to see Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili improve a little bit against the top teams when they're playing at home, but that's really my only gripe. 

Verdict: Hot

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors followed up an impressive overtime victory against the Memphis Grizzlies with a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats and a 19-point loss to the New York Knicks. 

Now sitting ugly at 15-31, this team doesn't have much hope until a new star player arises from the sure-to-be-great pick they'll get in the 2012 NBA draft lottery. 

With just six wins in their last 18 games, the Raptors are not headed in the right direction. 

Verdict: Cold (but warm if you're from Canada)

Utah Jazz

Don't look now, but the Utah Jazz are back over .500 for the first time since the middle of February. 

On top of that, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap have led the team on a four-game winning streak with back-to-back wins against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center and at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Neutralizing teams with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant on them in back-to-back games is no easy feat. 

Verdict: Smoking hot

Washington Wizards

Am I allowed to give the Washington Wizards a "hot" just for getting rid of the headcase known as JaVale McGee?

Yes?

Cool. 

Verdict: Hot