5 Sleeper NBA Teams That Are Proving They're for Real in 2013-14
While panic consumes preseason favorites like the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, a number of intriguing under-the-radar squads have started the season with a flourish.
Whether it's been the Atlanta Hawks in the East or the Portland Trail Blazers out West, a select group of preseason sleepers have validated their status as such during a campaign in which several big-market powers have stumbled out of the gates.
So which teams qualify as sleepers, you ask?
To qualify for the list, the team in question had to own a record of .500 or better entering Monday night. In addition, the clubs had to generally be projected as fringe playoff teams during the preseason, making their emergence over the season's first few weeks worthy of mention.
Atlanta Hawks
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Not only are the Atlanta Hawks proving they're for real, but point guard Jeff Teague has emerged as one of the biggest early-season surprises, averaging 18 points and 8.8 assists a game. He also ranks first in the Eastern Conference in terms of total assists, having dished out 123 to date.
And if Teague is to continue on his current pace, he'd end with the most efficient season of his career, as his PER is currently 19.6, up nearly three points from last season, according to Basketball-Reference.
At 8-6, the Hawks are sitting comfortably in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, one that's still extremely muddled due to the early-season failures of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
However, the Hawks shouldn't need help to make a postseason push. Al Horford and Paul Millsap have anchored one of the league's best frontcourts, averaging a shade over 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Simply put, Danny Ferry is looking more and more like a front-office savant with each passing game.
And while the Hawks offense has been celebrated, the team's defensive performance shouldn't go without mention. As of Monday night, the Hawks ranked ninth in defensive efficiency, allowing 102.5 points per 100 possessions and 12th overall in opponent's scoring, surrendering 98.2 points per game.
Charlotte Bobcats
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What on earth has gotten into Steve Clifford's Charlotte Bobcats? While they're hardly world-beaters offensively, the Bobcats have been playing downright stellar defense.
Entering Monday night's contest against the Boston Celtics, Charlotte was allowing 91.6 points per game and 100.4 points per 100 possessions, marks that ranked third and fourth overall, respectively, according to Basketball-Reference.
It's also worth noting that the Bobcats were surrendering just 0.85 points per possession prior to Monday night, the sixth-best mark in the league, according to mySyngerySports (subscription required).
Digging deeper, the Bobcats have allowed the fourth-fewest points per possession in post-up situations, per Synergy.
While the offense still has a ways to go, the Bobcats have been a pleasant surprise thanks to a stingy defense that's been led by the intensity of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the surprising Jeff Adrien.
With the East currently in shambles, the Bobcats could conceivably snag one of the conference's final playoff spots if they remain a top-10 defense through the spring.
Dallas Mavericks
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In a crowded Western Conference, there didn't appear to be any room for the Dallas Mavericks.
However, nearly a month into the season, the Mavs are looking like the real deal—on one end of the court, at least.
Prior to Monday's duel with the Denver Nuggets, the Mavericks ranked fifth overall in both points per game and offensive efficiency, pouring in upwards of 106 points a night and 109 points per 100 possessions, per Basketball-Reference.
So what's changed for a Dallas team that ranked 14th in offensive rating last season? Plenty, and it all starts with Monta Ellis, whose offensive efficiency has ticked up in Rick Carlisle's system.
Shooting better than 49 percent from the field and nearly 38 percent from beyond the arc, Ellis has been an offensive force, averaging a shade under 24 points a night.
In addition, Ellis led the NBA in drives to the basket entering Monday night with 153, and averaged a league-leading 8.1 points per game on drives, according to SportVU's player tracking data.
Factor in the offensive stylings of Dirk Nowitzki and the court vision of Jose Calderon, and the Mavericks have quickly established themselves as an offensive force out West.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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A trendy sleeper pick entering the 2013-14 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have acquitted themselves nicely thus far.
Fifteen games into the season, the Timberwolves have shown considerably more offensive punch than they did last season, and they can thank a healthy Kevin Love and free-agent signee Kevin Martin for that.
Love, who double-doubled in 14 of his first 15 games, has been the driving force behind Minnesota's offense, one that ranked third overall in scoring and seventh in efficiency entering Monday night. The league's premier power forward has shot better than 46 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.
Martin's play has been worthy of praise as well. For a team whose top three-point shooter hit on 34.6 percent of his attempts last season, Martin and his 46.2-percent shooting from deep have been much appreciated.
And we'd be remiss if we failed to mention the play of Ricky Rubio, who entered Monday night ranked second in the NBA in total assists and fifth overall in dimes per game. However, the most notable turn of events for the Spanish floor general has been his improved three-point shooting, as he's hit on over 45 percent of his treys to date.
Another important statistic of note: Minnesota allowed just a shade over 100 points per 100 possessions through 15 games, according to Basketball-Reference. Compared to last season, a defensive rating of 100.6 represents a 4.8-point decrease.
Portland Trail Blazers
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Say hello to your Northwest Division leaders, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Off to a positively brilliant start, the Blazers have exceeded expectations, and then some, by ranking among the league's Top 10 in both scoring offense and defense. Factor in that Portland's offense has also ranked among the Top five in terms of efficiency, and it's clear that Terry Stotts' team is here to stay.
While Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge have earned the right to bask in the spotlight, it's worth noting that the Blazers' role players have made their starting five one of the league's top groups, one that continues to be underrated.
After the Blazers won their 10th straight game on Saturday, Wesley Matthews found himself shooting a cool 56.8 percent from the field and 52.5 percent from three, the top mark among players who had attempted 50 or more treys prior to Monday night's action. And entering their showdown with the New York Knicks, Matthews also rated as the league's second-most efficient scorer, according to mySynergySports.
There's also the matter of Nicolas Batum, who functions as the glue that holds Portland's starting unit together.
According to mySynergySports, Batum ranks 20th overall when it comes to defending the ball-handler in the pick-and-roll, as he surrendered 0.67 points per possession and was holding opponents to 28.9-percent shooting in such situations through 14 games.
"I think this team is jelling together better than any other team I've been on," Aldridge told the Associated Press.
