NBA Report Cards: Grading Each Team so Far This Season
A day after what was possibly the most exciting game of the season as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets in a back and forth game that featured two lead changes in the final ten seconds and one of the most monstrous dunks of the year by J.R Smith over Gary Neal, I have decided to take a look back at the season so far.
Well, I missed the one-quarter mark of the season and I don't want to wait for the one-third mark of the season, so, let's call it a 30 percent mark report card.
Many teams are playing exceptionally well, with some teams like the Spurs, completely exceeding expectations.
Then, there are those teams who stumbled out of the gate, continued stumbling, fell face first onto the ground and are now crawling (if you couldn't guess that this team is the Clippers, then go sit in the corner for a while).
So, let's take a look at what each team has done so far this season, look at their best wins and biggest losses, and slap a grade on their season.
All teams are graded against their expectations from the beginning of the season, if a 15-8 team is given a worse grade than a 10-15 team, it doesn't mean the team with the worse record is better; it just means that they aren't meeting their expectations.
They are in a way graded on a curve.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
The Hawks seemed like a team that would be going down hill for sure this season, with a payroll locked up in an overrated Joe Johnson and the Eastern Conference getting stronger.
However, they have beat the teams they are supposed to beat, at 14-3 against teams below .500, but they are only 2-8 against teams above .500.
Grade: B-
They have met expectations against the bottom half of the league, but need to do better against the better teams in the league in order to have an elite status in the league.
Record: 16-11
Biggest Wins: @Orlando 80-74, @New York 99-90
Ugliest Losses: @New Jersey 107-101 OT, @Detroit 103-80
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
They're exceeding expectations right now. As an aging veteran team, I expected them to come out slightly lethargic like they did a season ago and turn it on in the second half and the playoffs.
Kevin Garnett is playing like he did three years ago, and not like the old guy with wobbly knees of the past two seasons.
If they can keep up this pace into the playoffs, they are looking at another trip to the NBA Finals.
Grade: A+
Record: 21-4
Biggest Wins: vs. Miami 88-80, vs. New York 105-101 vs. Chicago 110-105, @OKC 92-83, @Miami 112-107, @Atlanta 99-76, vs. Chicago 104-92, vs. Denver 105-89, @New York 118-116, vs. Atlanta 102-90
Ugliest Losses: @Cleveland 95-87, @Toronto 102-101
Charlotte Bobcats
3 of 30
Every year for the past three years, it seems that everyone expects the Bobcats to finally break out and win enough games to at least garner the five seed in the playoffs. They are regressing this season.
Not only are they struggling against good teams, at 2-9 against teams above .500, but they are struggling against not so good teams, at 7-7 against teams below .500.
Last season they finished the season with a .537 win percentage, this season they are sitting at .360. They'll need to pick it up if they want to make it back to the playoffs.
Grade: D+
Record: 9-16
Biggest Wins: vs. Phoenix 123-105, vs. Denver 100-98
Ugliest Losses: @Detroit 97-90, @Philadelphia 109-91
Chicago Bulls
4 of 30
The Bulls have overcome a key injury this season to Carlos Boozer and are looking at another one to Joakim Noah on the horizon. They have crushed the games they are supposed to win and have done relatively well against the good teams of the league at 5-8 against teams above .500.
As long as they stay on this pace, and don't turn into the Blazers with injuries, they will become one of the elite teams in the east.
Grade: A
Record: 16-8
Biggest Wins: vs. Denver 94-92, @Dallas 88-83, vs. Oklahoma City 99-90, vs. Los Angeles 88-84
Ugliest Losses: vs. Orlando 107-78 (only blowout this season, no losses to sub-.500 teams)
Cleveland Cavaliers
5 of 30
They were expected to be bad, but this is just turrible. They're coming for nobody, their style is embarrassing, their defense is very pregnable, they are anything but ferocious. They might not even be able to beat your children.
But they did beat Boston, so they get the plus.
Grade: F+
Record: 7-18
Biggest Wins: vs. Boston 95-87
Ugliest Losses: Let's just say they've lost nine in a row and seven of them have been by double digits. They're all pretty ugly.
Dallas Mavericks
6 of 30
It's hard to find anything to complain about Dallas right now, as they are 9-3 against teams above .500 and 11-2 against sub-.500 teams.
They're one of the best defensive teams in the league, have some of the best ball movement, and are an all out impressive team.
Grade: A
Record: 20-5
Biggest Wins: @Denver 102-101, vs. Boston 89-87, vs. New Orleans 98-95 (NO's first loss of the season, they were the only undefeated team left at that point.), @OKC 111-103, @San Antonio 103-94, vs. Miami 106-95, @Utah 93-81, vs. Utah 103-97
Ugliest Losses: vs. Memphis 91-90, vs. Miluakee 103-99
Detroit Pistons
7 of 30
A season ago, Detroit had a winning percentage of 32, this season, it's 31 percent. It's kind of hard to complain about it considering the fact that the biggest player they added was a washed up T-Mac.
Nothing more was expected of them, so they are adequate.
Grade: C
Record: 8-18
Biggest Wins: vs. Atlanta 103-80
Ugliest Losses: @New Jersey 101-98, vs. Toronto 120-116
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
They're not a bad team this season, even when they all have to deal with the fact that Carmelo Anthony is looking for any way to escape to New York before the season ends.
They are doing quite well against the better teams of the league as well, so there isn't much to complain about.
Grade: B+
Record: 15-10
Biggest Wins: vs. Utah 110-88, @Dallas 103-92, vs. LAL 118-112, vs. New York 120-118, vs. Chicago 98-97, vs. Orlando 111-94.
Ugliest Losses: @Indiana 144-113, @Portland 86-83, @Charlotte 100-98
Golden State Warriors
9 of 30
Golden State is slowly improving, despite their rather bad stretch of losing 14 of the past 17 games. Despite all of that, their team is young and promising, and extremely watchable.
If nothing else, fans can take solace in the fact that watching them lose six in a row is at least fun, as they usually hang tough for most of the game.
They had some expectations with the arrival of David Lee, but not much, so I say they are doing slightly better than expected.
Grade: B-
Record: 9-16
Biggest Wins: vs. Utah 85-78, @New York 122-117
Ugliest Losses: @Detroit 102-97
Houston Rockets
10 of 30
Houston has had such a turbulent season that it is hard to give them a grade. They have dealt with injuries and just an overall weird stretch of basketball in the past 25 games.
They started off 4-10, and then climbed their way out of the gutter to make it to 6-5.
They can beat the mediocre teams, but struggle against good teams, who knows what could happen in the rest of the season for these guys.
Grade: C-
Record: 10-15
Biggest Wins: @ New York 104-96, vs. OKC 99-98, vs. LAL 109-99
Ugliest Losses: @Washington 98-91, @Toronto 106-96
Indiana Pacers
11 of 30
With the arrival of Darren Collison, people expected an up year for the Pacers, especially since they went only 32-50 last year. But the explosion of Roy Hibbert was unexpected, who is turning into a do it all big man.
If they keep up the pace, they should end up with a playoff spot at the end of this season.
Grade: B
Record: 11-13
Biggest Wins: vs. Denver 144-113, @Miami 93-77, @LAL 95-92
Ugliest Losses: @Philadelphia 101-75
Los Angeles Clippers
12 of 30
What happened Los Angeles?
This was it. This was supposed to be the year that you had a shot at 35+ wins. Now 15 would be exciting.
Blake Griffin has been exciting and Eric Gordon has been good, other than that, ya'll are killing me.
I bought into the hype, and as usual with the little sister LA team, I get burned.
I did give them the plus there, however, because they beat San Antonio. And on a side note there, really Spurs? You lose three games all season and one of them is to the Clippers. Jeez man, I guess nothing is automatic.
Grade: Q+
Record: 5-21
Biggest Wins: vs. OKC 107-92, vs. New Orleans 99-95, vs. San Antonio 90-85
Ugliest Losses: A lot.
Los Angeles Lakers
13 of 30
This team is impossible to grade at this point, for one reason and one reason only: they have played nobody.
They have played an NBA most 20 games against sub-.500 teams (winning 17 of them) and have gone 2-4 against the +.500 teams.
Who makes the NBA schedule? Jerry Buss?
Grade: Incomplete
Record: 19-7
Biggest Wins: vs. Chicago 98-91
Ugliest Losses: Nothing that I would call ugly.
Memphis Grizzlies
14 of 30
After an okay season last year, no major improvements were made in Memphis, so no huge improvement was expected.
Although they signed Rudy Gay to a contract that may be too big, he is playing well enough to possibly justify his contract, so no real complaints about this team so far.
Grade: C
Record: 12-14
Biggest Wins: @Dallas 91-90, vs. Miami 97-95, vs. LAL 98-96
Ugliest Losses: @Washington 89-86, @Cleveland 92-86
Miami Heat
15 of 30
They started out the season slow, rounding out toward the end of November at 9-8 until they reeled off their current ten game win streak.
That streak brought them back from a disappointing grade, as they beat three teams above .500 during that stretch.
Like the Lakers, they have feasted upon the bottom feeders of the league, but they have started to beat some good teams in the league as well.
Grade: B-
Record: 19-9
Biggest Wins: vs. Orlando 96-70, vs. New Orleans 96-84
Ugliest Losses: vs. Indiana 93-77
Milwaukee Bucks
16 of 30
Milwaukee had their terrific playoff run a season ago, but like this year, the season started out sluggish, as did their mid-season acquisition John Salmons who fired the team up.
So, it can be said that this team is a slow starter, and not much more should have been expected of them this early in the season.
Grade: C-
Record: 10-14
Biggest Wins: @New York 108-91, Vs. Orlando 96-85, @Dallas 103-99
Ugliest Losses: @Philadelphia 90-79, @Cleveland 83-81, @Detroit 103-89
Minnesota Timberwolves
17 of 30
Despite their ugly record, Minnesota is not a terrible team this season and could easily improve their grade as the season goes along.
They have had one of the toughest schedule's so far this season, as they are second in the NBA with 15 games played against teams above .500.
Grade: D+
Record: 6-20
Biggest Wins: vs. New York 112-103
Ugliest Losses: @Sacramento 117-116
New Jersey Nets
18 of 30
An improvement was expected, as it is hard to win only 12 games for two years running, so their record is just about expected.
Grade: C
Record: 7-19
Biggest Wins: vs. Atlanta 107-101 OT
Ugliest Losses: vs. Cleveland 103-101, @Sacramento 86-81, vs. Philadelphia 82-77
New Orleans Hornets
19 of 30
Despite a turbulent offseason, in which fans expected to lose their superstar every day and a league takeover of their team, New Orleans has played good basketball.
They have beat three of the league's top four teams and look like a good basketball team at this point in the season.
Grade: B+
Record: 15-10
Biggest Wins: vs. Denver 101-95, @San Antonio 99-90, vs. Miami 96-93, vs. Dallas 99-97
Ugliest Losses: @LAC 99-95, @Philadelphia 88-70
New York Knicks
20 of 30
A month ago, New York was 3-8, and it looked like they would struggle to make it to the playoffs in the east. A little 13-2 stretch later and people are talking big things in New York.
They have far exceeded expectations for this season so far.
Grade: A-
Record: 16-10
Biggest Wins: @Chicago 120-112, @New Orleans 100-92, vs. Denver 129-125
Ugliest Losses: vs. Philadelphia 106-96, @Minnesota 112-103, vs. Golden State 122-117
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
Oklahoma City is playing great, but that is what was expected of them. They were anointed as the future of the Western Conference in the offseason, and have just about lived up to that hype.
They have rebounded from sluggish play and an atrocious shooting percentage to get themselves back into form.
Grade: B
Record: 18-8
Biggest Wins: vs. Chicago 106-95, @Utah 115-108, @Boston 89-84, vs. New Orleans 95-89, @New Orleans 97-92
Ugliest Losses: @LAC 107-92, @Toronto 111-99
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Orlando had, and still has, high hopes for this season; but against the better teams in the league, they are struggling at 4-6 against +.500 teams.
They have gone on a 1-5 stretch in the past ten days.
Grade: B
Record: 16-9
Biggest Wins: vs. Miami 104-95, @Chicago 107-78
Ugliest Losses: vs. Toronto 110-106
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
Philadelphia started their season in a confusing way, as they have lost twice to both Cleveland and Toronto. But in the past nine games, they are 7-2.
Coming off a 27 win season, and not much more expected of them, a near .500 record is definitely a pleasant surprise for this young team.
Grade: B
Record: 10-15
Biggest Wins: @New York 106-96, vs. New Orleans 88-70
Ugliest Losses: vs. Cleveland 123-116, @Cleveland 101-93, vs. Toronto 94-86, @Washington 116-114, @Toronto 106-90
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Quite frankly, I'm surprised that Phoenix is doing this good this season. They lost their leading scorer and rebounder to free agency and have been without Robin Lopez for most of the season, yet they are afloat.
Channing Frye has stretched defenses razor thin and Steve Nash has been Steve Nash.
Grade: B-
Record: 12-12
Biggest Wins: @Utah 110-94, vs. Denver 100-94, @LAL 121-116
Ugliest Losses: Have inexplicably lost to Portland three times already this season.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
I kept this grade at a C- because of injuries, otherwise it would have been much lower. They just can't keep making up for hobbled guys like they did a year ago; it has caught up with them.
They won 50 last year in an injury plagued season, but they can't do as much with the injury this year.
Grade: C-
Record: 12-14
Biggest Wins: @New York 100-95, vs. Denver 86-83, vs. Orlando 97-83
Ugliest Losses: @New Jersey 98-96, @Philadelphia 88-79, @Washington 83-79
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
This is just a depressing team to watch.
They have a number of promising young guys in Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Hassan Whiteside, and DeMarcus Cousins; but when you put them all together, they are just a bad team.
Another lottery pick coming might finally push them to a winning season next year.
Grade: F
Record: 5-18
Biggest Wins: Their wins have come over Minnesota, Cleveland Toronto, New Jersey, and Washington; they have no big wins.
Ugliest Losses: They lost to the Clippers twice. That alone is a season's worth of ugly.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
They're too old? Yea right.
This team is fan-freaking-tastic right now, and in the biggest surprise of the season, one of the most exciting teams to watch.
They are the best team in the league and at the same time, the most surprising team in the league.
Will they ever end up with a down year? It doesn't seem like it.
Grade: A++
Record: 22-3
Biggest Wins: @OKC 117-104, Vs. Chicago 103-94, @Utah 94-82, vs. Orlando 106-97, @New Orleans 109-95, vs. New Orleans 109-84, @Denver 113-112
Ugliest Losses: @LAC 90-85 (Really?!?)
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
They are very close to a C-, considering the fact that they lost their best player in the offseason and are not playing ugly basketball.
They are still a pretty well put together team and can win some games here and there. Nonetheless, a fire sale is probably on the horizon.
Grade: D+
Record: 9-17
Biggest Wins: @Orlando 110-106, vs. Boston 102-101, vs. OKC 111-99
Ugliest Losses: @Sacramento 111-108, @Washington 109-94
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
This is an exciting and impressive team that could go far in the playoffs.
They're resilient (see @Miami 116-114 OT, greatest comeback of the year), and have one of the best point guards in the league. As long as Deron Williams is there, they'll be a good team.
Grade: A-
Record: 18-8
Biggest Wins: @OKC 120-99, @Miami 116-114 OT, @Orlando 104-94, vs. New Orleans 105-87, vs. LAL 102-96, vs. Orlando 117-105
Ugliest Losses: @Golden State 85-78
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
John Wall is good, but he's injured every other week; otherwise, this team is pretty terrible.
Oh, and JaVale McGee is quite awesome, he should be in the dunk contest this year. He'd bring down the house.
Grade: D
Record: 6-18
Biggest Wins: Biggest wins over Memphis and Houston, so nothing really that big.
Ugliest Losses: vs. Cleveland 107-102, @Detroit 115-110, @Toronto 127-108, @Sacramento 116-91
