The 2024-25 NBA regular season is underway, and there have already been plenty of surprises.
Some teams have vastly outperformed their expectations while others have struggled mightily.
Here are some overreactions based on every team’s start almost three weeks into the season.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-0), Previous Rank: 13
The Cavaliers have put it all together under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. The last undefeated team in the NBA, this is finally the year for this core to at least make the Eastern Conference Finals.
2. Boston Celtics (9-2), Previous Rank: 1
Jayson Tatum is out for revenge, and the Celtics are going back-to-back. Boston’s offense looks unstoppable while leading the league in points per game, three-pointers made, and offensive rating by a wide margin.
3. Phoenix Suns (8-2), Previous Rank: 10
Bud Ball is real. New coach Mike Budenholzer has done wonders for Phoenix and the Suns are a Western Conference Finals contender if Kevin Durant‘s absence isn’t anything serious and the rest of the team stays healthy.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-2), Previous Rank: 2
The NBA’s youngest roster currently has the second-best defensive rating ever. Losing Chet Holmgren to a hip injury for eight weeks limits this team’s ceiling moving forward, but this is still one of the deeper teams in basketball.
5. Golden State Warriors (8-2), Previous Rank: 18
Buddy Hield is flourishing as Golden State’s second option behind Stephen Curry and is currently the team’s second-leading scorer. He’s far and away the current favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-4), Previous Rank: 6
Anthony Edwards leads the league in three-pointers made, and Minnesota has three other players shooting at least 40% from three. Once the playoffs roll around, it’ll be harder to guard Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid with the team’s improved spacing.
7. Denver Nuggets (7-3), Previous Rank: 3
It was a scary start and the Nuggets have gotten nothing out of its bench, but Nikola Jokic has turned up the effort on both ends. He’s currently averaging a triple-double and will become the third player to do it over a full season.
8. Memphis Grizzlies (7-4), Previous Rank: 11
Zach Edey is the early Rookie of the Year favorite, and he’s even hit a couple of threes. Memphis has struggled with injuries, but this team is ready for a playoff run with Jaren Jackson Jr. healthy.
9. Dallas Mavericks (5-5), Previous Rank: 4
Luka Doncic has started to overcome his slow start while leading a revamped supporting cast. With a more well-rounded roster, the Mavericks will finish with a top-10 defense and top-10 offense this season.
10. Houston Rockets (6-4), Previous Rank: 20
Houston has notched impressive wins over teams like the Mavericks and the Knicks. With Jalen Green shouldering more of the offense in Year 4, the Rockets should end the season with 50+ wins.
11. Sacramento Kings (6-4), Previous Rank: 17
DeMar DeRozan might have been one of the better pickups this offseason, as he’s putting up 25 points per game. Despite the worry about DeRozan’s fit on defense, the Kings will finish with a top-10 defensive rating.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (6-4), Previous Rank: 21
The Clippers have been resilient with Kawhi Leonard out and are on a four-game winning streak. Norman Powell is averaging over 25 points a game, and he’ll end the year inside the top 20 scoring league-wide
13. Los Angeles Lakers (6-4), Previous Rank: 15
Anthony Davis is second in the league in scoring with 31.2 points per game. Even if Davis can’t sustain this scoring production under new head coach J.J. Redick, the Lakers were right to fire Darvin Ham.
14. New York Knicks (4-5), Previous Rank: 5
The Knicks were embarrassed on opening night in a blowout loss to the Celtics, and things haven’t improved since. At least Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 25 points and shooting over 50% from three, proving New York was right to trade for him.
15. Miami Heat (4-5), Previous Rank: 14
Tyler Herro is posting career-highs across the board and is shooting over 45% from deep. After years of being dangled in trade talks, Herro will end the year as Miami’s go-to option on offense.
16. Indiana Pacers (5-5), Previous Rank: 9
Tyrese Haliburton looks nothing like the All-Star who took the league by storm last season and helped his team to the Eastern Conference Finals. If he continues to play like this, Indiana is headed for a first-round exit.
https://twitter.com/sitenyk/status/1849992725916942454
17. Milwaukee Bucks (2-8), Previous Rank: 7
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are the only Bucks averaging over 15 points per game with Khris Middleton still out. Milwaukee won’t be this bad the whole season, but they will finish with under 50 wins.
18. Brooklyn Nets (4-6), Previous Rank: 29
Cam Thomas has been one of the best scorers in the league this season and ranks inside the top 15 across the league in points per game. If Thomas keeps this up, he’ll receive All-Star consideration on a surprise play in team.
19. Charlotte Hornets (4-6), Previous Rank: 26
LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann have exceeded expectations in Charlotte on a team that could make the play-in. Ball will be an All-Star this season and Mann will finish top three in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
20. Chicago Bulls (4-6), Previous Rank: 23
Chicago is the fastest team in the league, thanks to Josh Giddey‘s passing and his rediscovered shooting. The Bulls don’t trade Zach LaVine as they try to make a playoff push with a new identity this season.
21. Atlanta Hawks (4-7), Previous Rank: 22
The Hawks look primed for another season in the middle of the East, but Atlanta will end another year at .500 stuck in the play-in. On the bright side, Dyson Daniels has been amazing on defense and is currently averaging over 3 steals per game.
22. Orlando Magic (5-6), Previous Rank: 12
Losing Paolo Banchero hurts, as he looked like a shoo-in for the All-Star game before his oblique tear. Because of his injury, the Magic will tumble down the standings and be a play-in team.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (2-7), Previous Rank: 8
It’s time to hit the panic button in Philadelphia. The 76ers “Big Three” of Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid have yet to play a single game together. With the rash of injuries, it could be another year in the play-in tournament.
https://twitter.com/BricksCenter/status/1855801055436591449
24. San Antonio Spurs (4-6), Previous Rank: 19
Victor Wembanyama has struggled in Year 2, but veteran Chris Paul is having a resurgence in his age-39 season. Cp3 will end the year with 8+ assists per game and shoot over 40 percent from three (which he’s on pace for).
25. New Orleans Pelicans (3-7), Previous Rank: 16
The injury bug has bitten New Orleans hard, with starters Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, and Herb Jones out due to injury. With all the extra opportunity, first-year center Yves Missi will make an All-Rookie team.
26. Detroit Pistons (4-7), Previous Rank: 28
Cade Cunningham is healthy again, and he and Jaden Ivey have started the season strong. Ivey and Cunningham will average 20+ points per game each this year on a bad Pistons team.
27. Portland Trail Blazers (3-8), Previous Rank: 27
Portland has plenty of young talent this season, but it has a logjam at what feels like every position. One of Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, or Deandre Ayton will be traded to make space before the trade deadline.
28. Toronto Raptors (2-9), Previous Rank: 24
Toronto’s players know this season isn’t about winning. The focus is on the development of Gradey Dick, who is averaging 20+ points per game after a rough rookie season. If he keeps this up, he’ll be in Most Improved Player conversations.
https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1840837749169140071
29. Washington Wizards (2-6), Previous Rank: 30
It’s looking like another lost season in Washington, but Jordan Poole has looked much better as a point guard. Poole will finish with career-highs in points per game and three-point percentage as the team’s top scorer.
https://twitter.com/InandoutNBA/status/1853791052131451068
30. Utah Jazz (2-7), Previous Rank: 25
All-Star Lauri Markkanen is off to a slow start, and so are the Jazz. They’re the worst offensive team in the league across multiple categories, and unless Markkanen picks it up, that won’t change.
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