We’re about two months into the NBA Season. In that time, multiple teams have separated themselves from the pack.
They haven’t done that just in their wins and losses, but also in understanding their identity, finding a cohesive flow, and with their roster availability. There’s a lot of season left, but being one of the top teams in the league still carries weight. Five teams have stamped themselves as the best of the best.
Who are the top five teams in the league?
5. New York Knicks
The NBA Cup Champions, the New York Knicks, are 19-8. Jalen Bruson is one of the league’s best players, averaging 28.4 pts, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. Bruson has brought this franchise back into the upper echelon. The Knicks know their identity because most of the team played together last season. They understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They rely on offensive rebounds and sharing the wealth.
Karl-Anthony Towns has used his size and skill in a multitude of ways this season: Driving to the paint, putting defenders on the back foot, and hitting his threes. He’s been an amazing second option.
Josh Hart and Miles McBride have been tenacious on defense. They’ve helped keep the defensive presence of last season with a new head coach at the helm in Mike Brown. The New York Knicks are a special team with a whole city behind them.
https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/2001160222371381724?s=20
4. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are 20-7, and their best basketball is in front of them. Victor Wembanyama is back in the lineup after missing multiple weeks with a calf strain.
In Wembanyama’s first game back, the Spurs beat the Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinal. The game showcased just how dynamic the Spurs are.
Four players scored over 20 points. De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper have been spectacular this season.
Even though the Spurs lost to the Knicks in the NBA Cup Final, it feels like their momentum hasn’t slowed down. The Spurs’ defense with Wembanyama in the lineup is one of the most disruptive in the league. The 7-foot-5-inch center covers so much space that getting a shot up in the paint feels impossible.
The adage that defense wins championships is still true, and the Spurs have the best defender in Wembanyama.
https://twitter.com/SpursReporter/status/2002382246498488804?s=20
3. Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are 20-6, including 11 straight road wins. The Nuggets’ revamping their roster with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cameron Johnson has paid dividends. The Nuggets seem refreshed and refocused on their championship goal.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is playing lights out, averaging 29.6 pts, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.9 assists. Jokic has a whopping 12 triple-doubles this season.
His co-star, Jamal Murray, is averaging 25.2 pts this season. The former wildcat is the perfect complementary piece to Jokic. With their two stars putting up big numbers and their role players contributing on the offensive end, the Nuggets have been one of the league’s best offenses. They’re showing it on the stat sheet too, scoring 126 pts per 100 possessions.
Denver’s a consistently competitive and dangerous team that plays at a high level every night.
2. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have an iron grip on the Eastern Conference. With a 21-6 record, the second-best in the NBA, the Pistons have shocked NBA fans.
Cade Cunningham has fully emerged as a top guard, averaging 27.2 pts, 6.2 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. Jalen Duren has taken a leap this season, averaging a double-double. The Cunningham-Duren duo has been this team’s bread and butter.
The acquisition of Duncan Robinson has helped replace the production Malik Beasley gave the team last season. Tobias Harris has been another valuable veteran presence, providing the team with stability and experience. Ausar Thompson has been dynamic on defense and steady on the offensive end.
The Pistons are the new team at the top, and their dominance has been exciting to watch.
https://twitter.com/SleeperPistons/status/1999912769462923589?s=20
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The OKC Thunder are, without a doubt, the best team in the NBA. Despite recent losses to the Timberwolves and Spurs, they are encroaching on all-time territory with a record of 25-3.
The Thunder have dominated the rest of the NBA with their unbelievable defense and proven offense. Allowing only 103.6 pts per 100 possessions while putting up 122 pts per 100 possessions on the other end . They seem primed for another final run.
Their star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP frontrunner, has continued his insane pace from last season, averaging 32.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.
It feels like the Thunder have no holes in their roster. OKC’s well-rounded supporting cast has put them above their competition.
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