Yesterday we took a timeout from an entertaining 2015-16 NBA season to call out the NBA squads that were supposed to take a big step forward, but so far haven’t. A few talented teams have so far failed to live up to expectations, and while that’s a bummer for them, there’s always the other side of things – the positive side. For every bad team, there is another finding it’s way, and while there are certainly a few teams that aren’t where many expected them to be, there are a handful that have definitely exceeded expectations to this point.
It’s quite early in the NBA season. It’s only just December 4th, after all. Things could change violently in just the next month, as one of the struggling teams we took a look at yesterday could ascend to the top of the league, and a surprise team doing well right now could plummet. But that’s the point of analysis in the here and now. At least for this moment, there are a few teams that have shocked us all in a good way and that deserves a spotlight, even if it’s ever so mild. With that, let’s give credit where credit is do and discuss the top five NBA teams that are currently topping preseason expectations:
Orlando Magic
The Magic got a new coach in Scott Skiles but changed little else, as they opted to develop their young talent and hope a defensive-minded teacher could train them to improve from within. It’s been working, as the Magic have ripped off five wins and suddenly are within striking distance for first place in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. Orlando continues to toy with their rotations and need to perform better on the road, but have already shown huge progress as a defensive team (allowing just 99 points per game). It’s anyone’s guess if it can hold up in the same division as the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks, but for now the Magic are one of the nicest surprises of this young NBA season.
New York Knicks
The Knicks have slipped a bit lately but few teams have been a nicer surprise, as rookie phenom Kristaps Porzingis has become a permanent fixture of New York’s starting lineup en route to a solid 9-10 start. New York isn’t yet a consistent winner above the .500 mark but they’re already in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and still have plenty of upside to tap into with Carmelo Anthony on board. The Knicks have some work to do on offense but have been a solid defensive team and remain just a couple games back in a soft Atlantic Division. The Knicks probably won’t get the crown this year, but after being one of the worst teams in the league a year ago, this quick and steady progress is rather welcomed.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit had been a laughingstock for years after they broke up their title contending roster, as the Pistons had major free agent gaffes in Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. Detroit has picked up the pieces over the past two years, however, and with center Andre Drummond as the main focus at both ends of the court, the Pistons are back to a bullying, physical brand of basketball. It’s working, too, as they’re giving up just 97 points per game and are a solid 10-9 through the season’s first 19 games. That doesn’t sound amazing, but after the struggles this franchise has been through recently, they’re finally starting to see the fruits of their labor.
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte regressed last season into an offensively challenged team that could only win with defense. They opted to aim a little higher on the offensive side of things this summer, and brought in reinforcements via Jeremy Lin and Nicolas Batum. Charlotte even targeted a big man they could groom behind Al Jefferson and brought in Frank Kaminsky to be a future star. Jefferson is sidelined and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is out for the year, but the Hornets have still improved after a down year, as their offense is light years better than it was last season and they still possess a solid defensive edge. Once they get a healthy Al Jefferson back they’ll really know where they stand, but so far they’ve been dominating at home (8-3) and hold a respectable 10-8 overall mark.
Dallas Mavericks
Last but certainly not least are the Mavs, who were supposed to fall from borderline 8th seed to out of the playoffs. That was the popular thought after Mark Cuban and co. missed out on prized free agents, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan. Dallas rebounded by landing point guard Deron Williams and shooting guard Wesley Matthews, however, and even landed center Zaza Pachulia in a trade. They’re still getting healthy across their roster, but have gotten off to a hot start and are in contention for the Southwest Division crown at 11-8. Once thought to be on the way down, the Mavs are fueled by a seemingly revitalized Dirk Nowitzki and an underrated core.
Got a team that has been even more impressive? Tell us about them in the comments below!
