The 2014-15 NBA season has passed its halfway point, so it's time to dole out the midseason grades for each team. As fans, we've been lucky to witness some incredible player performances, like Klay Thompson's 37-point quarter, and some surprising team performances, like the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors. Who has lived up to expectations and who has disappointed? Here are the 2014-15 midseason grades for each and every NBA team.
Atlanta Hawks: A+
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Atlanta Hawks: A+
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Record: 38-8
The Hawks have been the league’s most pleasant surprise thus far. With a seven-game lead over the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference that is only widening as Atlanta continues to roll along, the Hawks should run away with the Eastern Conference. Without one dominant offensive player, the Hawks move the ball around and play team basketball as well as anyone.
Boston Celtics: C+
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Boston Celtics: C+
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Record: 16-28
This grade is much more about the never-ending off the court moves general manager Danny Ainge has made. The Celtics had little chance of competing, so we all knew it would be another year of transition. By trading away Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green and Brandan Wright, Boston acquired a truckload of draft picks and are now better set up for the future than they were at the start of the season.
Brooklyn Nets: D
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Brooklyn Nets: D
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Record: 18-27
Things are not looking good in Brooklyn. The Nets are buoyed down by massive contracts for aging veteran players, and without any high draft picks for the next few years, it’s going to be awhile before the team can realistically expect to contend in the East. Expect the Nets to continue to explore trades for all their veteran players, including Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson.
Charlotte Hornets: D
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Charlotte Hornets: D
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Record: 19-27
After surprising everyone last season with a 43-39 record, the Hornets were expected to take the next step in 2014-15. Injuries to Al Jefferson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Lance Stephenson and now Kemba Walker have derailed the first half of this season for Charlotte. The team would be wise to cut its losses and trade the team chemistry killer that is Lance Stephenson for whatever they can get.
Chicago Bulls: B+
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Chicago Bulls: B+
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Record: 30-17
Derrick Rose has stayed healthy for the most part, which is by far the most important thing that has happened this year for the Bulls. Jimmy Butler has emerged as a star and should only continue to improve. This season, as usual, will be defined by how far Chicago advances in the playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C-
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Cleveland Cavaliers: C-
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Record: 27-20
It’s only been 45 games and the Cavaliers have been on a couple seasons’ worth of a roller-coaster ride. Kevin Love has failed miserably to live up to expectations and the offseason trade of Andrew Wiggins for Love is looking like a mistake. The team struggled mightily while LeBron was injured, but Cleveland’s current six-game winning streak has things looking up for the preseason title favorites.
Dallas Mavericks: B+
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Dallas Mavericks: B+
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 30-17
As Dirk Nowitzki continues to age, the Dallas Mavericks’ championship window closes with it. Mark Cuban and the Mavs had a brilliant offseason by acquiring Chandler Parsons and Tyson Chandler. They continued stacking their starting five by trading for Rajon Rondo midseason, and once the team jells together, they should be a force to reckon with in the Western Conference playoffs.
Denver Nuggets: C-
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Denver Nuggets: C-
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Record: 19-27
The Nuggets came into this season with little hope of contending for a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The midseason trade of Timofey Mozgov to the Cavaliers for two first-round picks was a wise move and should be the beginning of a rebuild that will likely take at least a few years.
Detroit Pistons: C+
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Detroit Pistons: C+
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Record: 17-30
What a strange season it has been in Detroit. The C+ grade is a combination of the F the team earned in the first quarter of the season, followed by the A they’ve earned since. The Pistons started the season as one of the worst teams in the NBA and then got red hot once they put Josh Smith on waivers.
Golden State Warriors: A+
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Golden State Warriors: A+
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Record: 36-7
The Warriors were supposed to be good in 2014-15, but no one, not even the team itself, could have seen this kind of season coming. Golden State has proven to be the best team in the league at this point and are led by two true young superstars in MVP candidate Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Anyone else excited for the Warriors-Hawks matchup in Atlanta on Feb. 6?
Houston Rockets: A-
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Houston Rockets: A-
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Record: 32-14
This past offseason did not go as planned for Rockets GM Daryl Morey. The team lost Chandler Parsons to the rival Mavericks, traded Jeremy Lin and all they had to show for it was Trevor Ariza. As a result, many expected Houston to take a step back this season, but that’s been far from the case. James Harden has become a legitimate MVP candidate and has the team in position to contend for the Southwest Division title.
Indiana Pacers: C
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Indiana Pacers: C
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Record: 16-31
With Lance Stephenson signing with the Hornets in July and Paul George lost for the year to a gruesome leg injury before the season even started, the Pacers had absolutely no chance of being competitive heading into 2014-15. The team’s 16-30 record is better than it was expected to be at this point, an indication of how bleak the outlook was at the start of the season.
Los Angeles Clippers: B
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Los Angeles Clippers: B
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Record: 32-14
The Clippers were expected to win the Pacific Division once again this season, but then the Golden State Warriors happened. The regular season will not define the Clippers’ season -- how far they make it in the playoffs will. With two superstars in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on the roster, the best team in Los Angeles needs to find a way past the second round.
Los Angeles Lakers: F
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Los Angeles Lakers: F
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Record: 12-34
2014-15 has been a year to forget for the Lakers and might get even worse. Kobe Bryant, just about the only above average player on the team, will miss the rest of the season with a torn rotator cuff. The once proud franchise will need to hit it big in the draft and in free agency if they expect to compete any time soon.
Memphis Grizzlies: A
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Memphis Grizzlies: A
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Record: 33-12
The Grizzlies hung around with the Warriors for a bit at the top of the Western Conference before falling back down to Earth. Memphis is one of the top contenders to win the title and clearly are in “win-right-now” mode after trading for Jeff Green. Mike Conley has gotten even better and is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The two beasts down low, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, have done their thing as usual.
Miami Heat: D
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Miami Heat: D
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Record: 20-25
After LeBron James took his talents back to Cleveland, it was clear the Heat would no longer be the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Any team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh should have at least a .500 record. Considering how miserable the teams are at the bottom half of the Eastern Conference, Miami should be able to coast into the playoffs and have a good chance of upsetting one of the top seeds in the first round.
Milwaukee Bucks: B+
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Milwaukee Bucks: B+
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Record: 23-22
You may be wondering how a team with just one more win than losses can receive a B+ grade. What if I told you the Bucks had 15 wins all of last season? Head coach Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit for turning the ship around in Milwaukee.
Minnesota Timberwolves: F
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Minnesota Timberwolves: F
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Record: 8-37
Minnesota has the worst record in the NBA, even fewer wins than the Philadelphia 76ers who don’t resemble an NBA team in the slightest. The offseason trade of Kevin Love is looking like it was a smart move as Andrew Wiggins has flashed star potential at times. Don’t expect the Timberwolves to compete for a playoff spot for at least the next few years.
New Orleans Pelicans: C
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New Orleans Pelicans: C
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Record: 24-22
Anthony Davis is just 21 years old, but he might already be the most dominant player in basketball. That’s great news for the Pelicans, except that being just two games over .500 with perhaps the best player in the league on your team is a real indication of the lack of talent on the rest of the roster.
New York Knicks: F
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New York Knicks: F
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Record: 9-37
What a disaster it’s been in New York in Phil Jackson’s first year as the Knicks president. The team wasn’t expected to be any good, but by no means were they supposed to be dead last in the Eastern Conference. Carmelo Anthony signed a long-term extension in the offseason, a move the organization may be regretting sooner rather than later.
Oklahoma City Thunder: C-
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Oklahoma City Thunder: C-
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Record: 23-23
The only reason the Thunder got a passing grade was because of circumstances out of the team’s control. Kevin Durant has missed 25 of Oklahoma City’s 46 games, and the team’s other superstar, Russell Westbrook, has missed 14. The Thunder have been better since both returned, but they still face an uphill climb to catch the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 seed.
Orlando Magic: C+
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Orlando Magic: C+
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Record: 15-33
At 15-33, the Magic are actually doing better than expected, which just goes to show the type of roster Jacque Vaughn is working with. Nikola Vucevic is one of the NBA’s little-known stars, Victor Oladipo is getting better and better, and 2014 top-10 picks Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon are just 20 and 19 years of age respectively. If these young players pan out, the Magic should be much improved in the next couple of seasons.
Philadelphia 76ers: D-
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Philadelphia 76ers: D-
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Record: 9-37
The only reason the 76ers did not receive an F is because they’re actually exceeding expectations by a fair amount through 46 games. Philadelphia is in the midst of the ultimate tank job of all tank jobs with by far the worst roster in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns: B
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Phoenix Suns: B
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Record: 27-20
After somehow missing the playoffs with 48 wins last season, the Suns are right back in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt in 2014-15. The offseason acquisition of Isaiah Thomas left Phoenix with a slew of undersized guards, but Jeff Hornacek has done a masterful job of making it work. The Suns currently have a two and a half game lead over the Pelicans for the No. 8 seed.
Portland Trail Blazers: A-
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Portland Trail Blazers: A-
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Record: 32-14
If not for the team’s recent rough patch, Portland would have earned a solid A. After being snubbed by Team USA in the offseason, Damian Lillard has emerged into one of the best players in the NBA and LaMarcus Aldridge is still one of most valuable players in the league. Aldridge’s hand injury is the biggest x-factor in the Blazers' season, and they won't do any damage in the playoffs if the big man is unable to play.
Sacramento Kings: D
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Sacramento Kings: D
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Record: 16-28
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive made the first curious move of the season by firing Mike Malone as head coach. Sacramento got off to a surprisingly-hot start, which may have raised expectations higher than they should have been. Outside of DeMarcus Cousins, who has really emerged as one of the best big men in basketball, the Kings don’t have much talent. First-round pick Nik Stauskus' play has not inspired thus far.
San Antonio Spurs: B
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San Antonio Spurs: B
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Record: 30-17
The regular season means less to the defending champions than to any other team by a long shot. All the Spurs need to do is make the playoffs, as they will, and enter it with all their veteran pieces healthy. Even as the current No. 6 seed in the West, San Antonio should still be the favorite to win another title.
Toronto Raptors: A-
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Toronto Raptors: A-
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Record: 31-15
The Raptors have the luxury of playing in the weak Eastern Conference, and they’ve set themselves up as well as they could have hoped. DeMar DeRozan has had somewhat of a down year, but they’re going to need him at his absolute best if they want to make some noise in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Utah Jazz: C
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Utah Jazz: C
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Record: 16-30
The Jazz have a good group of young players to build around in Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter. Australian product and this past draft’s No. 5 pick, Dante Exum, has been a disappointment to this point, but he’s still just 19 years old and oozing with talent. Next year should be the season the Jazz have heightened expectations.
Washington Wizards: B+
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Washington Wizards: B+
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Record: 31-16
John Wall and Bradley Beal make up one of the best backcourts in the NBA and as expected, have led the Wizards to a top-three spot in the Eastern Conference. Look for Washington to be extremely active before the trade deadline in hopes of adding a piece or two in preparation for a deep postseason run.
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