With teams like the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers facing early struggles this season, room has been left for other teams to perform better than expected. Two weeks surely is not enough time to tell who will become NBA champion, but as this season becomes knee deep, it’s important to know what teams to look out for. As some teams have started the season better than others, the question remains if their displays will stay that way.
Here are the top ten teams in the league after two weeks of the NBA season:
- Denver Nuggets
If there was ever any doubt, this team has looked on top of the world this season and continues to make a case for another championship run. It’s still very early in the year, but the Nuggets have won their first four games and defeated four more teams since losing.
Playing with no remorse, the pressure of winning a championship has been relieved after last year’s success. Their center, Nikola Jokic, currently leads the league in win shares and has continued his stride towards cementing his name in history. Point guard Jamal Murray is likely to be out for up to a month, but the Nuggets are going to be dangerous all season long.
2. Boston Celtics
The Celtics are currently scoring the second most points per team this season, and are playing up to expectations. They have been a consistent side the past nine years but have failed to achieve championship glory since 2008. Their second season behind coach Joe Mazzulla has been bright thus far, and another playoff run is likely in the making.
They currently stand at 5-2 and have gone as far as to beat the Pacers by 50. Every season looks like it could be the Celtics year, but ends up in heartbreak. Maybe this is finally the season for players such as small forwards Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown to achieve that championship glory.
3. Dallas Mavericks
If there’s one team fans did not expect to see this high, it’s the Dallas Mavericks. Coming out of the gate hot, they currently hold a 6-2 record and have looked fantastic so far this season. They are out to prove that failing to make the playoffs last year was a fluke and should have never happened.
Coach Jason Kidd currently leads the team in his third season at Dallas, and is sporting his best start yet. Point guard Luka Doncic is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league, and at only 24 years old could carry this Dallas team for years to come. If Dallas continues to play the way it has, a championship run would not be out of the picture. As of right now, it would come to the surprise of no one if it perhaps meets a team like Denver in the Western Conference Finals.
4. Golden State Warriors
Even with the questionable status of power forward Draymond Green as of late, the Warriors still carry one of the best cores in the league. They have been proving so with the 6-3 record they currently hold, and averaging just over 14 three pointers per game. The Warriors are performing a little better than expected so far, but still have yet to prove a deep playoff run is in them.
As they continue to rep the Bay Area, point guard Stephen Curry and small forward Klay Thompson have continued their A game. The addition of veteran point guard Chris Paul has not only added experience, but depth to the team. The search for a first championship ranges from players like Paul to power forward Dario Saric who has been a strong supporting member this season. The Warriors have shown early glimpses of greatness, the question is can they stay that way.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
After losing their first game of the season, the 76ers have yet to be defeated since. They were taken down by the Bucks in their first game, losing by just one point, but have been taking names since. They have won six games in a row as they currently have a point differential of 82 points.
Their center, Joel Embiid, currently leads the league with 31.7 points per game, and is on an absolute tear. Embiid, in his eighth season with Philly, is looking to turn things around after championship heartbreaks of the past. It’s still too early to say if the 76ers will be champions, but they are playing like they are not going to lose any time soon.
6. Milwaukee Bucks
The team that beat the 76ers in their first game has also stayed hot throughout the season so far. After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were sure to make a statement this year. Despite two big losses, they have proven the drive to win in a quintet of victories.
New head coach Adrian Griffin has continued to be patient in entering his new role. He brings championship experience, as he was an assistant coach as part of the 2019 Toronto Raptors championship squad. The Bucks are currently third in the Eastern Conference, and will look to remain in playoff contention, or even championship contention, throughout the season.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Perhaps the most surprising name on this list, the Timberwolves have had a good roster for the past couple years, but may fully put it to use this season. They have appeared to lack the presence of a real star since Kevin Garnett in the early 2000’s, but its roster has always shown potential. The combination of all-stars such as power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, shooting guard Anthony Edwards, and center Rudy Gobert are what this team is built around, and show much potential for the future.
Minnesota has won four straight after facing a losing record early in the season. It seeks the playoffs for the third year straight, a feat that has gone unaccomplished since 2004. It has been able to establish a fairly young presence as of recent, and if it keeps winning games could be a future name to look out for.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
As rookie Chet Holmgren has finally graced his presence upon the NBA, the Thunder are a team who show strong potential this season. Holmgren, who was injured all of last season, currently leads his team in win shares, and is averaging close to 17 points per game. That’s second amongst all rookies. Apart from his early rookie of the year display, the team continues to be led by point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder have yet to make the playoffs since Gilgeous-Alexander’s first season with the team back in 2020. With other young stars such as shooting guard Jalen Williams and small forward Luguentz Dort playing strong supporting roles, don’t be surprised to see a return to the playoffs for the Thunder. If they can continue to keep a winning record, the confidence amongst the team will only continue to grow.
9. New Orleans Pelicans
With power forward Zion Williamson finally healthy, the Pelicans have returned this season as an early playoff contender in the West. Williamson missed all of the 2021-22 season, and played just 29 games last year. Small forward Brandon Ingram has stepped up impeccably in Williamson’s absence, and will once again get the support he needs to further thrive.
They began this season with a 4-1 record, but have lost three straight. A turnaround soon is crucial for this team to continue its success. Without one, it may begin to fall off and all the awaited success could end in failure. The team’s strong roster may also be in Jeopardy, as shooting guard CJ McCollum was recently diagnosed with a small pneumothorax in his right lung, and could miss weeks.
10. Orlando Magic
The young talent on this team seems to finally be breaking through. Despite a 4-3 record, the Magic are making themself a playoff case for the first time since 2018. Young stars like power forward Paolo Banchero and small forward Franz Wagner are beginning to settle into the league more. Meanwhile, point guard Cole Anthony leads the team in win shares, continuing to make his presence known.
Orlando has yet to fully find its footing, but has started the season in a fashion that has left fans hopeful. Even if this is not the season that magic is truly able to strike for this team, an undeniably hot start has set Orlando in motion. It has built a load of confidence fans have lacked for awhile, and greatness could be upon the horizon. With that in mind, the Magic will likely be amongst the teams fighting for a playoff spot towards the end of the year.
