Minnesota Sports Forum

A snapshot of the NBA one month into the season reveals 5 really bad teams and 7 really good ones. Here they are as I see it:

THE REALLY BAD

1. Milwaukee Bucks -- The worst and least talented team in the bunch
2. Jazz -- The only really bad team in the West
2. Knicks -- A bit more talented than their record, but not very talented and very poor chemistry
3. Nets -- Way more talented than their record, but terrible chemistry and poor coaching. Kidd's days are numbered
4. Cavs -- Thought they'd be better. Bad chemistry, Irving can't stay healthy, the other young talent hasn't blossomed
5. Sixers - They've overachieved so far, but they're finding their level. The give up whopping 109 PPG

THE BAD

As for the Pistons, Celtics and Magic, I'd put them in the bad category, not really bad. Actually, same perhaps for every other East Conference team except the Pacers, Heat, bulls and Hawks. I'm inclined to put the Kings in this group as well.

THE REALLY GOOD

1. Pacers
2. Heat
3. Spurs
4. Blazers
5. Clippers
6. Thunder
7. Rockets

Then there is everyone else -- teams that are neither really bad nor really good and not quite bad. No one in this group will end up really good or really bad. The Wolves are currently in this group. The teams that emerge from this group as "good teams" will fill the final 3 Western Conference playoff spots.

Two things.

First, who would have guessed the Blazers would be among the really good? Aldridge is really good. Batum's a nice all around role player, and Lilliard came out of the blue to surprise everybody last year, but that's still a really big surprise to me.

Second, the Spurs. Hats off to that team year in and year out. Somebody needs to write a dissertation on their organizational culture, because they are doing something right on a level so deep most teams don't even know it's there. Amazing.