#15: Charlotte Hornets – Current Record: 9-7

The Hornets got off to their best start in franchise history at 4-1 to begin the year, but then they lost six of their next seven games. Now, the Hornets are finding success again with a four-game win-streak and they just picked up two impressive wins over the Warriors and Wizards. 

With the league’s second-best scoring offense right now, the Hornets are definitely a real threat in the Eastern Conference this season, but their defense has been a problem. Charlotte may be scoring the second most points per game in the league, but they are also giving up the most points per game to their opponents because of their lack of rim-protection. 

The Hornets are giving up the fourth most points in the paint this season to their opponents and they desperately need P.J. Washington back from injury, as he is currently out with a hyperextended left elbow. 

Even when Washington returns and adds some more frontcourt depth, the Charlotte Hornets could still be on the search for a new rim-protector. Keep an eye on Myles Turner, who has always seemed to be a trade deadline target for the Hornets through the years. If the Hornets can acquire Turner without giving up Bridges or Hayward, then it is not far-fetched to believe that this team could possibly win a first-round playoff series. 

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They may still be young and learning, but the Hornets have a ton of talent on their roster and are one of the most explosive scoring teams in the league. 

#14: Dallas Mavericks – Current Record: 9-5

Luka Doncic has been starting to look like an MVP candidate in Dallas and Kristaps Porzingis has not been terrible despite the negative media attention he draws, but the Mavericks are just like the Portland Trail Blazers in the sense that they do not look like a real threat. 

All-time, this team is 14-17 without Doncic playing and tends to struggle when he is playing, but not on the floor. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis have stepped up as secondary scorers for this team, but nothing really stands out about this team. 

Are they going to be a balanced offensive team or will they focus more on locking teams down defensively? Along with the Charlotte Hornets, they are the only team in the league with at least 9 wins that has a negative point differential this season and they just seem like another one of these inconsistent teams that will be on-and-off all year long. 

They really do need another primary ball-handler and facilitator next to Doncic and until they add this high-level talent, the Mavericks are not going to be favored to advance past the first-round of the playoffs. 

#13: New York Knicks – Current Record: 8-7

“Bing Bong” seems like so long ago for the Knicks, as this team has lost six of their last nine games after starting the year 5-1. New York’s defense does not seem as fierce and physical as it was a year ago and while Madison Square Garden tends to be one of the best home court advantages in the NBA, the Knicks are just 3-5 at home this year with two of their losses coming to the Orlando Magic! 

Beginning the year as one of the best offenses in the league, the Knicks have only averaged 97.8 points per game in their last five contests and they are shooting just 42.9% from the floor since the start of November. 

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While their defense has not been terrible, they also need to make some adjustments in terms of limiting their opponent’s perimeter attack. Teams are shooting 35.5% from deep against the Knicks on the year, the 9th worst mark in the NBA, and since November, teams are shooting 36.7% from deep against New York. 

Finding that sense of urgency and willingness to fight for all 48 minutes needs to be a priority for this team right now, especially if they are to live up to expectations and be better than they were a season ago. Julius Randle cannot do everything for this team and others need to be willing to step up and not rely on someone else to do so. 

#12: Philadelphia 76ers – Current Record: 9-7

Joel Embiid has not played since November 6 due to being in the league’s Health and Safety Protocols and he is not the only member of this team on the injury report. Danny Green is currently out with a hamstring injury, Matisse Thybulle is in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols and Tobias Harris recently returned after being in health protocols for almost two weeks. 

Not being at full-strength has resulted in the 76ers falling to 9-7, but when Embiid returns, this team is definitely a contender in the Eastern Conference. When Embiid plays this year, the 76ers are 7-2 and outscoring their opponents by an average of 7.2 points per game. 

There is nothing to worry about long-term with this team right now, but the Ben Simmons drama still remains the key topic of discussion in Philadelphia. Whether or not the Sixers trade Simmons remains the “million-dollar-question” but one thing that is for certain is that Philadelphia would highly benefit from adding another scoring weapon in place of Ben Simmons. 

#11: Washington Wizards – Current Record: 10-5

Did you have the Washington Wizards being the best team in the Eastern Conference through about the first 20% of the regular season? 

Yeah, me neither! 

The Wizards have been the “feel good” story of the NBA season thus far and Bradley Beal finally has talented players around him who are willing to contribute to a team-first atmosphere. Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Spencer Dinwiddie have all been fantastic contributors for this team early on in the year and they have also helped make the Wizards the 5th best rated defensive. 

With bench depth, scoring depth and the willingness to sacrifice personal success for that of the team, the Washington Wizards are definitely a strong looking team in the Eastern Conference, but it is yet to be seen whether or not they can compete with the best of the best. 

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Eight of their ten wins so far have come against teams who are currently under .500 and in total and they have not really played any of the other teams in the league who have double-digit wins. They have played Brooklyn and they lost 104-90, not looking like a real playoff threat in that game. 

The Wizards’ start this year is definitely impressive, but it is hard to imagine that their success will be sustainable as the season progresses.