NBA: Top 10 teams after the first quarter of the season
There’s isn’t much numerical separation in the east, but the Cavs and the Pacers are a cut above the rest With a quarter of the NBA season past us, it’s time to take a look at the top 10 teams in the league. Because the NBA uses seven game series’ to determine the winners of each playoff round, there are only a few teams who truly have a chance to win the NBA title. Considering that, there isn’t much reason to rank the 22 or even the 15 best teams in the league. They may have fun players, but team wise, they aren’t truly relevant in the grand scheme of things. Now this is a fluid list, and no doubt some teams at the bottom of this top 10 will shuffle with some other teams looking to break into the vaunted top of the league. However, at this point, it looks like the top spot is safe, as the Golden State Warriors are running away with the league, 4 games ahead of their closest competitor in overall record. At this stage, we are going to have to wait until the playoffs to see if the Warriors are truly this juggernaut, potential mini-dynasty team they exploded onto the scene as last year. What is really interesting to watch is how much better the East has been early on compared to the normally brutal West, with 2 games separating teams one through ten. Could this be the year where the East becomes the deeper conference, or is it just a matter of some of the traditional Western powers righting the ship and getting back to their winning ways?Just missing the cut for the quarter season poll are the Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets with the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, and now slightly surging Houston Rockets looking to up their play and break into the rankings.All stats are according to NBA.com.
#1 Golden State Warriors
You know they are the best. I know they are the best. Everyone knows they are the best. As the world watches to see how far they Warriors can carry their unbeaten streak, the team has showed the tiniest signs of slippage as more and more games are becoming fourth quarter affairs.
You know life is good when people start analyzing your season in terms of have you had to try or not in the fourth quarter, but such is life when your average scoring margin is 14.9 points per game. With an offense that is by far the best in the league, the 2nd placed Thunder are closer to the 26th placed Nuggets than they are to the Warriors, and a top five defense, there are very few flaws with the Warriors.
Some people, such as CBS Sports Matt Moore, feel like they have a chance to get to 50 wins in a row, and many think they will certainly challenge the 1971-72 Lakers record of 33 wins in a row.
Stephen Curry seems to up the bar for anyone to challenge him in the MVP race every game, including last week’s 28 points in the third quarter alone against the Charlotte Hornets. With a comfortable win over who were thought to be their toughest test so far, the Indiana Pacers, the Dubs will look to sweep Boston on the road on Friday. If those boxes are checked, they have a great shot at entering their game against the Cavaliers looking to win their 29th straight. What a game that would be!