Top Ten Best NBA Teams Through the First Half of the 2018-19 Season
The season is at the halfway point. This season has been very interesting and some teams have been very good. This season has been one of our more competitive seasons in a long while. In this list we will look at the best of these teams through the first half of this NBA Season. All Stats in this post is based off Basketball Reference and NBA.com.
The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball franchise based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association as a member team of the Eastern Conference Central Division. The Bucks at the moment are 35-12. Just look at some of these rating systems. 5th in Offense, 1st in Defense, 1st in Pace, 1st in SRS, 1st in PDIFF...and it goes on forever. Mike Budenholzer has really transformed this team into a threat. Giannis has been an MVP candidate and almost every player on this Milwaukee team is having an amazing season.
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association, as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Kawhi has been amazing for the Raptors. They are 36-15. They may not have the best offensive or defensive ratings at 6th and 7th respectively, but their are some reasons why. For one you always see them turn on the clamps when it matters. Kawhi, Danny Green, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, and Kyle Lowry might be the best defensive lineup in the league. Not to mention they have an amazing bench. Plus Kyle Lowry and Kawhi both have sat out a combined 27 games, but some games they sat out together.
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Arena/Stadium: Chase Center
Head coach: Steve Kerr
NBA championships: 2018, 2017, 2015, 1975, 1956, 1947
Owners: Joseph S. Lacob (majority), Peter Guber The Warriors have been pretty good this year. They are 34-14. They are number one in offensive rating. The only thing is they do not have the defense they they have had in the past. The are 16th in defensive rating. Nonetheless they have a nice 3 headed monster in Steph, KD, and Boogie.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Paul George is a legit MVP candidate. They are 30-18. He is leading this team. They are 4th in Defense which then leads them to 4th in Pace. The Thunder are in my opinion the best team in the West, but a lot of people will disagree with me. There are not a lot of stats that can back me up, but really just watching this team play. It is just amazing.
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association, as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. I think the Rockets are very very underrated right now. They 28-20 after starting the season very slow. They are being carried by James Harden. He is averaging an amazing 36.2 Points per game. Plus they have Chris Paul coming back very soon. Clint Capela will be back for awhile, but he should be back before the postseason plus Kenneth Faried looks like a diamond in the rough.
The Philadelphia 76ers are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers are starting to pick up steam. They are 32-17. They are 8th in Offense, 11th in Defense and 7th in Pace. They are a really talented team. They have consistently gotten better since the Butler trade.
The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are specifically known for honing infamous players such as Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Paul Pierce, and more. They are also known for having the most championships in NBA History, with 17 total. The Celtics are starting to get back into the championship race. They are 30-18. They just have to be more consistent. They are 5th in Defense and 10th in Offense.
The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association as a member club of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. You guys should all know my opinion on the Nuggets.
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trailblazers have been really good this season and I think they should attempt to get someone that could put them over the edge.
The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Everyone though this team would be done after emerging star Caris LeVert went down, but another emerging star in D'Angelo has emerged.
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association, as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division.
Head coach: Frank Vogel
Arena/Stadium: Staples Center
NBA championships: 2020, 2010, 2009, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1982, 1980, 1972, 1954, 1953, 1952, 1950, 1949
Owners: Philip Anschutz, Ed Roski Jr., Patrick Soon-Shiong, Joey Buss, Johnny Buss, Jesse Buss, Jim Buss, Jeanie Buss, Janie Buss
Did you know: The Los Angeles Lakers have the second-highest all-time NBA regular season win-loss record percentage (.598) among all current NBA teams. With LeBron back they can finally make a run.
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division.