With teams like the Sixers, Pacers, and Wolves struggling, both conferences are wide open right now. The East, projected to produce multiple powerhouses this season, has been abysmal so far, except for the Magic, Celtics, and Cavs.
When it comes to the West, there are 12 teams who are potentially vying for a playoff spot in April. Despite the injury bug touching almost every team in the league, the games have continued to be competitive.
Let’s dive on to see the grades for all 30 NBA teams after week 5.
Which NBA teams had the best and worst grades after week 5?
Atlanta Hawks: C (Last Week: C+)
The Hawks are off to a 7-10 start this season, and it’s becoming clearer each passing week that this team is much closer to a rebuild than to competing for a playoff spot. Should they just completely hit the reset button and trade Trae Young? They do have younger pieces in the roster that could potentially benefit if given the time to have the ball in their hands more.
Boston Celtics: A+ (Last Week: A)
Halting the Cavs’ 15-0 start speaks volumes about who the true number one team in the East is, despite having a slightly inferior record when compared to them in the standings. Truth be told, the Celtics are still the best team in the NBA this season.
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Brooklyn Nets: C (Last Week: C-)
A 7-10 record for Brooklyn after five weeks of nonstop action should not be frowned upon, in my opinion. This team had low expectations coming into the season, but they are still competing. They should probably start Nic Claxton more to provide a much-needed presence inside the paint.
Charlotte Hornets: D (Last Week: D)
The Hornets are 4-6 in their last ten games despite LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller having the best seasons of their young careers. They are young and exciting, but their execution sometimes lacks depth, especially on the offensive end.
Chicago Bulls: D (Last Week: D-)
The Bulls are, well…still similar to the Bulls of the previous years. They are neither in the rebuilding phase nor competing for a playoff spot. They are at a spot that’s hard to describe. They are 7-11 after week 5, and this might be it for their ceiling. They want to trade Nikola Vucevic, but the scoring center has minimal value in the trade market right now.
Also Read: Grading 30 NBA Teams’ After Week 4 Games Of The 2024-25
Cleveland Cavaliers: A+ (Last Week: A+)
Even though their historic start was halted by the mighty Celtics, the Cavs remained undeterred and went right back to work despite the temporary setback they suffered in week 5. It looks like this might be the season where this team could make a potentially deep run in the NBA playoffs in April.
Dallas Mavericks: B (Last Week: C-)
Going 3-1 without Luka Doncic? Who would’ve thought that the Mavs had it in them? Despite Klay Thompson’s woes on shooting the ball, other players from this team have stepped up in Luka’s absence, namely PJ Washington and Naji Marshall. And oh…Jason Kidd should stop giving Spencer Dinwiddie time on the court and give it to Jaden Hardy instead.
Denver Nuggets: B+ (Last Week: B)
With Nikola Jokic missing three games due to personal stuff, the Nuggets somehow managed to pull off some wins on the court. By the time he came back, the three-time MVP convincingly showed Anthony Davis that he was still the best big guy in the NBA when his team thoroughly dispatched the Lakers in a blowout fashion.
Detroit Pistons: D (Last Week: B)
Just when we thought the Pistons were starting to roll, they stumbled in week 5. The signing of Tobias Harris during the summer has not paid off for this team, though. That was an expected outcome right from the get-go.
Golden State Warriors: A+ (Last Week: A+)
The Warriors are at the top of the West after week five of the games. That’s truly an impressive feat, considering that most of their 2022 championship core is gone. Stephen Curry’s scoring is way down this season, but their young guys have started to mature and contribute consistently on a nightly basis.
Houston Rockets: A (Last Week: A)
The Rockets are 8-2 in their last ten games and 12-6 overall, good for third in the ultra-crowded West. It seems like Dillon Brooks has found his shot again, which bodes well for this team, as they still need his scoring on the offensive end of the floor.
Indiana Pacers: C- (Last Week: B)
Oh…Indiana. What happened with y’all? A 7-10 record is a disappointment, considering they were on an unprecedented rise last season. Tyrese Haliburton quickly went from being a top 10 NBA player to a guy who’s not even going to crack the top 50 this season. What happened there, coach Rick Carlisle?
Los Angeles Clippers: B (Last Week: D)
If you’re a Clippers fan, you know that this season has been a roller coaster ride so far, right? This NBA team started hot, went cold, then went hot again. They are on a five-game winning streak right now. Who knows? Maybe they’ll be on a three-game skid in week six. That’s how crazy it is for them.
Los Angeles Lakers: B (Last Week: A)
Should Dalton Knecht start instead of Rui Hachimura? When Knecht started, he showed everybody that he’s arguably one of the best rookies in the NBA right now. When Hachimura came back and took the starting gig, the Lakers had stumbled, including a beatdown from Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
Memphis Grizzlies: B+ (Last Week: B)
Despite missing Ja Morant’s services, the Grizzlies have continued to grind out wins. Even a struggling Desmond Bane couldn’t slow them down on the court. Scottie Pippen Jr and rookie Jaylen Wells have been a revelation for this team this season.
Miami Heat: B (Last Week: C)
The Heat, with a 7-7 record, currently sits at the 5th spot in the East. That’s how weak this conference has been this season. To find solace in this team’s inconsistency, Jimmy Butler has seemingly woken up from his slump and has been playing well lately.
Milwaukee Bucks: B (Last Week: D)
Uh oh…the Bucks are winning again. From multiple F grades early in the season, they now have started to turn things around. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been playing at an MVP level right now on both ends of the floor. Word is that the often-injured Khris Middleton is close to returning to the court soon.
Minnesota Timberwolves: C (Last Week: A)
Trading Karl-Anthony Towns away before training camp started now looks like a massive mistake on Minnesota’s part. They are just 8-8 after week 5. The element of surprise is gone. Anthony Edwards bafflingly abandoned his midrange game – a staple of his – in favor of the three-point shot. The results are mixed so far.
New Orleans Pelicans: F (Last Week: F)
We feel bad for the Pelicans. They just could not catch any break. By the time Murray, McCollum, and Williamson come back from their respective injuries, it might be a little too late to turn their season around. They are at the bottom of the West standings, with a 4-13 record.
New York Knicks: B (Last Week: C)
Five weeks have passed, and the Knicks still can’t figure out how their newly revamped roster will fit on the court. Sure, they are fourth in the East right now, but we can’t help but notice that they have taken a step back as a team compared to where they were at the last NBA season.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B- (Last Week: B-)
Losing to a Luka Doncic-less Mavericks team was a huge red flag for this team. Also, losing to the Spurs quickly merited some unwanted questions in their way. Maybe we could attribute it all to the absence of Chet Holmgren, who was, no doubt, the second-best player this team had this season. Give them a break for now.
Orlando Magic: A (Last Week: B+)
Franz Wagner is an all-star. You can’t change my mind on that. When Paolo Banchero went down with an injury in the earlier part of the season, there were doubts about whether this team could stay afloat in the standings until he came back. Stay afloat, they did. An 11-7 record and a third spot in the East is a testament to that.
Philadelphia 76ers: F (Last Week: F)
Paul George, the guy whom the Sixers signed to a massive contract in the summer, publicly calling out that rookie Jared McCain should not be this team’s most consistent player? We know he’s just praising the rookie, but with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and him mainly on the injured list, they should be thankful that a rookie is doing the best he could to keep the scores close despite the losses.
Phoenix Suns: C- (Last Week: B)
I’m going to stir up a comparison that will probably irk the entire Suns’ fanbase – Devin Booker is the Zach LaVine of the West. He’s a good regular-season performer, but that’s about it. Booker’s only advantage so far compared to Chicago’s Zach LaVine is that he had some Hall-of-Fame-caliber teammates in his career. With Kevin Durant still out due to an injury, Booker is having a hard time leading this Suns team to wins.
Portland Trail Blazers: C (Last Week: C)
At 7-10 after the fifth week of the season, I’d say that’s a win for this once-proud franchise. This NBA team has gone through a lot of ups and downs, but they finally have some intriguing pieces moving forward. For starters, rookie Donovan Clingan should be granted the starting spot over Deandre Ayton for the rest of this season.
Sacramento Kings: C (Last Week: B)
The Kings are, well…underachieving, to say the least. Losers of three straight, something new has to be done for this team moving forward. DeMar DeRozan is stagnating their offense due to his iso-heavy style of play. They need to move the ball frequently, starting with Domantas Sabonis playing the way he used to play for them last season.
San Antonio Spurs: B (Last Week: C)
Victor Wembanyama is a problem. Nobody’s blocking his shots anytime soon. As a result, with him getting much more aggressive, the Spurs are finally winning. They won against OKC, Utah, and the Western conference-leading Golden State in week five.
Toronto Raptors: D (Last Week: F)
The Raptors had a relatively tough week but still managed to post a 2-1 record. They beat the Pacers and the Wolves before succumbing to the red-hot Cavaliers to close week five. They still have a tall mountain to climb, though, as they are 4-13 this season and sit near the bottom of the east.
Utah Jazz: F (Last Week: D)
Even with a surprising win against the sluggish Knicks, the Jazz had another bad week. They posted an abysmal 1-3 slate in week 5 and a 4-12 record overall so far this season. They need to unload the guys that still have some value and pledge to a full-scale rebuild rather than compete in the loaded West with a mediocre roster. The Bulls and the Jazz sure do share something in common when it comes to their hesitation to go on a rebuild.
Washington Wizards: F (Last Week: F)
This NBA team has been on a mission to end November on a winless slate. They are playing atrocious right now. Jordan Poole’s hot start was a fluke. Kyle Kuzma has no place for this team as he continues to jack off shots without repercussions. They are G-league worthy in the eyes of many.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams After Week 4 Games
