Week 6 was fun. The second phase of the Emirates NBA Cup just concluded, and the games were intense, much more like playoff games than regular season games. Some exciting stories, like the Cavs, who were once perceived to be untouchable in the East, lost back-to-back games to the Hawks. Top teams in the West have continued to struggle this season, which is a surprising development in the NBA. Let’s see how each team has fared after week 6 of action.
Which NBA teams had the best and worst grades after week 6?
Atlanta Hawks: A (Last Week: C)
Is this team the kryptonite of the east-leading Cavs? It sure looks like it after the Hawks trounced Cleveland in back-to-back games in week 6. They are on a three-game winning streak right now and could possibly add to that number in week 7.
Boston Celtics: A+ (Last Week: A+)
Can’t really fault the Celtics falling to the Cavs after the conclusion of week 6. They were without Jaylen Brown and Derrick White in that contest. Still, mighty C’s have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, and to the eyes of many pundits, they are the best team in the entire NBA right now.
Brooklyn Nets: B (Last Week: C)
The Nets had a tough task in week 6, battling playoff-caliber teams, but they managed to come out with a 3-2 slate. The injury bug had taken down Cam Thomas, but Dennis Schroder and the rest of the gang kept this team afloat during Thomas’s absence.
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Charlotte Hornets: F (Last Week: D)
Losers of five straight, it’s hard to put a finger on where the real problem lies for this often cellar-dwelling franchise. LaMelo Ball’s putting up MVP-like numbers, but the wins are still hard for the Hornets to come by.
Chicago Bulls: D- (Last Week: D)
This might be the right time for the Bulls to sell high on Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine. This team has been holding on to its first-class ticket to nowhere for far too long. Compared to the rest of the top squad in the East, they are much nearer to where the Wizards are currently situated.
Also Read: Grading 30 NBA Teams’ After Week 5 Games Of The 2024-25
Cleveland Cavaliers: B (Last Week: A+)
For the first time this season, the Cavs had a lower remark other than A. If they truly want to be considered heavy favorites to win it all, the back-to-back losses against the Hawks should have never happened. It’s time to regroup and focus on the goal, Cleveland.
Dallas Mavericks: A (Last Week: B)
5-1 without Luka Doncic is an impressive feat. They have been absolutely dependent on him since he donned the Mavs’ white and blue in 2018. The last couple of weeks were the best stretch of basketball they had sans his presence. And it gets better for them now as Luka returned and managed to put on a show against the Blazers to cap off week 6.
Denver Nuggets: C (Last Week: B+)
The Nuggets are a vulnerable team. They are far from their peak form during the 2022-2023 season when they won it all. Jamal Murray’s game has stagnated, and so has Michael Porter Jr. We don’t doubt Nikola Jokic’s abilities, but as the saying goes, no man is an island.
Detroit Pistons: C (Last Week: D)
The Pistons went 2-2 in week 6. The Tobias Harris signing in the offseason hasn’t paid off yet this year. The good news is that they are still on track for a better year compared to their disastrous campaign last season. And with the East relatively weaker this year, they have a legitimate chance to sneak in as one of the play-in teams. Crazy, right?
Golden State Warriors: D (Last Week: A+)
A+ to D is crazy, but that’s the reality the Warriors are facing right now. After a blazing hot start, the Warriors are 5-5 in their last 10 games and are on a four-game slide. Steph Curry’s immortality run may have hit a wall or something, as he was not at his usual form in week 6.
Houston Rockets: A+ (Last Week: A)
It’s good to see that all NBA teams from the state of Texas are thriving right now. The Spurs and the Mavs are in the top 10 in the west standings after week 6. For the Rockets? They are number two, just a half-game behind the OKC Thunder.
Indiana Pacers: D (Last Week: C-)
What’s going on with the Pacers? To add to that, what the heck is wrong with Tyrese Haliburton? This team was near the cusp of the NBA Finals last season, and here they are, toiling at the 7th to 10th spot in the east after six weeks of basketball.
Los Angeles Clippers: B (Last Week: B)
Have you seen James Harden play recently? Are we back in the year 2018? Sure seems like it after all his scoring outbursts in week 6. Legitimately, it’s fairly reasonable to believe that this team has what it takes to secure a top 6 finish in the West before the NBA playoffs begin next year.
Los Angeles Lakers: B- (Last Week: B)
The Lakers avoided a huge meltdown to end week 6 after escaping the Jazz at Salt Lake City. As a result, they settled on a 2-2 week, going 6-4 in their last 10 games. Hate to admit it, but LeBron’s age is finally showing. He failed to reach the 20-point mark in four consecutive games before breaking the curse against the Jazz.
Memphis Grizzlies: A (Last Week: B+)
Breaking News: Ja Morant is dunking again! What does that have to do with Memphis? Well, that has everything to do with them. If Ja is aggressive, the rest of the team is feeding off the exploits of their superstar. As a result, they are on a six-game winning streak right now.
Miami Heat: B (Last Week: B)
Not much has changed for Miami, except for Tyler Herro’s return at the point guard spot. Their offense is much more dynamic, with him directing traffic, compared to how they ran it with Terry Rozier and Herro at the two. The Heat are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
Milwaukee Bucks: A+ (Last Week: B)
Winners of six straight, the Bucks are on a roll right now. Giannis Antetokounmpo is back playing at an MVP level, and the rest of the squad is following his lead. Expect them to climb further up in the standings before 2024 ends.
Minnesota Timberwolves: D (Last Week: C)
The Wolves are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are nowhere near where they were at this point last season. Anthony Edwards has publicly called out his teammates, showing displeasure with this team’s effort on the court. If he wants to be the best, he should be able to handle pressure and learn a thing or two about leadership.
New Orleans Pelicans: F (Last Week: F)
In goes CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray; out goes Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy, and Zion Williamson. The Pelicans simply cannot catch a break. They now have lost eight straight games and went 1-9 in their last 10. There’s no glimmer of hope for this NBA team. It’s all darkness.
New York Knicks: B+ (Last Week: B)
The Knicks went 3-1 in week 6, with their lone loss against the Doncic-less Mavs. Jalen Brunson hasn’t won a game against his former team yet since donning the Knicks jersey a couple of years ago. But hey, at least they are slowly climbing the ladder in the Eastern Conference after a so-so start this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A (Last Week: B-)
OKC was tested in week 6 but still came out with a 3-1 slate. They won against the Kings, Lakers, and Warriors before falling short against the red-hot Houston Rockets. Isaiah Harternstein has become a double-double monster since being inserted in the starting lineup to fill up the vacated spot by the injured Chet Holmgren.
Orlando Magic: A+ (Last Week: A)
Franz Wagner is an all-star. Should get some love from the All-NBA teams as well. Sans Paolo Banchero, the Magic have won 12 out of their last 13 games. No, they aren’t scoring much, but they know how to get the job done on the floor.
Philadelphia 76ers: D (Last Week: F)
The Sixers had an okay week, going 1-2 without the services of Paul George and Joel Embiid. After week 6, they are still near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Rookie Jared McCain has seemingly cooled off and was relegated to the bench after a stellar two-week outing.
Phoenix Suns: B (Last Week: C-)
With Kevin Durant back in the fold, the Suns avoided a further slide in the standings and went 2-1 this past week. They should have gone 3-0 if not for an abysmal performance against the unpredictable Nets team, who were led by Dennis Schroder.
Portland Trail Blazers: D (Last Week: C)
The Blazers played four games and lost three of them. The cracks have begun to show. This is the problem for an NBA team without a clear leader on the roster.
Sacramento Kings: F (Last Week: C)
Truly, the Kings deserve this grade after their half-hearted performance this week. 1-4 in 5 games won’t cut it. They have a relatively healthy roster, with Malik Monk back in the fold. Still, the losses kept piling. The beam hasn’t been lit for a while, and that’s concerning for a team that just spent millions of dollars in the NBA offseason to bolster their roster.
San Antonio Spurs: B+ (Last Week: B)
Victor Wembanyama can’t be stopped. We wanted him to be unguardable, and he responded. How in the world can you guard a 7-foot-4 player who moves like a shooting guard on the court? Short answer: You can’t. The Spurs are 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Toronto Raptors: D (Last Week: F)
Hey, Raptors fans. At least your favorite NBA team managed to win a couple of games despite having to go through a tough schedule in week 6. A 2-3 slate isn’t bad, considering they’ve only won six games so far this season.
Utah Jazz: F (Last Week: F)
It isn’t really a surprise that the Jazz went 0-4 this week. They were against playoff-caliber teams, after all. They could’ve gone 1-3 if it wasn’t for a late blunder while facing the visiting Lakers. Colin Sexton had the layup, but no. An ill-advised timeout was called with more than a second left in regulation. Already tanking for Cooper Flagg, eh?
Washington Wizards: F (Last Week: F)
Congratulations, Washington Wizards! You made it past November without winning a single game. How’s that possible in today’s NBA? Well, the secret formula is to have two players on your favorite NBA team who think they are all stars, but in reality, they are far from it. The result? Dead last in the Eastern Conference standings.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams After Week 5 Games
