The Emirates NBA Cup Finals is among us. With week 8 done, a couple of small market teams will have the chance to win the prestigious NBA in-season showcase this year. The Bucks and the Thunder will face off in the Emirates NBA Cup Finals in week 9, and the winner will have the bragging rights until the playoffs tip off in April.
Despite all the hype for the tournament, the rest of the NBA squads continued their grind on week 8. Let’s check all the grades for all 30 NBA teams after week 8 of games.
Which NBA teams had the best grades after week 8?
Atlanta Hawks: B (Last Week: A)
During the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the Hawks surprisingly upset the Knicks. However, with the finals of the in-season showcase within reach, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks were just too good against this Hawks team.
Boston Celtics: A (Last Week: A+)
The Celtics had a relatively easy week. Unsurprisingly, they manhandled both the struggling Pistons and the Wizards in week 8 to come out unscathed. They are now just a game and a half behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top spot in the east.
Brooklyn Nets: D (Last Week: C)
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With Dennis Schroder off to the Warriors via trade, the Nets were easily dispatched by Ja Morant and the Grizzlies in week 8. This franchise seems to be heading into a full rebuild, as they have listed Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith as available to pry for other teams before the NBA trade deadline.
Charlotte Hornets: F (Last Week: D)
Without LaMelo Ball, the Hornets’ demise continues. In week 8, they were beaten soundly by the Bulls. The Hornets are quickly becoming the punching bag for other NBA teams.
Chicago Bulls: C+ (Last Week: C)
Can’t really put a higher grade for the Bulls because winning against an inferior Charlotte Hornets squad isn’t generally considered a rousing success. Still, they are trending in the right direction, as they went 5-5 in their last ten games.
Also Read: Grading 30 NBA Teams’ After Week 7 Games Of The 2024-25
Cleveland Cavaliers: B (Last Week: A)
Surely, the NBA Cup should have been the measuring stick for this Cavs team in terms of how they view their potential for the rest of the season. The problem? They weren’t even qualified to play in the quarterfinals of the tournament. As a consolation prize, they won a forgettable contest against the Wizards in week 8.
Dallas Mavericks: B (Last Week: A+)
The Mavericks lost a bit of steam in the end when they played OKC in week 8, resulting in a loss. They had a bounce-back game against Steph Curry and the Warriors, with Luka Doncic going supernova with a 45-point triple-double.
Denver Nuggets: C (Last Week: D-)
The Nuggets had a relatively quiet week but still took care of business when they defeated James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers. Nikola Jokic had an off night, but it’s good to see that the rest of his squad has stepped up to win the game.
Detroit Pistons: F (Last Week: D)
As expected, the Pistons looked like a G-league team after their loss against the mighty Celtics. The Tobias Harris offseason signing has been a dud, and the Pistons are stuck paying an oversized contract for this underperforming veteran.
Golden State Warriors: F (Last Week: C+)
2-8 in their last ten, I can’t think of any excuses to hide this team’s deficiencies on the court. After they lost a nailbiter in the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Rockets, the Warriors proceeded to succumb to a red-hot Mavericks team spearheaded by a rejuvenated Luka Doncic.
Houston Rockets: B (Last Week: C)
After defeating the Warriors in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the Rockets lost steam and lost to the Thunder in the semifinals of the in-season showcase. Even with their gains, the Rockets are still a tier below the top squads in the West, for now.
Indiana Pacers: B (Last Week: F)
The Pacers have won two straight games in week 8, but let’s temper expectations, shall we? Let’s just call it a good week after they beat a couple of injury-prone NBA teams – the Sixers and the Pelicans.
Los Angeles Clippers: D- (Last Week: D)
James Harden’s age is finally showing. It’s quite unfair to expect that he can still play Superman anytime he wants. The Clippers were easily manhandled by the Nuggets in week 8.
Los Angeles Lakers: C+ (Last Week: D-)
I was really tempted to give this team a failing grade after their abysmal showing against the Timberwolves. However, with LeBron James back, they put on a fight to defeat the Grizzlies to end week 8 on a positive note.
Memphis Grizzlies: A (Last Week: A+)
The Grizzlies’ four-game winning streak was snapped by the Lakers this week. Ja Morant had an off game but still willed his team in a position to win the game. That shows heart. This team is dangerous and will be a force in the NBA playoffs in April.
Miami Heat: A+ (Last Week: A)
The Heat are on a four-game winning streak right now despite all the Jimmy Butler trade talks hounding them. Tyler Herro is emerging as the team’s star, and he should get some love in the all-star voting process this season.
Milwaukee Bucks: A+ (Last Week: C)
The Bucks are on a three-game winning streak and will represent the Eastern Conference in the Emirates NBA Cup this week. If they win against the west-leading Thunder squad in the in-season showcase finals, then we can attest that this team has a real shot at winning it all in June.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B+ (Last Week: B)
The Wolves took care of business in week 8 by winning against the struggling Lakers and the Spurs. They have shared the ball much better in recent weeks, and their chemistry as a team drastically improved.
New Orleans Pelicans: F (Last Week: F)
The Pelicans are on a four-game slide right now, and the wins continue to be elusive. They had their chance to win against the Kings but faltered at the end. Is this franchise truly cursed when it comes to injuries?
New York Knicks: B (Last Week: B
The Knicks went 2-1 in week 8, but their lone loss was in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup against the Atlanta Hawks. They were the superior team in that matchup but failed to capitalize on key moments of the game.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A+ (Last Week: A+)
The Thunder are in the Emirates NBA Cup Finals! The road to get there wasn’t easy, though. They beat the Mavs and the Rockets – two strong Texan teams – to reach the finals of the NBA’s in-season showcase. Plus, they are on a five-game winning streak right now.
Orlando Magic: D (Last Week: C)
This team is on a two-game skid, losing to the Bucks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals and to the Knicks to end week 8. You can’t help but feel sorry for them, as both of their stars are out due to similar injuries. On a positive note, Paolo Banchero might play before 2024 ends.
Philadelphia 76ers: D (Last Week: A)
The Sixers are now without Joel Embiid again. To make things much worse, their prized rookie, Jared McCain, is out indefinitely with an MCL injury. As a result, the Sixers were beaten soundly by a struggling Pacers squad in week 8.
Phoenix Suns: B+ (Last Week: D-)
Kevin Durant’s worth for this team is priceless. With a relatively easy schedule in week 8, they outlasted a determined Jazz team and outplayed a struggling Blazers squad to go 2-0.
Portland Trail Blazers: F (Last Week: F)
The Blazers lost a close one against the Spurs and were outplayed by Kevin Durant and the Suns this past week. This team needs to blow it up like what the Nets are doing right now and trade all their assets to enter a full-scale rebuild.
Sacramento Kings: B+ (Last Week: B)
The Kings were nearly upset by the Pelicans this past week before hanging on for the win. They are on a three-game winning streak right now, and they have a chance to extend it in week 9.
San Antonio Spurs: C (Last Week: D)
The Spurs hung on to beat the hapless Blazers this past week. There was hope that they’d had enough power to build a surging Wolves team, but they ended up losing in a blowout.
Toronto Raptors: F (Last Week: D)
The Raptors went 0-2 this week and are on a four-game slide. This team is struggling even against lower-tier NBA teams, which is alarming for this young franchise.
Utah Jazz: D (Last Week: F)
The Jazz lost a heavily contested battle against the Suns and just went 2-8 in their last ten games. It might be time for a full rebuild rather than finding a solution within this poorly constructed roster.
Washington Wizards: F (Last Week: F)
Against the Cavaliers and the Celtics, the Wizards had basically no chance of winning a single game this past week. They are 1-9 in their last ten games, and their season continues to become bleaker and dimmer. They should trade their vets for future assets, as this rebuilding phase has been ongoing for too long.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams After Week 7 Games
