By Kevin Pelton | ESPN, 2026-01-19 20:00:00
随着NBA常规赛赛程过半，我们已经见证了无数精彩纷呈的比赛。亚特兰大老鹰队将特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 送至华盛顿奇才队，结束了他长达七个多赛季的鹰队生涯，由此拉开了交易季的序幕。而贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant) 和安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis) 似乎可能成为下一批被摆上货架的明星。
我们在积分榜上也看到了一些惊喜：年轻的底特律活塞队领跑东部，而波士顿凯尔特人队则在缺少杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 的情况下拒绝沉沦。在西部，圣安东尼奥马刺队则与卫冕冠军俄克拉荷马城雷霆队形成了新的宿敌关系。
现在，正是为全部30支球队派发期中成绩单的绝佳时机。
我的评分基于各队迄今为止的表现，并深受赛季初外界预期所影响。作为参考，我列出了每支球队的季前胜场预测，并附上了ESPN篮球实力指数（Basketball Power Index）提供的当前预测，该指数综合了球队的胜负记录并考虑了伤病情况。
除了胜负记录，我还会考量球队在实现其目标方面的执行情况，包括培养年轻天赋和确保乐透签位。总的来说，达到预期至今通常会得到“B”或“C”的评级，这意味着必须有超常发挥才能获得 A 级评价。
我给出了四个 A 级评价，外加两个 A-，首先是两支在东部联盟为头号种子席位而战的惊喜球队。一起来看看所有30支球队的赛季中期成绩单吧。（各评级内的球队按字母顺序排列。）
跳转至球队：
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
波士顿凯尔特人队：A
季前预测： 40.5胜
当前预测： 50.7胜
诚然，对于一支当家球星（杰森·塔图姆）正在从右脚跟腱伤势中恢复的球队而言，凯尔特人队在健康方面已经算是足够幸运了。他们剩余的三名核心球员（杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown)、佩顿·普里查德 (Payton Pritchard) 和德里克·怀特 (Derrick White)）合计仅缺席了五场比赛。然而，即便考虑到这一点，我们大概也不会预料到波士顿能在赛季中期打出联盟第三的净胜分。
布朗在得分手方面更上一层楼（场均得分创下生涯新高的29.7分）；在艾尔·霍福德 (Al Horford)、卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet) 和克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porzingis) 全部离队后，尼米亚斯·克塔 (Neemias Queta) 填补了中锋位置的空缺；而乔丹·沃尔什 (Jordan Walsh) 在塔图姆的首发位置上表现令人惊艳。乔·马祖拉 (Joe Mazzulla) 将这一切整合在一起功不可没，他理应成为年度最佳教练的有力竞争者。（在此我得检讨一下，在我的赛季中期奖项盘点中漏掉了他。）
底特律活塞队：A
季前预测： 45.5胜
当前预测： 56.1胜
自从一波13连胜让活塞队在赛季初取得15胜2负的战绩后，他们的统治力有所下滑，但作为一支曾被预测为中游的球队，他们如今依旧稳坐东部头把交椅。在失去了上赛季球队二号得分手马利克·比斯利 (Malik Beasley) 后，底特律队打造出了联盟前十的进攻火力，并且凭借其身高优势构建的精英级防守（联盟第二）真正做到了出类拔萃。凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham) 已将自己带入MVP的讨论行列，杰伦·杜伦 (Jalen Duren) 应该会与他一同入选全明星赛，而J.B.比克斯塔夫 (J.B. Bickerstaff) 则是年度最佳教练的热门人选。
菲尼克斯太阳队：A
季前预测： 31.5胜
当前预测： 46.4胜
到目前为止，球队老板马特·伊什比亚 (Mat Ishbia) 是对的，而专家们（包括我）都看错了太阳队休赛期的阵容大改造，他们告别了重磅引援布拉德利·比尔 (Bradley Beal) 和凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)。取而代之的是，菲尼克斯打造出了一支以新援狄龙·布鲁克斯 (Dillon Brooks) 为模板的作风强硬的球队，他们擅长制造失误，并且进攻火力相较于去年那支星光熠熠的队伍也几乎没有下滑，进攻效率从第13位降至第15位。科林·吉莱斯皮 (Collin Gillespie) 脱颖而出成为一名可靠的首发控卫，这是本赛季最精彩的故事之一——也为他赢得了布鲁克斯起的“小恶棍 (Villain Jr.)”绰号——而新任主教练乔丹·奥特 (Jordan Ott) 看来将终结太阳队教练席上的旋转门现象。
圣安东尼奥马刺队：A
季前预测： 44.5胜
当前预测： 52.2胜
马刺队来了！在阔别季后赛七年后，他们很可能将重返这一舞台，这似乎预示着圣安东尼奥成功新纪元的开启。马刺队成功应对了德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)、维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 和榜眼秀迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 的长期缺阵，目前并列西部第二。或许更令人鼓舞的是，他们在与俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的直接交锋中取胜，这表明尽管有两名首发球员（文班亚马和卫冕年度最佳新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)）年仅22岁或更年轻，外加19岁的哈珀担任关键替补，圣安东尼奥眼下就具备了真正争夺总冠军的实力。
丹佛掘金队：A-
季前预测： 53.5胜
当前预测： 53.1胜
掘金队的首选首发阵容（贾马尔·穆雷 (Jamal Murray)、克里斯蒂安·布劳恩 (Christian Braun)、卡梅伦·约翰逊 (Cam Johnson)、阿隆·戈登 (Aaron Gordon) 和尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic)）仅同时出战了10场比赛，取得了8胜2负的战绩。然而，丹佛队仍在为西部第二的位置而战。约基奇左膝挫伤的时机，恰逢多名其他首发球员也在与伤病作斗争，这对丹佛而言似乎是灾难性的。但事实恰恰相反，掘金队的年轻才俊们挺身而出，帮助球队在这位三届MVP缺阵的情况下继续前进。当丹佛队全员健康时，他们看起来是NBA第二强的球队。
俄克拉荷马城雷霆队：A-
季前预测： 62.5胜
当前预测： 64.9胜
雷霆队拥有自2017-18赛季勇士队以来所有球队中最高的季前胜场预测，并在11月和12月期间一度有望轻松打破这一纪录。24胜1负的开局足以说明一切。尽管马刺队在直接交锋中的三场胜利——加上最近背靠背输给菲尼克斯和夏洛特——让俄克拉荷马城看似坚不可摧的光环出现了一些裂痕，但雷霆队仍处在一个历史级的赛季之中。他们上赛季创造了+12.9的NBA净胜分纪录，而本赛季尽管首选首发阵容仅同时出战了五场比赛，他们目前的净胜分仍达到了+13.0，超过了去年的水平。
休斯顿火箭队：B+
季前预测： 52.5胜
当前预测： 52.3胜
为什么给火箭队一个B+的评级，要知道他们目前的胜场预测几乎与季前持平？首先，我认为在弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 九月份遭遇前交叉韧带撕裂后，外界对休斯顿的期望被夸大了，这使得火箭队没有任何经过验证的控球后卫人选。正如休斯顿所希望的，最近的乐透秀阿门·汤普森 (Amen Thompson) 和里德·谢泼德 (Reed Sheppard) 巩固了这一位置，其中谢泼德在他的二年级赛季取得了飞跃。而凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 则如火箭队所愿成为了那个改变局势的球员，尽管近期有所下滑，但休斯顿的进攻效率仍位居联盟前五。
其次，火箭队是本赛季迄今为止联盟中最不幸运的球队之一。休斯顿队25胜15负的战绩排在西部第五，这是因为他们在符合NBA关键时刻定义（常规时间最后五分钟内分差在五分以内）的比赛中战绩仅为9胜12负。火箭队在关键时刻的防守效率排名第24位，考虑到他们在防守端的天赋，这种情况似乎不太可能持续下去。
费城76人队：B+
季前预测： 42.5胜
当前预测： 45.5胜
尽管乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 和保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 仅共同出战了15场比赛，76人队仍在为东部前四的位置而战。这反映了费城围绕后场双枪——打出全明星级别表现的泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey) 和激动人心的新秀VJ·埃奇科姆 (VJ Edgecombe)——所取得的成长。多米尼克·巴洛 (Dominick Barlow) 也以一份双向合同的身份，成为了76人队的首发大前锋。
波特兰开拓者队：B+
季前预测： 33.5胜
当前预测： 39.0胜
考虑到他们长长的伤病名单，开拓者队的超常发挥程度可能比他们的季前预测所显示的还要高。波特兰队至今未能让后卫斯库特·亨德森 (Scoot Henderson) 登场，在缺少朱·霍勒迪 (Jrue Holiday) 的情况下打了近两个月，还同时遭遇了替补后卫马蒂斯·赛布尔 (Matisse Thybulle) 和布雷克·韦斯利 (Blake Wesley) 的伤停。德尼·阿夫迪亚 (Deni Avdija) 挺身而出，成为开拓者队的主要持球手，并打出了全明星级别的表现，场均贡献26.1分、7.1个篮板和6.9次助攻，填补了空缺。
哦，别忘了，波特兰队做到这一切，还是在他们的主教练昌西·比卢普斯 (Chauncey Billups) 因涉赌被FBI调查逮捕之后，蒂亚戈·斯普利特 (Tiago Splitter) 无缝衔接地接任了代理主教练的角色。唯一美中不足的是，开拓者队-1.9的净胜分并不像他们的战绩那般亮眼。
多伦多猛龙队：B+
季前预测： 38.5胜
当前预测： 44.1胜
我曾比他们的预测更看好猛龙队，但即使是最乐观的展望，也没有将多伦多队放在赛季中期东部前四的位置。猛龙队的四位外线首发球员磨合得比预期要好，斯科蒂·巴恩斯 (Scottie Barnes) 的表现更是达到了全明星级别。此外，他们还摆脱了中锋雅各布·珀尔特尔 (Jakob Poeltl)（自12月21日以来未曾出战）伤病的影响，新秀科林·默里-博伊尔斯 (Collin Murray-Boyles) 顶替进入了首发阵容。多伦多队在关键时刻比赛中取得了15胜7负的战绩，他们的战绩可能会回归到与+1.3净胜分相匹配的水平，但即便如此，他们仍应会远超预期。
布鲁克林篮网队：B
季前预测： 19.5胜
当前预测： 25.8胜
评估重建中的球队具有挑战性，因为他们的目标并非基于胜负。篮网队在本赛季之后无法控制自己的首轮选秀权，因此他们不希望赢太多比赛。到目前为止，他们似乎在其中找到了很好的平衡点。布鲁克林队仍有机会争取联盟倒数前四的战绩，但他们的-4.8净胜分表明，他们比联盟中其他重建球队更具竞争力。这在很大程度上要归功于迈克尔·波特二世 (Michael Porter Jr.)，他为篮网队打出了全明星般的表现，从而提升了自己的交易价值。在交易截止日前送走波特，可以帮助布鲁克林队在战绩榜上继续下沉，同时将他送到一支更有抱负的球队。
夏洛特黄蜂队：B
季前预测： 26.5胜
当前预测： 32.1胜
黄蜂队面临着一些悬而未决的问题：在又一个起伏不定的开局之后，拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball) 在球队的未来如何；以及布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller) 的潜力如何，这位前榜眼秀连续第三个赛季投篮命中率低于42%。尽管如此，这些问题都被夏洛特队从足以改变球队命运的一届选秀中所获得的成果所掩盖。4号秀康·纽佩尔 (Kon Knueppel) 凭借其历史级的三分投射（43.4%）看起来像是一位未来的明星，而二轮秀锡安·詹姆斯 (Sion James) 和瑞安·卡尔克布伦纳 (Ryan Kalkbrenner) 作为首发球员都表现得相当出色。对于一支急需希望的黄蜂队来说，这些新秀恰恰提供了希望。
迈阿密热火队：B
季前预测： 38.5胜
当前预测： 45.4胜
评估热火队需要超越他们目前22胜20负、排名东部第八的战绩。迈阿密队+1.6的净胜分，加上根据BPI指数计算出的联盟最轻松的剩余赛程，让我们有信心相信热火队很有可能避免参加附加赛。尽管外界的焦点都集中在迈阿密非传统的、摒弃挡拆而倾向于突破分球的新式进攻上，但热火队能够保持竞争力，主要还是依靠联盟前五的防守。如果他们能将防守与更强的进攻火力相结合，并在泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro) 缺席30场比赛后保持健康，迈阿密队将在赛季后半段强势收官，并提升这一评级。
明尼苏达森林狼队：B-
季前预测： 49.5胜
当前预测： 50.3胜
51胜的预期胜率掩盖了森林狼队的一些隐忧，根据BPI的数据，他们迄今为止的赛程是西部球队中第二轻松的。明尼苏达队总体上也保持了健康，他们的首选首发阵容在43场比赛中共同出战了31场。这一点很重要，因为2024年首轮秀罗伯·迪林厄姆 (Rob Dillingham) 和特伦斯·香农二世 (Terrence Shannon Jr.) 未能填补尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) 自由身离队后留下的空缺，而博恩斯·海兰德 (Bones Hyland) 则成为了亚历山大-沃克的主要替代者。需要关注伤病将如何暴露森林狼队不稳定的深度。
纽约尼克斯队：B-
季前预测： 53.5胜
当前预测： 49.1胜
如果是在新年前夜，尼克斯队的评级会更高。当时，在一波11胜2负的强势表现（包括赢得了NBA杯冠军）之后，他们在东部积分榜上距离底特律仅差一场。然而，在一场NBA杯决赛的重演中，他们在圣安东尼奥输掉了一场下半场领先的比赛，这开启了纽约队的四连败，这是自2024年2月以来球队最长的连败纪录。根据BPI的模拟，尼克斯队现在显然已不是登顶东部的热门。或许更令人不安的是，纽约队+3.5的净胜分在东部联盟中仅排名第三。不过，尼克斯队还有充足的时间在下半赛季重拾他们夺得NBA杯时的状态。
华盛顿奇才队：C+
季前预测： 20.5胜
当前预测： 19.1胜
奇才队在12月底至1月初的一段12场比赛中取得了7胜5负的战绩，这引发了人们的担忧，担心他们可能会赢下太多比赛，从而无法保住自己的首轮选秀权——如果该选秀权跌出前八顺位，就将送给尼克斯队。这种担忧可能被夸大了。华盛顿队1胜15负的开局，加上大比分失利和险胜交织的比赛过程，意味着该队-11.2的净胜分仍然是NBA中最差的。奇才队似乎不愿冒任何风险，他们让新近交易来的后卫特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 持续缺阵，尽管他在交易前已接近复出。
芝加哥公牛队：C
季前预测： 33.5胜
当前预测： 33.9胜
芝加哥队5胜0负的开局果不其然是短暂的，公牛队如今已不再有望大幅超越他们平平无奇的季前胜场预测。尽管芝加哥队仍保持在五成胜率附近，但球队-3.4的净胜分在东部仅能排在遥远的第12位。这里有一些积极的方面，包括约什·吉迪 (Josh Giddey) 作为主要持球手的持续成功，以及二年级前锋马塔斯·布泽利斯 (Matas Buzelis) 的成长，但丝毫没有迹象表明公牛队正在朝着比每年在附加赛中占有一席之地更远大的目标迈进。
金州勇士队：C
季前预测： 46.5胜
当前预测： 46.3胜
在12月大部分时间里胜率都低于五成之后，勇士队凭借过去一个月10胜4负的战绩，突然间又回到了有望达到他们赛季胜负盘口预测的轨道上。
这段时间的强势表现恰逢老将中锋艾尔·霍福德 (Al Horford) 回归阵容，他赛季初投篮手感挣扎，随后因坐骨神经刺激缺席了11场比赛。尽管保持联盟第二年迈阵容的健康永远是一个问题——而且吉米·巴特勒三世 (Jimmy Butler III) 和斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry) 的表现已经达到了合理预期的最佳水平——但金州队可以期待通过交易获得帮助，送出自12月18日以来一直没有上场的乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga)，他提出交易请求已是不可避免。
孟菲斯灰熊队：C
季前预测： 40.5胜
当前预测： 39.5胜
灰熊队与明星球员贾·莫兰特之间这场慢动作分手大戏，已经盖过了本赛季球场上发生的任何其他事情。有理由相信，孟菲斯队正在打造一个没有莫兰特也能成功的核心阵容，他们在他缺阵期间取得了11胜10负的战绩，而且这还是在赛季大部分时间缺少首发中锋扎克·伊迪 (Zach Edey) 的情况下。在伊迪出战的11场比赛中，灰熊队战绩为7胜4负，他场均能以63%的命中率得到13.6分和11.1个篮板。同为2024届新秀的卡姆·斯潘塞 (Cam Spencer) 在控球后卫位置上的表现堪称惊喜，而新秀塞德里克·考沃德 (Cedric Coward) 在莫兰特风波之后，看起来是孟菲斯队的一块建队基石。
奥兰多魔术队：C
季前预测： 51.5胜
当前预测： 45.8胜
对于魔术队在去年夏天引进德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane) 后未能达到高预期的原因，最乐观的解释是健康问题。在杰伦·萨格斯 (Jalen Suggs) 和弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 同时出战的19场比赛中，奥兰多队取得了12胜7负的战绩，场均净胜对手5.7分，看起来非常像一支竞争者。瓦格纳最近从高位脚踝扭伤中复出，这次受伤让他无缘全明星的讨论，而萨格斯则在处理内侧副韧带挫伤。令人担忧的是，魔术队在围绕贝恩和保罗·班凯罗 (Paolo Banchero) 构建进攻时并未取得更多成功，班凯罗场均得到21.1分，低于一年前的25.9分。
犹他爵士队：C
季前预测： 19.5胜
当前预测： 24.5胜
在后卫基扬特·乔治 (Keyonte George) 迎来突破性的第三个赛季的带领下，爵士队开局取得了10胜15负的战绩，并在12月底连续战胜了底特律和圣安东尼奥。好消息，对吧？但如果你欠俄克拉荷马城一个首轮签，且该签位跌出前八顺位就要送出的话，那或许就不是了——尤其是在爵士队如果今年保住这个签位就什么都不用付出的情况下。尽管新任篮球运营总裁奥斯汀·安吉 (Austin Ainge) 在被问及2024-25赛季末是否会让老将轮休时表示“你今年不会看到那种情况”，但犹他队已经开始常规性地让明星球员劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen) 以及中锋凯文·乐福 (Kevin Love) 和优素福·努尔基奇 (Jusuf Nurkic) 轮休。
爵士队面临的最大挑战是如何巧妙地掌控赛季，既要保持竞争力，又要保住自己的选秀权。他们最近在主场以55分惨败给夏洛特，显然是矫枉过正，但随后又在下一场客战克利夫兰的比赛中取胜。
印第安纳步行者队：C-
季前预测： 38.5胜
当前预测： 22.9胜
可能没有哪支球队会比步行者队更严重地低于季前预测了，他们在失去了遭遇跟腱断裂的泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 和自由身离队的迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner) 之后，进入本赛季时仍被期望能争夺一个附加赛席位。当然，这并不能很好地反映步行者队留队球员的表现，最近的首轮秀本尼迪克特·马图林 (Bennedict Mathurin) 和贾雷斯·沃克 (Jarace Walker) 在承担更大角色时表现挣扎。然而，步行者队赛季初的伤病潮——首发球员安德鲁·内姆哈德 (Andrew Nembhard) 和阿龙·内史密斯 (Aaron Nesmith) 长期缺阵，关键替补奥比·托平 (Obi Toppin) 赛季报销——迅速将球队的重心转移到了争取一个乐透签上。印第安纳队看起来正走向NBA最差战绩之一，但他们被对手大比分击败的频率并不像联盟其他重建球队那么高。
洛杉矶湖人队：C-
季前预测： 46.5胜
当前预测： 44.7胜
湖人队的胜场预测与赛季初的预期基本一致。但这却是个令人不安的消息，因为这需要湖人队赢下他们前13场关键时刻的比赛才能达成。湖人队-0.8的净胜分排在西部第八，而且更接近第11名（波特兰），而不是第七名（金州）。在卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 迎来复苏赛季的带领下，尽管勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 和奥斯汀·里夫斯 (Austin Reaves) 很少能同时健康地为他提供支持，湖人队的进攻效率仍接近NBA前十。但湖人队排名第26的防守，看起来更像一支重建球队，而非争冠球队。
亚特兰大老鹰队：D+
季前预测： 46.5胜
当前预测： 41.1胜
亚特兰大队的希望在于，这个评级反映的是特雷·杨在被交易到奇才队之前与现有阵容的糟糕适配。在杨为球队出战的9场比赛中，老鹰队仅取得了2胜7负的战绩，而在他缺阵时，球队胜率超过了五成。现在评估老鹰队在新援CJ·麦科勒姆 (CJ McCollum) 和科里·基斯珀特 (Corey Kispert) 取代杨之后表现如何还为时过早，但我们可以自信地说，杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson) 已经准备好成为亚特兰大进攻端的头号人选。在杨未出战的比赛中，约翰逊场均贡献22.1分、10.5个篮板和8.2次助攻。
克利夫兰骑士队：D+
季前预测： 56.5胜
当前预测： 47.7胜
现在很难相信，季前预测中只有俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的胜场数高于骑士队的56.5胜。我们知道克利夫兰队在赛季开始时将缺少首发控卫达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland)，首发侧翼马克斯·斯特鲁斯 (Max Strus) 也会长期缺阵，但加兰自从脚趾手术复出后，他的表现受到了影响。骑士队在除了斯特鲁斯之外的首发球员都健康的情况下，只打了11场比赛，战绩为7胜4负。
克利夫兰队在下半赛季应该会有更好的战绩，但在上赛季登顶东部之后，他们本赛季必须为季后赛首轮的主场优势而战。
达拉斯独行侠队：D
季前预测： 40.5胜
当前预测： 32.7胜
啊，季前赛，当时人们担心的其中一个问题是达拉斯队在中锋位置上是否有足够的出场时间分给安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)、丹尼尔·加福德 (Daniel Gafford) 和德雷克·莱夫利二世 (Dereck Lively II)。莱夫利已经接受了导致赛季报销的右脚手术，而戴维斯在仅仅打了20场比赛（期间独行侠战绩为10胜10负）后，也将至少缺席六周。再加上杰森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 在赛季初用库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 顶替受伤的凯里·欧文 (Kyrie Irving) 出任控球后卫，达拉斯队根本没有机会进入季后赛。
弗拉格回到前锋位置后的成长是独行侠本赛季的一个亮点，他们将在2027年至2030年失去首轮签控制权之前，增加一个乐透签。除了前任总经理尼科·哈里森 (Nico Harrison) 在11月被解雇之外，这个赛季的其他一切都将是过眼云烟。
洛杉矶快船队：D
季前预测： 47.5胜
当前预测： 41.0胜
快船队曾是联盟中最炙手可热的球队之一，在赛季初因NBA对其规避工资帽的调查而陷入6胜21负的困境后，他们从西部垫底的位置反弹，并重新回到了附加赛区域。尽管如此，他们远未达到外界期望他们能竞争西部前六席位的水平。快船队不仅无法在错过季后赛的情况下获益——雷霆队拥有他们的选秀权，这是保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 交易的最后一部分——他们的问题似乎很大程度上是自己造成的。
如果快船队是因为科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 受伤而挣扎，那还情有可原。但事实是，伦纳德和詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden) 都打出了全明星级别的表现，然而在我的胜利贡献值（WARP）指标中，快船队却没有其他任何球员能排进前150名。
在2024年休赛期用更具性价比的球员取代了乔治之后，快船队在老将身上加倍下注，结果却搞砸了。布拉德利·比尔仅出战六场便因臀部手术赛季报销，而克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 在与教练组发生冲突后已被弃用。与此同时，诺曼·鲍威尔 (Norman Powell) 在迈阿密表现比以往任何时候都好，而快船队却在一笔令人惋惜的交易中将他送走。快船队的进步足以让他们在赛季中期避免得到联盟最差评级，但他们仍有太多工作要做。
新奥尔良鹈鹕队：D
季前预测： 30.5胜
当前预测： 22.3胜
在积分榜底部的球队中，鹈鹕队是唯一一个无法从2026年的乐透签中获益的队伍。新奥尔良队在选秀夜的交易中将那个选秀权送到了亚特兰大，以向上交易选中中锋德里克·奎恩 (Derik Queen)，他全能的表现是本赛季的一大亮点。奎恩和另一位乐透秀杰里迈亚·菲尔斯 (Jeremiah Fears) 作为新秀首发都打出了不错的表现，蔡恩·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson) 也有过高光时刻。然而，鹈鹕队的投射不够好（三分命中数排第29位），护框也不够好（对手两分球命中率排第29位），导致他们缺乏竞争力，这也让主教练威利·格林 (Willie Green) 在11月丢掉了工作。在詹姆斯·博雷戈 (James Borrego) 的带领下，情况也仅仅是略有改善。
萨克拉门托国王队：D
季前预测： 34.5胜
当前预测： 26.0胜
国王队为保持竞争力所做的孤注一掷的尝试——去年交易德阿隆·福克斯去马刺时换来了扎克·拉文 (Zach LaVine)，以及去年夏天引进了丹尼斯·施罗德 (Dennis Schroder)——在他们因中锋多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯 (Domantas Sabonis) 受伤而跌至积分榜垫底后，显得愚蠢至极。好消息是？萨克拉门托队再也无法忽视重建阵容的必要性了，他们的阵容在三年前赢下48场比赛重返季后赛后就已日渐萎缩。坏消息是，萨克拉门托队不太可能通过交易老将换回丰厚的筹码。
密尔沃基雄鹿队：D-
季前预测： 42.5胜
当前预测： 35.4胜
在扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 在密尔沃基的未来再次受到质疑的背景下，雄鹿队面临着一场艰苦的战斗，不仅仅是为了进入季后赛或赢得自2022年以来的首个系列赛，甚至连进入附加赛都成问题。在某种程度上，考虑到阿德托昆博缺席了14场比赛（期间密尔沃基战绩为3胜11负），这是可以预料的。但即使扬尼斯健康出战，雄鹿队的表现也未如预期那般高效，在那些比赛中场均净负对手1.1分。密尔沃基队的轮换阵容受到了太多表现不佳球员的影响，而一笔交易截止日前的交易恐怕也不足以解决这个问题。
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：NBA midseason grades: Rating all 30 teams at the halfway mark
NBA midseason grades: Rating all 30 teams at the halfway mark
With the NBA’s regular season just past its halfway point, we’ve already seen plenty of stellar action. The Atlanta Hawks kicked off trade season by sending Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, ending his seven-plus-season tenure. It seems Ja Morant and Anthony Davis could be the next stars on the move.
We’ve also seen some surprises in the standings, with the young Detroit Pistons leading the East and the Boston Celtics refusing to fall without Jayson Tatum. And in the West, the San Antonio Spurs have given the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder a new rivalry.
It’s the perfect time to hand out midterm grades to all 30 teams.
My grades, based on performance to date, are strongly influenced by a team’s expectations entering the season. For context, I’ve included preseason win projections for each team alongside the current projection provided by ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, which incorporates win-loss record and accounts for injuries.
Beyond wins and losses, I’m also considering how well teams are executing their goals, including developing young talent and securing lottery positioning. Generally speaking, meeting expectations thus far results in a “B” or “C” grade, meaning overperformance is required to get an A.
I’ve handed out four of those, plus two more “A-minus” grades, starting with two surprising teams battling for top seeds in the Eastern Conference. Check out where all 30 teams landed on my midseason grades. (Teams are in alphabetical order within each grade.)
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
Boston Celtics: A
Preseason projection: 40.5 wins
Current projection: 50.7 wins
Granted, the Celtics have been as fortunate as a team whose star player (Jayson Tatum) is rehabbing a right Achilles injury can be in terms of health. Their top three remaining players (Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White) have missed a combined five games. However, even knowing that, we wouldn’t likely have picked Boston to have the NBA’s third-best point differential at midseason.
Brown has leveled up as a scorer (averaging a career-best 29.7 PPG); Neemias Queta has filled the void left at center with Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis all departed; and Jordan Walsh has been a revelation in Tatum’s spot in the starting five. Joe Mazzulla deserves credit for pulling everything together and should be a strong candidate for Coach of the Year. (Mea culpa for leaving him out of my midseason awards check-in.)
Detroit Pistons: A
Preseason projection: 45.5 wins
Current projection: 56.1 wins
The Pistons haven’t been as dominant since a 13-game winning streak left them 15-2 to start the season, but they are still comfortably atop the East after being picked to be in the middle of the pack. Detroit has built a top-10 offense after losing Malik Beasley, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, and truly excels with an elite defense (No. 2 in the league) built on size. Cade Cunningham has put himself in the MVP conversation, Jalen Duren should join him in the All-Star Game and J.B. Bickerstaff is the Coach of the Year favorite.
Phoenix Suns: A
Preseason projection: 31.5 wins
Current projection: 46.4 wins
Thus far, team owner Mat Ishbia was right and the experts (myself included) were wrong about the Suns’ offseason makeover, which saw them say farewell to marquee additions Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. In their place, Phoenix has built a hard-playing squad in the image of newcomer Dillon Brooks that excels at forcing turnovers and has barely dropped off offensively from last year’s star-studded team, going from 13th in offensive rating to 15th. Collin Gillespie’s emergence as a capable starting point guard has been one of the season’s best stories – earning him the nickname “Villain Jr.” from Brooks – and new coach Jordan Ott looks like he’ll put an end to the revolving door on the Suns’ sideline.
San Antonio Spurs: A
Preseason projection: 44.5 wins
Current projection: 52.2 wins
Here come the Spurs, whose likely return to the playoffs after a seven-year drought looks like the dawn of a new age of San Antonio success. The Spurs have capably navigated extended absences for De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper, sitting tied for second in the West. Perhaps more encouraging is the way the head-to-head wins over Oklahoma City suggest San Antonio can legitimately contend for a championship right now, despite two starters (Wembanyama and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle) being 22 or younger, plus the 19-year-old Harper in a key bench role.
Denver Nuggets: A-
Preseason projection: 53.5 wins
Current projection: 53.1 wins
The Nuggets have had their preferred starting lineup (Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic) available for just 10 games, going 8-2 in them. Yet, Denver still finds itself battling for second in the West. The timing of Jokic’s left knee contusion with multiple other starters battling injuries seemed calamitous for Denver. Instead, the Nuggets’ young talent has stepped up to keep them rolling despite the absence of the three-time MVP. When Denver is at full strength, this looks like the NBA’s second-best team.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A-
Preseason projection: 62.5 wins
Current projection: 64.9 wins
The Thunder boasted the highest preseason line for any team since the 2017-18 Warriors and spent November and December on pace to smash it. A 24-1 start will do that. And although the Spurs’ three head-to-head wins – plus recent back-to-back losses to Phoenix and Charlotte – have poked some holes in Oklahoma City’s seeming invincibility, the Thunder are still in the midst of a historic season. They set an NBA record with a plus-12.9 point differential last season and are currently ahead of that pace at plus-13.0 despite having their preferred starters together for just five games.
Houston Rockets: B+
Preseason projection: 52.5 wins
Current projection: 52.3 wins
Why a B-plus for the Rockets, who are on track to finish almost exactly at their preseason line? First, I thought that expectations were inflated for Houston in the wake of Fred VanVleet’s September ACL tear, which left the Rockets without any proven point guard options. As Houston hoped, recent lottery picks Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have solidified the position, with Sheppard making a leap in his sophomore campaign. And Kevin Durant has been the difference-maker the Rockets hoped, leaving Houston top-five in offensive rating despite a recent slump.
Second, the Rockets have been one of the league’s unluckiest teams thus far. Houston’s record (25-15) is fifth in the West by virtue of a 9-12 record in games that qualify by the NBA’s definition of clutch time (within five points in the last five minutes of regulation). The Rockets are 24th in clutch defensive rating, which seems unlikely to persist given their talent at that end.
Philadelphia 76ers: B+
Preseason projection: 42.5 wins
Current projection: 45.5 wins
Despite having Joel Embiid and Paul George together for just 15 games, the Sixers are battling for a top-four spot in the East. That’s reflective of Philadelphia’s growth around the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey, who’s playing at an All-NBA level, and exciting rookie VJ Edgecombe. Dominick Barlow has also emerged as a starting power forward for the Sixers while playing on a two-way contract.
Portland Trail Blazers: B+
Preseason projection: 33.5 wins
Current projection: 39.0 wins
Given their long injury list, the Blazers have perhaps overachieved more than their preseason line would indicate. Portland has yet to get guard Scoot Henderson on the court, played nearly two months without Jrue Holiday and also saw reserve guards Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley simultaneously sidelined. Deni Avdija has filled the void by emerging as the Blazers’ primary ball handler and performing at an All-Star level, averaging 26.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 6.9 APG.
Oh, and Portland has done it all after its head coach, Chauncey Billups, was arrested as part of an FBI investigation into gambling, with Tiago Splitter seamlessly sliding into the role of acting head coach. The only quibble is that the Blazers’ minus-1.9 point differential isn’t quite as strong as their record.
Toronto Raptors: B+
Preseason projection: 38.5 wins
Current projection: 44.1 wins
I was higher on the Raptors than their line, but even a rosy outlook didn’t include Toronto in a top-four spot in the East at midseason. The Raptors’ four perimeter starters have fit together better than expected, paced by Scottie Barnes playing at an All-NBA level. Plus, they’ve shrugged off an injury to center Jakob Poeltl (who hasn’t played since Dec. 21) with rookie Collin Murray-Boyles stepping into the starting five. Toronto might come back to itsplus-1.3 differential, having gone 15-7 in clutch games, yet should still blow expectations away.
Brooklyn Nets: B
Preseason projection: 19.5 wins
Current projection: 25.8 wins
Evaluating rebuilding teams is challenging because their goals aren’t based on wins and losses. The Nets, who don’t control their first-round pick after this season, won’t want to win too many games. So far, they seem to be threading the needle well. Brooklyn is still in the mix for a bottom-four record but has been more competitive than the league’s other rebuilding teams with a minus-4.8 point differential. That’s largely thanks to Michael Porter Jr., who has elevated his trade value by playing like an All-Star for the Nets. Dealing Porter before the deadline could help Brooklyn sink in the standings while sending him to a team with greater aspirations.
Charlotte Hornets: B
Preseason projection: 26.5 wins
Current projection: 32.1 wins
The Hornets have looming questions about LaMelo Ball’s future with the team after another uneven start, as well as Brandon Miller’s potential with the former No. 2 pick shooting below 42% from the field for a third consecutive season. Still, those issues have been overshadowed by the production Charlotte has gotten from a franchise-altering draft class. No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel looks like a future star with his historic 3-point shooting (43.4%), and second-round picks Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner have both been capable as starters. For a Hornets team in need of hope, the rookies have provided just that.
Miami Heat: B
Preseason projection: 38.5 wins
Current projection: 45.4 wins
Evaluating the Heat requires looking past their 22-20 record, which puts them eighth in the East. Miami’s plus-1.6 differential, along with the league’s easiest remaining schedule according to the BPI, inspires confidence that the Heat have a good shot at avoiding the play-in tournament. For all the focus on Miami’s unorthodox new offense, which eschews pick-and-rolls in favor of driving and dishing, the Heat have stayed afloat primarily because of a top-five defense. If they can pair that with more offensive production and a healthy Tyler Herro after he missed 30 games, Miami will finish the season strong and improve this grade.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B-
Preseason projection: 49.5 wins
Current projection: 50.3 wins
A 51-win pace obscures concerns for the Timberwolves, who have played the second-easiest schedule thus far among West teams, according to BPI. Minnesota has also generally been healthy, with its preferred starters together for 31 of 43 games. That’s important because 2024 first-round picks Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. have been unable to fill the void left by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s departure in free agency, with Bones Hyland emerging as Alexander-Walker’s primary replacement. Keep an eye on how injuries could expose the Timberwolves’ shaky depth.
New York Knicks: B-
Preseason projection: 53.5 wins
Current projection: 49.1 wins
The Knicks’ grade would have been higher on New Year’s Eve, when they’d pulled within a game of Detroit in the East standings in the wake of an 11-2 stretch that included winning the NBA Cup. Losing a second-half lead at San Antonio in a rematch of the Cup final began a four-game slide for New York, the team’s longest since Feb. 2024. The Knicks now find themselves clear underdogs to finish atop the East, according to simulations using BPI. Perhaps more troubling, New York’s plus-3.5 differential ranks just third in the conference. However, there’s plenty of time for the Knicks to recapture their NBA Cup form in the second half.
Washington Wizards: C+
Preseason projection: 20.5 wins
Current projection: 19.1 wins
The Wizards’ 7-5 record in a 12-game stretch to end December and begin January sparked concern that they might win too many games to keep their first-round pick, which they owe to the Knicks if it lands outside the top eight. That was probably overstated. Washington’s 1-15 start and combination of blowout losses and close wins mean the team’s minus-11.2 point differential is still the worst in the NBA. The Wizards appear to be unwilling to take any chances, keeping newly acquired guard Trae Young out of the lineup despite the fact that he was nearing a return before the trade.
Chicago Bulls: C
Preseason projection: 33.5 wins
Current projection: 33.9 wins
A 5-0 Chicago start was predictably short-lived, and the Bulls are no longer on pace to substantially exceed their modest preseason line. Although Chicago remains near .500, the team’s minus-3.4 differential ranks a distant 12th in the East. There are positives here, including the continued success of Josh Giddey as a primary ball handler and the development of second-year forward Matas Buzelis, but there is no sense that the Bulls are building toward anything much bigger than an annual spot in the play-in tournament.
Golden State Warriors: C
Preseason projection: 46.5 wins
Current projection: 46.3 wins
After spending much of December below .500, the Warriors are suddenly on track to hit their over/under total thanks to a 10-4 record in the last month.
That stretch has coincided with the return to the lineup of veteran center Al Horford, who struggled with his shooting early on before missing 11 games due to sciatic nerve irritation. Although keeping the league’s second-oldest roster healthy will always be a concern – and Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry have played as well as could reasonably be expected – Golden State can hope help is coming via trade sending out Jonathan Kuminga, who hasn’t played since Dec. 18, amidst an inevitable trade request.
Memphis Grizzlies: C
Preseason projection: 40.5 wins
Current projection: 39.5 wins
The slow-motion breakup between the Grizzlies and star Ja Morant has overshadowed anything else that’s happened on the court this season. There’s reason to believe Memphis is building a core that can succeed without Morant, having gone 11-10 in his absence despite playing most of the season without starting center Zach Edey. The Grizzlies were 7-4 in Edey’s 11 games as he averaged 13.6 PPG and 11.1 RPG on 63% shooting. Fellow 2024 draft pick Cam Spencer has been a revelation at point guard, and rookie Cedric Coward looks like a building block for Memphis on the other side of the Morant saga.
Orlando Magic: C
Preseason projection: 51.5 wins
Current projection: 45.8 wins
Health is the optimistic explanation for why the Magic are falling short of high expectations after adding Desmond Bane last summer. In 19 games with both Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, Orlando went 12-7 and outscored opponents by 5.7 PPG, looking very much like a contender. Wagner recently returned from a high ankle sprain that cost him All-Star consideration, while Suggs is dealing with an MCL contusion. The concern is that the Magic didn’t find more success building their offense around Bane and Paolo Banchero, who is averaging 21.1 PPG, down from 25.9 a year ago.
Utah Jazz: C
Preseason projection: 19.5 wins
Current projection: 24.5 wins
Behind a breakthrough third season from guard Keyonte George, the Jazz started 10-15 and beat Detroit and San Antonio on consecutive nights in late December. Great news, right? Maybe not if you owe a first-round pick to Oklahoma City if it falls outside the top eight – particularly because the Jazz won’t have to give up anything at all if they keep the pick this year. Despite the new president of basketball operations, Austin Ainge, saying “You won’t see that this year” when asked about veterans sitting out games late in 2024-25, Utah is already regularly resting star Lauri Markkanen, as well as centers Kevin Love and Jusuf Nurkic.
The biggest challenge for the Jazz is finessing their season just right to stay competitive while keeping their pick. They recently overcorrected in a 55-point loss at home to Charlotte before winning their next game at Cleveland.
Indiana Pacers: C-
Preseason projection: 38.5 wins
Current projection: 22.9 wins
No team might fall short of its preseason line more than the Pacers, who were still expected to contend for a play-in spot entering the season after losing Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles rupture and Myles Turner in free agency. Certainly, that doesn’t reflect well on Indiana’s holdover players, with recent first-round picks Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker struggling to step into larger roles. However, the cascade of early Pacers injuries – with starters Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith missing extended stretches, and key reserve Obi Toppin lost for the season – quickly shifted focus to adding a lottery pick to the mix. Indiana looks headed for one of the NBA’s worst records without getting blown out as frequently as the league’s rebuilding teams.
Los Angeles Lakers: C-
Preseason projection: 46.5 wins
Current projection: 44.7 wins
The Lakers’ projection is right in line with what was expected coming into the season. That qualifies as troubling news because it required the Lakers to win their first 13 clutch games. The Lakers’ minus-0.8 point differential ranks eighth in the West, and closer to 11th (Portland) than seventh (Golden State). Led by a resurgent season from Luka Doncic, the Lakers are near the NBA’s top 10 in offensive rating despite rarely having both LeBron James and Austin Reaves healthy to support him. But the Lakers’ 26th-ranked defense looks more like a rebuilding team than a contender.
Atlanta Hawks: D+
Preseason projection: 46.5 wins
Current projection: 41.1 wins
The hope in Atlanta is that this grade reflects Young’s poor fit with the current group before being traded to the Wizards. The Hawks went just 2-7 in the nine games Young played with the team and are above-.500 without him. It’s too early to evaluate how Atlanta looks with newcomers CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in place of Young, but we can say with confidence that Jalen Johnson is ready to be Atlanta’s go-to guy on offense. Johnson has averaged 22.1 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 8.2 APG in games Young hasn’t played.
Cleveland Cavaliers: D+
Preseason projection: 56.5 wins
Current projection: 47.7 wins
It’s hard to believe now that only Oklahoma City had a higher preseason total than the Cavaliers’ 56.5 wins. We knew Cleveland would be without starting point guard Darius Garland to open the season and starting wing Max Strus for an extended period, but Garland’s play has been affected since he returned from toe surgery. The Cavaliers have played just 11 games with their starters besides Strus healthy, going 7-4.
Cleveland should have a better record in the second half, but must battle to get home-court advantage in the first round after finishing atop the East last season.
Dallas Mavericks: D
Preseason projection: 40.5 wins
Current projection: 32.7 wins
Ah, preseason, when one of the concerns was whether Dallas would have enough playing time at center for Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Lively already underwent season-ending right foot surgery, and Davis will be sidelined at least six weeks after playing just 20 games (during which the Mavericks went 10-10). Add in Jason Kidd beginning the season with Cooper Flagg at point guard in place of the injured Kyrie Irving, and Dallas never stood a chance of reaching the postseason.
Flagg’s growth back at the forward spots has been a bright spot from the Mavericks’ season, and they’ll add a lottery pick before losing control of their first-rounders from 2027 through 2030. Everything else about this campaign will be forgettable, outside of former general manager Nico Harrison’s November firing.
LA Clippers: D
Preseason projection: 47.5 wins
Current projection: 41.0 wins
The Clippers have been one of the league’s hottest teams, bouncing back from the bottom of the West after starting the season 6-21 in the shadow of an NBA investigation of salary-cap circumvention, and they’re back in play-in territory. Nonetheless, they’ve fallen far short of expectations that they’d compete for a top-six spot in the West. Not only are the Clippers not in a position to benefit if they miss the playoffs – the Thunder own their draft pick, the final piece of the Paul George trade – their issues seem largely of their own making.
It would be one thing if the Clippers were struggling because Kawhi Leonard was injured. Instead, both Leonard and James Harden are playing at an All-NBA level, and yet the Clippers don’t have anyone else in the top 150 in my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric.
After a strong 2024 offseason in which they replaced George with better values, the Clippers doubled down on veterans and busted. Bradley Beal played just six games before season-ending hip surgery, while Chris Paul has been exiled after clashing with the coaching staff. Meanwhile, Norman Powell has been better than ever in Miami after the Clippers gave him away in a regrettable move. The Clippers have improved enough to avoid the league’s worst grade midseason, but still have far more work to do.
New Orleans Pelicans: D
Preseason projection: 30.5 wins
Current projection: 22.3 wins
The Pelicans stand alone among the teams at the bottom of the standings by not benefiting from a 2026 lottery pick. New Orleans sent that pick to Atlanta in the draft-night deal to move up and take center Derik Queen, whose versatile production has been a highlight of this season. Both Queen and fellow lottery pick Jeremiah Fears have been productive for rookie starters, and Zion Williamson has had good moments. However, the Pelicans don’t shoot well enough (29th in made 3s) or protect the rim well enough (29th in opponent 2-point percentage) to be competitive, which cost coach Willie Green his job in November. Things have improved only marginally under James Borrego.
Sacramento Kings: D
Preseason projection: 34.5 wins
Current projection: 26.0 wins
The Kings’ desperate attempts to remain competitive – adding Zach LaVine as part of last year’s trade that sent De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio and acquiring Dennis Schroder last summer – look foolish as they’ve sunk to the bottom of the standings without injured center Domantas Sabonis. The good news? Sacramento can no longer ignore the need to rebuild its roster, which atrophied after the Kings won 48 games and returned to the playoffs three seasons ago. The bad news is Sacramento won’t likely get lucrative packages in return for its veterans.
Milwaukee Bucks: D-
Preseason projection: 42.5 wins
Current projection: 35.4 wins
With renewed questions about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee as a backdrop, the Bucks face a battle just to make the play-in, let alone reach the playoffs or win a series for the first time since 2022. To some extent, that’s to be expected with Antetokounmpo missing 14 games, during which Milwaukee has gone 3-11. But the Bucks haven’t been as effective as they hoped with Giannis healthy, getting outscored by 1.1 PPG in those games. Milwaukee’s rotation has been impacted by too many below-par performers and a deadline trade won’t likely do enough to rectify that problem.
By Kevin Pelton | ESPN, via ESPN