With the 2013 NBA All-Star Game quickly approaching, here are the updated NBA Team Chemistry Rankings for the 2012-2013 season. As it stands, the following head coaches have been relieved of their duties since the beginning of the season:
- Los Angeles Lakers: Mike Brown
- Brooklyn Nets: Avery Johnson
- Milwaukee Bucks: Scott Skiles
- Phoenix Suns: Alvin Gentry
Other coaches thought to be on the hot seat include Randy Wittman (Washington Wizards) and Keith Smart (Sacramento Kings). 'Wild card' hot seat candidates include Lionel Hollins (Memphis Grizzlies), Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors), and Rick Carlisle (Dallas Mavericks).
In the Eastern Conference, 8 teams have records at or above .500: Miami, New York, Indiana, Chicago, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Boston. Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, 9 teams have records at or above .500: Oklahoma City, Los Angeles (Clippers), San Antonio, Memphis, Golden State, Denver, Utah, Houston, and Portland. Of last season's 16 playoff teams, 4 are fading from past progress due to various reasons: Orlando, Philadelphia, Los Angeles (Lakers), and Dallas.
Overall, injuries have affected a number of teams. Among the most notable long-term injuries/injury recovery processes from last season & this season have been Derrick Rose (Bulls), Danny Granger (Pacers), Steve Nash (Lakers), Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks), Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves), Anderson Varejao (Cavaliers), and Kevin Love (Timberwolves). Players such as Stephen Curry (Warriors) and Jeremy Lin (Rockets) have managed to regain health and establish themselves as key contributors to their teams.
As it stands, the primary contenders for the NBA Championship are the Heat, Thunder, and Spurs. Secondary contenders include the Knicks, Clippers, Pacers, Bulls, Nets, Hawks, and Grizzlies. These 10 teams are the top 10 teams in the midseason Team Chemistry Rankings. More details are listed below.
| Rank | Team | Notes | Previous |
| 1. | San Antonio Spurs | The Spurs remain a championship-contending team with great balance and defined roles. It can be argued that coach Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in NBA history, as he has shown the ability to develop and integrate both young talent and experienced talent. On Popovich's team, everyone on the roster is important and productive. There are not public complaints about playing time or sharing the basketball--in fact, the team leads the NBA in assists per game. On offense, the Spurs are quietly a top 5 team in both points per game and offensive efficiency, playing at the league's 3rd fastest pace. On defense, they rank 11th in points per game allowed and tied for 3rd in defensive efficiency. The team is gearing up for another championship run this postseason. | (1) |
| 2. | Miami Heat | The defending champion Heat made one of the league's best offseason acquisitions by signing free agent guard Ray Allen away from the Boston Celtics. Accepting a role as a bench player, Allen is the Heat's 4th leading scorer. Overall, the Heat are a weaker rebounding team--in part due to their undersized lineups--but they more than compensate by making a staggering 48.8% of their shots, which ranks #1 ahead of the Spurs, Thunder, and Clippers. Their main cause for concern at this point (aside from the rebounding) is overall defense. In falling out of the top 10 in points per game allowed and defensive efficiency, the Heat are not forcing as many turnovers as last season. Regardless, the Heat remain the team to beat in the East. | (4) |
| 3. | Oklahoma City Thunder | The Thunder have never ranked below 3rd in these NBA Team Chemistry Rankings since the first posting of the rankings after the 2010-2011 season. With a balanced rotation led by stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder are a championship team in waiting, remaining a top 10 team on both offense and defense. However, in light of financial/economic realities, they made a very difficult move in the offseason, trading away rising star and core player James Harden. For what it is worth, as Kevin Martin has fit in well as the team's new scorer off the bench, both Durant and Westbrook are averaging career highs in assists per game. Furthermore, Serge Ibaka is averaging career highs in PPG, RPG, MPG, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage; he has even made a few three-pointers. Still, Harden's playmaking abilities and versatility will be missed during the postseason; to compensate, the Thunder will need Martin to continue to play at a high level while getting better play from young guards Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson. A trade deadline deal for additional veteran help at backup point guard may be in order. | (3) |
| 4. | Indiana Pacers | Continuity is a key theme for coach Frank Vogel's Pacers. Despite the absence of underrated star Danny Granger, the Pacers remain a top team in the East. Without Granger, Vogel has opted to slow down the team's pace a bit; as a result, the Pacers lead the league in fewest points allowed per game and defensive efficiency while ranking 29th in points per game and offensive efficiency. Paul George has emerged as a rising star while David West is the only player on the roster over age 30 as well as the only player on the roster with more than 5 years of NBA experience. Good balance and a general sense of being 'underrated' keep them as a possible championship contender this season. | (2) |
| 5. | Los Angeles Clippers | The Clippers emerged as the NBA's early 'red hot' team this season, winning a staggering 17 games in a row. One thing is clear: Lob City has a lot of good strong teamwork and camaraderie, leading the league in alley-oops and being tied for 2nd in assists per game. The question remains about whether or not the Clippers can win in a slower-paced playoff basketball environment; last season, they narrowly defeated the Grizzlies in a full 7-game series before being swept at the hands of the Spurs. Additional bad news is that the Clippers lack back-to-the-basket low post scoring. The good news is that the team has a number of veteran players, including crafty combo guard Jamal Crawford, who may help the team overcome its struggles in slower-paced half court offensive sets. | (8) |
| 6. | Chicago Bulls | The Bulls are another team excelling in the area of continuity. Despite the absence of franchise point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls remain a top 5 team in the East. In playing a slightly faster pace than last season, the team remains a top 5 team in opposing points per game and defensive efficiency. However, the Bulls' offense is much less efficient without Rose; although his moderately low field goal percentage is out of play, so is his playmaking ability to create easier shots for his teammates. Likewise, the team's rebounding has slipped a bit, also in part due to opposing teams not having to double team Rose at the expense of rebounding position. While the Bulls have shown they can win in the regular season without Rose, their ability to contend for the NBA championship rests solely on Rose's return from injury. | (7) |
| 7. | Brooklyn Nets | The Nets are the NBA's current 'red hot' team, winning 10 of 12 games since the firing of coach Avery Johnson and the interim replacement by P.J. Carlesimo. This was after Johnson's NBA Coach of the Month status to begin the season. With either coach in charge, the Nets are a balanced team with sufficient inside/outside play on offense, decently strong defense, and punishing offensive rebounding. They also have a lot of players in their primes or entering their primes, which will be a deadly combination come playoff time. As the Nets have not been to the playoffs since 2006-2007, it will be interesting to see if management will give the existing roster a chance to make a championship run or try to either add talent or subtract unfavorable player contracts. | (12) |
| 8. | Atlanta Hawks | In trading Joe Johnson, the Hawks traded away the focal point of their offense. Yet, their pacing and efficiency on both sides of the ball have remained constant. On defense, coach Larry Drew's Hawks continue to force opponents into committing turnovers, rising from 9th in the league last season to 6th this season. On offense, executive Danny Ferry was able to replenish the roster with solid shooting and ballhandling, as newcomers Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, and Devin Harris have meshed well with the remaining Hawks core. While DeShawn Stevenson has had a quieter stint with the team thus far, his knack for defense will come into play in the postseason. | (13) |
| 9. | Memphis Grizzlies | The Grizzlies are in a tough situation right now. They have already lost key swingman O.J. Mayo via free agency during the offseason; now, new ownership and team management debate whether or not to trade away their remaining key offensive swingman, Rudy Gay, due to his high salary and an overall inflated team payroll. On the court, the Grizzlies maintain a strong, balanced lineup that leans on its defensive prowess, ranking 2nd in both opposing points per game and defensive efficiency. However, the potential trading away of Gay leaves the team's future in question. Sadly, coach Lionel Hollins might not get another chance to make a run at the NBA championship with this Grizzlies' core group; they have been fun to watch over the past few years. | (9) |
| 10. | New York Knicks | Surprisingly, the Knicks now have strong team chemistry. Keys to the Knicks' surge this season are the addition of Jason Kidd, the return of Raymond Felton, and the move of Carmelo Anthony to power forward. Age-wise, the Knicks are much older than they have been in recent years, but it is working for them. While the Knicks continue to score points, they do so at a much more efficient rate, ranking 2nd in offensive efficiency--offsetting a decline in defensive efficiency. Not surprisingly, the team has cooled down to .500 basketball with the return of Amar'e Stoudemire, as he is no longer a focal point in the New York offense. The Knicks now have half a season to smooth things out for a championship run in the postseason. | (15) |
| 11. | Golden State Warriors | While still playing at the NBA's 7th fastest pace, coach Mark Jackson now has the Warriors playing with top 12 efficiency on both offense and defense. Golden State still fields a young team, with Richard Jefferson being the only player over 30 years old. The team is primarily a combination of underrated rebounders and young sharpshooters. Defying skeptical critics, post player David Lee continues to average around 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, point guard Stephen Curry has finally overcome early career ankle problems, playing in 36 out of 37 games thus far and averaging 20.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.6 SPG. Finally, the rebuilt Warriors are on pace to return to postseason play. A playoff berth would be the first one for the franchise since 2006-2007 and only the second playoff berth for the franchise since 1993-1994 (which was former coach Don Nelson's last full season as the Warriors' head coach before returning as head coach in 2006). | (20) |
| 12. | Utah Jazz | The Jazz are currently contending for a low playoff berth in the West. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap continue to lead the Jazz frontcourt, but both players' pending free agency has the team considering turning the frontcourt over to younger players Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors. This is somewhat surprising, as Jefferson and Millsap are both still under the age of 30 and in the primes of their careers. While young swingman Gordon Hayward continues to improve, the Jazz lack youth at the point guard position; furthermore, starting point guard Mo Williams is out indefinitely due to thumb surgery on his shooting hand (right hand). Despite good team chemistry, the .500 record may not last, as the Jazz will probably aim for longer term success in the rest of this decade by trading away Jefferson and/or Millsap before the trade deadline. | (14) |
| 13. | Houston Rockets | Head coach Kevin McHale has brought 1980s Boston Celtics basketball to Houston. The Rockets now play the fastest-paced basketball in the NBA. Not only do the Rockets take a lot of shots, but they also get to the free throw line, tying for 4th in FT attempts. New additions James Harden, Jeremy Lin, and Omer Asik join Chandler Parsons, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, and Greg Smith as the young core of the Rockets. Journeyman Carlos Delfino is quietly putting together a solid NBA career, serving as the Rockets' senior player as a 30-year-old veteran in his 8th NBA season. The team will need to add more experience in order to get to the next level, but the current foundation is looking stronger than initially expected and may help the team sneak into the playoffs this season. | (25) |
| 14. | Minnesota Timberwolves | Another Kevin Love injury has hindered the young Timberwolves' success. Thankfully, Ricky Rubio has returned from last season's torn ACL to direct the offense, which is also powered by rising star center Nikola Pekovic. Veteran leadership from players such as Andrei Kirilenko and Luke Ridnour--as well as from coach Rick Adelman--is helping keep the team in the playoff hunt. At this point, the Timberwolves are still exploring trade options for former #2 overall pick Derrick Williams, who continues to see somewhat limited minutes behind the rest of Minnesota's frontcourt talent; Love's absence will give Williams more time to try to establish his role in the team's lineup. There is an outside chance that Pekovic could be traded due to pending restricted free agent status. Overall, this season's end result matters much less than the health of Love and Rubio and the team's progress in the years ahead. | (18) |
| 15. | Denver Nuggets | The acquisition of 'sometimes underrated, sometimes overrated' star swingman Andre Iguodala came at the expense of key young role player Aaron Afflalo and key bench veteran Al Harrington. In fact, analysts have mentioned Afflalo as a better spot-up shooter and overall better fit--as well as a much less expensive defensive specialist--for the Nuggets' lineup than the veteran Iguodala. Yet, without Afflalo, Al Harrington, and Rudy Fernandez, the Nuggets remain a top 5 scoring offense and a top 10 ballclub in offensive efficiency. Furthermore, even without standout interior defenders Nene and Chris Andersen, the team's defense has actually improved, rising from 20th in defensive efficiency to 14th. Inspired play by a handful of players entering their prime years, including Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried, Corey Brewer, and Javale McGee, has the Nuggets contending for a playoff spot in the West. An early indicator of their potential was their win over the Clippers to end the Clippers' 17-game winning streak. | (6) |
| 16. | Milwaukee Bucks | Despite an above .500 record and decently good team chemistry, former coach Scott Skiles was not satisfied with the overall talent on the Bucks' roster--leading to his departure as head coach. As it stands, the Bucks are a playoff contender in the East behind the high octane perimeter play of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings and the surprising emergence of Larry Sanders as the team's starting center. Sanders has helped lead the Bucks defense, which ranks 7th in defensive efficiency. Still, the questions surrounding the roster, including the pending free agency of Ellis and Jennings, leave the Bucks as a likely trade partner for stronger playoff contenders down the stretch. Expect more rebuilding to occur in the months (and possibly years) ahead. | (23) |
| 17. | Portland Trail Blazers | For a team that was projected during the preseason to have poor chemistry, the Trail Blazers are doing pretty well for themselves. Coach Terry Stotts--who has made the playoffs once in 4 previous seasons as a head coach despite never having any of his teams finish at or above .500 (his playoff-qualifying Milwaukee Bucks finished the 2005-2006 regular season with a record of 40-42)--has done his best with a primarily young roster. The scrappy Blazers are outscored by 2 points per game yet sport a .500 record. While LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and Wesley Matthews are cementing their status as core players for the young team, Damian Lillard has emerged as the early favorite for Rookie of the Year while J.J. Hickson has emerged as a candidate for Most Improved Player. The Blazers may fall out of playoff contention in the second half of the season, but they are now showing signs of hope for the years ahead. | (30) |
| 18. | Philadelphia 76ers | The 2012-2013 season brought the end of the A.I./other A.I. eras in Philadelphia. The departures of Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, and Elton Brand, combined with the continuing injury problems of the acquired pending free agent center Andrew Bynum, have led to the decline of the Sixers' competitiveness in the East. Remaining perimeter core players Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, and Evan Turner have bright years ahead in their careers, as do Nick Young and Spencer Hawes. However, the lack of Bynum's presence in the lineup has been a disappointment. Odds are, Bynum will be gone in the offseason and the team will have to find additional post help. Any remaining strong play this season will be in the name of coach Doug Collins, who came out of retirement to lead the young Philadelphia team back to the postseason two seasons ago. | (16) |
| 19. | Boston Celtics | The aging Celtics continue to unravel despite contending for a playoff berth and recently defeating the rival Knicks. Last season, the inability to land free agent forward David West may have prevented the team from advancing to the NBA Finals. This season, the departure of swingman Ray Allen to the defending champion/rival Miami Heat meant the end of Boston's New Big Three era. While the Celtics remain a top 10 defensive team, they are a shell of the offense that ranked 10th in offensive efficiency and 11th in points per game during the 2007-2008 championship season; in fact, the Celtics are now 24th in offensive efficiency and 19th in points per game while playing at almost exactly the same pace as in 2007-2008. Jason Terry, Jeff Green, and Courtney Lee have just not adjusted to playing in Boston, leaving executive Danny Ainge to wonder if he should go ahead and trade away Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and/or Kevin Garnett before it is too late. | (10) |
| 20. | Los Angeles Lakers | The Lakers have been one of the NBA's surprise teams this season; unfortunately, it has been for all of the wrong reasons. After a winless preseason, the Lakers went 1-4 to start the season under departed coach Mike Brown. Much like in Cleveland, Brown's offense sputtered out with the absence of top assistant John Kuester on the bench (Kuester was reassigned to scouting/front office work this past offseason). The failed implementation of the Princeton offense--which was a bad fit for post players Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol--eventually led to the hiring of Mike D'Antoni--whose offense limits isolation plays for Kobe Bryant. The return of free agent acquisition Steve Nash has brought some hope to the Lakers' offense (ranked in the top 10), but their defense has dropped into the bottom 10 in the NBA. Like in 2003-2004, the roster is now too old. However, that 2003-2004 team at least won the Western Conference Championship. Despite strong enough talent--including future hall of famers--this season's team might not even make the playoffs. | (5) |
| 21. | Dallas Mavericks | In two years, payroll issues and surgery for Dirk Nowitzki have led the Mavericks to fall out of the picture--perhaps only temporarily--as a championship contender. Coach Rick Carlisle still appears to have the support of owner Mark Cuban and the city of Dallas, but his core players have gotten older while other core players have left via free agency. The replacements for these departed core players have been players past their primes or young players still trying to establish themselves. The results have not been pretty as the team has failed to play up to coach Carlisle's standards. Although the Mavericks rank 10th in points per game scored, they are 20th in offensive efficiency and 22nd in defensive efficiency. To return to championship contention, the team needs two things: 1) Dirk Nowitzki's health; and 2) success via salary cap room & free agent signings. | (17) |
| 22. | New Orleans Hornets | When Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis are healthy, the Hornets are a competitive team. The Hornets recently pulled off the Texas sweep, defeating the Spurs, Rockets, and Mavericks during a recent road trip. Overall, the Hornets are 7-3 in their last 10 games despite an overall record of 13-26; the 26 losses include losing streaks of 7 games and 11 games. Ryan Anderson, Greivis Vasquez, and Robin Lopez are all having solid seasons, with coach Monty Williams looking to bring the Hornets back to respectability for the first time in a couple of seasons. Another non-playoff season will not hurt, as the Hornets will gain another shot at the NBA Draft Lottery and a high draft pick. | (21) |
| 23. | Detroit Pistons | The Pistons are one of the few teams in the NBA that maintained primarily the same core group from last season. However, the familiarity did not guarantee a good start to the season, as the Pistons kicked off the 2012-2013 campaign with an 8-game losing streak. Although they also had a 6-game losing streak in December, they are 7-4 since ending that losing streak. Efficiency-wise, the Pistons rank in the middle of the NBA on both sides of the court as they continue to battle inconsistency. While Brandon Knight, Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko, and Austin Daye have stalled in progress, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond have emerged as young post player cornerstones. As it stands, Knight, Monroe, Drummond, and Kyle Singler represent the franchise's future. Outside of these 4 players, the Pistons may be looking to trade away other players in exchange for future draft picks and other young talent. | (22) |
| 24. | Sacramento Kings | The Kings continue to struggle with rebuilding efforts and possible relocation to another city, including a new ownership bid from a group looking to take the franchise to Seattle. As DeMarcus Cousins continues to struggle with maturity issues, coach Keith Smart struggles to hold onto his job. Smart is the team's 5th head coach since the firing of Rick Adelman, who led the team to the playoffs in all 8 of his seasons (1998-1999 through 2005-2006); the Kings have not been back to the postseason since then. The result of the collective drama is a team that gets outscored by nearly 6 points per game, including ranking last in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed per game. Pending ownership changes and the pending free agency of players such as Tyreke Evans have the Kings wondering what to do next in order to get back to relevancy. | (27) |
| 25. | Toronto Raptors | The Raptors sought out rising point guard Kyle Lowry in order to make strides of improvement in coach Dwane Casey's 2nd season with the team. However, an injury plagued season for Lowry has been disastrous for Toronto. While the Raptors actually rank in the upper half of the NBA in points per game and offensive efficiency, their defense ranks in the bottom third of the league--well below coach Casey's standards. While Lowry may have less room for improvement than initially thought, veteran point guard Jose Calderon remains underappreciated in Toronto, again on the trading block for interested championship contenders. Meanwhile, Andrea Bargnani is also on the trading block but has been out with an elbow injury for over a month. DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, and Ed Davis have bright futures but are not superstar caliber players. The team needs to develop young rookie Jonas Valanciunas, draft well, and possibly bring in a core player via free agency or a trade in order to put coach Casey in a position to win. | (24) |
| 26. | Orlando Magic | Trading away a franchise player is usually not a pretty site; the Magic are definitely rebuilding now. While the Magic have landed new core young players Aaron Afflalo and Nikola Vucevic through the Dwight Howard trade, they prepare to let go of former core players Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, and Hedo Turkoglu. Overall, the departure of Howard and injuries to Turkoglu and other Howard trade acquisition Al Harrington have left the Magic without an identity this season. A core group of players including Afflalo, Vucevic, Glen Davis, E'Twaun Moore, and Maurice Harkless is not strong enough to build around. The harsh reality is that the Magic franchise has only had 2 truly successful eras in 24 seasons of existence, both built around #1 overall draft picks: center Shaquille O'Neal and center Dwight Howard. More draft success is needed in order to effectively rebuild. | (29) |
| 27. | Phoenix Suns | Take away former starting point guard Steve Nash and the Suns are a bad team that lacks cohesion. Coach Alvin Gentry did all he could with this season's weak Suns roster. Phoenix has several decent players, including Marcin Gortat, Goran Dragic, and Luis Scola, but the team lacks star power and has not qualified for the playoffs since falling at the hands of the Lakers in the 2010 Western Conference Finals. The Suns remain a team in transition; they need to do an excellent job with drafting new players, trading away tradeable players, and signing quality free agents in order to speed up the rebuilding process. In the meantime, the franchise needs to name an interim head coach to replace Gentry. | (11) |
| 28. | Cleveland Cavaliers | With a fully healthy roster, the Cavaliers may have more team chemistry than their record shows. However, injuries to several players, including Anderson Varejao (possibly out for the rest of the season), Kyrie Irving (missed 13 games), and rookie Dion Waiters (missed 8 games) have meant a season committed to long-term development in Cleveland. Only swingman Alonzo Gee and post player Tristan Thompson have played every game for the Cavs this season; everyone else has failed to play in 4 or more games. The Cavs have the 2nd worst team field goal percentage while also yielding the worst opposing field goal percentage. Overall, the team is in the bottom third of the league on both sides of the court. More time is needed to develop the young team and add more veteran players to help put everything together. All eyes are on next season, as fans expect playoff contention in coach Byron Scott's 4th season with the team. In past coaching stints, coach Scott successfully led the rebuilding Hornets back to the playoffs in his 4th season there and also led the rebuilding Nets back to the playoffs (and the NBA Finals) in his 2nd season there. | (19) |
| 29. | Washington Wizards | Soon, the Wizards may rise up in the Team Chemistry Rankings. Believe it or not, they are 4-1 in their last 5 games, including 3-1 with young franchise point guard John Wall back in the lineup. However, a head coaching change is in order, as coach Randy Wittman has just not seen enough success in multiple head coaching gigs to warrant a long-term contract in Washington D.C.; he easily could have been let go after a horrendous 0-12 start to the Wizards' season. Jordan Crawford leads the Wizards in scoring but does not shoot well enough, so it is not clear if he is still in Washington's long-term plans beyond next season. Bradley Beal is in the team's long-term plans and he is shooting much worse than Crawford despite being the team's 2nd leading scorer. Not surprisingly, the team is last in the NBA in points per game and offensive efficiency; only a top 10 defensive efficiency has kept the team competitive. Overall, the Wizards' roster has been in flux since the departure of former franchise player Gilbert Arenas; all upcoming success in the next few years starts with Wall. | (28) |
| 30. | Charlotte Bobcats | The Bobcats had a fairly good offseason. They drafted scoring swingman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and defensive specialist Jeff Taylor, acquired sharpshooting guard Ben Gordon, and signed free agent point guard Ramon Sessions. However, the team has just not meshed yet. Injuries have limited the availability of Byron Mullens and Gerald Henderson, while Bismack Biyombo still looks lost and/or overmatched during games. Kemba Walker has played decently, but the Bobcats also must consider whether they should try to develop him as a shooting guard rather than as a scoring point guard in the mold of Russell Westbrook. Time will tell if things will work out for the Bobcats, but for this season at least, it will not work out, as the Bobcats are outscored by nearly 9 points per game. | (26) |