Who is the most in form team in the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the pinnacle of basketball across the world, the league with the greatest stars providing the most exhilarating sporting entertainment. 

As the season 2022/23 season marches on NBA odds are catching up with the form and styles of each team as each does all they can to reach the playoffs come April 2023.

After the first quarter of the season passed, we’ve seen the Boston Celtics cruising, the Los Angeles Lakers looking short of a playoff push, and the Golden State Warriors feeling some growing pains in a transitional year.

Some matches have brought huge shocks or last second winners. There have been entertaining late games like the Celtics 114-113 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime. 

De’Aaron Fox managed to beat the buzzer to seal a 126-123 win for the Sacramento Kings over Orlando Magic back in early November. His three-pointer from just inside halfcourt gave the Kings the overtime victory in emphatic fashion.

As the season ticks over into 2023 there are a few sides who have gained momentum and are the most in-form teams in the NBA so far.

Boston Celtics

After 29 games the Boston Celtics sat atop the Easter Conference. Their win over the LA Lakers in overtime on December 13 put to bed a two-game losing streak as they looked to get back to their consistent best.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the two key reasons that after the first quarter of the season while the team also have brought together a deep bench to keep them in games as well as dominate.

Tatum is playing MVP level basketball right now, putting up 30.8 points per game on average with 8.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists on average per game as well. He is putting in the work on both sides of the ball as well which has helped build the consistency and dominance of this Celtics side so far.

December sees a mostly favourable run of fixtures for the Celtics who will look to move into 2023 top of the Eastern Conference and playing consistently well throughout. 

New Orleans Pelicans

We thought, going into this season, that New Orleans had one of the best trios in offense in the league. Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson are elite level players and ready to compete deep into the playoffs this year.

The defence though is what is taking most of the headlines, making them look like a truly elite level side. They were 18th in the league on defence last season and has been one of the top three defences this season according to Cleaning the Glass, with only Milwaukee and Cleveland ahead of them,

Coming to the end of December and early January they have some tough matchups against the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks which will test their abilities to remain one of the top sides in the NBA this season.

Brooklyn Nets

With Kevin Durant rescinding his trade demands before the season, the Nets stated off slow with a lot of distractions around the team. Kyrie Irvings suspensions played their part and parting ways with Head Coach Steve Nash at the beginning of November meant they started the season in chaos.

But, by the 14th of December the Nets were on a four-game winning streak, won eight of their previous nine games and were sitting at 17-12. It seems the slump is behind them.

They have had a favourable schedule though and big names have been missing from opposing teams, such as Orlando’s Mo Bamba and Portland’s Damian Lilliard when the sides met.

Durant will keep being a big part of this side, a truly talented NBA star who after 28 games was averaging 30 points per game, 6.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

They will face a tougher schedule leading into January with defending champions Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers all on the schedule.

Memphis Grizzlies

Sitting second in the Western Conference after 27 games, the Grizzlies were on a six-game winning streak. They had a 12-2 record at home, completely dominating and had won both of their games which have gone into overtime.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has become the clear advantage for the Grizzlies on both sides of the court. He is an elite defensive player in the league while also becoming one of the best rim and shot deterrents inside the arc throughout the NBA.

Since returning from injury, Jackson Jr. has transformed a defence ranked 20th in the NBA into one ranked sixth. They have also gone from 14th in blocks per game (5.3) to first with 6.5.

With a potential defensive player of the year on your side you have the foundations of a winning team, and the Grizzlies will go into some tough games leading into January with confidence.

There is still a long way to go, but some of the stars are growing into the sports season and ready to make their mark on the playoffs at the end of the year.