Best, Worst NBA Teams Since The All-Star Break

The 82-game NBA season lasts a long time. Things that were true during the first half of the year don’t necessarily still apply as we approach the playoffs. Here are some of the league’s more noteworthy statistical trends since the All-Star break.

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Are the Golden State Warriors still the best team?

The Warriors are 63-14 overall, and will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Golden State has the NBA’s top record after the All-Star break as well, at 21-5. For the season, the Warriors own a scoring differential of plus-10.4 points per game. With the exception of the 2008 Boston Celtics and three of Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls squads, no team since 1973 has outscored its opponents by a double-digit margin.

However, post-All-Star break Golden State’s scoring differential is down to 9.3 PPG. It’s still exceptionally good, but there are actually two clubs that have been better–the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-5) are plus-10.7, while the San Antonio Spurs (17-7) are plus-10.5. Are they the two teams most likely to challenge the Warriors for the title?

Which surprising teams are coming on strong?

Last year the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz each finished with a record of 25-57. Both franchises have improved significantly this season, and oddly enough they once again have identical records, currently 35-42. Each team has played particularly well since the break, with the Celtics at 15-11 and the Jazz going 16-8.

One of Boston’s biggest surprises is the production of Evan Turner. After playing the first 390 games of his career (including postseason) without ever recording a triple-double, the former No. 2 pick in the draft rattled off three of them in a span of 21 games. Turner is now tied for second in the league in triple-doubles with three (behind Russell Westbrook‘s 11, more on him later), all of which have come after the break.

In that time Turner is averaging 6.8 assists per game, good for 13th-best in the NBA. Oddly enough, he ranks just ahead of his former teammate Rajon Rondo, who’s put up just 6.4 assists per contest post-break for the Dallas Mavericks.

For Utah, Rudy Gobert is posting some very impressive numbers. Since All-Star weekend, Gobert is shooting 59 percent from the floor while averaging 13.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. The rebound total ranks third in the NBA in that time, while the blocks are second.

Who is fading fast?

In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies appear to be in solid shape with a 52-25 record and a plus-3.0 scoring differential. But, they are only 13-11 with a minus-1.1 PPG margin after the break.

Over in the East, the 45-32 Toronto Raptors are still hanging on with a top-four seed and a differential of plus-2.9. However, post-break they are 9-15 while being outscored by 1.3 PPG.

Which individual players’ stats stand out?

DeAndre Jordan is leading the league in rebounds this year with an average of 14.8 per contest. Since the All-Star break he’s upped that number to an absurd 17.2 per night. On the other hand, Jordan’s field goal percentage is dropping (70.6 percent on the season but, 66.7 percent over his last 24 outings), which could prevent him from becoming the only player besides Wilt Chamberlain to shoot 70 percent for a full year.

Westbrook is in a tight battle for the scoring title with James Harden, as both guys are averaging 27.7 PPG. Westbrook has the lead after the All-Star game though, 30.8 to 28.4. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s MVP candidate is nearly averaging a triple-double in that span as well, with 10.6 assists and 9.0 rebounds per outing.

Next: The Top 10 Sophomores In The NBA This Season

Best And Worst NBA Teams Since The All-Star Break, Plus Other Statistical Trends

By Mark Vandeusen | Apr 7, 2015

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