The New York Knicks won the 2025-26 NBA Championship on Saturday night, the first in 53 years.

But in the history books, the title should carry an asterisk.

With so much help on their side, the Knicks join a short group of champions that warrant an asterisk on their name.

Here’s the definitive list of titles that deserve to be asterisked due to their illegitimate, unfair or excessively lucky circumstances that drove their run, ranked in chronological order.

Sorry, Knicks fans. This had to be done.

2026 NBA champions: New York Knicks*

Asterisk reason: They ducked the best team. The reigning champs*, the OKC Thunder, won a league-high 64 games in the regular season but got snakebit by injuries in the West Finals, losing Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Did I mention Jalen Brunson is 0-6 against the Thunder since 2023-24? They’re lucky it’s not 0-10 right now. Instead, the Knicks faced a Finals team full of 20-year-olds with almost no playoff experience, the San Antonio Spurs. Not a real title.

2025 NBA champions: Oklahoma City Thunder*

Asterisk reason: In Game 7, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles with the game tied 16-16 in the first quarter. Without the most clutch player of the 2024-25 season, the Pacers would go on to lose by 12. Asterisk. Also, Aaron Gordon played on one hamstring and Ja Morant got hurt in Game 3.

2024 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Noted Celtics killer Jimmy Butler, who ended Boston’s postseason run the year before, missed the opening round with a knee injury. In the following round, Cavs All-Star center Jarrett Allen missed the entire series while Cavs star Donovan Mitchell was sidelined for half the series with an ankle injury. Tyrese Haliburton injured his hamstring in Game 2, knocking him out for the rest of the series. How many breaks does one team need?

2023 NBA champions: Denver Nuggets*

Asterisk reason: Faced a Play-in team in the NBA Finals. ‘Nuff said.

2022 NBA champions: Golden State Warriors*

Asterisk reason: A checkbook title. No Jamal Murray in the first round. No Ja Morant after Game 3 in the second round. Also, Jordan Poole turned into Kobe Bryant for a few weeks which doesn’t seem fair.

2021 NBA champions: Milwaukee Bucks*

Asterisk reason: According to NBA’s foremost scholar Jeff Teague, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother Thanasis made “a magical COVID recovery” during the Finals, evaded the COVID protocols and helped stabilize his brother en route to Finals MVP. Which was made easier considering Suns opponent Chris Paul was playing the series with one hand, requiring surgery on his left wrist in the offseason.

2020 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: No fans. No travel. No credibility. Just ask Alex Caruso himself!

2019 NBA champions: Toronto Raptors*

Asterisk reason: Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 5 and Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6. Kawhi Leonard rested all season and a timely gust of wind at the end of Game 7 against Philadelphia 76ers nudged the ball just enough to fall in the basket. Unfair.

2018 NBA champions: Golden State Warriors*

Asterisk reason: LeBron James “pretty much” broke his hand. Chris Paul’s hamstring popped. And if that’s not enough, the Game 7 referee audit produced by the Houston Rockets that showed 81 potential missed calls that cost the Rockets 18.6 points. Fraudulent championship, certified by accountants.

2017 NBA champions: Golden State Warriors*

Asterisk reason: Kawhi Leonard landed on Zaza Pachulia’s foot while up 23 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and Leonard never played again. But mostly: Kevin Durant joined a 73-9 team because of a cap spike. Scandalous.

2016 NBA champions: Cleveland Cavaliers*

Asterisk reason: Draymond Green got suspended in a potential clinching Game 5 for things he did two months prior and Stephen Curry might have been hobbled and Harrison Barnes missed several very open shots. Stars aligned a little too well, don’t you think?

2015 NBA champions: Golden State Warriors*

Asterisk reason: Did Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving even play in the Finals? Also, James Harden tallied 12 turnovers in the Western Conference finals-clinching loss in Game 5, but it’s unclear what another referee audit might uncover. Very questionable circumstances.

2014 NBA champions: San Antonio Spurs*

Asterisk reason: In Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, the Spurs’ home arena’s air conditioning “malfunctioned” due to electrical failure and LeBron had to be carried off the floor due to leg cramps. Spurs won Game 1 by 15. Need I say more?

2013 NBA champions: Miami Heat*

Asterisk reason: Reigning 2012 Western Conference champs traded away future MVP James Harden before the season and lost Russell Westbrook to injury when Patrick Beverley needlessly collided with him in the first round of the playoffs, paving the way for the Heat to repeat. Invalid.

2012 NBA champions: Miami Heat*

Asterisk reason: Lockout season, broken bodies. Derrick Rose tore his ACL and Joakim Noah injured his foot, torpedoing the No. 1-seeded Chicago Bulls’ season. Thus, the No. 2-seeded Heat cruise by default and take down the up-and-coming Thunder that never fully arrived. Lucky LeBron.

2011 NBA champions: Dallas Mavericks*

Asterisk reason: They played a lot of zone. Unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalty: title vacated along with dignity.

2010 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: In Game 7, the Lakers took 21 free throws in the fourth quarter while the Celtics took 17 all game. You tell me.

2009 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Kobe Bryant dodges LeBron James yet again. King James averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the 66-win Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals, and somehow it wasn’t enough. Of the 229 individual opponents that Kobe faced at least 20 times in his career, Kobe’s lowest win percentage came against LeBron, losing 6 of his 22 games against the four-time MVP, per Basketball Reference. Kobe and the Lakers faced Dwight Howard instead. Lakers catch another break.

2008 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Celtics legend Kevin McHale called up his former Celtics teammate Danny Ainge and traded him Kevin Garnett in his prime. Luck of the Irish, I guess.

2007 NBA champions: San Antonio Spurs*

Asterisk reason: Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw -- both in their primes, were suspended for a pivotal Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals for stepping onto the floor at the wrong time. The Spurs go on to face a 50-win team in the Finals. An asterisk among asterisks.

2006 NBA champions: Miami Heat*

Asterisk reason: The disparity in free throw totals were so egregious in the Finals, Mavs owner Mark Cuban reportedly put a former FBI agent on the case. Moving on...

2005 NBA champions: San Antonio Spurs*

Asterisk reason: The league expanded from 29 to 30 teams. Diluted title.

2004 NBA champions: Detroit Pistons*

Asterisk reason: After averaging 18 points in the first round of the playoffs, Los Angeles Lakers forward Karl Malone’s knee imploded by the NBA Finals. David beats Goliath, but if only Goliath had no knees left.

2003 NBA champions: San Antonio Spurs*

Asterisk reason: If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

2002 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Ask the Sacramento Kings.

2001 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: The Lakers lost both games to Ray Allen and the top-scoring Milwaukee Bucks in the regular season, which is notable because Allen all but said the Bucks-Sixers Eastern Conference finals was rigged so the NBA could get regular-season MVP Allen Iverson and Philadelphia in the Finals against the Lakers. Bucks fans have already asterisked this one for years.

2000 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: The referees swallowed the whistle when Shaquille O’Neal drilled Steve Smith in the lane in the closing seconds of Game 7 of the epic Blazers-Lakers Western Conference finals. (Smith has thoughts). Shaq-sized asterisk.

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1999 NBA champions: San Antonio Spurs*

Asterisk reason: Lockout season. Doesn’t count.

1998 NBA champions: Chicago Bulls*

Asterisk reason: MJ pushed off.

1997 NBA champions: Chicago Bulls*

Asterisk reason: Voters got bored and gave Karl Malone the MVP and thereby gave life to Michael Jordan’s vengeful loins. Also, Scottie Pippen grabbed the rim. Tarnished title.

1996 NBA champions: Chicago Bulls*

Asterisk reason: Adding the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies this season diluted the overall talent pool for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to feast on. But the real reason for this asterisk is two-time All-Defense member Nate McMillan’s back. If it doesn’t turn to mush, this is Sonics in six, not the Bulls. The franchise isn’t the only thing stolen from Seattle.

1995 NBA champions: Houston Rockets*

Asterisk reason: Michael Jordan was playing golf.

1994 NBA champions: Houston Rockets*

Asterisk reason: Michael Jordan was playing baseball.

1993 NBA champions: Chicago Bulls*

Asterisk reason: Voters got bored (again) and gave Charles Barkley the MVP and thereby gave life to MJ’s vengeful loins. Jordan inexplicably finished third in MVP that year. The real voter fraud that no one is talking about.

1992 NBA champions: Chicago Bulls*

Asterisk reason: Arvydas Sabonis, arguably the best basketball player in the world not named Michael Jordan at the time, was in his prime playing for Real Madrid instead of the Blazers who had drafted him in 1986. If Sabas didn’t wait until 1995 to join the NBA, this is a very different 1992 Finals battle between the Blazers and Bulls. Call it the Arvydas Asterisk.

1991 NBA champions: Chicago Bulls*

Asterisk reason: Lakers’ top scorer James Worthy and top shooter Byron Scott both got hurt and couldn’t play the decisive Game 5 of the NBA Finals. What could have been?

1990 NBA champions: Detroit Pistons*

Asterisk reason: Again, Sabonis wasn’t playing in America so the Pistons avoided him starting for the Blazers in the Finals and flipping the NBA paradigm. Also, the Pistons couldn’t beat Michael Jordan in basketball so they turned to boxing and football tactics in their Eastern Conference battles. Not basketball. Not fair.

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1989 NBA champions: Detroit Pistons*

Asterisk reason: Magic Johnson blew out his hamstring in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, ending both the MVP’s season and the legitimacy of the Pistons title.

1988 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Isiah Thomas suffered a debilitating ankle injury in Game 6 and he barely played in Game 7, a game in which the Pistons lost by a measly three points. Too close to call, in my opinion.

1987 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: A year after winning Sixth Man of the Year for the title-winning Celtics, Bill Walton’s feet gave out yet again and the Lakers won the championship without having to face one of Boston’s key players. Lakers lucky again.

1986 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: After Michael Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics in the first round, Larry Bird said, “It’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.” By beating the Bulls and sending Jordan home, the Celtics were literally the only team that postseason to be touched by the hand of God. All other teams were touched by mere mortals. Let’s chalk this up to divine intervention.

1985 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Celtics starter Cedric Maxwell, who won the 1981 Finals MVP, missed 25 games following knee surgery late in the season and was a shell of himself upon his return. The Lakers cruise again with their Finals opponent battered.

1984 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Hall of Fame forward Jamaal Wilkes was averaging 17 points per game for the Lakers that season and then missed the first round of the playoffs dealing with a gastrointestinal virus. He lost his starting gig and became a non-factor in the playoffs, scoring double-digits just once the rest of the way. If Wilkes doesn’t get the bug, Boston doesn’t get the trophy. Can’t argue with science.

1983 NBA champions: Philadelphia 76ers*

Asterisk reason: Notice that Moses Malone’s famous quote is “Fo’, fo’, fo’” and not “Fo, fo’, fo’, fo’.” That’s because, at this point in NBA history, the top two seeds received a first-round bye and only played three series for a championship. I think we can all agree that real champs win four series.

1982 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Again, top seeds skipped the first round. This is extra important in 1982 because the Philadelphia 76ers, as a No. 3 seed, had to play an extra series in their disproportionately grueling road to the NBA Finals. Case in point, playoff games played before the Finals: Sixers 15, Lakers 8. Of course, the Lakers prevailed in six games.

1981 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: To win the NBA Finals, the Celtics needed to beat a 40-42 Houston Rockets team. Not a typo. If that’s not asterisk-y enough for you, I don’t know what is.

1980 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Philly, as it was in 1982, played the Lakers in the Finals with the burden of playing an extra series. With less miles on their tires, the Lakers cruised to the title against their more-fatigued foe. Soft!

1979 NBA champions: Seattle Supersonics*

Asterisk reason: In a rematch of the Bullets-Sonics Finals a year ago in which the Bullets won, the Sonics benefitted by injuries knocking out two Bullets starters Kevin Grevey (hamstring) and Tom Henderson (ankle) in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Not a fair fight.

1978 NBA champions: Washington Bullets*

Asterisk reason: The defending-champion Blazers’ repeat hopes were derailed when Bill Walton broke his foot in February while the team was 50-10 -- easily the best record in the NBA. No Walton, no glory.

1977 NBA champions: Portland Trail Blazers*

Asterisk reason: In the first season with the NBA-ABA merger, the Blazers made the playoffs for the first time and won the title all in the same season. Seems totally legitimate except for this important detail: the NBA referees went on strike during the playoffs. Oh.

1976 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA. (Ten of the 24 All-Stars in 1977 were former ABA players, including All-Star Game MVP Julius Erving and five of the 10 starters in the 1977 Finals were ABA players).

1975 NBA champions: Golden State Warriors*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1974 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1973 NBA champions: New York Knicks*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1972 NBA champions: Los Angeles Lakers*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1971 NBA champions: Milwaukee Bucks*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1970 NBA champions: New York Knicks*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1969 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1968 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: Half the best players were in the ABA.

1967 NBA champions: Philadelphia 76ers*

Asterisk reason: There were only 10 teams.

1966 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only nine teams.

1965 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only nine teams.

1964 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only nine teams.

1963 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only nine teams.

1962 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only nine teams.

1961 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams.

1960 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams. But more importantly, as late as 1960, it was understood that only four Black players were allowed per NBA team, according to Warriors legend Al Attles. So, yeah, asterisk on this whole era.

1959 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams.

1958 NBA champions: St. Louis Hawks*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams.

1957 NBA champions: Boston Celtics*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams.

1956 NBA champions: Philadelphia Warriors*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams.

1955 NBA champions: Syracuse Nationals*

Asterisk reason: There were only eight teams. Well, technically nine, but the Baltimore Bullets disbanded 14 games into the season.

1954 NBA champions: Minneapolis Lakers*

Asterisk reason: There were only nine teams. The Indianapolis Olympians dropped out after they went 28-43 and got swept 0-2 in the playoffs.

1953 NBA champions: Minneapolis Lakers*

Asterisk reason: There were only 10 teams.

1952 NBA champions: Minneapolis Lakers*

Asterisk reason: There were only 10 teams.

1951 NBA champions: Rochester Royals*

Asterisk reason: There were only 10 teams. Well, technically 11, but the Washington Capitols (correct spelling) folded halfway through the season. On Nov. 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons beat the Minneapolis Lakers 19-18. Final score.

1950 NBA champions: Minneapolis Lakers*

Asterisk reason: In the inaugural NBA season, there were 17 teams, six of which were contracted by Year 2 of the NBA. Rebounds would be introduced as an official stat in 1951. New rule: if rebounds aren’t counted, the title shouldn’t either.

The original version of this post ran in NBCSports.com ahead of The Bubble resumption of play in 2020. Luckily, more asterisks needed to be doled out.

With the 2025-26 regular season in the books, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the postseason looking to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors in 2018 to repeat as champion. OKC’s record against teams trying to win will make folks in Oklahoma rejoice.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Do I still have the Lakers as a title contender? Where do the surging Rockets go? Is OKC alone in the top tier?

Let’s find out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes.

Boston Celtics

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 56-26 | 119.9 aORtg (2nd), 112.3 aDRtg (4th), +7.6 aNET (3rd)

Check out last week’s piece about Jayson Tatum making them whole.

Denver Nuggets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 54-28 | 121.3 (1st), 116.4 (21st), +4.9 (7th)

We witnessed the end of Nikola Jokić’s infamous teammate streak!

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 64-18 | 117.5 (7th), 106.7 (1st), +10.8 (1st)

The end of the NBA regular season was a forgettable one. Teams threw in the towel much earlier this season, leading to a tsunami of G-League rosters muddying up the playoff picture and stars prioritizing postseason health over positioning.

I recently wrote a Yahoo article about how the NBA inadvertantly birthed a subleague that I dubbed the B-League, in which teams were overtly trying to lose games aka tanking aka prioritizing long-term “sustainability” over short-term results.

That Yahoo post focused more on the B-League teams. This post is about the A-League teams.

What if we strip out all the games against B-League teams and strictly look at the 2025-26 Season as if it was just teams trying to win? Would we learn anything about the 21 teams’ power ratings once we cut out the impurities of tanking?

So that’s what I did. I looked at the 20 postseason teams and the New Orleans Pelicans (they don’t have a first-round pick to tank for) and examined how the A-League teams performed against fellow A-League opponents.

It basically amounts to a 58-game season (coincidentally one that I’ve been advocating for!) of teams trying to win. At the top we predictably find the reigning champs and No. 1 overall seed, Oklahoma City.

With a 43-16 (.729) record against A-League opponents, the Thunder are the clear-cut best team in the league against winning opponents. It’s especially impressive considering they’ve suffered more player games lost due to injury than any playoff team, per Spotrac data.

In the overall standings, the Thunder enjoyed a two-game lead on the San Antonio Spurs but that stretched slightly to 2.5 games in the A-League lens. The difference? The Thunder destroyed A-League opponents by an average marging of +9.7. The next-highest team was San Antonio at “just” +5.7.

Check out the breakdown:

If you’re looking into another reason to buy OKC’s title chances, there you go. The team’s .729 WPct against A-League opponents is a 60-win pace over a full 82-game season. Jeebus.

You can knock the Thunder for not playing up to their billing against the Spurs (1-4 record), but man, it’s hard to overlook that overall dominance in the regular season. San Antonio is literally the only team that OKC had a losing record against this season. Said another way, the Thunder had the same win percentage against A-League opponents as the No. 1 seeded Detroit Pistons vs. everybody including tanking teams.

Here’s how it looks in graphic form:

On the other end of the spectrum, there are some teams that look underwhelming by this measure.

• Minnesota. Yes, they’ve reached the Conference Finals in the last two seasons, but I don’t blame you if you’re skeptical of their viability this time around. Anthony Edwards’ knee is acting up and the team hasn’t risen to the level of their opponents. They’ve actually registered a negative point differential vs. A-League opponents, a number that is drowned out by their 20-6 +13.2 MOV mark against B-League opponents. That’s quite the swing.

• Philadelphia. I haven’t had them on my title tiers for weeks. Though I hadn’t run this analysis before I made that determination, I feel better now for leaving them off the list. A 21-34 (.382) record against A-League opponents obscured by the 24-3 record against the teams trying to league? Yikes.

• Cleveland. Gulp. I talked about them on Russillo last week. I wish they played better down the stretch to validate this post.

• Charlotte. Though they have a positive point differential against A-League opponents, the team is seven games below .500 against those foes. That incongruity makes me nervous about their play-in. Still, Buzz City is faring just as well or better than the East outside the top four.

All in all, OKC is primed for another title run. Nothing about their season screams fluke or luck. This study solidifies their standing. If they can stay healthy, I don’t see why they can’t repeat. Well, as long as they don’t play Wemby and San Antonio …

San Antonio Spurs

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 62-20 | 118.8 (3rd), 110.8 (3rd), +8.0 (2nd)

Check out a recent post on the Wemby Effect and an earlier feature on Stephon Castle!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 52-30 | 118.3 (5th), 114.5 (16th), +3.7 (9th)

Check out last month’s post on the Cavs high-ceiling offense!

Detroit Pistons

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 60-22 | 117.1 (10th), 109.5 (2nd), +7.6 (4th)

I wrote at Yahoo last month about how Cade’s the face of the NBA’s 65-Game Rule problem.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️

One move away from being one move away.

Houston Rockets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 52-30 | 117.4 (8th), 112.4 (5th), +5.0 (6th)

Check out my post on the hidden value of Steven Adams!

New York Knicks

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 53-29 | 118.8 (4th), 112.7 (7th), +6.1 (5th)

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⭐️⭐️

So much has to break right.

Atlanta Hawks

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 46-36 | 115.1 (14th), 113.0 (9th), +2.2 (12th)

Charlotte Hornets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 44-38 | 118.3 (6th), 113.9 (14th), +4.4 (8th)

Minnesota Timberwolves 📉

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 49-33 | 115.5 (13th), 112.8 (8th), +2.7 (10th)

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⭐️

Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Los Angeles Clippers

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 42-40 | 116.4 (11th), 115.3 (19th), +1.1 (16th)

Los Angeles Lakers

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 53-29 | 117.1 (9th), 115.7 (20th), +1.4 (14th)

Miami Heat

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 43-39 | 115.7 (12th), 113.8 (13th), +1.9 (13th)

Check out last week’s post about Bam Adebayo’s 82 being helped by Spo’s pace.

Toronto Raptors

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 46-36 | 114.9 (15th), 112.4 (6th), +2.4 (11th)

In alphabetical order:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BOS, DEN, OKC, SAS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ CLE, DET

⭐️⭐️⭐️ HOU, NYK

⭐️⭐️ ATL, CHA, MIN 📉

⭐️ LAC, LAL, MIA, TOR

Sorry: BRK, CHI, DAL, GSW, IND, MEM, MIL, NOP, ORL, PHI, PHX, POR, SAC, UTA, WAS.

A word about the data: I’m using offensive and defensive efficiency data from DunksAndThrees.com, which is adjusted for strength of schedule (aORtg and aDRtg). Raw offensive efficiency may be skewed based on opponents, and Taylor Snarr’s data site does a good job of leveling that out.

Luka Doncic pulled up limp on Thursday night. Austin Reaves is now out for at least a month. Uh oh. Can the Lakers survive without them?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Los Angeles Lakers.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Can the Lakers hold onto a Title Tiers spot? Have the Denver Nuggets earned top dog status? Are the Magic toast?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes.

(Apologies for taking last week off. We are back to regularly-scheduled programming).

Read more

Max Strus is back. Jarrett Allen might not be far away. The Cavs are getting whole with absurd offensive numbers already.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Do the Lakers deserve top dog status? Are the Minnesota Timberwolves still in the conversation? Should Orlando still be on this list?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes.

Read more

Erik Spoelstra revolutionized the Miami Heat’s offense. He also cultivated a high-octane system that allowed Bam Adebayo to flourish and smash the modern-day scoring record. How does pace factor into Bam’s 83 and will the Heat’s system translate to postseason success?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: Miami Heat.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Do the Denver Nuggets still deserve ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ status? What do we do with the Lakers?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes.

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The Celtics got Jayson Tatum back. Do they have their title groove back, too?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Boston Celtics.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Are the Boston Celtics in the top tier? Whose spot do the Charlotte Hornets take?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes.

Boston Celtics 📈

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 43-21 | 119.4 aORtg (2nd), 112.4 aDRtg (8th), +6.9 aNET (2nd)

This is the shot.

The Jayson Tatum shot that stuck out to me most in his return from a torn Achilles was this one. From Friday’s game:

He sunk it. His first made jumper of the game /season.

It was a great sight given the road it took to get to this point.

But the reason this shot stayed with me is what happened before it:

The false step.

The same mechanism that led to his torn Achilles in his right leg. The same mechanism that snapped Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard’s Achilles as well. There’s some speculation that the rise of the false step and stepbacks have led to an increased risk of Achilles tears, so I was curious to see how he’d move around in this one. Would he use it?

Sure enough, he pushed off his right heel and got to his spot on the corner. He also pushed off his right heel to get to his sidestep just before rising up.

To me, that play tells me that he’s fully confident in his health. To utilize the false step and get to his shot this way is a major milestone in his recovery from the Achilles tear, both physically and mentally. He wowed the audience with a putback dunk on the play before this one, but I’m most interested in how Tatum’s perimeter footwork changes with this injury.

Big picture, it’s hard to imagine Tatum having a better return from the catastrophic injury. The Celtics won both games handily, first against the lowly Mavs and then the rival Cavs on Sunday. Individually, Tatum performed well considering he hadn’t played in an NBA game in almost a year. No G-League ramp up. No training camp. And he looked good.

Tatum surpassed my expectations. He returned three months ahead of Dejounte Murray’s timeline of 13 months, and I wondered if the impending postseason deadline had accelerated his return date. (I wrote up more thoughts at Yahoo last week: read here!).

So far, so good.

Obviously, we’re only two games in, but Celtics fans have to be elated with the Tatum return. His average speed in his debut clocked in at 4.3 mph, which is way wayyy above his norm. Last season he averaged 3.65 mph, delivering one of the “slowest” figures in the NBA. He just doesn’t move around a lot in the drive-and-kick offense. On Friday, he did. Which is a good sign.

They’re moving up to the five-star tier. Tatum looked ready. So do the Celtics.

Cleveland Cavaliers 📈

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 39-25 | 117.4 (6th), 113.2 (13th), +4.2 (7th)

Check out a recent post on Harden boosting their title chances!

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 50-15 | 116.8 (7th), 106.5 (1st), +10.4 (1st)

Check out last month’s post about the Thunder’s vulnerability.

San Antonio Spurs

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 47-17 | 117.8 (4th), 110.9 (3rd), +6.9 (3rd)

Check out a recent post on the Wemby Effect and an earlier feature on Stephon Castle!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

Denver Nuggets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 39-25 | 119.9 (1st), 116.6 (22nd), +3.3 (8th)

We witnessed the end of Nikola Jokić’s infamous teammate streak!

Detroit Pistons 📉

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 45-18 | 115.9 (10th), 109.4 (2nd), +6.4 (4th)

Check out last month’s post about Cade Cunningham’s MVP candidacy.

Share

⭐️⭐️⭐️

One move away from being one move away.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 40-24 | 115.7 (12th), 112.8 (11th), +2.9 (10th)

New York Knicks

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 41-24 | 118.4 (3rd), 112.1 (5th), +6.3 (5th)

Share

⭐️⭐️

So much has to break right.

Houston Rockets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 39-24 | 116.8 (8th), 112.2 (6th), +4.6 (6th)

Check out last month’s post on the hidden value of Steven Adams!

Los Angeles Lakers

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 39-25 | 116.4 (9th), 116.0 (21st), +0.4 (18th)

Check out last week’s post about The Luka-LeBron Problem.

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⭐️

Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Charlotte Hornets 📈

Last week’s rating: N/R

Record: 32-33 | 117.4 (5th), 114.8 (17th), +2.7 (11th)

Welcome to The Tiers, Buzz City! We’ve been waiting for you. Almost put you at the two-star tier, but Sunday’s showing in PHX didn’t give me enough.

Miami Heat

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 36-29 | 114.6 (13th), 111.6 (4th), +3.0 (9th)

Los Angeles Clippers

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 31-32 | 115.8 (11th), 114.9 (18th), +0.9 (15th)

Orlando Magic 📈

Last week’s rating: N/R

Record: 35-28 | 114.0 (17th), 112.6 (9th), +1.5 (14th)

Toronto Raptors

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 36-27 | 113.7 (18th), 112.2 (7th), +1.5 (13th)

In alphabetical order:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BOS 📈, CLE 📈, OKC, SAS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ DEN, DET 📉

⭐️⭐️⭐️ MIN, NYK

⭐️⭐️ HOU, LAL

⭐️ CHA 📈, MIA, LAC, ORL 📈, TOR

Sorry: ATL, BRK, CHI, DAL, GSW 📉, IND, MEM, MIL, NOP, PHI 📉, PHX, POR, SAC, UTA, WAS.

A word about the data: I’m using offensive and defensive efficiency data from DunksAndThrees.com, which is adjusted for strength of schedule (aORtg and aDRtg). Raw offensive efficiency may be skewed based on opponents, and Taylor Snarr’s data site does a good job of leveling that out.

After two big wins against JV rosters, the Los Angeles Lakers are solidifying their spot in the playoffs But are they legit title contenders? The underlying Luka-LeBron numbers are not good.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Los Angeles Lakers.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Do I need to upgrade the Lakers after two blowout wins? Are the Denver Nuggets overrated right now?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Detroit Pistons

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 45-14 | 116.0 aORtg (11th), 108.9 aDRtg (2nd), +7.1 aNet (2nd)

Check out last week’s post about Cade Cunningham’s MVP candidacy.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 47-15 | 117.2 (5th), 106.7 (1st), +10.4 (1st)

Check out last month’s post about the Thunder’s vulnerability.

Read more

The Detroit Pistons are rolling. After a signature 42-point, 13-assist outing at Madison Square Garden, Cade Cunningham made an MVP statement. But that game isn’t the real reason he should be high in the MVP ranks.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Detroit Pistons.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Have Cade’s Pistons separated themselves from the pack? Is it time to say good-bye to the Orlando Magic? Where do I slot Phoenix after Dillon Brooks’ injury?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Denver Nuggets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 36-22 | 120.6 (1st), 116.8 (24th), +3.8 (8th)

We witnessed the end of Nikola Jokić’s infamous teammate streak!

Detroit Pistons

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 42-13 | 116.1 aORtg (11th), 109.1 aDRtg (2nd), +7.0 aNet (2nd)

Read more

There is drama at the summit. For the first time, the Oklahoma City Thunder officially have company at the top of the title tiers.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Which teams deserve to be five-star status with the OKC Thunder? Where do I place the surging Celtics? Which team takes Miami’s spot on the tier?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read more

The Cleveland Cavaliers made the biggest splash at the trade deadline, swapping out Darius Garland for James Harden. But I think there’s another reason why I think the Cavs are sneaky title contenders.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Where should the Cavs go? Is it time to downgrade the suddenly short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 40-13 | 117.6 aORtg (4th), 106.7 aDRtg (1st), +10.9 aNet (1st)

Check out last month’s post about why I didn’t hit the panic button on OKC. I might soon. But man, if there’s one team that could use the All-Star break, it’s the Thunder, who are 3-5 in their last eight games and without SGA and Jalen Williams.

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, it’s time to fill some holes on contender rosters to optimize their title chances. I have hand-selected one player for all 15 title contenders. Without repeating anyone’s name. I could just put Giannis for every team, but what’s the fun in that!?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Who should go after Giannis the hardest? Who should OKC target on the marketplace? Can Zion help someone? Where should MPJ go? What should Houston do?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 39-11 | 117.8 aORtg (5th), 106.9 aDRtg (1st), +10.9 aNet (1st)

Trade Target: Coby White

First it was Alex Caruso. Now it’s Coby White. Let’s revisit the OKC-Chicago pipeline, shall we? I love White’s game for a contender who needs to punch up the offense. If I’m OKC, I make a play for White, who can score in bunches and . Ousmane Dieng and Philly’s 2026 first-round pick would do it. It wouldn’t hurt to also check in on Nikola Vucevic’s price.

Read more

A sudden injury storm has swept the star class lately. Of note: the Atlanta Hawks traded the injured Trae Young to bolster Washington’s tank mission and add win-now help. Can the Golden State Warriors do the same with Jimmy Butler?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Golden State Warriors.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Do I finally bury the Milwaukee Bucks on my board? Who would deserve their spot? Is OKC still above the rest?

Oh and apologies on the Tuesday rollout. I know it’s a day late. Snowstorm got me.

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Read more

The Houston Rockets’ nightmare injury season continues: Steven Adams had to be carried off the floor after a nasty ankle turn on Sunday. If the Kiwi big man needs to miss significant time … Houston, we have a problem.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Houston Rockets.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Are the Rockets still a four-star contender? What do I do with the sputtering New York Knicks?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Read more

The Oklahoma City Thunder have earned five-star status from this publication all season long. After going 9-6 over the past month, it’s time to check the temperature. It’s not great. Do they need to make a trade?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Should the Thunder trade for Michael Porter Jr? Which West team deserves more love?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Read more

With Jaylen Brown surging, the Boston Celtics are a serious threat to win the East. Would trading for Giannis make them a threat to win it all? Maybe. But if it took Brown … things get very interesting.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Boston Celtics.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Should the Boston Celtics go all-in for Giannis? What do we do with the Jokic-less Nuggets? After the weekend beatdown, are the Sixers in the same tier as the Knicks?

Let’s get to it.

Statistical data updated through 9 pm ET Sunday night.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 30-6 | 118.4 aORtg (5th), 106.5 aDRtg (1st), +11.9 aNet (1st)

Check out last month’s post about OKC’s clutch supremacy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

Read more

The Orlando Magic’s lone All-Star, Paolo Banchero, is having his worst season of his career. What does it say about the Magic’s title chances?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Orlando Magic.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Does OKC’s skid against the San Antonio Spurs require a downgrade? What about the Spurs? Have I lost patience with the Cavs?

Let’s get to it.

Statistical data updated through midnight Sunday.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 27-5 | 118.2 aORtg (6th), 106.8 aDRtg (1st), +11.4 aNet (1st)

Check out last month’s post about OKC’s clutch supremacy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

Read more

The Lakers are lucky to be 19-8 with this roster. It’s time to trade Austin Reaves and truly build a title contender around Luka Dončić in a way that makes sense.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: Los Angeles Lakers.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Who should the Lakers trade Austin Reaves for? Are the Cavs totally out of the title picture? Do the Knicks need to be upgraded?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 25-3 | 118.2 aORtg (5th), 106.2 aDRtg (1st), +12.1 aNet (1st)

Check out last month’s post about OKC’s clutch supremacy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

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Apologies for the delay in this week’s Tiers piece. Technical difficulties on Sunday night.

Victor Wembanyama is back. And he destroyed the OKC Thunder in his short stints. What does it mean for the Finals?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: San Antonio Spurs.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Do I downgrade the Thunder? Or upgrade the Spurs? And what do we make of the Warriors?

Let’s get to it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 24-2 | 118.8 aORtg (5th), 106.6 aDRtg (1st), +12.2 aNet (1st)

Check out last month’s post about OKC’s clutch supremacy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

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For just the second time this season, the Philadelphia 76ers featured their three stars — Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey — in the lineup. Finally. Can they turn around a disconcerting trend of absent stars?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: Philadelphia 76ers.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Are we sleeping on the full squad 76ers? Should we still consider the Milwaukee Bucks a title contender?

Let’s get to it.

Note: Stats shown through Sunday night 8 pm ET.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a complete team, no notes. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 23-1 | 119.0 aORtg (5th), 107.4 aDRtg (1st), +11.6 aNet (1st)

Check out last month’s post about OKC’s clutch supremacy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just missing that one thing. 

Denver Nuggets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 17-6 | 122.5 (1st), 116.2 (20th), +6.3 (3rd)

Are we seeing the end of Nikola Jokić’s infamous teammate streak? I say yes.

Houston Rockets

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Record: 15-6 | 119.9 (4th), 111.1 (3rd), +8.8 (2nd)

Check out last month’s piece on Houston’s BullyBall!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️

One move away from being one move away.

Detroit Pistons

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 19-5 | 115.8 (10th), 113.0 (6th), +2.9 (9th)

Check out last week’s profile on Detroit’s new throwback lineups!

Los Angeles Lakers

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 17-6 | 118.1 (6th), 116.0 (19th), +2.1 (12th)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 15-8 | 116.4 (9th), 113.5 (8th), +2.9 (8th)

New York Knicks

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 16-7 | 120.1 (2nd), 114.2 (14th), +5.9 (4th)

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⭐️⭐️

So much has to break right.

Boston Celtics 📈

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 15-9 | 120.0 (3rd), 115.1 (17th), +4.9 (5th)

Cleveland Cavaliers 📉

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 14-11 | 116.8 (8th), 113.5 (9th), +3.3 (7th)

Golden State Warriors

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 13-12 | 113.8 (20th), 111.0 (2nd), +2.8 (10th)

Orlando Magic 📉

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Record: 14-10 | 115.5 (11th), 111.1 (4th), +4.3 (6th)

Let’s see Franz Wagner’s injury update.

San Antonio Spurs

Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐

Record: 15-7 | 117.6 (7th), 114.8 (16th), +2.8 (11th)

Check out last month’s piece on Stephon Castle’s star turn!

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⭐️

Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Atlanta Hawks

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 14-11 | 114.7 (13th), 113.7 (11th), +1.0 (14th)

Philadelphia 76ers 📈

Last week’s rating: N/R

Record: 13-10 | 114.2 (19th), 114.1 (13th), +0.1 (16th)

Tyrese Maxey hosted LeBron James, Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. You probably didn’t think much of it.

But it’s very much a big deal.

Maxey has not missed a game this season, a mammoth achievement when you consider the team he plays for. Maxey finally got to play with Joel Embiid and Paul George at the same time, in the same game, something that has only happened twice this season.

Here’s why Maxey is so unique. It’s not yet Christmas and there are only five stars who have played in every game this season. Maxey is one of them. Nikola Jokić is another. Julius Randle, DeMar DeRozan and Scottie Barnes are the three others. And that’s it.

Your mileage may vary on the “star” designation but in the interest of consistency, I’m using the NBA’s definition of a star: a player who has been named to an All-Star or All-NBA in the previous three seasons.

There are 45 such players this season and 40 of them have already missed games.

We entered Sunday’s games with seven stars who had not yet missed a contest, but the presumptive MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat out with an elbow injury and Utah’s Lauri Markkanen was a late scratch with an illness.

We started with 45. We’re down to five.

To put that in persective, at this time last season, there were 17 star players who had yet to miss a game. We’re looking at less than a third of that total right now. At this rate, the list will be zero by Christmas.

If it feels like this season has been one prolonged preseason, you’re not alone. Maxey has played in every game and yet it’s hard to make sense of the Sixers because entering Sunday, we’d only seen Maxey, Embiid and George play together for 19 minutes. After LeBron James closed them out on Sunday, the Sixers are 0-2 with their star trio in uniform. In the latest game, Maxey, Embiid and George shot 18 of 53 combined.

This was Embiid’s shot chart:

That’s what shooting 2 of 17 outside the rim looks like. Oof.

It’s hard to make worthwhile music when the bandmembers almost never play together. It’s disjointed and unfamiliar. That’s what it’s like watching the Sixers. That’s what it’s like watching the NBA these days.

It’s been three weeks since I sounded the alarm over at Yahoo about the unavailability of NBA stars. The league found itself in an injury crisis, the likes of which we haven’t seen in November. After a brief respite where star participation rose to 73%, it’s tumbling and tumbling again.

The NBA needs more Tyrese Maxeys, not Kawhi Leonards. Stars are only playing about two-thirds of their games, which means that there are anywhere from 10 to 20 stars in street clothes on any given night. Kawhi has played about 60 percent of his games this season. That’s juuuust below the norm for star players.

Embiid has missed 14 games. Paul George has missed 15 of his own. All the while, Maxey has been plugging away on an MVP campaign that hasn’t gotten off the ground because his teammates haven’t been there.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse can barely bring himself to take Maxey off the floor. He’s averaging an NBA-high 39.9 minutes and no one is particularly close. Maxey has logged 917 minutes this season. That’s 99 more minutes than the next star player, Evan Mobley at 818. A couple more games like this and Maxey will be the NBA’s leading scorer in total points.

The Sixers are trying to make up for lost time and seem to be running into trouble doing it. To my knowledge, the NBA made the unprecedented move to fine the Sixers $100,000 for playing Embiid last month. That’s right. The league took action to penalize the Sixers for playing a guy who has been notoriously absent from NBA games.

The league’s Player Participation Policy, implemented in 2023, was written to encourage teams to play their stars more, and here we have the Sixers doing exactly that on November 30, but it was against the rules. Even if Sixers ticket-buying and game-watching fans would be ecstatic to learn that Embiid was indeed going to play in that game (hooray!), the NBA isn’t really thinking about that audience in this instance.

The Sixers’ transgression? They offended the sports betting community by initially ruling Embiid out with a knee injury, reversing course the next afternoon and playing him the next day.

The NBA’s beefed-up injury reporting policy caters to sportsbooks who want accurate player availability information in real time so they can set lines with complete information. In the first injury report filed by the Sixers on the night before the November 30 game against the Hawks, the Sixers listed Embiid as out with a right knee injury. On gameday, that was his status until the 12:30 pm ET report when he was switched to “questionable” with the same injury. Embiid played in the 6 pm ET game.

Before Sunday, it had been the only time that the Sixers got to see Embiid, George and Maxey play together this season. The Sixers were favored by 2.5 points and lost by eight in overtime. Maxey scored a game-high 44 points in 52 minutes. George and Embiid played fewer than 30 minutes.

I had to relegate the Milwaukee Bucks after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s latest calf injury, so some team has to be promoted onto the list. The Sixers are on here because a) Maxey has been unreal and; b) it SEEMS like Maxey, Embiid and George are starting to get some traction ahead of a softer schedule. They were +9 in 16 minutes together against LA on Sunday. As one of only two teams officially with a star trio (Cleveland is the other), I wish I could see more of the Sixers’ best playing together. I think we all do. Except for the sportsbooks on occasion.

Where would the Sixers be without Tyrese Maxey? I hope we never find out.

Miami Heat

Last week’s rating: ⭐

Record: 14-10 | 114.5 (15th), 112.6 (5th), +1.9 (13th)

In alphabetical order:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OKC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ DEN, HOU

⭐️⭐️⭐️ DET, LAL, MIN, NYK

⭐️⭐️ BOS 📈, CLE 📉, GSW, ORL 📉, SAS

⭐️ ATL, MIA, PHI 📈

Sorry: BRK, CHA, CHI, DAL, IND, MEM, MIL, NOP, PHO, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS.

A word about the data: I’m using offensive and defensive efficiency data from DunksAndThrees.com, which is adjusted for strength of schedule (aORtg and aDRtg). Raw offensive efficiency may be skewed based on opponents, and Taylor Snarr’s data site does a good job of leveling that out.

The Detroit Pistons are running away with the East. By doing something they refused to do last season. Lemme explain.

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: Detroit Pistons.

A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

Is it time to put the Detroit Pistons on the same tier as the top West teams? Can I still put LAC on this list?

Let’s get to it.

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