Grading the Eastern Conference a third of the way through the season

A third of the way through the NBA season, the Eastern Conference looks to have a handful of worthy contenders, a couple of teams with major trade deadline decisions to make and a handful of teams tanking for Cooper Flagg.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-4): A+

The rest of the NBA is lucky that the season still has months remaining because the Cavs are mowing down the competition through a third of the season. They’re a genuine title contender with the league’s best offense and seventh-best defense.

2. Boston Celtics (26-10): A-

The road to an NBA Championship still runs through Boston, even if they’re sleepwalking a bit in recent weeks. Even if another team’s best players outdueled Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in a seven-game series, which is tough to imagine, they could still easily lose because Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are all All-Star-level players in their own right.

3. New York Knicks (24-12): A-

You could argue the Knicks have the best starting five in the entire NBA – and only the Celtics and Cavaliers would have an argument. And if Mikal Bridges keeps playing like he’s been playing (21.8 PPG with 55.9-40.7-74.1 shooting splits in his past 17 games) we just might witness NBA Finals basketball in Madison Square Garden in June.

4. Orlando Magic (21-16): A

An “A” for a team with 16 losses? Damn right! The Magic’s best player, Paolo Banchero, has only played in five games this season and their other All-Star level player, Franz Wagner, tore his oblique after 25 games. Yet, Jalen Suggs and company keep grinding out wins.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (17-16): B-

After a 2-8 start, the Bucks are in a grove and not only are 15-8 since, but they won the in-season tournament. They’re not in the same contender tier as the Cavs, Celtics and Knicks, but with Giannis Antetokounmpo, they’ll always have a chance in any seven-game series.

6. Miami Heat (17-16): B-

Tyler Herro’s made a leap, but the rest of the Heat are either underperforming or being dragged down by the bad vibes of the Jimmy Butler drama. Perhaps a Butler trade will yield some more team-oriented players and light a fire under the team.

7. Atlanta Hawks (18-18): B-

The Hawks have three forwards enjoying breakout seasons and are a pretty fun watch. However, they’re still trending towards making Trae Young the greatest play-in tournament player ever.

8. Indiana Pacers (18-18): C

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers have taken a step backwards after making the Eastern Conference Finals last season. That said, they’ve had some impressive wins over the Suns (twice), Warriors, Celtics and Heat in the past few weeks, so perhaps they’re getting back on track.

9. Detroit Pistons (17-18): A-

Cade Cunningham is playing like an All-Star and the Pistons have to be thrilled that they’re in line for a play-in spot. The only downside to this season is Jaden Ivey’s nasty leg injury ruined a breakout season of his own.

10. Chicago Bulls (16-19): B-

The Bulls occasionally catch fire and knock off contenders like the Celtics and Knicks, but ultimately need to make sure they miss the play-in tournament and give themselves a shot at one of the top draft prospects. Time to get off the hamster wheel of mediocrity.

11. Philadelphia 76ers (14-19): D+

After a 3-14 start to the season, the 76ers have at least looked the part of a playoff team in their past 16 games (11-5). Joel Embiid and Paul George both look unhealthy or a little washed, so Philly will need them both start playing better to have a chance to be the contender they aspire to be.

12. Brooklyn Nets (13-22): B+

Jordi Fernandez is doing such an impressive job in his first season as the head coach of the Nets that the front office has had to start trading away good players (Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith) so that they are in the mix for Cooper Flagg. Expect Cameron Johnson and/or Cam Thomas to get shipped away at some point as well as both are too good to be on tanking teams.

13. Toronto Raptors (8-27): C

They have a couple of interesting pieces, but the Raptors are years away from being any good, so stacking losses is smart. Still, you’d think that this collection of seemingly talented players would be a little better.

14. Charlotte Hornets (7-27): D

It’s another wasted season in Charlotte, much in part due to injuries – they’ve had 13 different players start games, including 39-year-old Taj Gibson. Even though LaMelo Ball is putting up monster stats (29.8 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.2 RPG), it might be time to move on from this era if they get the right trade offer.

15. Washington Wizards (6-27): C

The Wizards stink. But they’re trying to stink, so they get a passing grade.