NBA Teams Ranked: Who's Hot, Who's Not at Season's Halfway Mark

The NBA season is halfway done, and things are getting interesting. Some teams are doing way better than expected, while others are struggling. The Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs are now seen as serious title contenders, even though they weren't supposed to be this good so soon. The Boston Celtics are also looking strong, especially if Jayson Tatum can come back from his injury and play well. The Western Conference is still led by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they're not as dominant as they were at the start of the season. The Eastern Conference is wide open, with many teams having a shot at making it to the NBA Finals. With the trade deadline and the All-Star Game coming up, it's a good time to look at how all 30 teams are doing. Some teams are trying to tank and get better draft picks, while others are fighting to make the playoffs. The top of the 2026 NBA Draft is looking really strong, with three top prospects who could change the future of the league. Some teams are tanking to try and get one of these players, while others are trying to build a contender around their current stars. The worst place to be is in the play-in tournament. These teams don't have a great chance of winning in the playoffs, and they're not likely to get a top draft pick either. Some of these teams are dealing with injuries or other problems, making it hard for them to improve.There are also teams that are good but not great. They could make a run in the playoffs, but they're not seen as real title contenders. The Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic are all in this group. The Lakers are also here, even though they have a good record, because they have a negative point differential, which means they're not as good as their record suggests. The Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks all have a puncher's chance at the championship. The Knicks were seen as the favorites after winning the NBA Cup, but they've struggled since then. The Pistons have been a great story, but they might need to make a move to become real title contenders. The Celtics could be a dark horse if Tatum can come back and play well. At the top, the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder are the true championship contenders. The Thunder started the season off strong, but they've shown some signs of weakness lately. The Nuggets are their biggest challenger, with Nikola Jokic still being a force even though he's injured. The Spurs have beaten the Thunder three times this season, and Victor Wembanyama is a problem for any team. The Timberwolves might be a surprising pick for fourth, but they're a complete team with a great lead superstar in Anthony Edwards.