NBA 2018/19: 5 Most surprising teams at the quarter-mark of the season

Heading into the 2018-19 NBA season, many fans are expecting the Golden State Warriors to become champions once again. The Warriors have four All-Stars, two of whom are former MVPs, and then they added DeMarcus Cousins.

However, the Warriors are currently struggling and it has been good for the league. LeBron James is settling well in Los Angeles while Kawhi Leonard is looking comfortable in Toronto. Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo are legitimate MVP candidates and they are playing on a superstar level.

Teams have been shooting more three-point shots and the offense is getting crazier every night. Defense is still existent but the action is driven by the offense with all 30 teams averaging more than 100 points per game.

And as expected, there are going to be surprised and there are a lot of them, including teams that are playing better than expected. Here are the five most surprising teams at the quarter-mark of the season.

#5 Detroit Pistons

The only major move the Detroit Pistons made during the offseason is hiring a new head coach. They signed reigning Head Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey, who was fired by the Toronto Raptors after another poor playoff performance wherein they got swept in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers despite being the number one seed.

Detroit is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 13-8 record and nobody expected them to be in this position. The Pistons have embraced Casey’s offense with Blake Griffin as the point forward.

Andre Drummond continues to man the paint and ball movement has been key. Their defense has improved while the bench has stepped up with Ish Smith, Langston Galloway, Glenn Robinson III, and Zaza Pachulia all contributing.

But the Pistons have been here before as they had a parallel start last season. The only difference is they have been relatively healthy and they have a great coach, as well as a superstar in Griffin.

#4 Los Angeles Lakers

The arrival of LeBron James has vastly improved the Los Angeles Lakers. They currently have a record of 14-9 as they sit fifth in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers are just two games behind the first seed and it is quite surprising since many predicted that they will barely make the playoffs in LeBron’s first year in Hollywood.

Los Angeles’ offense has been mediocre with James carrying most of the load. He is averaging 27.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The Lakers badly need to add another scorer because James will tire out for the playoffs, which means they could get eliminated in the first round, ending LeBron’s Finals appearance streak.

On the other hand, their defense is among the top ten in the league. Lonzo Ball is certainly better at this end while JaVale McGee has been a revelation. But the addition of Tyson Chandler really helped them. Chandler is a former Defensive Player of the Year and he knows how to get the team going defensively.

#3 Orlando Magic

Many people believed that the Orlando Magic will be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season. They have a new head coach in Steve Clifford, who made the effort to know his players during the offseason. It has paid off in the quarter-mark of the season as the Magic sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with a surprising record of 12-12.

The players have embraced Clifford’s system and the chemistry of the team is showing. Nikola Vucevic is playing out of his mind and he could be an All-Star this season. Aaron Gordon just needs to stay away from injuries and an addition of a point guard could solidify their chances of making the playoffs. Terry Roziers perhaps?

However, the Magic still need to improve in several aspects including consistency. They have blown leads in several games this season and struggle in clutch situations. It’s a good experience for this young Magic team and they are surely trending upwards.

#2 Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings v Oklahoma City Thunder

Can you believe this? The Sacramento Kings are finally exciting to watch after years of disappointment. Head coach Dave Joerger has handed the keys to his young squad with De’Aaron Fox leading the way. Fox uses his speed to break down defenses with shooters like Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Nemanja Bjelica around him.

Willie Caulie-Stein is a perfect center for the modern NBA while prized draft pick Marvin Bagley III is slowly gaining his footing. The Kings are 12-11 and they are just a game behind for the eighth and final playoff spot. The team is full of energy and the chemistry among their young players if off the charts. They seem to be having fun playing, which is great.

However, the Kings are always going to be the Kings as recent reports suggest that Joerger is in the hot seat. Joerger has a beef with assistant general manager Brandon Williams, who got kicked out of practice recently, as reported by The Athletic. The Kings' front office and ownership might not make the mistake of firing Joerger because it could affect the progress of their young stars.

#1 Los Angeles Clippers

Currently tied with the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Western Conference with a record of 16-7, the Los Angeles Clippers are the most surprising team at the quarter-mark of the season. The Clippers do not have any superstars and they are doing everything as a team. Tobias Harris is playing like an All-Star, Danilo Gallinari is finally healthy, and Doc Rivers is proving that he’s a really good coach.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks like the point guard of the future while Avery Bradley and Patrick Beverley add so much in the defensive end. Lou Williams is still the premier sixth man of the NBA, Montrezl Harrell is one of the most improved players this season, and Marcin Gortat and Boban Marjanovic are giving quality minutes.

It appears the Clippers are for real and they will make the playoffs. They won’t win a championship though but they are making a case for several impending free agents this summer. Add the fact that they are owned by Steve Ballmer, which means they are loaded with cash.

Edited by Abhinav Munshi