2023-24 NBA Christmas Grades: Atlantic Division
Merry Christmas, everyone!
The 2023-24 NBA Christmas games have been run and won and every team is now give or take a third of their way through their respective schedules. So let’s get into the Christmas spirit and see what grades every NBA team received from the Jolly Fat Man (Santa, to be clear, not Kenny Lofton Jr).
Let’s kick things off over in the east with the Atlantic Division. Keep an eye on the Vendetta Sports Media socials as we will be releasing all the grades over the next few days.
(All numbers come via Basketball Reference unless otherwise stated)
Boston Celtics – A+:
The numbers: 23-6 record, 3rd in offense, 4th in defense, 2nd in Net Rating
The class of the NBA season so far, with a league-leading record to match. The Celtics’ new starting five is simply the best five-man unit in the entire league. They’re eviscerating their opposition to the tune of 28.3 points per 100 possessions. An underrated part of Boston’s ascension has been the dramatically improved coaching of Joe Mazzulla, who has clearly benefitted from not taking over the team a week before opening night in the midst of controversy.
As good a floor spacer as Al Horford is, Kristaps Porzingis is even better with the added bonus of not having to wind up like a medieval trebuchet every time he shoots. He’s also replaced the shot-blocking and vertical spacing that Robert Williams provided.
Are there reasons for concern? Sure: The rotation remains paper thin, despite the emergence of Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard as legitimate contributors. There are several players who are injury risks and, for some reason, they still seem somewhat allergic to shots at the rim. Ultimately, though, this is the best team in the NBA so far. Barring injury, they will remain, at worst, a genuine championship contender.
Brooklyn Nets – B:
The numbers: 14-15 record, 11th in offense, 22nd in defense, 16th in Net Rating
In a transition season where they’ve battled perhaps the NBA’s worst injury list, the Nets can and should be happy with their lot, though probably not in the way they had anticipated.
The Nets’ blueprint was to play their long, switchy wings in front of Nic Claxton, overwhelm opposition attacks and then get out and run. Thanks to Ben Simmons missing most of the campaign, Claxton, Lonnie Walker (quietly having a career year), Cam Thomas, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson all missing time so far, the defense has floundered. Fortunately, it’s been balanced by some incredible – though likely unsustainable – outside shooting. The Nets have five regular rotation players all shooting above the league average on 3s and all on a healthy diet.
As the Nets get their full side back onto the floor, it will be interesting to see if their current trends maintain themselves. Does the defense improve? If so, can the hot shooting continue? If it does the Nets could push themselves out of the play-in race and into the playoff picture, a Christmas gift the Nets were not expecting.
New York Knicks – B-:
The numbers: 17-12 record, 10th in offense, 15th in defense, 9th in Net Rating
The underlying numbers are positive but you can be sure that the Knicks had hoped to be sitting higher than 6th in the East at Christmas. They’re feasting on the teams below them in the standings yet struggling against most of the big boys. Perhaps this version of the Knicks are simply flat-track bullies who use their physicality to beat up on lesser opposition but can’t quite do enough at either end to deny more talented adversaries?
It does seem like this team’s fate is balanced on a knife’s edge. Losing Mitchell Robinson, potentially for the season, leaves a huge hole to fill at both ends. It’s no surprise that the Knicks were a top-10 defense prior to his ankle injury but have slipped to mid-table since.
Without that defense, can a team led by the extraordinary shot-making of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle survive? If either of those two goes cold there really isn’t a plan B. The Knicks play at a pace faster only than the Chicago Bulls and are simply not equipped to make a dramatic stylistic shift.
Philadelphia 76ers – A+:
The numbers: 20-9 record, 2nd in offense, 5th in defense, 1st in Net Rating
So, about the Celtics being the cream of the crop…
A new coach, a star that refuses to ever play for the team again and a possibly unsettled MVP: this could have all gone very wrong for the Sixers. Instead everything’s coming up Milhouse in Philadelphia.
Tyrese Maxey has found another level, more than making up for the absence of James Harden, the existing supporting cast (Tobias Harris is playing superbly) has found new freedom under Nick Nurse and the crew that came over in the Harden trade has adapted seamlessly to life in Philly. Most importantly, Embiid is thriving.
After having to learn a new offense last season (covered in detail in an episode of The Point) Embiid would again have to adapt to a new coach and a new, racy full-time point guard. Given The Sixers are only a tenth of a point behind Indiana’s ballyhooed offense and Embiid’s 35 points per game is comfortably leading the league, I’d say that the transition has gone smoothly enough.
In fact, the 76ers post-trade starting five with De’Anthony Melton and Nic Batum in place of Harden and P.J. Tucker is scoring at a frankly silly 138.7 points per 100 possessions.
Toronto Raptors – D+:
The numbers: 11-18 record, 20th in offense, 17th in defense, 21st in Net Rating
It’s Christmas, so let’s start with a positive: Scottie Barnes might just be who we thought he could be. The 3rd year forward is playing superb defense and is vastly improved on offense, especially as a shooter. Even if his outside shooting (38.3% on 5.3 attempts per game) doesn’t hold just the fact that he’s stepping into his shot with confidence is a godsend.
Now, the negative…
Despite new coach Darko Rajakovic reverting to a more traditional defense scheme, the Raptors’ defense remains as average as ever. Offensively, the team has regressed as they – and the Houston Rockets, to be fair – realise how much Fred Vanvleet brings to a team. Lastly, the team cannot possibly hold on to Pascal Siakam, himself having regressed, and OG Anunoby given both are pending free agents and the VanVleet exit is still fresh in the Raptors’ collective minds.
Moving one should clarify the role of the other. Moving both might signify a rebuild around the ascendant Barnes.
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