2023-24 NBA Christmas Grades: Southwest Division
Merry Christmas, everyone!
The 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 see what grades every NBA team received for Christmas from the Jolly Fat Man (Santa, to be clear, not Sean May).
We’ve already taken a look at the Atlantic, Northwest and Central Divisions so take a look at the South West Division today. 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)
Dallas Mavericks – B+:
The numbers: 18-12 record, 7th in offense, 23rd in defense, 13th in Net Rating
The Mavericks grade is an “eye of the beholder” exercise. If you came into the season thinking the Mavs were a potential championship contender, then a B mark is frighteningly high. If this campaign was simply about proving to Luka Doncic that the club might just know how to build around him, then this grade is fair.
Offensively, Dallas is as advertised, even with Kyrie Irving missing 13 games on the season. That is primarily down to Luka Doncic who is still finding ways to get better. The Slovenian is posting a nightly 33.5 points (on 49/39/79 shooting splits), 9.4 assists, 8.5 boards and 1.4 steals (at the time of this publishing). If not for the stellar work that the reigning MVP is putting in, Doncic would be the clear front-runner for the award. His Christmas Day game was a masterpiece.
Defensively, the Mavs still have a ways to go, though Grant Williams and rookie Dereck Lively II have been positive additions. The team can’t stop anyone in the backcourt. Getting consistency out of Josh Green – both in health and performance –would go a long way to fixing that up.
The Dante Exum reclamation project has been a revelation at both ends of the floor.
Houston Rockets – A-:
The numbers: 15-13 record, 21st in offense, 2nd in defense, 8th in Net Rating
What a difference a little bit of organisation makes. The introduction of a competent head coach in Ime Udoka, as well as a few targeted veteran additions have transformed the Rockets from a laughingstock to surprisingly competent NBA outfit.
There were detractors around both Fred VanVleet (money) and Dillon Brooks (Dillon Brooks) being signed by Houston, though both have proven to be precisely the type of veteran tone-setters this young, undoubtedly talented but floundering roster needed.
Udoka has empowered Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun – an outside shot at making the All-Star team this season – in a way that Stephen Silas refused to. He’s become the tent pole for these Rockets. They’ve jumped from last in the league in turnovers last season all the way to 8th, again, easily attributed to proper coaching and a legitimate NBA point guard.
There will be some regression to the mean. Brooks is unlikely to remain a 40 percent 3-point shooter, nor is Tari Eason. Their 12-3 home record can’t continue to prop up a lousy 3-10 away mark. Sengun will likely tire as he navigates his first year as a genuine offensive hub. On the flip side, rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore have barely played. Jalen Green has another gear in him.
This season has been an unmitigated success so far for Houston.
Memphis Grizzlies – Incomplete:
The numbers: 10-19 record, 30th in offense, 7th in defense, 24th in Net Rating
How on earth do you grade this season in Memphis?
With Ja Morant out suspended, the Grizz might have hoped to win 12 games, give or take? Winning six was not on the cards. Encouragingly Memphis had maintained a top 10 defense with Ja out. Their offense – cut adrift at the bottom of the league when Ja returned just prior to Christmas – would obviously benefit with their star guard on the floor … so it has turned out.
Whilst the offense still ranks last in the league, it’s already improved by 1.7 points per 100 possessions in the season in just four games – all Grizzlies wins.
So, about that incomplete grade? With Ja suspended, the Grizzlies barely scraped in with a D-. Since his return, let’s go with a short sample-sized A-.
New Orleans Pelicans – C:
The numbers: 17-14 record, 16th in offense, 8th in defense, 11th in Net Rating
This is a deep and talented roster with genuine weapons at both ends of the floor. On paper, a 45-win season would seem like the floor for New Orleans. Yet it just doesn’t seem to be locking into place.
Injuries haven’t helped, with Dyson Daniels the only man amongst their top 10 in minutes per game to have missed less than four games so far. Players coming in and out of the line-up haven’t made it easy on Willie Green when attempting to forge a rotation. Daniels excels as a starter but looks frozen as a reserve. Jordan Hawkins sets the 3-point arc alight one night and is a DNP the next. Is Trey Murphy a starter?
Maybe a consolidation trade is the answer but that only raises the question of who to trade. Do you dare cut bait on Zion Williamson? Is CJ McCollum moveable? Do you move on from Jonas Valanciunas and embrace Zion at the 5? Do you package some of the young talent for another proven veteran?
Decisions, decisions…
San Antonio Spurs – F:
The numbers: 4-25 record, 29th in offense, 25th in defense, 30th in Net Rating
Every day, the Spurs thank the Gods for the existence of the Detroit Pistons.
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