Sports
Early NBA contender questions: How top 16 teams can keep playoff hopes alive
DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by ESPN India, click this post.
ESPN Insiders
Nov 24, 2025, 05:00 PMOpen Extended Reactions
It’s been more than a month since the 2025-26 season started, giving us an early idea of where teams stack up in their respective conferences.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions, are at the top of the Western Conference with a nearly perfect 16-1 record. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference has seen the surprising rise of the Detroit Pistons, while teams expected to contend for the conference faced early struggles.
The season is still in its infancy, but early play is already revealing strengths and weaknesses. Our ESPN insiders took a look at teams with title aspirations in both conferences, answered the biggest question facing each team and weighed in on what each team needs to do to stay among the contenders. These teams were selected based on having at least a 1.5% chance of reaching the finals per BPI.
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | CLE | DEN
DET | GS | HOU | LAL
MIA | MIN | NY |OKC
ORL | PHI | SA | TOR
Eastern Conference
The Hawks have played above expectations with Trae Young out. What happens when Young returns?
Surprisingly, since Young went down on Oct. 29, the Hawks have played the style head coach Quin Snyder preached during camp: moving the ball, drive and space, cutting, sharing the ball, defending and being competitive. Jalen Johnson has played like an emerging star and players are stepping up when others are out. Role players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been terrific as Atlanta has gone 9-4 without Young.
The team was trying to develop chemistry during the first five games Young played in with players like Kristaps Porzingis, Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Now, the Hawks have begun forming an identity in Young’s absence, and it will take time to develop cohesion when he returns. The good thing is Young is expected back after mid-December, and they have plenty of time to find their stride at full strength. This period without Young will only make the Hawks stronger. — Ohm Youngmisuk
What is the goal for this season?
Anyone believing this Celtics team is a real threat in the East saw the flaws in this group in Friday’s NBA Cup loss at home to the Brooklyn Nets. Then again, after trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, letting Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk in free agency and having Jayson Tatum out with a torn Achilles, no one should be expecting that from Boston, anyway.
The real question in Boston is if the Celtics will remain truly committed to trying to make the playoffs this season, or if they’ll instead pivot to the future — and getting out of the luxury tax. For future seasons, resetting the repeater clock would be a wise move for Boston, and the Celtics currently remain about $12 million over
