NBA In the Paint: November 28th

With December right around the corner, now is a good time to take stock of the current state of the Association. Here's a look at five teams as we get set to emerge from the brief Thanksgiving break.

The Orlando Magic are continuing their impressive rise with a 13-7 record, showing growth that isn’t too surprising considering they finished fifth in the Eastern Conference last season. Led by a mix of young talent and solid team play, the Magic have become one of the more exciting teams in the East. Their defense ranks among the league's best, helping them keep games competitive even against some of the top teams. Orlando's ability to play both sides of the ball and control tempo has been key to their success. With Paolo Banchero getting closer to returning from injury, the Magic seem to be headed in the right direction for sustained success. If they continue this momentum, they should remain firmly in the playoff race, possibly even pushing for a top-six seed.

The Utah Jazz are in a rough patch with a 4-14 record, reflecting a steep fall even from last season’s disappointing performance. Despite building a reputation as a scrappy, competitive team with a strong home court advantage - even in down years - they have struggled mightily on both ends of the floor this season. Offensively, they've had difficulty finding consistent scoring options, while defensively, they've failed to contain opposing teams, ranking 30th in the league in defensive rating. Their defensive struggles are compounded by turnovers, which have led to easy fast-break points for opponents. Utah’s young core has shown flashes of potential, but they’ll need to find more cohesion and execution to climb out of the bottom of the West. With a lack of standout performances and no true superstar to carry the team, the Jazz will need to rework their strategy and focus on improving defensively if they want to avoid a lengthy rebuilding process.

The Golden State Warriors, sitting at 12-6, have endured a middling stretch of play despite their solid overall record. While their offense remains potent, ranking in the top-10 in points per game, they have struggled defensively at times. Their inability to stop teams in transition and their inconsistent perimeter defense in recent contests have been glaring issues. Injuries and rest have kept their key players in and out of the lineup, but when healthy, the Warriors still have one of the most potent offensive attacks in the league. They are relying heavily on their championship experience to weather this period, but for them to remain in the upper echelon of the West, they will need to get back to their defensive roots, as we saw earlier in the campaign.

The Denver Nuggets, currently 10-7, have played well overall but haven't quite recaptured the same level of dominance they displayed in recent years. The team is still solid on both sides of the ball, ranking highly in offensive efficiency, but they’ve shown vulnerability in key matchups. Their defense, while still solid, hasn’t been at the elite level it was previously, at times allowing opponents to score at will (they currently rank 18th in the league in defensive rating). On the road, they’ve been more consistent with a 5-3 record, but their home court struggles, reflected by a 5-4 mark, are something to keep an eye on. The Nuggets have looked more vulnerable than expected, especially with the tight competition in the West. To stay near the top of the conference, they need to find more consistency on the defensive end while continuing to rely on their MVP-level player to carry them offensively.

The Phoenix Suns, once one of the most promising teams in the West, have faced a significant slump in recent games. After a strong start to the season, they have faltered, losing several key games and showing a lack of consistency both offensively and defensively. Their defense, which was once a strength, has been porous in recent contests, allowing too many easy points and not getting key stops in crunch time. While the Suns have a strong roster on paper, they’ve struggled with injuries, and the team’s chemistry has been off. Despite flashes of brilliance, Phoenix has lacked the cohesion necessary to compete against the top-tier teams in the West. The Suns are at a crossroads: they need to find their rhythm quickly, or they risk falling too far behind in an ultra-competitive conference.