Dec 10, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
The Emirates NBA Mug takes spotlight today, with Wednesday’s doubleheader topping the quarterfinal round and establishing Saturday’s semifinals in Las Las vega.
The Orlando Magic and New York City Knicks have actually currently punched their tickets, and the Oklahoma City Rumbling, Phoenix Az Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs will certainly fight to join them.
Prior to the NBA Mug’s last 4 groups are established, and prior to the future 26 removed groups resume their routine periods on Thursday and Friday, allowed’s sign in on the most up to date Power Positions upgrade while likewise identifying the greatest weak points encountering every group. That requires to tip it up on the protective end? That has an obvious opening on infraction?
Who merely requires to obtain healthy and balanced? And do the protecting champ Rumbling have a weak point in any way amidst a historical 23-1 begin? Our NBA experts damage down all these inquiries and place the 30 groups in our regular Power Positions.
Note: Group positions are based upon where participants of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent A Good Reputation and Zach Kram) assume groups belong this period.
Previous positions: Preseason|Oct. 29|Nov. 5|Nov. 12|Nov. 19|Nov. 26|Dec. 3
Jump to a group:
ATL|BOS|BKN|CHA|CHI|CLE
DAL|DEN|DET|GS|HOU|IND
LAC|LAL|MEM|MIA|MIL|MIN
NO|NY|OKC|ORL|PHI|PHX
POR|CAVITY|SA|TOR|UTAH|WAS
Biggest weak point: Maybe … 3-point capturing?
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
It’s hard to sound any kind of kind of alarm system for a group that ended up being just the 3rd in background to open up the routine period 23-1. The Rumbling’s league-best 104.1 protective score is greater than 6 factors per 100 belongings much better than the Firecrackers’ (110.7) in the 2nd port. That space amounts the canyon in between 2nd and 23rd. So there’s absolutely nothing to whine around on the protective end. Probably there’s an issue regarding an offending overreliance on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s achievement, yet he simply rested his initial video game of the period and they defeat allure by 30 factors. Allow’s select 3-point capturing. They made just 33.8% of their threes in the playoffs. It almost doomed them. Yet that’s been bumped to 37.4% with 24 video games, 7th ideal in the NBA. — Anthony Slater
Biggest weak point: Health
The Nuggets simply require to obtain entire. Denver is 10-3 with Aaron Gordon in the schedule and 4-3 without him. Gordon, that is recuperating from a Quality 2 hamstring pressure, will certainly be sidelined up until at the very least late December and likely much longer. The exact same holds true for Christian Braun, that has actually been out because mid-November with a sprained ankle joint. The problem isn’t just locating means to win without 2 beginners. The Nuggets need to take care regarding using down Nikola Jokic, that is balancing 35.8 mins per video game because Braun was hurt. That is just somewhat listed below the career-high 36.7 mins Jokic balanced last period, when the Nuggets required to close him down for a stretch in March as a result of all his bumps and swellings. — Tim MacMahon
Biggest weak point: 3-point shooting
If there was ever before a knock on the Pistons’ early-season go to the East lead, it’s their capturing (19th in 3-point portion, 28th in efforts). And it was bound to attack at some factor. For a stretch after their franchise-record 13-game win touch, the Pistons misused huge leads when groups switched over to an area protection– like the Bucks did recently– and weren’t able to respond to. All 5 Pistons losses this period have actually included a 3-point portion of 33% or even worse. — Vincent Goodwill
Biggest weak point: Turnovers
Houston rankings 28th in the organization in turn over portion (16.1%), a number that can be credited to the group’s by-committee strategy to offending assistance after proficient point player Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury. The Firecrackers shed at Dallas by 13 factors on Saturday after permitting the Mavericks to acquire 34 factors off their 20 turn overs. In one especially harmful series, Reed Sheppard dedicated 3 turn overs in around one minute to aid sustain a 14-0 Dallas run. “Gone down passes, a bit of every little thing, every one of the above,” Firecrackers train Ime Udoka claimed after the loss. — Michael C. Wright
Biggest weak point: Point-of-attack and paint defense
Defense will certainly constantly be a source of worry about this lineup, as celebrities Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns do not specialize on that particular end of the flooring. New york city has actually been much better as a general device because Josh Hart has actually discovered his mojo, as winning 8 of 9 video games– consisting of Tuesday’s Mug quarterfinal in Toronto– has the Knicks sensation like the Knicks once more. If Mitchell Robinson plays much more mins, that will certainly ease the stress on two-way wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to make every play. — Vincent Goodwill
Biggest weak point: General defense
Though the Lakers’ anemic 26th position in 3-pointers made (and 17th position in 3-point portion) continues to be a repeating soft place for the group, the Lakers are 6th in general offending score. The genuine problem? Their protection. Specifically, the change protection has actually been as well permeable to begin the period. Rival groups are balancing 24.3 factors per video game in change versus Los Angeles (18th in the organization) and shooting 55% in change (17th). L.A. is likewise 27th in 3-point protection, permitting challengers to fire 38.2% from the outdoors– one more fad that requires to alter for the Lakers to be elite. — Dave McMenamin
Biggest weak point: Getting to the line
This Boston lineup has actually constantly included a hefty dosage of 3-pointers integrated with among the reduced totally free toss prices in the organization. Yet that difference has actually just expanded after offseason separations and the injury to Jayson Tatum, that tried the 3rd most totally free tosses in the organization last period. The Celtics, last in the NBA in totally free toss efforts per video game this period, can have a hard time to keep their No. 2 offending score if that fad lasts with a whole 82-game period. — Tim Bontemps
Biggest weak point: 3-point defense
Victor Wembanyama’s lack most likely aspects right into this, yet the Spurs are connected with Washington for 27th in challenger 3-point basket portion (38.3 ). Wembanyama’s 8-foot wingspan and capacity to make strides quickly offered San Antonio’s protectors the deluxe of understanding he can get rid of most chance ats the edge. In the initial 12 video games with Wembanyama in the layer, challengers took 42.3% of their shots from 3-point array. Given that Wembanyama has actually been sidelined, that number has actually reduced (36.9%) as groups discovered simpler courses to the edge. With the Spurs protecting even more drives, it appears their 3-point protection has actually slid. — Wright
Biggest weak point: Protection without Gobert
Rudy Gobert might not rather be the leading pressure he as soon as was, yet he’s still a great protective gamer– and the Timberwolves do not have a great deal of success at that end of the court when he’s not included. When Gobert plays, Minnesota has a 108.6 protective score– much better than any kind of group yet the league-leading Rumbling. Yet when he’s off the court, Minnesota is up to a 118.3 protective score, which would certainly port right in between the Charlotte Hornets (24th) and LA Clippers (25th). That needs to enhance if Minnesota intends to make one more journey to the West finals. — Bontemps
Illustration by ESPN
Biggest weak point: Continuing to be whole
Orlando’s greatest job ends up being keeping its rhythm with Franz Wagner sidelined by a left ankle joint strain– an MRI on Monday disclosed no architectural damages– and with Paolo Banchero returning right into the layer after missing out on time with a groin pressure. (The Magic went 7-3 in Banchero’s lack.) Still, the Magic can be without Wagner, their steadiest gamer up until now this period, for 2 to 4 weeks. Desmond Scourge grabbed lots of the slack with 37 factors in Orlando’s Mug quarterfinal win. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Biggest weak point: Offensive consistency
The Warmth’s infraction has actually decreased. After racking up at the very least 120 factors in 13 of 21 video games, the Warmth have actually fallen short to get to that mark in 4 straight video games– all losses. Miami will certainly need to identify exactly how to proceed its free-flowing, up-tempo infraction when totally healthy and balanced with Tyler Herro back in the mix after being removed from the NBA Mug on Tuesday. — Youngmisuk
Biggest weak point: Free toss differential
Toronto is a bottom-10 group in both totally free tosses tried and permitted, which corresponded to the Raptors finding their challengers an additional a couple of factors per video game. Toronto is among simply 5 groups that does not have a solitary gamer balancing 5 totally free toss efforts per video game, together with the listed below -.500 Wizards, Hornets, Mavericks and Kings. In Tuesday’s Mug quarterfinal loss, the Knicks fired 10 even more totally free tosses than the Raptors.– Zach Kram
Biggest weak point: A down infraction (by their criteria)
Last period’s No. 1 infraction blitzed with the East with 68 victories. This period, the drop-off has actually been visible regardless of Cleveland still rating 10th in offending performance. Saturday’s loss to Golden State was the Cavs’ worst offending proving of 2025-26, and it showcased lots of the problems afflicting them. The Cavs were held under 100 factors for the 2nd time– that took place simply as soon as last period– and fired 24% from 3-point array with simply 8 fast-break factors and with All-Star guard Darius Garland capturing 6-of-15 from the flooring. To totally reclaim their challenger condition, the Cavs require even more manufacturing from Garland, much better change infraction and even more threes to drop. — Jamal Collier
Biggest weak point: Ball distribution
The Suns are a provable early-season success tale, floating near the leading 10 in the organization in protective and offending performance under first-year train Jordan Ott, yet Phoenix metro can enhance by honing its round circulation. The Suns place 22nd in assist-to-turnover proportion (1.62-to-1), an informing stat that highlights both Phoenix metro’s demand for much better round security and a crime that can be a little bit as well dependent on seclusion play and totally free tosses. — McMenamin
Biggest weak point: Offensive efficiency
Here is a checklist of the 9 least-efficient offenses in the NBA, beginning with the most awful: Wizards, Mavericks, Pacers, Kings, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Bulls, Nets and after that Warriors. Allure, Blazers, Clippers and Hornets are the following 4 over Golden State. So the Warriors are the only group in the lower 13 with a document over.500. They are enduring on the protective end yet has to locate some much better performance and sustainability with and without Stephen Curry on the flooring to come to be an edge playoff risk. The Warriors have the fifth-worst turn over portion in the organization, fire a midtier portion from deep (36.4%) and obtain the second-fewest factors per video game (22.1) off drives. That’s not a winning formula. — Slater
Biggest weak point: Inside dimension (with and without Embiid)
Let’s reserve the noticeable inquiry of exactly how frequently, and properly, Joel Embiid will certainly have the ability to play. Also when that isn’t made up, this is still a perimeter-oriented, guard-heavy lineup. That design has lots of advantages for Philly, yet likewise a reasonable share of problems at both ends. That absence of dimension turned up in a considerable method defensively in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, when LeBron James consistently muscled his method inside en course to his ideal video game of the period. — Bontemps
Biggest weak point: Paint presence
One of train Quin Snyder’s greatest problems is his group’s recoiling and indoor protection without a lots of dimension. A healthy and balanced Kristaps Porzingis goes a lengthy method for the Hawks’ edge security, yet the huge guy just recently missed out on 4 successive video games as a result of health problem and is commonly held up of a video game in back-to-backs. Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu have actually been the most effective rebounders on the group, yet the Hawks need to identify exactly how to fight even more dimension inside. Dyson Daniels has actually aided with 6.2 rebounds per video game, yet Johnson will certainly need to maintain bring the rebound lots at 10.5 per video game. — Youngmisuk
Biggest weak point: Rotational adjustments
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Ja Morant has actually played in simply 12 video games. Yet prior to Morant endured his calf bone pressure, it was clear he and the mentoring team weren’t on the exact same web page pertaining to a few of train Tuomas Iisalo’s viewpoints. Iisalo’s strategy uses brief turnings, which some gamers think adversely influences their capacity to come under a rhythm. After going down 11 of its initial 15 video games, Memphis has actually won 7 of its previous 9, and it shows up the Grizzlies are beginning to locate a convenience degree. The return of Zach Edey after a 13-game lack has actually assisted. — Wright
Biggest weak point: Shot creation
A absence of shot production has actually been the Mavericks’ most obvious problem, yet there has actually been radical enhancement because undrafted novice Ryan Nembhard’s insertion right into the beginning schedule. Nembhard, that led the country in aids as a Gonzaga elderly last period, has actually balanced 14.8 factors, 6.8 aids and just 1.3 turn overs in 6 video games as a starter. Dallas has actually gone 4-2 because period, racking up 120.6 factors per 100 belongings while climbing up out of last area in the seasonlong offending performance positions. At 5-foot-11, Nembhard has some protective shortages that develop question regarding whether he can be a long-lasting starter, yet the Mavericks task his flooring as at the very least a top notch back-up. — MacMahon
Biggest weak point: 3-point shooting
The Sports jackets are firing a league-low 33% past the arc, and what’s even more uncomfortable is they have not truly been unfortunate because respect. Weighted by efforts this period, Rose city’s gamers are 32% occupation 3-point shooters. The return of Jrue Vacation (36.5% this period) need to aid– the Blazers have actually gone 3-9 because Vacation’s calf bone pressure after beginning the period 6-6 with him. Yet Rose city has actually failed greatly towards protection with its function gamers on the boundary and would certainly be important to include a capturing professional to unblock the court. — Kevin Pelton
Biggest weak point: The non-Giannis minutes
This period, even more than ever before, every little thing regarding the Bucks infraction goes through Giannis Antetokounmpo. The group’s offending score goes from 126.3 with him on the flooring, which would certainly be the most effective in the NBA, to 109.0 without him on the court, which would certainly be amongst the most awful in the organization. While Antetokounmpo is sidelined with a calf bone pressure over the following couple of weeks, the Bucks wish they can find a means to create constant infraction to quit breaking down whenever their celebrity can not lug them. — Collier
Biggest weak point: Infraction in general
Just regarding every little thing is failing throughout a seven-game losing touch that has actually removed any kind of great feelings brought by the Bulls’ rapid begin and has actually sent them free-falling in the standings. The Bulls were constantly mosting likely to be tested defensively considering their workers, yet their infraction was expected to be quickly, improved round motion and including a number of qualified playmakers. Rather, the Bulls have the organization’s No. 24 offending score and, because Nov. 24, its worst. Chicago has actually come to be much more iso heavy, turn over vulnerable and ineffective, which has actually resumed inquiries regarding the instructions of the lineup. — Collier
Biggest weak point: Defense
Once once more, allure are a traditionally dreadful protective group. Utah established the regrettable document of having the greatest protective score ever before in 2023-24, when allure permitted 119.6 factors per 100 belongings. That boosted just somewhat last period, dipping somewhat to a still-league-worst 119.4. Well, allure are surrendering 120.8 factors per 100 belongings this period. The just great information is that Utah entertains in its protective suffering: The Wizards are also worse (123.8) and a couple of groups are practically as poor. Jazz shot blocker Pedestrian Kessler (shoulder surgical procedure) is out for the period and headed towards what can be controversial limited totally free firm settlements. Current lotto selects Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams, that predicted as prospective protective stoppers, have not gained routine turning duties too. — MacMahon
Biggest weak point: Requiring turnovers
The Hornets are all extremes on protection, rating in the leading 5 in 2 of the 4 aspects (protective recoiling and in maintaining challengers off the charity line, where they are No. 1) yet in the lower 5 in reliable basket portion permitted and effective turn overs. The bright side is challengers will not likely maintain firing a league-high 39% from 3-point array offered the propensity for that stat to fall back, yet Charlotte’s failure to transform groups over is much less most likely to fix itself. The Hornets are requiring turn overs at the fourth-lowest price, and just the Wizards are producing less swipes per 100 belongings. — Pelton
Biggest weak point: Transition defense
The Clippers are 17th in the organization with 14.6 turn overs per video game, sustaining their ranking (27th) in fast-break factors permitted per video game (17.5 ). The factor this shortage is especially unsatisfactory for the Clippers is since it’s not a concern that crept up on them. Aide train Jeff Van Gundy also made Tees for the gamers to use throughout training school, advising them to “Obtain the f– back,” with the blasphemy damaged down to 4 tenets of their change protection approach. — McMenamin
Biggest weak point: Offensive rating
Their protective problem is all as well foreseeable. The Kings do not have edge security and requisite size on the wing, so they do not have the workers to contend on that particular end. Zach LaVine freely confessed that just recently. Yet LaVine is an eruptive marker. He had 42 factors in a sway Miami recently. DeMar DeRozan is among the best midrange drivers in current memory. Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder and Keegan Murray are all distinct abilities. It’s an unusual mix, yet the assumption was they had sufficient there to at the very least rating at an organization standard or much better price. Yet with 24 video games, the Kings have the fourth-worst offending score (109.0) in the NBA, much better than just the Wizards, Mavericks and Pacers. — Slater
Biggest weak point: 3-point shooting
The Pacers place 29th with a 33.2% mark from range, though they have actually fired far better recently, as the group has actually gone 4-2 in its previous 6 video games. The issue has actually been with the function gamers, as Indiana’s essential offending gamers (Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith) are a consolidated 38.1% on threes, while the remainder of the group strikes at 29.7%. That’s a favorable indication for following period, at the very least, when Indiana will count on those principals and a healthy and balanced Tyrese Haliburton to go back to opinion. — Kram
Biggest weak point: A 2nd racking up option
Finding even more infraction beside Michael Doorperson Jr. has actually been a concern all period for Brooklyn, and specifically because Webcam Thomas has actually been sidelined with a hamstring injury endured early last month. It appears the Internet discovered prompt payments in winning 3 of 4 video games, their ideal stretch of the period. Ziaire Williams one evening, Day’Ron Sharpe the following, plus Noah Clowney making strides in his general video game. Doorperson, at the same time, has actually balanced greater than 34 factors in his previous 3 video games on outstanding performance. — Goodwill
Biggest weak point: The belongings battles
Washington standards 89.6 shots per video game, while its challengers balance 95.3. That shortage is the biggest for any kind of group, and it’s since the Wizards battle to obtain the round back on protection: They place 29th effective turn overs and 30th in protective rebound price. The Wizards get on rate to establish an NBA document for worst single-season protective score, which failure to manage challenger shot efforts is a big factor. — Kram
Biggest weak point: Interior defense
Opponents are firing 61% inside the arc versus the Pelicans, not just the most awful in the NBA this period yet the greatest mark in organization background. No group had actually permitted greater than 60% 2-point capturing past the initial 10 video games prior to this period, when the Kings likewise carried out the accomplishment prior to boosting. Monday’s loss to San Antonio was simply the 4th time the Pelicans have actually held a challenger listed below 55% on twos, yet the Spurs’ heated 3-point capturing (17-of-36, 47%) stopped New Orleans from capitalizing on Derik Queen’s 33-point triple-double. — Pelton
