Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and more have their efforts assessed
Tuesday 27 November 2018 17:25, UK
Every Tuesday, we’ll look back over the last seven days of NBA action and put five teams under the microscope as we grade their recent performances. Who will be hailed as high-achievers and who needs to do better?
After starting the week in style with a victory over the Detroit Pistons to extend their winning streak to five games, the Rockets have capitulated on a trip east.
A rematch with the Pistons followed by trips to the struggling Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers appeared to offer a chance for last season's Western Conference finalists to further boost their record after a slow start.
However, a narrow overtime loss in Detroit became more costly when it emerged after the game that Chris Paul was suffering with a sore left leg, which would cause him to miss the next two games.
James Harden did his best to fill the void with 40 points in Cleveland and 54 in Washington - accompanied by 13 assists on each occasion - but it wasn't enough as Houston's defence failed once more.
With the loss to the Wizards another overtime defeat, it has been small margins that have cost Mike D'Antoni's team, who lost Harden for an extended period with a hamstring injury of his own during the opening weeks of the season.
"We've just got to make sure Chris is 100 per cent well from his strained hammy," D'Antoni said after the latest defeat.
In contrast, the Knicks began week six by falling to a sixth consecutive defeat as the Portland Trail Blazers left Madison Square Garden victorious.
With matchups against three play-off calibre teams ahead, it was difficult to see anything but an extension of the losing streak.
However, coach David Fizdale's continued tinkering with his lineup finally paid off.
Trey Burke scored 29 points off the bench to inspire a win at the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, before Emmanuel Mudiay's installation at the point and Enes Kanter's return at center bore fruit against the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies.
Mudiay had 27 points against the Pelicans and Kanter had a career-high 26 rebounds to go along 21 points in Memphis, who had been leading the Western Conference.
The only downside for the Knicks is that with Chicago, Cleveland and Atlanta struggling, these wins could be costly when it comes to draft positioning at the end of the season.
The Wizards' week began with reports that every player on the roster, including All-Star guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, was available for trade.
Whether they are trying to put themselves in the shop window or prove their doubters wrong, the Wizards back-court responded impressively.
Wall had his first 30 point game of the season and Beal added 27 in a victory over the high-flying Los Angeles Clippers, before a blip against the Raptors.
It appeared they weren't the only ones jolted, as Otto Porter Jr. produced a season-high 29 to inspire a victory over New Orleans, before the All-Star guards combined for 68 points in a dramatic overtime victory over the Houston Rockets.
Whether they've shown enough to make the Wizards front office think twice about their trade stance remains to be seen, but at the very latest the value of the organisation's most-prized assets has increased.
Things continue to go very smoothly for the team with the best record in the NBA.
The defining moment came in their first contest of the week, as Danny Green hit a game-winning shot with less than a second remaining against the Orlando Magic.
From there, they didn't look back. Three comfortable victories followed against the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat.
Perhaps even more encouraging than the victories was Kawhi Leonard's progress. After sitting out in Atlanta, Leonard scored 27 against Washington and 29 against Miami, with 10 rebounds on each occasion.
Despite an ongoing war of words with his former coach Gregg Popovich, who suggested Leonard wasn't a leader during his time in San Antonio, the 27-year-old is maintaining his focus on the court.
Even with Jimmy Butler knocking down game-winners for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Timberwolves have to feel good about finally having moved on from the All-Star guard.
The Wolves faced adversity for the first time in the post-Butler era as consecutive home losses dampened the optimism sprung by three initial wins, but responded in the best possible way.
A first road win of the season, against the Brooklyn Nets was backed up by comfortable victories over the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, with coach Tom Thibodeau particularly pleased with his side's defensive efforts.
"Guys are doing a much better job of communicating and sprinting back versus backpedaling and stuff like that," Thibodeau said. "That's changed and it has to change."
Derrick Rose's renaissance has continued, with the former MVP providing valuable points from the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns also impressed.
Even more satisfying for Thibodeau will be the contributions of the players received in the Butler trade. Dario Saric had a season-high 19 against the Bulls and Robert Covington pulled off the same feat against Cleveland with 24 points.
The only worry for the Timberwolves is the continued lack of production from Andrew Wiggins, who will need to contribute with tougher tests to come during week seven.
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