NBA Power Rankings: Handing out quarter-season grades

A+: They’re undefeated, and the only way they’re going to lose at this point is if they beat themselves. Of course they’re an A+.

A: They play the best defence in the league and have a top-10 offence. Like any other Spurs team, this one’s for real.

A-: This team plays defence, has star power, a decent-enough bench and lots of veteran leadership. South Beach bandwagon hoppers are coming.

A-: It’s quite clear that LeBron James and Kevin Love can’t get it done alone, and help may be on the horizon if the reports of Kyrie Irving’s timetable are to be believed. Look out, a monster may be lurking in the depths.

B: Paul George is playing like an MVP again, and the team is well balanced on both ends of the floor, but there’s a wrinkle: Right now, the Pacers’ depth looks like an issue, particularly offensively.

B+: Look, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are absolute world-beaters, but far too often are they being relied upon this season to play the hero. Until they find more balance, they don’t seem as threatening as they should.

B-: They’re more talented than their record would indicate, but that doesn’t mean anything unless both the players and coach are 100 percent on board, and it looks like right now the Bulls may not have the personnel to play the style Fred Hoiberg wants to.

B: This team is more solidly built than last season’s despite the worse record, but until it gets fully healthy, it can’t be completely taken seriously.

B: Are they a great defensive team? No. But they are a very strong offensive club in the East, boasting great interior and perimeter scoring. This makes them very dangerous.

B-: Talented they may be, but until the Clippers prove they can beat a team that’s actually good they’ll remain as merely middle-of-the-pack NBA fodder.

B: Although they may be right on the heels of the Raptors for tops in the Atlantic Division, ultimately, this is a team that’s on the rise, but not ready to make that next leap.

B-: Keep in mind, this is mostly because they’re an Eastern Conference team, but, quietly, the Hornets have been a very solid club, ranking top 10 in both offence and defence.

B-: The Grizzlies may be playing better than they were earlier this season, but that doesn’t mean they’re anything close to the defensive monster that has the potential to go to the Finals like they have been in recent seasons right now.

C+: A very nice story, but ultimately, the Mavericks are far too old.

B-: The Pistons have begun to heat up of late—Andre Drummond is a total beast and Reggie Jackson’s got some of his groove back. Cool. They’re still not enough of a threat to be taken truly seriously, though.

B: Having won five of their last six, the Magic look like they’re finally beginning to realize their tremendous potential. But it’s still too soon for them.

B-: Life without Dante Exum is doable. Life without Rudy Gobert? Impossible.

B+: The Knicks aren’t all there yet, but in the weak Atlantic Division, anything could happen. And it goes without saying that they’re beating expectations to this point.

D: Everything about the Rockets’ roster says they’re a contender, but their record says otherwise. There are signs of life, however, as Houston has won five of its last six.

C: What happened to this team? The future was so bright: John Wall and Bradley Beal are complete studs, Marcin Gortat is awesome in the pick-and-roll, and they’re capable of playing suffocating defence. Yet, they’re last in the Southeast.

A-: This may look weird, but the Timberwolves have a shot at making the playoffs and, seeing as they haven’t played a post-season game since 2004, this is a big deal for them.

C+: There are fewer teams this season that have been more forgettable than the Suns.

C: All that hype and promise to start the season has officially turned to dust. The Bucks really aren’t very good.

B-: The Blazers have been playing better than most thought they would and Damian Lillard’s a stud, but you can only find so much success playing the kind of defence they do.

F: Similar to the Bucks, all the hype surrounding the Pelicans is gone, and all that’s left is Anthony Davis looking like he’s trapped in an awful situation.

D: The Nuggets aren’t very good and it’s unclear when they’ll ever be good again.

D+: Rajon Rondo is great and needs to find a way to get himself on a team with real playoff or championship aspirations. So basically the exact opposite of what the Kings are.

F: Don’t worry, Nets fans, your team may be able to contend again in 10 years, maybe.

C-: The Lakers aren’t contending for anything worthwhile right now, but the young pieces are intriguing and Kobe Bryant is still gamely contending for a special place in our hearts. That’s a better outlook than you’ll get with some of the teams on this list.

What’s lower than F?: Every year the 76ers manage to trick what is an educated basketball fan base into buying tickets with the hopes that they’ll actually start to see progress. Great work!