The most interesting thing abo...

We're almost over the halfway point of the 2022-23 NBA season, and we're still figuring out which clubs deserve to be considered as top-tier, true-blue championship candidates. (The Celtics, Bucks, and Suns, for example.) Who else is there? TBD levels, though we're keeping an eye on you, Pelicans.) We do, however, get a clear image of the have-nots — the teams competing for ping-pong balls rather than postseason seeding.

The Magic, Rockets, Pistons, Spurs, and Hornets have the poorest records and net ratings in the NBA. Of course, this is not surprising. Last season, Houston, Orlando, and Detroit were the league's three weakest clubs. San Antonio sold its sole All-Star after finishing with a nearly acceptable 34-48 record.

Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, attacking the basket

Cade Cunningham's continued troubles with a stress fracture in his shin opened the door to explore what Ivey, the No. 5 selection in the 2022 draft, might accomplish if given more time with the ball in his hands. Is there one solution? Explode.

Since Cunningham's injury, Ivey has averaged 14.7 drives per game, ranking 15th in the NBA during that time. Granted, they aren't always the most effective plays; he shoots 37.5% on such ventures into the paint. At this point in his career, though, results are less important than process, and the way Ivey is negotiating his way into perilous situations gives me a lot of optimism for larger and greater things in the years to come.

Orlando Magic: Bol Bol getting the chance to prove he belongs

The most significant development for the Magic is that No. 1 overall draft selection Paolo Banchero is already appearing like a cornerstone offensive player — approximately 22-7-4 and eight free throws per night — despite the fact that he is only 20 years old. The most intriguing development is undoubtedly Franz Wagner's emergence as a legitimate high-volume playmaker to partner alongside Banchero.

But in terms of reasons to tune in? Bol – son of the famous Manute Bol, a former top prep prospect who hadn't played much since entering the NBA in 2019 — has to be it.

He's now playing in Orlando, and it's difficult to take your gaze away from him. "It isn't the height," the great Kelly Dwyer recently said about Bol. Everything happens after that."

Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, a playmaker-in-progress

Green, the No. 2 choice in the 2021 NBA Draft, made it evident early on that he would have no trouble scoring. After a rough start that included a lot of missed jumpers and a lot of losses, Green began to shine, averaging just under 21 points per game on.592 true shooting after the start of February. The baskets have kept coming in Year 2, with a slight drop in shotmaking offset by more visits to the free-throw line; Green is on track to become the ninth guard in history to average at least 20 points per game before the age of 21, joining some fairly distinguished company.

Nobody who saw Green destroy defenders on the grassroots circuit or show enticing glimpses for the G League Ignite believed he'd be able to fill it in the show. The doubts centered on whether he could get stops in the NBA and evolve into the type of facilitator who could contribute to offensive plays without having to finish them himself. While we are still waiting for a positive response on the former, the sophomore has begun to generate some glimmers of supportive evidence on the latter.

San Antonio Spurs: Devin Vassell, exploring the space

Dejounte Last season, Murray was fourth in the NBA in touches per game and tied for sixth in average time of possession... then the Spurs moved him this summer for a boatload of draft capital with no ready-made primary option to replace him, leaving Gregg Popovich's youthful charges with a wide offensive vacuum to fill. Tre Jones has done wonderfully in a facilitating-first position, ranking among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (only behind older brother Tyus! ), but he's not a high-volume shooter. Top scorer Keldon Johnson has absorbed a huge portion of Murray's possessions, but his efficiency has suffered as a result of the increased workload.

Charlotte Hornets: Nick Richards, earning a spot

Despite the best efforts of Terry Rozier (shooting 39% from the field and 30% from 3-point range in a contract year) and Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte's offense has been the NBA's weakest by a wide margin, essentially submerged by injuries to LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward. Dennis Smith Jr. had a strong start, as mentioned in my First-Quarter Awards, but ankle issues wrecked his comeback campaign. P.J. Washington is doing an excellent job in an overmatched frontcourt rotation, but he also went 0-for-13 from the field against Milwaukee. Ups and downs, strikes and gutters