NBA 2015-16 season: Grading every team’s performance

Now that the 2015-16 NBA regular season is over, from the 73-win Golden State Warriors to Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, what grade does each team deserve?

The Golden State Warriors have done it. They wanted 73 wins, and after defeating the San Antonio Spurs twice over the last week and cruising past the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, they’ve got them. 73 wins to finally end the comparisons to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ regular season and break the record that most would have deemed unbreakable. So, without giving too many of these grades away, the Warriors have fared pretty well. But how about the rest of the NBA?

Below the Warriors and Spurs of the world, there are other contenders who have impressed, from the Toronto Raptors in the East to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West. Even though they aren’t on the same level, what they’ve achieved this year deserves recognition.

However, the high grades won’t just be handed out to the teams with the best records.

Instead, these grades will be based upon pre-season expectations and whether or not they’ve been matched. If a team shatters low expectations, such as the Portland Trail Blazers, why should they not receive an A?

If teams come up short against expectations, the reverse will obviously happen to their grade. Furthermore, trades made during the season, coaching, player improvement, and whether or not the team has taken a step forward from last season will all be factored into the decision.

Let’s work our way up from the bottom of the Eastern Conference and move towards the best in the NBA. There’s plenty we can talk about as we wait for the playoffs to begin.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers