Core Dataset: Team Win–Loss Records
| Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | 58 | 24 | 0.707 | East |
| Boston Celtics | 57 | 25 | 0.695 | East |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | 0.659 | East |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 51 | 31 | 0.622 | East |
| New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | 0.573 | East |
| Brooklyn Nets | 45 | 37 | 0.549 | East |
| Miami Heat | 44 | 38 | 0.537 | East |
| Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | 0.500 | East |
| Toronto Raptors | 41 | 41 | 0.500 | East |
| Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | 0.488 | East |
| Denver Nuggets | 53 | 29 | 0.646 | West |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 51 | 31 | 0.622 | West |
| Sacramento Kings | 48 | 34 | 0.585 | West |
| Phoenix Suns | 45 | 37 | 0.549 | West |
| Golden State Warriors | 44 | 38 | 0.537 | West |
| LA Clippers | 44 | 38 | 0.537 | West |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 39 | 0.524 | West |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 42 | 40 | 0.512 | West |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 42 | 40 | 0.512 | West |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 40 | 42 | 0.488 | West |
Analysis Spotlights
| Top 3 Teams | Wins |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | 58 |
| Boston Celtics | 57 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 54 |
Observation: The Bucks, Celtics, and 76ers all surpassed 54 wins, which shows their clear dominance. Their ~0.70 win percentages mark them as elite and separating them from the rest of the pack.
| Mid-tier Teams | Wins |
|---|---|
| New York Knicks | 47 |
| Sacramento Kings | 48 |
| Golden State Warriors | 44 |
Observation: These teams are not at the top. However, they still can be playoff threats. Their records (44–48 wins) show depth in both conferences. The Kings’ 48 wins were particularly notable because they ended a 16-year playoff drought.
| Play-in Range | Wins |
|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | 40 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 40 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 41 |
Observation: These teams hovered around 0.500 records. That reflects inconsistency. Yet, on the other hand, they are still qualified for the expanded “play-in tournament,” This reflects on how structural changes in the league can create opportunities for borderline teams.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Win %
- The ratio of wins to total games (wins ÷ 82). This is a quick way to compare team strength.
- Conference
- The NBA is divided into Eastern and Western conferences, and this influences playoff seeding.
- Playoff Berth
- A qualification spot for the postseason tournament, typically for the top 8 seeds.
- Seed
- A team’s ranking within its conference; higher seeds will gain home-court advantages.
- Regular Season
- The 82-game schedule before playoffs, where win–loss records are accumulated.
- Play-in Tournament
- A mini-competition introduced in 2020, allowing seeds 7–10 to fight for final playoff spots.
- Tiebreaker
- A set of rules (head-to-head record, conference record, etc.) used when two teams finish with the same record.