Midseason 2023: Top Eight

It’s just a bit past midseason and this blog has been slacking! No preseason team capsules, no article about last year’s champion?! It’s all been rectified and for the next three months we’re gonna be all SlamNation all the time!

For now, let’s take a look at the top eight teams—who are currently slated for the playoffs—featuring some brand new teams at the top! [ 2023 Bottom Eight | ODE Rankings ]

#1: 16 SCRM (10-1)

Heading into their third season in SlamNation, our newest Slam friend and owner Jordan was slowly working his way up to the league hierarchy. After going 7-8-1 in their first season, SCRM danced into the playoffs last year as the eighth seed—with a 11-9 record—and then proceeded to shock the world with an upset win over top-ranked SQSQ, knocking them out of the playoffs.

Little did we know that was the beginning of SCRM’s ascent to the top of SlamNation. From WK13-20 of the 2022 season, SCRM went 7-1, with that upset playoff win being their eighth. And then SCRM started off the 2023 season a hilarious 10-0, knocking off every opponent they came across. In their last nineteen regular season weeks, SCRM has gone 17-2…which is, um, scary! (Their only loss this season was WK11’s matchup versus second place KSKT.)

Tops in ODE, SCRM has the top-ranked defense, the third ranked offense, and an efficiency rank right in the middle. They are top five-ish in every scoring category—save 3PT, where they are a pedestrian thirteenth—and show few weaknesses.

Understanding that his window was open right now, GM Jordan traded his 2022 RD1.3 selection Evan Mobley (and a future RD1) for James Harden back in October. Harden is the perfect complement to Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander and Dejounte Murray, as all three provide a huge amount of offensive and defensive stats.

Add in the (until recently) healthy play of Anthony Davis and it’s no surprise SCRM was cooking. The man in the middle will have to be Jakob Poeltl for now, but he has the awesome defensive duo of O.G. Anunoby and Aaron Gordon in front of him. The rest of the roster is very deep as well—even with injuries all around—as Terry Rozier, Jordan Clarkson, and Cam Johnson are high end rotation pieces. Should Gordon Hayward or Larry Nance Jr. ever get healthy, SCRM would have even more options on the bench.

Not much could stop SCRM’s path to a Finals run, unless Anthony Davis doesn’t return this season. Still, with Gilgeous-Alexander ascending to All Pro level, this team is now being led through its backcourt. Incredible first half of the season for SCRM!

#2: 8 KSKT (9-2)

Also entering their third year with us, our youngest owner Matt, has similarly elevated their team to the top of SlamNation—and arguably could be ranked first here as they soundly trounced SCRM last week. Their only two losses so far are to MELO and SWMP, way back in the first month of the season. This is the hottest team in Slam right now as KSKT is riding a seven game win streak.

After going 16-20 in their first two seasons, KSKT is headed directly toward their first playoff appearance and they’re not going to be happy just to get there. KSKT are looking to take a title in their first go-around! We all thought KSKT was built with an eye towards the future but unfortunately for the rest of Slam, that future is now!

The backcourt of Tyrese Haliburton and Cade Cunningham (currently out of the year) are twenty-three and twenty-one respectively, while Zion Williamson is also just twenty-two. Anfernee Simons and Michael Porter Jr. are high-level offensive threats who are both under twenty-five. Heck, GM Matt had nine picks in this most recent draft and hit on the rookie trio of Jalen Williams, Shaedon Sharpe, and Jeremy Sochan! (Luckily, due to roster constraints they could only keep Sochan, but what a draft!) All those young guys are now supported by the resurgent Kristaps Porzingis, plus useful veterans like D’Angelo Russell, Buddy Hired, and Al Horford.

KSKT isn’t ranked too high in overall ODE—they are first on offense, seventh on defense, and twelfth in efficiency—but their offensive prowess almost guarantees them three free categories a week. If KSKT can pick up their rebounding a little, there’s literally no team that can match up to them when they get hot from the field. An incredible third season from Krispy Kreme Team!

#3: 15 ILCN (8-3)

Another team new to the top of the standings, ILCN started off the season 1-2 but are now 7-1 and counting. Two of their losses are to the two teams ranked above them and the other was from the first week of the season, where schedule shenanigans always happen. Entering their sixth season in Slam, ILCN has drafted incredibly well and had some invaluable luck with franchise altering players dropping right into their lap. One such instance might have been this past 2023 draft, where Paolo Banchero slipped down to RD1.3 for Frank, and now Banchero is doing some historic things from the free throw line.

And speaking of historic, Luka Doncic dropped a 60-21-10 triple-double barely a week ago before being eclipsed in the headlines by ILCN teammate Donovan Mitchell’s 71-points! Doncic, Mitchell, and Banchero would already be an enviable trio to build around but ILCN also has Darius Garland on-board, who has been in and out of the lineup so far this season. Oh yeah, and what about Jaren Jackson Jr., who is leading the league in blocks right now? Aside from Mitchell, those other four players are all twenty-four years old or younger. Yowza!

The talent doesn’t stop there either, as a healthy Bradley Beal is almost an afterthought on this team. Rookie Walker Kessler and sophomore Onyeka Okonogwu are a promising defensive frontcourt—imagine if Jonathan Isaac ever came back. The only thing this roster is missing is maybe a small forward to tie things together, so here’s hoping De’Andre Hunter can return to full health.

On the season, ILCN has a second-ranked offense, a third-ranked defense, and only a subpar twelfth-ranked efficiency to hold them back. They are first in PTS and second in BLK, with weaknesses in REB and FT%. All those things can be tidied up as ILCN heads into he back half of the season. With two playoff appearances, one Chamberlain Conference title, and two Toilet Bowl finals appearances in their franchise accolades, ILCN has had many successes but now may be the time to fully commit to a title chase. Seventy-one points!?! Goodness!

#4: 1 FJUB (7-4)

Our 2021 champions find themselves heading the top of the next grouping of teams—we did the 7-4 group alphabetically—but with recent quality wins over SBUK and SOUR, that ranking could be justified. FJUB hasn’t dipped below eleven wins or missed the playoffs in eight seasons so we can go ahead and book their ticket for the postseason.

As usual, FJUB is a top defensive team, ranking third there in ODE, with a pedestrian tenth offense rating and a slightly above average seventh in efficiency. This is a team designed to take four categories: BLK, STL, 3PT, and TO. The two categories up for grabs each week are AST and FT%, as FJUB punt PTS and FG%. As the only team left in Slam that punts so heavily, FJUB has the capability to upend anyone if they can get their roster right.

This year’s version of FJUB is a little lighter in AST than usual, as thirty-seven year old Chris Paul continues to produce but not at elite assist levels anymore. More importantly, Fred VanVleet seems to have fallen off a cliff with his FG% (0.374) but he can continue to be perfect for this team if he could just up his assists a little. The early season trade for Lonzo Ball—in exchange for Gary Trent Jr.—could address this exact issue, assuming Ball can make a return to the court.

New keeper Devin Vassell has been a good fit, P.J. Washington continues to display his versatility, and Brook Lopez has been invaluable alongside Myles Turner as the major source of BLK for this team. It’s unfortunate keeper Robert Covington hit his sell-by date so fast, but he was replaced by Herb Jones, who is right up FJUB’s alley. There’s a few other mix-and-match pieces here like Immanuel Quickley, Killian Hayes, Kelly Olynyk, and Jalen McDaniels that could maybe be upgraded so we’ll see what GM Eric has up his sleeve. This iteration of FJUB is clearly still capable of winning with their unorthodox gameplan, but we’ll find out just how high they can rise during the next couple of months.

#5: 7 MELO (7-4)

Our third and last new owner Jack is also enjoying quite the third year boost as well! Aside from a close loss to CHMK, all of MELO’s other losses are to likely playoff bound teams. Coming off a roller coaster two years so far in Slam—MELO was 11-5 their first season and a league worst 3-17 last year—it’s encouraging to see them cruising back up the standings.

It all starts with Kevin Durant, who is having another monster year at age thirty-four. Combined with the emergence of Lauri Markkanen as a surefire All-Star, that’s two sweet-shooting bigs who can create matchup problems for anyone. MELO also has Jaylen Brown just entering his prime and the thirty-two year old Nikola Vucevic still serving up efficient offensive numbers. NBA Finals hero Andrew Wiggins is still only twenty-eight as well, and 2023 RD1.7 pick Kevin Porter Jr. is not often talked about as a young (fantasy) star—he’s just twenty-three—but he averages nearly a 20-6-6. Impressive!

There’s a nice mix of youth and vets on this team and GM Jack has continued to put the right offensive pieces around Durant, Brown, and Markkanen. MELO is currently tops in efficiency, third in offense, and an almost league average eleventh on defense. They are very strong In PTS, 3PT, and both percentages, while needing some AST, STL, and REB help.

MELO is ranked third overall in combined ODE, just a smidge below SCRM and SWMP. That could portend a leap up the standings if they get some of their coaching right. Currently, MELO is ranked third-to-last in Games Played, with three violation weeks where they were under the soft cap minimum. If that games management can get cleaned up, MELO could move up another level.

One last thing: 2021 RD1.2 James Wiseman. Will he ever get good? Or even useful? The almost twenty-two year old is still young but constantly injured and bouncing back and forth between the G League. Looking back on that 2021 rookie draft, it was real hit or miss in the first round. LaMelo Ball went number one, Tyrese Haliburton four, and Anthony Edwards six. Everyone else has been a bust or at least a disappointment on some level. Wiseman (2), Killian Hayes (3), and Deni Avdija (5), plus Onyeka Okongwu (8) and Obi Toppin (12). Ooof!

#6: 13 SBUK (7-4)

Our 2022 champs are off to a decent, if not altogether promising, title defense. So far SBUK has taken care of business against all the losing teams they’ve faced but their losses have come courtesy of SOUR, SCRM, ILCN, and FJUB. Last week’s WK11 win against SWMP was encouraging but if those teams represent the challengers to SBUK’s throne, Joel Embiid and Co. will need to step up if they want to repeat. I’m sure SBUK didn’t expect three young-ish teams to leapfrog them so fast, so this will be a true test of their championship mettle.

We sang all of SBUK’s praises over in their championship article and all those pluses remain the same. Embiid and Rudy Gobert are a dominant interior duo—and 2023 RD2.3 Draymond Green is a perfect third big man—Kyrie Irving is back and playing well, while Jalen Brunson and CJ McCollum serve as an ideal complementary backcourt. 2023 RD1.16 pickup Tre Jones has put up nice assist and steals as well. With sophomore Franz Wagner improving as expected, that’s a very solid starting eight for SBUK. The reserves are a little thin compared to the top teams, as Kenyon Martin Jr., Brandon Clarke, Drew Eubanks, and Marvin Bagley are end of the bench options but that should hardly matter.

On the whole, SBUK are looking pretty good, as they are a matching seventh in offensive and defensive rating, with a top-four efficiency. All that combines in ODE to make them a top-five team overall. Aside from some outside shooting woes—Malik Beasley’s 3.2 3PT a game could be useful here—SBUK isn’t far off from a proper title defense. We’ll just have to see how they fare against the other playoff teams as we head into the back half of the season to ascertain their repeat potential.

#7: 12 SOUR (7-4)

It’s been three long seasons since SOUR has been a force in SlamNation and the winningest franchise in our long history is slowly climbing back to relevance again. Last year’s 12-8 campaign was their return to the playoffs after two years away and GM Trieu is already on the title hunt this season, bringing back old stalwart Jimmy Butler to hopefully bring another ring home. Re-pairing Butler with Steph Curry recalls the glory days of SOUR, when they took three straight titles in 2015-17—SOUR did win four out of five titles between 2015-19, let’s not forget.

Butler returns to a whole new team—minus Steph—and now has speedy De’Aaron Fox to help power the backcourt. The double wing combo of Pascal Siakam and Jerami Grant are perhaps a little underrated and SOUR unearthed a whole bunch of young bigs in Isaiah Stewart, rookie Jalen Duren, Bol Bol, and Ivica Zubac—who came along with Butler in the trade that sent Christian Wood and Wendell Carter Jr. away—to complete the new-look Sour Snails.

This current version of SOUR is rated eighth on offense, sixth on defense, and seventh in efficiency. Not bad, but also just slightly above league average. SOUR is ranked tops in REB and FG%, but those numbers may drop with the roster swap, with Butler helping out in SOUR’s areas of weakness, which is currently STL, AST, and FT%. We’re sure more moves are coming from Trieu as he is never one to sit still before a proper championship push.

Similar to SBUK, SOUR is having some trouble facing off against the other playoff contenders, but they are more than capable of munching on the lower tier teams. That should be enough to punch SOUR’s ticket to the playoffs, but how far they can get is going to basically come down to how great Steph and Jimmy can be together. Reunited and it feels so good!

#8: 6 SWMP (7-4)

There’s simply nothing left for SWMP to do but win a title. They’ve won three of the last four Russell Conference titles, they’ve gotten most regular season wins twice in that span, and they’ve been to two Finals. The regular season means nothing to this team so we’ll just put everything aside and just compare SWMP to the title favorites so far.

There’s a WK15 matchup against SCRM coming up, a WK20 showdown with ILCN, and SWMP has already bested KSKT in WK4. Barring a mysterious loss against BUFF in WK8 and a WK1 head-scratcher versus TRUO, SWMP could be higher in the standings, if only by one extra game. That might change the perception of SWMP immensely and in a few months we might be calling SWMP the title favorites yet again.

After all, over the first half of the season, SWMP was still the second highest combined ODE team—fifth on offense, third on defense, and sixth in efficiency—and while that isn’t on par with their usual dominant showing, it’s still pretty damn good!

SWMP is below average in PTS and BLK though. Punting BLK is not a problem, but to really compete for a title, SWMP will need to get more buckets. One would think Nikola Jokic—headed toward a possible third straight NBA MVP—and a healthy Paul George and Zach LaVine would be enough to score with anyone but there are quite a number of low-scoring bench pieces on this year’s version of SWMP. 

Marcus Smart, De’Anthony Melton, Royce O’Neal, and Monte Morris are all known more for their defense. Deandre Ayton and sophomore Alperen Sengun are a nice pair in the middle but also not offensive powerhouses. So please hurry back Khris Middleton, SWMP needs you!

We’ll wait to see how SWMP can shore up their scoring just a little, but it’s never a good idea to count Eddie out…of the regular season anyway. Here’s hoping this is SWMP’s title year!