As scary as it sounds, the Golden State Warriors got better Sunday with the return of Klay Thompson after 941 days away from an NBA court.
Thompson was limited to 20 minutes in his return, but still managed to score 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting – including a big poster dunk – as he helped the Dubs pick up a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Golden State was already probably the very best team in the league, and the addition of Thompson figures to only make them better – a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.
The Warriors aren’t the only big winners from the week that was in the Association, however. Here’s a look at some of those other teams, and the league in general, in the latest edition of the NBA Tier List.
Tier 1: Grizzlies on top
For as scary the Warriors are and look to be, the scariest and best team right now is the Memphis Grizzlies.
Winners of nine straight and a remarkable 19 of their last 23, the Grizzlies are absolutely rolling. Over this 23-game stretch, they’ve posted an absurdly good plus-13.1 net rating while matching up against both the league’s best and worst teams.
Couple how good the Grizzlies are with Ja Morant looking like the most exciting player in the league to watch, and you have a team in Memphis that’s quickly becoming destination viewing whenever it plays.
Tier 2: What’s wrong with Brooklyn?
Is something wrong with the Brooklyn Nets?
Besides allowing Kyrie Irving to just be a part-time player, that is (a whole other issue).
Brooklyn has lost five of its last eight games, including defeats to Eastern Conference rivals like the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks. As well, had it not been for a big fourth-quarter comeback against the Indiana Pacers and the will to barely fend off the San Antonio Spurs, the Nets would’ve likely been on a six-game losing streak.
There’s something wrong with the Nets at the moment, and it’s unclear if the return of Irving on a part-time basis may cure what ails them.
Tier 3: Raptors looking like they could be the real deal
The Raptors have won six straight as both Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam are playing not just as all-stars, but All-NBA-level performers.
With the emergence of both of these players and the pleasant surprise of rookie Scottie Barnes appearing to be a strong Rookie of the Year candidate, the Raptors at basically full health look to be a legitimate problem in the East with a post-season berth in sight – and maybe even a top-four seed.
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Tier 4: Can Kawhi save the Clippers’ season?
Kawhi Leonard is reportedly ahead of schedule in the rehab of the torn ACL in his right knee and there’s a chance he could possibly return sometime this season.
That would be a huge boost to a Clippers team that’s treading water right now, fighting to remain in a play-in spot. Leonard, when healthy, is a game-changing player who could help the Clippers into the playoffs and, who knows, maybe lead them on a run.
This is a story to keep an eye on in the coming weeks, for sure.
Tier 5: Lance is strumming his guitar in Indy again
The Indiana Pacers aren’t a very good team, but it’s cool to see Lance Stephenson back in Indianapolis.
The veteran forward whose best years with Indiana came all the way back in the early 2010s, was on a 10-day contract, but will reportedly sign for the remainder of the season with the Pacers, a smart move considering he’s gone off for 30 points and five assists, and 16 points and 14 dimes in his last two games, respectively.
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