Most underrated NBA Teams

Now that we’re officially over halfway into the NBA season, it’s fair to say that we have a good Idea of what the remainder of the season could look like.

And despite players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers consistently in the spotlight for the amazing things that they do, it can get tiring hearing the same names all the time. Especially in a league with so many outstanding players and teams to dive into.

Detroit Pistons:

One of the most skilled and simultaneously most underappreciated of these teams is the current Eastern Conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons.

Even though some may say that the Pistons can’t be classified as an underrated team simply because they are the one seed in the East, I believe that’s the exact reason they are on this list.

So far this season, they have a 34-11 record and are closely trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder, who many see as one of the most dominant teams in recent history.

The Pistons have also consistently taken down powerhouses in both divisions, like the 3rd-seeded Knicks, whom they blew out by over 30 points a few weeks ago, and the 3rd-seeded Nuggets, whom they took down just yesterday.

They may even have one of, if not the greatest, point guards in the Eastern Conference in Cade Cunningham, who is sitting in third place in the MVP race currently, and averaging over 25 points a game with 10 assists.

Things like this make it impossible for me to believe that I am not seeing coverage on them everywhere I go, and it raises the question on if they are one of the most underrated #1-seeds we have had in a long time.

Charlotte Hornets

Another team that I believe doesn’t get enough love is the Charlotte Hornets.

Even though they are currently sitting at a lackluster 19-28 and the 11th seed in the east, I still believe they have a lot to look forward to and a lot to build off.

After all, they still have one of the flashiest and most exciting young guards in LaMelo Ball, who is proving to be a consistent and reliable asset across multiple aspects of the game.

Players like Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller are also continuing to play well despite multiple minor injuries throughout the season.

And finally, it would be impossible to mention the upsides of the Hornets without mentioning their star young forward Kon Knueppel, who is currently a strong candidate for rookie of the year.

His versatility both on and off the ball, as well as being an amazing shooter, makes him a beacon of light for the future of the Hornets, who desperately needed him.

Portland Trailblazers:

Like the Hornets, even though the Trail Blazers may not be in the best spot currently, with a 23-25 record and holding the 9th seed in a competitive Western Conference.

The Trailblazers have seen an obvious improvement just across this season alone, as they are already only 13 wins behind their total from last year, while still having 34 games to play.

A large part of this improvement comes from the team's young core, with guys like 21-year-old Donovan Clingan, who is a rebounding menace averaging a double-double, and 22-year-old Shaedon Sharpe, who is genuinely one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA.

These three, along with multiple others, all show the true potential the franchise has in the not-so-distant future.

And to think that despite loads of young talent, their current No. 1 option, Deni Avdija, currently has the 13th highest ppg average this season, over some of the most experienced and storied players in the league, like James Harden and Devin Booker.

We also cannot forget that the legendary Damien Lillard will be returning to the Trailblazers next year, where he can hopefully act as a leader both on and off the court to develop the team even further.

Nick Myers is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email nwm5344@psu.edu.