NBA midseason grades: Atlantic Division

With more than half of NBA teams having reached the halfway point of their seasons, it’s high time we assess how teams are traveling in relation to their internal expectations. To that end, these grades are relative: The Milwaukee Bucks have a better record than the Utah Jazz, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will receive a higher grade.

We’ve covered the Northwest Division, and now we look east to the Atlantic.

Boston Celtics (25-15): A+

How could it be anything but an A+ for the Celts? With respect to a host of contenders, this has been the surprise team of the season, to date.

They’ve lost 60% of their starting five plus key reserves Al Horford and Luke Kornet, yet they’re second in the East. And they might see Jayson Tatum return before the regular season is out.

The Celtics were top-heavy last season, but with no Tatum, Horford, Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis, so much has fallen on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, who, to be fair, have thrived.

If the Celtics can add a little more depth — ideally a big man — and Tatum looks a reasonable facsimile of his old self, then the Celtics will fear nobody. They’re playing with house money.

Brooklyn Nets (12-27): B+

The Nets have finally found the right balance between blooding youngsters and losing games of basketball. They’re huge, athletic and so painfully young.

Of their five first-round selections, Egor Demin looks great, though he could do with getting two feet into the paint a little more. Drake Powell has flashed some serious three-and-D potential, and Danny Wolf has had the occasional blow up.

What will general manager Sean Marks do before the deadline? Does he move on from Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas? Does he strike while the iron’s hot on Michael Porter Jr.? Or does he look at their record and think that these are good players to help finally drag the Nets out of the basement?

New York Knicks (25-16): B

The Knicks have a strong record, a stellar top seven, an All-NBA late-game assassin in Jalen Brunson and three fringe All-Stars surrounding him. Their offense is modern and some of the youngsters are starting to shine in the minutes that Tom Thibodeau once refused to give them. Yet, it feels like the Knicks might be a sandcastle hoping that the tide stays out.

In their recent loss to lowly Sacramento, Brunson exited early with an ankle injury, and the team fell apart. Without their creator, the attack can sometimes look ineffective. And do the resulting missed shots and turnovers, allowing the opposition to run, negate any defensive advantages that you gain without Brunson as an obvious target to pick on?

Philadelphia 76ers (22-18): B+

The Sixers remain a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

Joel Embiid has actually been somewhat healthy this season and, when playing, has played well. He’s not the springy, agile giant that he was even two years ago, but he has adapted his game into a throwback, low-post style.

Paul George arrived as an ideal third option, able to drain open threes, play good defense and be an elite secondary creator. It’s a year later than anticipated, but that’s exactly what he is for these Sixers.

And that backcourt. Tyrese Maxey (30.3 points, 6.7 assists) is going to make his first All-NBA team this season. Rookie VJ Edgecombe would be the Rookie of the Year front runner in most seasons.

Toronto Raptors (25-18): B+

The Raptors used to be relatively bland, but that is not the case these days. Now, the Raptors look to smother you defensively — they rank fifth in defensive rating at 112.2 — and then use their athleticism to race up the floor and score.

Frankly, they’re not all that good with the ball in hand, even in transition. But their defense gives them so many opportunities that they score almost by weight of numbers more than craft.

They’ve feasted on a relatively easy schedule to this point, with Tankathon estimating that they have the sixth worst remaining schedule, but if they can continue at something close to this form, then it’s been a successful campaign in The North.