Rising contenders: Three NBA teams that are finding their rhythm

Every team hopes to start the season strong, but the NBA is a marathon, not a sprint. Some squads falter early, only to hit their stride as the year unfolds. 

Now, at the quarter mark of the 2024-25 campaign, three teams have overcome slow starts and are emerging as legitimate championship contenders.

Let’s dive into how these teams are finding their rhythm and why they could become serious threats down the stretch.

Dallas Mavericks

After a sluggish 5-7 start marked by lackluster defense and a clear Finals hangover, the Mavericks have caught fire, winning 11 of their last 12 games. Their lone loss during this span came in a hard-fought overtime battle against the Miami Heat. The Mavs have notched impressive wins against top-tier opponents like the Thunder, Nuggets, Knicks and the surging Hawks and Grizzlies. 

Over this dominant 12-game stretch, Dallas leads the league in point differential at a +12.4, thanks to elite two-way play. For the season, it ranks fourth in offensive rating and eighth in defensive rating, solidifying its status as one of the most balanced teams in the association.

With all due respect to Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, the Mavericks boast the NBA’s best backcourt duo in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — two lead guards capable of scoring at will. 

Doncic is delivering his typical brilliance, averaging a near triple-double with 28.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game. Meanwhile, Irving has transformed into one of the league’s most lethal shooters, hitting 47.0% of his three-point attempts on 6.8 tries per game, while his NBA-best handle continues to allow him to get to the rim effortlessly.

The Mavericks’ 11-1 run coincides with Dereck Lively II’s return to the starting lineup after an early-season shoulder sprain. Lively has anchored the defense with stellar back-line protection, posting an impressive 6.3% block percentage. 

Off the bench, Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie and Daniel Gafford have provided a much-needed spark, giving Dallas depth and energy on both ends of the floor.

Memphis Grizzlies

After a shaky 8-8 start plagued by inconsistency and injuries to Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies have found their stride, winning 10 of their last 12 games, highlighted by a signature road victory over the Boston Celtics. In that contest, Morant posted a 32-point near triple-double, Jaren Jackson Jr. dominated with 27 points and four blocks, and rookie Jaylen Wells impressed defensively, helping to hold Jayson Tatum to just 6-of-21 shooting.

At 17-8 and second in the Western Conference with a +8.7 point differential, Memphis looks every bit like a contender. Ja Morant has returned from his gap year as a dynamic playmaker, averaging 15.8 drives per game (seventh in the league) and 8.5 assists. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. leads the team with 21.9 points per contest, ranking among the league’s top post players with 1.06 points per possession — outperforming stars like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Domantas Sabonis — while anchoring the defense with a 6.3% block rate (sixth in the NBA).

Complementing its stars is a deep and versatile supporting cast. Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Scottie Pippen Jr., Jaylen Wells, Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama contribute impactful two-way play, providing the balance and depth every contender craves.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are just 12-10, but their recent play suggests they’re far more dangerous than their record implies. Winners of three straight, they’ve dismantled quality opponents in dominant fashion — routing the Lakers, 134-93, defeating the Suns, 121-111, and delivering a statement win over the league-leading Cavaliers, 122-113.

Tyler Herro has been electric during this stretch, averaging 27.3 points while shooting a scorching 51.7% from deep on 9.7 attempts per game. However, the Heat’s resurgent defense has made the most significant impact, propelling them to 11th in Defensive Rating after a slow start to their 2024-25 campaign.

The Heat have made substantial adjustments after beginning the season with Nikola Jovic and Terry Rozier in the lineup. Jovic has fallen out of the rotation, while Rozier has embraced a sixth-man role, making room for Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson in the starting five. 

With Butler, Adebayo, Herro, Robinson and Highsmith leading the way, Miami has transformed defensively, playing on a string and making life miserable for opponents.