Applying legendary coach Phil Jackson’s benchmark—winning 40 games before losing 20—narrows the field to just two teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14) and Detroit Pistons (40-13) are the only squads meeting the criteria as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks all failed to meet the standard, falling below expectations. At the bottom of the rankings, the Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets occupy the final three spots.