The NBA offseason, ranging from June to October, feels much longer than the four months that it is in reality. When it’s not the draft and free agency period, there’s not much to do other than create expectations for teams for the upcoming season.

Every year, there are some teams who massively disappoint or exceed expectations. This season, of course, is no exception. Fans don’t expect a breakout player, sudden chemistry between a team, improved coaching, cold-stretches from players, and other factors to affect teams to the extent that it completely changes opinions of teams from the summer.

That’s the point that we’re at in the season: transforming viewpoints from the summer. Fans are identifying the teams that exceeded and disappointed with respect to their expectations coming into the season, and that’s what Digits is here to do.

Success Story: Sacramento Kings

The Kings have become one of the league’s most exciting teams this season, as their fans are finally able to enjoy winning basketball for the first time since the mid-2000s. Sitting at the throne for the Kings is the duo of Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, who are both undeniably playing at an All-Star level this season. The Kings are currently 20-17, good enough for the 5th seed in the West. Along with Sabonis and Fox, players like Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk are enjoying career years to help the Kings become a competitive playoff team and one of the best offenses in the league.

Disappointment: Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers couldn’t miss the play-in again, right? Wrong, maybe. Currently with a 17-21 record, the Lakers season is certainly disappointing. However, they are only 1 game out of the play-in and 3.5 out from the 6th seed. There’s hope for this group led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who both need to be and stay healthy for this Lakers team to make the play-in and make some noise in the playoffs. With a healthy Davis, teams will not want to face the LakeShow in the playoffs because of how dominant he was. Regardless, this subpar start to the season is not a great look for Darvin Ham’s Lakers.

Success Story: Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were supposed to be towards the bottom of the East along with the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, and Charlotte Hornets. Nope, says Tyrese Haliburton and company. Haliburton is having an All-Star caliber season, as the incredible offensive threat is leading the league in assists per game. He isn’t doing it alone for the 7th seed 21-18 Pacers, though. Buddy Hield and Myles Turner are both enjoying career seasons seemingly out of nowhere. Rookie Benedict Mathurin has also been a very fun story for this team, as he is a legitimate 6th Man of the Year candidate as just a rookie. This core four has been instrumental for the Pacers.

Disappointment: Minnesota Timberwolves

When clicking onto this column, this is probably the first disappointment you thought of. After trading for Rudy Gobert in the offseason, fans expected this team to truly take the next step. In addition to adding a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year winner in Gobert, Anthony Edwards was expected to take the step to clear-cut All-Star, and Karl-Anthony Towns to continue to grow into a perennial All-Star. Nope, this did not happen. The Wolves are the 11th seed and 18-21, and it seems that nothing is going right for this group. The problem in Minnesota isn’t even clear, as who to blame is not an easy answer. After trading away a multitude of picks for Gobert, the future looks rather bleak for Timberwolves, something I did not expect to write entering the season.

Success Story: Utah Jazz

Many projected the Jazz to have the worst record in the league after trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert this past offseason, but they have elevated themselves to a different discussion. They had an incredible start to the season (started 10-3), but have cooled off since, currently sitting with a 20-21 record with the 10th seed. Lauri Markannen -- who had a career high 49 points last night -- broke out to become an All-Star caliber player this season, as he is arguably atop the Most Improved Player ladder right now. Like Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson is also having a career year, averaging over 20 points per game and exemplifying improved playmaking. These two, and others, have shocked the basketball world by keeping the Jazz out of the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

Disappointment: Toronto Raptors

When thinking of the players on the Raptors individually, it sounds really good. When putting them together in the 2022-23 season, it is not really good. The Raps are the 12th seed with a 16-22 record. Many expected them to hover on the border of playoff and play-in, not play-in and lottery. Despite career seasons from Pascal Siakam (who has quietly been absurdly good this season) and OG Anunoby, they haven’t been able to get the Raptors many quality wins. Scottie Barnes’ lack of progression is being pointed to as the blame, but he seems overrated to me. Although he has not shown clear signs of growth, sophomore slumps are not the end of the world. I have faith the Raptors can bounce back with their talent.

Charlie Spungin , NBA Analyst

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