The 2024-25 NBA regular season has come to a close. Another exciting season with the play in tournament and playoff picture only decided at the result of the final match of the season.

This season highlighted the game has changed. The three ball is a major factor in our game. We saw that coaches are in fact disposable and replaceable. And we were all blindsided by the Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis trade.

So, as the Play-In Tournament begins, which teams rose above expectations and who sank horribly? Here are the top three swishes and misses from the season.

The swishes

1. Houston Rockets

Every time I checked the standings, it blew my mind that Houston was in the top eight, let alone top two for most of the season. This is a team that finished dead last in the Western Conference a few years ago with a measly 17 wins.

They have been showing signs of improvement since their dismal 20-21 season, managing a .500 (41-41) record last season. In just three seasons they have improved by 30 wins, winning 52 matches this season and rights to home court advantage for at least two rounds of the playoffs.

The Rockets added some key pieces like Dillon Brooks and Fred Van Vleet but scarily, their youngsters are firing. Jalen Green (23), Alperen Sengun (22) and Amen Thompson (22) are bonafide ballers who make the Rockets a danger for years to come.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James is near the end. A league without LeBron is almost unimaginable. For next to nothing, Lakers managed to land one of the biggest stars in the NBA in Luke Doncic. Not only that, but they also landed the next face of the organisation. We saw what Luka meant to the Dallas organisation. Lakers already saw his influence finishing the season third in the west. Now LeBron can pass his crown on.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

3. Detroit Pistons

Unlike Houston, this one baffles me. Houston built the last few years and made progress each season. They have a wealth of young guns who can ball. Detroit on the other hand finished three of the last four seasons only managing 14 wins last year.

Cade Cunningham had an amazing season averaging 26.1 points per game, the next best though Jaden Ivey with 17.6. They do have a new head coach this year in J.B. Bickerstaff and Asur Thompson, twin brother of Amen Thompson. Surprisingly, they finished the regular season sixth this year, so whatever it is clearly works.

The misses

1. Phoenix Suns

This season probably couldn’t have been any worse for the Suns. Three mega stars in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal and a decent roster built around them. A well-known coach in Mike Budenholzer. They were poised to compete.

Injury did hurt the team with Beal only playing 53 of the 82 games. Rumours were rampant that Durant was unhappy throughout the season. Not only did the Suns not make the play in or playoffs, but they are also not in the draft lottery. The only team not to be in one of the three.

To finalise a woeful season, the organisation has fired Budenholzer after just one year in charge. Big changes likely before next season including the trading of key stars like Durant.

Kevin Durant reacts during game three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

2. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have a stacked line-up, but injury dampened any chance of success. Centre piece Joel Embiid only managed 19 games this season. Their new star, Paul George only managed 41. When it became obvious they weren’t in a position to win they shut it down finishing 13th in the east and improving their lottery pick odds.

Philadelphia made moves in the offseason to be a threat in the east; I suppose a potentially good draft pick and good health should turn next season around though.

3. Dallas Mavericks

This list wouldn’t be complete without the Mavericks. They lost their franchise player by their own hands, a player the fans still love. So far, the trade has been unsuccessful. Amidst the trade though, Dallas’ injury woes were worse than the Sixers. At one point, the Mavericks looked in need of forfeiting due to their injured players.

Their list of injuries: Kyrie Irving (torn ACL), Olivier Maxence-Prosper (right wrist injury), Dante Exum (fractured left hand), Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture), Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Kai Jones (quad) and finally P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain).

It’s hard to judge where the Mavericks will sit next season post-Luka but pending a healthy list, they should be competitive.