The Dunkyard continues its early look at each team’s surprise players – those playing above expectations as well as those who are struggling to make an impact. We continue with the South East Division*:

Washington (9-5)

Champs: As always, this team goes as far as its two back court stars can carry them and so far this season John Wall (20.8-3.8-9.4-1.2-1.3, 23.2 PER) and Bradley Beal (23.9-4.9-3.4-1.3, 22.2 PER) have carried Washington to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. Thankfully, this season Otto Porter (16.4-7.5-1.6-1.8, 57.6% FG, 50.0% 3FG, 21.7 PER) is helping to share the load, with the 5th year forward finally starting to live up to his potential. The Wizard’s will be hopeful Porter’s steady year to year improvement is starting to be mirrored by 3rd year forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (11.3-6.0, 41.9% 3FG, 13.3 PER) whose only career highlight so far has been his involvement in the best Kelly vs Kelly fight of all time.

Chumps: The Wizards have a solid starting line-up. Their concern, like a lot of teams, is a lack of talent on the bench. You can’t go far in the playoffs when you’re calling on the likes of Tim Frazier (3.4-1.7-4.0-1.1, 15.8mpg, 36.2% FG, 21.1% 3FG, 11.3 PER), Jodie Meeks (7.3-1.2, 17.0mpg, 35.2% FG, 28.6% 3FG, 10.3 PER) and Ian Mahinmi (3.4-3.6, 12.9mpg, 47.2% FG, 7.8 PER).

Orlando (8-7)

Champs: After a bright 6-2 start Orlando have started to fallen back to the pack over the last couple of weeks. Although after last season’s 29-53 horror show the Magic will be quite happy with where they are currently placed. Orlando can thank the improvement of its two young stars for the improvement in it’s record with Evan Fournier (19.7-3.7-3.4-1.3, 42.9% 3FG, 20.0 PER) and Aaron Gordon (17.8-7.7-2.2, 52.8% FG, 50.0% 3FG, 20.9 PER) in the midst of breakout seasons.

The free agent signing of Jonathan Simmons (15.1-3.3-2.2, 25.3mpg, 39.4% 3FG, 16.8 PER) was a great move with the former San Antonio reserve relishing an increased role.

Orlando has three very good, but not great, players in Fournier, Gordon and Nikola Vucevic (17.4-7.5-3.0, 39.4% 3FG, 20.2 PER) that they have built the team around. While they are not enough to challenge the elite, they should be enough to challenge the playoffs again.

Chumps: While it seems that Orlando has almost completely given up on 2015 No. 5 draft pick Mario Hezonja (3.5-1.8, 10.2mpg, 10.3 PER) the real disappointment so far is the play of starting small forward Terrence Ross (8.9-3.3-1.5-1.4, 27.3mpg, 36.1% FG, 30.8% 3FG, 8.7 PER) who is experiencing his worst season since his rookie year and threatening the team’s promising start.

Miami (6-8)

Champs: After starting last season 11-30 and finishing with 30-11, nobody knew which Miami would turn up this season. It turns out it’s the team that finished last season 41-41. As usual Miami relies on the play of their bookends PG Goran Dragic (19.9-4.1-4.6, 39.1% 3FG, 18.7 PER) and C Hassan Whiteside (15.7-13.9, 1.8bpg, 54.3% FG, 25.4 PER). With the exception of super-sub James Johnson (11.8-5.5-4.2-1.3, 50.5% FG, 16.7 PER) it’s the other positions that they have trouble getting production from. Their stubborn refusal to play new signing Kelly Olynyk (9.5-5.6-1.6, 19.2mpg, 54.0% FG, 47.4% 3FG, 17.4 PER) extended minutes isn’t helping.

Chumps: No “Chump List” would be complete without Dion Waiters – he’s Vice President to Lance Stephenson. If he’s not hitting shots he has no value to his team but continues to use over a quarter of his teams possessions when on the court. His shots and minutes (16.6-3.0-3.5, 32.1mpg, 42.7% FG, 32.4% 3FG, 11.3 PER) should be going to more talented players.

Miami’s other concern is the regression of a number of their young players that play substantial minutes. While they should be developing into consistent starter-level players Tyler Johnson (10.3-2.6-2.0, 28.5mpg, 35.5% FG, 31.7% 3FG, 10.2 PER), Justice Winslow (6.6-5.2-1.6, 24.0mpg, 42.4% FG, 31.3% 3FG, 10.1 PER) and Josh Richardson (9.4-3.5-2.3-1.4, 33.3mpg, 38.4% FG, 30.4% 3FG, 7.5 PER) are heading south.

Charlotte (5-8)

Champs: I’ve waited a long time for Jeremy Lamb to become a real NBA player but it appears the wait is finally over. His production this season (16.4-5.1-3.2, 42.9% 3FG, 17.8 PER) has provided Kemba Walker (21.5-3.5-6.6, 21.5 PER) the backcourt help he needs.

Despite his 4.1 turnovers per game, Dwight Howard (13.9-12.5, 1.2bpg, 57.0% FG, 14.9 PER) and Cody Zeller (8.1-6.9, 1.3bpg, 47.3% FG, 16.8 PER) give the Hornets a competitive tandem in the middle. Once Nicolas Batum returns to full fitness Charlotte should be back to .500 basketball and looking to snatch one of the final playoff spots.

Chumps: I feel like I’m flogging a dead horse here but I’ll say it again – the Hornets don’t have enough talent coming off the bench. Exhibit A: Dwayne Bacon (5.8-4.4-1.2, 22.9mpg, 38.0% FG, 6.4 PER). Exhibit B: Treveon Graham (4.5-2.6-1.7, 20.5mpg, 38.6% FG, 8.1 PER). Exhibit C: Malik Monk (9.2-2.1-2.0, 20.5mpg, 34.4% FG, 32.4% 3FG, 8.9 PER). I’m willing to give Monk a little bit of slack as a high profile, 19-year old rookie but Bacon and Graham have no business being on an NBA court right now.

Atlanta (3-12)

Champs: Another clear tanking effort to rival Chicago. Dennis Schroder (19.9-2.8-6.8-1.2, 44.7% FG, 18.3 PER) is the closest thing Atlanta has to an All-Star – and he is still some way off. The bright spots so far have come in the play of two unheralded big men. Former Spurs reserve (seriously, the Spurs scouts deserve a pay rise) Dewayne Dedmon (10.8-8.3, 61.1% FG, 19.2 PER) is loving his starting role, while No.19 pick rookie John Collins (10.6-7.3, 52.4% FG, 18.4 PER) is looking the second best steal of the draft (behind Kyle Kuzma of course).

Chumps: In order to compete for the No.1 draft pick you need to give minutes to chumps. This is exactly what Atlanta is doing so I don’t want to be too hard on the poor guys. Luke Babbitt (8.1-2.9, 20.1mpg, 47.3% 3FG, 12.2 PER) at least does a reasonable job of standing in the corner waiting to shoot a corner three. Taurean Prince (13.0-5.1-2.7-1.6, 31.5mpg, 42.9% FG) could one day become a poor man’s DeMarre Carroll. Mike Muscala (6.6-4.0, 22.4mpg, 41.2% FG, 31.6% 3FG) can’t possibly continue to shoot this bad and Malcolm Delaney (6.0-2.2-2.0, 20.2mpg, 41.8% FG, 9.8 PER) can tell his grandkids he played in the NBA.

*All statistics current as at November 16.