10. Milwaukee Bucks (22-19)

It’s an open secret that the Bucks, after acquiring Eric Bledsoe from Phoenix to pair Bledsoe’s athleticism with the frontcourt sensation Giannis Antetokounmpo, are trying to pull off a trade for DeAndre Jordan to address a need for more rim protection. But Jabari Parker will soon be back from injury, which almost guarantees a needed boost to Milwaukee’s meek second unit.

11. Miami Heat (24-17)

Old-school thinkers will tell you that the Heat’s 9-2 record in games decided by 3 or fewer points is tied to Erik Spoelstra’s coaching acumen. New-schoolers attribute the outcome of close games to randomness as much as anything. On whichever side you fall, Miami is once again among the most fascinating teams in the league, having surged to seven games over .500 despite a negative per-game point differential (-1.0).

12. Denver Nuggets (22-21)

Signing Paul Millsap was a triumph for a franchise not known for its off-season splashes. But the Nuggets’ passable 13-14 record since losing Millsap to a wrist injury is also a coup of sorts, given that they’re hanging in the West playoff hunt even with Nikola Jokic going through a rough patch as opposed to taking the widely anticipated next step. Millsap’s absence has also created an opportunity for Trey Lyles, whose promise as a versatile modern forward suggests Denver actually did get something out of the Donovan Mitchell trade on draft night.

13. Portland Trail Blazers (22-20)

The West features only four teams on a 50-win pace entering the second half, which gives the Blazers a real shot to finish as high as fifth despite the fact that, as constructed, they appear to have a limited ceiling. Portland continues to lack a dependable third scoring option in support of Damian Lillard and C. J. McCollum and still has holes in the frontcourt after the initial success Jusuf Nurkic found when he joined the Blazers.

14. Indiana Pacers (22-20)

No. 8 in the East? No. 8 in offensive efficiency? A record of 22-15 when Victor Oladipo is in uniform? If you claim to have predicted any of that … stop fibbing. The Pacers enter the season’s second half as the undisputed No. 1 team in the Biggest Surprise of the Season rankings, hushing Indiana’s many critics of the Paul George trade, which brought back the former Indiana University star Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and no future draft picks.

15. Detroit Pistons (22-19)

The Pistons are openly pursuing roster upgrades via trade, preferring to focus on the promise they see in their highs to date — wins over the West’s top teams (Golden State, Houston and Minnesota twice) — as opposed to their various lows (Reggie Jackson’s ankle injury, an 0-7 start to the month of December and a recent 3-10 funk on the road). Which isn’t surprising when the coach (Stan Van Gundy) runs the front office, too.

16. New Orleans Pelicans (21-20)

The big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins have proven their compatibility. Consistency, though, remains an issue for New Orleans, which has stumbled every time it seems poised to go on a run that could lift it out of the lower reaches of the West’s playoff chase. Of course, if the Pelicans stay where they are, we could see Golden State versus New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs, which would be a fascinating contrast in styles.