The Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves lead the NBA teams that have played against expectations so far this season.

The NBA regular season is at about the halfway mark. And while it’s no shock to see the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors atop their respective conferences, there are still plenty of anomalies at the top and bottom of the current standings, too.

Below is a rundown of the biggest surprises and disappointments of the season thus far.

Surprises

Milwaukee Bucks

Specifically, the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s taken the league by storm in his fourth season. Averaging 13.8 points on his career, the 6-foot-11 forward is scoring 23.4 per night in 2016-17, to go with 5.6 assists and 8.6 rebounds. He’s setting career-highs in virtually every individual statistic, which is how the Bucks find themselves very much in the playoff hunt.

In the top-heavy Eastern Conference, a .500 record could get you as high as the five-seed, potentially. Milwaukee’s capable of it if likely first-time All-Star Antetokounmpo can carry them there.

Houston Rockets

Any team with James Harden is bound to be a contender for a playoff spot, at the very least. But what this Rockets squad has accomplished is far beyond just being your run-of-the-mill playoff team. Since Dec. 1, Houston is 22-5, they’re averaging nearly 115 points per game on the season, and three regular players are sporting efficiency ratings (PER) of 19.8 or higher.

Harden’s come into his own sans Dwight Howard as a legitimate MVP candidate. His Rockets are just a half-step behind the perennial power Spurs for Southwest Division dominance, too.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks were supposed to take a bit of a step back from the top half of the East without Al Horford. Instead, they’re right back among the top-four with a reworked core guiding them to what should be another season at or around 50 wins.

Atlanta’s biggest shocker isn’t that Dwight Howard’s fit nicely, though, it’s in the strong play of one-time Knicks castoff Tim Hardaway Jr. The fourth-year guard has been thriving with increased minutes, and he’s averaging nearly 17 points per game (on 54.2 percent shooting) in January.

Washington Wizards

It’s not a surprise that the Wizards are good, as much as it’s unexpected that the Wizards are able to stay healthy (which is why they’ve been a solid team this season). In 2015-16, Bradley Beal missed over 20 games, while Markieff Morris, John Wall and Marcin Gortat all missed time as well. Minutes were being handed out to reserves all the way down the line for Washington. This year, however, the Wizards have trotted out the same starting five in nearly every game, and as a result, most of those players are putting up career numbers.

Washington’s hanging around the fourth- or fifth-seed in the East, and can stay there as long as this starting lineup can stay healthy.

Memphis Grizzlies

Mike Conley’s back injury in late November was supposed to sideline him for six weeks or more. He ended up missing just nine games, but the Grizz went 7-2 in those matchups, and are actually closer to .500 (17-15) with him in the lineup than they are without him this season.

Despite continuous coaching and roster turnover, the “Grit ‘n’ Grind” Grizzlies continue playing the game their way. Memphis is one of just two teams (the other is Utah) to average less than 100 points per game and also allow less than 100 per. They’re also 4-0 against Houston and Golden State, which should scare both of those teams come playoff time.

Disappointments

Minnesota Timberwolves

The most exciting young nucleus in the league was supposed to be turning heads every night, even if they weren’t stacking up wins just yet. Instead, the T-Wolves are just your typical bad lottery team. Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine are all averaging 20 points per game, but to what end?

Minnesota’s offense can seemingly only run through those three, ball movement is awful and they’ve yet to show much ability to defend, either. Coach Tom Thibodeau was supposed to change the culture, and he still might. It just isn’t happening yet.

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland’s relatively healthy, and yet part of their game looks sick every night. Last season’s feel-good story that saw the Blazers succeed without former star LaMarcus Aldridge appears to be long gone. In its place is a team entirely centered on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum that otherwise can’t defend and gets manhandled in the paint.

The Blazers are still hanging around a playoff spot, sure. But only as the sacrificial lamb to Golden State in round one. To think, this roster made the second round in 2015-16.

Charlotte Hornets

The Buzz was definitively back last season. And this year, it’s seemingly on life support. Charlotte lost Jeremy Lin and Al Jefferson, but those gaps were filled by Marco Belinelli, a healthy Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller (among others). Kemba Walker has also looked even better this season.

The Hornets have lost five of six and are barely hanging onto a playoff spot. They may not appear too far back in the East, but teams like the Bucks, Wizards, Bulls and Pacers look built to keep Charlotte out if they can all stay healthy enough.

About John Cassillo

John Cassillo covers all things Syracuse sports (and beer) as managing editor of Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. An SU alum, he hasn't missed an Orange football game since 2006, despite his better judgment. John lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, and his dog who's named after Jim Boeheim.