Progress would mean the team has recovered from the start. They were 4-9 after 13gms 5gms below .500. Since then they have gone 19-21 2gms below .500. That makes it now 7gms below .500. The key is to be playing good enough ball to be .500 or better. Or to set the bar lower, be less than 5gms under .500 from the start of the season. IMO anything that puts the team deeper in the hole, no matter if it's considered minute is not improvement or progress.

If you need a definition of progress look at the Toronto Raptors season.