We’re slightly greater than every week into the NBA season. Each crew has performed 4 or 5 video games, so, in fact, the hot-take artists on TV and web have these enjoyable matters to speak about:
- Do the Celtics have an opportunity to be the best crew ever?
- Are the Lakers title contenders below new coach JJ Redick?
- Are the Nuggets in bother?
If the season ended immediately, you possibly can simply argue “sure” to all these questions. However the NBA season is 82 video games, not 4 or 5, so let’s check out these early tendencies and assess whether or not they’re sustainable, idiot’s gold or someplace in between.
The take: The Boston Celtics (4-1) are the best regular-season crew in NBA historical past!
As recommended in our preseason energy rankings, there are lots of similarities between the 2023-24 Celtics and the 2014-15 Warriors. Each had traditionally nice common seasons with double-digit internet scores per 100 possessions — Celtics with a plus-11.6, Warriors with plus-10.2. Each breezed by means of an injury-riddled subject of opponents (not their fault!) on their technique to championships and have been maybe not given the respect they deserved heading into their championship protection.
The 2015-16 Warriors opened their season on a 24-game profitable streak and dominated the remainder of the NBA (besides for his or her final three video games — all losses — in shedding the NBA Finals towards Cleveland) and received a document 73 regular-season video games.
Led by Jayson Tatum, a bonafide MVP frontrunner, the Celtics received their first 4 video games this season in a equally spectacular trend, with a plus-15.3 internet ranking, earlier than dropping an extra time recreation on the street to the Pacers on Wednesday. Boston leads the NBA in three-point makes an attempt (51.6), three-point makes (21) and is second in three-point effectivity (40.7 p.c).
Will this development proceed? Sure! Nicely, no less than, inside motive. There are extra parity and expertise in immediately’s NBA than in 2015-16, and the crew might be with out Kristaps Porzingis for a few months, so the Celtics in all probability received’t win 70-plus video games. However don’t be stunned in the event that they as soon as once more run away from the NBA (although the Thunder and Cavaliers may dangle with them).
The take: The Lakers (3-2) are title contenders once more!
Advised you Redick was going to be an excellent coach. The Lakers burst out of the gates with three wins towards high quality opponents earlier than shedding to the Suns and Cavaliers.
Anthony Davis has gone full Godzilla mode, averaging 30.6 factors, 12.2 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and 1.6 steals per recreation, and would in all probability win the MVP and Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards if he continued to play this fashion the entire season.
LeBron James, although he has regarded rusty, continues to be able to ripping off GOAT-level performances like his fourth quarter towards the Kings on Saturday.
Will this development proceed? Sure, with some caveats. As all the time, there may be an “if LeBron and AD can keep wholesome” caveat. Plus, the entrance workplace should do one thing to bolster the rotation depth, maybe by including Jerami Grant of the Path Blazers or bruising heart Jonas Valančiūnas of the Wizards.
The take: A scarcity of depth will doom the Nuggets (2-2).
Right here’s a stat that doesn’t even sound actual: Via the Nuggets’ first three video games, the crew had a plus-1.5 internet ranking when Nikola Jokic was on the court docket and a negative-30.5 internet ranking when Jokic was off. He had solely been on the court docket 33 minutes a recreation. The Curse of Russell Westbrook, now with the Nuggets, is actual!
The Nuggets (2-2) acquired smoked by the Thunder of their opener, misplaced to the Clippers and wanted Jokic to placed on the Superman cape to flee probably catastrophic losses to the lowly Raptors and Nets. We knew the entrance workplace’s selections to let Bruce Brown stroll two offseasons in the past and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this previous summer season might come again to hang-out the Nuggets, however no one anticipated them to battle like this out of the gate this season.
Will this development proceed? In all probability not. The Nuggets needs to be simply positive so long as Jokic stays wholesome. The 2 extra time victories over the Raptors and Nets ought to have been losses, however Jokic calmly went to work on each possession down the stretch and ensured that Denver acquired a high-quality shot. And guess what? He’s going to try this in each shut recreation — he’s nonetheless one of the best participant alive — so so long as the Nuggets aren’t getting blown out, they need to nonetheless be a playoff crew and potential contender.
