The ‌inaugural week of the NBA season ​has wrapped up. ‌Who stood out as ⁢the ​top performer? What are we perhaps overreacting to? ⁤Our writers analyze both the highs and lows of the season so far.

1. ⁣Name a big winner from the first week of the season.

Vincent Goodwill: The Oklahoma ‍City Thunder, who have been defeating opponents by nearly 20 points on‌ average each game.‌ They​ are ‍aiming to change the ‍trend of a different⁢ team rising to⁢ the top⁣ of the Western Conference every season. While the opponents they’ve faced haven’t ‌been formidable,​ a 3-0 record is still worth noting, especially considering their impressive victory against the Denver Nuggets ⁤on their home turf. It resembled ‌a junior varsity team facing ‍off against a varsity squad,‍ particularly with Chet Holmgren performing‌ exceptionally (23.7 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks!). The Thunder are showcasing what appears to be the league’s ‌best defense, and this is all ‍happening without Isaiah Hartenstein. We have a situation here, folks.

Kevin O’Connor: JJ Redick. The Lakers have started the season 3-0, ⁢showcasing a vastly improved performance compared to last year. The offense exhibits ⁣far ⁣more movement and complexity in its execution. Moreover, Anthony Davis has truly stepped up:⁣ He’s averaging 34 points and also contributing 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.7 steals. While the roster resembles last year’s, the process has transformed, yielding significantly better outcomes. Redick has made a‍ noticeable impact.

Dan Devine: Selecting the Celtics ​seems overly straightforward. They have committed fully to last season’s championship-winning offensive ⁣strategy, achieving victories in their ​first two ⁤games by a total of 43 points.‌ Jayson Tatum is enjoying ⁤a stellar season thus ⁢far, averaging 33 points per game and shooting an impressive 54% from ​beyond the paint with his seemingly flawless jumper. So … let’s shift focus‌ to:

Ivica Zubac. ‌With Kawhi Leonard likely sidelined for an extended ⁤period, the Clippers require offensive contributions​ beyond James Harden and the ever-ready Norman Powell. Over the course of ‌three games, Zubac has capitalized on‍ this opportunity, averaging 5.6⁢ additional field-goal attempts per 36 minutes compared to last season, achieving the ⁣ highest usage rate of his career. He currently ranks ⁤second in the entire NBA for frontcourt touches and is also featuring prominently in post

The player leads the league significantly in touches at the points in⁢ the paint per ⁢game, as well as at the⁣ elbow ⁢and the paint.

Zu is capitalizing on these additional opportunities, averaging 22.7 points per game⁣ — nearly double his performance from last season — with an impressive ⁢shooting percentage ⁣of ⁤59.2%. He also leads the league with 14 rebounds and contributes 4.3 assists, all‍ while being a formidable defensive presence for a Clipper team that ranks fourth in points allowed per possession. ‍After the first week, L.A.⁤ stands at 2-1, achieving road‌ victories against Denver ⁢and Golden State, largely thanks to a dynamic Croatian player who is enjoying the freedom to expand​ his game.

Morten Stig‍ Jensen: The Orlando Magic. Typically, young teams ​excel at one skill early on, such as defense, which the Magic showcased last​ season, but they often struggle to develop a secondary strength. The Magic have challenged this notion by launching ⁤over 42 three-pointers per‍ game to start⁢ the season. Their previous season-high for attempts was 46, yet they have surpassed that threshold twice already⁤ in three games.

Rohrbach: Evan Mobley.​ The ‍Cleveland Cavaliers have opened the season 3-0, and guess what? Mobley possesses the second-highest usage rate on the team, ‍trailing only ⁢Donovan Mitchell. Fans have been advocating for this improvement for years, and it seems that new head coach Kenny Atkinson has ​tapped into Mobley’s potential in a way ‍that maximizes the team’s offensive ⁤output. (Their offensive rating of 125.5 points per 100 possessions ranks second only⁣ to the Boston Celtics.) We were already aware of his ‌defensive capabilities, but if Mobley can ‍maintain his three-point shooting accuracy, the Cavs may finally address their⁤ spacing dilemmas.

2. Name a big loser from the first week of the season.

O’Connor: Nikola Jokić. So,⁢ you​ believed you could make it work with Russell Westbrook, did you? Sadly, Westbrook is shooting just 11.1% from the floor over two games. The Nuggets have posted a 54.9 offensive rating during the 24 minutes that Jokić has been off the court, with Russ taking the floor for 22 ⁢of those minutes, missing numerous shots. However, it would ⁤be ⁢unwise to place the blame solely on Westbrook.​ Jamal Murray has displayed signs of decline ⁣as well, and the loss of ⁤Kentavious

Caldwell-Pope’s absence, following Bruce Brown’s departure last year, is being acutely felt. ⁣While Jokić continues to perform ⁢at an elite level, the Denver Nuggets still do not resemble a championship contender.

Goodwill: The entire roster of the Denver Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray, you both need to step up. It’s only been two games, which is worth reiterating, but MPJ is currently shooting 30%, and we hope Murray is shaking off a sluggish ⁢postseason and summer. Jokić’s impressive stats ​of 41 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists during a game against⁢ the tenacious Clippers were not enough to secure​ a win. Although the Nuggets‌ are defending the three-point line effectively, they’re struggling on‌ the offensive end ⁣with a shooting percentage of 28.8%. This lack of spacing around Jokić‌ may soon leave him feeling trapped.

Rohrbach: Tyrese Maxey. The Philadelphia 76ers generated ⁢considerable ⁤excitement⁤ over the offseason​ by acquiring Paul George and overhauling‍ the supporting cast around⁢ Joel Embiid and Maxey. They‌ were touted ⁢as serious championship​ hopefuls.⁣ However, ​Maxey now finds himself facing familiar challenges. George is sidelined ​due to injury, and there’s uncertainty surrounding Embiid’s serious ‍condition, which has ‍kept him​ out at the season’s start. Maxey is ⁢not yet ready to shoulder the additional pressure when​ his teammates can’t contribute. He’s averaging 31.3 points, but it has come at the ⁤cost of 28.7 attempts per game—an unsustainable approach.

Morten⁣ Stig Jensen: I’m surprised it took this ‌long to arrive in Wisconsin. The Bucks just recorded‌ back-to-back⁣ losses against‍ Chicago and Brooklyn, eliciting at least ⁣a befuddled sigh of disappointment. This is peak Giannis Antetokounmpo alongside a presumably healthy Damian Lillard. Even if the rest of the team is made up of individuals named Doug and Chris from the nearest YMCA, these are games you simply must win.

Devine: The Pacers. After requiring a big fourth-quarter surge to escape with a ⁤win against the Pistons on opening night (who are looking⁤ more competitive⁢ under J.B. Bickerstaff), Indiana then faced a blowout against the Knicks and‌ lost an overtime thriller at home to a 76ers team missing both Joel Embiid‍ and Paul George. Not ‌the best start!

The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals last season largely due to one of the most explosive offenses in NBA history; however, through three games, they rank just 24th in points scored per possession. They are turning the ball over more frequently than​ last season, scoring less in transition, and taking fewer shots in ‌the paint or from beyond the arc. ‍Tyrese Haliburton has missed 30 of his initial 44 shots, including 20 of his first 25 attempts from three-point range, and hasn’t looked quite like himself thus far. To make matters worse, as they headed‍ into Sunday, his teammates⁤ were shooting ‌just 28.1% off his passes. The ⁢Indiana offense has yet to mirror the one that ‍dominated the league last⁢ season. Until it does, it’s⁣ reasonable​ to anticipate more losses than victories.

3. What’s the biggest overreaction from the first week?

Devine: … Is Cam Thomas poised to lead the NBA ‍in scoring? I mean:

I mean:

I mean:

In just three games, Thomas‌ is averaging 30.7 points in 34.6 minutes per game, showcasing shooting splits of 48/46/90 as he skillfully navigates through opposing⁤ defenses. He ranks just outside the top 10⁢ in usage rate, taking nearly⁣ eight additional shots per game than the next most aggressive Net (Dennis Schröder) on a⁢ Brooklyn team that many predict will undergo ⁢a fire sale as the season progresses. This, in theory, should create even more ⁤ shooting ‌opportunities for him, offering a wider canvas for his impressive⁢ scoring displays.

Questions remain regarding how many games the Nets will win, how committed they will be to securing victories now that they possess their own 2025 first-round pick, and how complete of⁤ a player Thomas can ultimately become.​ However, when it comes to his ability to score, it appears the only remaining question is whether​ Jordi ‌Fernandez will entrust him enough with the ball ​to allow ⁤him to outscore anyone else in the league. If Jordi does, Cam is certainly going to give it his all.

Rohrbach: Is there truth​ to the Los Angeles ​Lakers’ success? They currently hold⁢ a 3-0 record against solid teams—Minnesota, Phoenix, and Sacramento—and boast a top-five offense. This bodes well, especially if Anthony Davis continues to exhibit MVP-worthy performance (34-11-3-2-2 with shooting splits of 57/40/80). However, their +35 rating during Davis’ 31 minutes on the bench raises eyebrows. What if ⁣the statistic indicating they are ​outscored by 8.9 points per 100 possessions when both Davis‍ and ‌LeBron James are on the ‌court together⁣ reflects the true nature ‍of these Lakers?

O’Connor: The Bucks are​ facing challenges. Holding a record ⁢of 1-2, their defense is struggling, and the offense remains disjointed despite Damian Lillard appearing healthy​ and Giannis continuing his usual performance. Doc

Rivers appears to⁤ be ⁢having a tough ​time, although his bench lacks significant depth. The situation is worsened by Khris Middleton’s continued absence. Upcoming games against teams like Boston, ⁢Memphis, Cleveland twice, Utah, New ⁤York, and ⁢then Boston again suggest that things could get quite challenging.

Jensen: Are the Nuggets finding themselves in a ‌precarious position already? Their defeat ⁤against the⁤ Clippers was disappointing, yet you could rationalize ⁣the​ loss against Oklahoma City. It’s important to consider that the team needs some time⁢ to adjust due to personnel changes. To put it simply, Russell Westbrook⁢ is unlikely to maintain a shooting percentage of⁢ 11% for the entire season. ⁣If he does, removing him from the lineup might alleviate some⁤ of their ⁤problems. Similarly, Michael Porter Jr. won’t remain‍ at just 30% shooting. The current sample size isn’t large enough to ⁢warrant panic just⁢ yet. If they’re still under .500 by mid-November, then we can revisit this​ discussion.

Goodwill: Do we have an update on when Joel Embiid will return⁢ to action? Having recently participated in the Olympics, one might assume he’d be ‌in shape and ready for the ⁣season. However, it seems he hasn’t even engaged in five-on-five drills with his teammates. His announcement to sit out back-to-back games was quite bold, especially with the league investigating⁤ the situation. While aiming to stay ‌fresh for the playoffs is commendable, the team’s regular season performance is critical. They can’t expect Tyrese Maxey to shoulder all the burdens‌ alone – relying solely on him could lead to exhaustion, especially ‌as he’s averaging 43 minutes per⁣ game and only shooting 35%. ‍Although he showed up in the fourth quarter and overtime against Indiana, the ⁣76ers may ⁤be courting danger if this trend continues.