Which team’s early success is the most sustainable?
We talked a lot the last month or so before the season about how the East looks primed to be deeper and more competitive than it has in recent years. The West has been truly dominant over the East, including a season where a 48-win Suns team missed the playoffs and the East 8-seed was under .500 (Atlanta went 38-44).
This might be the manifestation of that belief. Having high hopes on the entirety of the East means that teams we kind of expected to be around the middle/bottom of the conference would go on runs because the overall talent of the conference is higher. Before the season, Chicago and Charlotte were both trendy picks to make a splash in the East, but would not be considered title contenders. They are fun playoff teams, but can we really take them seriously when the times come?
The Bulls have started 4-0 for the first time since 1996, (!!!!)but are going into one of the most difficult stretches of their season in the next 12 games, playing the Knicks twice, Philly twice, both LA teams, Brooklyn, Boston, Golden State, Dallas, Denver, Portland and Utah. DeRozan showed why they needed him in the closer role. Lavine is picking up where he left off. Lonzo has been the steady presence they need at the point. It’s been all good so far. Let’s see how it develops over the next 3 weeks.
The Hornets are the League Pass team of the year. Watch them every chance you get. LaMelo, Miles Bridges, and Kelly Oubre JR are flying all over the gym and putting up insane scoring totals, with their only loss an overtime slobber knocker with Boston. This team is good and will remain good. How will their defense hold up all year? Remains to be seen, but they can score with anyone.
How does Michael Jordan feel about a potential Hornets-Bulls ECF?
How has the Russell Westbrook experience started in LA?
After last night’s OT win in San Antonio without LeBron, looking pretty damn good!
It’s been a shaky start as the Lakers have opened up 2-2 and looked uneven in their performance with their 3 superstars on the court. Adding Carmelo into the starting lineup and moving AD to the 5 has worked wonders, allowing the gravity of those 4 stars to take over the game and has opened up opportunities for whoever slots into the 2 guard position (last night, Malik Monk played the role of hero/glue guy).
With LeBron on the court, I still have worries about how it looks long-term. Russ is at his best doing his thing with the ball in his hands. And with that, the Lakers have looked a little more cohesive. But is taking the ball out of LeBron’s hands to provide Russ with more opportunities smart in the long run? How much do you gain by maximizing your roster in this manner? Is it better to maximize Russ and have LeBron defer? LeBron has literally NEVER deferred in his entire career. He’s going to do it for Russ? We’ll see.
Are the Warriors…back??
Sure looks like it. Last night they escaped OKC with a win and remain undefeated. Steph earned our Hooper of the Week honors and for good reason, he’s currently 3rd in the league in scoring (29 PPG) and shooting 40% from 3.
Draymond is facilitating. Wiggins is producing. Jordan Poole and Damian Lee are invaluable as two young guys who can be shown as success stories for the Warriors player development as they are averaging double digits and invaluable to the early season success. Their secondary scoring is something the Warriors sorely lacked last season. And oh yeah, the 77th greatest player in NBA history Klay Thompson is still coming back.
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