I also want to watch a few more Clippers games before I get a read on them... They are kind of an anomaly for me because I do like the squad... in theory.... They all got what they want, they have minimum 8 players that are playoff tested... They just have so many unknowns, and I feel like unless they start clicking and dominating it will be a 6-10 spot in the PO race for LAC.
That Clippers pick is such a wild-card....
Other big storylines in the first 20% of the season because I catch a lot of basketball...
The Magic off to a brilliant start, good defense, young players playing very well. Magic games are excellent to watch, long switchy defenders and they play very inspired offensively, even if they miss some shots, they are working the actions. Highly recommended.
Timberwolves top of the table in WC, good defense. The team looks more complete with a year under its belt defensively, Edwards is awesome. Will it last ? Offense looks clunky at times, prone to bad bench play, fouls.
Rockets w/ pleasantly surprising results defensively. Idoka, Brooks, FVV, and the youth movement are not going away quietly (as of today, likely 1-4 prot 24 HOU pick will convey to OKC). Athleticism is evident and there is intensity in Rockets games. I need to watch a few more before understanding this team better.
Boston looks very dangerous, but injury to KP now. I believe Celts are seriously a contender. They look sharp.
Philly the same, even if Embiid gets 20% of their points at the FT line every game. Solid team. It only takes one year to erase "choker" status, never sleep on teams with a top-5 player in the NBA.
Yet, some teams are a mess (Det, Washington, Charlotte, BKN, Chicago, Memphis, Utah, San Antonio)
Though Wemby looks 'as-advertised' in my opinion. (once SAS has better players he will look even better.) He's just so good at impacting the shots and flow of the other team, and offensively he's chucking more than necessary but **** it, he should get the shots up with this sorry ass squad around him.
Spurs...
McDermott, Osman, Vassell, Branham, Johnson, Sochan -- all these weird mix of wings that cannot playmake are just derivative or chuckers. Vassell's got some game, Johnson too, but they aren't top-50 players and need a LOT to get there. Collins at C is not great, it would be better if he's a bench C and just put Wembanyama at C and put a shooter at the 4 instead.
Utah got a win vs Pels last night but overall have looked very vulnerable, especially in the paint. Kessler hitting sophomore wall a bit, the rest of the team isn't as potent as the 'unscouted' version last year. Now teams know better what to expect. [unsure if 1-10 prot. UTAH 24 pick will convey to OKC]
Chicago is a mess and has looked bad. OKC forced this team into a player's only meeting after G1 and things have not improved much since. I'd guess that all players are on the trading block. All players not named Lonzo Ball because no one is accepting that contract back unless it's Portland and with it, POR's pick that it owes to the Bulls.
Charlotte just lost Lamelo to ankle injury, and B Miller is looking good, Miles Bridges has returned to the lineup and is playing well [22/8r/3a] much to my displeasure. trade pieces... Mark Williams untouchable with Ball, and everyone else should be on the block or not in the league
Detroit cannot shoot and cannot stop turning it over despite some good pieces at G. Bogdanovic injured, Harris slow. Washington is a 'have-fun-and-chuck' team, but they do score because there's no pressure. [I watched the DET/WASH game last night between the 2-14 clubs and WAS outplayed DET by a fair margin, take my word for it]
Milwaukee hasn't looked dominant, but then they went on a stretch a couple nights back coming back to beat POR from 26 or so down. POR just gave up, let's be real, but MIL shouldn't be given such a run because if they discover the feel offensively and gain massive confidence I think they are super dangerous. Probably a big run to be expected from Bucks later this year...
Lakers are kind of in a tough spot because Vanderbilt hasn't played a game and DLO and Reaves are not showing out every game while giving up loads of pts. Big minutes played for LBJ and AD this year so far, and all the other post players are easily game planned against. Wood and Hayes are bad for different reasons. Cam Reddish, and I'd never thought I'd write this, but he's looked okay. However, I'm not betting on a supernova Reddish-resurgence, so yeah. One injury to LBJ or AD and LA may slide.
Meanwhile Memphis is dropping game after game. Winless at home, using G-league talent at G and F (since I watch OKC Blue GL sometimes, I know the struggle they are going though
) Aldama and Z-Williams are bright spots, but Tillman is overmatched vs night-in-night-out NBA competition. Smart is hurt, Rose is a effective one out of 9 games or so, and Bane / JJJ are good but not 1A stars to take over every night. Bane is now getting tons of attention and having to work hard for shots. JJJ is not an inside bruiser, he's a flex F/C like LMA .. He really needs a guard to get him shots and drive/kick. This team may miss the playoffs unless Morant wills them back into contention.
I don't trust Dallas or New Orleans. Hawkins looks good for NOLA and Lively is great for DAL, but for some reason I don't get a good feeling for either team after watching some of their games.
Sacramento is hot/cold so far, no read on the Kings until I watch more
until next time...