The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing.
We’re lower than per week into the common season and we have seen some dominant performances from the reigning champion Boston Celtics, in addition to from LeBron James in his twenty second season within the league.
The damage bug has already plagued a number of groups — most notably the LA Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely and the Philadelphia 76ers, with newly acquired famous person Paul George lacking the beginning of the season.
A couple of groups have carried over their dominance from the earlier season whereas others are exhibiting indicators of concern, already stumbling out of the gates.
Which famous person seems to be poised for an MVP marketing campaign? Which early-season development will proceed to hold all year long? Our NBA Insiders break down the very best and worst moments from the opening days of the common season.
What has been the most important shock?
Michael Wright: The quick begin by the Los Angeles Lakers. Because the hub of the offense, Anthony Davis busted out of the gate to drop 35-plus factors in every of his first two outings, and it isn’t just like the Lakers beat up on dangerous groups to begin their 2024-25 marketing campaign. Los Angeles captured three dwelling victories towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings to begin the season. Davis has been phenomenal, main the crew in factors, rebounds, steals and blocks, whereas LeBron has been typical LeBron, dropping 32 factors towards the Kings on Saturday and logging his first triple-double of the season. Rui Hachimura has been a pleasing shock together with Austin Reaves, who seems to have improved. It is nonetheless early, however a pleasant begin for the Lakers.
Tim MacMahon: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is vowing to stay with a 12-man rotation. A roster with that sort of depth is an efficient downside to have, however it’s laborious to think about preserving a dozen gamers joyful and in rhythm if the rotation continues to go that deep. It actually labored nicely within the Warriors’ first two video games, which they received by a mixed margin of 77 factors, however think about they have been towards two rebuilding groups — the Portland Path Blazers and Utah Jazz. However now, with Stephen Curry coping with a left ankle sprain, Kerr must reevaluate his lineups.
Dave McMenamin: It is laborious to consider the Lakers’ 3-0 begin. After posting shedding information to begin the previous few seasons, there was a layer of baked-in skepticism when projecting their season: may JJ Redick’s affect take maintain instantly? Would they be prepared for stiff competitors like Minnesota, Phoenix and Sacramento? How wholesome would they be? To date, they’ve posted the fifth-best offensive ranking within the league (120.1 factors per 100 possessions), and Anthony Davis seems to be as dominant as he was in his New Orleans Pelicans days.
Chris Herring: Victor Wembanyama is the participant most anticipated to make the most important leap this season. However Chet Holmgren, who completed second in Rookie of the Yr voting final season, seems to be terrifying thus far. With nearly 24 factors, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks and three assists per night time, he has been extra bodily imposing and decided about attending to sure spots off the dribble. And whereas he drained three triples Sunday, at simply 3-for-15 for the season, he hasn’t even gotten rolling from deep but. It is all the things the Thunder may ask for as they await Isaiah Hartenstein’s return from damage.
Jamal Collier: It has been a tough begin for the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton. They each appeared like a well-oiled machine final season however have began this season searching of kinds. It is too early to fret about them or put an excessive amount of inventory into what finally was one dangerous recreation for Haliburton — he did comply with up his 0-for-8 efficiency towards the New York Knicks with 22 factors however solely 4 assists towards the 76ers — however this begin just isn’t encouraging for a younger crew trying to construct off some shocking success final season.
What’s one query you need answered after the season’s first few days?
MacMahon: What number of video games will Joel Embiid and George play collectively by way of the course of the season? The Sixers have been upfront about their intention to make use of excessive warning with each stars, even earlier than George suffered a bone bruise in his left knee. The precedence is for Embiid and George to be wholesome for the playoffs, however at what value? Will the Sixers sacrifice home-court benefit, doubtlessly within the first spherical? And the way a lot time do Embiid and George want on the ground collectively to develop the chemistry needed for a deep playoff run?
Wright: When does Kawhi Leonard return to motion? Leonard sat out the complete Clippers preseason and has but to play or apply. The crew introduced in mid-October that Leonard will probably be sidelined indefinitely as he continues the rehabilitation course of for irritation in his proper knee. Then, we noticed the report a couple of former Clippers power and conditioning coach submitting a lawsuit, alleging he was fired for elevating issues concerning the administration of Leonard’s accidents. The state of affairs round Leonard feels eerily much like what transpired throughout his remaining season with the San Antonio Spurs, once we all realized the time period “tendinopathy.”
McMenamin: How’s this all going to work for the 76ers? An 82-game season permits for early errors as long as you make a second-half surge, particularly with the play-in avenue. However lacking Embiid and George whereas dropping to 0-2 to begin the season just isn’t signal. Philly wants a bit extra time earlier than they’re absolutely found out.
Herring: How does New Orleans deal with the lack of Dejounte Murray, who fractured his left hand within the season opener? Between Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans are used to accidents, however this one is especially robust on condition that the crew — which can be with out Trey Murphy III (hamstring) to begin the season — hasn’t gotten an opportunity to see how this group meshes. This at all times appears to be the case, however at the very least CJ McCollum has loads of expertise main this group. It is simply lower than best on condition that the addition of Murray was meant to push McCollum again to his pure taking pictures guard position.
Collier: Not seeing the Sixers’ absolutely realized crew take the ground collectively was, maybe, essentially the most disappointing a part of opening week. However my largest lingering query is across the well being and way forward for Leonard. He is 33 years previous and coming into his thirteenth NBA season with an indefinite absence — not an encouraging signal for the crew and for followers hoping to see among the best two-way gamers of his era. The Clippers are coming into a brand new period with the opening of their new dwelling, the Intuit Dome, and after transferring on from Paul George. However the newest damage for Leonard opens up the query of how a lot time he’ll really spend on the Clippers’ latest courtroom.
Which contender/famous person has stood out essentially the most?
Collier: The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been already one of many favorites within the West coming into the season and have appeared each bit the half thus far, beginning with how they dismantled the Denver Nuggets 102-87 on opening night time. The Thunder have picked up the place they left off final season with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wanting much more un-guardable, Chet Holmgren able to take a step ahead because the No. 2 choice and Alex Caruso sliding in as an ideal addition to the rotation, giving the Thunder a shot at ending with the No. 1 protection within the league.
Wright: Jayson Tatum received an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal over the summer season, however given all of the chatter about his sporadic play in France, it did not look like any of that mattered. Tatum talked about that Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was most likely the “happiest individual on the planet” that he did not win Finals MVP and sat out two video games within the Olympics. Regardless, Tatum tweaked his shot mechanics earlier than Celtics coaching camp and began the season sizzling, connecting on 60% from the ground over his first two video games and 50% from deep.
McMenamin: The Cleveland Cavaliers received their first three video games by a mixed 61 factors. Sure, the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards do not determine to be postseason contenders, however Cleveland’s offense, which is taking pictures 54.5%, recommend that the crew has already grasped new coach Kenny Atkinson’s offense.
Herring: The Nuggets, NBA champions simply two seasons in the past, have thus far stood out in a nasty means. Christian Braun has been stable in changing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a starter, repeatedly bottling up James Harden on Saturday whereas logging an environment friendly 13.5 factors per recreation by way of his first two contests. However the crew general has struggled from distance, hitting simply 28.8% of its 3s for the NBA’s sixth-worst mark thus far. Nobody, other than stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, has shot nicely from there on true quantity at this level. Russell Westbrook, the crew’s largest offseason addition, has shot simply 2-for-18, and the Nuggets have been outscored by 37 factors in his 40 minutes off the bench.
MacMahon: Oklahoma Metropolis was extensively thought-about the West’s favourite coming into the season and appeared the half of their two opening video games with double-digit wins over the Nuggets and Chicago Bulls. Will probably be a month or so earlier than the Thunder can work free agent addition Isaiah Hartenstein into the combo, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how usually reigning Coach of the Yr Mark Daigneault performs the previous Knicks heart alongside fellow 7-footer Holmgren. The Thunder focused Hartenstein partially to deal with their rebounding issues, however Holmgren seems primed to make drastic enchancment in that class. He averaged 15 rebounds in OKC’s first two video games whereas matching up towards Jokic and Nikola Vucevic.
My daring prediction after one week is___?
Wright: The Nuggets will underachieve this season. Murray clearly is not 100% wholesome, and we’re about to see simply how huge of an influence Caldwell-Pope’s absence can have on each ends of the ground for Denver. Jokic & Co. confronted a buzzsaw to begin the season towards the Thunder, however coach Michael Malone was right in mentioning that “Christian Braun just isn’t going to be KCB” because the starter reverse Murray within the backcourt. Perhaps Malone was additionally right when saying, “I do not assume there’s any want for panic.” We’ll simply have to attend and see.
McMenamin: The Clippers will keep related regardless of their accidents. Not saying they are going to actually make the playoffs, and even the play-in, however this group will not backside out. They performed the Suns into additional time on opening night time at Intuit after which beat the Nuggets on the highway with a 37-point efficiency from Norman Powell. Coach Ty Lue has early buy-in from the group, which at present has the fourth-best defensive ranking within the NBA, permitting solely 104.8 factors per 100 possessions.
Collier: Two groups will win greater than 60 video games. Each Boston and Oklahoma Metropolis have been favorites coming into the season of their respective conferences, and so they’ve validated that notion pretty rapidly to begin the season. They each seem like juggernauts in their very own means able to stack successful streaks, and within the age of parity, it has been some time because the league has had a dominant powerhouse atop every convention.
MacMahon: The Rookie of the Yr will not be a lottery choose. Two early candidates: New Orleans’ Yves Missi and Phoenix’s Ryan Dunn. Missi, the No. 21 choose, led all rookies in scoring (10.0 factors per recreation), rebounding (6.5) and blocks (2.5) coming into Sunday and will get constant minutes, contemplating the shortage of facilities on the Pelicans’ roster. Dunn, the No. 28 choose, profiles as a doubtlessly elite defensive participant who raised a number of eyebrows by making extra 3s within the preseason (13-of-30) than he did in his two seasons at Virginia (12-of-51). That has carried over into the common season, as Dunn is taking pictures 46.2% (6-of-13) from lengthy vary. He impressed Suns coaches and teammates along with his poise and toughness as a starter in Saturday’s win towards Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
Herring: The Orlando Magic, who made the fewest 3s within the league final season, will find yourself being one of the crucial proficient groups from distance. The Magic are off to a improbable begin, having knocked dwelling 50 triples by way of three video games, with a conversion fee bordering on 40%, leaving them proper across the NBA’s prime 5 in each classes so far. And contemplating that Caldwell-Pope — their prime offseason pickup — is struggling makes it much more spectacular. Paolo Banchero confirmed an enormous enchancment from Yr 1 to Yr 2 and has been taking pictures nicely thus far.
Development most/least more likely to proceed is___?
Wright: Worldwide gamers will proceed to dominate the MVP dialog. Gamers equivalent to Doncic, SGA and Jokic determine to battle among the many prime 5 all season lengthy. However we won’t overlook Giannis Antetokounmpo, Embiid and even Domantas Sabonis, who averaged practically a triple-double final season. We’ve not seen an American-born participant take dwelling the MVP trophy since James Harden in 2018, which ended an 11-year run of American-born gamers successful the coveted award.
Herring: Boston’s 3-point frenzy. Simply in case you were not satisfied through the season-opener — Boston drilled an NBA-record tying 29 3s towards the New York Knicks — the Celtics are going to take, and make, a boatload of triples each night time. They averaged 52.6 3s through the preseason and are at present launching greater than 50 per night time, all causes it is protected to imagine that tempo will proceed all through the season.
MacMahon: The defending champions will maintain their foot on the gasoline. The Celtics are in a singular, enviable state of affairs. They’ve a pair of younger superstars in Jaylen Brown and Tatum who’re early of their prime and are available into the season with a bunch of contemporary motivational fodder – due to Staff USA roster and rotation selections — even if they’re contemporary off successful their first title and have signed the richest contracts in NBA historical past during the last two summers. There will probably be no championship hangover in Boston.
McMenamin: The Buddy Hield/Klay Thompson comparability will stay a coin flip. There isn’t a understating the super strife the Warriors went by way of when Thompson left. He’s considered one of a handful of an important folks ever to don a Warriors uniform. However Hield’s manufacturing at 2-years, $21 million will proceed to reflect Thompson’s for Dallas on his 3-year, $50 million deal. By two video games, Hield leads the league averaging 6.0 3-pointers with Thompson shut behind (5.5)
Collier: Cavs are for actual. Cleveland has began the season unbeaten after ending within the prime 4 within the East the final two seasons. They made a training change within the offseason that has them enjoying a special fashion of offense with Evan Mobley taking over extra obligations. For Cleveland’s long-term potential unlocking Mobley will probably be essential. And with the opposite groups projected behind Boston off to sluggish or injured begins (Milwaukee, Philly and New York), the Cavs may put themselves in a really perfect place for the remainder of the season and past.
