Overreacting after the primary sport of a brand new season is a proper of passage for sports activities followers. Endurance is a advantage, however it’s exhausting to return by after a protracted summer season with out the NBA.
More often than not, followers’ earliest overreactions solely serve to substantiate their very own agendas. You are able to do it for nearly each workforce: the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are poised to run away with the West, the Washington Wizards would possibly lose 70 video games, the Denver Nuggets have an actual Jamal Murray drawback, the Chicago Bulls’ commerce for Josh Giddey was a catastrophe, and Cam Thomas actually would possibly lead the league in scoring. All of these agendas are thriving after the primary sport, so long as you believed them sufficient within the first place.
Now that each workforce within the league has performed no less than one sport, it’s time for our greatest overreactions for the 2024-2025 NBA season to date.
The Celtics will coast to a different championship
The Boston Celtics had been by no means actually challenged on their strategy to an NBA championship final season. Boston completed the yr 80-21 general counting the common season and playoffs, however their street to the title was really easy that not everybody was satisfied of their greatness. It ought to have solely taken one sport this season to alter that.
The Celtics blasted the New York Knicks of their season opener on Tuesday evening, routing the workforce that was alleged to be their greatest challenger within the East. Boston launched threes on 64 p.c of their area purpose makes an attempt, and tied an NBA document by making 29 of them. The Celtics create open pictures so simply with 4 extremely expert ball handlers and shooters within the beginning lineup, they usually even have among the best defenses within the league. At this level, it’s time to acknowledge Joe Mazzulla as one of many NBA’s perfect coaches.
The dreaded second apron within the new CBA was supposed to interrupt aside groups as loaded because the Celtics, however possession determined to re-sign everybody and promptly put the workforce up on the market. This Celtics roster will likely be too costly to maintain collectively ceaselessly, however no less than for this yr, they’re the category of the league as soon as once more.
The Victor Wembanyama takeover has to attend one other yr
It’s solely a matter of time earlier than Victor Wembanyama goes to be the perfect basketball participant on the earth. As he enters his second season, the 20-year-old Spurs star is getting ready to full-fledged superstardom, however he’s nonetheless years away from reaching his final ceiling.
Wembanyama struggled in his season debut in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening, within the course of displaying all of the methods he can nonetheless optimize his sport. Wembanyama ought to be a dominant inside scorer at 7’5 with an 8-foot wingspan, however he’s nonetheless far too glad to shoot jumpers on the perimeter. That could be a very good technique in the future, however not but. Wemby began the sport 0-for-7 from three-point vary, and completed 1-for-8.
The Spurs simply didn’t do sufficient within the offseason to make a significant leap up the standings. It positive looks as if they not-so-secretly wish to get within the Cooper Flagg derby this yr. That ought to disappoint Wembanyama, who has at all times mentioned the best issues about his dedication to successful. San Antonio will win massive quickly, however it’s not gonna occur this season.
The Hornets are this yr’s shock workforce
A foul or mediocre workforce takes an enormous leap up within the NBA standings yearly. Simply final season, the Rockets jumped from 22 wins to 41, the Magic jumped from 34 wins to 47, and the Thunder jumped from 40 wins to 57. The Charlotte Hornets are my decide for the same leap this season, and their season-opening comeback win over Houston was an ideal instance of why they’re so attractive.
LaMelo Ball has solely performed 58 video games mixed the final two years, however don’t overlook he was named an NBA All-Star in his age-20 season just a few years in the past. Ball could be one of many league’s greatest level guards with breathtaking ball dealing with and passing potential, a vastly improved leap shot, and the scale to see over any guard defender. Ball erupted for 34-11-8 within the win, and appears like the kind of jumbo initiator each workforce craves. His supporting solid seems higher, too.
Tre Mann appeared like Gen-Z Allen Iverson by splashing deep pull-ups off the bench on his strategy to 24 factors. New coach Charles Lee had the workforce taking extra three-pointers regardless of enjoying lineups that had been extra defensively slanted. Ball’s co-star Brandon Miller exited early with a hip harm, however he’s going to have an enormous season, too. Charlotte is making the playoffs within the East. You heard it right here first.
Paolo Banchero has an All-NBA season loading
Paolo Banchero has at all times had celebrity potential since being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the No. 1 general select of Duke in 2022. Banchero was Rookie of the 12 months in his first professional season, and was named an All-Star in his second season. What’s in retailer for yr three? After watching his dominant season opener towards the Warmth, I’m satisfied Banchero will likely be an All-NBA choice, and the Magic is likely to be an actual Jap Convention contender.
Banchero’s mixture of dimension and talent is what stars are made from. At 6’10, 250 kilos, Banchero handles the ball like a guard, is aware of find out how to get to his spots on the ground, and may completely bulldoze smaller defenders on switches. If his three-point shot continues to look pretty much as good because it did within the season opener (4-of-8 from three), we could possibly be one of many higher offensive gamers within the league.
The Magic simply may need one other massive leap in wins in them this season with Banchero main the way in which. Count on no less than one playoff sequence victory — and possibly extra.
Evan Mobley is making The Leap
The Cavs have been an excellent workforce within the East the final two years that constantly falls simply wanting being an actual contender. Cleveland employed Kenny Atkinson as its new head coach to get them over the hump this season, and it’s job to get probably the most out of a proficient however mismatched roster. The Cavs’ greatest probability to make deep playoff run rests on the shoulders of 23-year-old massive man Evan Mobley, and the previous No. 2 general decide appeared glorious within the first sport of his fourth season.
Mobley popped off for 25 factors, 9 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals in a Cleveland win. He totally out-played former draft mate Scottie Barnes, and confirmed the kind of offensive enchancment the Cavs have been craving for since drafting him.
Mobley is already one of many league’s greatest defenders. In his season debut, he appeared way more snug offensively working with the ball in his arms. At 7-foot with a 7’4 wingspan, Mobley has developed his deal with sufficient to create scoring alternatives for himself, and he makes use of that vast body to create house for simple buckets. He has such a robust sense for find out how to transfer off ball on each ends of the ground, and when he will get rolling to the rim, it’s exhausting to cease him with some added energy to his body.
Mobley was a unbelievable prospect getting into the 2021 draft. It seems like he would possibly lastly attain the ceiling that’s lengthy been evident in him.
Nearly each NBA three-point document will fall this season
The Celtics tied the NBA document (initially set by the 2020 Bucks) for probably the most three-pointers made in a single sport by draining 29 of their season-opening over the Knicks. I’ll predict they break their very own document someday this season … possibly a number of instances.
That received’t be the one three-point document to fall this yr. These are taking place, too:
- 70 three-point makes an attempt by a workforce in a sport, set by the 2018 Houston Rockets
- 14 made three-pointers by a participant in a sport, set by Klay Thompson in 2018
- 24 three-point makes an attempt by a participant in a sport, set by Klay Thompson in 2018
- 1,363 made three-pointers by a workforce in a single season, set by the 2022-23 Warriors.
- 3,721 three-point makes an attempt by a workforce in a single season, set by the 2018-19 Rockets
- 1,028 three-point makes an attempt by a participant in a season, set by James Harden in 2019
The one three-point document I feel will nonetheless be standing is Stephen Curry’s 402 made threes in a single season, set in 2016. The three-point revolution continues without end.
