For basketball fans across the globe, this past week has been a time to rejoice: NBA basketball is back in full swing. With all the storylines and drama to follow, here are my way-too-early predictions and takeaways for this season.
The first storyline to follow is the continued dominance of last year’s Rookie of the Year and runner up, Luka Dončić and Trae Young. Three games into the season, the reigning Rookie of the Year Dončić is lighting up the League, averaging 29.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
So far dominating every game, Dončić has led his Mavericks to a 2-1 start. Despite being only three games into an 81-game season, the Mavericks look like they could sneak into the playoffs in the highly contested Western Conference by relying on the duo of Dončić and Kristaps Porziņģis.
Last year’s runner up for the award, Trae Young, has started this season off even stronger than Dončić. Although Young has only played two games thus far, he has dropped 38 and 39 points in his first two games, leading his team to victory in both games. You can expect both Dončić and Young to get their first nods to the All Star Game this February.
A few teams have made some surprising starts to the season. In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat have come out piping hot. With contributions from breakout talent Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow, the Heat have performed very well even without their star player, Jimmy Butler.
I have also been very impressed by Nunn’s play, who spent the last season in the developmental division. His play so far warrants him to be a starter in the League for seasons ahead. I believe the Miami Heat will exceed expectations this season and could potentially be a top four team in the east.
On the west coast, two teams have been a pleasant surprise. The Minnesota Timberwolves have won their first three games. Before the season, I expected this team to be, at best, a middling team in the loaded Western Conference and to have no shot at the playoffs. But thanks to the MVP-level of play by Karl Anthony Towns and strong play of complements Robert Covington and Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves could very well be in the mix for a playoff spot.
Another surprising team is the Phoenix Suns. A bottom-three team the past few years, the Suns have already exceeded expectations with their play just three games in. The offseason addition of Ricky Rubio seems like it will be very valuable, as the Suns finally have a playmaker to relieve the offensive workload from Devin Booker.
In their second game, the Suns fought hard in what would be a one-point loss to the talented Denver Nuggets in overtime. There is no way last year’s Suns’ team even comes close to that score. The Suns’ third game came with a win against the Western Conference favorites, the Los Angeles Clippers. So far the Suns look like they will have a reliable offense for the first time in years, straying away from past years’ offense of just giving Booker the ball and hoping he scores.
The rise of new teams make way for the fall of established teams. Most notably the Golden State Warriors have gotten off to a dismal start. Obviously with the departure of two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant and the injury to Klay Thompson, we could not have expected the Warriors to sustain their peak play.
However, two-time MVP Steph Curry is still on the team, along with former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green and offensive star D’Angelo Russell. Topped off with exciting rookies Eric Paschall and Jordan Poole, the Warriors should have some semblance of a respectable NBA team.
However, the Warriors have lost both their games with a combined deficit of 47 points, and they have failed to lead for even a second so far this season.
The Indiana Pacers have also been a letdown. Before the season started, I thought the Pacers would make the playoffs as the eighth seed and that the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren would be enough for the Pacers to make it through the weaker Eastern Conference. However, just two games in, the Pacers have shown they have no business making the playoffs.
Their defense has been weak and undisciplined. Their offense has been lackluster, struggling to find another reliable contributor outside Brogdon and Warren. Combine that with no return in sight for Pacers superstar Victor Oladipo, the Pacers’ playoff hopes look bleak.
If the NBA season were to end today, here are my half-baked predictions. For the Finals matchup, I predict the Philadelphia 76ers to represent the East.
What stands out in the Sixers is their incredible length and defense anchored by veteran Al Horford and rising star Josh Richardson. Plus the Sixers have already shown improvement from last season’s weaknesses, most notably their ability to close out games.
For the West, I predict the Los Angeles Clippers. They too have strong defense, led by Patrick Beverley and Kawhi Leonard. On top of that the Clippers have the most lethal off-the-bench duo in Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, and depth is key in the playoffs.
For regular season awards, the MVP would probably go to Towns. The Most Improved Award would go to Luke Kennard of the Detroit Pistons, Rookie of the Year to the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant and the Defensive Player of the Year to Beverley.
With a long season ahead, there is no doubt that some of my takes here will look embarrassingly bad, but I stand by these takes. I, like many other NBA fans, am looking forward to an exciting season, one that finally feels like the championship is open for any team to take.
