The Golden State Warriors are about one damage away from heading right down to the native Y.M.C.A. to seek out somebody to fill a roster spot, and but they managed to beat the Portland Path Blazers on Monday evening. I’m this near calling up Warriors Coach Steve Kerr to ask if I can get some run.
The Phoenix Suns — sure, these Suns — have began the season at 5-2.
James Harden is averaging 36.6 points a game, the most effective within the league and nearly 5 factors forward of Kyrie Irving, the following participant on the scoring listing. All that’s effectively and good till you contemplate that he’s capturing 25 % from deep and that his Houston Rockets are barely an above-average offensive staff.
It’s been a bizarre N.B.A. season up to now — and as is all the time the case, lots of the unusual tendencies you see within the first a number of video games find yourself reversing themselves. Final yr, the Detroit Pistons began off 4-2, main some to surprise if Blake Griffin actually was the reply to the franchise’s basketball points. The Pistons completed at .500.
Bizarre just isn’t the identical as thrilling, thoughts you. There have been too many accidents to key gamers. A number of contenders are off to underwhelming begins (hiya, Utah and Portland), whereas some groups that have been alleged to take a step ahead have began off terribly (goodbye, Sacramento and Chicago). A lot of the N.B.A. isn’t crisp proper now. There have been a number of ugly video games, made so partially by groups’ adjusting to the brand new emphasis on calling touring and to coaches’ challenges.
Right here are some things which have caught my eye after the primary two weeks of the season.
1. Home of the Rising Suns
In opposition to the undefeated Philadelphia 76ers on Monday evening, Aron Baynes, whom the Suns acquired from the Celtics in a wage dump, scored or assisted on Phoenix’s first 4 possessions. He completed with 15 factors, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, in addition to an important block close to the top of the sport to assist protect a lead. Ricky Rubio scored 21 factors and added 10 assists. And naturally, Devin Booker dominated, scoring 40 factors at will handy Philadelphia its first loss. Granted, Joel Embiid didn’t play, however nonetheless.
For a franchise maligned as being run poorly, Phoenix positive looks like one which has been run effectively within the final yr or so. Baynes and Rubio have been sneakily sensible acquisitions for a staff needing veteran management. Each are strong defenders who don’t make many errors on the court docket.
Buying and selling Trevor Ariza final yr for Kelly Oubre Jr. has paid off in spades: After seven video games, Oubre’s averages for factors, rebounds and capturing share put him on tempo for profession highs. And the Suns are doing all this with out Deandre Ayton, who’s serving a 25-game suspension after testing optimistic for a banned diuretic. (Ayton has had a strong profession and is on his approach to being a star. However, on some degree, he’ll all the time be in comparison with Luka Doncic, who was drafted two spots behind him. Doncic appears to be like to be a generational participant, Ayton a mere mortal.)
And Booker is a bona fide star. He all the time has been. He’s simply by no means been in a secure system within the N.B.A. Booker is extra dedicated on protection than ever earlier than. Props to Monty Williams, the brand new coach who has the Suns performing like an elite defensive staff — one thing that may have been unthinkable a yr in the past.
Is that this sustainable? For one factor, Booker and Baynes should not going to shoot roughly 50 % from deep for the remainder of the season. However the protection is actual. And that may be ok to get the Suns into the playoffs.
2. Isaiah Thomas and the facility of persistence
There are few gamers within the league extra suited to a redemption arc than Isaiah Thomas, who has been within the N.B.A.’s No Man’s Land since he was unexpectedly traded to Cleveland from the Celtics after carrying Boston to the Jap Convention finals in 2017.
Now he’s averaging 14.5 factors and seven assists in solely 22 minutes a sport for the struggling Wizards. On Monday evening, Washington moved him into the beginning lineup — and thumped the Detroit Pistons for the staff’s second win of the season. A lot of the world has forgotten simply how good Thomas was in 2017, as a result of, after the commerce by Boston, he bounced from Cleveland to Los Angeles after which to Denver.
Being a sports activities fan in 2019 means falling sufferer to recency bias — and just lately Thomas regarded as if his profession was over. He couldn’t crack the guard-heavy rotation of the Nuggets, and expectations have been low when he signed a one-year minimal cope with the Wizards.
However one factor Thomas has by no means lacked — as is clear from his motivational social media posts — is confidence, the unwavering perception that the Thomas who averaged nearly 30 factors a sport with Boston in 2016-17 remains to be in there someplace. That confidence is a part of the reason for the way somebody who’s 5 toes 9 inches tall makes it within the N.B.A.
The Wizards should not going to be superb this season, however Thomas is trying like an sudden brilliant spot.
3. What to make of Andre Drummond?
I’ve all the time believed, within the face of a lot mockery from my friends, that Andre Drummond goes to be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer. He’s solely 26 years previous and has already averaged double-doubles in six seasons. He’s additionally more likely to go down as one of many league’s greatest rebounders ever.
This season, Drummond’s numbers are much more eye-popping: He’s averaging 21.Three factors a sport, together with a ridiculous 19.Four rebounds, and capturing 56 % from the sector. He has grabbed a minimum of 20 rebounds in 5 of Detroit’s eight video games. He has improved his ball-handling and has developed a dependable hook shot.
Usually, you’d see these numbers and assume that this was a Most Invaluable Participant Award season within the making. However with Drummond, that’s not the case. The Pistons are 3-5 in a weak convention. It must be famous that, due to damage, Drummond hasn’t had Griffin enjoying subsequent to him. The remainder of Detroit’s roster isn’t superb, however a few of the losses (in opposition to Washington and Chicago, for instance) got here in video games the staff ought to have received.
The notion of Drummond for years has been — unfairly, I’ve all the time thought — that his stats are empty, that he’s an accumulator, which is why he has appeared in solely eight playoff video games in seven seasons. However I’m starting to rethink. This season, the Pistons have been outscored by nearly 5 factors when Drummond is on the floor. Since getting into the league in 2012, Drummond has had solely two seasons within the optimistic vary for this measurement, final season being considered one of them.
Detroit’s offense has produced extra with out Drummond on the ground, in accordance with the N.B.A.’s tracking numbers. Although the stats signify solely eight video games, that’s not one thing you sometimes say about franchise gamers.
There are numerous causes these numbers could paint a skewed image. And it’s true that with out Griffin, Detroit doesn’t have another top-shelf expertise. However there have been sufficient of these kinds of numbers in Drummond’s profession that it’s troublesome to evaluate his true worth on a staff. He appears to enhance each season, however his groups don’t.
Will he ultimately be a Corridor of Famer? Sure. I nonetheless consider that. However can he be the highest or second-best participant on a championship staff? I’m not so positive.