It’s been an interesting start to the NBA season. There have been trades, injuries, coronavirus protocols, and even upsets that we never thought would happen. While there are definitely more than just five takeaways from the season so far, these are the ones that I chose to focus on…
The Nets Are For Real
The beginning of the season stirred up a lot of doubt about the Brooklyn Nets. Some people thought that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant would never work out. As if two stars wasn’t enough, Brooklyn traded for James Harden about 10 games into the season. Three superstars on one team caused people to doubt the Nets even more than before.
Here we are almost two months later, and the Nets stand at 24-13. Plus, they rank at #1 in the NBA’s most recent power rankings. As if their team wasn’t already stacked, they just signed veteran Blake Griffin for the remainder of the season. This Nets team is looking scary, and I think it’s safe to say they aren’t going anywhere.
The T-wolves Stink…Again
Sorry Minnesota. Another year has come and the T-wolves sit at the bottom of the West. Granted, Karl-Anthony Towns was out for a big chunk of games. But even with his return to the lineup, Minnesota has not seen much improvement. The addition of D’Angelo Russell sparked some hope for T-wolves fans, but it hasn’t really helped Minnesota’s case.
Malik Beasley has looked good so far, but he just got suspended for 12 games. On the bright side, Anthony Edwards is a rising star and he continues to impress. So, despite injuries and suspensions, the future is (somewhat) bright in Minnesota!
Jokic vs Embiid for MVP
What used to be a debate over who was the best big man in the league has now turned into who the best player in the whole league is. These two centers have been playing out of their minds. Let’s take a look at their season stats thus far.
Jokic: 27.1 PPG 11.0 RPG 8.6 APG 1.6 STL
Embiid: 30.2 PPG 11.6 RPG 3.3 APG 41.6 3P%
It’s definitely quite the debate. There really is an argument for both players to win the MVP. Currently, the NBA ranks Embiid at #1 on the MVP ladder with Jokic at #2. It will be a fight for that number one spot all season!
The Knicks are a Playoff Team?
The Knicks have without a doubt been one of the most surprising teams this season. Julius Randle has had a breakout season and even made the All-Star game! New York currently has the 2nd best defensive rating in the NBA. There has been a lot to be proud of if you’re a Knicks fan.
New York sits at 5th in the East with a record of 19-18. They have won 8 of their last 11 games. If the playoffs started today, they would match up with the Celtics. Making the playoffs is one thing, but doing good in the playoffs is another. I’m not sure if New York would win that series against the Celtics, but I would like to think so!
Suns and Jazz are Contenders
The Suns are playing some of the best basketball they have played in years. They are 2nd in the Wild West with a record of 24-11. Phoenix wasn’t predicted to be this good, but they are definitely playing like contenders. In order to make the Finals, they’ll have to make it out of the West. There is a ton of talent out West but if Phoenix keeps playing how they are now, they will make the Finals.
The Jazz have blown our expectations out of the water. Not only do they have the best record in the West, they also have the best record in the whole league. Utah has shown how much of an offensive threat they are while also showing how versatile they are on defense. The Jazz have become major contenders, but as I said earlier, they’ll have to make it out of the West.
Maybe we’ll see a Suns vs Jazz Western Conference Finals, who knows…
