The 2024-25 NBA season is lower than two weeks previous, however some noteworthy tendencies are beginning to emerge throughout the league, together with some we maybe weren’t anticipating.
What has been every group’s greatest shock up to now, good, dangerous or ugly? The Athletic posed that query to its NBA workers. Right here’s what they stated.
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard’s new stage: Following a stable 2023-24 season, Pritchard seems to have taken a leap after averaging 16.2 factors per sport over the Celtics’ first 5 contests. Getting into Thursday night time, he was tied for second within the NBA with 23 made 3-pointers and has completed that regardless of no perimeter accidents above him on Boston’s depth chart. Extremely, on condition that he comes off the bench, Pritchard has tried almost 10 3-pointers per sport. He’s enjoying with a inexperienced gentle up to now. It’s not straightforward to earn extra enjoying time on this Celtics roster, however Pritchard is making the case. — Jay King
Brooklyn Nets
Jordi Fernández: The Nets coach bought his huge break to take over a group extensively earmarked for the worst document within the league, however he has Brooklyn enjoying on a string and looking out like a group combating for a playoff spot. Within the Nets’ final three video games, they’ve crushed Milwaukee and Memphis, bookending an time beyond regulation loss to Denver. Dennis Schröder and Cam Thomas are combining for 52 factors per sport, and Fernández is making small-ball lineups work whereas Nic Claxton is on a minutes restriction. The Nets actually have been one of many nice surprises of the early season. — Jared Weiss
New York Knicks
Lack of 3s: Earlier than Wednesday night time’s sport in Miami, when the Knicks fired up 40 3s, New York was lifeless final within the NBA in 3-point makes an attempt per sport. It’s shocking solely as a result of the additions of Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges, two good 3-point shooters, added to a beginning lineup this offseason that already featured Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, two extra good 3-point shooters. The Knicks must iron out spacing kinks and never flip down as many appears to be like in hopes of getting a greater shot. The efficiency towards the Warmth was a step in the suitable path. — James L. Edwards III
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Philadelphia 76ers
Poor deep taking pictures: With Joel Embiid and Paul George out to begin the season, the Sixers had been relying on their supporting forged to step up. Tyrese Maxey has been going all out to hold the group, however his teammates have been bricking every part he’s feeding them. The one Sixer making greater than a 3rd of his 3-point makes an attempt is Kyle Lowry, one thing that ought to at the least be ameliorated when George and Embiid return. But when Philadelphia goes to satisfy its potential this 12 months and show this core is price sticking with long-term, the supporting forged must hit open photographs. — Jared Weiss
Toronto Raptors
Jonathan Mogbo’s manufacturing: Because of a spate of accidents, the Raptors have gone deep down their roster to fill out the nightly rotation. A pair of second-round rookies, Mogbo and Jamal Shead, have performed actual minutes. Each have been good, however the best way Mogbo has been capable of influence the sport as a non-center with no jumper has been a pleasant shock. Mogbo has been glorious in transition, each as a passer and finisher, and was tied for sixth within the league in deflections coming into Thursday night time regardless of enjoying simply 83 minutes via 5 video games. — Eric Koreen
Central Division
Chicago Bulls
Lonzo Ball: It wasn’t way back that almost all hoop heads thought they’d by no means see Ball on an NBA court docket once more. Not solely is Ball again, however he appears to be like nice. His taking pictures has been cash. His imaginative and prescient and passing are nonetheless on level. He’s even retaining the Bulls linked defensively by shifting, swarming, speaking and trapping. Ball is on a 16-minute restriction, and he’ll now be sidelined for at the least 10 days with a sprained proper wrist. Nonetheless, he’s been a nice shock. Greater than that, he’s been one of many Bulls’ most optimistic contributors. — Darnell Mayberry
Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley appears higher: Or, I ought to say, the brand new Cavs teaching workers has appeared to have discovered a strategy to higher make the most of Mobley whereas Jarrett Allen is on the ground. Mobley is dealing with the ball much more, and his assists are up — operating the offense via Mobley has allowed the group to take care of spacing whereas retaining its two bigs on the ground originally and finish of video games. This can be a shock as a result of, effectively, if it had been potential, the Cavs ought to have been doing it final season. It’s early within the season, however Kenny Atkinson deserves credit score. — Joe Vardon
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Detroit Pistons
Jaden Ivey: Though Cade Cunningham is on tempo for a profession season offensively, Ivey has been the Pistons’ greatest shock. Getting into Wednesday, Ivey was averaging at the least 20 factors for the primary time in his profession and taking pictures a career-best 42.9 % from 3 on 5.3 makes an attempt per sport. If that’s not spectacular sufficient, Ivey was taking pictures 50 % within the restricted space on 7.5 makes an attempt per contest. Per NBA.com, the one gamers within the league taking pictures the next proportion on extra makes an attempt are Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jeremy Sochan, RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ivey appears to have discovered a rhythm along with his tempo offensively, and his shot appears to be like fluid. — Hunter Patterson
The Pistons will seemingly go so far as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey take them. (Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
Indiana Pacers
Bennedict Mathurin: Mathurin’s season-ending harm final season was unlucky for him and for the group, which made it to the Jap Convention finals anyway and was aggressive towards the Celtics. I didn’t see Mathurin returning and having this influence via 5 video games, trailing solely Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in scoring. Halloween simply handed, so let’s not begin nonsense speak like, “So and so is the favourite to be NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months,” however via 5 video games, Mathurin has proved a professional bench menace. — Joe Vardon
Milwaukee Bucks
Poor effort and focus: After a robust opening night time towards the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bucks introduced a lazy method to the primary half of their video games towards the Bulls and Nets. In each contests, the Bucks paid for it as a result of each groups carried the boldness they gained within the first half to the second half. Bucks coach Doc Rivers known as the 2 losses “horrible video games.” Frankly, it’s been stunning to look at a group that entered the season believing it may contend for a title deliver such poor focus and energy within the first week. — Eric Nehm
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Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks
Dyson Daniels: Amid a tough begin that noticed the Hawks lose twice to the lowly Wizards and undergo quite a few accidents, the play of Daniels has been among the many few vivid spots. Acquired within the Dejounte Murray commerce with New Orleans, the 21-year-old Australian has been a terror on protection with 15 “shares” (whole steals and blocks) in simply 4 video games. Daniels is also contributing a good 12.8 factors per sport on 35.3 % taking pictures from 3. The 6-foot-8 Daniels appears to be like like a long-term fixture within the backcourt as a defensive stopper subsequent to Trae Younger. — John Hollinger
Charlotte Hornets
Nick Richards: Possibly Tre Mann is the better reply, as he’s almost doubled his scoring common this season, however Richards has stepped into the void that’s the heart spot for the Hornets with Mark Williams out. Richards’ counting stats are up, as are his per-100-possession stats. The Hornets are 2-2, partly, due to their shocking effectiveness on the offensive boards. They lead the NBA in offensive rebounding price, based on Cleansing The Glass, after rating twenty eighth final season, they usually’re first in putback factors per miss. It’s all helped them put up the league’s fourth-most environment friendly offense per 100 possessions regardless of being simply thirteenth in efficient area objective proportion. Richards is second within the NBA in offensive rebounds per sport and within the one hundredth percentile amongst bigs in offensive rebounding price, whereas averaging 13.5 factors and 11.8 rebounds per sport. — Mike Vorkunov
Miami Warmth
Bam Adebayo’s lack of scoring: Getting into this season, one of the fascinating storylines in Miami was the potential growth of Adebayo’s offensive arsenal. Whereas Adebayo is already among the best two-way gamers within the league, the hope was that extending his taking pictures vary to the 3-point line and surrounding him with higher guard play would make him a good larger menace offensively. By 4 video games, he’s the fourth-leading scorer on the Warmth, averaging 11 factors per sport, and he’s tried greater than 10 photographs in a sport solely as soon as. Miami has to make him a much bigger precedence. — Will Guillory
Orlando Magic
Anthony Black’s enjoying time: The Magic have one of many deepest groups within the league, however Black is averaging a hefty 25.6 minutes per sport. It’s not that Black isn’t proficient. He was the sixth decide within the robust 2023 draft, in spite of everything. It’s that he’s carved out a key function this early in his second season at 20 years previous. He performed a big think about Orlando’s opening-game victory in Miami after Jalen Suggs confronted early foul hassle. Given Black’s positional dimension and really feel for the sport, he has an opportunity to become a vital member of the Magic’s nucleus. — Josh Robbins
Washington Wizards
Bilal Coulibaly’s progress: Staff officers and followers hoped Coulibaly would take an enormous step on offense in his second NBA season. However through the preseason, he was nowhere close to this assertive — or this good. (To be truthful, he missed Washington’s closing two exhibitions due to an injured left index finger.) Apart from a excessive price of turnovers, he’s been excellent in an enhanced playmaking function. It’s not simply that he’s averaging 18.8 factors and even that he’s taking pictures 59 % from the sphere and 42 % from 3. It’s his total confidence. And, keep in mind, he turned 20 in July. He has been spectacular, and that’s vital for Washington’s rebuild. — Josh Robbins
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Northwest Division
Denver Nuggets
Christian Braun: I believed it might take Braun a couple of weeks, and even months, to correctly acclimate himself to his new function as Denver’s beginning taking pictures guard. As an alternative, he’s been among the best two-way gamers on the roster up to now. He’s not attempting to interchange what the Nuggets misplaced with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He’s being himself. He’s getting out in transition. He’s reducing to the basket. He’s scoring off alternatives, and he’s been stellar defensively. Now, if solely Denver can discover itself a bench… — Tony Jones
Minnesota Timberwolves
Lacking KAT … on protection: When the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Cities for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, the fast response was a priority for an offense that was seventeenth in effectivity final season changing one in all its two finest weapons. Within the first 4 video games of this season, the place they missed KAT was on protection. His dimension, rebounding and synergy with Rudy Gobert had been essential within the Wolves’ top-ranked protection final season. Up to now this season, the Wolves have had issue ending possessions as a result of they offer up offensive rebounds. And they’re getting labored in transition as a result of Randle doesn’t but have the cohesion with Gobert that Cities had. It could simply take time to click on in. In the meantime, the Wolves protection has plummeted to thirteenth in a really small pattern dimension. — Jon Krawczynski
The revamped Timberwolves are nonetheless trying to hit their stride on protection. (David Sherman / NBAE through Getty Photos)
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
SGA’s 3-point makes an attempt: The Thunder’s mission to chuck up 3s from all over the place has bled into the sport of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. By no means earlier than has he put up near this many lengthy balls. He took solely three a sport over the previous two seasons. By Oklahoma Metropolis’s 4-0 begin, he’s averaging greater than eight. Gilgeous-Alexander’s energy has all the time been contained in the arc. It’s price monitoring how the development continues. — Fred Katz
Portland Path Blazers
Two wins already: Oddsmakers positioned the Blazers’ over/underneath line for season wins at 21.5. In different phrases, that is anticipated to be one of many NBA’s bottom-feeder groups. But, listed below are the Blazers after the primary 10 days with wins over two returning playoff groups — New Orleans and on the LA Clippers — of their first 5 video games. There was some encouraging play — Toumani Camara is rising as an NBA All-Defensive team-type participant, and Deandre Ayton has double-doubles in each sport. And there have been some discouraging tendencies — Deni Avdija is struggling along with his shot and lottery decide Donovan Clingan is having a tough time getting prolonged enjoying time. However total, the most important shock is the younger Blazers aren’t solely profitable however beating seasoned, playoff-hopeful groups. — Jason Fast
Utah Jazz
Kyle Filipowski: The pattern dimension to that is small — truly, it’s restricted to this week, when Filipowski was ushered into service due to the harm to Taylor Hendricks. However Filipowski has been good on each ends of the ground. He’s proven to be a flexible piece with the flexibility to attain on the inside and the perimeter. He made his first profession NBA begin on Thursday night time towards the San Antonio Spurs and ought to be a rotation piece via his rookie season. — Tony Jones
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Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors
Buddy Hield: The final we noticed Hield, he was having hassle getting on the ground within the playoffs for a Sixers group that wanted further depth and craved taking pictures round Joel Embiid. It was truthful to wonder if the Warriors signed him to a four-year, $37 million deal (with decide outs) on the declining stage of his profession. That continues to be potential, however Hield has regarded like an ideal slot in Steve Kerr’s motion system, instantly changing into a well-liked locker room persona. He already has video games of 21, 22, 27 and 28 factors in 15, 20, 29 and 29 minutes. He enters the weekend making 50 % of his high-volume 3s. — Anthony Slater
LA Clippers
Terance Mann’s struggles: Some individuals could also be stunned by Ivica Zubac’s offensive emergence, however they shouldn’t be. Zubac has all the time had offensive manufacturing in him. However so has Terance Mann, who has gotten off to a tough begin. Within the first 4 video games of this season, Mann has extra fouls (15) than factors (14), whereas lacking all six of his 3s and all three of his free-throw makes an attempt. Mann has all the time had underwhelming quantity, however that at the least got here with high-level effectivity. Up to now, Mann appears to be like like a participant who’s misplaced offensively, and Amir Coffey and Kris Dunn are closing video games over him. — Legislation Murray
Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis: Davis is enjoying arguably his finest basketball as a Laker on this younger season, averaging 30.6 factors, 12.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals and a couple of.0 blocks. Coach JJ Redick stated he needed to empower Davis and make him the point of interest of the offense, and up to now, he’s backed up that messaging. Davis is on tempo to submit the very best scoring common of his profession and his second-highest utilization proportion (31.5 %). The Lakers are making certain he touches the ball everywhere in the ground, with the intention being for him to the touch it on every possession. Mix that along with his usually elite protection, and Davis can be within the MVP dialog if the season ended immediately. — Jovan Buha
Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn: Everybody knew the rookie’s protection would translate. At Virginia, Dunn was among the many higher defensive gamers within the nation. The query was his taking pictures. Three ACC assistant coaches advised me they admired Dunn’s protection and revered his rebounding and athletic potential however had little interest in guarding him from 20 toes. That’s what makes Dunn a shock, the most important on this rookie class. Not solely is he taking over Phoenix’s hardest defensive assignments (guarding LeBron James, Luka Dončić and James Harden), however he’s making 3s and taking pictures with confidence. It has earned him a spot in Mike Budenholzer’s rotation, and if he retains it up, it’s going to hold him on the court docket within the closing minutes of shut video games. — Doug Haller
Sacramento Kings
Capturing guard place: After labrum surgical procedure, there have been no ensures Kevin Huerter can be prepared for the common season. However he was cleared proper earlier than opening night time, and Mike Brown instantly plugged him again into the beginning taking pictures guard function that many believed Keon Ellis had ripped from him completely. The Kings explored Huerter’s commerce market this summer time however didn’t discover an interesting sufficient supply. Huerter’s worth plummeted throughout a career-worst efficiency final season. However he had a profitable observe document earlier than that, and he’s regarded like his previous self taking pictures and transferring within the early going. That’s a big improvement, lengthening Sacramento’s rotation by transferring Ellis right into a bench function. — Anthony Slater
Kevin Huerter fires a 3 over Portland’s Kris Murray. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Photos)
Southwest Division
Dallas Mavericks
Klay Thompson: It’s not fairly a shock, however it is necessary for the Mavericks that Thompson has performed effectively. It was all the time going to be fascinating to see how good he’d be in Dallas since he’s 34. It’s not just like the Warriors let him stroll as a result of he’s in his prime. However Thompson has shot the ball effectively — he’s hitting almost 40 % of his almost 10 3s per sport, although he struggled Thursday towards Houston. It’s much more pertinent since he’s traditionally been a sluggish starter — he’s a profession 35.7 % 3-point shooter in October. Thompson has slot in effectively with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, and his dip in scoring is sensible since he’s enjoying a much less very important offensive function than in Golden State (his utilization was right down to 19.4 % coming into Thursday), however the Mavericks want him to hit photographs. — Mike Vorkunov
Houston Rockets
Bounce in offensive effectivity: The Rockets have a borderline top-10 offense (eleventh in effectivity coming into Thursday, per Cleansing the Glass), and it’s not nearly Jalen Inexperienced’s fourth-year leap, taking pictures enchancment or a serious change in scheme. It’s merely concerning the delicate energy of screening. Final season, coach Ime Udoka urged beginning heart Alperen Şengün, who generated 9.6 factors off screens per sport, to be extra keen to create scoring alternatives for others round him. Şengün bought stronger and improved his conditioning within the offseason — along with the arrival of Steven Adams, the display screen god himself — which has labored wonders. Getting into Thursday, Houston was scoring 15.6 factors per sport straight off Şengün screens, and the Rockets’ athletes are thriving. — Kelly Iko
Memphis Grizzlies
Santi Aldama: With all due respect to the Jay Huff expertise (wahoowa!), I’d say Aldama’s begin has been extra notable for Memphis’ long-term future. Maybe motivated by the shortage of a contract extension, Aldama has damaged out in his fourth season, averaging 12.8 factors on 52.1 % taking pictures whereas being pressed into service as a starter thrice in 5 video games. Included in that whole had been 10 made 3s after Aldama shot simply 33 % on low quantity from distance final season. If the 23-year-old Spaniard provides a real stretch sport to enhance his cellular 6-11 body, he turns into a way more credible inside-outside menace. — John Hollinger
New Orleans Pelicans
Zion’s inefficiency: All through his profession, Zion Williamson has confirmed to be one of the environment friendly, high-volume scorers in NBA historical past, however he’s been the precise reverse to begin the 2024-25 season. After lacking the Pelicans’ regular-season opener because of an sickness, Williamson is taking pictures simply 36.4 % from the ground in his final 4 outings, and his group has misplaced three of these 4 video games by at the least 15 factors. He’s had dangerous taking pictures video games earlier than, however he’s by no means struggled this a lot over a four-game span. — Will Guillory
San Antonio Spurs
Wemby’s Jekyll-and-Hyde begin: The Spurs’ offense is a large number (twenty ninth in effectivity as of Thursday morning), which is considerably comprehensible within the second 12 months of a rebuild, however Wembanyama’s scoring has ebbs and flows. On some nights, like the primary dwelling sport towards Houston and Thursday towards Utah, he appears to be like just like the dominant, versatile huge we’ve come to adore. On different nights — Wednesday’s nationwide TV showdown towards Chet Holmgren — he appears to be like out of it. Coach Gregg Popovich stated it would take Wembanyama a couple of month to search out an offensive rhythm after a prolonged summer time of basketball. However the second-year huge stated he feels high quality bodily, talking extra concerning the high quality of photographs he’s getting. And he’s proper; there’s duty on the a part of Chris Paul and Popovich to create advantageous conditions — however the Spurs will finally go so far as Wembanyama’s shoulders will take them. Devin Vassell is inching nearer to a return, which ought to deliver some spacing familiarity and forestall defenses from loading up. — Kelly Iko
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(High photograph of Klay Thompson and Victor Wembanyama: Jerome Miron / Imagn Photos)
