The NBA’s gone a little over a quarter of the season now and it’s been full of drama and 

entertainment. We’ve decided to do a quick roundtable to talk about the big things we’ve seen from the NBA so far.

Which team has surprised you the most so far? (Can be disappointing results or overachieving)

Carlo:

The Minnesota Timberwolves are kicking some serious ass. I honestly thought that the Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns pairing was a terrible idea, but the two towers have made it work in Minny. I also knew that Anthony Edwards was on the verge of superstardom last year, but he’s really taken it up a notch this season and has become their best player on both ends of the floor. It doesn’t feel like their record and their place atop the Western Conference is a fluke so far. I’m not ready to think they’re favorites to make it out of the West yet, but they are going to make some noise in the postseason this year.

Rex:

I want to say the Timberwolves, Magic, or the Thunder here, but the great stories they’re writing on the basketball court right now don’t captivate me as much as the downright wretchedness of the Pistons. They won just 17 games last season, which meant that it’s fair to expect them to be better in 2023-24, considering how attainable it seemed to to win more than they did in the previous campaign. Yet here they are, still with only two wins after 24 games. They have also lost 21 games in a row, as of this writing. I am old enough to remember what life was like the last time the Pistons won a game.

The Pistons remind me of my Cleveland Browns, whose coach guaranteed that they would be better in 2017 after going 1-15 in 2016. That’s probably the safest, less-riskiest promise a coach can make. Then the Browns went 0-16 in 2017. 

There are other miserable teams outside of the Pistons like the Wizards, Spurs, and Hornets, but just from the grand scheme of things, it feels like it’s Detroit that is supposed to be taking a considerable leap forward. Nevertheless, there is still time for Detroit to turn things around.

JE:

For the overachievers, I got the Houston Rockets. While we all knew how good of a coach Ime Udoka is, as evident in bringing the Boston Celtics all the way to the finals in his lone year there (as a rookie coach, no less), it felt like the roster was raw, and the additions were not going to move the needle. But, here we are: witnessing a mostly young core with a new established identity. Through Udoka’s guidance, the Rockets have a winning record, allowing the fewest points per game, and also ranking as the second-highest rated defense in the league.

On the flip side, I have the Golden State Warriors as the most notable underachievers – thus far, at least. They are four games below .500 (10-14), and it’s not what you’d expect from a team whose veteran core and head coach has won four championships over the last nine seasons, especially since they just signed the “Point God” himself, Chris Paul, who makes every team he goes to a whole lot better. Although, yes, it doesn’t help that Klay Thompson getting bombarded by ‘Father Time’ and Draymond Green is causing plenty of distractions.

Aldo:

The Timberwolves are in the conversation for sure. I thought they would get better from last year, yet didn’t expect them to be this good. If we’re talking about the team I’m most surprised about though, it would have to be the Memphis Grizzlies for all the wrong reasons. 

Everyone knew that the Ja suspension was going to hurt them, but I didn’t think that they were going to be this bad. This was supposed to be the perfect opportunity for Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and the rest of their team to step up and prove that they could handle bigger roles. 

Even when taking into account the injuries to Steven Adams and Marcus Smart, this team has too much talent to be tied for the second-worst record in the West with the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers. With Morant coming back within the week, the Grizzlies now have a lifeline. However, if they can’t turn things around by the end of January, they might as well shift gears and join the Blazers in playing for next year’s lottery instead. 

Gio:

The OKC Thunder! In recent years, we’ve known the Thunder to be playing the long game but with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, the time is now. 

Of course, the Thunder must still prove that they have to move past the first round of the playoffs. They were able to do so with a less talented so the expectations are higher. For now, though, they have raised some eyebrows but in a good way. 

Which player has caught your attention?

Carlo:

I may be biased as a Sacramento Kings fan, but De’Aaron Fox has really caught my attention this season. He has established himself as the bonafide leader of a Kings team that surprised a lot of people last season, and the man has managed to keep the same momentum he had after taking the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. 

Fox showed a killer instinct and unstoppable midrange game last season, but he’s now starting to make a case as a dark horse MVP candidate because he has shown a vastly improved three-point shot. He’s currently shooting 38.7% on 8.3 attempts from long range per game, which has made him even harder to stop. He’s a career 32.6% shooter from beyond the arc but continues to put in the offseason to work to add more offense to his repertoire and it looks like signing with the Curry brand inspired him to get better from three.

If he can keep his threes at 36% or above for the entire season, the Kings should be able to contend for a guaranteed playoff spot and potentially make it out of the first round. I haven’t even mentioned his improvements on the defensive end. While he’s only averaging 1.4 steals a game, he also makes a huge impact by drawing charges, smothering his nightly matchup and using his smarts to force opponents to make frustration fouls and bad passes.

Rex:

I could have also picked the Pacers as the most surprising team so far this season, but allow me to bestow that honor to their best player instead: Tyrese Haliburton. He hasn’t wasted one bit of the opportunity the Pacers gave him when they acquired the former Iowa State Cyclones star via a trade with the Kings. 

After earning his first All-Star nod in 2022-23, Haliburton has somehow turned the heat up even more, with another All-Star appearance already looking like a foregone conclusion. He’s beyond that now. He’s in the MVP discussion territory.  Haliburton is the scariest part of the most unstoppable offense in the NBA. He is posting a 66.6 TS% while also maintaining a 47.8 AST%, which is on pace for a career-high. All hail, Hali.

JE:

Alperen Sengun. He has taken a huge leap, unapologetically sitting at the throne that was supposedly reserved for Jalen Green. We are looking at a younger version of Nikola Jokic with good defense. That’s pretty nuts.

He can post up, bully or sneak his way inside, hit jumpers, facilitate, and play defense. He has a chill approach too, and would just let the game come to him, so what’s not to like?

Aldo:

I would have to say Tyrese Maxey. Yes, everyone knew that James Harden’s absence (and eventual trade) from the Philadelphia 76ers meant that Maxey was in line for an increase in responsibilities. He has lived up to expectations so far this year in his new role as Philadelphia’s top perimeter option, but what I find most impressive about what he has done is that he has still managed to maintain his efficiency. 

Despite being covered by opponents’ top perimeter defenders on a nightly basis and taking on more ball-handling responsibilities, Maxey’s eFG% this year is still at a center-like 54.2%. This is only a hair below his career average of 54.7% and if reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid ever has to miss an extended period of time, it looks like Maxey has all the tools to set the league on fire with a scoring run for the ages. 

Gio:

Evan Mobley is my pick. Early on, he has had to pick up the slack with the injury to Jarrett Allen. Right now, he’s missed a few games, but he was previously averaging a double-double while anchoring the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense. 

How he fares in the long-term is now what we should tune in to next. News just came out that he will miss six to eight weeks due to arthroscopic knee surgery so how he bounces back from that will be crucial to the Cavaliers’ rest of the season. Teams will likely adjust, but with Allen now back in the fold, he should be ready to maximize those opportunities that come. 

What top storyline are you glued to following this season?

Carlo:

The Draymond Green saga. There’s no doubt that I think Green is a dick, and that he’s one of the dirtiest players in league history. After already getting a five-game ban for choking Rudy Gobert, he didn’t surprise anyone when he smacked Jusuf Nurkic in the face. I am curious to see how long the ‘indefinite’ suspension actually is, but I’m enjoying how the fans and media are finally turning on him after he’s had the longest leash I’ve ever seen.

Rex:

LeBron James’ continued battle against Father Time. The four-time league MVP will ultimately lose in this proverbial duel, but he’s yet to be defeated, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen this season. LeBron is still performing at a high level and is on course to get another All-Star appearance, which will not be handed to him like an appreciation token by the league. Once he does, he would have definitely earned it.

Whether he’s the Lakers’ best player or not, Los Angeles isn’t winning the title if he’s not locked in and without his body’s cooperation. No other player of LeBron’s age before had his on-court abilities been so contingent on a team’s title aspirations

JE:

The Indiana Pacers. I’m not a basketball boomer who whines about “the lack of defense in today’s game,” because that’s a lazy take, and I admittedly love offense more. I’m a simple man: I see a fast-paced, high-scoring team, I tend to love it.

I look forward to seeing how far these Run N’ Gun Pacers can go. Tyrese Haliburton is a smooth point guard that fits the offense to a tee, and he only get better. As his game matures, I hope the Pacers don’t fumble their gem. May they be wise surrounding him with talent that mesh well with the overall scheme.

Aldo:

It’s the Orlando Magic for me. They still have a strange roster that has a mishmash of long-limbed forwards and guards who can’t really shoot, but the Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner pairing is something special. They’re both tall players who can do pretty much whatever they want to on the court and Orlando is suddenly relevant thanks to them. 

The Magic are masquerading as a top four team in the East as they are neck and neck in terms of win-loss record with the Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sixers as of this writing. It is unlikely that they finish the season this high up the standings (Or will they?) though they’ve made it clear that they are already must-see TV and potentially the next big thing in the Eastern Conference. 

Gio:

Will Anthony Davis last till the end of the season? He’s been great for the most part, but you have to wonder if his body will hold up. LeBron James continues to challenge Father Time, but AD makes the Lakers more dangerous. 

Load management will be in the cards, but in-game tactics to protect Davis will be more crucial. Who Davis matches up with and the minutes he will be given could prevent any mishaps. Blowouts will definitely be welcome as long as they are wins. 

Who do you think is the title favorite based on the first quarter of the season?

Carlo:

I still favor the Nuggets to win the title this year even though they’ve got a ton of strong teams to contend with. Until a team can show that they can solve the Nikola Jokic puzzle, his greatness and ability to get the best out of his teammates is what makes them the favorites. Denver have also battled some health issue already in this early season but have still managed to stay in second place in a loaded Western Conference.

Rex:

*(In Skip Bayless’ voice and cadence)*: “My Dallas Mavericks will win their first of 10 consecutive NBA titles. Take it to the bank.” 

Okay, now that I’m awake, I’m buying Celtics stocks. 

They’re the overall favorites to win the 2023-24 NBA championship for several reasons. They have established stars with deep playoff experience. Some question their depth, but the NBA is always going to be about stars and teams will go as far as where those special players take them. Nothing is certain and any team can take a stumble, but if I’m making an investment, I’m putting my surest money on Boston.

JE:

The Boston Celtics are elite on both ends. They are the only team that can dominate on offense and/or defense at any given night, so they are an easy pick.

Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are top-notch defenders that can score when asked, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are premiere wings, and Kristaps Porzingis is a sweet-shooting, shot-blocking artist that can score 20, 30 points whenever you need him to.

Also, Joe Mazzulla is a good coach with a good staff behind him.

Aldo:

You didn’t see this one coming: The Los Angeles Clippers. 

They were the laughing stock of the NBA in early November when they lost James Harden’s debut along with the succeeding four games. However, they’ve begun to figure things out and have quietly won their last six games which includes wins against the reigning champion Nuggets, the Warriors, and the Kings. Okay, five of those six wins came at home, but they can’t be penalised for taking care of business. 

Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and even Russell Westbrook are still in their late primes and no one can truly match-up on a per-player basis with this team’s top level talent. A bit of sacrifice will be needed here and there, though for Harden, George, and Westbrook, this should be no big deal if it means that they can finally hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy by the end of this season. 

Gio:

The Milwaukee Bucks would be my pick if not for the convincing case that the Denver Nuggets have made thus far. The Bucks still have things to figure out, but the Nuggets are a slow and steady group. Jokic will be up to usual self, but Denver tends to use the regular season to work out some kinks. Let’s see when the postseason rolls in. 

When it comes to Milwaukee, the potential is there. Perhaps there needs to be some patience, but all of it will rest on Damian Lillard. Lillard has always gotten his points, but the moments when his offense is off could pose problems down the road. Unlocking Lillard’s full potential could give Giannis Antetokounmpo the teammate he can count on when the going gets tough.