Overreacting after the primary sport of a brand new season is a proper of passage for sports activities followers. Persistence is a advantage, nevertheless it’s laborious to return by after a protracted summer season with out the NBA.
More often than not, followers’ earliest overreactions solely serve to substantiate their very own agendas. You are able to do it for nearly each group: the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are poised to run away with the West, the Washington Wizards may lose 70 video games, the Denver Nuggets have an actual Jamal Murray downside, the Chicago Bulls’ commerce for Josh Giddey was a catastrophe, and Cam Thomas actually may lead the league in scoring. All of these agendas are thriving after the primary sport, so long as you believed them sufficient within the first place.
Now that each group within the league has performed not less than one sport, it’s time for our largest overreactions for the 2024-2025 NBA season so far.
The Celtics will coast to a different championship
The Boston Celtics had been by no means actually challenged on their option to an NBA championship final season. Boston completed the yr 80-21 general counting the common season and playoffs, however their highway to the title was really easy that not everybody was satisfied of their greatness. It ought to have solely taken one sport this season to alter that.
The Celtics blasted the New York Knicks of their season opener on Tuesday night time, routing the group that was purported to be their largest challenger within the East. Boston launched threes on 64 % of their subject objective makes an attempt, and tied an NBA file by making 29 of them. The Celtics create open pictures so simply with 4 extremely expert ball handlers and shooters within the beginning lineup, and so they even have among the best defenses within the league. At this level, it’s time to acknowledge Joe Mazzulla as one of many NBA’s easiest coaches.
The dreaded second apron within the new CBA was supposed to interrupt aside groups as loaded because the Celtics, however possession determined to re-sign everybody and promptly put the group up on the market. This Celtics roster might be too costly to maintain collectively perpetually, however not less than for this yr, they’re the category of the league as soon as once more.
The Victor Wembanyama takeover has to attend one other yr
It’s solely a matter of time earlier than Victor Wembanyama goes to be the very best basketball participant on the planet. As he enters his second season, the 20-year-old Spurs star is on the point of full-fledged superstardom, however he’s nonetheless years away from reaching his final ceiling.
Wembanyama struggled in his season debut in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night time, within the course of displaying all of the methods he can nonetheless optimize his sport. Wembanyama must be a dominant inside scorer at 7’5 with an 8-foot wingspan, however he’s nonetheless far too happy to shoot jumpers on the perimeter. That could be technique in the future, however not but. Wemby began the sport 0-for-7 from three-point vary, and completed 1-for-8.
The Spurs simply didn’t do sufficient within the offseason to make a significant leap up the standings. It positive looks as if they not-so-secretly wish to get within the Cooper Flagg derby this yr. That ought to disappoint Wembanyama, who has all the time mentioned the appropriate issues about his dedication to successful. San Antonio will win huge quickly, nevertheless it’s not gonna occur this season.
The Hornets are this yr’s shock group
A nasty or mediocre group takes a giant leap up within the NBA standings yearly. Simply final season, the Rockets jumped from 22 wins to 41, the Magic jumped from 34 wins to 47, and the Thunder jumped from 40 wins to 57. The Charlotte Hornets are my decide for the same leap this season, and their season-opening comeback win over Houston was an ideal instance of why they’re so attractive.
LaMelo Ball has solely performed 58 video games mixed the final two years, however don’t neglect he was named an NBA All-Star in his age-20 season a couple of years in the past. Ball could be one of many league’s finest level guards with breathtaking ball dealing with and passing means, a vastly improved leap shot, and the scale to see over any guard defender. Ball erupted for 34-11-8 within the win, and appears like the kind of jumbo initiator each group craves. His supporting forged appears higher, too.
Tre Mann appeared like Gen-Z Allen Iverson by splashing deep pull-ups off the bench on his option to 24 factors. New coach Charles Lee had the group taking extra three-pointers regardless of taking part in lineups that had been extra defensively slanted. Ball’s co-star Brandon Miller exited early with a hip damage, however he’s going to have a giant season, too. Charlotte is making the playoffs within the East. You heard it right here first.
Paolo Banchero has an All-NBA season loading
Paolo Banchero has all the time had famous person potential since being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the No. 1 general pick of Duke in 2022. Banchero was Rookie of the 12 months in his first professional season, and was named an All-Star in his second season. What’s in retailer for yr three? After watching his dominant season opener in opposition to the Warmth, I’m satisfied Banchero might be an All-NBA choice, and the Magic is likely to be an actual Jap Convention contender.
Banchero’s mixture of dimension and talent is what stars are product of. At 6’10, 250 kilos, Banchero handles the ball like a guard, is aware of the best way to get to his spots on the ground, and may completely bulldoze smaller defenders on switches. If his three-point shot continues to look nearly as good because it did within the season opener (4-of-8 from three), we might be taking a look at one of many higher offensive gamers within the league.
The Magic simply may need one other huge leap in wins in them this season with Banchero main the best way. Count on not less than one playoff sequence victory — and possibly extra.
Evan Mobley is making The Leap
The Cavs have been an excellent group within the East the final two years that persistently falls simply in need of being an actual contender. Cleveland employed Kenny Atkinson as its new head coach to get them over the hump this season, and it’s job to get essentially the most out of a gifted however mismatched roster. The Cavs’ finest likelihood to make deep playoff run rests on the shoulders of 23-year-old huge man Evan Mobley, and the previous No. 2 general decide appeared glorious within the first sport of his fourth season.
Mobley popped off for 25 factors, 9 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals in a Cleveland win. He totally out-played former draft mate Scottie Barnes, and confirmed the kind of offensive enchancment the Cavs have been craving for since drafting him.
Mobley is already one of many league’s finest defenders. In his season debut, he appeared much more snug offensively working with the ball in his arms. At 7-foot with a 7’4 wingspan, Mobley has developed his deal with sufficient to create scoring alternatives for himself, and he makes use of that vast body to create house for straightforward buckets. He has such a powerful sense for the best way to transfer off ball on each ends of the ground, and when he will get rolling to the rim, it’s laborious to cease him with some added power to his body.
Mobley was a improbable prospect coming into the 2021 draft. It appears like he may lastly attain the ceiling that’s lengthy been evident in him.
Virtually each NBA three-point file will fall this season
The Celtics tied the NBA file (initially set by the 2020 Bucks) for essentially the most three-pointers made in a single sport by draining 29 of their season-opening over the Knicks. I’ll predict they break their very own file someday this season … possibly a number of occasions.
That received’t be the one three-point file to fall this yr. These are taking place, too:
- 70 three-point makes an attempt by a group in a sport, set by the 2018 Houston Rockets
- 14 made three-pointers by a participant in a sport, set by Klay Thompson in 2018
- 24 three-point makes an attempt by a participant in a sport, set by Klay Thompson in 2018
- 1,363 made three-pointers by a group in a single season, set by the 2022-23 Warriors.
- 3,721 three-point makes an attempt by a group in a single season, set by the 2018-19 Rockets
- 1,028 three-point makes an attempt by a participant in a season, set by James Harden in 2019
The one three-point file I believe will nonetheless be standing is Stephen Curry’s 402 made threes in a single season, set in 2016. The three-point revolution continues with no sign of ending.
