We’re just one week into the 2024-25 NBA common season, so it’s essential to not soar to many conclusions immediately. That mentioned, sure tendencies which have transpired over the previous week appear extra prone to proceed than others.
Let’s take a deeper look into a few of these developments and mirages…
Development: Tyrese Maxey main the league in minutes performed
After three video games, Maxey is enjoying a whopping 42.7 minutes per recreation. Search for this to proceed. Nick Nurse has no alternative however to lean on Maxey whereas Joel Embiid and Paul George stay sidelined.
Mirage: Karl-Anthony Cities and Alperen Sengun enjoying lower than half-hour per recreation
When you’re like me — utilizing Prime 20 draft picks on each Cities and Sengun — then absolutely you’re disillusioned of their lack of minutes so far. Preserve the religion. It shouldn’t be lengthy earlier than their minutes and manufacturing ramp up.
Development: Bilal Coulibaly enjoying 34.0 minutes per recreation
Of the 44 gamers at the moment averaging 34 minutes per recreation or extra, Coulibaly is among the many least skilled and completed gamers. I count on this pattern to proceed. The Wizards are attempting to speed up his progress. I wrote a complete column on why I like Coulibaly and Jaden Ivey to have breakout years over at Zen Hoops, the place you possibly can learn extra of my fantasy hoops musings.
Mirage: Zaccharie Risacher enjoying simply 22.5 minutes per recreation
Risacher got here off the bench for his first two video games, and after 4 video games, he’s enjoying simply 22.5 minutes per recreation. Nonetheless, the Hawks received’t have the ability to hold him glued to the bench. They’re at the moment coping with long-term accidents to Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin and Vit Krejci. It’s time to see what this yr’s high draft choose can do!
Development: Chet Holmgren and Evan Mobley have leveled up
This shouldn’t be a lot of a shocker. Each younger, large males are oozing with expertise. Holmgren has been extra aggressive, scoring the rock whereas flying across the paint defensively to take an early-season lead in shot-blocking — 4.0 swats per recreation. In the meantime, Mobley has additionally elevated his scoring and shot-blocking and is taking pictures a candy 88 % from the foul line.
Mirage: Rookies Alex Sarr and Zach Edey received’t be playable
One week into the season, Sarr’s discipline objective share is underneath 29 %, and Edey has been coping with foul hassle. We all know the minutes will keep constant for Sarr, particularly with Kyle Kuzma injured. Edey has been harm by Ja Morant’s lowered minutes so far. As each rookies modify to life within the NBA, they need to finally determine how you can be efficient on the court docket, thus serving to their fantasy managers.
Development: Ivica Zubac beasting within the paint
After three video games, Zubac is averaging 22.7 factors and 14.0 boards per recreation, properly above his earlier profession bests of 11.7 factors and 9.9 boards per recreation. We will count on the sturdy numbers to proceed as a result of he’s taking pictures simply 59 % from the sphere, in comparison with 65 % final season, so his factors per recreation may climb even larger if the sphere objective taking pictures improves. Till Kawhi Leonard is able to assist the Clippers out, they’ll want “Zoo” to maintain enjoying like this.
Mirage: Scotty Pippen Jr. averaging 8-plus assists per recreation
Pippen proved to be a priceless backup final season, and he’s off to a blistering begin this yr. However his 8.3 dimes in simply 25 minutes per recreation off the bench is unsustainable. Until Morant suffers a significant harm, his numbers will begin sliding.
Development: Yves Missi blocking 2.3 pictures per recreation
Missi has been efficient coming off the bench for New Orleans and is exhibiting wonderful rim-protection expertise with out stepping into foul hassle. The Pelicans have a significant rim-protection want, so his position ought to proceed.
Mirage: Jordan Poole grabbing 3.0 steals per recreation
The highest three steals leaders are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Poole and Dyson Daniels. A type of names doesn’t belong, and it’s the participant averaging simply 1.1 steals per 36 minutes for his profession.
Development: Jalen Duren, Jarrett Allen and Dereck Full of life II posting elite discipline objective share marks
At a distance of simply 1.6 ft from the basket per shot try, it’s no surprise Duren is at the moment taking pictures over 85 % from the sphere, which leads the league. That has to return down a bit, nevertheless it wouldn’t be stunning if he finishes the season over 75 %, as I’ve highlighted his dominant power within the paint earlier than. Allen and Full of life rank proper behind Duren in discipline objective share because of their mixtures of size, finesse, contact and athleticism. Even when these numbers slide a bit, it’s fairly clear they’ll all be discipline objective share anchors.
Mirage: Mikal Bridges and others taking pictures over 60 % from the sphere
Bridges is probably the most notable mirage participant at the moment taking pictures over 60 % from the sphere, given how erratic his 3-point taking pictures was in preseason and what his total shot chart will appear like. However gamers like Aaron Wiggins, Derrick Jones Jr., Caris LeVert and Miles McBride are additionally taking pictures approach above their pay grades.
Development: Keyonte George being a discipline objective share killer
I consider George will produce high quality counting stats this season, however for those who have been anticipating improved effectivity, you might need to attend one other yr. He’s taking pictures simply 26 % from the sphere after 4 video games and is 30 % or under from each 3-point vary and 2-point vary. With not a lot elite expertise surrounding him, count on the poor taking pictures woes to be a theme all through the season.
Mirage: A bunch of stars taking pictures properly under their profession norms
Quite a few superstars are struggling to knock down pictures effectively early within the season, however the small pattern sizes imply we shouldn’t rush to judgment (no less than not for the confirmed stars).
Development: Cam Thomas, Jalen Inexperienced, Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham averaging 25-plus factors per recreation
For Thomas and Inexperienced particularly, we noticed some foreshadowing within the second half of final season as to what they may have the ability to accomplish scoring-wise, and early on, they’re delivering the products. Banchero and Cunningham appear like the superstars many predicted they might grow to be after they have been chosen first total of their respective drafts. Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless on the fence about LaMelo Ball, as Brandon Miller’s return will damper his scoring outbursts.
Mirage: Zach LaVine averaging 26 factors per recreation
LaVine is red-hot to start out the yr, taking pictures 55 % from the sphere and looking out lots like the previous All-Star he as soon as was. However he can’t keep this stage of effectivity, and the Bulls are nonetheless hoping to commerce him for any priceless belongings.
Development: Payton Pritchard producing potent statlines
Since his 1-for-10 taking pictures stinker on opening evening, Pritchard has been on a heater, making 18-of-29 triples over the previous three video games. I predicted this is able to occur, in fact!
Mirage: Jalen Williams, O.G. Anunoby and Deni Avdija at the moment are horrible 3-point shooters
Among the many notable gamers off to horrible 3-point taking pictures begins, J-Dub is at the moment at 20 %, Anunoby is at 17 %, and Avdija is at 7 % (a woeful 1-of-15). For Avdija, let’s do not forget that he’s acclimatizing to a wholly new set of teammates. These are small pattern sizes, and we all know that they’re higher shooters than this.
Development: Tyrese Haliburton has misplaced his mojo
Among the many superstars off to gradual begins, Haliburton’s stands out as the most regarding. Let’s bear in mind, he performed at lower than optimum well being for the second half of final season, barely performed within the Olympics, tried only one free throw in 58 preseason minutes, and now he’s struggling together with his shot from all areas of the ground. I hope this pattern proves false, as Haliburton is an electrical participant when he’s on high of his recreation.
Mirage: Offensive numbers are approach down from final season
Throughout the league, the typical workforce’s factors per recreation, assists, 3-point taking pictures and 2-point taking pictures numbers are significantly down from final season. One of many solely numbers that has elevated is free throw makes an attempt. However as groups begin to shake off their taking pictures rust and referees start to chill out in relation to blowing their whistles, I count on the offensive numbers to start out climbing, finally surpassing final yr’s scoring averages.
(Prime picture of Tyrese Haliburton: Elsa / Getty Pictures)
