We’ve just ticked over the first quarter of the NBA season and there’s been a lot to take in. Did you notice how Golden State have shot out of the blocks and only lost their first game of the season a few nights ago – TO THE BUCKS NO LESS!!? Of course you did. We all did! Did you notice road teams boast a 41.2 percent winning record so far: 147 wins from 353 games? The West has a better win rate on the road than the East with 76.8 percent versus 65.3 percent. Did you notice Andre Drummond and his dominance on the boards, who is resembling a peak Kevin Garnett? Did you notice a Spurs-Warriors final could exist? Did you notice Derrick Rose plays with and without his mask and how no-one can make up their minds if he plays better with or without his mask!!? Without further delay, let’s tackle 10 burning questions in this NBA Quarterly Review edition.
By Justin Robertson
Q: The Spurs are 21-5, the second best behind the 24-1 Warriors, yet they are something like the 28th best narrative in the NBA right now. What gives?
Who knows? Call it Spurs fatigue? The fact they seem to make playoffs year after year makes fans and media blind to their 21-5 start. They have an ageing roster with 7 of 15 aged 30 and above. That could bring in boring crowds or old crowds who knit in the stands. But, whatever, tell that to Popp. He wouldn’t care if his team wasn’t exciting and winning games. And championships. Sometimes “getting it done” minus the bells and whistles is boring. But the truth is, they’ve been the best defensive team in 2015 so far only allowing 91.3 points against and have one of the best up-and-comers in Kawhi Leonard, who could be an All-Star this year.
Q: After a tornado of hype, where does Kristaps Porzingis rank in the “NBA Rookies Who Are Playing Like Seasoned Pros” power rankings?
I would break it down like this:
3. Kristaps Porzingis: Top three definitely. Has 13.6 ppg, 8.4 rebs, at 44 percent. Has become a cult hero at the Knicks. Will only get better at the season rolls on.
2. Jahlil Okafor: Getting a reputation as a bad boy but that hasn’t stopped his on court touch: 17.8 ppg, 8 rebs. Imagine what he could do in a better team?
1. Karl-Anthony Towns: Has been the pick of the tall rookies with 15 ppg, 9 rebs and a 15.6 player impact rating. He’s shooting at 53 percent from the field and could he make All-Star status in his first year?
Q: Who’s been the most inconsistent team so far?
We have a few contenders here: Clippers, Rockets, Pistons. From the past nine games the Clippers have rectified a mini-slump with 7-2 record and the Rockets have gone 4-5. The Pistons are 7-5 from their past 12. The season is full of swings and slumps but we expect more from the Clippers and Rockets. This season with Andre Drummond – BEST BOARDS GUY IN THE NBA RIGHT NOW – and Reggie Jackson on point, the Pistons look better but are still ironing out kinks in their game. But the winner here has to be the Rockets. Up and down like a rollercoaster – they’ve lost a coach, James Harden is in big love with his shoe deal and the team doesn’t look like they’ve gelled yet.
Q: Tyreke Evans versus Tony Wroten?
Both have returned after serious knee injuries. And you couldn’t have two more different introductions back into the NBA. Evans was promised incremental time and have averaged 32 minutes. For a guy who’s undergone knee surgery and spent a large period of time off the court, you wouldn’t have guessed it with 16ppg, 6.9 ass, 6 rebs. Those numbers will increase too. As for Wroten, the 76ers have nursed him back to the court, using him as a bench player with 15.4 minutes per game, averaging 6-pts and 2 rebs. My guess is he’ll get 15-25 minutes between now and the All-Star Weekend and beyond that, at least 30 minutes. But right now, Evans is years ahead of Wroten.
Q: Who’s the best three-point shooting team right now?
It goes Warriors, Pacers and Suns as the best three teams in the NBA from the long arc. It makes sense, of those three teams, their rosters are made up of Curry (45.7 percent), Klay Thompson (43.5 percent), Bledsoe (38 percent), CJ Miles (44.5 percent) and Paul George (43.8) who a pumping those long range shots. CJ Miles is having the season of his life!?
Q: The Bucks beat the Warriors. Are they that good?
No. But that win was good. It made them look better than they are. Did they catch the Warriors on an off night? Probably. The 10-16 Bucks haven’t shown much yet. They are 2-11 on the road and 8-5 at home. If they can figure out a way to win away from home, then something good can come from their season.
Q: If you had to decide right now, who’s your MVP?
If asked answered quickly, then my first thought would be Curry for MVP. But after that, it gets interesting. Russell Westbrook is a strong contender: 26 ppg, 9ass, 7 rebs. Has the most Double-Doubles and Triple-Doubles in the league. Blake Griffin with 24.3, 4.3 ass, 8.8 rebs and 11 Double-Doubles. Anthony Davis has 23.6 ppg and 14 Double-Doubles.
Q: Would you trade Derek Rose?
Only if he wants to go. Otherwise the Bulls have to do everything to keep him at the Bulls. You have to remember, this guy has had a rotten run with injuries. The Bulls should stick with him, ride out this season, and get him fit and firing for next season. If he stalls again during that vision, then, perhaps trade talks should appear.
Q: What would you do with the 76ers?
How about this crazy idea: pick the best team possible and try to start winning some games!!? No high-end draft pick will want to sign up for a team that has a culture of losing. At least, get the players to show some fight. Performing at lowly levels can be damaging to rookies and seasoned guys. What if Jahlil Okafor has seen enough losing already and wants to opt out by the end of the year and join the Bulls or Celtics (I could see Okafor at the Bulls.) Win some games guys! GO!
Q: Are the Raptors better than they were a year ago?
I’d say, they’re slightly worse than last year. Less hype this year, which is not a bad thing but because of their unsightly road schedule, they’ve dropped a few more than last year. But they’re third in the East, which is what we’ve come to expect from the Raptors based on the past three seasons under Casey. Their defense is still a worry and scoring so far has been left to Lowry and DeRozan once again. Their biggest hole is their bench guys like Ross and Patterson who can’t get numbers up when on court. Joseph is a trier and shows the hardness of Lowry. Bennett and Johnson have done nothing. Scola and Carroll get a passing grade and have shown brief glimpses of their good stuff. And Biyombo has plugged in some holes in the absence of JV, but he’s no JV and the Raptors need JV back on the park. The Raptors have a lot more flux to deal with in 2015.
Justin Robertson (@justinjourno) is a freelance journalist and Hooped Up contributor based in Toronto, ON.
