The bar of 41 games played has just been exceeded in the NBA, the opportunity to make a small update on the current season! Which team will have been the most outstanding? The most disappointing? Who blew up the pre-season predictions? We break it all down together.
Mid-season forces us to play your favorite game: were we good last September?
Before each start of the season, we send affirmation in all directions… but not sure that they hold three months later.
So here is a small anthology of what we can say today… and which was unthinkable at the start of the last school year.
- All is well with the Nets
This one had to be taken out without chattering your teeth at the beginning of autumn. Despite Kevin Durant’s recent injury, we can only applaud the work of Jacque Vaughn and his gang. The Nets are serious, the Nets are collective, the Nets have no more drama (!) and the Nets push us to debate on a possible title or not in Brooklyn. We were talking about an implosion in September, it failed.
- The Warriors fight for the Play-in Tournament
A defending champion with a hangover, it happens. From there to seeing Golden State pray for an away victory? Late in ignition, the Warriors chained the zig-zag like the left-right (Draymond vs Poole), and it was only recently that we were able to find the soul of the champion. There’s still work to do, but the band at Steph 7ème in January was not on the program.
- Who remembers Ime Udoka?
Joe Mazzulla took the place of Ime Udoka on the bench for the Celtics, and we still wonder who was the coach of Boston last season. More seriously, it’s going well in the green house, number 1 in the entire NBA and with an attack of madness. For a group that was in the media spotlight at the start of the NBA, we can say that extra-sports affairs have not affected the structure.
- The Clippers offer no continuity
One of the most impressive teams on paper this season. The most “meh” team actually this season. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are back, but the results are not. Non-existent dynamics, play sometimes clean, very often poor. We’re going to have to stir everyone up or move boxes, otherwise the sinking appears almost as programmed.
- Evan Fournier no longer plays basketball
Who could have guessed? Evan Fournier on the back seats of the Knicks bench since mid-November. Small minutes here and there, but nothing serious compared to the usual playing times of the native of Charenton-le-Pont. Disagreement with Tom Thibodeau? May be. Still, a departure from the Big Apple could allow Evan to replay real playing time in the NBA.
- Sacramento, the most regular darling in the West
The Kings? Who win? Oh la la hide the kids, something is going to happen. More seriously, this team pulled by the duo Domantas Sabonis – De’Aaron Fox is surprisingly serious and regular. So much so that the Kings are currently in the qualifying places for the Playoffs. The end of a long drought of almost 17 years?
- Indiana is ahead of Miami, Chicago and Toronto in the standings
Indiana was the team at the start of the season that we thought would only be present on the field to give itself the means to recover Victor Wembanyama. In reality ? A superb team with attractive play, tactically led by Rick Carlisle and Tyrese Haliburton on the court. The current best passer in the NBA can rely on an interesting rookie named Bennedict Mathurin, but also on the contributions of a team in tune with the collective. It treats.
- The arrival of Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, so so?
A lost team, which no longer has its bearings from last year. Results that coincide with the arrival of Rudy Gobert in Minneapolis this summer. And therefore, a frustration that rises vis-à-vis the pivot. Justified? Let’s say that we don’t add an element of Roudi’s caliber so easily. Karl-Anthony Towns’ injuries don’t help either, but Wolves must quickly find the way to a new collective alchemy.
- Paolo Banchero extinguishes all debates on the Draft 2022
Within five minutes, he was third in his vintage. He was finally called first by Adam Silver last June… and the least we can say is that he didn’t prove the Magic wrong. A crazy start to the season, games with lines worthy of those of a league daron, and a race for the rookie of the year trophy in which he competes almost alone. Too strong.
- 27-year-old LeBron James is alone in the world
29.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists at 51% shooting. For a 38 year old player. Here are the stats for LeBron James, who is only 423 points away from equaling Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA all-time high. Imperial to help the Lakers avoid another gloomy season, the King calmly continues to write his own legend.
- It’s shit at the Hawks, it’s average at the Heat
The Hawks, this mess worthy of the biggest sausage fairs in France. A coach who apparently wants to get out, results well below expectations, thank you but not thank you for the Atlanta fans. Those of the Heat, you’re not laughing because if the atmosphere is a little better in South Beach, the results are not. Jimmy Butler is not 100% and it feels too much on the overall level of the troupe.
- Lauri Markkanen All-Star in the West, as a matter of course
Traded for Rudy Gobert, maybe Lauri Markkanen took the seum. In any case, he took the reins of the formation of the Jazz brilliantly and turns to 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. A potential All-Star, who positions his team in 11th place in the West, in the Play-in tournament wagon. A surprise to see him potentially at home to play the All-Star Game? Not really.
- Everyone is talking about the Raptors one month before the trade deadline
Could the Raptors blow up their roster in the winter? Attention, not too quickly Pepito… but many rumors see the franchise of Masai Ujiri potentially thinking in the event of an attractive offer on the table. Pascal Siakam? Fred VanVleet? Gary Trent Jr? So many names that would not have such a big veto as that. Toronto is shaping up to be the place to be at the start of February.
But also…
- Demond Bane and Ja Morant, best backcourt in the world.
- Luka Doncic will give us a 60-20-10.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best fullback in the world.
- Who will prevent Nikola Jokic from being triple-MVP in a row?
- The Rockets are broke, no, everyone said that.
- The famous jump of Patrick Williams did not take place.
- Josh Primo’s future is not on an NBA court.
- The Bucks alternate between the very serious and the too relaxed.
- The perfect opportunity presented itself for Killian Hayes.
- Zion Williamson is going to play more games than Brandon Ingram.
And you, what are your surprises at the start of the season? There was something for everyone in two months. We now hope that the league hasn’t finished with its little gifts, because we don’t know about you, but we really enjoy it.
Source : ESPN
