NBA: 5 Surprises and Disappointments From the First Week
One week of basketball down, a whole lot more to go.
After months of anticipation, the NBA has finally arrived and we have yet to be disappointed from what we have witnessed so far. We've already seen our fair share of spectacular individual performances, down to the wire games, and astounding plays making this first week of the NBA one of the best in recent history.
The anticipation of the Miami Heat appeared to be all for naught after a lackluster 88-80 loss at Boston on the season opener, but they quickly recovered with four consecutive wins.
The anticipation of the Los Angeles Lakers and the possibility of the team winning their third consecutive championship is on the right track as they are currently only one of three teams in the league to remain undefeated. The reigning Eastern Conference Champions in the Boston Celtics have also proved that the road still runs through Massachusetts if you want to reach the finals come June.
While many teams have stayed the course, not doing anything extravagant to gain some notice considering it was expected coming into the 2010-11 campaign, other teams have gone a completely different route and have either began to surprise or disappoint us with the way they have played so far.
Even though it is only the first week of basketball and a lot can change within the next six months, the first few weeks could impact the way a team plays for the rest of the season. If they fail to live up to the expectations they're supposed to meet, they could have pressure on them for the rest of the way to make up for what they did in the first week. Teams that are performing well over the first week could use that momentum the rest of the way.
One week completed and these are five teams that have surprised us, as well as five teams that have disappointed us.
Surprise Team No. 5: Sacramento Kings
1 of 10
Current Record
3-2
Wins at Minnesota, at Cleveland, and Toronto. Losses at New Jersey and the Los Angeles Lakers.
A 3-2 record may not be too much to be proud of, but for a team that has won a combined 42 games over the past two seasons, this is all a team like the Sacramento Kings could ask for. Led by Tyreke Evans' 21 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game, the Kings are third in the Pacific Division and appear to be motivated enough for a post season run in the future.
Evans has picked up right where he left off by averaging 20-5-5 a year after winning the Rookie of the Year award and becoming only the fourth rookie to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The 21-year old is attempting to lead one of the youngest teams in the league to their first postseason in five seasons, when Evans was still in high school.
Tyreke isn't the only heralded player on the Kings however, as nearly the entire roster has stepped up to get the Kings to a winning record after a little over a week of playing. The newly acquired rookie in DeMarcus Cousins hasn't disappointed as he currently averages 13 points and six rebounds as the Kings starting center. His foul trouble, nearly five per game, has greatly limited his minutes to only 24 per game, but he has shown potential in his offensive and defensive game when he has been on the court.
None have been more impressive than Carl Landry who came over last season in a trade that sent Kevin Martin to Houston. The swing man is averaging 16 points per game on 49 percent shooting and is also grabbing five caroms per game. His inside presence has greatly helped the team as the Kings have been limited in the paint on the offensive side of the court.
The wins may not be too impressive, but the Kings began their season with three consecutive road games and finishing off their first road trip of the season with a 2-1 record. Their record could only improve with games against Memphis, Minnesota, and Phoenix on the horizon.
Disappointing Team No. 5: Utah Jazz
2 of 10
Current Record
2-2
Wins at Oklahoma City and Toronto. Losses at Denver and Phoenix.
It's been a tumultuous ride thus far for the Utah Jazz. They started off the season with two consecutive losses by a combined 38 points, including a 110-88 season opening loss to the Denver Nuggets and a 110-94 loss to the Phoenix Suns in their home opener, but have been revived over the past two games with convincing wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors.
It appeared early on that the Jazz had made the wrong choice in losing Carlos Boozer and getting Al Jefferson over the off season following a six point and seven rebound game on opening night, but he has since recovered for three consecutive games with 20 or more points and is appearing to adjust to the game that Deron Williams and the Jazz play.
The first two games and the last two games have been completely different from each other and it doesn't show in another players game on the Jazz more than it shows in Williams. Deron only had a combined 12 assists in the teams first two losses and shot below 30 percent. In the teams two wins, Williams was a completely different player as he tallied 29 assists, shot 50 percent, and had his first 20 point outing of the season when he scored 22 in a win against the Raptors.
By far, the most consistent player on this up and down Jazz team has been Paul Millsap, who is currently averaging 11 points more than his career average at 21 points per game. He has scored at least 15 points in all four games and had the game of his career in the teams first win when he scored 30 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and dished out six assists against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Millsap has definitely been one of the bright spots for a team who has struggled out of the gate thus far.
Unfortunately, there isn't too much room for struggling in a division like the Northwest. The road only becomes more difficult for Utah as they face a daunting road trip next week where they have Miami and Orlando back-to-back before getting a day off and then facing Atlanta and Charlotte to finish off the four game road trip.
Surprise Team No. 4: Portland Trail Blazers
3 of 10
Current Record
4-2
Wins against Phoenix, at Milwaukee, at New York, and at Los Angeles Clippers. Losses at Chicago and Oklahoma City.
The Portland Trail Blazers might have only played in six games, but they have already spanned across the entire country nearly twice in the span of a week with one game on the East coast, two in the Midwest, and only three near home. The 4-2 record should be considered a surprise as the team has started off the season with four of six games on the road.
They also faced a daunting four-road road trip where they had to travel from Los Angeles to New York to Chicago to Milwaukee in their first week of the season. They completed the road trip 3-1 and still have four of their next six games on the road with none of them getting any easier as they travel to face the Lakers, Thunder, and Hornets next week.
Brandon Roy has once again assimilated himself to the role as team leader despite averaging only 39 percent shooting. He is averaging a little above his career average in points with 21 points per game thanks in part to the near two three-pointers he's making per game on 37 percent shooting. He is struggling at many aspects, three turnovers per game and under four assists per game, but as the season progresses we will see Roy begin to play to the style he is accustomed to.
Aldridge has two double-doubles thus far and had one of the best games of his career coming in a loss to the Chicago Bulls when he scored 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He is currently averaging a career high in points at 20 per game and would be huge come late in the season if he continues to play like this as it not only takes the scoring load off of Roy, it provides the team with a big-time scoring presence inside.
The newly acquired, and grossly overpaid, Wesley Matthews is beginning to convince Blazer and NBA fans everywhere that he will live up to his $33 million contract. The second-year player is averaging 11 points and three rebounds in only 23 minutes per game. Matthews would complement Roy very well off the bench if he continues to average double figures.
Do not worry Blazer fans, your team will actually play home games. In fact, they have a three game home stand coming up in two weeks before they depart for another week long East Coast road trip.
Disappointing Team No. 4: Phoenix Suns
4 of 10
Current Record
1-3
Win at Utah. Losses at Portland, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio.
You could give the Phoenix Suns an excuse for their lowly 1-3 record by pointing out the elite teams they have faced, but with the teams two home games ending up in losses, this could be a cause for concern in the coming months as not even the people at the US Airways Center can will their team to a victory.
The loss of Amare Stoudemire was sure to hurt a team that had relied on him as the primary scorer and so far it has proven so as the Suns currently have a total of zero players averaging over 20 points per game. The high-octane offense is also only seventh in the league when it comes to scoring despite averaging 40 percent shooting as a team from beyond the arc.
Stoudemire's replacement in Hakim Warrick has shown flashes of "Stat" with a number of high powered jams, including this one over Paul Millsap, but is still only averaging 12 points and five rebounds per game as the starting power forward. His stats pale in comparison to that of Amare who was reaching upwards of 25 points per game before leaving for the New York Knicks. Phoenix should make it a mission to find Warrick for more looks as he is only averaging seven shots per game on a team high 57 percent shooting.
Steve Nash has also looked to be out of sync without Stoudemire to look to in the paint as he is averaging an absurd five turnovers per game while only dishing out seven assists on a given night. His shooting hasn't struggled at a clip of 18 per game, with 50 percent shooting from beyond the arc, but he needs to limit his turnovers if his Suns want to see a post season in their future. It's excusable early in the season to commit sloppy turnovers, but as the season progresses he'll need to control it and learn to find Warrick for more scoring opportunities.
Surprise Team No. 3: Atlanta Hawks
5 of 10
Current Record
5-0
Wins against Detroit, Washington, at Memphis, at Philadelphia, and at Cleveland.
That schedule might not be impressive, but give the Atlanta Hawks their credit as they're doing what needs to be done against weaker opponents.
Atlanta has answered the extremely weak schedule of the opening week by beating their first five opponents of the season with a sixth and seventh most likely on the way with a game tonight at the Minnesota Timberwolves and a game on Sunday back home against the struggling Phoenix Suns. They'll have their first challenge of the season with a game on the road against the Orlando Magic the night after facing Phoenix.
The Hawks $20 million man in Joe Johnson may be struggling at 20 points per game on 39 percent shooting, a dismal 27 percent from beyond the arc, but he is getting plenty of support from his balanced roster as the entire starting lineup, as well as the sixth man, are averaging points in double figures. The most impressive stat line being from the starting center Al Horford who is currently averaging a career high 15 points on 61 percent shooting and 10 rebounds.
With Horford coming into his own, Atlanta gains another strong scoring threat on the inside alongside Josh Smith who is also having a terrific season thus far at 13 points, nine rebounds, and a league leading four blocks per game. In fact, the entire Hawks front court has performed admirably with even Marvin Williams contributing. Williams has scored in double-figures in three of the team's first five games with his best performance of the season coming in the Hawks victory over Cleveland where Marvin scored 22 points.
Atlanta has been benefited with an easy opening schedule where they will need to gather up wins as the schedule becomes ore daunting in late November and December.
Disappointing Team No. 3: Oklahoma City Thunder
6 of 10
Current Record
3-2
Wins at Portland, at Detroit, and Chicago. Losses at Los Angeles Clippers and Utah.
The Oklahoma City Thunder might have rallied last night for a win against the Portland Trail Blazers in the hostile Rose Garden, but they have yet to prove that they are the championship contenders that many thought they would become this year.
The Thunder won their season opener with a late rally against a depleted Chicago Bulls squad and then needed a late score in the final seconds to beat a Detroit Pistons team that has still yet to win a game. They struggled mightily against the Utah Jazz losing by 21 points and then had one of their worst losses in recent memory by giving the Los Angeles Clippers their first and only win of the season and losing by 15 points.
Kevin Durant, who was predicted by NBA GM's as this years MVP, has yet to transition his game from last season and the game that won the United States a gold medal at the FIBA's and is greatly struggling from an offensive standpoint. He is currently averaging a dismal 37 percent from the field and is hitting only 29 percent of his three-pointers while taking a career high of nearly six per game. The less than impressive shooting equates to the 26 points per game that the reigning scoring champ is averaging.
However, the Thunder's point guard in Russell Westbrook has begun to pick up the slack for Durant and the rest of the team by averaging a career high of 22 points per game. Not only that, his overall game has greatly improved as he is filling up stat columns in nearly every game with seven rebounds and seven assists to go with the 22 points he is already averaging.
With two games against Boston in the next two weeks as well as tests against San Antonio and Portland coming up, Durant and the Thunder are going to need to make a statement against one of these teams if they want to keep convincing the NBA world that they are not all hype.
Surprise Team No. 2: Golden State Warriors
7 of 10
Current Record
3-1
Wins against Houston, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis. Loss against the Los Angeles Lakers.
It must be the jerseys.
How else can we explain the Golden State Warriors 3-1 record? How else can we explain Monta Ellis leading the league in points per game at 30? How else can we explain Dorell Wright averaging 14 points more than his career average? How else can we explain how the Warriors currently have three players averaging over 20 points per game?
Very easily actually.
Monta Ellis and co. are a young, athletic squad without a leash on offense as there game plan is to score a lot of points and nothing more. Ellis came into the season with plenty of promise and potential and was expected to possibly steal the scoring crown from under the noses of the likes of Kevin Durant or Kobe Bryant. With a 46 and 39 point performances already under his belt in five games, it should come as no surprise that he is currently leading the league in points per game and it should also come as no surprise if the Warriors continue to average 110 points per game and if Ellis leads the league in scoring throughout the season.
Did we mention he's a guard shooting 55 percent per game?
Their unheralded off season acquisition in Dorell Wright has been one of the most effective pick-up's over the summer as he is averaging 21 points per game and is currently making nearly five three-pointers per contest on 55 percent shooting. He had appeared to be a bust for the Miami Heat as he did not thrive in the Heat's half-court style of play. The run and gun mentality has given Wright a new lease on life as he is easily having the best five game run of his career.
Stephen Curry unfortunately suffered an injury mid-way through the second game of the season and has yet to make his presence truly felt. In the one game he did fully play in, he scored 25 points on 9 of 16 shooting while dishing out 11 assists in the teams opening win over Houston. The back court of Curry and Ellis could form one of the most dangerous tandems in the game as Curry's shooting and Ellis's driving have become forces to be reckoned with.
Neither player is older than 25. I'd be scared too.
Disappointing Team No. 2: Milwaukee Bucks
8 of 10
Current Record
1-4
Win against Charlotte. Losses at New Orleans, at Minnesota, at Boston, and Portland.
A loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves? This Milwaukee Bucks team may have just hit rock bottom. It wasn't that close either.
Following one of the most impressive seasons in recent Milwaukee Bucks history where they became the team that no one wanted to face, the Bucks have now become a bottom-feeder in an extremely weak Central Division where the top team is at .500. Milwaukee may have played in three road games, but all three of them extremely winnable as they only lost by four to the Hornets, lost to an awful Timberwolves squad, and allowed the Celtics to rally back in the fourth quarter in a game the Bucks held the lead for most of the game.
So who's to blame for Milwaukee's rocky start?
Perhaps it is the newly acquired Corey Maggette who is taking ten shots per game despite shooting below 37 percent. Or it could possibly be Brandon Jennings who is still shooting below 40 percent and is also hitting 25 percent of his three-pointers. The eight assists per game and the first triple-double of his career are no doubt impressive, but his shooting needs to either be limited or greatly improved because it is only hurting this team. He has shot above 50 percent in only one game.
The fact that Carlos Delfino is leading the team in scoring is a cause for concern. Nothing against Delfino and his 16 points per contest, but players like Jennings, Maggette, and John Salmons are going to greatly need to step up if they want to get over this hump. The Bucks are second to last in scoring per game at only 90 points per game despite having three quality scorers in the starting lineup and off the bench.
As for John Salmons, I think shooting 28 percent from the field and 23 percent from beyond the arc speaks for itself.
Surprise Team No. 1: New Orleans Hornets
9 of 10
Current Record
4-0
Wins at San Antonio, at Houston, Milwaukee, and Denver.
Trade rumors surrounding the franchise player? No impact players brought in over the off season? A daunting schedule to start the season?
No problem.
Despite Chris Paul being at the center of a countless number of trade rumors over the summer, the New Orleans Hornets have not let that affect their game in the least bit as they stand as one of only three teams to remain undefeated. Unlike the Hawks and Lakers thought, the Hornets have defeated a number of quality teams with all four of the teams they have beaten reaching the post season last year.
The Miami Heat come to town tonight, a win would make them a championship favorite.
Chris Paul is playing like the Chris Paul we have come to love as he averages 21 points on 51 percent shooting all while dishing out nine assists and grabbing six rebounds per contest. It's an even more impressive fact that even though he commands the ball for every second he is out on the floor, he is only allowing an unheard of one turnover per game.
Nearly the entire team has stepped up to the occasion as David West and his 18 points per game are welcomed, Marcus Thornton and his 10 points per game off the bench are uplifting, and newcomer Marco Belinelli and his 11 points per contest greatly help stretch out the floor as he is beginning to replace Peja Stojakovic as the teams primary scorer from deep at nearly two three-pointers per game.
All this and Trevor Ariza is shooting 38 percent from the field. If and when Ariza begins to play like the player the Hornets traded for, this team would become even more dangerous than they already are. CP3 has given the Hornets a new life and is playing like he was before an injury kept him out for most of last season.
Still miss Darren Collison, New Orleans?
Disappointing Team No. 1: Houston Rockets
10 of 10
Current Record
0-4
Losses at Los Angeles Lakers, at Golden State, Denver, and New Orleans.
Since the Houston Rockets deflating two-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night, they have played like a team uninspired as they gave up 132 points to the Warriors the next night and 107 points to Denver and New Orleans in the next two games. If you're keeping track, that means the Rockets are giving up a league high 115 points per game.
That's right Rocket fans, your team is giving up more points than the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors.
Despite being third in the league in scoring as a team, Luis Scola averaging nearly 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Kevin Martin leading the team in scoring at 23 points per game, the Rockets defense has been paper thin as they have been scored on at will and have yet to give up less than 107 points per game this season. Even with Yao Ming back, the Rockets have only looked worse than they did when their starting center was the 6'6" Chuck Hayes.
Yao's presence has yet to been felt yet as he is averaging 13 points and seven rebounds in the three games he has played in. Yao is coming off of an injury that threatened his career as it became extremely possible that the Chinese tower could retire for good after only nearly a decade of playing in the NBA. Houston has been cautious in bringing Yao back as they have limited him to only 22 minutes per contest thus far.
The Rockets have some debilitating problems to fix on the defensive side as they were the team to give up 46 points to Monta Ellis, 25 points to Chris Paul, 28 to Al Harrington, and 29 points to Pau Gasol. It seems to be obvious that the Rockets have a problem when it comes to playing individual defense as they have allowed a number of players torch them for at least 20 points.
Luckily for Houston, we're only four games into the season and there's a lot more basketball to play.
