Regular Season Chatter (21-22)
Nov 16, 2021 14:34:16 GMT -5
Kots (Colorado GM), MemphisGM, and 3 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Nov 16, 2021 14:34:16 GMT -5
Quarter mark of the season, let's take a look around...
COLORADO AND GOLDEN STATE SURPRISE
Thus far, the usual suspects out West (Kansas City, Portland, and Houston) are performing as expected, but it's been the play of both Colorado and Golden State that has turned heads. The Warriors came in with talent, but the question after last year was whether that talent can stay on the floor. The answer? Not really. Khris Middleton got COVID, then Vucevic did. Siakam, Love, and Nunn have all been out with injuries. And yet, none of it has mattered as the Dubs are off to a 4-0 start with impressive wins over Chicago and Tampa Bay. They've got Atlanta and Brooklyn next, and if they come out with wins in both of those games, you can start reserving playoff tickets.
For Colorado, the story has been about cutting the dead weight. The Swannies hit FA home runs with Kuzma and Melo, and those two, along with the stars, have powered this team to an undefeated start with wins over Brooklyn and Chicago. At this point, only one tricky non-conference game remains - Tampa Bay - and much like GS, going undefeated through non-con puts this team in a very enviable position. The Swannies currently have the longest playoff drought in the league - they last appeared in the playoffs in 2010. Every single team in the league has made multiple postseason appearances in the years since Colorado last made one. If there's any team to pull for this year, it's the Swannies.
THE EAST IS A TRAINWRECK
We knew it was going to be bad going into the season, but it's somehow worse than most could have imagined. The East is just 11-29 against the West. Four East teams are winless. Two have just one win. The Nets and Knicks are tied atop the North division with 2-2 records. Tampa Bay, viewed as a title contender coming into the season, sits at just 2-2. The Atlanta Hawks (the Hawks!) currently lead the conference at 3-1; a record that wouldn't even get them into the play-in game in the West. It's bad. And looking at the schedule for this week, it would not be a shocker if the East went 1-9. We're really looking at a scenario in which the top-5 teams in the West all make it through non-conference play unbeaten.
KEVIN DURANT, STEPH CURRY, BEST BETS FOR STOPPING JOKIC
Nikola Jokic has come out firing on all cylinders, and he's got the Phoenix Suns eyeing a playoff spot after falling short last year. The Serbian big man is averaging 26-14-6 while shooting 59% from the floor, and he would be the frontrunner for MVP... if it wasn't for Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. After an injury-plagued season last year, Durant has been literally unstoppable this year. 29-8-5, 2 threes per game, 59/84 splits. He's been fantastic in leading the Blazers to a 4-0 start. Meanwhile, Steph Curry is doing everything he can to match him: 28-6-7 and 5 threes per game. Quite frankly, a lot of Houston's roster in underperforming, but Steph Curry has been so good, that it hasn't mattered. If Jokic doesn't win a second straight MVP, it looks like it will be because of Steph or KD.
PORTLAND LOOKS DOMINANT
The West may be loaded, but the Trailblazers look like the early team to beat. Through four weeks, Portland ranks first in 4 categories and second in a 5th. The only real weakness they appear to have is from beyond the arc, but with guys like Trae, PG, and Durant, the ceiling is the roof in that category. They've boatraced all four East opponents they've faced, though to be fair, they got four of the tankers. The start of conference will play will tell us a lot about this team. The open with Colorado, Houston, Kansas City, OKC, and Golden State.