The Nuggets, and Celtics run the NBA, plus the mania inside the NBA In-season tournament
We thoroughly analyze the dominant Nuggets and Celtics, along with the exciting in-season tournament.
Two weeks into the NBA Season, the Celtics and the Nuggets stand head and shoulders above the rest of the league. There was a significant contrast between the top teams and the mids.
Breaking news: The Nuggets and Celtics continue to amaze with their impressive performances. If you’ve watched any game this year of these two teams, I am absolutely certain you’ve noticed this. There is no way around it.
A couple weeks into the season, not much has changed at the top, despite the arrival of a new season. Milwaukee, Miami, and the Lakers have been struggling to find their rhythm, while the Suns and Clippers have been dealing with injuries. Denver and Boston have dominated the early schedule, playing a symphony of victories for their fans with a combined 11-1 record entering Wednesday. With the league's two best records, they stand out as the dominant teams.
Of course, that's nothing out of the ordinary. In the previous season, the Celtics proudly held the second-highest record in the Eastern Conference, while the Nuggets dominated with the top spot in the West. Denver celebrated their victory, basking in the glory of winning the title, while Boston lamented their loss in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat, a series that stretched to seven intense games.
What catches the eye for the 2023-24 season is that both teams are thriving, even after completely overhauling their lineups in the offseason. Boston bolstered their roster with the additions of Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. The team, renowned for their defensive skills, shocked everyone by taking charge on offense and putting up an impressive 155 points against the Indiana Pacers.
The Celtics have adopted a three-point shooting strategy, firing shots at the second-highest rate in the league and boasting a 38.9 percent accuracy. In a more subdued fashion, the Celtics are asserting their dominance on the offensive glass when they occasionally miss. The second group is the only concern, mainly because of Payton Pritchard's recent struggles and the limited options resulting from off-season trades. And now, let's turn our attention to the Nuggets, a team that has been making waves in the basketball world. A common theme among the NBA's elite teams is that off-season trades can leave them thin and stuck, as for now.
Now, let's shift our focus to the reigning NBA Champions, the Denver Nuggets, who have dominated the league.
The Nuggets just keep being dominant
Throughout this season, Nuggets coach Michael Malone has shown a preference for staggering Jamal Murray's playing time, opting to have him on the court with four substitutes instead. This strategy, however, reduces the opportunities for the deadly Murray-Jokić pick-and-roll.
However, the approach may soon face a stress test because of the persistent injury bug that strikes teams at the most inopportune moments. Murray might not play for the rest of November due to a hamstring injury, so other guards will need to take his place.
Collin Gillespie, a player in his second season with the Nuggets, entered the scene. Despite this, he has had no garbage time-less basketball since joining the team.
This highlights the Nuggets' venture in assembling this team during the last off-season. By targeting younger players for its second unit, the team avoids overspending on veteran minimum contracts.
Jeff Green, the makeshift center, played a crucial role in maintaining some level of effectiveness in the lineups without Jokić during the playoffs. In response, Denver has opted for a youthful approach, with only Reggie Jackson, the lone veteran, consistently playing with the second unit. Instead of relying on the usual suspects, the team is entrusting Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji, and Julian Strawther, a group of under-the-radar late-draft picks, to step in.
Braun's presence in the 2023 postseason has been notable, but it is Watson's lightning-fast athleticism that takes center stage in the current second unit.
Finding a backup center, Denver can trust is still pending. In the event that Murray cannot play for an extended period of time (as indicated by his absence from Monday's game), it will be necessary for another guard to step up, potentially either Gillespie or second-round draft pick Jalen Pickett.
The way Jokić has begun the season, specifically, has been a revelation that nobody saw coming. If you had the impression that he would use his offseason after winning the championship to relax and neglect basketball in favor of more enjoyable activities like taking care of stables, you are mistaken. With a remarkable PER of 33.1 through seven games, he currently holds the top spot in the league, and if he manages to sustain this performance for the entire season, it would be a historical record.
If you continue to dig deeper, you will find that the numbers become even more hilarious. Despite largely neglecting 3-point shots in the previous season, he has now resumed taking them and is currently making 40 percent of his attempts. With his 11.0 percent offensive rebound rate this season, he has solidified his position as one of the league's most dangerous offensive rebounders, marking the first time in seven years that he has reached double digits. Are you feeling any sense of shock at this point? Even if I put in all my effort, I would not be able to manipulate these statistics. I can't help but wonder if he is actually a real person or just a figment of our imagination.
Despite the fact that we have already reached the two-week mark of the season, it is crucial to understand that nothing is inevitable. It might be premature to start making travel arrangements for a potential Denver-Boston NBA Finals. One of the main reasons neither of these teams could find a solution in 2022 was because Golden State proved to be a formidable opponent, and it seems like the Warriors are once again in top form.
Additionally, both Denver and Boston must be prepared to face additional challenges as attrition slowly weakens the perceived strength of their dominant starting fives, revealing the weaknesses in their lineup. New contenders are emerging: The Bucks will address their defensive weaknesses, Phoenix will unite their big three, and teams like the Sixers and Clippers will continue with their strategies.
Nonetheless, if there's a main point to be made about the early going, it's that the most exceptional individuals have already risen to the top. The Nuggets and Celtics were our default answers for the top contenders in each conference entering the season; their high-powered offenses and stingy defenses made them formidable opponents.
In-Season NBA Tournament
The focus shifted from the teams and cities to the distinct features of the playing floors. "The NBA In-Season Tournament," the league's innovative new addition, commenced on Friday, capturing the attention and curiosity of basketball fans everywhere. Without a doubt, these naming rights will be sold within two years, just like a bowl game, don't you think?
Don't expect me to criticize these courts like a grumpy old man resistant to change. On the contrary, I found it entertaining, and the reaction on social media was downright comical. The strikingly gaudy floors they were played on only surpassed the highly competitive nature of five out of the seven games. If they were going for “different,” well … mis… mission accomplished. The ostentatious courts immediately conveyed the significance of the game, leaving no doubt that it was part of this new and exciting thing. Particularly on TV, I found the vibrant colors on the court to be somewhat distracting, but it didn't detract from the game.
While a couple of the color schemes might be debatable, the Indiana Pacers' color scheme is especially noteworthy. They must have exhausted all the blue paint in Indiana to create that vibrant court. The red-on-red aesthetic of Chicago's courts and the neon-green stripe running down Milwaukee's courts didn't resonate with me - the courts seemed to declare "tournament night" in a way that I believe will have a stronger impact during upcoming games. The timing is perfect for the NBA to attract attention during football season and make early-season games more exciting. Next week, when there's more on the line than just one of 82 games, will we find ourselves more invested in the Chet vs. Wemby rivalry? With only the winner advancing, a Milwaukee-Miami game in the last round of tournament group play adds an extra level of tension. Is there a chance of a near altercation as the team runs up the score to ensure the tiebreaker advantage based on the point differential?
The only downside is that those courts may risk alienating some casuals from watching. While scrolling through social media on Friday, the abundance of hate-filled comments regarding the courts overwhelmed me. The NBA showcased the In-Season Tournament with unique court designs to highlight its importance. However, the league should focus on better communicating the purpose and details of the tournament to build awareness. When it comes to that and the NBA, there is a lot of confusion swirling around. I'm confident they'll find a solution; after all, it's the NBA, a league that captivates global audiences for months on end.
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Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more.
I can't help but think these gaudy in-season tournament courts are a massive waste of resources. (ie paint, wood, labor, etc), that will probably reside in an air conditioned storage unit for the remaining 11 months of the year.