What has been each team’s biggest surprise so far, good, bad or ugly? The Athletic posed that question to its NBA staff. Here’s what they said.
Major questions in Milwaukee and Denver
The Milwaukee Bucks, a team that entered the season believing it could contend for a title, brought such poor focus and effort in the first week that coach Doc Rivers called the two losses “horrible games.” It's been shocking to watch a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo struggling to stay afloat early in the season.
While the Denver Nuggets entered the season as the defending champs, the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has created a void in the starting lineup. However, Christian Braun has risen to the occasion, becoming one of the best two-way players on the roster. He’s not trying to replace what the Nuggets lost with Caldwell-Pope. He’s being himself. He’s getting out in transition. He’s cutting to the basket. He’s scoring off opportunities, and he’s been stellar defensively.
A big change powering the 5-0 Cavs
Evan Mobley seems better. Or, I should say, the new Cavs coaching staff has seemed to have found a way to better utilize Mobley while Jarrett Allen is on the floor. Mobley is handling the ball a lot more, and his assists are up — running the offense through Mobley has allowed the team to maintain spacing while keeping its two bigs on the floor at the beginning and end of games. This is a surprise because, well, if it were possible, the Cavs should have been doing it last season. It’s early in the season, but Kenny Atkinson deserves credit.
The early buzz around Banchero
Anthony Black’s playing time has been a surprise. The Magic have one of the deepest teams in the league, but Black is averaging a hefty 25.6 minutes per game. It’s not that Black isn’t talented. He was the sixth pick in the strong 2023 draft, after all. It’s that he’s carved out a key role this early in his second season at 20 years old. He played a significant factor in Orlando’s opening-game victory in Miami after Jalen Suggs faced early foul trouble. Given Black’s positional size and feel for the game, he has a chance to develop into an essential member of the Magic’s nucleus.
Scouts, execs examine Haliburton's start
Tyrese Haliburton has struggled to rediscover his form from the beginning of last season. But his struggles haven’t gone unnoticed, with many scouts and executives examining his performance closely. While some see it as a temporary dip, others are more cautious, pointing to potential areas of concern.
No, the Celtics won't stop launching 3s
The Boston Celtics are on pace to set new league records for shooting. Payton Pritchard appears to have taken a leap after averaging 16.2 points per game over the Celtics’ first five contests. Entering Thursday night, he was tied for second in the NBA with 23 made 3-pointers and has done that despite no perimeter injuries above him on Boston’s depth chart. Incredibly, given that he comes off the bench, Pritchard has attempted nearly 10 3-pointers per game. He is playing with a green light so far. It’s not easy to earn more playing time on this Celtics roster, but Pritchard is making the case.
The Early Season's Biggest What-Ifs?
The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and many of these early trends are likely to change over time. However, these early surprises provide a fascinating glimpse into the league's evolving landscape and offer plenty of talking points for fans and analysts alike. As the season progresses, we'll continue to monitor these developments, and many others, to see if they translate into long-term success or simply fade away into the annals of early-season intrigue.
