The surprises of the NBA season: illusions and disappointments
We step on February, the shortest month of the year that brings the turning point that will be the All-Star, and It is time to centralize ourselves in what we did not see coming at the beginning of the NBA season.
With issues chosen by this committee composed of a single person, it is time to start.
Here we go.
Boom: Luka Doncic will play in the Lakers!
Beyond that the results could have been very worse, LeBron James’s birthday ended in an abrupt way with which it was perhaps the most surprising exchange in the history of the NBA. The arrival of Luka Doncic to Hollywood is a bomb that we undoubtedly did not see coming.
The Mavericks gave the key to the Lakers to open the lock, remove the chains and escape. Who in their right mind can give one of the best players in the world, with 25 years, in exchange for an inmate like Davis, six years older and with injury history? In principle, someone desperate to win now.
The truth is that Luka Magic gives Los Angeles new life and is a perfect renewal movement for Rob Pelinka to leave this lethargy in continuous post bubble from Orlando. Also, in addition to Davis, Max Christie (A Dallas), a first round pick of 2029 and Jalen Hood-Schifino (Al Jazz). Inside Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The worst thing that can happen to a large market like Los Angeles is not losing: it is being inconsequential. This movement, then, benefits them everywhere. Luka is the new face of the franchise and I would not be surprised if LeBron left the team. Warriors maybe?
Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the NBA sensation franchises
Whoever says that Cleveland could have, up to date, a record of 40 wins and 9 losses, he is lying. The Cavaliers are ahead of the Celtics champions and this is a capital surprise for the League.
Yes, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland is a key piece of the perimeter, but the surprise of Kenny Atkinson’s team is having achieved such an objective with a retro basketball formula: two big men (Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen) and a combo of workers around who know their function very well to hurt (see Max Strus, Ty Jerome, Caris Levert, Sam Merrill, etc.).
They have the best offensive efficiency of the NBA (120.2 points per 100 possessions) and the eighth better defensive efficiency (109.1 per 100 possessions). The big question is whether they will fall into the last journey of the regular season, but the signs for now are very positive.
The arrival of De’aaron Fox to the Spurs explains something important: Victor Wembanyama is the evolution of basketball
From Magic Johnson to LeBron James. From nature to what is created in the laboratory. From Kevin Durant to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Centimeters, versatility, the farewell of natural positions. Victor Wembanyama takes the best of the previous ones, and with Alien’s physique adds surgeon. All at formula one speed.
The Spurs acquired De’aaron Fox, one of the best Pick and Roll players throughout the NBA, sacrificed very little in the exchange and stayed with their young value assets, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan case. In the future they could add one more sword to finish strengthening the squad.
San Antonio made an excellent movement and leaves a message to the NBA: you have to surround the French unicorn well because with only 21 years it can be ready to compete for everything. The future arrived and is among us.
Houston Rockets continues the path of Oklahoma City Thunder and confirms the new way to compete in NBA 3.0
The turbulent output of IME UDOKA of the Celtics and the advent of these electric rocks allow two conclusions: we are in the presence of an elite coach. The Rockets do not have Sam Presti as general manager, but shared a look with the Thunder: pay the price of the present to smile in the future. Houston knew how to win. He took a step back to provoke teaching: a dozen first round draft picks until 2031 and a court team that is third in the west, are reasons to get excited now and also in the coming years.
The Rockets game label has enough to do with your coach: suffocating defense and vertigo on the other side. Rockets are an explosive cocktail: the jump of Jalen Green, the intensity of Ames Thompson, the leadership of Fred Vanvleet, the disruptive character of Dillon Brooks and the brain of Alperen Sengun. This universe, which is crowned with the rest of the role – Patience. Sculpt the marble until crowning the work of art. Although it may sound strange because of previous experiences, there are no shortcuts.
We didn’t see it coming. Really. Without being Butler fans, we bought his narrative in previous years. The young man on the street rescued by Pat Riley of the alleys of Philadelphia. The Heat culture, the racking, the passage from player to legend. As shouted on social networks: Michael Jordan’s son. Leaving the franchise like that, complaining like a capricious child and forcing an exit, is a huge disappointment for those who admire their competitiveness, their effort and character.
Building a forest can last a hundred years, set it on a minute. Riley, the NBA Godfather with a past in heavy markets such as New York or Los Angeles, laughs at the pressure of having to move it anyway. Butler’s discussion with Riley is much more than a potential exchange: it is the clusted between players and owners. Who commands in the League? They or us? Be that as it may, Butler has a betrayal flavor. There are things that are not done. I’m very sorry for Jimmy Buckets, but I can’t feel it otherwise.
In sports terms, this has been a catastrophe. Joel Embiid’s career was always full of injuries, but never with something like this. The MVP of the 2022-23 season played 13 games of 48 of the Sixers and everything seems to indicate that the number of absences will grow large. To that nightmare we must also add Paul George, who played 30 of 48 games.
The Sixers have a Top coach in Nick Nurse, but without Embiid and with George halfway they are a play-in potential team. That making a great season. The good news here is Tyrese Maxey, every day that spends more settled as the face of the franchise.
Before starting the season we saw the 76ers in a position to fight with Knicks and Celtics in the east. I do not know if they had to take the place that the Cavaliers have today, but to be in that beautiful discussion for being the best of a conference that had them in the main marques.
Last November, Shams Charania published an AM850 article on the differences in criteria that Maxey and Embiid had, something that finished detonating Philadelphia’s locker room. The knees of Embiid and George seem not to endure and that, dramatic in the immediate present, can be a clear sign of where to move in the future. Blecking and giving again, something illogical months ago, today seems critical. It’s just a matter of time.
