We are just over two weeks into the NBA season and each season there are teams that dramatically outperform or underperform the expectations fans and analysts set for them. Well this season remains the same and there are some serious shockers so far.
Shocker #1: Cleveland Cavaliers remain undefeated
The Cavs just set a franchise record for the best start in team history after their 131-122 victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday night. They remain the NBA’s only undefeated team at 9-0.
The Cavs’ core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen is the foundation to this historic start. New Head Coach Kenny Atkinson has manufactured a winning formula by strategically combining and separating these four players through his rotations. 28.1% of Cleveland’s total possessions feature all four players while 62% of possessions feature only two of the four.
Some look to discredit this historic run by claiming the Cavs have had a favorable schedule up to this point, which isn’t necessarily true. The Cavs have had to face the Knicks, Bucks, and Lakers over the past 9 games. The Knicks are considered a top contender for the championship but have encountered some chemistry issues early on. The Lakers started red-hot and have since cooled down, with AD on track for a potential career year. The Bucks are supposed to be a juggernaut in the east and are currently the complete opposite at 1-6, and our next shocker. They played good teams, the good teams aren’t playing well.
The Cavs take on the 7-1 Warriors Friday night. The Bay is coming off of a win over the defending champions, should the Cavs beat them, the entirety of the Eastern Conference would be put on notice. (If they are not already)
Shocker #2: The Milwaukee Bucks are tied for dead last in the NBA
Yes, you read that right. The Bucks are off to a 1-6 start and are tied with our next shocker team for the worst record in the Eastern Conference and in a three way tie for the worst record in the NBA.
The team has been without three-time all-star Khris Middleton as he recovers from off-season surgery on both of his ankles, which is undoubtedly contributing to the teams abysmal start. The true elephant in the room however, is Head Coach Doc Rivers, who was brought in midway through last season and owns a 18-25 regular season record since being named captain of the ship.
Well, surely Rivers was brought in last season to try to save a team in shambles right? Wrong. Adrian Griffin was fired last season and replaced by Doc Rivers after building a 30-13 record, this move was a head-scratcher back then, and even more so now with the unfortunate reality the Bucks find themselves in.
The Bucks are running out of time to turn this around, but have an opportunity to do so starting tonight. They have played five of their first seven games away from home, which could be a reason it has been hard to establish momentum. Milwaukee is back at home for four of it’s next five games, and have the 1-6 Utah Jazz tonight. On paper, this should be an easy win for the Bucks, but we shall see.
Shocker #3 : Philadelphia 76ers are tied for dead last in the NBA
The Bucks and Sixers seem to be in a battle for who can produce the most disappointing season. While the Bucks have a clear path to redemption, the 76ers road to success has now turned into a dirt path with low visibility in the middle of the night during a rain storm; hopefully you get the picture.
Philly’s highly anticipated big three hasn’t even played together yet and now Tyrese Maxey has been sidelined for at least a few weeks with a right hamstring injury. Maxey was averaging a career best in points while also playing a league high 39.7 minutes per game, making his extended absence a devastating blow to Philly. Joel Embiid also is currently serving a three game suspension for shoving a member of the media.
Paul George has played only two games as he just returned from a knee injury suffered in the preseason, while Embiid has not played a single game, but is scheduled to debut against the Knicks on Tuesday.
It’s too early to call the season a failure, but the Sixers desperately need a boost before it’s too late.
Shocker #4 : The Warriors are tied for the best record in the West
Dub Nation finds themselves tied with the Thunder and Suns, two teams that were expected to perform at this caliber, but the Warriors weren’t supposed to be this good. The Warriors opted to build depth after losing Klay Thompson and missing out on the Paul George sweepstakes this offseason. A move many people thought signaled the end their championship aspirations. They were wrong.
The Warriors are fresh off a victory against the defending champion Boston Celtics where their new dominate defensive identity led them to holding one the league’s best offenses to only 40 points in the first half.
Steve Kerr is using the teams newly acquired depth to avoid lulls in competitive intensity by running a 13-man rotation to keep players fresh.
“In theory, if we’re playing a bunch of guys 15 to 22 minutes, they should be able to go all out during those minutes,” Kerr said.
Off-season acquisition Buddy Hield has embraced his role as the new splash sibling coming off the bench and is shooting lights out from beyond the arc at 50.7% for 3-pointers.
The Warriors are first in rebounds, first in charges drawn, second in defensive rating, second in contested shots, and second in opponents FG%
These red hot Warriors take on the league’s best team in the Cleveland Cavs on Friday in my most anticipated matchup this week. Both teams have faced claims of a fraudulent hot start and whoever wins should have enough to silence the noise and truly establish themselves as a team to beat this season.
Written by Raven Ullah, WUFO Intern
