NBA Early-Season Overreactions
After just one week of the NBA regular season, it’s natural to overreact based on the limited sample size. These are the biggest takeaways so far through the season:
The Philadelphia 76ers Are Not Fast Enough
The 76ers are not off to a great start, just 1-3 on the short season thus far. One reason for this is the team’s inability to move in transition and play with pace.
This is a product of the personnel of the team. Joel Embiid is a big center, James Harden is not as fast as he once was, PJ Tucker is not a speed threat and Tyrese Maxey is a smaller defender that does not pose an interior defensive presence.
Through the first four games, the Sixers allowed the fourth most fastbreak points to opponents per game. Offensively, they scored the fourth fewest fastbreak points per game.
Systemically, the team is built in the half-court with Harden and Embiid getting the ball and finding open shoots. However, the 76ers rank just middle of the pack in their offensive efficiency and can use more speed up and down the court.
With Embiid pounding in the paint and falling down after drives, he makes the team susceptible to faster-paced teams who can attack the rim while Embiid isn’t back on defense.
It’s still early, but the 76ers will have to look at ways to limit teams in transition and speed up their pace of play, which ranks dead last in the league.
Russell Westbrook Needs To Be Traded ASAP
The Westbrook experience on the Los Angeles Lakers has not worked out for either side.
Last year started off solid for the Lakers, but once Anthony Davis got hurt, the team’s defense suffered and the Lakers missed out on the playoffs.
As time went on and the team started to collapse, it became clear that Westbrook did not fit the team’s needs.
LeBron James has been on many winning teams in his career, and what has proved to be the winning formula is to surround him with defense and 3-point shooting, two things that Westbrook does not have.
Westbrook is a career 30.4% 3-point scorer, which is well below league average. The Lakers team as a whole has shot 21.2% from three, which ranks last in the league by a significant margin.
It’s clear Westbrook is no fit for the Lakers, and the best option is to trade him for players that can shoot and play defense. Then Westbrook can find a new team that is better suited for his skill set.
The Brooklyn Nets Will Miss The Playoffs
The Nets on paper are a very talented team. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant scoring the ball, and Ben Simmons anchoring the defense, the Nets appeared to be a legitimate NBA Finals contender before the season.
However, the Nets defense is still in shambles, allowing the fourth most points per game this season. Simmons has not been the defensive presence that he was in Philadelphia, and offensively he is scoring just 5.7 points per game.
Right now the team has its three stars healthy and playing, but given recent history, there is no guarantee that this core will play the whole season together.
Irving has averaged just over 34 games played over the last three full seasons of the NBA. He has been plagued by injuries and off-the-court issues have kept him from playing. He remains a huge question mark for this team and is not a sure thing to play close to a full season.
Simmons is the other big uncertainty for the Nets. He missed all of last season after dealing with an injury, mental health struggles and conflicts with 76ers’ management.
He is off to a rocky start, fouling out in two of the three games he has played this season, and if he doesn’t turn things around, the Nets may miss the playoffs.
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu
