NBA Weekly Recap: Nov. 14
After four weeks of the NBA season, the shock is wearing off and some of the early trends have continued.
The Utah Jazz have been the surprise of the season, and have continued their winning ways. The Jazz are 10-4 this season and they are doing so without a star player.
The team is sharing the ball and finding open shots, fueling this offense to have the second-most points scored per game.
Lauri Markkanen is playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 22.3 points per game, and Mike Conley is sharing the ball better than ever, averaging a career-high 8.2 assists per game.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have started to falter as of late, losing their last three games, all by a close margin.
They’ve faced good teams on their West Coast trip, losing to the Warriors, Kings and Clippers. The Cavaliers started the season by winning a lot of close games, but that started to change this week.
The Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry had an encouraging week, beating both the Cavaliers and the Kings.
Curry had over 40 points in both games, carrying the team to victory both times. The young bench has struggled defensively, but the offense with Curry has kept the team afloat.
One of the worst teams in the league has been the Los Angeles Lakers, who are on a five-game losing streak.
LeBron James suffered a left adductor strain, which is concerning to say the least, considering his injury history over the last few years.
Russell Westbrook has been one of the few bright spots for the team, shining in his role off the bench. He has shot more efficiently and scored more points over the past week, which is improving his trade value.
The Lakers don’t have their first-round pick this year, so tanking is not an option for the team. The Lakers’ future is uncertain and there aren't a lot of options going forward.
Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics have 10 wins, which is tied for the most in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks started the season with nine straight wins, but have since lost their last two games out of three.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued to be dominant this season, averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.
Khris Middleton still being out with a wrist injury has left a big hole in the starting lineup, but when he returns, the Bucks will return to the championship-caliber team that they can be.
The Celtics are starting to get in a groove and have a six-game winning streak going.
Jayson Tatum is maintaining his elite play, putting up 31.2 points a game on 50% shooting from the field.
This is also without Robert Williams Ⅲ, who is missing time as he recovers from a knee injury. He is the defensive anchor for this team and makes the Boston defense elite.
Even though the Bucks and Celtics are both missing a key piece, both teams are proving to be contenders so far this season.
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.
