Five NBA Takeaways

Golden State’s Strong Start

The Golden State Warriors are back! They’ve kicked off the season with an impressive 8-2
record, reclaiming their spot at the top of the Western Conference. The Warriors had an
intriguing offseason, marked by Klay Thompson’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks, where he
now joins Luka and Kyrie fresh off their Finals run.
Golden State’s free agency wasn’t exactly headline-grabbing in terms of acquiring premier
talent, as players like Paul George landed with the Philadelphia 76ers, despite the Warriors’
attempt to trade for him. However, they did bring in impactful contributors who have already
made a noticeable difference. Buddy Hield has been on fire, shooting 50% from the field, 49%
from three, and averaging 18 points per game—a perfect fit for Golden State’s system.
Additionally, DeAnthony Melton and Kyle Anderson have been solid in their roles, proving
effective so far and giving the Warriors a rejuvenated look, at least from an eye-test perspective.
Steph Curry has been playing like his old self, proving instrumental in two big Warriors wins so
far. Against the OKC Thunder this past Sunday, he dropped 36 points and hit seven threes. He
also scored 27 points in a victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics, securing a
118-112 win. This team has started the season on fire, though questions remain—particularly
around Jonathan Kuminga. It’s unclear if the Warriors are fully committed to him, as he was
pulled from the starting lineup three games into the season and hasn’t yet signed a contract
extension. Still, they’re winning games, so it’s hard to question their approach. This situation
may indicate a potential trade in the works, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Cavs Remain Undefeated

The Cleveland Cavaliers have started the season 12-0. The Cavs seem to have something
special, as they’ve figured out how to rotate their players effectively, ensuring one of their
primary guys is always on the court to initiate the offense. Each player shines in their unique
role, creating a team that feels cohesive and unified. This early-season consistency is a
testament to the front office’s belief in this core group and its commitment to building on that
foundation going forward.
With four of their All-Star caliber starters on major long-term contracts, the team is clearly built
for the long haul. They’ve also added valuable talent around them, including Max Strus, Isaac
Okoro, and Caris LeVert, who has been with the Cavs even longer than Donovan Mitchell.
LeVert, now in his fourth year with Cleveland, has established himself as a reliable presence.
Players like Dean Wade and Ty Jerome, a University of Virginia standout, are also seeing key
minutes in crunch time, reflecting the coaching staff’s trust in each player to step up when the
game demands it.

This group is designed to win now and seems poised for sustained success, having displayed a
new level of excellence as they continue to dominate the season.

The Heat Are Frustrating

As a Heat fan, I’m feeling pretty mixed about this strange start to the season. One huge positive
for me has been Tyler Herro’s play—he’s clearly establishing himself as the offensive alpha,
being the only player on the roster who can reliably create and efficiently convert his own shots.
On the other hand, “Scary Terry” has been somewhat inconsistent, but I still feel confident in his
three-point shooting. Every time he gets a shot up, I think it’s going in, probably because I really
believe in him as a player. I’m hopeful he’ll find his rhythm soon and become a bigger
contributor to winning games.
Jimmy Butler’s recent ankle sprain against the Nuggets on Friday was another setback, but I
expect him back soon, which will hopefully allow this group more time to gel. Building chemistry
and creating offensive opportunities seem to be our biggest struggles right now, reflected in the
Heat’s 25th ranking in offensive rating across the league.
My biggest concern, though, has been Bam Adebayo’s somewhat slow start. He’s not playing
terribly by any means, but he isn’t quite meeting the high expectations we had after his
impressive summer with Team USA. Bam showcased elite defensive skills on the world stage,
so I hoped he’d come out strong, asserting himself as one of the league’s best and leading this
team to victories. Instead, he’s been outplayed in some key matchups, including a tough game
against Domantas Sabonis, who managed a triple-double and hit the game-winner over Bam.
I was also looking forward to seeing Bam play some minutes at the four spot alongside our
rookie, Kel’el Ware. However, Ware doesn’t seem quite ready yet, only recently entering games
and sometimes struggling with foul trouble, especially against seasoned players like Jokic
(understandable for a rookie).
On a brighter note, Pelle Larson has been a pleasant surprise, earning increased playing time
with his gritty two-way play and the trust of Coach Spo in high-stakes possessions. Haywood
Highsmith has also been impressive, consistently making a big defensive impact as our go-to
stopper for opponents’ top scorers. He’s been shooting the three well early on, and Heat fans
can only hope he keeps it up, as he’s been one of the true bright spots so far.

The Eastern Conference Stinks

Aside from the clear top-tier teams—the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics—the rest of the
Eastern Conference is off to a rocky start. Everyone besides the top two is either sitting at .500,
like the Indiana Pacers, or below .500 to start the year. Injuries are certainly playing a role in this
rough start, especially with key absences like Paolo Banchero, who’s a big part of what the
Orlando Magic hope to build on from last year’s success. The Philadelphia 76ers have also
been hit hard by the injury bug; they haven’t had their main trio on the court together yet, and
now Tyrese Maxey is out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury. One bright spot for the
Sixers is Joel Embiid, who’s making his season debut tonight against the Knicks, hoping to
spark a turnaround and get the team back on track toward a .500 record and eventually a top
seed in the East.
The Knicks are currently 4-5 and have shown limited signs of improvement, but watching their
game against the Heat gave a glimpse of the potential they have. KAT stepped up, showing the
kind of performance New York will need on nights when Jalen Brunson isn’t carrying the load—a
promising sign that there may still be time for this group to pull things together. Meanwhile, the
Nets have been exciting in clutch moments with Cam Thomas seemingly carrying the offense,
making impressive shots even in difficult situations. Dennis Schroeder has been solid as well
and could be trade bait for a contender by the deadline if the Nets’ season goes as expected.
Brooklyn, likely hoping to land Cooper Flagg in the upcoming draft, might have their eyes on the
lottery after reacquiring their own picks this offseason.
As for Milwaukee, it’s been a disappointing start on both ends of the court. I wouldn’t be
surprised if this roster looks different by the trade deadline, or if there are changes in the
coaching staff if things don’t improve. This team lacks direction, and unless they find a solution
quickly, the season could unravel.
The Eastern Conference just doesn’t have the depth the West does, where every game feels
like a battle against top-tier teams. This imbalance has been evident for a while, and while the
power rankings may eventually shift, the West looks poised to remain the stronger conference
for now.

Fun League Pass Teams

Like I mentioned earlier, the Brooklyn Nets are exciting because they’re just fun, spontaneous,
and, in a way, a “guilty pleasure” team to watch. They aren’t one of the most talented teams in
the league, but I enjoy watching them play because of how quirky they are. Another team like
this for me has to be the Los Angeles Clippers, who lost Paul George for nothing in the
offseason. They’re coming into the year with an injured Kawhi Leonard and a James Harden-led
offense, where he controls most of the offensive possessions. However, we’ve seen Norman
Powell improve immensely, as he’s been one of the league’s most impressive offensive players
early in the season, averaging 23.5 points per game with shooting splits above 50% both inside
and beyond the three-point line. Derrick Jones Jr. has taken on the responsibility of guarding the

opposing team’s top offensive player, excelling as a defensive menace. The Clippers have been
an exciting team to watch this year.
Just as much as I love the Clippers this season, the Houston Rockets have been exciting as
well. Jalen Green, in particular, has made a noticeable leap in my opinion, leveling up in his
approach to the game and letting the game come to him, rather than forcing up threes every
other possession like he did in past years. Don’t get me wrong—he’ll still let it fly, but now
there’s more thought behind it, and he’s doing it while helping the team win games, which is the
most important aspect. With time, I’m sure we’ll see Reed Sheppard more and more as the
season progresses, especially once they make a trade or make subtle changes to the rotation to
find him minutes, along with other future assets they’ve invested in. These teams have loads of
potential, and they’re definitely fun to watch. I’ll be tuning in every chance I get. Man, I love
League Pass.