We have just past the American thanksgiving and the National Basketball season is in full effect and tons of storylines as usual. To start off with the lone Canadian team the Toronto Raptors who hail as of November 24 the best record in the NBA at 16-4, with help from their newest star Kawhi Leonard. We have seen this movie with the Raptors before having great regular seasons but failing to make it far in the playoffs losing to LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers 3 years in a row. James now 33 decided this off season that Los Angeles was the best location for him and joined the Lakers with have some pundits speculating is this the year of the Raptor.
Thus far there are plenty of teams in Eastern Conference that have been a surprise to many including the Milwaukee Bucks with pose a astonishing 13-5 record under new head coach Mike Budenholzer the Bucks look like a team that play spoiler to the Raptors in the future with budding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the Bucks in points and rebounds.
The Boston Celtics have a rough start to the season starting at a disappointing 10-9, the Celtics were seen before the season as a team the could take the defending champion Golden State Warriors 7 games in the finals this season. Early on the Celtics have had problems integrating all-stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to the team. Head Coach Brad Stevens said earlier this week that “We aren’t as good as everyone thinks we are” which the Celtics may look to as a rallying cry in the coming months to turn their season around.
The Washington Wizards have also had a slow start to the season with Star John Wall calling out his coach Scott Brooks in practice, Wall was later fined and new acquisition of Dwight Howard has not panned out the way the Wizards would like and GM Ernie Grunfeld has stated publicly that the Wizards are open to trading anyone on the roster and that includes backcourt duo John Wall and Bradley Beal.
Now we move West and start in Oakland the Golden State Warriors have also had their fair share of adversity during the season. The Warriors have suffered in the month of November their first 4 game losing in the Steve Kerr era. Note this losing streak has gone on with 2 time MVP Stephen Curry out with a groin injury and Warriors all star Draymond Green missing sometime as well. Earlier in the month Draymond Green and Kevin Durant had a public disagreement over Durant’s upcoming free agency, which led to Green being suspended by the Warriors, Green has appealed the Warriors decision. The Warriors are still the favourites to win the title again.
Now we move down the California coast and stop in the city of angels Los Angeles and Lakers forward LeBron James has led the Lakers to new heights stating earlier in the season that he (James) almost “cracked” during the Lakers slow start in the Western Conference. The Lakers now sit at 11-7 and sit 1 game back of the Western Conference leading and Staple Center partner Los Angeles Clippers. James and the Lakers still have work to do if they want to keep pace in the Western Conference.
NBA: surprise teams so far
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Charlotte Hornets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Detroit Pistons
NBA: Disappointing teams so far
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Washington Wizards
- Utah Jazz
- Houston Rockets
- San Antonio Spurs
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