Early Season Reactions

What’s better than preseason takes? Takes after five or six games, so let's get into them.

Finals Matchup - Nets vs Lakers

Is this the safe pick? Yes. Is it a boring pick? Maybe. Am I going with it? Of course. These two teams have looked unstoppable when they’re on their game. Brooklyn has had some early hiccups but overall this team just needs to find it’s groove. The injury to Spencer Dinwiddie is concerning due to what he brings to the team, but they should have the depth to deal with that. They need to improve on the wing defensively and could add a free agent like Andre Roberson or find a trade to help with this. Not to mention Steve Nash is still a very young coach but has a great staff around him and will learn from, and at times differ, to them. And looking at Los Angeles, well everyone already knows about them. The additions of Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schröder both look great and make this team even deeper. Kyle Kuzma has continued to grow and has looked good early on. Oh and Lebron James and Anthony Davis are still Lebron and AD. Overall both teams have an experienced superstar duo and fill out the roster with high level role players. However, the Nets would be too much for the Lakers to handle, their creativity on the perimeter is amazing and while their defense needs to improve, the offense is just too much for LA. If they make a midseason move for a defensive wing, that would set them over the edge and could bring Brooklyn the Larry O’Brien.

Most Surprising Team - Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs have been lighting it up so far this season despite the fact that many expected them to be a bottom feeder in the East. Although there is a lot of talent on this roster, I expected them to be below average but show growth. I did not expect this much growth, this quickly. Darius Garland and Colin Sexton both look great and will be a dangerous duo for years to come. Andre Drummond is playing his role to perfection and is really helping the team. Additionally JaVale McGee and Cedi Osman have been great off the bench and add a needed spark to the team. Larry Nance has really developed as a passer and can often hit an open teammate while driving, adding another degree of danger to this team. Looking specifically at Sexton, his growth in the last three years have been tremendous as he has consistently increased his scoring while maintaining his efficiency. Not to mention the fact that he has come through in clutch, notably against Atlanta recently. This Cavs team could compete for a playoff spot, at worst a play-in spot.

Most Disappointing Team - Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook in the backcourt should raise a team’s floor, right? A combination of young forwards and All Star guards should make the playoffs in the East, right? Well, the way it looks as of no that is a no to both of those. A combination of disappointing play from the guards and poor defense across the board have led to a team that looks sluggish and overall just bad. Thomas Bryant has been great offensively, but has been a nightmare on defense, really hurting the team more than helping. The way things are looking right now, Beal is going to be moved mid season. This won’t stay the case in coming years, the Wizards have a very young team who may end up being a threat in the East soon.

MVP - Nikola Jokic

Before I get into this, I should preface this by saying that the Nuggets have to at least be a three seed for this to happen, they can not play how they are playing now. Jokic had been a borderline MVP candidate for the past two years but his slow starts have always held him back from that despite team success. But early on he is currently averaging a triple double on great efficiency and looks like the best passer in the league. When he is on his game, now one can stop him. His wide array of post moves combined with his turn around midrange shot make him unguardable. And it’s not like teams can double him, cause he can just pass to the open man, and he does not even have to be looking at them. The team has not looked as good as in years past but still should get it together and make the playoffs as a high seed. Long story short, Jokic looks like one of, if not the best player, in the league. Was ‘the best’ a stretch? For sure. But I’m sticking to it.

DPOTY - Anthony Davis

A perennial early season favorite who has never won it before, Anthony Davis should bring it home this year. He anchored one of the best defenses in the league as it’s ridiculous that he does not have this award yet. His perimeter defense has continued to improve while his post defense has stayed dominant. While he may have a case for MVP, he won’t get that, but he should be happy with this and a shot at another ring.

ROTY - Tyrese Haliburton

Haliburton has been a pleasant surprise for Sacramento Kings fans as he has looked very solid off the bench. Concerns about his shot mechanics have been erased and his passing ability looks even better than advertised. He has been great off the bench for a Kings team that lacks creativity at times. With this rookie class not being amazing, Haliburton is shining in his role and could win this award due to his efficiency and lack of real competition.

6MOTY - Jordan Clarkson

Ever since he came to the Utah Jazz, Clarkson has been a killer. He scores well off the bench and does so efficiently. Notably in The Bubble against the Nuggets in the playoffs last year where he was a major reason the series was so close. He fits well in the offense and is not one of those bench players that has to dominate the ball to do well. And while he is not an amazing defender, he plays with effort on that end and the fact that Utah plays good team defense hides his deficiencies on that end. He shoots well on all three levels and has a bit of playmaking in him due to his point guard background. With him being the primary sixth man for a good Jazz team, he has a real shot to win.

MIP - Darius Garland OR Malik Beasley OR Christian Wood

This one is a cheat, I picked three. Granted, I can not decide who it should be between these three as they all look great so far. Starting with Garland, he has looked amazing so far this year. He is coming into his own as a passer, something that he was criticized for not being last year. He is using his handle to create space for himself and also creating space for others. His efficiency is up as well and he looks like the player he was expected to be after all the hype in high school. The only thing he has working against him here is the fact that he is only a sophomore and second year players don’t usually win as they’re expected to get better. Now with Beasley, had he been in Minnesota all year last year, he would have won this award. He is a knockdown shooter who scores well at all three levels and has upped his defense as well. If he can average around 18 points on good efficiency this is his award to lose. Now onto Wood, he is Beasley's biggest competition and he has looked great so far. Offensively, he looks like AD with all his midrange turn-around jumpers. His pick and roll partnership with James Harden (and John Wall since Harden may leave) is run to perfection and has shown he can be a volume scorer on good efficiency. Wood is similar to Beasley, as if he had been a starter on the Pistons all year, instead of the last twelve games, he would have won it. His defense is also slowly improving, showing that Wood could be a legitimate force in this league. The media narrative is going to lean more towards Wood, but Beasley can not be overlooked.