With week one of the NBA season officially in the books, there is a lot to discuss. Although the season is still young — and it is important to keep that in mind when critiquing a team, player or coach — there are some truths that have been revealed. Before we get to today’s top stories, here’s a few quick hitters:
1. Chris Paul finally has his weapons of choice: The Clippers have been one of the few teams to start the season off clicking, and the result has been pure offensive ecstasy. If Chris Paul can dish out nine assists in one quarter as he did against Houston Monday night, it’s going to be a long night for his opponent. Paul won’t be facing off against Jeremy Lin every night, but he is averaging 26.5 points, 13.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game, and the Clippers have not scored less than 110 points to start the season. Paul leads the league with a PER of 37.81. He’s not just gunning to get back on the MVP ballot this season, he has his sights set on the top spot.
2. Kevin Love is an MVP candidate: Like Paul, Love has started the year on a tear. He’s averaging 26.5 points and 14.3 rebounds with a PER of 29. The Wolves are 3-1 and looking like a playoff contender in the West. It’s a long season, but if Love can lift the Minnesota into the top-half of the western conference and finish with the gaudy numbers he’s shown he’s capable of, why wouldn’t he be a realistic candidate, especially if he can elevate his scoring to rank with the big boys?
3. Victor Oladipo is the real deal: Unlike Cleveland, there are no questions, doubts or concerns in Orlando after week 1 of the NBA season. The Magic made the right call selecting Oladipo No. 2 overall despite concerns from many. Coming off the bench, Oladipo is averaging a stellar 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and four assists. His per-36 minutes averages would round up to 18/7/5. He’s pretty good. On the contrary, through four games Cavaliers’ rookie Anthony Bennett is 0-for-15 on the season.
4. Forget Carmelo Anthony, Paul George or Derrick Rose is a legitimate question: There, I said it. And I’m not the only one. Paul George has made the case is continuing to make the case that he is the best player in the Central Division. And Indy can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride since they locked him up with a five-year, $90 million contract. Dating back to last seasons deep playoff run, Paul George has been, without a doubt, a certified superstar. So why can’t he be better than Derrick Rose? To be fair, Rose is still working his way back from over a year away from the game. It’s going to take a much larger sample size to definitively say, but so far, George is proving the debate is worth having. After posting 31 points and 10 rebounds in last night’s 99-91 win over Detroit — moving Indy to 4-0, the leagues only unbeaten — George is averaging a ridiculous 27 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists and will seriously challenge for a first or second All-NBA spot if he keeps it up. Comparatively, during his 2010-’11 MVP season, Rose averaged just 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds while leading the Bulls to 62 wins. Is that type of season in the cards for George and the Pacers?
5. Anthony Davis looks like an All-Star, but the Pelican’s don’t look like a playoff team: 29 other teams have been preparing for the day that Anthony Davis finds his Kentucky form. That day has arrived. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick is off to a blistering start, averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds and a brow-raising 4.25 blocks per game. He had 17/11/5 last night in a losing effort, and make no mistake, there will be many more of those performances this season. At 1-3, the case could easily be made that the Pelicans are still feeling out their three-guard rotation. There is plenty of time to turn things around. But after one week, NOLA’s biggest preseason concern — who is the odd-man out between Holiday, Evans and Gordon — is starting to manifest. And with the added depth of the Western Conference, there is no time to fall behind if you hope to be playing meaningful games this spring. Regardless, if Davis continues to shine, he will be recognized as an All-Star in his second season.
Onto today’s top story:
According to Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Pincus, Steve Nash is still battling nerve damage in his leg:
Last season Nash suffered a leg fracture in the second game of the season. He hasn’t been the same since — and was hampered throughout the preseason by various problems, including neck and ankle soreness.
“I’m still fighting things that happened because of the broken leg,” Nash said. “I still feel that almost every day, all over. It’s not just in that spot. The whole system in a way is different now, it’s just a little bit more sensitive.”
Nash had his best game of the season Sunday night in the Lakers’ 105-103 win over the Atlanta Hawks, with 13 points and six assists in a season-high 29 minutes. He said he’s “extremely optimistic” that he’ll be a steady contributor this season.
No matter how you feel about the Lakers, this news should be troubling. If we are referring to 13 points and six assists as Nash’s best game of the season, something is seriously wrong. It’s no secret that Nash’s ability is rapidly declining.
Could this season be his last?
Depending on how this season plays out with the Lakers, it wouldn’t be surprising. Rumors have started to surface of a possible move to Toronto, but apparently that is out of the question.
Onto more from around the NBA