It’s been an interesting first week of the fresh NBA season, highlighted by a handful of 50-point performances, an NBA Finals rematch and standout rookies dominating in their first few games played.
And one massive mafia gambling story had the FBI involved, but that’s not what we’re here for.
For the local teams, like the Knicks and 76ers, they are each off to a great start. The Knicks had a stellar first two games of the season at home before dropping its first game of the season to Miami over the weekend, while the 76ers have been near-perfect and have yet to lose a game.
The Nets, however, have been the opposite. Brooklyn is still looking for its first win of the season while rookies fill the roster, and veterans could potentially be shopped at the Trade Deadline.
The first three-to-four games this season for the local teams have been a good show of what’s to come the rest of the season. With that, here’s one thing for each team to fix to help them improve as the season progresses.
Brooklyn Nets: 0-4
Results this week: 136-117 loss at Charlotte, 131-124 loss vs. Cleveland, 118-107 loss at San Antonio, 137-109 loss to Houston.
What’s to fix: Perimeter defense.
Three of the four Nets losses this season have been to opponents who have scored more than 130 points. Normally, a team scores more than 130 points in a game that goes to overtime. Well, not with these Nets.
The first four games this season have all been a bit similar: Brooklyn holds its own through the first portion of the first quarter before the opponent, like Houston last night, goes on a big offensive scoring spree. Houston’s 15-0 run to end the first quarter left the Nets in the rearview mirror for the rest of the game last night.
Against Charlotte, Brooklyn allowed not just a 53.3 percent shooting percentage from the field, but from behind the arc, the Hornets shot just above 47 percent.
Same with Cleveland in Brooklyn’s home opener: the Cavs shot just shy of 54 percent from the field, but Brooklyn did protect better from three-point range. Maybe that’s why the score, despite Cleveland scoring over 130 points, was still as close as it was, as Brooklyn fell to a seven-point deficit and made it close as the game closed out. Brooklyn had made it a one-point game before Donovan Mitchell and former-Net Jarrett Allen nailed a few free throws.
Brooklyn had another decently close game with San Antonio before another strong fourth-quarter performance from the opponent doomed the Nets. San Antonio led by as much as 81-55 midway through the third quarter before the Nets had arguably their best overall stretch in any game by closing the gap and leading 97-92 in the fourth quarter.
But you really can’t stop Victor Wembanyama from scoring. Along with Harrison Barnes and Rutgers-draftee Dylan Harper, the Spurs rolled past the Nets in the closing minutes.
Then last night against Houston, the Rockets and Kevin Durant. Alperen Şengün and Tari Eason had their way on offense. The Rockets shot over 57 percent from the field and shot for 50 percent from behind the arc.
It’s difficult to ask your veteran players like Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton to bare a lot of the defense while also guiding a bunch of rookies in their introduction to the NBA. Michael Porter Jr. has been a proven defender with his time with the Denver Nuggets, but he also had help from one of the best players in the NBA.
Simply put: Just load up at the three-point line, then collapse on the opponent driving towards the net if they make their way past the defense. Also, watch out for the open man if that driving player decides to kick the ball out.
New York Knicks: 2-1
Results this week: 119-111 win vs. Cleveland, 105-95 win vs. Boston, 115-107 loss at Miami.
What’s to fix: Turnovers.
The Knicks have had double-digit turnovers in every game so far this season.
To be fair, there’s only been one game where the Knicks have had more turnovers than its opponent and that was against Boston. New York totaled 20 turnovers, its most in a game so far this season, while the Celtics had 16.
If you’ve watched the Knicks through its first three games this season, the story so far has been getting a great offensive performance from anyone on the court and building a double-digit lead. Then at some point, a couple of players start playing ahead of the rest of the team, which results in sloppy plays and turnovers that give the opponent, like Cleveland in its season opener, a chance to cut the lead or take it back.
You could argue, too, that despite having more turnovers in the game against Boston, Boston did not shoot the ball well and could not capitalize on the misplays. Whether you credit the Knicks defense or the lack of Jayson Tatum, you can be the judge.
Against Miami, however, is where these mistakes accumulated and resulted in the first loss of the season. The Heat led the entire way in the fourth quarter after a back-and-forth game for the first three quarters. It also didn’t help that the Knicks didn’t shoot the ball well either.
Whether it’s slowing the pace of play when the Knicks are rolling on offense, or getting used to playing with its bench players after seasons with their starters mainly playing with their starters, this is something the Knicks will have to iron out over the course of the season.
Philadelphia 76ers: 3-0
Results this week: 117-116 win at Boston, 125-121 win vs. Charlotte, 136-124 win vs. Orlando.
What’s to fix: Rebounding
Philadelphia has been outrebounded by its opponent in every game so far this season.
Even in its first two wins this season, the 76ers have won by less than five points while Boston and Charlotte recorded a combined seven more rebounds than Philadelphia.
Seven, while not a huge margin, still adds up when Philadelphia has mainly been playing from behind. Securing the ball earlier in the game would cut that early-game deficit that the 76ers have been seeing so far this season. You would much rather have a chance to score than have the opponent have another chance to build its lead, right?
While Joel Embiid has been a clutch rebounder as no one can push-and-shove their way into the paint with Embiid around, any 76ers fan will tell you that he will be out every other game for load management. So where do you look if the most dominant center in the game (when healthy) is rebounding the ball for you: Andre Drummond or Kelly Oubre Jr.
Drummond is a great complement to Embiid; the veteran presence, the ability to catch an offensive or defensive rebound, and being a great defender, Drummond has been seeing his playing time increase with Embiid out of the lineup. With Oubre Jr., however, he can play the majority of the game and play anywhere, whether it’s down low or with Tyrese Maxey at the top of the court.
It will be interesting to see how the week unfolds with the 76ers as its only one of four teams remaining teams with a perfect record. It just needs to stop playing an uphill battle and go after the loose ball.
