With the NBA season formally underway, teams are tussling to establish themselves atop the ladder and show that they have what it takes. With the first month in the books, the scouts and analysts are out with their takes on each team’s strengths, weaknesses, promise and season-altering problems. Joining the Raptors in this increasingly cap unshackled race to the headlines are the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls.
The young Raptors, led by new Coach Darko Rajakovic, are looking for a big step forward in year two of the Scottie Barnes era. With a promising yet inconsistent record and new ownership set to take over next year, the Raptors face pressure to improve their game. In mid-February, the team made a splash by trading away All-Star Brandon Ingram to bolster the starting lineup. Alongside the issue of access, they have not gone far enough. As Kon Knueppel leads the league in scoring, it starts to raise the potential of him coming away with rookie of the year honors.
Raptors Struggle for Progress
The Toronto Raptors came into this season thinking they could be a title contender, but have not been able to figure things out thus far. Head coach Darko Rajakovic is entering his third full season. He’s tasked with improving a team that has shown flashes but failed to produce on a consistent basis.
That’s why the Raptors’ stunning trade for rising star Brandon Ingram was such an exciting move. Toronto needed life in their starting five. They are still stuck in mediocrity hell with an 11-4 record and bottom half of the country overall efficiency stats. Even with the flashes of brilliance they’ve had, the Raptors have not gone out and made the big plays they needed to make.
With new ownership expected by this time next year, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the franchise. Observers agree that there is no doubting the talent on the Raptors’ roster but whether they can compete as a top tier team is still up in the air.
“Are they up there with Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston? No,” – East scout
Rockets’ Rebounding Revolution
The Houston Rockets have been turning heads with their radical strategy of transforming their offensive rebounding into a strength. They lead the league in defensive rebound percentage, grabbing more than two out of every five shots they force opponents to miss. At this rate, they might just be the best offensive rebounding team in NBA history!
Unfortunately for the opponents, this secret strategy by the Rockets has proven highly effective as they are scoring a ton of second-chance points. Their physicality and pursuit on the glass are a product of an ethos that stresses getting the most possessions possible to create chances to score.
“Maybe things come around, but it’s hard to see it,” remarked an East scout regarding other teams’ efforts to match the Rockets’ rebounding prowess.
Throughout the long season of baseball, Houston will ride this strength to greatness. It’ll be even more exciting to see if this gamble pays off in success in the playoff standings.
Kings Face Early Season Challenges
The Sacramento Kings have gotten off to an awful start with a league worst 3-12 record. Coach Doug Christie has made tough decisions, including removing Zach LaVine from the starting lineup in hopes of sparking improvement.
Evan Mobley’s development will be key for the Kings as they look to build a sustainable winner. What he can bring to the party could be key in reversing their form this campaign. Analysts note that while there is potential within the team, finding consistency is vital for any chance at playoff contention.
“They’ve been way better than I thought,” a West scout mentioned when discussing other teams’ prospects compared to the Kings’. The adjustment period for Sacramento could be much longer than expected.
Other Notable Team Performances
Here are a few other clubs who have become important players in this early season story. The Miami Heat continue to make waves in the Eastern Conference, known for their dogged competitive nature and depth, while the Chicago Bulls sink back down to earth without a star player to align around.
Ja Morant’s troubling trend of missing shots near the rim has set off alarms and created skepticism on whether he resembles his early career self. As teams sure up the competition and figure out what they need, Morant’s ascendance will be a primary area of focus for Memphis in the future.
“But they’re clearly in the top six. Their depth overall isn’t good, but their top-line talent makes them a team I wouldn’t want to see in the playoffs,” – East scout
Leave a Reply