NBA Early Season Thoughts

As we enter December, the NBA season is a month in and in full swing. By now we can start to see what teams are fit to compete and what teams are just plain awful. With this post I thought I would go through each team and give you my thoughts on them. I'll start with the Atlantic Division.

Atantic Division:

• Toronto Raptors (13-4): It's no surprise that the Raptors are first in this division. The big surprise is just how good they are. The team currently sits as the best record in the East. The team has been a juggernaut at home posting a 9-2 mark up to this point. The Raptors dynamic duo in the backcourt has been huge for them, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Both guards are scoring almost 20 points a game. I see this team staying right where they are at the top by a comfortable margin. They are the class of this division and if they can keep up this hot play they will run away with it.
• Brooklyn Nets (6-9): The Nets are an interesting team. After losing a glue guy like forward Paul Pierce to the Wizards they have been up and down to start the season. The team has seen decent numbers from their top guys Brook Lopez, Deron Williams, and Joe Johnson, but the production elsewhere has been lacking. Depth is something this team will sorely struggle with as they try to compete. I like Teletovic and Bogdanovic, but other than that I am not too impressed by their role players. If the Nets can get better production out of their stars and some much needed help from their bench they could be a serious contender in the East, but if they remain the same they will float in mediocrity around the .500 mark.
• Boston Celtics (4-10): I like what I see out of the Celtics. The potential to be good is there, but the youth is something that will and already has held the team back. I love what I see out of point guard Rajon Rondo. He is proving why he is so highly touted on the trade market and has led the team well. We have also seen some great performances from big men Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynk. These guys are the future of the team and have shown that in a big way this season. Like I said though, this team has a lot of youth and youth sometimes struggle in the NBA. Give the Celtics a year or two and they will be right back in the playoff picture, but for now it's the lottery for these guys.
• New York Knicks (4-14): This is one team I am genuinely shocked to see have this bad of a record. Truthfully speaking, I didnt think this team would be great, but their play up to this point has been putrid. Carmelo Anthony is doing his usual thing as the star of the team, but where is his help. No one else has stepped up for this team of underachievers and it has shown. When only one of your players can consistently put the ball in the basket, you're not in the running for much success.
• Philadelphia 76er's (0-17): 17 and counting. When will the Sixers finally win a game, nobody knows. This team is historically bad and there's no disputing that. The team really doesn't have many bright spots. Nerlans Noel has been ok at best as he gets acclimated to the NBA game. Michael Carter-Williams has been good when he's been out there and Tony Wroten has had a surprisingly good year, but none of these guys are going to get them wins when the roster is filled with scrubs around them. The future may be good once Noel gets more comfortable and Embiid arrives, but for now this team is staring at bottomless season. Sixers fans I wish you the best of luck.

Stay tuned for my reviews on other divisions in the coming days!