The NBA Sure Had Some Opening Week

Safe to say this was a highly anticipated NBA season. While trolls will play the “who cares the Warriors will win it all again” card, that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t enjoy the season, and boy has it gotten off to some start. All within the first week we’ve had LeBron’s debut, the Warriors getting revolutionary rings, a fight, offense is out of control, surprise teams, and down to the wire finishes left and right. To say Adam Silver is probably loving life right now would be an understatement of the century, so I wanted to look back and find things that have surprised me now that the first week is done. Sadly, this is not going to be another playoff preview blog, even though that was extremely well received, but it’s just a collection of facts/situations that have stood out so far.

1. Offense is up in a big, big way

Through the first week the league is averaging 113.1 points a night. That’s a full 7 points higher than last season and the highest since 1969-70 when teams were scoring 116 a night. The last time the league averaged was at least 110 was all the way back in 1985, so you could say it’s been a long time since the league has seen an offensive explosion like this. You have teams dropping 130 with ease, and in regulation, and part of that has to do with rule changes but also because we’re seeing a talent level unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

2. Teams are playing fast as hell

A pace of 102.1, this is the fastest teams have played since 1985-86. That uptick in offense probably has to do with this number. Last year teams played at an average of 97.3, so while you may not think that’s a huge difference, it’s clearly making an impact. I can’t imagine this number will stay this high throughout the year, but I will say it has made for some exciting basketball to start the year.

3. HOU/LAL/OKC are a combined 1-7

Who saw this coming? An 0-3 start for OKC, 0-2 for LAL and 1-2 for HOU? With the talent that they have? Now granted, LAL/HOU played each other but the Lakers are giving up 126 a night, the Rockets 120 and the Thunder 115. I know it’s early but this is the West we’re talking about here so it’s not as if things are going to get any easier,

4. Contract Year Kemba is a problem

Leads the NBA in scoring at 35.3 with 48/50% splits, I think we all thought he was good, but I’m not sure we saw THIS coming. In an even bigger surprise, the Hornets lead the East in point differential at +10.7. Could this be the year they get back to the playoffs?

5. Trae Young has been the best rookie

Leads all rookies in scoring at 23.0 points, and is shooting a very respectable 45.5/39% with 3.7 3PM a night. Also dishing out 8.3 assists, and here’s how rare that is. As of now, only Kyle Lowry can match those numbers in the entire league, and if you can believe it, nobody in the history of the NBA has finished the year with those numbers. That means Young probably won’t but it just goes to show how good he’s been.

6. The Pelicans might have one of the top offenses in the league

Averaging a ridiculous 140 points a night, mostly due to Mirotic starting the year as the second best scorer in the league (33.0) I’d say that’s a pretty big surprise. They are going to have to make a decision on him or Randle, and he’s certainly not making it easy on them.

7. The only undefeated teams in the East are TOR, MIL and DET

I wouldn’t exactly say TOR is a surprise here, they’ve always been considered elite in this conference, but the Bucks are certainly a surprise. They’re doing it by playing defense, getting the ball to Giannis and getting out of the way, and also actually listening to their coach. It’s amazing what can happen when you have a real system in place. Also maybe Blake was onto something about that Pistons title, because they are off to a great start (even if we saw this exact same thing last year).

Also this is impressive since all these teams have new coaches.

8. Teams are taking, and making the most threes in history

We know the league is changing, and we know teams basically live and die by the three. Well through the first week teams are taking the most threes ever (31.2) and making the most threes ever (11.3). This has been a trend basically since 2011, and I think when you look at the total average of shots going up to 90.4 (last year 86.1), the change in the shot clock rule is showing it’s impact. Teams are getting more shots up, many of them from deep, and that’s why offense has exploded to the highest Ortg in league history, which is what the league wants.

9. Even the bottom of the league teams are fun to watch

Normally when you look at the high lottery teams, it can be painful to watch them play. But so far, all these teams NYK/BKN/PHX/SAC/ATL/CLE/CHI/ORL have all had exciting games to start their season. It for sure won’t continue, but I don’t think many of us thought so many of them would be competitive out of the gate

10. The NBA still hasn’t figured out League Pass

Why is it 2018 and not all the games are in HD? Why is there like a 10 year lag between the live game and what you get on League Pass? Why does the NBA charge so much for it and then basically give the middle finger to everyone that buys it? This may be the biggest scam going and sadly I don’t see it ever getting fixed.

So what else has stood out to you? Anything about your favorite team concerning you? Maybe something I haven’t mentioned that you’ve noticed this first week? List em off in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter, because it’s Monday and we should be talking basketball to help get through our day.