A few early notes.
- Rookies like Paolo Banchero (#1 pick), Jabari Smith (#3 pick), Jaden Ivey (#5 pick), Bennedict Mathurin (#6 pick), Jeremy Sochan (#9 pick), and Jalen Duren (#13 pick) are all averaging double digits in MPG, but what about some of the other notable draft picks? Chet Holmgren (#2 pick) is out for the season with a right foot injury, Keegan Murray (#4 pick) missed his first game due to being placed in health & safety protocols, and Jalen Williams (#12 pick) just had surgery for a right orbital bone fracture he suffered on opening night. Rookie role players such as Shaedon Sharpe (#7 pick), Tari Eason (#17 pick), Jake LaRavia (#19 pick), Christian Braun (#21 pick), Walker Kessler (#22 pick), David Roddy (#23 pick), Andrew Nembhard (#31 pick), and Christian Koloko (#33 pick) have carved out meaningful bench rotation spots while other talented first year players like Dyson Daniels (#8 pick), Johnny Davis (#10 pick), Ousmane Dieng (#11 pick), Ochai Agbaji (#14 pick), Mark Williams (#15 pick), AJ Griffin (#16 pick), Dalen Terry (#18 pick), Malaki Branham (#20 pick), MarJon Beauchamp (#24 pick), Blake Wesley (#25 pick), Wendell Moore (#26 pick), Nikola Jovic (#27 pick), Patrick Baldwin (#28 pick), TyTy Washington (#29 pick), Peyton Watson (#30 pick), Caleb Houstan (#32 pick), Jaden Hardy (#37 pick), and Kennedy Chandler (#38 pick) have yet to find minutes.
- Obviously, Joel Embiid has to play better for Philly to have a chance this season (20.5 PPG on 38.5% FG & 22.2% 3-PT), but figuring out who to play off the bench and having that extra wing defender are also big issues right now. This team is way too talented for De’Anthony Melton to be the only bench player making a difference. Also 37-year-old PJ Tucker is averaging 36.0 MPG in two games while 2x NBA All Defensive Second Team member Matisse Thybulle has played a total of 41 seconds.
- During preseason, I wrote that the Jazz & Spurs have no identity, mostly because I didn’t know what type of teams they wanted to be. Both probably would like to rebuild and get more top draft picks, but the two clubs still have a good amount of older players who can win you games. Maybe they will make an effort to start losing towards the end of the season, but right now Utah & San Antonio are taking each night seriously by playing their experienced guys.
It’s good to see young big men like Charlotte’s Nick Richards & Orlando’s Bol Bol getting minutes. Richards made a noticeable jump last season which followed with more improvement over the summer and fall. He’s averaging 24.0 MPG/12.5 PPG/8.0 RPG in two games. As for Bol, we always knew the talent/potential was there during his time in Denver, but he never got a real chance in three seasons and the questions of if he’ll actually find a role on any team were definitely there. However, the 7-2 center has found a fit with the Magic, averaging 14.5 MPG/7.5 PPG/4.5 RPG/1.5 BPG in two games.
