This is the 2nd article from a series of NBA articles by Will Shanahan. Will is a passionate Celtics fan and all-round NBA fanatic.
The NBA is back, and as always, the vibes were high for opening week. Stars shone, some unexpected names stepped up, and the league is preparing fans for an incredibly interesting and exciting season. Here are four key takeaways to monitor heading into Week 2.
I must preface by remarking that opening week can be a bizarre time, and as much as certain trends may continue, undoubtedly there are players and teams out there who are using this week to find their footing. However, the inverse is also true, don’t be surprised if some of the more shocking performers fall off marginally within their next few games. With this in mind, note that my takeaways are reactions to immediate results and questioning the current state of team play.
The Celtics may be unstoppable
From the moment the Celtics won the championship last season, there was this constant aura of doubt that hung over their heads regarding the possibility of a repeat; the ‘target’ on their backs; the hangovers they were expected to suffer, the Jays playing with ‘clouded heads’ due to offseason drama.
In their first three games, the Celtics have looked very impressive. Jayson Tatum getting to his spot and hitting a 3 within the first 10 seconds of the NBA season set the tone. In his first three games of the 24-25 season, he has been incredible, averaging 33 PPG on 68.8% True Shooting in only 32.3 MPG… not to mention Jaylen Brown who has picked up exactly where he left off averaging 24.7 PPG and shooting 45.8% from beyond the arc. The Celtics made light work of the Knicks who are arguably their biggest competition, and they still don't have Kristaps Porzingis.
Through three games the Celtics starters have only seen the court in the 4th quarter once. Their style of play is just effortless, and there are hardly any solutions for bewildered defenses. The Celtics made it very clear to the rest of the league: they feel disrespected; they are not defending Banner 18, they’re attacking Banner 19.
Trouble in Miami?
The Heat are off to a rough start, it's not just a loss to the impressive Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic, it's Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combining for 12 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists over 52 minutes. Perhaps it was opening day rust, or just an off-game, but as Butler and Bam enter the last few years of their careers I wonder if this is a natural regression that may persist over the next few months. If this is to be the case, look out for one of them to be moved closer to the trade deadline - acquiring picks/young roleplayers and slogging out the rest of the season for a high pick may be their best decision.
The Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers came into the 2024-25 season with questions that could only be answered in time, but I don’t think anyone expected them to be answered this quickly. I’ll be the first to admit, I did not foresee the Lakers at 3-0, and not just 3-0, but early wins over the Kings, Suns, and Timberwolves. JJ Reddick has performed an offseason masterclass, uniting a group that, under Darvin Ham, had no game plan other than to force the King to put the team on his back. LeBron was the one the team listened to in the huddle, not Ham. However, this is not to say that JJ and LeBron are completely to thank; Anthony Davis has had a career-best start to the season, averaging 34/11, however, the caveat is his +/-, with +1 vs Minnesota, +4 against Phoenix, and shockingly, -22 against Sacramento. If Davis can improve his complete court presence - without sacrificing his current offensive output - he will be near impossible to contain. This, combined with stellar performances from LeBron and Austin Reeves to start the season puts the Lakers in immediate playoff contention.
Stars getting back to form
The opening week of the NBA season has been incredibly exciting, games have a greater intensity, and the Larry O’Brien trophy feels as contested as it ever has. Here are a few players who stood out for me this week:
Trae Young
Since their surprising ECF playoff run in 2021, Trae Young and the Hawks have been searching for a way back to their former promise. The answer? Trading Dejounte Murray and giving control of the team back to Trae Young. In two games, Trae Young has averaged 34/6/11 and has the Hawks sitting at 2-0. The only caveat with their recent success is it came against the Nets and the Hornets. The Hawks next game comes against the Thunder, and it should be an interesting matchup. Shai vs Trae. I have the Thunder moving to 3-0 but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ice Trae enters a takeover mode and calms the storm.
LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball has yet to have a chance to prove himself - he showed flashes in his rookie season but he stood behind Miles Bridges. 2022 looked promising as a developmental year, however recently Ball has been plagued by injury, playing only 58 games in the past two seasons. 2024-25 may just be his year - in 3 games he has averaged 31/7/7, and although the Hornets have lost 2 of 3 games, LaMelo is progressing in the exact way the Hornets had hoped. I truly hope LaMelo stays healthy, and if he does I believe the Hornets will establish a strong foundation for the coming years, and who knows, maybe even sneak a play-in position this year.
Julius Randle
Many people forget that Julius Randle is a 3x NBA All Star and a 2x All NBA member. The 29-year-old was injured for a large chunk of last season and was somewhat replaced in New York by Jalen Brunson. Considering his trade to the Wolves, I expected a slow start, then for him to develop into a veteran role player capable of offering 15 PPG and 6-10 APG. However, in his first 3 games, Randle has proven that he is still capable of being a star, averaging 24/7/3 and sitting at 2-1, he is a valuable secondary option to Anthony Edwards.