The NBA season is just underway and we’ve already seen a handful of surprises unfold. Let’s take a look at some teams and players that have stood out through the first two weeks of the season:
Cleveland’s offense
The Cavaliers’ high-powered offense is arguably the most significant development in the league through two weeks. Cleveland finished 18th in offensive rating a season ago. They were held under 100 points in eight of 13 playoff games, and scored over 106 just once (Memphis ranked last in PPG during the regular season at 105.8 PPG). They’ve begun this season 7-0 under new head coach Kenny Atkinson and have the No. 2 offense basketball behind the defending champion Boston Celtics. They’re getting it done without any changes to the roster. Atkinson has put his stars in a position to succeed. This is the best version of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley that we’ve seen. Donovan Mitchell has been extremely efficient and nailed a game-winner against the Bucks over the weekend. They thrashed the Lakers, a game in which Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined to go 21-of-28 for 45 points and 22 rebounds. The Cavs are going to be solid all year defensively with their big-man duo. If the offense sticks, we’re looking at the one team in the East that could give Boston issues in the postseason.
Milwaukee’s offense
On the flipside in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks have been the most disappointing team in the league. Milwaukee is 1-5 through six games and has looked completely lifeless. We knew when the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard that the defense would take a hit. However, it’s the offense that has been a driving force in the slow start. Milwaukee ranked 6th in offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating last year. This season, they’re 20th in offensive rating and 24th on defense. Their continued decline on defense wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t playing like a bottom-10 offense. And, that’s with Giannis and Lillard averaging over 67 PPG combined. Gary Trent Jr. has been dismal from every spot on the floor and the team is leaning on Taurean Prince to provide a boost. The two stars are the only players on the team averaging over 1.7 APG. The Bucks need players who can create and knock down shots in the worst way. Unfortunately, those players aren’t easy to come by. And, the ones who are will likely make Milwaukee’s defense even worse than it is now.
LaMelo Ball’s efficiency
LaMelo Ball was playing exceptionally well before going down with an injury last year. Through two weeks of the ’24-’25 campaign, Ball is picking up where he left off. In six games, Ball is averaging 30.2 PPG with a blistering .474/.405/.893 shooting splits. Ball has been an excellent long-range shooter since entering the league, but his improved ability to finish at the rim has turned him into an elite scoring threat. The Hornets dropped back-to-back games against the Celtics, but Ball was sensational on both nights (33.5 PPG on 52.9-percent shooting). He’s taken that next step to stardom, and the return of Brandon Miller gives Charlotte one of the most exciting young backcourts in the league.
Houston’s rotation
The Rockets have too many players in their rotation. It’s led to head coach Ime Udoka making some puzzling decisions in terms of divvying up the minutes. Alperen Sengun ranks last in minutes played among the starters. No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard is 12th on the team in MPG and hasn’t played more than 10 minutes in a game since Game 2. Cam Whitmore’s playing time has decreased after being a microwave scorer for the team as a rookie. Making matters worse has been the poor play of the two veterans the team signed last offseason — Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. VanVleet is shooting 28 percent from the field through six games and Brooks hasn’t been much better at 36.5 percent. Fans of the team have been calling for Amen Thompson and Tari Eason to be inserted into the starting lineup. It seems like a trade should be on the horizon for the Rockets. Consolidating the roster might make Udoka’s life a whole lot easier.
Golden State’s 5-1 start
The Warriors getting off to a hot start wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities before the season began. Their season began with two cupcake matchups against the Trail Blazers and Jazz, and that was followed by playing two already depleted teams in the Clippers and Pelicans. However, Golden State stacking up wins without their best player — Stephen Curry — has been impressive. Free agent signing Buddy Hield has stepped into a larger scoring role and has been lights out. He went 9-of-14 (6-of-10 from three) in an overtime win over the Rockets last Saturday. The defense ranks No. 2 in the NBA behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, as Draymond Green continues to show why he remains one of the best defenders in the league. Andrew Wiggins is playing much better than last year, and Moses Moody has continued to show why he deserves more playing time. The schedule gets more difficult over the next couple of weeks — including a three-game road stretch against Boston, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City — but this team looks vastly improved to last season’s outfit.
Dyson Daniels’ MIP case
There are several intriguing Most Improved Player candidates through the first two weeks of the season. Jalen Green and Jordan Poole are both scoring at a high clip after disappointing seasons a year ago. Two Clipper starters — Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac — have performed well in larger roles. Cade Cunningham is looking like an All-NBA talent in Year 4. Paolo Banchero could have even been in the running had he not gone down with an injury. However, a majority of those players we mentioned have already had massive expectations and enjoyed success. We’ll heap praise on a lesser-known player in Atlanta guard Dyson Daniels. Daniels came over to the Hawks in the Dejounte Murray trade and already looks like a better pairing next to Atlanta star Trae Young than Murray ever did. Daniels is a ball-hawking defensive guard with savvy playmaking chops. His improved outside shooting will make him a staple for a Hawks team that should compete for a top-6 spot in the East. The Hawks have a 21-year-old two-way player who can impact the game in multiple areas. He should remain on everybody’s MIP radar as more candidates trickle in.
Memphis’ bench
The Grizzlies have been plagued by the injury bug over the last two seasons. That’s halted their contender status in the West, but it’s also enabled them to develop the end of their roster. With the stars back, that development has given Memphis one of the deepest benches in basketball. Backup point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has already tallied three double-doubles and is averaging 11.0 PPG and 7.3 APG (8th in the NBA). 7-foot-1 center Jay Huff is also averaging 11.0 PPG while shooting 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. Washington State rookie Jaylen Wells has already cracked the rotation and has provided a two-way boost. We haven’t even seen GG Jackson or Vince Williams Jr. yet who were both great for the Grizzlies last season. The same goes for Luke Kennard who is also coming back from an injury, and it will be interesting to see if he joins the bench or take Marcus Smart’s starting role. Memphis took a year off from contending, but a roster this deep will give them a chance just about every night in the Western Conference.
