Curry boiling, Warriors back to the forefront
Stephen Curry is fine, thank you for him.
Kevin Durant does Kevin Durant with Brooklyn, Nikola Jokic continues with Denver after his MVP title, DeMar DeRozan (Chicago), Jimmy Butler (Miami) or Paul George (LA Clippers) also make sparks.
But at 33, “Chef Curry” attracts all the light over his exploits, he who turns to more than 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, more than 40% at long distance and 90% on throws.
Ray Allen's three-point shooting record is at hand.
A machine.
Above all, “his” Warriors are turning super, dominating the West and League standings.
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NBA Ranking
NBA: schedule and results
Granted, they had a relatively straightforward schedule.
But it is mainly because the San Francisco club found performing lieutenants in Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II or Otto Porter Jr to support Curry.
All without forgetting Draymond Green, perpetual candidate for the title of defender of the year.
Enough to imagine that Golden State could aim for the title when James Wiseman and especially Klay Thompson are up and running.
The mayonnaise took quickly in Chicago
By putting the hook on DeMar DeRozan ($ 85 million over 3 years), Lonzo Ball ($ 85 million over 4 years) and Alex Caruso ($ 37 million over 4 years), the Bulls have been strong in terms of talent addition . It was still necessary that all these beautiful people find their place around Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. It didn't take long. The LaVine / DeRozan tandem works hard, Ball puts his three points (nearly 45% on average), their defense is one of the best in the League… At the forefront in an Eastern Conference more efficient and open than ever, at less as much as the West, Chicago players feast and feast at the start of the season. We expected to see Chicago progress. Maybe not as much and especially not so fast. The surprise team status at the start of the season will however return more to Cleveland, a member of the Top 5 in the East, and Washington,at the helm of the said Conference. By trading Russell Westbrook, the Wizards have acquired great depth and a full complement around Bradley Beal. From there to dominate the East, it was still necessary to see it coming… On the other hand, we cannot speak of a surprise for Phoenix, in the wheel of Golden Stadium in the West.
The rookies wasted no time
The 2021 cuvée did not take long to have an impact. And yet, the first two picks of the last Draft, Cade Cunningham (Detroit) and Jalen Green (Houston), have not yet shown everything we are entitled to expect from them, the first having started the season in the infirmary and the second having to navigate in the Texan doldrums. Cleveland can in particular be pleased to have selected the pivot Evan Mobley in the third position. From the height of his 2.11m, the former USC does wonders, nearly 15 points and 8 rebounds, before injuring himself. Good pick, it impresses with its maturity. Fourth choice of the 2021 Draft, Scottie Barnes too. A Florida State student, he continues to start in the Raptors' five despite the return of Pascal Siakam. Chris Duarte (Indiana), Franz Wagner (Orlando),Josh Giddey (OKC), Alperen Sengun (Houston), Davion Mitchell (Sacramento) and Jalen Suggs (Orlando) also show up. Talent does'nt wait the number of years. The proof.
The Lakers are not there (yet)
Milwaukee, Atlanta, Boston, Memphis, New Orleans… We could cite a handful of disappointments after this first month, for different reasons and depending on the expectations placed on each of these teams. The Lakers are one of them. Still, between injuries to LeBron James and a handful of other players, the LA club have never been able to align all of their major elements. We suspected that the machine would take time to run at full speed. Maybe not before the play-offs? Possible. With such an experienced group, Frank Vogel is probably not worried. Still, at the present time, the Angelinos do not have the appearance of a contender for the title. The future will tell if this impression should change.
Simmons, Irving, Williamson: absent so present
What about Ben Simmons? Eager to leave Philadelphia this summer, the Australian leader… finally stayed. Except that he has not yet played the slightest minute and that the tone (re) has been rising with his club for a few days, with fines falling. To see how this soap opera will end. In the meantime, Joel Embiid and company are doing the job. But in the offices, we have to rack our brains to try to get out of this situation on top ... Ditto in Brooklyn, where Kyrie Irving, who refuses to go through the anti-Covid vaccine box, is still left out. Fortunately for the Nets, Kevin Durant is playing at the MVP level and James Harden is finding his colors after a complicated start. Unlike Simmons and Irving, Zion Williamson looks forward to playing with the Pelicans this season.He is once again stuck in the infirmary ... John Wall would like to frolic on the US floors too, but the Rockets have other plans. And with $ 44.3 million this season, then 47.4 the next option-player, the contenders are not jostling ... So that the hypothesis of a white season is not to be ruled out.
New Rules, New Balls, Fewer Points
Between the new way of refereeing contacts and the new balls, offensive statistics are in sharp decline throughout the NBA this season. Less points, less skill, and even some players who drew significantly. The most spectacular case is that of James Harden, the latter regaining some of his splendor in recent weeks. “
We were shooting so many free throws, getting so many. It was getting a little out of control. I think the league recognized it. I know the coaches have recognized it,
”said Steve Kerr, the Warriors coach, about developments in refereeing.
Evolutions greeted by the international tricolor of New York Evan Fournier. “
It was very frustrating for me. The players are not as athletic in Europe as in the NBA, and yet the game is more physical there. I think the NBA has done a great job. We have to adapt. For the fans, I think it's better,
”he told the
New York Post
. Regarding the ball, the Clipper Paul George does not "
look for an excuse
", but he simply notes that it is "
different
", explaining that this explains, at least in part, "
big failures
".
Gobert, more than ever leader of the French delegation In
addition to Frank Ntilikina (Dallas), Killian Hayes (Detroit), Théo Maledon (OKC) and Thimothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (Atlanta), as well as the five holders of a "two routes ”, the most prominent French people are called, unsurprisingly, Nicolas Batum (LA Clippers), Evan Fournier (New York) and of course Rudy Gobert (Utah). Triple best defender of the year, the latter was even named player of the week in the West for the second time in his career. Aside from this expulsion against the Pacers, the former Choletais is in good shape on an individual level and always more active on the offensive level. Alas, "his" Jazz is not as solid collectively as one might have hoped and remains for the time being in the leading pack, without s'extract from it.
