Paul George has yet to make his regular season debut with the 76ers.
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The first few weeks of each NBA season coincide with Halloween, which is appropriate because the first and unexpected events of a season can leave everyone in varying degrees of shock.
Suddenly some of those preseason predictions seem wishful and the ordinary becomes strange. It’s downright scary how this always happens around this time, although eventually common sense and common sense prevail, the costumes are removed and the season continues.
Here are a handful of strange incidents, moments and trends shaping the early schedule as October draws to a close:
Curry’s ankle anxiety
A sprain will cause Stephen Curry to cool off for a few games. That’s certainly creepy, given the history: before winning championships and Kia MVPs, he had to overcome chronic sprained ankles that threatened his career. Oddly enough, those past ankle sprains developed a silver lining and helped him and the Warriors win titles. His first contract extension was team-friendly due to injury uncertainty, and the available money allowed the Warriors to sign Andre Iguodala. The rest is, well, history.
They don’t scold you, Zubac
They’re shouting “Zuuuu” at the Intuit Dome because Ivica Zubac is off to the best start, and perhaps the best week, of his career. The LA Clippers center was dominant near the hoop. He enters Thursday averaging 18.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The score is the biggest surprise. Give a shout out to James Harden, who finds him on screen, and roll.
Feed the BIG FELLA 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/WoZDJ6nUSH
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 29, 2024
Westbrook is a ghost of his former self
We hate typing these words to describe a former Kia MVP and future Hall of Famer. Still, Russell Westbrook’s early returns in Denver aren’t favorable. He’s shooting 27% overall, 25% on three-pointers, and defenses are giving him plenty of space as his inability to spread the floor is once again causing some pain. To be fair, Westbrook wasn’t signed for his shooting. The Nuggets need his play, passing and defense to compensate. In that respect he will be fine.
LaVine deceived you all
Anyone who thought they were washed should look again. Yeah, small sample size and all, but Zach LaVine isn’t who you thought he was. Efficient and aggressive from the start, LaVine looks dangerous (43.6% on three-pointers) and far from the injury-plagued player of recent seasons. Does this mean he’s here to stay for the rebuilding Bulls? Or is he just increasing his trade value months before the deadline?
Celtics serve candy
As a team, the Celtics have shot 40.7% on three-pointers as they sprint to a 4-1 start. That is a nice degree of efficiency that will obviously not last the entire season. But it certainly gives the rest of the NBA chills because it shows the depth of the shooters on the richest roster in the NBA. (Payton Pritchard just got another 3 as you read this.)
Does the halo still fit Haliburton?
Through the first few months of last season, Tyrese Haliburton was the discovery of the league. Through the first few games of this season, he’s been largely invisible by comparison, struggling with his shot (he went 0-for-8 against the Knicks) as the Pacers look for buckets elsewhere. There’s plenty of time for Haliburton to get the Pacers through the season tournament again, but this start looks suspect.
There’s someone at the door-Cam
Cam Thomas is the lead option for a Nets team that has gone through Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving in that role in recent seasons. Who knew? Thomas opened the season with 36 points and seems to fit into this role. The real test is what this means for Brooklyn as it tries to find an identity under coach Jordi Fernandez.
Reaves has stuff in his bag
Is it hard to wonder if the Lakers have a big three? Maybe not if Austin Reaves continues at this pace. He is efficient and productive with the ball (16.8 ppg on 52.5% shooting), makes good decisions and has the green light and respect of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who have no problem finding him in the coupling moments. First-year coach JJ Redick also plays for Reaves several times.
Should we throw eggs at the Bucks’ house?
It’s probably too early to take aim and this initial battle of good teams tends to tease people. That said, the Bucks can’t afford to stumble much longer, not after what they went through last season. The chemistry between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard is especially worth watching. If they don’t align, it spells doom for a team with too many aging pieces and not enough up-and-coming talent.
No October 31st for Embiid and George
Make no mistake: This is the No. 1 drama of a season that started without Joel Embiid and Paul George, both rested in Philly due to knee problems. Their injuries are not considered serious, but still. Embiid spent most of the summer playing for Team USA – should he have skipped the Olympics instead? George suffered an accident in the preseason and is still waiting for his Sixers debut. They are important pieces for a team that could lose valuable ground in the standings until their return.
Ernie, Charles, Kenny and Shaq respond to Joel Embiid saying he won’t play back-to-backs during the regular season.
OKC doesn’t open its doors to anyone
Only two teams allow fewer than 100 points per night, and one of them is the Thunder. Oklahoma City is showing some serious defensive qualities that could provide a season-long advantage. Strengthening the defense was the main goal for 2024-25 and OKC added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein this offseason. But the defense has mostly improved because of the remaining players, especially Chet Holmgren, who leads the NBA in blocks per game (3.5 bpg). That’s scary.
Buddy Hield carries a bucket
Do the Warriors have someone who can shoot better than Klay Thompson last season? Buddy Hield, the designated replacement added this offseason, is that guy. Through his first four games with Golden State, Hield is averaging 21.2 ppg (while shooting 50% from deep). He scored 22 points with five 3-pointers in 15 minutes in the opener, then 27 points with seven 3-pointers in 20 minutes after that against Utah. With Curry out indefinitely, Hield and his shooting become even more important.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can email him here, his archive can be found here and follow him on X.
The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
