The symbolic bar of twenty games exceeded for all NBA teams, it is time to learn the lessons of the first quarter of the season. BasketUSA offers you to do it in five parts: the strongholds, the outsiders, the good surprises, the disappointments and the dunces.
Today, last part with the dunces, the good last of the class. And so, the potential destinations for Victor Wembanyama, to whom the first place in the next Draft seems destined.
Charlotte Hornets (7-17)
Deprived of their All Star LaMelo Ball, as well as his best sidekick Miles Bridges (for legal reasons), the Hornets will have lasted six games before cracking.
At three wins for as many defeats to start the season, Michael Jordan’s franchise maintained appearances for a very brief moment, before exploding in full flight, with a series of eight consecutive losses, then three more in a row, before a slight improvement with three wins in the last five games.
Poissards until the end, the Hornets have only been able to take advantage of LaMelo Ball for three games this season, re-injured in the ankle. Enough to give Théo Maledon a chance but enough to tank well before the Draft of another tricolor… and make the rest of the League laugh, as with this left-handed shot from Mason Plumlee recently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF5sAW6Yfl4
Houston Rockets (7-17)
Having decided to play their young players, including Jalen Green (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and rookie Jabari Smith Jr. (12 points, 7 rebounds), the Rockets were quickly disillusioned. The rockets remained glued to the ground with a catastrophic start with three victories for fourteen defeats from the outset!
After beating Phoenix and Philadelphia, two league leaders, in quick succession, Stephen Silas’ young troupe is beginning to regain momentum. But, like the Thunder, which let its rookies play last year and is reaping the rewards this season (in our good surprises at the quarter of the season), Houston has everything to gain by letting its young people learn from their mistakes. … and take defeats with a smile.
San Antonio Spurs (6-18)
Among the best in the League after seven games, with five wins, the Spurs have been talked about for good, after the Primo affair which had darkened the start of the school year. With the promising Devin Vassell (20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Keldon Johnson (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) off to a flying start. Like his team, the second is notably back in line, running out of address.
Despite strong soldiers like Jakob Poeltl (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Tre Jones (12 points, 7 assists), San Antonio just doesn’t have enough talent to fight. And as old-timers, we imagine that the “braintrust” in place is careful not to make all the necessary efforts to strengthen itself this year. While an interior of great talent could, after David Robinson and Tim Duncan, possibly upset their destiny very soon…
Detroit Pistons (6-19)
Proof that the Draft is not equivalent to immediate progress, the last two franchises in the standings after the quarter of the season are those who inherited the last two first choices at the annual high mass: the Magic, and the Pistons. First pick of the Draft in 2021, Cade Cunningham (20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) is currently in the infirmary after missing the last thirteen games for the Pistons with pain in his left shin and he should take his time. before returning.
Knowing that his team is playing nothing this season, Cade Cunningham is right to assess his long-term health. That could give rookie Jaden Ivey (16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) or even Marvin Bagley III (13 points, 7 rebounds) time to gain consistency while Killian Hayes (8 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds) s also asserts. We just complain a little Bojan Bogdanovic who goes from Jazz pretending last year to the Pistons without possible ambition…
Orlando Magic (5-20)
First team to reach twenty defeats this season, the Magic was certainly not aiming for the playoffs immediately, but with the arrival of the n°1 of the Draft in Paolo Banchero (22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), we could hope for a nice progression within a group that had shown some promise at the end of last season.
Nay! Despite the efforts of Franz Wagner (19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) or the beautiful revelation of Bol Bol (13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks), Orlando continues to squat the slums!
For the third year in a row. It must be said that the curse persists: Wendell Carter Jr. (17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists) continues to be often injured, just like Cole Anthony, not to mention of course the eternal injured Markelle Fultz (who comes from come back) and Jonathan Isaac (who finally sees the end of the tunnel).
