NBA quarter-pole takeaways: Lakers’ Russell Westbrook gamble not paying off; Warriors firing on all cylinders

With just about each workforce within the NBA at or previous the 20-game mark, we’ll name this the quarter-pole level of the season. Nonetheless early, sure. However we have seen sufficient to at the least begin some worthwhile conversations. Under are probably the most noteworthy storylines to this point within the 2021-22 season. 

This won’t embrace something about Ben Simmons‘ ongoing drama in Philadelphia, as a result of nothing has developed there. Simmons does not need to play for the Sixers, who in flip aren’t going to commerce him for the scraps they have been supplied. We’re nonetheless in the identical place we have been previous to the season. 

Similar with John Wall not enjoying in Houston. He is wholesome, he is able to play, however the Rockets now reportedly want him to come off the bench, which Wall apparently is not eager on doing. So he continues to take a seat. Which is ok by the Rockets, who within the absence of a commerce clearly haven’t any actual curiosity in placing doubtlessly their finest participant on the ground for worry of truly successful a couple of video games. 

With that in thoughts, under are 5 groups/gamers that, to me, symbolize the most important tales to this point. It ought to be famous that I acknowledge the Washington Wizards — 13-7 coming into Monday — need to be on this listing, however the reality is I have not watched them play sufficient to credibly remark past their report. 

1. Warriors again out to play

There was actually optimism surrounding Golden State coming into the season, however an 18-2 report with the league’s No. 1 protection, No. 2 offense and high level differential by a mile? Stephen Curry is on tempo to interrupt his personal single-season 3-point report and sits because the clear early MVP favorite. Draymond Green is in the DPOY mix. 

Andrew Wiggins, trailing solely Inexperienced in possession over Golden State’s defensive dominance, has been excellent, notably of late: 22 factors per recreation on 55 % capturing, together with 41.5 % from 3, over his final 10. 

Jordan Poole is a part-time flame-thrower and full-time menace. Gary Payton II is must-see TV. Nemanja Bjelica is likely to be one of many extra impactful marginal signings within the league, spacing Golden State’s flowing-water assault; Payton’s rising variety of cuts for dunks occur nearly solely with Bjelica on the ground. Otto Porter Jr. is capturing 43 % from deep. Kevon Looney is quietly integral. 

With shooters and versatile defenders in every single place, all of the Golden State items match. The ball is transferring. Depth is once more a power. The tempo is relentless. The straightforward-schedule qualifier was considerably squashed with blowout wins over the Bulls, Nets and the surprisingly stout Clippers on Sunday. With Klay Thompson nearing his return, it is beginning to really feel just like the good-old days within the Bay. 

2. Lakers‘ Westbrook gamble not paying off

Russell Westbrook is way from the one concern with the 11-11 Los Angeles Lakers, however he is on the core of their bottom-10 3-point capturing and doormat point-of-attack protection. There may be little debate that the Lakers, at the least at current, can be a greater workforce with Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma (the latter two their finest perimeter defenders from a 12 months in the past), all of whom they traded for Russ. They might nearly actually be a greater workforce with sharpshooting Buddy Hield, whom they reportedly may’ve landed for a Kuzma-centric package deal earlier than getting drunk on the concept of including Westbrook’s identify to their masthead. 

Level is, the Lakers, quite recklessly, went all-in on Westbrook, and to this point the transfer has predictably backfired. I say predictably, after all, as a result of it is not like Westbrook simply changed into a horrible shooter over the summer season. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka had the identical info everybody else on this planet has had for years with regard to Westbrook’s brick-laying methods; simply as Pelinka was, or at the least ought to’ve been, aware of Russ’ warranted status as a turnover manufacturing facility, half-court area sucker and replacement-level defender. 

The gamble may solely repay if Westbrook, whereas enjoying with LeBron James, ditched his pull-up preoccupations and attacked the rim, as he did with the Rockets within the second half of of 2018-19. Little downside: The Rockets reshaped their complete workforce to present Westbrook a wide-open lane, delivery Clint Capela to Atlanta so they might go 5 out with P.J. Tucker at heart. Frank Vogel ain’t going that means. He is gone with two-big lineups to a maddening diploma, and even when the Lakers do not play twin towers, Anthony Davis goes to be on the courtroom. 

Plus, throw out Carmelo Anthony, and the Lakers aren’t scaring anybody with their capturing, particularly in the event that they need to discipline defensively competent lineups. LeBron is capturing extra 3s than ever, and defenses might be blissful to let that proceed. Westbrook goes to struggle cramped lanes all season, and that pull-up jumper goes to turn into more and more enticing by default. 

The opposite means the Westbrook gamble may’ve labored, notably within the common season, is with him carrying non-LeBron lineups as a pick-and-roll parter with Davis. As a substitute, coming into Sunday, the Lakers have been getting roasted by 6.8 factors per 100 possessions, per Cleansing The Glass, with Westbrook and Davis working sans the King. It does not assist that Davis fired about as many clean jumpers as Westbrook this season. 

Westbrook is not getting traded. No person needs his contract, or, frankly, his recreation at this level. There’s an excessive amount of proof that he is a detrimental participant, Pelinka’s wish-upon-a-fallen-star offseason technique be damned. All of the Lakers can do is probably mitigate his many minuses by enjoying quick and small as typically as attainable, and it appears like even that may solely go to this point. 

Ultimately, the Lakers simply won’t be that good. Sure, LeBron has missed time, however even when he is wholesome he won’t be fairly the identical participant we have lengthy anticipated to hold even flawed groups into competition. On Sunday, the Lakers acquired about pretty much as good a recreation out of their Large 3 as they will realistically hope for — a mixed 82 factors on a collective 63 % capturing for LeBron, Davis and Westbrook, and nonetheless they might solely manage to beat the Pistons by 4 to crawl again to .500. 

3. DeMar you watch, da higher da Bulls look

The Chicago Bulls have misplaced three of 4, together with a disastrous defeat by the hands of the hapless Rockets, to scratch up a few of their early-season shine, however we’re nonetheless speaking about an infectiously enjoyable workforce with the league’s sixth-best level differential.  

DeMar DeRozan is making MVP waves. His 25.8 factors an evening ranks seventh league-wide, and no person has scored extra factors within the fourth quarter; he is capturing a flat bonkers 67.2 % on clutch photographs, as outlined by Inpredictable. DeRozan is an isolation monster, ninety fifth percentile per Synergy, serving as Chicago’s primary half-court pipeline for crunch-time offense. The Bulls are over 22 factors per 100 possessions higher with DeRozan on the courtroom, per CTG. He is been nothing in need of spectacular. 

He is hardly alone. Zach LaVine is likely to be the smoothest scorer on this planet, and that is not an exaggeration. He can create a shot out of completely nothing together with his capacity to spring full pressure into vertical area and shoot all method of fadeaways with a flick of his wrist. This implies the Bulls are nearly by no means caught for a nasty shot if he is on the courtroom, even when defenses stymie their actions for a lot of the possession; within the final 4 seconds of the shot clock, LaVine’s 47 complete factors — on 61 % capturing together with 47 % from 3 — leads the league. 

As in the event that they’ve performed collectively for years, LaVine has settled right into a pure your-turn-my-turn relationship with DeRozan, with whom he shares a lot of the crunch-time duty; LaVine is capturing a Kevin Durant-like 62 % on clutch photographs, per Inpredictable, and his 40 complete clutch factors is tied for second-most within the league. LaVine can also be a cheetah within the open courtroom, the place Chicago is the league’s most effective workforce at 135 factors per transition possession, per CTG. 

You’ll be able to’t run like that with out getting stops, and that is the supply of Chicago’s best shock. Getting into Monday, they’re the No. 5 protection within the league, and upon securing defensive rebounds, the Bulls want solely a median of 10.7 seconds to race again the opposite means and try their very own shot, the fastest turnaround time in the league. 

Lonzo Ball — who oh by the way in which is capturing 43 % from 3 — and Alex Caruso are Chicago’s DeRozan-LaVine on protection, a tag workforce of relentless on-ball and passing-lane exercise. Ball is tenth in steals and has advanced from a roving helper to a point-of-attack menace. Caruso is second within the league in steals per recreation and complete deflections. If the season have been to finish as we speak, Caruso ought to be first-team All-Protection, and Ball is not far behind. The Bulls are outscoring opponents by just below 11 factors per 100 with Ball and Caruso on the courtroom, per CTG. 

The Bulls have completed all this with Patrick Williams, who was imagined to be their finest defender, seemingly out for the season after enjoying simply 5 video games and Nikola Vucevic capturing like he is blindfolded. The latter seemingly will not proceed, although Vucevic’s drop protection is a possible downside come playoff time. Are the Bulls pretty much as good as they’ve seemed via the primary quarter of the season? Maybe not. Are they worlds higher, notably on the defensive finish, than most anybody anticipated? Completely. 

4. A lot for a Suns regression

After dropping three of their first 4, the Phoenix Suns have rattled off 16 straight wins heading into their showdown with Golden State on Tuesday. Speak of Chris Paul’s decline is overstated. Sure, he is averaging a career-low 14.5 factors per recreation, however his 10.1 assists per recreation lead the league. He mainly by no means will get to the rim, however that is been true for some time, and he stays a midrange monster and grasp of the clutch minutes. 

When video games are inside 5 factors with 5 or fewer minutes to play, Paul is capturing 66 % from the sphere; his 1.1 assists per clutch outing lead the league and his 29 complete factors ranks high 10. 

Devin Booker, a chip off Paul’s slithering pick-and-roll block, continues to develop as a playmaker whereas capturing a career-best 42 % from 3, per CTG, and he is much more deadly in cash time than Paul: 73 % from the sphere, 60 % from 3 and eighth in complete clutch factors (30). No marvel the Suns have come out 5-1 in video games determined by 5 factors or much less. 

In the meantime, with Ben Simmons inactive, Mikal Bridges is the perfect perimeter defender within the league and it is not likely debatable proper now. That he is capturing 40 % from 3 and capably placing the ball on the ground on second-side actions, ball swings and towards closeouts makes him arguably probably the most helpful non-alpha wing within the league. Getting into Monday, the Suns are 16 factors higher per 100 with Bridges on the courtroom, per CTG, and the majority of that team-best statistical boon resides on the offensive ledger. 

It isn’t simply Bridges who buckles down. It is everybody. Phoenix ranks third defensively as a result of you possibly can’t discover a actual gap wherever. The Suns are a string of interchangeable elements alongside the perimeter that limits 3-point makes an attempt, notably from the nook. and Deandre Ayton protects the bottom. 

That is to not say Ayton is an elite rim protector, however he is tremendous cell and athletic and, like an excellent shooter who does not have nice percentages in the intervening time, he represents a higher menace than the 63 % groups are capturing on the rim towards the Suns, per CTG. Groups be aware of his presence. Plus, Phoenix is so good on the perimeter that groups solely get to the rim for 30 % of their photographs, which is simply exterior a top-10 mark, per CTG. Solely 5 groups are forcing opponents into extra midrange jumpers than the Suns. 

After their shock run to the Finals final season, the Suns have been a well-liked decide to return again to earth this season. That hasn’t been the case. Together with Golden State, they’ve established themselves within the early going as one of many two finest groups within the league and as soon as once more a legit championship contender. 

5. Nets touring a tough(en) path

James Harden’s play was beginning to decide up; now he is 7 for his final 30 from 3 and capturing 31 % from the sphere over his final 4 video games. First his hamstring wasn’t wholesome. Now he says he is struggling to strike a balance between pursuing his personal offense and setting his teammates up. 

He may need a degree. When Harden is on the courtroom with out Kevin Durant, which permits him to flip the egocentric swap with out the guilt of stealing photographs from arguably the best scorer ever, the Nets are outscoring opponents by 11.5 factors per 100 possessions, per CTG. On the flip aspect, when Durant performs with out Harden, Brooklyn is bludgeoning groups by 29.5 factors per 100. 

Drawback is, when Harden and Durant play collectively, the Nets are barely a constructive workforce. That is considerably deceptive; small-sample lineups are including as much as some horrific numbers, and on the finish of the day the Nets are 14-6 and the East’s No. 1 seed coming into play on Monday. Joe Harris is getting scorching once more and LaMarcus Aldridge is cooking. The Nets do have a fundamental downside the place the capturing they should correctly assist Durant and Harden can compromise the protection, and vice versa. 

All of the whereas, a darkish actuality exists: Harden, to this point, is just not the identical sort of famous person menace when he is not on a unending march to the charity stripe. Practically each one in every of Harden’s huge scoring video games this season have include double-digit free throws, and that is not coming to fruition typically. 

Throw out final season when he was mainly a no-show in Houston earlier than enjoying lower than half a season with the Nets, and the final time Harden averaged fewer than 10 free throws per recreation was 2013-14. This 12 months he is averaging beneath seven, and even that quantity is propped up by a handful of 15-plus-attempt video games. 

Harden has by no means been an elite shooter from an accuracy standpoint; he simply pumped sufficient photographs to overwhelm the field rating. To this point this 12 months, he is capturing 40 % from the sphere and his fairly typical 36 % from 3. It is a completely different ballgame when you possibly can’t trick your means into free factors and have to truly make photographs. 

Harden continues to be an amazing participant, and once more, he is wanting extra like himself of late when it comes to gaining leverage off the dribble. However with out Kyrie Irving, is a better-but-still-not-elite Harden sufficient to present Kevin Durant a preventing probability at a 3rd championship? My guess is sure, however no means can they be thought of a favourite. Durant has been positively spectacular, however the defensive harassment he faces will seemingly, finally, get simply sufficient of him to put on the Nets out until Harden turns again the clock or Kyrie will get the jab. 

Honorable mentions

• Wizards mania: Like I mentioned, I simply have not watched them play sufficient to credibly remark. However 13-7 and No. 3 within the East? When you noticed that coming, it is advisable begin enjoying futures in Vegas. 

• Miles Bridges: His leap has been staggering. He ought to be on the entrance of everybody’s Most Improved Participant dialog. 

• Nikola Jokic is healthier: Higher than he was final season, that’s, when he ran away with the MVP. However we knew Denver would wrestle to compete with out Jamal Murray and positively as soon as Michael Porter Jr. went down.  

• Luka or bust: This stays Dallas’ blueprint if Jason Kidd does not go too far in attempting to unfold the wealth (and sufficient of the post-ups already). Kristaps Porzingis‘ current play does trace at increased hopes. 

• Neil Olshey newsflash: The Blazers, certainly, have a roster downside. They haven’t any probability guarding on the level of assault, and consequently they’re in fixed scramble mode; over-helping is a Portland epidemic. It is surrendering open 3 after open 3, notably from the nook. Who may’ve probably predicted a teeny-tiny three-guard core struggling to defend? 

• Atlanta higher than report: I am not anxious concerning the Hawks, who perhaps weren’t fairly pretty much as good as their convention finals run final season advised however in the long run stay a harmful playoff workforce with Trae Young pulling the levers. Like everybody, I’m curious whether or not GM Travis Schlenk makes a transfer to consolidate his steady of younger wings right into a extra premium participant. 

• Boston Me Occasion: Jayson Tatum is obsessive about isolating. He is clearly able to scoring on anybody, however his capturing numbers in such possessions are laborious to take a look at. Chilling on the 10-dribble contested pull-up mid-rangers would not be the worst thought on this planet. 

• Heat Tradition alive and properly: Miami is healthier with Kyle Lowry. It is stunning, I do know. And coloration me utterly unsurprised by Tyler Herro being superior. 

• The Cavs are a blast: Evan Mobley is a revelation, however he is shelved for some time. Darius Garland is sweet. The 2-big protection with Mobley and Jarrett Allen is refreshing at the moment. However don’t, beneath any circumstances, purchase even one share of Ricky Rubio inventory at this value.