The start of the NBA season tends to be tumultuous. The 82-game regular season takes nearly half a year in total, and the beginning sees a lot of players jostling for roles and teams keen to establish themselves.
In the East, Cleveland’s new side has limped out of the gate a little unsteadily and are among the outsiders for the play offs, but a slow start was predictable there given the arrival of LeBron James, Kevin Love and a new coach with limited NBA experience.
Chicago’s efforts to get used to playing with Derrick Rose again have been hampered by the niggles he’s picking up after his long injury layoff, but Toronto and Washington are the only teams so far to have shown interest in competing for the Eastern Conference title.
Confusing picture
Out West, the picture is far more crowded. The defending champions San Antonio have started in serene fashion, comfortable that their strong system will guide them to the playoffs in good stead.
Oklahoma City and LA Clippers were expected to set the pace in the regular season, having finished second and third respectively last year. But OKC’s injury woes are going to shake things up in the playoffs, and the Clippers have looked a little disjointed so far.
Meanwhile, the five teams which finished fourth to eighth in the West last year have all ripped off 10 wins inside the first four weeks of the season. This group’s first objective will be securing a top-four finish and homecourt advantage in the playoffs. But if they maintain their momentum, they can find themselves in genuine title contention.
The contenders
Dallas Mavericks: Last year’s eighth seed ended up being the only team to take the champion Spurs to seven games. Coach Rick Carlisle is a big difference-maker for this squad over its competitors, bringing a wealth of experience and nous to the team.
Dirk Nowitzki is back for his 17th year in Big D and still causing all sorts of problems for opposing defences with his unique skill-set. The roster lacks a little in star-power, but they did bring back Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea in the offseason, both beloved contributors to the 2011 title-winning team.
Through 14 games, the team is averaging 115.9 points per 100 possessions, leading the league in offensive production.
Houston Rockets: Houston lost wing player Chandler Parsons to their in-state rival Dallas in the offseason, and Trevor Ariza’s return did not inspire many hopes of an improvement on last year’s first-round exit to Portland.
The Rockets also saw Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik leave, but the switches have shown early signs of being productive, with Houston’s stars James Harden and Dwight Howard now able to impose themselves on games slightly more effectively.
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