Just six days into the 2022/23 NBA regular season, only four teams remain undefeated.
Two of those teams are in the Eastern Conference, where the Celtics are 3-0 and the Bucks are 2-0. Both teams have picked up nice victories in the early going, with Boston defeating the Sixers in the opener and then beating the Heat on the road. The Bucks also beat the 76ers in their own season opener, picking up a win in Philadelphia last Thursday.
Still, the Celtics and Bucks were both expected to be title contenders coming into the season. They’re likely pleased to be off to good starts while missing key players (Robert Williams and Danilo Gallinari in Boston; Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton in Milwaukee), but their early success comes as no surprise.
In the West, on the other hand, you could’ve made very good money if you’d beat a week ago that the last two undefeated teams left standing would be the Trail Blazers (3-0) and Jazz (3-0).
Portland expected to be a playoff contender after revamping its roster in the offseason, most notably trading for veteran forward Jerami Grant. But the reviews on the Blazers’ summer moves were mixed, and most experts didn’t expect them to be better than a play-in team. So their start to the season – which includes road wins over the Kings and Lakers and a home victory over Phoenix – has come as a pleasant surprise.
It certainly hasn’t been more surprising, however, than what the Jazz have done in the first week of the season. After trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, Utah was viewed as a prime contender in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, but the team opened its season with a home win over Denver and then picked up road victories in Minnesota and New Orleans.
Newly acquired forward Lauri Markkanen has looked like a star so far, leading the way with 24.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 3.7 APG through three games, while Jordan Clarkson (19.0 PPG) and Kelly Olynyk (16.3 PPG; .750 3PT%) have provided secondary scoring.
The Jazz’s 3-0 start was so unexpected that it prompted Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune to write an article headlined, “What in the world is happening with this 3-0 Utah Jazz team? How are they doing this?” Larsen’s hypothesis is that the Jazz have been doing all the little stuff right and making terrific decisions, especially on offense.
The sample size is small, but we want to know whether your feelings about any of the NBA’s four undefeated teams – especially the two in the West – have changed based on their play so far.
Are you any more confident in the Blazers’ chance of making the playoffs than you were a week ago? Could the Jazz actually make a play-in push, or will their hot start be short-lived (either due to regression or more trades)? If you had any doubts about the Celtics or Bucks, have they begun to put them to rest?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
After the Mitchell trade, I specifically pointed out that the Jazz were too good to tank. Markkanen can really score and he can hit shots from any area of the floor. Sexton is pure offense. Clarkson is a good scorer, though he is a ball stopper. Vanderbilt is a stellar defender. I’m not very surprised that they’ve come out stronger than Danny Ainge probably wanted.
Sexton has been pure bricks except for one small run in game 1. He’s averaging 13.3 on .357/.286 from the field. Olynyk and Clarkson have been scorching from deep and Kessler’s been a beast off the bench with 8/8 and 2 blocks PG off the bench. Good coaching, hustle, a 38.9 3p% as a team along with veteran leadership will win you some games. Unless they stay hot and keep winning games They’ll most likely trade Conley, Clarkson, and Gay at some point and the shooting will regress to the mean. They want to tank
Danny Ainge wants to tank. The team and the fans don’t.
And yeah, Sexton hasn’t been at his best. But his last fully healthy season, he put up 24 ppg on .475/.371/,815. If he finds his rhythm, the Jazz have a legit scorer.
I’ve been a fan for 35+ years, still have my autographed Mark Eaton jersey he signed for me when I was 8. They haven’t done a proper tank since Stockton retired. I’ll cheer every win but I know they need to tank.
Those Stockton and Malone teams deserved better.
Same thing happened with the Celtics. He reloaded while
Trying to tank and ended up making 3 conference finals before the moves they made came to fruition.
Tanking is not a winning strategy.
As for the Blazers, Lillard looks like he’s back in peak form. And that’s really all they needed. With Grant, Hart, and Simons to take some of the offensive pressure off of Lillard’s shoulders, he can play freely. Will they continue this pace? Doubtful. But they earned each of those wins.
If the Jazz really want to tank,the best way is to unload your point guard. This forces other players to try to create for themselves and that is not a winning strategy
Lauri is going to get shipped real soon. Olynk too before the end of the season.
This Jazz team undoubtedly beats the Lakers in a 7 game series. That is insane.
Markkanen is under reasonable money for the next three seasons. Not much sense in getting rid of him.
Unless you’re looking for future firsts….
Kelly Olynyk played 35 and 37 minutes in last two Utah games. Started at power forward. He’s basically always been a sub. This is his big chance to start. Danny had him in Boston. Celtics fans always remember KO’s 4th quarter. Keep starting him Will! Go Celtics!
IMO
Trade away any type of good players means tank to me.
Why?
They are targeting top picks
Now do a take on the winless teams so far this year. I’d love to hear what you guys have to say about the Rockets lol
The Celtics offense is clicking the way it should have done during last season’s playoff. But it was just too soon. Adding Malcolm Brogdon seems to have done the trick. The Celts defense is good but nothing special without TimeLord. Adding Hauser’s 3 pt shooting, Blake’s boarding & Noah’s big body should help. But, once again, it will probably come down to who’s healthy. Go Celtics!