Every Thursday, I’ll be taking you through the big story heading into the weekend. Or maybe the weirdest story? Or maybe just something that makes me laugh and I think will make you laugh too. Essentially, if you’re subscribed to The Bounce and reading every day, we’re going to have the same fun here as we do in that space.
On top of that, I’ve culled the weekend schedule for you to know what to pay attention to. Weird bad streaks against teams? Beefs you need to track? Just fun games with matchups you may not have known were happening? We’ve got that for you. On top of that, we’ll have a good old-fashioned Throwback Thursday to hit you with that feel-good nostalgia.
Let’s have fun by starting with the very scientific and never-failing Worry Meter for teams after the first week of the season.
Story to Watch: The Worry Meter is in full effect
There is nothing like eight days of the NBA season to determine whether or not something is wrong with a team. We’ll see a team struggle, not be used to its new squad or rotations a handful of games into the season, and start wondering if changes need to be made. That’s what basketball conversation on the internet is all about. It’s like watching the opening credits to a movie and deciding whether it’s worth the watch. It’s like watching a “CSI:Miami” episode and deciding if it’s good before David Caruso gets to a devastating pun. Thankfully, we have the Worry Meter.
The Worry Meter is an incredibly sophisticated, scientific measuring system that gives you up-to-the-second readings on whether you should be concerned about a basketball team just eight days into the season. We’ve used all of our available resources to fine-tune this machine. This is definitely not just me assigning anywhere from one-to-five emojis that make me laugh — with one emoji meaning a low worry level and five emojis meaning a high worry level. It is not that one bit. It takes years of studying biometrics and astrophysics to understand how it works. With that said, let’s get to three teams from the East and three teams from the West that are worthy of the Worry Meter.
Philadelphia 76ers | 1-3 | 26th-ranked offense | 16th-ranked defense
Even as the Sixers were putting together a really impressive summer, I remained quite hesitant to crown the franchise as truly contending. After the last few years of Philly coming up short in trying to reach the conference finals, I just couldn’t buy in. That’s not to say the Sixers didn’t have a good summer. It was about as good as it reasonably could have been. Bringing Paul George in is massive. Getting Andre Drummond to help have a big man of note on the floor, when Joel Embiid can’t, matters. Grabbing bargains with players like Caleb Martin was huge. I can recognize all that and still just not buy in because something seems to always go wrong with them. And it usually involves an injury or shortcoming for Embiid.
Until I see Embiid lead them through to the third round, I’m just going to remain stubborn. They’re off to a real slow start too, losing to Milwaukee, Toronto and now Detroit. That’s pretty bad with the Raptors and Pistons losses. This team flat-out couldn’t score in the first week of the season. That feels easily explainable with Embiid and George still waiting to make their season debuts. It’s why I’m not very worried about them yet. We still need to see what they look like on the floor together when PG and Embiid are back on the floor, making it a lot easier for Tyrese Maxey to operate. At the same time, my expectations for the Sixers are much lower because of their playoff history, so there’s already less to worry about with them.
Worry Meter: 😱😱
Milwaukee Bucks | 1-3 | 19th-ranked offense | 22nd-ranked defense
I was banging the drum that the Bucks were very undervalued going into this season and Year 2 of the Giannis Antetokounmpo–Damian Lillard would yield much better results. Even with not believing in Doc Rivers as a coach, I thought Milwaukee’s offseason was pretty good, considering its limitations with adding talent. Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince on small deals? Thievery! I believe Dame didn’t work out as hard last summer because he was waiting to be traded and didn’t want to get hurt. I believed a full offseason, training camp and preseason with the Bucks’ two stars would bring much better results. And maybe Rivers installing stuff with plenty of coaching time and not on the fly amid a season would be better.
Well, after the first week, I feel like I overshot on that Bucks optimism. There’s still plenty of time, obviously, and they still aren’t healthy. They need Khris Middleton in the mix. I asked Eric Nehm in The Bounce earlier this week about how this gets better, and this was his answer:
Nehm: It’s worth noting that the Bucks have a top-heavy roster and Khris Middleton has yet to play a game this season. To some, that could mean a reason to worry even more, while others may believe that is a reason for optimism moving forward. I think it is fair for Bucks fans to worry because the Bucks should have started the season 3-0 before dropping Monday’s game to the Celtics, but there is still plenty of reason to believe they can turn this around. If Doc Rivers is going to get them back into the position to contend for a title this season, it will require him getting more from his roster on the nights in which they play less talented teams and continuing to build chemistry between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Both of those things are far from impossible.
It’s great perspective, and I agree with what Eric said. I still worry, though.
Worry Meter: 😱😱😱
Denver Nuggets | 2-2 | 16th-ranked offense | 19th-ranked defense
I’ll fully admit Nikola Jokić is the only thing keeping me from burying this team way too early. In May, when the Nuggets dropped Game 7 at against the Timberwolves, the excuse was was this team was just so tired. They were real sleepy by the end of that series. Did they not rest enough this summer? The Nuggets look sluggish. This used to be a free-flowing offense that inspired basketball excellence. Now, it’s clunky and middle of the road. And that’s with them just putting up 144 points in an overtime game against Brooklyn. They are an absolute disaster when Jokić isn’t on the floor. Denver scores 46.9 fewer points per 100 possessions when Jokić sits. He barely sits, and it ruins their chances of competing. He has to drag them back.
Jamal Murray still looks like he did in the playoffs. I’m not quite sure what Michael Porter Jr. does here. Nobody has filled Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s absence. Jokić said this team mostly has average outside shooters. And while Russell Westbrook finally had a good outing against Brooklyn, the other three games have been pretty brutal. Jokić is just that good, though. He makes them so competitive when he’s on the floor and still makes everybody so much better. I almost wonder if he needs to score more to force more doubles to then give his guys easier shots. The Worry Meter is higher than it normally would be at this point, but I’m not certain this team avoids the Play-In because of the loaded West.
Worry Meter: 😱😱😱
Can Ja Morant and the Grizzlies find their form? (Petre Thomas / Imagn Images)
Memphis Grizzlies | 2-3 | 13th-ranked offense | 23rd-ranked defense
When Ja Morant returned to the Grizzlies after his suspension last season, those nine games gave me so much life as he galvanized his Memphis Grizzlies teammates. They went 6-3 in those games, so it was pretty natural to think they’d bounce back immediately with him fully healthy going into this season. I haven’t really felt that same inspiration with the team. The Grizzlies are not fully healthy, but they’re healthy enough to look better than they do. This was a team that won 50-plus games for multiple seasons with a very similar squad. Losing to the Bulls and Nets back-to-back deflated my excitement about them a bit. I’m pretty worried that same spark isn’t there for them as before, but that worry is mostly due to the West potentially being the best it’s ever been. It might get too crowded for Memphis to have its normal success.
Worry Meter: 😱😱😱😱
Miami Heat | 2-2 | 20th-ranked offense | 14th-ranked defense
No, this has nothing to do with the Dwyane Wade statue. I was a big “Frasier” fan, so I like it regardless. I just look at this Heat team and wonder where the offense is going to consistently come from. They decided to stand pat this past summer, but the rest of the East didn’t. Heat Culture has long been something that put them over the top when questions arose, but I’m not convinced it’s as strong as it used to be. We don’t know where that breakout role player will come from for them. Normally, I believe in the Heat until they prove me wrong, but this Miami offense is brutal to watch. Can they score enough points to contend with the risers in the East?
Worry Meter: 😱😱😱😱
New Orleans Pelicans | 2-3 | 27th-ranked offense | 18th-ranked defense
Why does this offense look so damn clunky? I know Dejounte Murray got hurt early and will miss some time, but this team has way too much firepower to be this bad on that end of the floor. Even in such a small sample size. I know Trey Murphy III hasn’t even been out there yet. The Pelicans still have Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum. This is not the Williamson we were expecting to see right away. It feels like they desperately need a table-setter. Maybe that’s Williamson with the point-forward role he had last year. Maybe that’s moving someone on the roster for better balance. Maybe that’s Murray coming back from injury. Regardless, I think their fix is easy with a trade, so I’m a little less worried about what we’re seeing.
Worry Meter: 😱😱😱
Games on the Radar
Do you plan out your weekend around your sports-viewing schedule? You’re not alone. Are you the type to want to look like a sports savant by going to your local sports bar, suggesting a game to put on and then reveling in the praise from fellow patrons you’ll get for knowing what to watch? You’re home. Are you the type to just fly by the seat of your pants and wing it last minute when you remember games are on? Bookmark this post and refer to it later! These are the best games to pay attention to this weekend.
(All times Eastern)
Thursday 🎃
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. on League Pass: This is a great test for a Rockets team looking to establish itself against the West champs. At the same time, we have a high likelihood of Dillon Brooks trying to get into Luka Dončić’s head and then getting lit up for 50 while Dončić screams at him after every made shot. Alperen Şengün against this Dallas frontcourt is a really fun matchup to nerd out on.
Phoenix Suns at LA Clippers, 10:30 p.m. on NBA TV: We had a great matchup between these two teams in the first week. I’m expecting it to happen again. With the Clippers using The Wall once again, we might see the Suns falter in a clutch moment. James Harden going against Devin Booker and Kevin Durant is always compelling. This one should go down to the wire. Just in case it’s not, notice the NBA doesn’t mess with Thursday Night Football during these first couple of months? TNT waits until January for Thursday nights.
Friday
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. on ESPN: The Cavs are on fire at 5-0! They’ve come out of the gates with tons of good vibes, and Evan Mobley has been making the leap they are hoping to see all season. The backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell has been working well. And now they face their first-round playoff opponent from last season, the Magic. Paolo Banchero is coming off his first career 50-point game. Cleveland staying undefeated would be impressive, but Orlando handing the Cavs their first loss would be big.
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN: Have the Nuggets figured things out? Do the Wolves have enough fourth-quarter punch? Does Nikola Jokić have enough help? Does Anthony Edwards shoot too many 3-pointers? Not to mention, the Nuggets collapsed in their second-round series in Game 7 against the Wolves. This matchup will be on the road, but the Wolves finally broke through against the Nuggets and possibly ended a dynasty before it ever started. Denver’s matchup issues against Minnesota aren’t the same they once were, but it doesn’t have the same depth it used to have either.
Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. on League Pass: If the Cavs don’t lose Friday night, will they extend their streak against a Bucks team that is struggling to find its identity early? The Cavs are gunning for a top spot in the East and trying to set an advantageous playoff path for themselves. We still have yet to see Milwaukee establish Antetokounmpo and Lillard in a way that makes you feel like they’re turning the corner as a team.
Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. on League Pass: Do you want to see two French icons be super tall against each other? Then do I have the matchup for you! Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama will battle. We’ll see if Anthony Edwards tries to dunk on Wemby. We’ll also see if Chris Paul can agitate the Wolves. This is actually a road game the Wolves need early to get things moving, and the Spurs need to show they can hang in the West.
Sunday
Atlanta Hawks at New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m. on League Pass: This should be a celebration of two of the best young talents in the league: Zion Williamson and Trae Young. Instead, we have two struggling teams. The Pelicans established themselves last season but are off to a slow start with an imbalanced roster. The Hawks are just the Hawks and have lost two straight to Washington after a fun first three games. Maybe they’ll both do some cool stuff? It’s NFL Sunday anyway …
Throwback Thursday: Shaq dunking on giants never gets old
I saw this dunk again on social media the other day, and it just delighted me. I have nothing against David Robinson or the Spurs. The Admiral is one of the greatest big men in the history of the league, and he was ahead of his time with his skill set, agility and game. With that said, few things have given me a more visceral feeling than watching Shaquille O’Neal abuse one of the most physically impressive big men in the NBA history and dunking all over him in tremendous fashion. When you add the cherry on top that Shaq made up stories of the past to motivate him extra against Robinson, it becomes even funnier. Watch Shaq move a giant like he’s nothing and dunk in his face like it was a NERF hoop.
Robinson got hit by an asteroid wearing a Shaq jersey. That dunk is vicious and feral. It’s one of the most incredible feats of individual strength we’ve seen. Robinson was 7-foot-1, 24o pounds of chiseled muscle. Shaq treated him like he was a curtain near an open window. The latter used to tell stories of Robinson shunning him for an autograph. Once mildly investigated, the stories never added up and the timelines didn’t make sense, so they were easily debunked. But if it led to this dunk and highlight happening 27 years ago, I choose for them to be true.
(Photo of Tyrese Maxey and Damian Lillard: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
