We are almost through three weeks of the NBA season, and “Da Bulls” lead the Eastern Conference with a 6-1 record while the Lakers are 7-2, one game behind the Oklahoma City Thundernauts. It’s still early, though, and there’s plenty of basketball left to be played. Youngsters will level up, the injury gods will get bored, Father Time will collect, tankathons will commence, and depth charts will be Jenga’d. In this weekly piece, I will highlight what caught my attention over the past week and answer some compelling questions.
Josh Giddey for MVP?
Before you start tossing internet tomatoes at my internet head, I acknowledge that it will be tough for Giddey to penetrate a room that includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo. DraftKings Sportsbook has Giddey’s MVP odds at +12000 while SGA is the favorite at +180. Jokic, Doncic and Wembanyama are all at +400, while Antetokounmpo is at +700. But if Ethan Hunt can sneak into CIA headquarters and steal the NOC list, then Giddey has a chance.
A lot would obviously have to break right for Giddey. He’d have to stay healthy, and the Bulls would need to keep winning. But what if Giddey averages a triple-double and the Bulls are in the playoff race?
I go back to 2016-17 when Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double and won the MVP award on a Thunder team that was 47-35, sixth in the Western Conference. That was the year the Warriors won 67 games; LeBron James was doing LeBron James things in Cleveland; and James Harden was garnering a 40% usage rate in Houston.
Granted, Westbrook was in the MVP conversation the prior two seasons, so MVP voters may want to see Giddey climb up the pagoda first. Still, they may be mesmerized by the 23.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists with a 28.2% usage rate while guiding the Bulls to the eighth-best offensive rating, fifth-best assist percentage and sixth-best true shooting percentage.
What’s wrong with Matas Buzelis?
Nothing! He just hasn’t lived up to expectations, as he was drafted 59th overall in NFBKC drafts from September to October. Last season, Buzelis averaged 18.9 minutes per game, and the bullish case has him as a starter this season. Well, he’s starting and averaging 29 minutes per game. The counting stats have increased due to the uptick in playing time, while the shooting percentages have improved slightly, but the usage rate is only 20.8% after being 19.5%.
So, the role hasn’t changed, and that’s what was needed for him to finish as a top-50 player. That said, he’s just outside the top 100 on a per-game basis and 0.1 steals shy of being a 1/1/1 player, so Buzelis has still been valuable. He just took one step forward instead of the three-step jump many were anticipating.
Is there a Nurse in the house?
Normally, a nurse is called when someone needs help, and they administer treatments, medications and/or therapies to alleviate pain or discomfort.
Nick Nurse, on the other hand, causes pain to opposing teams by playing his best players as much as humanly possible, making all RNs and LPNs across the globe cringe while fantasy nerds smile from ear to ear.
Tyrese Maxey played 15.3 minutes per game in his rookie season, then 35.3 and 33.6 over the next two seasons. When Nurse arrived in Philadelphia, Maxey’s playing time went up to 37.5 and then 37.7 minutes per game, the most in the league last season. Through eight games this season, Maxey is averaging 41.3 minutes per game — the only player above 40! VJ Edgecombe is third with 38.6 minutes per game.
As we know, minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe!
Currently, Maxey is the fourth overall player on a per-minute basis, averaging 33.5 points, 4.3 treys, 5.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 47% from the field and 85% from the line. The usage rate has ticked up from 28.8% last season to 29.3% this season.
I doubt Maxey averages over 40 minutes per game all season. The blocks will likely come down, and, if Joel Embiid and Paul George can start playing significant minutes, the usage rate could tick down slightly. That said, Maxey is only 25, and this may be him leveling up to the next stratosphere. Plus, can we really count on Embiid and PG for anything?
Have no Fears
Jeremiah Fears is 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and was selected by the Pelicans with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 draft. Watching him in college, I loved the moxie and elite handle package, but had concerns about his jumper and ability to finish at the rim. Well, the shooting concerns are still there, as he’s converting only 30% of his attempts from downtown, but he’s converting 62.2% of his shots within 10 feet of the rim. The free-throw percentage is also 81% and was 85% in college, so there’s optimism for the jumper going forward.
Most importantly, he’s been starting, and the game doesn’t look too big or fast for the 19-year-old. He’s already averaging 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.1 turnovers and should continue getting better with more reps and experience, which he should get plenty of as the Pelicans are not a playoff contender.
What is wrong in Dallas?
Dallas has won only two games this season — tied with the Pelicans for the fewest. Injuries have played a big part, with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively out, but the team is still trying to find its identity. Jason Kidd started the season with a jumbo lineup, but recently altered it by reinserting D’Angelo Russell into the starting lineup and bringing Klay Thompson off the bench. Cooper Flagg is very good, but he’s still only 18 years old and isn’t a true point guard.
Dallas is unsurprisingly playing good defense, boasting the fifth-best defensive rating, but the offense is dead last. The Mavericks are also 29th in offensive rebounding, 24th in 3-point attempts and 28th in 3-point percentage.
I think both Flagg and the Mavericks improve as the season progresses, but much of that depends on health, especially for Anthony Davis.
Injuries schminjuries
Trae Young is out for around three weeks due to a knee injury he suffered when a player was pushed into him. Young has missed three games, and it was Nickeil Alexander-Walker who replaced him in the starting lineup. Over that span, NAW has garnered a usage rate of 26.3% and averaged 32.7 minutes, 19 points, 1.3 treys, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 47% from the field and 86% from the line. Dyson Daniels has shouldered more offensive responsibility, playing 4 more minutes on average while seeing a 2.2% usage rate bump.
Dylan Harper strained his calf and will miss multiple weeks. Jordan McLaughlin played 19 minutes for Harper after he got injured, but he only received 3 minutes on Wednesday. Jeremy Sochan returned to action and played 23 minutes while Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell both played 37 minutes. De’Aaron Fox’s return doesn’t seem imminent.
Zion Williamson is out with an injury — water is wet, the sky is blue. Williamson is dealing with a sore hamstring and will be re-evaluated in around a week. Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen are the biggest beneficiaries. Bey started the last game and averaged 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the previous two games. Queen averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.5 steals, showing why the Pelicans selected him with the 13th overall pick.
Walker Kessler is done for the season due to shoulder surgery. Jusuf Nurkic has started the past three games, but over the last two, he’s averaged 32 minutes, 8.5 points, 14 rebounds, two steals and one block. Kyle Filipowski has played only 20 minutes over the past two games. I think Filipowski could become a factor later in the season, but that may not happen for a while, if at all.
Cam Thomas suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday — current status is unknown. If he misses time, Tyrese Martin could replace him in the starting lineup, but the biggest beneficiary would be Michael Porter, who would truly be the captain now and huck-and-chuck to his heart’s content.
Bam Adebayo injured his foot on Wednesday — status unknown. Kel’el Ware has been in Eric Spoelstra’s doghouse since the summer and has been playing only 20 minutes per game. Ware played 27 minutes on Thursday and, if Adebayo is out, Spoelstra could have no choice but to play Ware more, which could be the opportunity Ware needs to re-emerge.
Random thoughts
Pacers center Isaiah Jackson has ramped up a bit, going from playing in the low teens to over 20 minutes per game, with a high of 29 minutes. Most encouragingly, he also played in a back-to-back.
Kelly Oubre is a top-30 player on a per-game basis.
When Joel Embiid has sat, it’s been Andre Drummond, not Adem Bona, who has played more.
Brooklyn started a jumbo lineup of Terance Mann, Cam Thomas, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton. It’s an excellent opportunity for Clowney, who is only rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Detroit has started Isaiah Stewart alongside Jalen Duren with much success. Tobias Harris was out, though, and I think Stewart reverts to a backup role when Harris returns — something to monitor.
Jake LaRavia has started four of the past seven games and averaged 33 minutes, 14 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.6 treys. He’s only 29% rostered in Yahoo leagues.
Isaiah Collier could be back soon. He’s active but has been a DNP. Does he come off the bench or enter the starting lineup alongside Keyonte George, moving Svi Mykhailiuk to a reserve role?
