By Tim Bontemps, Brian Windhorst | ESPN, 2024-11-08 21:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
NBA赛季才过了不到三周，联盟中就已经出现了一些潜在的危险局面。密尔沃基雄鹿队和费城76人队，这两支被认为是东部冠军的有力争夺者，目前都徘徊在积分榜的底部，并且面临着关于他们超级球星的疑问。新奥尔良鹈鹕队的伤病名单几乎和他们的现役名单一样长。而洛杉矶湖人队3胜0负开局的美好时光也已被1胜4负的客场之旅所取代。
但也有很多值得关注的积极方面，从克利夫兰骑士队的开局不败，到像底特律活塞队后卫杰登·艾维(Jaden Ivey)和菲尼克斯太阳队前锋瑞安·邓恩(Ryan Dunn)这样的年轻球员的出色表现，再到金州勇士队对“众志成城”时代的早期回归。
以下是联盟内部人士正在讨论的内容，包括雄鹿队的早期交易传闻、更多76人队的戏剧性事件，以及西部联盟两支黑马球队背后的球员。
跳转到章节：
雄鹿队即将有所行动？
恩比德和76人队伤病的最新消息
菲尼克斯的潜在选秀瑰宝
围绕7胜1负勇士队的光环
底特律的另一块基石
球探们对文班亚马投篮困境的看法
赛季开局缓慢，雄鹿队是否正在考虑交易？
温德霍斯特: 传闻是真的。联盟高管告诉ESPN，雄鹿队确实开始在联盟中寻求交易。但不，不是那笔交易。两届MVP扬尼斯·阿德托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo)进入交易市场的概念充斥着各种谣言和交易模拟，但消息人士称，对于阿德托昆博或雄鹿队来说，这目前还不是现实。近几个月来，各支球队都已告知雄鹿队，如果那一天真的到来，他们会为“希腊怪兽”提供报价。但这些都是打进来的电话，而不是打出去的，而且这种情况很可能会持续下去。
由于克里斯·米德尔顿(Khris Middleton)因休赛期脚踝手术而缺席，球队又以2胜6负开局，雄鹿队正在四处打电话寻求交易，以帮助阿德托昆博和达米安·利拉德(Damian Lillard)。但雄鹿队很难找到实质性的交易。因为雄鹿队处于奢侈税的第二档，所以他们被禁止合并薪金进行交易，并且不能接受比送出更多的薪水。
“现在生效的第二档奢侈税真的束缚了他们，”一位竞争对手的总经理告诉ESPN。“他们正在尽职调查，试图找到选择，但他们当然知道这一点。”
邦坦普斯: 这个挑战不仅雄鹿队面临，所有试图在新劳资协议下进行交易的球队都面临着这个问题。由于现在在第一和第二奢侈税档位都实施了硬工资帽（取决于球队的交易方式），完成交易——尤其是在赛季中期——变得更加困难。
一些球队，比如雄鹿队，已经超过了第二档奢侈税，因此有很多限制。其他球队则低于奢侈税线，但要么不想超过，要么已经进行了不允许他们超过的交易。这迫使明尼苏达森林狼队和纽约尼克斯队煞费苦心地完成了卡尔-安东尼·唐斯(Karl-Anthony Towns)的交易，并且在今年夏天也冷却了布兰登·英格拉姆(Brandon Ingram)等球员的潜在交易市场。
温德霍斯特: 对于一个热爱戏剧的联盟和渴望交易的球迷来说，很容易对阿德托昆博的交易做出草率的结论。然而，在这种情况下，应该理解的是，雄鹿队有很大的动力去尝试一切方法，让这套阵容与阿德托昆博一起发挥作用，并在考虑其他任何事情之前，穷尽所有途径。
雄鹿队无法控制他们接下来的六个首轮选秀权——他们交易了三个首轮签，并进行了三次互换。这有效地削弱了雄鹿队通过选秀进行短期重建的概念。在接下来的三次选秀中，如果雄鹿队的首轮签最终落在前四顺位，那么鹈鹕队将拥有该选秀权。如果2025年的选秀权是从第5顺位到第30顺位，它将归布鲁克林篮网队所有。鹈鹕队还拥有2026年不受保护的互换权和雄鹿队2027年不受保护的首轮签，尽管如果该签位落在前四名之外，该选秀权可能会归亚特兰大老鹰队所有。
“现在东部看起来并没有那么强大，”一位东部高管告诉ESPN。“如果我是他们，我会放长线钓大鱼，相信扬尼斯和利拉德。问题是我认为即使他们步入正轨，也无法击败波士顿。”
邦坦普斯: “东部看起来并没有那么强大”是一种轻描淡写的说法。费城76人队的开局比雄鹿队更糟糕，尽管乔尔·恩比德(Joel Embiid)和保罗·乔治(Paul George)因为伤病缺席了很多比赛。保罗·班凯罗(Paolo Banchero)现在将因伤缺席奥兰多魔术队几周的比赛。尼克斯队的新阵容开局缓慢。泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿(Tyrese Haliburton)和印第安纳步行者队也步履蹒跚。迈阿密热火队也是如此。
对于雄鹿队来说，保持耐心是合理的。与ESPN交谈的对方球探和高管表示，他们认为雄鹿队没有可用的交易能够显著改变现状。
恩比德和76人队的最新消息是什么？
邦坦普斯: 76人队在周三于Intuit Dome球馆输给快船队后，战绩为1胜6负，这也是乔治回归洛杉矶的首场比赛。然而，过去一周的故事一直是围绕着恩比德的持续传奇——包括他在周六的更衣室争吵中推搡《费城问询报》专栏作家马库斯·海耶斯(Marcus Hayes)而被禁赛三场。
再加上上周该球队因就恩比德的伤病发表公开评论而被罚款100,000美元，恩比德和76人队一直备受关注，而这一事件更是成为了过去几天联盟最热门的话题。
尽管恩比德因海耶斯在一篇专栏文章中提到了恩比德已故的兄弟和年幼的儿子而感到沮丧，对此几乎所有人都表示理解，但没有人对恩比德被禁赛感到惊讶，因为联盟明确且可以理解地希望以此树立先例。
温德霍斯特: 尼克·纳斯(Nick Nurse)在本周早些时候在恩比德被禁赛后找到了一线希望：“至少我们现在知道他什么时候会上场了，”这位教练说道。那将会是周二主场对阵纽约尼克斯队的比赛，这也是NBA杯赛的首场比赛。纳斯的评论微妙地暗示了76人队在本赛季恩比德和乔治的出场情况方面缺乏明确性。顺便说一句，76人队在与尼克斯队的比赛之后，将在周三背靠背客场挑战克利夫兰骑士队，恩比德曾表示他本赛季可能会在这种情况下轮休。
“76人队得到了保罗·乔治，现在已经变成了东部快船队，”一位西部高管告诉ESPN。“他们将不得不在常规赛期间坚持下去，并希望他们的两位顶级球员能够健康地进入季后赛，然后期待奇迹的发生。保罗·乔治和科怀·伦纳德(Kawhi Leonard)一直都是这样的。”
邦坦普斯: 由于泰瑞斯·马克西(Tyrese Maxey)因腿筋受伤将至少缺席两周，坚持下去将变得更加困难。马克西场均得到27.6分，但投篮命中率只有40.6%，三分球命中率只有28.6%。这两个数据都远未达到76人队对这位年轻球星后卫的期望。在76人队内部，毫无疑问马克西会没事的，他只是在恩比德和乔治缺席的情况下有点压力过大。
温德霍斯特: 这听起来对费城不利，但看看积分榜。在东部，只有波士顿和克利夫兰的胜率超过50%，这使得目前在东部垫底的球队不必过分担心他们的开局。“在东部，胜率50%就能排到第三。在西部，你已经排在第10了，”一位西部总经理告诉ESPN。
邦坦普斯: ESPN的篮球实力指数(BPI)的数据也支持了这一点。BPI仍然预测76人队将以东部第三的成绩结束本赛季——他们的胜场数在西部将排在……第10位。
太阳队火热开局的幕后英雄
温德霍斯特: 当太阳队的球探和高管们上赛季在弗吉尼亚大学评估瑞安·邓恩时，他们爱上了他的竞争力，无论他防守的是谁，无论体型和速度上的差距如何。教练迈克·布登霍尔泽(Mike Budenholzer)也有同样的感受。菲尼克斯研究了所有由布登霍尔泽执教过的年轻球员，从他在圣安东尼奥担任助理教练，到在亚特兰大和密尔沃基担任主教练。他们一次又一次地发现，发展型球员提高了他们的投篮能力。邓恩在大学时三分球命中率只有23%，罚球命中率更是低至56%，但这并没有像其他球队那样阻止太阳队，因为他们喜欢他的防守心态和6尺8寸的身高。
邦坦普斯: 至少从圣安东尼奥在2010年代初期将丹尼·格林(Danny Green)培养成3D瑰宝开始，各支球队就一直在尝试这种做法。如果你能培养出这样的球员，随着时间的推移，它会成为一个巨大的改变者——这也是为什么球迷们可以快速说出像格林、多利安·芬尼-史密斯(Dorian Finney-Smith)和罗伊斯·奥尼尔(Royce O’Neale)这样的名字。不同的是，这些人都是落选球员。如果你能把20多顺位的选秀权变成那样的球员——邓恩是第28顺位——那将是一个巨大的成功，正是球队希望从首轮末段选秀中获得的价值。
温德霍斯特: 在太阳队看来，如果他们能让邓恩在底角投进3个三分球，那么他们在第28顺位就选得不错。如果教练们能让他随着时间的推移投进4个三分球，他们就拥有了一名精英级别的3D侧翼。现在还很早，但邓恩的三分命中率已经达到了39%。在他在夏季的训练赛中引起人们的关注后，他已经成为了7胜1负的太阳队早期令人惊喜的新秀之一——他在他的前八场NBA比赛中投进了13个三分球——他在弗吉尼亚大学的两个赛季一共只投进了12个三分球——并证明自己是一名有价值的大个侧翼防守者。邓恩在周三遭遇了小挫折，在战胜热火队的比赛中扭伤了左脚踝。
邦坦普斯: 本周多位球探告诉ESPN，他们相信邓恩可以成为一个可靠的外线威胁，这对于除了奥尼尔之外缺乏出色侧翼防守者的阵容来说是一个理想的补充。菲尼克斯在阵容深度方面做得很好，选中了邓恩和奥索·伊格霍达罗(Oso Ighodaro)，并在自由市场上签下了泰厄斯·琼斯(Tyus Jones)、蒙特·莫里斯(Monte Morris)和梅森·普拉姆利(Mason Plumlee)。所有这些球员都在菲尼克斯的开局中发挥了作用，即使布拉德利·比尔(Bradley Beal)因肘部受伤缺席。
为什么“众志成城”又回到了湾区？
邦坦普斯: 周三晚上，勇士队既欣喜若狂，又很现实。在球队的更衣室里，在勇士队让卫冕冠军凯尔特人队吞下他们的第一个主场失利后，到处都是笑容和笑声。这场胜利让金州勇士队与俄克拉荷马雷霆队和菲尼克斯太阳队并列西部最佳战绩。
但球队内部也有一种现实主义的态度，那就是他们还没有取得任何真正的成就——而且勇士队目前的比赛方式，每晚至少有11名球员——有时甚至多达13名——获得上场时间，这可能无法持续到季后赛。
“随着赛季的进行，”斯蒂芬·库里(Stephen Curry)承认，“轮换阵容会变小。”
私下里，勇士队承认他们知道他们不能永远这样打下去。但事实证明，这种策略可以帮助他们度过82场常规赛的漫长赛季，并让金州勇士队成为西部的一支重要力量。
温德霍斯特: 尽管人们都关注科尔在奥运会上如何使用他的轮换阵容，但他实际上已经将其中的一些带到了勇士队。在美国队，科尔使用了一种自迈克·沙泽夫斯基(Mike Krzyzewski)执教以来一直是美国队关键的策略：以巨大的防守能量进行比赛，然后大规模换人，利用强大的阵容深度对抗世界各地球队。
科尔在与波士顿的比赛中让七名球员的上场时间在13到20分钟之间。目前队中没有人场均上场超过28分钟，但他使用的所有13名球员每场比赛至少能上场12分钟。因此，他们能够并且确实以一种在NBA中非同寻常的防守能量进行比赛，尤其是在外线。而包括强大的凯尔特人队在内的各支球队，都开始经常被这种能量所扰乱。
邦坦普斯: 从这支球队身上可以清楚地看到，每个人都非常享受球队的现状。科尔，这位创造了定义了他2014-15赛季第一支冠军球队的“众志成城”口号的教练，对他球队的防守方式赞不绝口。库里多次谈到他以这种方式打球是多么的开心。尽管克雷·汤普森(Klay Thompson)对球队做出了不可估量的贡献，但似乎上赛季末的分手对双方来说都是一个新的开始。用来取代他的球员，巴迪·希尔德(Buddy Hield)和凯尔·安德森(Kyle Anderson)，在金州勇士队的开局中扮演了重要的角色。
艾维正在帮助活塞队制造一些早期的轰动
温德霍斯特: 上赛季，活塞队在经历了长达63天的28连败后，于12月30日赢得了他们的第三场胜利。本赛季，第三场胜利——11月4日战胜湖人队——来得很快。（活塞队在周三与夏洛特的比赛中错失了第四场胜利，在最后时刻失利。）活塞队复苏的象征是2022年选秀大会第五顺位后卫杰登·艾维的表现。一年前，艾维失去了时任教练蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)的青睐，后者在经历了一个相当有希望的新秀赛季后，将他撤出了首发阵容，并减少了他的上场时间。最终，艾维凭借努力回到了首发阵容，但他的成长潜力在第二年受到了打击，他的场均得分、篮板、助攻和三分球命中率都有所下降。
邦坦普斯: 在上赛季初，联盟中有人质疑活塞队是否会放弃艾维，尤其是考虑到威廉姆斯签下了一份为期六年的合同，当时才是第一年。然而，自从常规赛开始以来，很明显，在新活塞队领导层的带领下，他将在本赛季获得不同的对待。
温德霍斯特: 当活塞队的新任球队总裁特拉扬·兰登(Trajan Langdon)和以J.B.比克斯塔夫(J.B. Bickerstaff)为首的新教练组在春季上任时，他们不确定艾维在经历了起起伏伏的赛季后，心理状态如何。球队官员表示，他们发现了一名与他在普渡大学时的选秀模板相符的球员，他品格高尚，职业道德高，而且非常容易接受指导。然后，兰登试图通过引进老将托拜厄斯·哈里斯(Tobias Harris)、蒂姆·哈达威(Tim Hardaway Jr.)和马利克·比斯利(Malik Beasley)来为他和后场搭档凯德·坎宁安(Cade Cunningham)提供一些帮助，这些球员可以拉开场上空间，为控球手创造空间。活塞队的投篮命中率不高，至少目前还没有，但他们每场比赛比上赛季多出手5个三分球。
而艾维重新找回了他的势头。他的得分和投篮都有了大幅提升，尤其是在第四节。艾维在最后阶段砍下11分，帮助活塞队锁定了战胜湖人队的胜利，并在对阵夏洛特的比赛的最后一节得到6分，其中包括在比赛还剩20秒时的一记突破扣篮，这几乎帮助球队完成了逆转。
维克多·文班亚马糟糕的进攻开局背后是什么原因？
邦坦普斯: 在八场比赛中，文班亚马的三分球62投14中（22.6%），在周四战胜波特兰开拓者队的比赛中，他上场32分钟，三分球6投2中，投篮命中率为41%。至少有一位球探告诉ESPN，文班亚马在本赛季初看起来很疲惫，因为他去年打了71场NBA比赛，之后又参加了巴黎奥运会，东道主法国队在八月份的金牌争夺战中几乎击败了美国队。
温德霍斯特: 文班亚马决定不参加2023年男篮世界杯，这令法国球迷非常失望，也是球队未能晋级奖牌轮的原因之一。他和他的顾问们已经开始展望未来24个月在NBA的艰巨任务。在巴黎奥运会之后，文班亚马也没有休息太久，而是很快选择前往圣安东尼奥开始与队友一起训练。
邦坦普斯: 即使投篮挣扎，文班亚马对于一名二年级球员来说仍然交出了令人印象深刻的数据：场均17.7分、9.6个篮板和联盟领先的3.7次盖帽。他已经打出了多场5x5的数据。但是，虽然他已经成为联盟中最好的防守球员之一，但他的投篮可能会决定他的上限有多高。
“他的防守绝对出色，但在进攻端完全没有影响力，”一位对方球探告诉ESPN，他坚信文班亚马的长期潜力。“他看起来就像是在漫无目的地打球。”
温德霍斯特: 马刺队显然支持文班亚马投这么多三分球，这是因为他们投篮次数最多的外线射手德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)由于休赛期接受足部手术而尚未出场。凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)，上赛季马刺队三分球出手次数排名第三的球员，本赛季的出手次数减少了，而且球队让三分球专家道格·麦克德莫特(Doug McDermott)在自由市场上离开了。在上赛季场均三分球出手次数排名联盟第11位之后，本赛季马刺队下滑至第19位，即使算上文班亚马的出手。
“他投这么多三分球是有原因的，”另一位球探告诉ESPN，“但现在感觉他每次投三分球都是在给对手喘息的机会。”
点击查看原文：NBA intel - Trade talk in Milwaukee, Embiid updates, Warriors
NBA intel - Trade talk in Milwaukee, Embiid updates, Warriors
Less than three weeks into the NBA season, there are already some potentially precarious situations developing around the league. The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, two expected contenders for the Eastern Conference title, are currently stuck near the bottom of the standings and face questions about their superstars. The New Orleans Pelicans have an injured list almost as long as their active roster. And the halcyon days of the 3-0 start for the Los Angeles Lakers have given way to a 1-4 trip.
But there are plenty of storylines at the other end of the spectrum, from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ undefeated start and impressive showings from young players such as Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey and Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn, to the Golden State Warriors’ early and impressive throwback to the “Strength in Numbers” days.
Here’s a look at what league insiders are talking about as we continue to move through the NBA calendar, including early trade buzz in Milwaukee, more Sixers drama and the players behind two surprise teams in the Western Conference.
Jump to a section:\
**Milwaukee making a move soon?\
Latest on Embiid, Sixers injuries\
A potential draft gem in Phoenix\
The aura around the 7-1 Warriors\
Another foundation piece in Detroit\
Scouts on Wemby’s shooting woes**
Amid a slow start, is Milwaukee eyeing a trade?
Windhorst: The speculation is true. The Bucks are indeed starting to canvas the league for a trade, league executives told ESPN. But no, not that trade. The concept of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo reaching the trade market is ripe for rumors and trade machine computations, but it’s not a reality as of now for Antetokounmpo or the Bucks, sources said. Teams have let the Bucks know in recent months that they will make an offer for the Greek Freak if that day ever comes. But those are incoming calls, not outgoing, and it’s likely to remain that way.
Milwaukee is making trade calls looking for some help for Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, as Khris Middleton’s absence from offseason ankle surgeries extends and the team manages a 2-6 start. But the Bucks are going to have a tough time finding anything substantial. Because Milwaukee is in the second apron of the luxury tax, it is prohibited from aggregating salaries to make a deal and from taking back more money than it sends out.
“The second apron coming in now really hamstrings them,” a rival general manager told ESPN. “They’re doing due diligence trying to find options, but of course they know it.”
Bontemps: This challenge faces not just Milwaukee, but any team trying to make deals in the new collective bargaining agreement. With hard caps now implemented at both the first and second luxury tax aprons (depending on what teams do transaction-wise), getting deals done – especially in season – has become much more difficult.
Some teams, like Milwaukee, are above the second apron, and thus have lots of restrictions. Others are below the aprons, but either don’t want to exceed them, or have already made moves that don’t allow them to. That forced the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks to jump through hoops to pull off the Karl-Anthony Towns deal, and it chilled the market on possible deals for players such as Brandon Ingram this summer.
Windhorst: For a league that loves drama and fans who crave transactions, it’s tempting to jump to conclusions with Antetokounmpo. In this case, though, it should be understood that the Bucks are heavily incentivized to try everything to make this roster work with Antetokounmpo and exhaust all avenues before considering anything else.
The Bucks don’t control their next six first-round picks – they’ve traded three firsts and made three swaps. This effectively blunts the concept of a short-term rebuild through the draft in Milwaukee. Over the next three drafts, the Pelicans have control of the Bucks’ first-round pick if it ends up in the top four. If the 2025 pick is from No. 5 to No. 30, it goes to the Brooklyn Nets. The Pelicans also have an unprotected 2026 swap and Milwaukee’s unprotected 2027 first-rounder, though that pick could go to Atlanta if it lands outside the top four.
“The East doesn’t look that formidable right now,” an East executive told ESPN. “If I were them I would play the long game and believe in Giannis and Dame. The problem is I don’t think they’re beating Boston even if they hit their stride.”
Bontemps: “The East doesn’t look that formidable right now” is an understatement. Philadelphia is off to a worse start than Milwaukee, albeit with Joel Embiid and Paul George sitting out lots of time because of injuries. Paolo Banchero is now out several weeks for Orlando. The Knicks have gotten off to a slow start with their new-look roster. Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers have stumbled out of the gates. So have the Miami Heat.
For the Bucks, there is legitimacy to the idea of being patient. Opposing scouts and executives told ESPN they don’t see a transaction available to the Bucks that will appreciably move the needle.
What is the latest with Embiid and the 76ers?
Bontemps: The 76ers are 1-6 after losing to the Clippers in George’s return to Los Angeles on Wednesday at Intuit Dome. The story of the past week, though, has been the ongoing saga surrounding Embiid – up to and including his three-game suspension for shoving Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes during a locker room argument Saturday.
The subject has been the league’s hottest topic over the past few days, coupled with the attention already being paid to Embiid and the 76ers after the franchise was fined $100,000 last week for public comments made about his injury.
But while there was near universal understanding for Embiid’s frustrations with Hayes over a column that referenced Embiid’s dead brother and Embiid’s young son, there was also no one who was surprised Embiid was hit with a suspension, with the clear and understandable desire by the league to set a precedent.
Windhorst: Nick Nurse found a silver lining earlier this week in the wake of Embiid’s suspension: “At least we know when he’s going to play now,” the coach said. That will be Tuesday at home against the New York Knicks in the first game of the NBA Cup. Nurse’s comment was a subtle nod to the lack of clarity the Sixers have had when it comes to the availability of Embiid and George this season. And, by the way, the Sixers are playing in a back-to-back after the Knicks’ game Wednesday in Cleveland, a situation in which Embiid has said he probably would rest this season.
“The Sixers got Paul George and have become the Clippers East for now,” a West executive told ESPN. “They’re going to have to hang on during the regular season and just hope to get into the playoffs with their top two guys healthy and try for lightning in a bottle. It was always like that with PG and Kawhi [Leonard].”
Bontemps: Hanging on isn’t going to get easier now that Tyrese Maxey is out for at least two weeks because of a hamstring injury. Maxey is averaging 27.6 points but on just 40.6% shooting from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range. Neither mark is anywhere near what Philadelphia was hoping for from its young star guard. Around the Sixers, there is no doubt Maxey will be more than fine, and that he was simply pressing a bit with Embiid and George sidelined.
Windhorst: It sounds bad for Philly, but look at the standings. In the East, only Boston and Cleveland have winning records, allowing for teams currently in the conference’s basement to not stress too much about their starts. “In the East, .500 gets you third place. In the West, you’re in 10th already,” a West GM told ESPN.
Bontemps: That’s backed up by the numbers. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) is still projecting the 76ers to finish third in the East – with a win total that would have them finishing … 10th in the West.
The unsung hero of Phoenix’s scorching start
Windhorst: When Suns scouts and executives evaluated Ryan Dunn last season at the University of Virginia, they fell in love with his competitiveness no matter who he was guarding, regardless of size and speed mismatches. Coach Mike Budenholzer felt the same. Phoenix had studied all of the young players coached by Budenholzer when he was an assistant in San Antonio and a head coach in Atlanta and Milwaukee. Time and again they found developmental players improved their shooting. That Dunn shot 23% on 3-pointers in college and a rather worrisome 56% at the line didn’t deter the Suns as much as other teams because they loved his defensive mindset and 6-8 frame.
Bontemps: This is what teams have been attempting going back to at least when San Antonio developed Danny Green into a 3-and-D gem in the early 2010s. If you can develop a player like that, it can become a massive difference-maker over time – and why fans can quickly rattle off names such as Green, Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. The difference is all of those guys were undrafted players. If you can turn a pick in the 20s into that kind of player – Dunn was 28th – that is a home run and exactly the value teams hope to get from a late first-rounder.
Windhorst: The way the Suns saw it, if they could get Dunn to make 3 of 10 corner 3s, they’d have a good pick at No. 28. And if the coaches could get him to 4-of-10 with time, they’d have an elite 3-and-D wing. It’s still very early, but Dunn is hitting at 39%. He has turned into one of the early surprise rookies for the 7-1 Suns after he raised eyebrows in pickup games over the summer, having made 13 3-pointers in his first eight NBA games – he made a total of 12 3s in his two seasons at Virginia – and proving to be a valuable big wing defender. Dunn did have a minor setback Wednesday, spraining his left ankle in a win over the Heat.
Bontemps: Multiple scouts this week told ESPN they believe Dunn could be a credible threat from beyond the arc, an ideal fit on a roster bereft of plus wing defenders apart from O’Neale. Phoenix did a nice job deepening its roster, drafting Dunn and Oso Ighodaro and adding Tyus Jones, Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee in free agency. All have played a part in Phoenix’s start, which has weathered Bradley Beal sitting out because of an elbow injury.
Why ‘Strength in Numbers’ is back in The Bay
Bontemps: The Warriors were both euphoric and realistic Wednesday night. Inside the team’s locker room, there were plenty of smiles and laughs after the Warriors handed the defending champion Celtics their first home loss. It sent Golden State into a three-way tie with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Suns for the best record in the West.
But there was also a realism within the team that it hasn’t accomplished much of anything yet – and that the way the Warriors are currently playing, with at least 11 players – and sometimes as many as 13 – a night getting minutes probably isn’t something that can sustain into the playoffs.
“As the season goes on,” Stephen Curry acknowledged, “rotations get smaller.”
Privately, the Warriors admit they know they can’t play this way forever. But what’s proving true is that this strategy can help through the grind of the 82-game regular season and set up Golden State to be a factor in the West.
Windhorst: For all the focus on how Kerr used his rotations in the Olympics, he actually has brought some of that to the Warriors. With Team USA, Kerr used a strategy that has been a key for American teams since Mike Krzyzewski was in charge: play with huge defensive energy and then mass sub to use the great depth against the world.
Kerr played seven players between 13 and 20 minutes in Boston. No one on the roster averages more than 28 minutes so far, but all 13 he plays get at least 12 a game. As a result, they can and do play with a defensive energy that is out of the ordinary in the NBA, especially on the perimeter. And teams, including the almighty Celtics, are starting to routinely be unnerved by it.
Bontemps: What shines through from being around this team is that everyone is thoroughly enjoying where it sits. Kerr, who crafted the “Strength in Numbers” mantra that defined his first title team in 2014-15, was beaming at the way his group defended the Celtics. Curry, on multiple occasions, talked about how much fun he’s having playing this way. For all of Klay Thompson’s immeasurable contributions to the franchise, it seems the divorce at the end of last season was the fresh start both sides needed. The players brought in to replace him, Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson, have played large roles in Golden State’s start.
Ivey is helping create some early Pistons buzz
Windhorst: Last season, the Pistons won their third game Dec. 30 after a 28-game losing streak that spanned 63 days. This season, victory No. 3 – Monday against the Lakers – came Nov. 4. (Detroit barely missed a fourth win Wednesday, losing at the buzzer in Charlotte.) A symbol of the Pistons’ seedlings of a turnaround is the play of guard Jaden Ivey, the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft. A year ago, Ivey fell out of favor with then-coach Monty Williams, who pulled him out of the starting lineup and reduced his minutes after what had been a reasonably promising rookie season. Eventually, Ivey worked his way back in with the starters, but his growth potential took a hit in Year 2 as his points, rebounds and assists per game and 3-point shooting backslid.
Bontemps: Early last season, there were questions around the league as to whether Detroit would move on from Ivey, particularly given that Williams was in the first year of a six-year contract. Instead, it has been clear since the start of the regular season he was going to get a different look this season under new Pistons leadership.
Windhorst: When the Pistons’ front office – new team president Trajan Langdon and a new coaching staff led by J.B. Bickerstaff – arrived for work in the spring, they weren’t sure where Ivey would be mentally after the up-and-down season. They found a player who matched his draft profile when he starred at Purdue, which was high character, high work ethic and very coachable, team officials said. Then Langdon tried to get him and backcourt mate Cade Cunningham some help by acquiring veterans Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley, who stretch the floor and create space for ball handlers. The Pistons aren’t shooting it well, at least not yet, but they’re attempting five more 3-pointers per game than last season.
And Ivey has rediscovered his momentum. His scoring and shooting have surged, especially in fourth quarters. Ivey put in 11 points in the stretch run to help seal the Pistons’ win against the Lakers and six in the final quarter against Charlotte, including a driving dunk with 20 seconds left that helped almost complete the comeback.
What is behind the rough start (offensively) for Victor Wembanyama?
Bontemps: Through eight games, Wembanyama is 14-for-62 (22.6%) from 3-point range this season after going 2-for-6 in 32 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, and is shooting 41% from the field. At least one scout told ESPN that Wembanyama has looked tired early this season, after the combination of 71 NBA games last year, followed by the Paris Olympics, where the hosts nearly knocked off the Americans in the gold medal game in August.
Windhorst: Wembanyama decided to skip the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which greatly disappointed French fans and contributed to the team not advancing to the medal round. He and his advisers were already looking ahead to how demanding the following 24 months were going to be in the NBA. Wembanyama didn’t take much time off after the Paris games, either, rather quickly choosing to go to San Antonio to start workouts with teammates.
Bontemps: Even with these shooting struggles, Wembanyama is still putting up impressive numbers for a second-year player: 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game. He already has multiple 5x5 games. But while he’s already one of the best defensive players in the league, his shooting could determine just how high his ceiling becomes.
“He’s absolutely awesome on defense, and not impactful at all on offense,” an opposing scout, who firmly believes in Wembanyama’s long-term potential, told ESPN. “He just looks like he’s playing without a whole lot of direction.”
Windhorst: The Spurs are clearly endorsing Wembanyama taking so many 3-pointers, and it’s because their highest volume outside shooter, Devin Vassell, has yet to play as he recovers from offseason foot surgery. Keldon Johnson, who was third on the Spurs in 3s last year, is taking fewer this season and the team let 3-point specialist Doug McDermott leave in free agency. After being 11th in 3-pointers per game last year, the Spurs have slipped to 19th this season, even with Wembanyama hoisting them.
“There’s a reason he’s shooting so many,” another scout told ESPN, “but it still feels like he’s giving the opposition a break every time he does it right now.”
By Tim Bontemps, Brian Windhorst | ESPN, via ESPN