Reaves on Fire
With Luka Doncic and LeBron James out injured, two questions were going to be answered.
We are going to see what JJ Redick could do without his best two players and what Austin Reaves would look like as a short-term number one option.
Redick continues to show even his most ardent detractors that he’s well on his way to being a solid NBA coach, not just James’ buddy. The Lakers are 2-1 without Doncic and James, and though that’s not a huge sample size, with the Western Conference being as competitive as it is, it can’t be discounted.
As for Reaves, he’s scored 120 points in three games, including the game-winning floater at Minnesota. Reaves turned down an extension because he’s betting on himself as an unrestricted free agent after his current contract expires. It was a good bet and, to be honest, an expected one by all involved.
Most assume this will be James’ last season in a Lakers uniform, which will likely mean Reaves will be a high-paid number-two option behind Doncic.
Keep an eye on the Northwest
The season hasn’t been a dull one for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Feds are investigating head coach Chauncey Billups. Scoot Henderson is injured and a borderline bust, and Dame Lillard coming back was supposed to be a good feeling story, even though he was injured.
With all of that, Portland sits at 3-2 after five games.
Jrue Holiday has an expanded role on offense with Portland, and it shows. He’s averaging 19.6 points per game. If he keeps up this pace, it would be his best scoring season since the 2018-19 season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Toumani Camara continues to grow into one of the best 2nd picks out of the 2023 NBA Draft. The Trail Blazers acquired Camara (drafted by Phoenix) in the three-team trade that sent Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Adding Camara to the 2022 first-round pick, Shaedon Sharpe, almost makes fans forget about the Henderson pick.
The front office also deserves credit for moving Malcolm Brogdon and the 14th pick (turned into Bub Carrington) for the Washington Wizards’ Deni Avdija. Currently, Avdija is Portland’s leading scorer (22.6 ppg) with Jerami Grant right behind him at 21.6 ppg.
Scheduling Counts
The Philadelphia 76ers have won their first four games of the season. Let’s be honest, the NBA schedule makers have played a hand in that.
The 76ers’ wins came against Boston, Charlotte, Orlando, and Washington. In other words, they beat an injured Boston team, a young Charlotte team, an Orlando team still trying to find its next level, and a Washington team that is younger than Charlotte.
With the next three games against Boston, Brooklyn, and Chicago, Philadelphia could get off to an 8-0 start.
