We are continuing the Post Up weekly blog, following the same 5 teams (Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, Heat and Knicks), connecting with a crazy week that has followed an extravaganza of an opening weekend. The phenomenal thing about this week is the combined record of this group (16-13, *may update at live post) – It doesn’t match the output the teams needed to get there. The backstory gives us a little insight while the breakdown gives us the depth of what could be the base for each team’s outlook for the season.

Backstory: So last week we came into the week, focused on expectations. Yet, when it came down to execution, there was and still is a wide gap between the two. Every one of these teams got punched in the mouth, and yet, as champions do, countered with a side we did not expect them to punch with. Miami is playing faster, Lakers may have to pay Austin Reaves after him basically keeping the Lakers in the plus column, and the Celtics just might turn out ok after calling up their former 2-ways and rookies like the Avengers and netting solid wins.

Every team has a key injury (or 2 if you’re LA), and yet someone, somewhere has stepped up for every team (sans New York which is on an odd downturn). The teams also go into the first week of NBA Emirates Cup games – games that tend to have surprising and close endings to them, adding to the hype and fanfare paired with each event.

Breakdown:

Miami (*3-3)
Key Players: Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez, Andrew Wiggins, Tyler Herro

As mentioned, this team is now pushing pace (107, 1st). At the time of this posting, you may have witnessed that vs the Lakers. It has helped, in stints, to get players loose, given opportunities to get open looks and has allowed all (yes, all) players to get more shots from the 3-pt line. That’s the positive. The caveat? The league just counters opportunity with efficiency. It doesn’t help that this team doesn’t score well, but also when the team doesn’t defend after missed scoring chances. The Heat play with a full head of steam, stubbornly at times, and it may be their identity for this season.

And still no Heero. Key players to keep an eye on (fantasy and enjoyment alike):
Nikola Jovic (where is the FIBA star?)
Jaime Jaquez/ Davion Mitchell (consistency, good month of hoop)
Kel ‘El Ware (more defense, play into 6th man role?)


New York (3 – 3)
Key Players: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges

It has taken 6, very long, topsy-turny games to figure out what’s wrong with this team. I finally got it: They’re a bad adjustments team. When something isn’t clicking – Brunson’s change of pace, KAT scoring at will, Bridges bailout scoring, etc, the whole game falls apart, and the Knicks become highly dependent on the other team making mistakes.The most dangerous thing about the Knicks aren’t the Knicks. In fact, I would say every team that plays the Knicks should play them like the Knicks are the defending champs: Play near-perfect, mistake-free hoops for 4 quarters, and you’ll win.

This Knicks team has 2 guys on offense that can change the fate of the team, and 2 on defense. Everyone else is solid at being one or the other, but there’s not enough basketball IQ/intuition with the rest of the team to make in-game adjustments. The other team has to make them for the Knicks. That makes the following players key ones to watch:

Mitchell Robinson – (stay healthy, be consistent, additive)
OG Anunoby – (defense improvement, foul trouble, win 50-50s)
Miles McBride – (Be A Threat Outside, not just a shooter)

Los Angeles (4-2)
Key Players: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura

The news of Luka going out for 3 games and LeBron being out until about week 4 were a Lakers fan’s worst nightmare. This team is supposed to be defensively flat, still empty in the interior, and lacking a true 3rd scorer when 77 & 23 are out. The news turned out to be a godsend. Reaves and Co. turned lemons into lemoncello, letting the fans, league and media get drunk on their product. People think this team has championship pedigree and product.

I still stand by what I wrote last week: the team needs balance, and soon. It’s great that players like LaRavia and Smart are slowly getting more involved and additive to the offense. It’s great that Reaves can adjust as Luka comes back. It’s great that this team can play deep into its bench and not lose much of their offensive punch. Great.

The team still needs to tighten up on the turnovers (8.7) and the defensive end (17th RTG). Why? Their turnovers lead to immediate offensive production for their opponents, and they lose leads, big ones. Thus, look for these players to make changes, improve and contribute to the success of the Lakers:

Rui Hachimura – (scoring, more scoring, foul trouble)
DeAndre Ayton – (improve footwork, more blocks, harass interior)
Jarred Vanderbilt – (needs to be a scoring threat/not a liability, stay healthy)


Boston (3 – 4)
Key Players: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Anfernee Simons

This team is fighting 3 battles: Coach’s expectations (execution, game plan), the league (healthier, more experienced) and themselves (talent believed does not equal talent achieved). Queta had a post-game, on-air interview after a big win last week where he talked about the expectations laid out for him on a day-to-day basis. He spoke on how he shows up, has failures and presses on, ever-improving. That is exactly what I see in this Boston team. Josh Minott is an example of that. Just last year this man was playing on a Minnesota team that didn’t have much room for him to execute and flourish. New team, new coach, huge opportunity, and the player has turned into a hidden gem from a game and fantasy perspective.

The plus is that the team knows what kind of a season it signed up for. The question remains: will patience win out this season when the record is less-than acceptable?

Key players to watch:
Payton Pritchard (ball handling, offensive threat, leadership)
Same Hauser (be the new Horford)
Anfernee Simons (adjust to the system, defend more)

Warriors (4 – 3)
Key Players: Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga

The best thing this team has going for it: experience. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about betting on this team to go deep into the playoffs though – they’re always 1 key injury away from needing an ugly game to win. I always wonder – how would this team fare without either Curry, Butler or Green? This team is top-3rd in assists. They know how to pass players open, shifting defenses game after game and executing well. They don’t rebound or score well. Those are big issues that need to be found in their starters and a bit of their bench. The way this team is built is not sustainable.