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6 most surprising NBA storylines after a wild opening week

By Jacob Ellerbee

Oct 20, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) is defended by LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. The Clippers defeated the Lakers 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) is defended by LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. The Clippers defeated the Lakers 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA player Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
NBA player Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs off to inexplicable 3-1 start in new NBA season

The Utah Jazz have to be one of the biggest surprises of opening week, going 3-0 despite virtually every person with a pulse expecting them to be in full-rebuild mode this season.

Lauri Markkanen is on an absolute tear. Ever since he competed for his home country of Finland in the World Cup games over the summer, he’s looked like a player that’s taken a huge step forward in his game.

The Jazz are playing unselfish basketball and have managed to rank in the top eight in points per game, rebounds per game, and assists per game, despite losing to All-Stars in the offseason. Somehow, this Jazz team has gotten better and proven it by defeating Denver, Minnesota, and New Orleans in the opening week of games.

The Spurs, on the other hand, have been just as surprising. They, too are playing unselfish basketball, ranking No. 1 among all NBA teams in assists per game (30) and No. 10 in points per game (117 points). Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Jakob Poeltl are all averaging better than 15-5-3.5 to start the season.

This is an interesting turn of events. Like, Utah, everyone thought the Spurs would be in the tank hoping to increase their chances of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the Summer. But, it looks like they can hang with just about anyone after defeating the Pacers, 76ers, and Wolves in the opening week of games.

Philadelphia 76ers are shockingly 1-3 to start the 2022-23 NBA season

If you looked into a magic crystal ball before the NBA season began and said the Philadelphia 76ers would start the year 0-3, most would call you crazy—especially with San Antonio falling within that first three-game window of the season. But, that’s exactly what’s happened, and Philadelphia fans are starting to sweat a little bit.

Despite playing two of their first three games at home, they are off to an awful start. The 76ers lost by nine to the Boston Celtics, by two to the Milwaukee Bucks, and by nine to the San Antonio Spurs.

Joel Embiid has looked disjointed at times, and the team has had to rely too heavily on James Harden to keep them within striking distance during games.

Even though it’s a small sample size (four games), the 76ers rank at or near the bottom of most major statistical categories: points per game (24th), rebounds per game (30th), and assists per game (25th). The good news is, there’s nowhere to go but up from here, Philadelphia faithful.