Top storylines from week 3 of the 23-24 NBA Season

Can the Minnesota Timberwolves be contenders this year?

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to an excellent start to the 23-24 season as they currently sit as the third seed in the west with a 7-2 record. Their Superstar, Anthony Edwards has been playing at an All-NBA level as I predicted he would while he was playing in the FIBA World Cup for Team USA. Edwards is currently averaging 28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting a career-high 40.4% from three-point range so far. Outside of Edwards, the most impressive aspect of the Timberwolves this season has been their team defense. So far, the Timberwolves are the best defensive team in the league giving up a league best 103.1 points per game. If they are able to maintain this level of defensive intensity the Timberwolves could be true contenders this season. However, to do so they will need more from their 3-time All-Star Karl Anthony-Towns who is averaging 19 points per game, his lowest scoring average since his rookie season. Though Edwards is now clearly the best player on the team getting both their stars to play at their best could allow the Timberwolves to possibly contend as a top 4 seed come playoff time.

Milwaukee off to a slow start: Is it too early to be concerned?

The eastern conference was expected to be a two team race between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics but so far the Bucks are off to an uneven start. The Superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been special together at times but still need time to build chemistry. Though Lillard has put up great numbers as expected they do appear to miss the perimeter defensive presence of Jrue Holiday who they traded to Boston. Last season, the Bucks were the 14th ranked defense giving up113.3 points per game but through 9 games they rank 25th giving up 119.3 points per game. Obviously that number will have to improve for them to be a championship caliber team but I do expect them to improve defensively as the season goes on.

Another way they will improve is when they are able to get full starter minutes from their third star Khris Middleton who has been on a minutes restriction due to offseason knee surgery. When he gets back to his regular workload the Bucks will likely be at full strength and playing their best basketball. Still, at 5-4 coming off back to back losses and sitting as the eighth seed in the East the Bucks will need to find a way to build some early season consistency to keep pace with the Sixers and Celtics.

Indiana off to a hot start offensively: Can they be a playoff team this year?

Indiana's offense has been a major story early in the season as they have by far the best offense in the league. At 126 points per game the Pacers are far ahead of the pack averaging nearly 4 points more than the second best offense. Their young All-Star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton has been a major reason for their early season success as he averages a double double of 23.6 points and is by far the league leader in assists at 12.2 per game. After finishing as the 11th seed in the East last season, Haliburton has led the Pacers to a 6-4 record which puts them at 4th in the East so far this season. Their best win of the season so far came against the Milwaukee Bucks where Haliburton shined scoring 29 points and dishing out 10 assists in the 126-124 win. Their second year guard Benedict Mathurin also came up big with a 26 point 11 rebound performance.

With the solid start the Pacers have had this season I believe at worst they will be a play-in team and at best a sixth seed as teams like the Bucks, Magic, and Knicks will likely overtake them in the standings as the season goes on. After missing the play-in last year making the playoffs next year will be a great step for a young Pacers team with some talented pieces to build around for the future

Game of the Week- Giannis scores a season-high 54 points but it is not enough to keep up with Indiana's league best offense, Tyrese drops 29 points and 10 assists in the win.

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