Cleveland Rising
Three weeks into the NBA season you'd be hard pressed to find a more exciting team than the Cleveland Cavaliers. Finally seeing them at full strength after Garland missed the first few games with an eye injury has Cavs fans salivating over the team's potential. Their major offseason acquisition in Donovan Mitchell has been a major reason for the Cavs 8-1 start to the year. Mitchell is looking like an MVP candidate early on averaging a career high 31.1 points per game while shooting 43.8% from three point range. As a team, the Cavs have hung their hat on the defensive end of the floor ranking 3rd in the league in points allowed giving up just 104.4 points per game. Their twin towers in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley play a huge role in their defensive efficiency with Mobley serving as their leading shot blocker and Allen leading them in rebounding.
Next week, the Cavs will look to continue their current eight game win streak as they take on the Clippers, Kings, Warriors, and Timberwolves. Cleveland currently has the second best record in the league, just behind the undefeated Milwaukee Bucks.
How good can the Atlanta Hawks be this season?
After the Hawks disappointing regular season last year where they finished 9th in the east, they appear to have improved considerably thanks to the offseason acquisition of Dejounte Murray. They are currently the four seed in the east at 6-3 and their explosive backcourt in Murray and Young have led the way offensively. Trae Young is having another stellar season averaging 28.2 points per game and 9.4 assists per game. The addition of Murray has been impactful mostly in the fact that the Hawks finally have a player outside of Young who the offense can run through consistently. Murray best exemplified why he can bring a lot of success to the Hawks in a 112-99 win against the Knicks. With Young having an off night shooting night, Murray took the game over for a career high 36 points and led the Hawks back from a 23 point deficit. Atlanta has quickly turned themselves into a playoff contender and could be a tough out come playoff time. With the slow starts of expected contenders like the Sixers and Heat, the Hawks could finish as top 4 seed in the east
Next week, the Hawks take on the Bucks and Hawks before closing out the week with back to back games against Harden-less 76ers.
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the most underrated young star in the league?
The Oklahoma City Thunder don't have high expectations as they are still in rebuild mode as a franchise. However, The Thunder have a young star that deserves your attention as he is arguably the most underrated young star in the league. At just 24 years old, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an All-NBA caliber season averaging a career high 30.5 points per game. His best game of the season so far came in a hard fought overtime win on the road in Dallas. In a star studded point guard matchup against Luka Doncic, Shai scored a season high 38 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists. SGA is currently the sixth leading scorer in the NBA while also leading his team in assists and steals per game. So far in his career he has yet to make an all star team but seems primed to make his first one in his fifth NBA season.
Next Week, The Thunder will play the Pistons, Bucks, Raptors, and Knicks as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to continue his impressive start to the season.
Game of the Week: Celtics at Cavaliers
Source: NBA YouTube Channel
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