5 takeaways from the first 10 days of the NBA season

After an excruciating three month wait for the NBA season to begin, here we are already 10 days since opening night and it has been exciting to say the least. The first 10 days of action has literally covered everything from upsets to blowouts, from surprises to disappointments, from big performances to injuries, from the top plays to the memes.So what can we safely takeaway from these first 10 days? Here are 5 things we have learnt from the NBA season so far:

#5 Anthony Davis proving superstar status

Last year Anthony Davis proved his All-Star status with his performance and was lucky to be called up for the All-Star Game, courtesy of Kobe Bryant’s injury. Before the beginning of this season, many predicted that this was the year he would make the leap to a higher level and be at par with the other superstars of the league.

The New Orleans Pelicans might be 2-2 but Davis has been dominant through all four games so far. His averages of 23.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4 blocks put up him above the rest of the league. PER (Player Efficienty Rating), a category which hugely influences the MVP award is also currently ruled by Davis with a rating of 34.29, four points above the next player.

Shaquille O’Neal tops the least for number of times a player records 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and 3+ blocks with 59 while Tim Duncan is a far second with 18 but Davis at the age of 21 in his third year is third on the list with 17. Says a lot about the amount of justice he is doing to the talent and height he is blessed with.

#4 Los Angeles Lakers will have a miserable next two months

Going by their play thus far and the injury situation, the Lakers could be staring at a miseable next 2 months

In a game last season between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers, the latter played out the fourth quarter with a fouled out Chris Kaman on the floor because injuries had ruled out all their other players from action. The Lakers might not be as badly affected by injuries as earlier but the situation isn’t any better.

Season-ending injuries to key rotation players like Steve Nash and Julius Randle has put the Head Coach Byron Scott in a fix as to where to bring a required volume of offense off the bench from with Nick Young also out with a thumb injury for 6 weeks. With nobody else stepping up on offense, Kobe Bryant has tried his level best of playing hero basketball but no matter how great you are, shooting 14-37 from the field is not going to take your team to a win.

Unfortunately, Bryant’s play has been the only silver lining of the season so far for Lakers’ fan. He might not be the most efficient but he currently leads the league with 27.6 points a game. Impressive for a 36-year old veteran who is returning from back to back injuries.

#3 Cleveland Cavaliers have loads of work to do

Every team that is a potential title contender is a work in progress but when you are the team that is the most talked about in the media, the team needs to focus on more than just gelling as a unit on the court. Mental toughness is an intangible asset without which no team would become NBA Champion.

In these 10 days, the Cleveland Cavaliers and their Big 3 of Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James are 1-3 losing to teams like the Utah Jazz in their most recent game. It’s not yet time to push the panic button. There are issues that Head Coach David Blatt needs to address if he wants himself and his team to be successful this year.

Shooting long balls and grabbing rebounds Love is doing his bit so far, its Irving that is looking like the weak link. Being the point guard, it is inexcusable for him to have 34 points and 0 assists in a game. James is the best player on the planet so its better we leave him alone. It’s the rest of the team really that needs to pick up the intensity of theri game and contribute thier bit.

#2 Western Conference tougher than last season

San Antonio Spurs are going to face a lot more competition in the West this year

Hasn’t it always?

For decades now the Western Conference in the NBA has looked more competitive than the East. Digest this- last year’s third seed in the East the Toronto Raptors with 48 wins would not have made it to the Playoffs if they were in the West.

After analysing the action so far almost every team in the West other than the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder look seriously competitive. Teams that lost in the first round last Playoffs in the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are the only teams in the league to still be unbeaten.

The Sacramento Kings have looked suprisingly impressive with their 5-1 start to the season. Every team that was in the Playoffs last year looks set as well to make it to the post-season again. If this is how the season progresses in the West, get ready to witness a real dog fight for the top 8 spots in the West.

#1 2014 USA National Basketball helping players

Over the summer, The USA National Basketball Team were crowned champions at the FIBA World Cup which was held in Spain. The roster which initally stood at 19 at the beginning of the training camp was eventually skimmed to 12. Off those 12 players, some were players whose NBA career was still searching for that elusive breakthrough season and sure enough it came post the productive summer. Klay Thompson, Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins are reaping the benefits of their summer that was dedicated to defending the USA’s World Cup win in 2010 in Istanbul.

Thompson who inked an extension just before the deadline with the Warriors is enjoying his extended stay. The first game after the contract signing he recorded a career-high 41 points against the Lakers. His game has evolved to a lot more than just the three-point shot. He still knocks the long range shot quite efficiently, but he has learnt to put the ball on the floor and create opportunities for his teammates or get to the free throw line.

Cousins and Gay have been really productive together for the Kings thus far and are a huge reason the franchise is 5-1 for the first time since the Chris Webber and Jason Williams era in Sacramento. The big man has recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in 4 out of the 6 games while Gay is doing everything needed for the team to win after bouncing around aimlessly for the past year.