Is the NBA’s Eastern Conference Closing in on the West? Who’s in Trouble in the NBA Cup?
We may be jumping to conclusions, but early signs suggest that the bottom of the East has held its own against the top of the West. Initial trends indicate that the Eastern Conference might be competing at the same level as the West.
Early Season Trends and Caution
In "Jump to Conclusions Week," analysts note that with only a few games played, it’s tempting to make sweeping claims about teams and players. However, history warns against overinterpreting small sample sizes.
"Trying to pontificate on early-season trends is a fool’s errand, one that too often leads to chasing small-sample mirages."
Unusual Statistical Outliers
- The Houston Rockets are shooting 45.4% from three-point range.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder, reigning champions, are only shooting 31.5%.
- The Denver Nuggets are shooting 87% from the free-throw line, which would set a new NBA record.
- The Boston Celtics have yet to draw a foul, which seems unlikely to continue.
Unexpected Offense Performances
On Sunday, Charlotte and Utah faced off, ranking among league’s top five offenses. Yet, these trends are unlikely sustainable, and more insights will emerge after another two weeks of games.
Author's summary: Early NBA season trends are intriguing but unreliable; teams' true strengths and weaknesses will become clearer with more games, as early outliers are unlikely to persist long-term.