With most of the league getting in a week of action, let’s take stock of who’s trending up and down on each team:
Eastern Conference
Orlando Magic
Up: Markelle Fultz was the number one pick in the 2017 draft. His troubles on the court with Philadelphia are well-documented. The Sixers gave up on him and the Magic took a smart risk by dealing for Fultz. That gamble appears to be paying off. Through four games, Fultz is at 18.3 points and 5.8 assists.
Down: Hard to complain about the surprising 4-0 start. I guess they miss Jonathan Isaac, maybe?
Cleveland Cavaliers
Up: Darius Garland had a very rocky rookie season. He looks, literally, like a different player this year. He’s put on 17 pounds and added smart decision-making to his repertoire. After a rookie season where he shot bricks to the tune of a 40.7 FG%, Garland is now hitting a very respectable 48.3%. The Garland-Collin Sexton backcourt is thriving.
Down: Kevin Love is one of the league’s most interesting personalities, a generous and open soul. He’s also one of the better players in the league and has had little chance to prove it as injuries keep him off the court.
Indiana Pacers
Up: Domantas Sabonis has elevated his play to All-Star level. Deft passing, solid rebounding and accurate shooting have made Sabonis the most valuable Pacer in a sea of valuable players such as Victor Oladipo, looking more like his old self, and Myles Turner, also looking like his old self.
Down: T.J. Warren’s foot continues to be an issue and we just learned he is out indefinitely. The Pacers were a popular pick to fade this season but instead, they may be a more solid contender for the Eastern crown. Good health will matter.
Philadelphia 76ers
Up: Joel Embiid’s offensive skills were already among the best in the league. If anything, he looks better, more confident this season. In the few games thus far, Embiid’s numbers are ridiculous – 28.3 ppg, 13.7 rpg and 84.4% from the line.
Down: Ben Simmons needs to give defenses a reason to play up on him, and he’s not doing it thus far. If he can shoot from the outside, at all, he will have an easier time getting to the basket. Simmons has not yet attempted a three this season.
Atlanta Hawks
Up: Cam Reddish is proving to be a very valuable player and the Hawks thus have one more weapon in the arsenal. Reddish’s defense is also a bright spot and the Hawks need all the help they can get on that end. They can score with anyone but can they stop anyone?
Down: Danilo Gallinari, please get healthy. The Hawks have a very high-octane offense and Galinari’s offensive prowess can only be additive. This is a dynamic offensive team. Let’s see it at full strength.
Brooklyn Nets
Up: Did we know what Kevin Durant we’d get this season? The former MVP looks like his old self.
Down: Spencer Dinwiddie is out for the year. He’s a very good player though it will not be a crushing blow for a very deep Nets team.
Boston Celtics
Up: Jaylen Brown is not letting Jayson Tatum get all the good publicity. Brown has proven that the Celtics have a tandem of young players that should be the envy of the league. A 42 point explosion against Memphis served notice to the rest of the NBA.
Down: Kemba Walker has not played and he may be limited when he does return. Boston needs his knee to be at full strength in time for the playoffs.
Charlotte Hornets
Up: Terry Rozier was supposed to be the odd man out, headed for fewer minutes and less of a role. He’s been very effective to start the season, making more than half his shots after a career of inefficiency. With LaMelo Ball playing well, too, the Hornets will have a crowd in the backcourt.
Down: Cody Zeller is a necessary piece of a weak frontcourt, and he’s already out at least a month.
New York Knicks
Up: Julius Randle has a bevy of offensive tools and he’s hit the maximum of what he can do –he is in the NBA’s top-10 in points, rebounds, and assists.
Down: Obi Toppin has barely played, and same for point guard Immanuel Quickly. The Knicks rookies need to get on the floor.
Miami Heat
Up: Precious Achiuwa was the No. 20 overall pick in the NBA Draft and you can bet that he is going to be an effective big man in the NBA for many years to come.
Down: Kendrick Nunn, where are you? After a surprisingly effective 2019-20, Nunn is averaging a mere six points per game and may fall out of the rotation entirely.
Milwaukee Bucks
Up: Donte DiVincenzo was supposed to be on Sacramento and yet, here he is on a title contender, playing a key role. He’s good! The starting shooting guard has given the Bucks every reason to be confident – he’s scoring 14 points, shooting over 50% from the field and over 60% from three.
Down: Giannis Antetokuonmpo is going to be a Buck for years but his scoring is down almost seven-point this season as the Bucks have been inconsistent to start the year. Also, Giannis needs to get that FT% up. He’s at 62% which is slightly lower than last season but he needs to improve on those numbers.
Chicago Bulls
Up: Lauri Markkanen has put it together thus far, with 17.3 ppg on 50% shooting. This, despite not agreeing on a contract extension with the Bulls. Now, Markkanen is going to miss a couple of games due to COVID protocols. Hopefully, when he returns, he continues his hot start.
Down: Coby White shoots poorly and makes too many turnovers. The Bulls are off to a bad start and White’s play is partly to blame. When you add White’s turnovers to Zach LaVine’s turnovers (4.5 a game), that’s not a good look for the young Bulls.
Toronto Raptors
Up: Kyle Lowry has looked terrific to start the season, and in a sense, that’s bad news. Toronto should not have to count on this effort from their veteran point guard.
Down: Pascal Siakam needs to be much more effective late in games or this is going to be a very long season for Toronto. Thus far this season Siakam has had a total of two points in the fourth quarter.
Detroit Pistons
Up: Jerami Grant received a big contract and he’s embracing the role that comes with it. Grant is averaging 22.8 ppg, and it’s clear that the Pistons knew there was more to Grant than he had thus far shown.
Down: Killian Hayes has had a rough start. His shooting has been terrible – he’s under 30% from the field – but how could more have been expected? Virtually no training camp for the 19-year old rookie. Stick with him.
Washington Wizards
Up: Thomas Bryant dunked on the wrong basket and yet: this is a skilled big man and a vital piece going forward. With Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal comprising a backcourt of stars, the Wizards do not have to worry about their center, either. It’s the forwards that are the problem.
Down: Davis Bertans is a placeholder here for all of the Wizards forwards. Bertans has been on a minutes restrictions as he gets his conditioning up to par. 20 minutes a game is not going to cut it out so let’s hope he gets more time soon. One player from this group of Wizards forwards needs to prove solid, and that includes Rui Hachimuri and rookie Deni Avdija.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Clippers
Up: Paul George looks like an MVP candidate, except when Kawhi Leonard was out for a game the Clippers lost by 51. Nevertheless, George is off to a very good start and the Clippers’ offense has been terrific.
Down: Luke Kennard has yet to have a solid game but it will come. There are so many shooters on this team, Kennard just has to be patient. The Clippers have a very deep bench and Kennard will have his chances.
Los Angeles Lakers
Up: Dennis Schroder has proven a very good acquisition and a huge upgrade for a Lakers team that had needed of an additional playmaker and scorer.
Down: The Lakers are off to a blah 3-2 start but I just cannot find a player that is not performing as expected.
Phoenix Suns
Up: Mikal Bridges does not get the attention of his more high-profile teammates but he is the third-best player on this team right now, behind All-Stars Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Bridges do it on both ends. His 15 shot attempts against Sacramento this week were the most he has taken in a game in his career.
Down: Deandre Ayton is off to a slow start, a bit of a surprise since Chris Paul is quite adept at feeding big men. Expect Ayton’s impact to get much bigger as the season goes along.
Portland Trail Blazers
Up: CJ McCollum is not slowing down. He’s at 28 ppg this season.
Down: Robert Covington has not yet acclimated himself to the Blazers. His defense is there but his offense has been woeful.
Sacramento Kings
Up: Tyrese Haliburton was the number 12 pick in the draft and there are going to be many teams that regret not picking the Kings’ guard. Haliburton is going to compete for Rookie of the Year honors.
Down: Hassan Whiteside has not been able to get playing time and the Kings are wasting one of the league’s best rebounders. Deal him.
Golden State Warriors
Up: James Wiseman was the second pick in the draft but has all the tools of a number one. Barring injury, Wiseman is going to be really, really good for a really, really long time.
Down: Kelly Oubre has many offensive skills but has not yet shown any of them. The Warriors raced to get him after Klay Thompson went down. It’s hard to call it a panic move because Oubre has been a good player but he needs to get it going.
Dallas Mavericks
Up: Not much.
Down: Luka Doncic is going to win MVP awards and many thought that would start this year. It has not looked like an MVP season thus far. As an example of Doncic’s subpar play, Luka is 2-21 from three-point range. It’ll get better but the West is a beast and Luke needs to get back on track soon.
Denver Nuggets
Up: Michael Porter, Jr. has all the offensive skills though not many of the defensive skills. When he gets a little better on the defensive end, lookout. Porter Jr. may turn out to be one of the best offensive players in the league and the defense just needs to be decent.
Down: Jamal Murray was a superstar in the bubble but he’s off to a slow start, shooting under 40% and just under 18 ppg. It’ll get better.
Houston Rockets
Up: Christian Wood was the big offseason acquisition for the Rockets, a young player who had several good games with Detroit and parlayed that into a big contract. So far, Wood has lived up to the hype. He’s dynamite.
Down: James Harden wants to be elsewhere. Why? With Christian Wood and a healthy John Wall, this Rockets team may have something to say in the West.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Up: Anthony Edwards was the first pick in the NBA Draft and while he may not be the immediate star that Zion Williamson was, Edwards looks to be a very good offensive player. He’s already at 15 ppg and he’ll have to do a bit more as Karl Anthony Towns sits.
Down: Karl Anthony Towns had an offseason mired in tragedy. It’s hard not to root for the cornerstone of the franchise. But Towns got hurt at the outset and now will be out a few weeks.
Memphis Grizzlies
Up: Kyle Anderson has been rejuvenated. Anderson’s always been solid on defense but he’s now added 18 points a game to start the season. Memphis would love to see Kyle keep it going.
Down: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson are out – the two young pieces that the Grizzlies need on the court.
San Antonio Spurs
Up: Becky Hammon was the first woman to coach in an NBA game. Let’s hope there are many more to come.
Down: Derrick White has yet to suit up. Soon as he does, the Spurs will have a chance to look at all their good young talent. A couple of smart moves and this team can get back in the playoff mix for years to come.
Utah Jazz
Up: Mike Conley has returned! Oy, that was a brutal 2019-20 for Utah’s big acquisition last season. The Conley of old has shown up in the first few games and if he can continue at this pace, Utah will be tough to beat come playoff team. Really tough.
Down: Donovan Mitchell is shooting 32.3% from the field this season. That is just gross.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Up: Luguentz Dort may be one of the best players to watch in the entire league. Dort is a 6’3” 215-pound bull. His offense is better than expected and his defense has always been really good. Dort is a keeper in the OKC rebuild.
Down: Al Horford is going to have a lot of opportunities this season but in two games he has not done much. He has to do more if he wants to end the season on a contender.
New Orleans Pelicans
Up: Brandon Ingram has somehow improved from his breakout season. Giving up Anthony Davis was obviously tough but boy, Ingram was some good get. Ingram has improved at creating his own shot and is the best player on a team with Zion Williamson.
Down: JJ Redick is a three-point specialist shooting 29% from long range. That’s not good. Redick normally makes over 41% from downtown. Redick will improve.
