2022-23 record: 53-29

OffRtg: 116.8 (5) DefRtg: 113.5 (15) NetRtg: +3.3 (6) Pace: 98.7 (24)

The champs are back with the best player, the best two-man game, and maybe the best starting lineup in the league. But you need more than five guys and the Nuggets‘ bench lost a couple of key contributors in the offseason.

Preseason takeaways

• The Nuggets, per usual, were at their best with their starters on the floor.

• Nikola Jokic was not rusty, shooting an amazing 22-for-31 (71%) inside the arc.

• Rookie Julian Strawther was not bashful, scoring a team-high 27.6 points per 36 minutes on 51/45/90 shooting splits.

Both Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun missed the entire preseason, but both are expected to play against the Lakers on Tuesday, allowing the champs to hit the ground running.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defense. The last three games of The Finals were the Nuggets’ best three-game stretch of defense all season (100.0 points allowed per 100 possessions). We can’t expect that level of play to carry over, but this team can defend better than it did last regular season, when it ranked 15th on that end of the floor.

The Nuggets have two stretches of five games in seven days this season, and the first of those begins Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Jokic floats it to Aaron Gordon for a reverse dunk 🤯

Watch Clippers/Nuggets on the NBA App pic.twitter.com/e9fWvP8Nnb

— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2023

Week 1: vs. LAL, @ MEM, @ OKC

2022-23 record: 58-24

OffRtg: 114.3 (15) DefRtg: 110.9 (4) NetRtg: +3.4 (5) Pace: 101.5 (10)

Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the new big two, and how much help they get from the rest of the Bucks’ roster could be the most important question across the league.

Preseason takeaways

• The Bucks were outscored by 7.5 points per 100 possessions with Lillard and Antetokounmpo on the floor together.

• In a related matter, Lillard shot just 4-for-21 (19%) from 3-point range, tied for the seventh worst mark among 142 players with at least 15 attempts.

• Khris Middleton played just 12 total minutes, all in the first half of the Bucks’ preseason finale. If that game was something close to the regular-season rotation otherwise, we can expect them to stagger the minutes of Lillard and Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks went 0-5 in the preseason last year, getting outscored with Antetokounmpo on the floor. Then they had the league’s best record in the regular season.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defending the guys with the ball. With the Bucks’ new starting lineup, Malik Beasley is being tasked with defending the opponents’ best guard (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Desmond Bane last week). He’ll have help behind him, but the Bucks don’t want to be helping too much, and Tyrese Maxey and Trae Young will be good tests of the Beasley-as-the-stopper strategy.

The Bucks’ first 12 games (against 11 different opponents) are within the Eastern Conference. When they opened last season in Philadelphia, the score was 90-88, with Wesley Matthews hitting the game-winning 3-pointer. This year’s opener is at Fiserv Forum, the start of a three-game homestand that continues with a visit from Matthews’ Hawks on Sunday.

Week 1: vs. PHI, vs. ATL

2022-23 record: 57-25

OffRtg: 117.3 (2) DefRtg: 110.6 (2) NetRtg: +6.7 (1) Pace: 99.2 (19)

Statistically, the Celtics probably can’t be better than they were last season, when they ranked second on both ends of the floor. But they can be better prepared to win in the playoffs, and Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are here to help them do just that.

Preseason takeaways

• Not surprisingly, the Celtics led the preseason in 3-point rate, taking 49.9% of their shots from beyond the arc. They shot just 34.8% (13th) from deep, but still had the No. 1 offense (115.4 points scored per 100 possessions) when you discount games against non-NBA opponents.

• The Celtics outscored their opponents by 28.8 points per 100 possessions in 77 total minutes with Holiday and Porzingis on the floor.

• Payton Pritchard staked his claim to the seventh-man role, scoring 64 points in 76 minutes (30.2 per 36) through the Celtics’ first three games. His scoring slowed after that, but he had 12 assists and no turnovers over the last two.

Holiday came off the bench in his first game, but started his other three, with Al Horford coming off the bench when the Celtics had all six of their top guys against the Knicks on Tuesday. Their only loss in the preseason (in New York) came when they rested all six of them.

Something to watch in Week 1: Suffocating defensive possessions. Losing Marcus Smart, Grant Williams and Robert Williams III could take some of the bite out of the Celtics’ defense, which, when locked in, was tough to penetrate. Can this new group reach that level?

The Celtics and Knicks have played some fun games over the last few years and New York has actually won three straight against Boston. Their season tips off at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Week 1: @ NYK, vs. MIA

2022-23 record: 45-37

OffRtg: 114.5 (14) DefRtg: 112.3 (7) NetRtg: +2.2 (9) Pace: 98.8 (22)

The Superteam Era is not over. Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have come together to score lots of points and (maybe) win lots of games.

Preseason takeaways

• The Suns outscored their opponents by 44.0 points per 100 possessions with Booker on the floor. That was the best mark among 328 players who averaged at least 15 minutes in two games or more. They scored 170 points on 116 offensive possessions (146.6 per 100) in Booker’s 53 total minutes.

• Durant scored 37.1 points per 36 minutes, most (by a healthy margin) among 339 players who played at least 50 total minutes. Booker’s 33.0 points per 36 ranked third.

• The Lakers ranked 16th, 26th and 21st in total zone possessions in Frank Vogel’s three seasons as their coach. But the Suns were one of five teams that played at least 10 possessions of zone in the preseason, according to Synergy tracking.

Beal played in just two of the Suns’ five games, so the star trio shared the floor for just 17 total minutes. The real show starts Tuesday in San Francisco.

Something to watch in Week 1: Small ball? The Suns targeted Jusuf Nurkic in the trade market and Drew Eubanks is a capable backup center. But this team may be at its best playing small, with Durant at the five. The Suns can’t go that way for too long, but they could try it for a few minutes per half.

Only five of the Suns’ first 14 games are against teams that had winning records last season, but they have two great matchups to get things started.

Week 1: @ GSW, @ LAL, vs. UTA

2022-23 record: 43-39

OffRtg: 113.9 (19) DefRtg: 113.2 (12) NetRtg: +0.7 (16) Pace: 101.9 (4)

With an impressive re-shuffling of the roster at the trade deadline last season, the Lakers went from 13th place to the Western Conference finals. With the new group together for a full season, they shouldn’t have to dig out of such a big hole.

Preseason takeaways

• With Jarred Vanderbilt (heel soreness) missing the last five games of the preseason, Taurean Prince grabbed hold of the fifth starting spot. He shot well (effective field goal percentage of 72.1%) and the Lakers’ starting-unit minutes were generally strong.

• On the other hand, the Lakers were really bad with some of their reserves – Cam Reddish and Christian Wood, in particular – on the floor.

• The one teammate with whom Wood had good on-court numbers was Anthony Davis. The Lakers were a plus-12 in the two bigs’ 35 minutes together, despite the team shooting just 8-for-23 from 3-point range in those minutes.

D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura all had strong preseasons, so maybe there is some carryover from the playoffs.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defending the Nuggets’ two-man game. The Western Conference is deep, but everything still goes through Denver. And the Lakers will need to find a way to slow down the best two-man game in the league. Jokic and Jamal Murray combined to average 60.3 points (with more than three times as many assists as turnovers) as the eventual champs swept the Lakers in the conference finals.

The Lakers’ Week 1 schedule — games against the Nuggets, Suns and Kings — is about as fun as it gets.

Week 1: @ DEN, vs. PHX, @ SAC

2022-23 record: 44-38

OffRtg: 115.1 (10) DefRtg: 113.4 (14) NetRtg: +1.7 (11) Pace: 102.5 (1)

Chris Paul in a Warriors uniform is a reality, and the Dubs are now led by four guys who will be at least 34 years old come April. Paul is still seeking his first title, while the other three would love one for the thumb.

Preseason takeaways

• Paul and Stephen Curry played 64 minutes together and were generally on the same page offensively. The Warriors were slightly better than the preseason average (106.8 points per 100 possessions) on both ends of the floor in those minutes.

• The Warriors remain a jump-shooting team; Only 42% of their shots, the league’s second-lowest rate, came in the paint. For Paul and Curry, that rate was just 17% (11/64).

• Jonathan Kuminga averaged 29.0 points per 36 minutes on a true shooting percentage of 67.9% (10th among 117 players with at least 35 field goal attempts).

It was a good preseason for those hoping for a leap from Kuminga and a stronger bench in general. And Kuminga’s minutes could be extra critical with Draymond Green coming back from an ankle sprain that kept him out the entire preseason.

Something to watch in Week 1: Matchups. The Suns and Kings both have big guards that either Curry or Paul will have to defend when they’re on the floor together.

Remember last season’s road woes? Well, after they host the Suns on Tuesday, the Warriors will play seven of their next eight games on the road.

STEPH CURRY GAME WINNER! pic.twitter.com/swvO9bjd6W

— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2023

Week 1: vs. PHX, @ SAC, @ HOU

2022-23 record: 47-35

OffRtg: 117.0 (4) DefRtg: 114.2 (19) NetRtg: +2.8 (7) Pace: 97.8 (26)

Coming off their first playoff series win in 10 years, the Knicks are running it back, with 90% of their 2022-23 regular season minutes (the league’s highest rate) coming from guys who are still on the roster.

Preseason takeaways

• The Knicks ranked last defensively in the preseason, allowing 120.2 points per 100 possessions over their four games.

• Their starting lineup allowed just 48 points on 49 possessions (98.0) in its 23 total minutes, outscoring their opponents by a point per minute.

• They took 48.0% of their shots, the league’s fifth highest rate, from 3-point range. RJ Barrett, who’s shot just 32.6% from 3-point range over the last two years, took 21 (54%) of his 39 shots from beyond the arc, making six (29%) of the 21.

The starters were good and the bench was dreadful, which is unusual for the Knicks of the last few years. Immanuel Quickley played just 45 total minutes over two games, but the team was bad in those minutes too.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defense leading to transition. As they did a year ago, the Knicks made a concerted effort to pass ahead and get early offense in the preseason. They were in the middle of the pack in regard to transition frequency last season, but could have been higher if they didn’t rank 19th defensively and 25th in opponent turnover rate.

The Knicks have the league’s toughest first couple of weeks when you take last season’s stats, location and rest into account. Games in Atlanta and New Orleans on Friday and Saturday are their first of four back-to-backs in the first 13 games of the season.

Week 1: vs. BOS, @ ATL, @ NOP

2022-23 record: 51-31

OffRtg: 115.5 (8) DefRtg: 109.9 (1) NetRtg: +5.6 (2) Pace: 96.3 (30)

By the numbers, the Cavs were a much better team than the Knicks last season. But the playoffs are different, and the Knicks took their first round series in five games. Another chance to prove their postseason mettle won’t come for another six months, but the Cavs can start repairing some of their issues right away.

Preseason takeaways

• The Cavs’ offense was different. First, they saw the biggest jump in pace from last season to the preseason (105.4 possessions per 48 minutes, 11th).

• Second, they saw the biggest jump in 3-point rate, taking 48.7% of their shots (second highest) from beyond the arc, up from 37.1% (17th) last season.

• Third, they saw the third biggest jump in assist rate, recording assists on 71.3% of their field goals (fourth highest).

Those changes may take some getting used to. As they lost all three of their games against NBA opponents, they scored just 99.4 points per 100 possessions, a mark which ranked 27th and included an anemic 87.9 per 100 on Donovan Mitchell’s 74 minutes on the floor.

Something to watch in Week 1: Rebounding. Everybody saw how the Cavs got destroyed on the boards in the playoffs, and attacking the glass could be part of opponents’ game plan going forward. Though Jarrett Allen didn’t play, the Cavs ranked third in defensive rebounding percentage in the preseason.

The Cavs (17-13 vs. the West last season) have the most interconference games in the first six weeks of the season. The first of those should be a fun matchup against the Thunder on Friday.

Week 1: @ BKN, vs. OKC, vs. IND

2022-23 record: 54-28

OffRtg: 117.0 (3) DefRtg: 112.7 (8) NetRtg: +4.4 (3) Pace: 97.4 (27)

It appears that, for the second time in the last three years, the Sixers are going into the regular season with their third highest-paid player not caring to suit up.

Preseason takeaways

• Joel Embiid only played in the preseason finale and looked a little rusty, shooting just 3-for-12 from the field against Atlanta. He was 14-for-15 from the line, scoring 21 points in 33 minutes.

• Assuming James Harden is a no-go, Tyrese Maxey will need to be more of a playmaker, and he recorded assists on 26.2% of his possessions, more than double his rate from last preseason (12.5%). And he did that with a strong assist/turnover ratio of 3.67 (22/6).

• Jaden Springer, who played just 89 total minutes last season, may have earned a spot in the rotation, moving well off the ball and shooting 16-for-24, including an amazing 7-for-8 from 3-point range.

It’ll take some time to see how new coach Nick Nurse changes the offense around Embiid or if he wants him to do more defensively.

Something to watch in Week 1: When Maxey sits. With no Harden, the Sixers will need somebody to create off the dribble when Maxey is off the floor, even if Nurse (known for leaning on his starters) plays the 22-year-old more than the 33.6 minutes he averaged last season. De’Anthony Melton had a terrific preseason (scoring 29 points against the Hawks on Friday), but his 5.5 drives per 36 minutes last season ranked just 147th among 263 players who played at least 1,000 minutes. Maybe Springer is the guy.

The Sixers begin the season on the road, but their longest homestand of the season — five games over 11 days — begins Sunday with a visit from the Blazers.

Week 1: @ MIL, @ TOR, vs. POR

2022-23 record: 44-38

OffRtg: 114.0 (17) DefRtg: 113.6 (17) NetRtg: +0.5 (17) Pace: 98.8 (21)

The Clippers are going to give this another try, and they’ll be the most interesting team to watch in regard to the new Player Participation Policy.

Preseason takeaways

• The Clippers ranked last in 3-point rate in the preseason, taking just 32.3% of their shots from beyond the arc.

• Paul George and Kawhi Leonard played in three of four preseason games and the Clippers outscored their opponents by 38 points (33.6 per 100 possessions) in their 51 minutes on the floor together.

• Though they scored an efficient 119.4 points per 100 possessions in those 51 minutes, the Clippers ranked 26th offensively in games played between NBA teams, scoring just 101.3 per 100 overall.

That last number is another reminder of how important the two stars are to this team. The Clippers ranking in the top three offensively in each of their first two seasons with George and Leonard feels like a distant memory.

Something to watch in Week 1: The supporting cast. Even if George and Leonard are available to play more games, the Clippers need everybody else to pitch in and allow the duo to rest. Bones Hyland and Terance Mann will need to keep the offense somewhat afloat when one or both of the stars are on the bench.

The Clippers’ first four games are against teams that had losing records last season, when they had the second biggest differential between their record vs. the 14 teams that finished at or below .500 (27-12) and their record vs. the top 16 (17-26).

Week 1: vs. POR, @ UTA, vs. SAS

2022-23 record: 44-38

OffRtg: 112.3 (25) DefRtg: 112.8 (9) NetRtg: -0.5 (21) Pace: 96.8 (29)

The Heat are both the team that eked its way into the playoffs and the one that went to The Finals … minus two starters.

Preseason takeaways

• With no Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo was shooting a lot! He had a usage rate of 36.0%, third among 463 players who played at least 25 minutes and up from 25.1% last season.

• Sixty-eight percent of Adebayo’s shots (32/47) came from outside of five feet, up from 54% of his shots last season, when he shot 65.4% from within five feet and 46.2% outside five feet. Against the Grizzlies eight days ago, Adebayo attempted seven jump shots in the first six minutes, going 3-for-7 and finally getting an alley-oop dunk with 5:50 left in the first quarter.

• Tyler Herro scored 33.0 points per 36 minutes, fourth among 339 players who played at least 50 minutes total.

Butler cares not for games that don’t count, and if he’s healthy, the Heat are in good shape. But they’ll need contributions from some new sources this season.

Something to watch in Week 1: Caleb Martin. Martin can’t consistently be the guy who averaged 19.3 points on an effective field goal percentage of 73% in the Eastern Conference finals. But if that was a breakthrough of sorts, the Heat could be decent offensively. Availability is also a question, with knee tendinitis having kept Martin out of four of the Heat’s five preseason games.

Martin will face the Heat’s conference finals foe in Boston on Friday. The Heat will be at a rest disadvantage the following night in Minnesota.

It’s time to ball, y’all.

Week 1: vs. DET, @ BOS, @ MIN

2022-23 record: 48-34

OffRtg: 118.6 (1) DefRtg: 116.0 (24) NetRtg: +2.6 (8) Pace: 101.0 (12)

Last season’s most-improved team is looking to make another jump … or at least remain where they are in the Western Conference hierarchy.

Preseason takeaways

• The Kings‘ only preseason win came in the game (Thursday vs. Utah) in which they rested De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, and they were outscored by 8.2 points per 100 possessions in 83 minutes with the duo on the floor together.

• Their struggles had a lot to do with 3-point shooting; The Kings ranked 26th in 3-point percentage (31.0%) and 23rd in opponent 3-point percentage (36.5%). Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and Sasha Vezenkov all shot worse than 30% on more than 20 attempts from deep.

• The Kings were also one of two teams that ranked in the bottom five in both free throw rate and opponent free throw rate. They ranked ninth in both last season.

Last year, the Kings were undefeated in the preseason. This year, not even close. But it probably wasn’t as critical.

Something to watch in Week 1: Paint defense. Last season, the Kings were one of two teams — the Rockets were the other — that ranked in the bottom five in both opponent field goal percentage in the paint (60.1%, 26th) and opponent effective field goal percentage on shots from outside the paint (52.7%, 26th). The former is much more in their control than the latter.

The Kings will play 17 of their first 18 games (before the unscheduled Week 7) within the Western Conference, a stretch that includes three of their four games against the Warriors.

Week 1: @ UTA, vs. GSW, vs. LAL

2022-23 record: 51-31

OffRtg: 114.7 (11) DefRtg: 110.7 (3) NetRtg: +4.0 (4) Pace: 101.5 (8)

Ja Morant being suspended for 25 games is not good. Steven Adams missing the entire season is even worse. The Grizzlies always seem to find a way, but this will be a real challenge.

Preseason takeaways

• Xavier Tillman is the only healthy center on the roster and Jaren Jackson Jr. played more than half of his minutes at the five in the preseason.

• Even when Derrick Rose or Marcus Smart (who played in just the preseason finale) were on the floor, the offense ran through Desmond Bane, who averaged 31.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per 36 minutes.

• The Grizzlies took 48.1% of their shots from 3-point range, the league’s fourth highest rate and up from 37.2% (16th) last season. Only the Cavs saw a bigger jump.

No Adams means that the Grizzlies will have more spacing (and far fewer rebounds) on offense, and there will be a lot on the broad shoulders of Bane through the first 25 games. They’ll need to find some perimeter punch from somewhere else in the rotation.

Something to watch in Week 1: Fourth-quarter minutes. Who are the two guys on the floor with Smart, Bane and Jackson in high-leverage moments?

Each of the Grizzlies’ first four games are against opponents that will have had (at least) two full days off before their matchup. The Grizzlies themselves have a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, with the second end being their lone visit to Washington.

Week 1: vs. NOP, vs. DEN, @ WAS

2022-23 record: 42-40

OffRtg: 113.3 (23) DefRtg: 113.1 (10) NetRtg: +0.2 (18) Pace: 101.6 (7)

This is the year when we find out if the Wolves can continue to employ both Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Preseason takeaways

• The Wolves were the only 4-0 squad in games played between NBA teams. They and the Raptors (3-0) were the only teams that ranked in the top 10 on both ends of the floor in those games.

• They outscored their opponents (the Mavs and Knicks) by 17 points (21.8 per 100 possessions) in 38 total minutes with Towns and Gobert both on the floor, though 3-point shooting on both ends of the floor (subject to variance) had a lot to do with that success.

• Naz Reid ranked fifth (among 339 players who played at least 50 minutes) in points per 36 (32.7) and second (among 117 players who took at least 35 shots) in effective field goal percentage (70.0%).

Last year, the only two undefeated teams in the preseason were the Sixers and Kings, who both finished third in their conference. The games don’t count until Tuesday, but there’s nothing wrong with tasting some success beforehand.

Something to watch in Week 1: Anthony Edwards. Does he have another level after averaging 24.6 points (on below-average efficiency) and 4.4 assists last season? He could have some pretty good defenders checking him when the Wolves face Toronto and Miami.

The Wolves have a league-high six rest-advantage games in the first six weeks of the season, including two in the first six days. The first of those is Saturday when they host the Heat.

ANTMAN BRINGS THE HAMMER 😤

Anthony Edwards is up to 19 PTS in the first half on the NBA App! pic.twitter.com/IpiD0SJyUd

— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2023

Week 1: @ TOR, vs. MIA

2022-23 record: 41-41

OffRtg: 115.5 (7) DefRtg: 115.4 (22) NetRtg: +0.1 (19) Pace: 101.6 (6)

The Hawks enter Year 2 with Dejounte Murray needing to be better when he and Trae Young share the floor. Maybe coach Quin Snyder, who arrived in the middle of last season, has the answers.

Preseason takeaways

• The Hawks took 43.7% of their shots from 3-point range. That only ranked 14th but was up from 33.1% (30th) last season.

• They outscored their opponents by 20.5 points per 100 possessions in Young’s 79 minutes on the floor and were outscored by 15.2 per 100 in his 161 minutes off the floor.

• De’Andre Hunter and Saddiq Bey started at the forward spots in the Hawks’ preseason finale in Philly on Friday, but 21-year-old Jalen Johnson may have a bigger role in his third season, and that role might include some playmaking. He had 17 assists (6.3 per 36 minutes) with just five turnovers, and there were some really good reads included within.

The Hawks’ defense passed the eye test in the first half of their preseason finale in Philly on Friday, with good rotations behind blitzing bigs. They built a 17-point lead before surrendering 71 points on the Sixers’ final 48 possessions of the game.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defensive consistency. Playing an aggressive defense like that is not easy, but the Hawks need to be better on defense if they’re going to compete for a top-four spot in the East.

Week 1 seemingly gives the Hawks games against a bottom-tier team, a second-tier team and a top-tier team in the East. Their visit from the Knicks on Friday should be the most intriguing.

Week 1: @ CHA, vs. NYK, @ MIL

2022-23 record: 42-40

OffRtg: 113.8 (20) DefRtg: 112.0 (6) NetRtg: +1.9 (10) Pace: 99.6 (16)

The Pelicans enter the season banged up, with Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado, Naji Marshall and Larry Nance Jr. all dealing with injuries. But Zion Williamson is healthy, and so is the rest of a starting lineup that played in just 10 games together last season.

Preseason takeaways

• The Pelicans scored just 97.3 points per 100 possessions, a mark which ranked 29th in games between NBA teams. Only the Hornets were less efficient offensively.

• That wasn’t about the third-stringers, as that number was also well below a point per possession with each of the starters on the floor. Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas combined to shoot 1-for-17 from 3-point range, while CJ McCollum had more turnovers than assists.

• The Pelicans’ defense had issues too, allowing a league-high 22.3 fast break points per game.

The Pelicans looked disinterested at times, but seemingly got it together for their final game on Tuesday. And most encouraging was Williamson’s five steals and two blocks (in less than 16 minutes), evidence of some engagement defensively.

Something to watch in Week 1: Williamson. All eyes are on the Pelicans’ star, and he’ll have a couple of intriguing matchups to start the season, facing Jaren Jackson Jr. on Wednesday and Julius Randle on Saturday.

Williamson will raise the ceiling offensively, but can the Pelicans have a top-10 defense again? Twelve of their first 19 games are against teams that ranked in the top 10 offensively last season.

Week 1: @ MEM, vs. NYK

2022-23 record: 38-44

OffRtg: 115.9 (6) DefRtg: 116.1 (25) NetRtg: -0.2 (20) Pace: 97.2 (28)

The Mavs were solid in the minutes that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving played together last season, but only 5-11 in the 16 games in which both were in uniform. They’re back for another try, with some new faces in the supporting cast.

Preseason takeaways

• The Mavs began the preseason with two rookies in the starting lineup and ended it with one (Dereck Lively II at center). Lively shot 11-for-16 (all in the paint), but the Mavs were much better with Dwight Powell on the floor.

• The Mavs were the worst defensive rebounding team in the preseason, grabbing just 65.1% of available defensive boards.

• Luka Doncic had a usage rate of 43.6%, the highest mark for a player who played at least 25 minutes in the last six preseasons. Jaden Hardy had the second highest mark (37.8%) this year.

Doncic and Irving played together for just the first 6:51 of the preseason (in which the Mavs got clobbered), with Irving missing Games 2 and 3 and Doncic suffering a strained calf on the team’s trip abroad. Doncic’s health is obviously the primary concern as the regular season begins.

Something to watch in Week 1: Pace. The Mavs played much faster in Irving’s preseason minutes (106.6 possessions per 48 minutes) than in Doncic’s minutes (99.9). They don’t need to turn into the Hornets, but it would be nice if Irving’s willingness to push can result in Doncic getting some good looks at the basket before the defense is set.

The Mavs have four one-game trips in the first 13 days of the season. The first is an opening night visit to Wembyland.

Week 1: @ SAS, vs. BKN

2022-23 record: 40-42

OffRtg: 114.2 (16) DefRtg: 113.2 (13) NetRtg: +1.0 (15) Pace: 101.9 (3)

The Thunder are the league’s most intriguing team in regard to how competitive they’ll be this season. Many are expecting another leap, but this is a deep Western Conference and this is still a very young team.

Preseason takeaways

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played just 47 minutes over two games, but the Thunder outscored their opponents by 23.5 points per 100 possessions in those minutes (which included some time against Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo).

• Chet Holmgren had an effective field goal percentage of 65.8%, the 10th best mark among 117 players with at least 35 field goal attempts.

• Holmgren’s value on the other floor was apparent when the Thunder allowed 44 points in the restricted area without him in Charlotte last Sunday.

With Jaylin Williams out a couple of weeks and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl now a Rocket, Holmgren’s value is even greater. He committed just seven fouls in 77 minutes (3.3 per 36) in the preseason, an encouraging number for a rookie big.

Something to watch in Week 1: The rotation. Williams’ absence simplifies things a bit, but coach Mark Daigneault has some decisions to make about who gets minutes off the bench.

The Thunder’s longest homestand of the season — six games over 11 days — begins Sunday with a visit from the champs. That’s Game 2 of a stretch where they’re playing eight of 12 against teams that ranked in the top 10 offensively last season.

Week 1: @ CHI, @ CLE, vs. DEN

2022-23 record: 41-41

OffRtg: 114.6 (13) DefRtg: 113.1 (11) NetRtg: +1.5 (12) Pace: 97.9 (25)

The Raptors seemingly took a step backward with the departure of Fred VanVleet, but there’s potential for improvement with a new coach, continued development from Scottie Barnes, and a full season with Jakob Poeltl. Style-of-play numbers correlate more from the regular season to the preseason and the Raptors ‘ preseason hinted at a big change in the way they play.

Preseason takeaways

• The Raptors saw the league’s second biggest jump in pace and its biggest jump in assist rate (AST/FGM) from last season to the preseason.

• They had offensive success inside, as (when you include games against international teams) they ranked second in the percentage of their shots (54%) that came in the paint, first in paint field goal percentage (62.8%), and first in free throw rate (37 attempts per 100 shots from the field).

• Barnes didn’t hesitate when he was open beyond the arc (a contrast from parts of last season), and he shot 7-for-14 from deep*, finishing with the highest effective field goal percentage (70.9%) among 117 players with at least 35 field goal attempts. But he did suffer a foot injury in the preseason finale.

* More 3-point makes than he had over his last 17 games last season.

The Raptors were one of two undefeated teams in the preseason and had the top-ranked defense and sixth-ranked offense in games played between NBA teams, outscoring the Kings, Bulls and Wizards by 16.7 points per 100 possessions, the league’s best mark. But a big piece of that point differential came with a 76-46 second half against Washington on Friday.

Something to watch in Week 1: The results. Games against the Wolves, Bulls and Sixers could be a good test of just how good the Raptors will be this season.

The Raptors have two rest-disadvantage games in the first 10 days of the season, and they’re both against the Sixers. The first of the two is Saturday at Scotiabank Arena.

Week 1: vs. MIN, @ CHI, vs. PHI

2022-23 record: 35-47

OffRtg: 113.8 (21) DefRtg: 117.1 (26) NetRtg: -3.3 (25) Pace: 101.7 (5)

The Pacers were a tough out last season, going 23-19 before Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. Haliburton should only get better, and he’s got a couple of new running mates to help him out.

Preseason takeaways

• The Pacers were the jump-shootingest team in the preseason, taking a league-low 41% of their shots in the paint.

• They led the preseason in assist rate, recording assists on 73.3% of their field goals. Bennedict Mathurin even averaged 3.8 assists per 36 minutes, up from 1.9 per 36 last season.

• The Pacers were 2-0 with Haliburton in the lineup, outscoring their opponents by 22.7 points per 100 possessions in his 51 minutes.

The point guard remains the engine. We know he has great chemistry with Buddy Hield (who’s still here) and it will be fun to see him develop the same with Bruce Brown and Obi Toppin.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defensive rebounding. The Pacers ranked last in defensive rebounding percentage (68.5%) last season. They were improved (73.5%, ninth) in the preseason, and if that carries over, Haliburton will have them running.

The Pacers play seven of their first nine games at home, and they’ll have a rest advantage in Cleveland on Saturday.

OH MY GOODNESS ‼️

OBI TOPPIN PULLS OUT THE EASTBAY FINISH 🤯

Watch Pacers/Cavs LIVE on the NBA App: https://t.co/WfH3FJ6tZs pic.twitter.com/Z96anISzPd

— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2023

Week 1: vs. WAS, @ CLE

2022-23 record: 40-42

OffRtg: 112.8 (24) DefRtg: 111.5 (5) NetRtg: +1.3 (13) Pace: 99.2 (18)

The Bulls have had a weird two seasons with their star trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. In 2021-22, they were 46-36 with the point differential of a team that was 40-42. Last season they were 40-42, with the point differential of a team that was 45-37. What’s next?

Preseason takeaways

• Coby White started just two games last season, but looks to be the starter at point guard this year. The Bulls struggled offensively (100.6 points scored per 100 possessions) in his 82 preseason minutes alongside Patrick Williams.

• 16% of the Bulls’ shots, the league’s highest rate, came from mid-range. DeMar DeRozan led the preseason with 20 mid-range attempts, half of his total shots.

• Andre Drummond led the preseason in rebounding percentage by a huge margin, but the Bulls were outscored by 11.4 points per 100 possessions in his 71 minutes.

The bad Drummond minutes are a hint that the Bulls might have depth issues, especially if Alex Caruso (40 total preseason minutes over three of the five games) misses time again.

Something to watch in Week 1: Clutch play. The Bulls’ last two seasons have been defined by their success (or lack thereof) in close games. Maybe they’ll be put to the test in that regard early on, and head coach Billy Donovan could have choices to make about who’s on the floor.

The Bulls have an opportunity for a strong start, with their first five games against teams that were at or below .500 last season.

Week 1: vs. OKC, vs. TOR, @ DET

2022-23 record: 45-37

OffRtg: 114.6 (12) DefRtg: 113.5 (16) NetRtg: +1.1 (14) Pace: 98.8 (23)

Ben Simmons is back, and he joins an ensemble that went 12-15 (with worse-than-average numbers on both ends of the floor) down the stretch of last season before becoming the only team swept out of the first round.

Preseason takeaways

• The Nets led the preseason in 3-point percentage, shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc, including 43.5% in their three games vs. NBA opponents.

• Despite the hot shooting, they were outscored by 21.4 points per 100 possessions in Mikal Bridges’ 44 minutes on the floor against NBA opponents.

• Rebounding remains an issue. The Sixers and Heat combined for 31 offensive boards and 39 second-chance points in the Nets’ two games last week.

Overall, the Nets didn’t look very good against NBA teams in the preseason, losing to the Sixers without Harden and Embiid and barely beating Bam Adebayo and the bottom half of the Heat roster. (The Nets themselves were without Cam Johnson for all four games.)

Something to watch in Week 1: Defense. The Nets have the personnel to be a great defensive team. But the results weren’t there last season (they ranked 17th defensively over those last 27 games), in the playoffs (11th in the first round), or in the preseason (28th in games between NBA teams). Rebounding has been the biggest issue, but not the only one.

The Nets’ two games this week are against teams — Cleveland and Dallas — that ranked in the top 10 offensively last season. They have the most home-heavy first six weeks of the season, but, after hosting the Cavs on Wednesday, they’ll leave for a four-game trip.

Week 1: vs. CLE, @ DAL

2022-23 record: 34-48

OffRtg: 111.3 (26) DefRtg: 113.7 (18) NetRtg: -2.3 (24) Pace: 99.7 (15)

Led by two 6-foot-10, do-it-all forwards who are entering their second and third seasons in the league, the Magic are a popular pick to make a jump this season. After a 5-20 start last year, they were 29-28 over their final 57 games.

Preseason takeaways

• Franz Wagner was one of three players — Desmond Bane and Kevin Durant were the others — to play at least 50 preseason minutes and average at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists per 36. He had an effective field goal percentage of 89.6% on 24 shots.

• Paolo Banchero, on the other hand, had a quiet preseason offensively, scoring just 13.9 points per 36 minutes. He shot just 8-for-24 (33%), including 0-for-4 from 3-point range.

• The Magic starting lineup played 52 total minutes together, most among any five-man group in the preseason. It outscored opponents by 17.5 points per 100 possessions.

That starting lineup success included some good minutes against the Pelicans’ starters and Cleveland with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in action.

Something to watch in Week 1: Defense. The Magic ranked sixth defensively over those last 57 games last season. They had the seventh best defense (103.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) in games between NBA teams in the preseason, allowing just 96.5 per 100 in the starting lineup’s 52 minutes. Games against the Rockets and Blazers this week should lead to a strong start on that end of the floor.

The Magic will play their first seven games against the Western Conference, heading out for a four-game trip after hosting the Rockets on Wednesday.

PAOLO BANCHERO.

The 2022-23 #KiaROTY uses his handle and then throws down the thunderous dunk 💪 pic.twitter.com/TN2Nkfz8ux

— NBA (@NBA) October 11, 2023

Week 1: vs. HOU, @ POR

2022-23 record: 37-45

OffRtg: 115.3 (9) DefRtg: 116.0 (23) NetRtg: -0.7 (22) Pace: 101.0 (11)

It’s Year 2 of a new era for the Jazz, who still have a motley mix of veterans and youth. They made it work early last season when they got off to a 10-3 start.

Preseason takeaways

• The Jazz took 54% of their shots, the league’s highest rate, in the paint. Lauri Markkanen took 67% of his shots (31/46) in the paint, up from 49% last season.

• The Jazz, who ranked fifth in total zone possessions last season, were one of two teams (Portland was the other) that played at least 20 possessions of zone in the preseason, according to Synergy tracking. And when those two teams faced each other, it was the Jazz who played zone on the first possession of the game.

• The Jazz were outscored by eight points in 29 minutes with Markkanen, John Collins and Walker Kessler on the floor, even though the Jazz shot 9-for-18 from 3-point range and their opponents shot just 6-for-20 from deep in those minutes.

The Jazz were good (plus-9.5 points per 100 possessions) in 394 minutes with Talen Horton-Tucker and Jordan Clarkson on the floor together last season, but experimented with Collin Sexton in Clarkson’s place in the preseason.

Something to watch in Week 1: Transition defense. The 25.9 transition points per game the Jazz allowed last season were the second most for any team in 19 years of Synergy tracking, topped only by the 27.2 that the Rockets allowed last season. Improved defense starts in transition.

The Jazz’s first five games are against the top five seeds in the Western Conference last season.

Week 1: vs. SAC, vs. LAC, @ PHX

2022-23 record: 22-60

OffRtg: 109.7 (29) DefRtg: 119.6 (30) NetRtg: -9.9 (30) Pace: 102.1 (2)

The hype has become a reality, and after a strong preseason, the Victor Wembanyama Era now begins in earnest.

Preseason takeaways

• First quarters are the closest thing to regular-season hoops, and the Spurs were the best first-quarter team in the preseason, outscoring their opponents by 34.4 points per 100 possessions.

• Their new starting lineup, with Jeremy Sochan, outscored opponents by 28 points in its 24 minutes, though 3-point shooting (11-for-20 for the Spurs, 5-for-25 for the opponents) had something to do with that.

• Wembanyama averaged 33.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per 36 minutes, with the points and blocks both ranking first among 194 players who played at least 75 total minutes.

The Spurs’ only preseason loss was in the game (last Monday vs. Houston) that Wembanyama missed, and they outscored their opponents by 21.3 points per 100 possessions in his 83 minutes. That’s pretty good.

Something to watch in Week 1: Physicality. Wembanyama matching up with Grant Williams in his official debut on Wednesday should be a great test of his ability to deal with a much more stout and physical power forward.

We’ll soon find out how real the Spurs’ preseason success was. After they host the Mavs and Rockets, 15 of their next 17 games are against teams that were at or above .500 last season.

EVERY HIGHLIGHT from Victor Wembanyama's electric 2023 #NBAPreseason 🎬

📺: Spurs-Mavs || Oct. 25 || 9:30pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/Rr5bJ85ekC

— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2023

Week 1: vs. DAL, vs. HOU, @ LAC

2022-23 record: 22-60

OffRtg: 110.5 (27) DefRtg: 118.6 (29) NetRtg: -8.1 (29) Pace: 99.7 (14)

There’s potential for serious improvement in Houston with the arrival of new coach Ime Udoka, the addition of veteran free agents, and improvement from the Rockets‘ young core.

Preseason takeaways

• The Rockets outscored their opponents by 12.8 points per game in the restricted area. That was the preseason’s biggest differential when you discount games against non-NBA opponents.

• They saw the biggest jump in opponent turnover rate from last season (13.1%, 23rd) to the preseason (20.3%, third). Fred VanVleet’s 3.8 steals per 36 minutes ranked second among 194 players who played at least 75 total minutes.

• Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun were the most-used combination in the preseason, logging 97 minutes together. The Rockets scored just 96.2 points per 100 possessions in those minutes. (The preseason league average was 106.8 per 100.)

After three straight seasons in the bottom five on both ends of the floor, the better chance for improvement is on defense. The Rockets ranked second on that end (95.1 points allowed per 100 possessions) in preseason games between NBA teams.

Something to watch in Week 1: Jalen Green. Udoka does not suffer bad decision-makers gladly and this is a big season for Green as he needs to earn Udoka’s trust. If he doesn’t, the Rockets have other options down the stretch of close games.

The Rockets begin the season with two (winnable) road games, but then begin one of their two seven-game homestands with a visit from the Warriors on Sunday.

Week 1: @ ORL, @ SAS, vs. GSW

2022-23 record: 27-55

OffRtg: 108.4 (30) DefRtg: 114.7 (20) NetRtg: -6.3 (27) Pace: 101.5 (9)

The Hornets will try to rebound after falling from eighth in offensive efficiency in 2021-22 to 30th (by a healthy margin) last season. LaMelo Ball needs to be healthier (he played 36 games last season) and better when he’s available.

Preseason takeaways

• The Hornets’ offense scored just 97.2 points per 100 possessions, the worst mark among NBA teams in the preseason (also ranking last in 3-point percentage at 23.9%). But that broke down to 109.0 per 100 in 88 minutes with Ball on the floor and an anemic 86.9 per 100 in 104 minutes with him off the floor.

• The Hornets outscored their opponents by 27.5 points per 100 possessions in 58 minutes with LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington and Mark Williams on the floor together. But that group was a minus-11 in less than 16 minutes against Boston on Thursday.

• More concerning than Brandon Miller’s 1-for-13 from 3-point range was just four free throw attempts over 104 minutes.

The Hornets’ only preseason win came against Oklahoma City, which was without its entire starting lineup. In the closest thing to a real game, they got clobbered by the Celtics on Thursday.

Something to watch in Week 1: Mark Williams’ defense. Williams started 17 games last season, with one stretch of 12 straight starts spanning the All-Star break. The Hornets went 7-5 in those 12 games and had the league’s fourth-ranked defense over that stretch. With Williams as their anchor, the Hornets could break their streak of seven straight seasons as a worse-than-average defensive team.

The Hornets’ schedule offers an opportunity to get off to a (relatively) strong start. Seven of their first eight games (including both of their games this week) are against teams that finished at or below .500 last season.

Week 1: vs. ATL, vs. DET

2022-23 record: 35-47

OffRtg: 113.7 (22) DefRtg: 114.9 (21) NetRtg: -1.2 (23) Pace: 99.2 (20)

There’s a new front office and (as a result) a new roster in Washington. Can the Wizards be this season’s Jazz, a surprisingly competent group thrown together after two big trades?

Preseason takeaways

• Jordan Poole outside the Warriors’ system is probably what you’d expect. His 41 points (in 27 minutes) in New York on Wednesday were 10 more than anybody else scored in a preseason game. Two nights later, he shot 1-for-15 in a 36-point loss in Toronto. He ranked third in usage rate (35.9%) among 342 players who played at least 50 total minutes.

• Tyus Jones on a new team remains Tyus Jones: 17/5 assist/turnover ratio and more steals (6) than personal fouls (2). The Wiz had the lowest turnover rate (12.9 per 100 possessions) in the preseason.

• No. 7 pick Bilal Coulibaly was pretty quiet offensively (last on the team in usage rate), but averaged 4.2 steals per 36 minutes, most among 194 players who played at least 75 total minutes.

The Wizards went 2-1 against NBA opponents, but were outscored by 15.1 points per 100 possessions in Poole’s 69 minutes over those three games. Kyle Kuzma missed the last two with a calf issue.

Something to watch in Week 1: Five-out lineups. In addition to Poole going off, Mike Muscala caught fire in that preseason win at Madison Square Garden. The Wizards can put some serious shooting on the floor with a backup frontline of Muscala and Danilo Gallinari.

The Wizards play seven of their first 10 games on the road, but they’ll have a rest advantage for their home opener against the Grizzlies on Saturday. They were 7-3 in rest-advantage games last season.

Jordan Poole went OFF tonight in the @WashWizards #NBAPreseason win over the Knicks 🔥‼️

41 PTS
10/19 FGM
6/12 3PM
15/16 FTA pic.twitter.com/TdiQNfOfUZ

— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2023

Week 1: @ IND, vs. MEM

OffRtg: 109.9 (28) DefRtg: 117.8 (27) NetRtg: -7.9 (28) Pace: 99.3 (13)

Cade Cunningham is back, and it should be time for the Pistons, who’ve won 23 fewer games than any other team over the last four seasons, to start moving forward.

Preseason takeaways

• There were signs of improvement on the defensive glass, with the Pistons ranking second in defensive rebounding percentage, up from 27th last season. Rookie Ausar Thompson ranked third in defensive rebounding percentage (19.4%) among players 6-foot-6 and shorter who averaged at least 15 minutes in two games or more.

• The Pistons were the worst first-quarter team in the preseason, getting outscored by 28.8 points per 100 possessions in the opening period.

• They were outscored by 23.9 points per 100 possessions with Cunningham on the floor. That was the second worst mark (ahead of only that of the Hawks’ De’Andre Hunter) among projected starters who averaged at least 20 minutes in two games or more.

Both Bojan Bogdanovic (calf strain) and Monte Morris (back) missed the preseason, and the Pistons need both if they’re going to win some games.

Something to watch in Week 1: Veteran availability. Bogdanovic’s health is particularly important. The Pistons are seemingly trying to find minutes for all their bigs, but having the 34-year-old play some minutes at the four would yield better spacing for Detroit’s young guards. Minutes with Isaiah Stewart (4-for-21 from 3-point range in the preseason) and Jalen Duren on the floor together were bad last season and bad again in the preseason, when Duren didn’t get any time as the lone big.

Those preseason minutes were particularly bad defensively, but the Pistons will open with three straight games against teams that had bottom-10 offenses last season.

Week 1: @ MIA, @ CHA, vs. CHI

2022-23 record: 33-49

OffRtg: 114.0 (18) DefRtg: 118.0 (28) NetRtg: -4.0 (26) Pace: 99.3 (17)

The best picks in the Blazers‘ collection are their own, and it’s safe to assume that they’ll be one of the three teams with the highest Lottery odds next May. But their next franchise cornerstone may already be on the roster, and Scoot Henderson will have the ball in his hands.

Preseason takeaways

• Anfernee Simons had an effective field goal percentage of 77.3%, the second highest mark among 223 players with at least 25 field goal attempts in the preseason.

• The Blazers are 0-11 in preseason games against NBA opponents in their three seasons under Chauncey Billups.

• In their three games vs. NBA opponents this year, their defense allowed 119.7 points per 100 possessions, 12.9 more than the preseason average (106.8). That included 151 points allowed on 111 defensive possessions (141 per 100) in Jerami Grant’s 52 minutes on the floor.

Two of the three were against the Suns, but the Blazers didn’t give up a ton of 3s over the three games (36 total) and are looking good for a fifth straight season in the bottom five in defensive efficiency.

Something to watch in Week 1: Ball movement. This could be a team with a lot of individual agendas, so it will be interesting to see how much the Blazers play for each other. They ranked 27th in assist rate (58.7%) in the preseason.

Henderson vs. Russell Westbrook is a fun way to open the season. After that, the Blazers will play four straight games against the Eastern Conference, with their visit from the Magic on Friday providing a good test of just how competitive they’ll be.

Week 1: @ LAC, vs. ORL, @ PHI