Over the first five-plus weeks of the 2019/20 season, a handful of teams from each conference have been among the NBA’s most pleasant surprises, outperforming preseason expectations. Since it’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, it only seems right for tonight’s Community Shootaround discussion to focus on those teams – and players – that fans should be most thankful for so far this season.
In the East, the Celtics and Raptors were expected to be among the conference’s strongest playoff contenders, but few expected them to be quite this good. With matching 13-4 records, Boston and Toronto are nearly on a 63-win pace in the early going. It seems unlikely that either team will maintain that pace, but they look like legit contenders. The Raptors, who have been missing Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka due to injuries, have been especially impressive, relying on youngsters Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet en route to their fast start.
The Heat and Pacers are among the East’s other pleasant surprises so far. Led by Jimmy Butler and rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, Miami is 12-5 and has yet to lose at home. Meanwhile, things could have gone south for an Indiana team already missing Victor Oladipo after it dropped its first three games and Myles Turner went down with an injury, but the Pacers have won 11 of their last 14 since then, with Turner returning earlier this month.
Further down the standings, the Wizards (6-10) and Hornets (7-12) are outside the Eastern playoff picture, but not by much. They were expected to be among the league’s bottom-dwellers, but have been surprisingly competitive.
Out West, the Lakers were viewed as a probable contender, but their league-best 16-2 start has still raised some eyebrows. The LeBron James/Anthony Davis duo hasn’t exactly been suffering through any growing pains so far, and the supporting cast has done its part.
Thanks to a leap to superstardom by Luka Doncic (30.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 9.5 APG through 17 games), the 11-6 Mavericks are currently a top-five team in the West and look like a legit playoff team. The Timberwolves (10-8) and Suns (8-9) haven’t been quite as convincing as Dallas, but both Minnesota and Phoenix are currently in the top eight in the conference despite being viewed as near-locks for the lottery.
We want to know what you think. Which teams (and players) have you been most pleasantly surprised by so far in 2019/20? Which strong starts do you believe are sustainable? Are there any in particular that you’d like to see continue?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your two cents!
Honestly, I’m surprised how bad the Spurs are.
As far as good. I knew we would see some improvement from the Mavs, but holy cow!
Doncic has been amazing. Even if he doesn’t win the MVP he should be a lock for most improved player. Just remember this time last year when people were talking about how great Trae Young was for the Hawks. After seeing them both for over a year now, no one would take Young over Doncic.
I think your right but Trae does really suit Atlanta and Doncic does fit Dallas really well too. Have to mention the deal was technically Trae Young and Cam Reddish for Doncic which evens it out abit more.
Trae’s ceiling is near Steph Curry in terms of ability and skill. Doncic’s ceiling is near LBJ’s in terms of ability and skill. It’s just on another level.
Not that Doncic will get to LBJ in terms of being considered the best but he is rather similar in terms of being able to do it all. Doncic at 20 years old could do everything Bron did at that age minus the defence
“Just remember this time last year when people were talking about how great Trae Young was for the Hawks”
Not sure where this is coming from. May be that I’ve been too close but this time last year several Hawks fans were questioning as to whether Trae was going to be a complete bust. Only at the end of the season was Trae getting love and still then it takes a true homer to then that we shouldn’t have stuck with Doncic over Trae. Unless Reddish can have a turnaround the likes of.. well… Trae, then I think we can say ATL came out the worse for the deal.
Agree, the plaudits for Young were just towards the end of the year.
Doncic vs Young, and ATL vs DAL is a continuing thing. They’re both good but Doncic’s numbers are outrageous.
Doncic has been amazing, he has to be right up there for MVP and most improved. Siakim has been impressive, Trae Young looks like the new Dame Lillard. LBJ at PG has been awesome also didn’t think he would be so consistent, they just need to work on starting games well.
I’ve liked Thybulle’s game also. As a Philly fan I wasn’t exactly happy to see him chosen but he’s surprised me with how good his defence has been and his ability to hit shots sometimes.
I think the Suns and TWolves will slow down. Wiggins won’t keep in form and Suns are without Ayton and Baynes. I think the Mavs keep going strong Luka and KP will only get better together.
***As a Philly fan who thinks they made the ECF last year…
Conference Semifinals last year, second away from the finals but don’t see what that has to do with this article
Glad the Kings passed up Doncic. I was worried they would got made the fight choice for a second.
Great choice by Count Vlade The Kings’ Impaler, like doing 100M to Harrison barnes
Great choice by Count Vlade The Kings’ Impaler, like doing 100M to Harrison barnes
I think it’s the Celtics (of course I’m biased as a C’s fan) but just how much happier and functional they look now that Kyrie is gone and actually have looked like a potential contender as opposed to just a “good little team” has been a huge-ly pleasant surprise.
LA has a couple of rapidly assembled teams doing well. Like football last year, sudden wealth for the locals.
I knew Butler belonged in Miami all along, but they became winners faster than I thought. Another re-assemble.
Tatum in Boston has taken his game down the middle of the lane & Smart is hitting his 3s. They started their comeback in China!
Raptors all the way baby! Masai is so far ahead of the curve it is not funny. Going to win this year with smothering defence!
Raptors all the way, baby. Masai so far ahead of the curve it is not funny. Going to win it all with smothering defence and just enough offense.
The Raptors were not expected to be among the conferences *strongest teams* even before the injuries. Which is odd given their record without Leonard in the lineup. Who expected them to be up there even with Lowry?
As for teams Washington in the east, playing very well & entertaining.
In the west, Lakers, Dallas, Minny & Phoenix all been very good.
As for players, Doncic is at MVP level now, Ingram as well has been awesome. Trae Young has become a superstar & Sabonis is been awesome as well.
As for rookies is gotta be Brandon Clarke, he is been so far the ROY, should be starting for Memphis, JJJ was rather disappointing as a rookie & is not getting any better, Clarke is playing a lot better than him.
Ja Morant is definitely leading the ROY
Ja is averaging 19/6.5/3 leading the Grizzlies team. He also has shooting marks of 47-41-78 which is pretty nice.
Clarke has been really nice tho and agree about JJJ.
To tell the truth, I didn’t know what to expect from the Raptors’ bench this year with Van Vleet and Siakam moving into the starting 5. Yes, VV and Siakam have stepped up big time in the absence of Lowry and Ibaka, but it’s the emergence of Davis, Boucher, and Hollis-Jefferson as viable rotation pieces that has made the team legitimate contenders. They are still raw, but their energy and rebounding has changed the course of a lot of games so far. This has turned out to be a very deep team.
Star power seems to be needed to go deep into the playoffs, but perhaps Masai isn’t done yet either.
The MPS are Suns and Baynes, Nunn and Graham
Danuel House has been seriously overlooked in Houston.