Do you believe in the Jazz's hot start?
Larry Fonacier: Yes! Lauri Markkanen is a legit franchise player and should have been Eurobasket MVP if they reached the medal rounds. I never understood why teams keep trading Kelly Olynyk. He is high in firepower and basketball IQ. Clarkson, THT, Beasley, and Sexton are underrated stars capable of going nova. What has Danny Ainge created?!
Chris Newsome: Yes, I do believe in the Jazz. They have a complete roster with surprisingly good chemistry for a group that all just started playing together. You definitely have to give credit where credit is due and I love what the new-look Jazz, under first-year (and youngest) head coach, Will Hardy are doing in Utah.
Willie Wilson: I am definitely not a believer in the Utah Jazz being a contender this season. The hot start is merely a combination of the rest of the NBA taking this Jazz team lightly and Danny Ainge wanting to showcase his roster for further trades. Who is to say that other players performing very well now won’t also be shopped around to accumulate even more draft capital? I’m talking about Lauri Markkanen who was averaging only 15 points per game throughout his career but is now looking like a potential All-Star averaging almost 23 points per game this season.
Isaac Go: I do because it’s not on the back of one player but a collective effort from everyone. From the coach to the bench players, there’s a feeling that everyone on the roster is an underdog and overlooked. At the end of the year, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they hold a top-three seed.
Diego Dario: I don’t think it’s sustainable. Sorry to all the Jazz fans I know - shoutout to Paolo Del Rosario. I think they are off to a great start but I just think that eventually the more talented teams will get their groove and get the top spots in the west.
Early MIP candidates: Markkanen, Bane, Maxey? Someone else?
LF: Desmond Bane. He has upped his averages by 10, doubled his assists, and has four 30-point games already. Bane is very impressive for a 30th pick. Honorable mention: Anfernee Simons.
CN: It’s got to be Lauri Markkanen. Maybe it was his recent stint in the FIBA EuroBasket Tournament that gave him all his confidence and rhythm. Maybe he’s really that good and just needed the opportunity. Whichever it is, he’s a prime example of being ready when an opportunity knocks. Oh, and it’s no easy task leading a top-three team in a stacked Western Conference.
WW: I’m sticking with my initial prediction of Tyrese Haliburton. This season his averages are up to 20.5 points and 10.3 assists per game (from 17.5 PPG and 9.6 APG last season) while shooting 42.9 percent from three. The Indiana Pacers are a seller this season with the possible trades of Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. That only means Halliburton’s numbers can climb even higher.
IG: It has to be Lauri Markkanen. As much as Desmond Bane has the more eye-popping numbers, there’s voter fatigue already. Plus If the Jazz’s hot run continues, it’s hard not to give the nod to Markkanen.
DD: Tyrese Haliburton. With a full season with Indiana, he’s gonna have more touches and more playmaking opportunities. Hopefully, he gets that All-Star inclusion too.
Golden State Warriors: Championship hangover or trouble in the bay?
LF: Championship hangover. Once they feel that sense of urgency, they have all the pieces to roar back into contention.
CN: Trust the process! No, I’m not referring to Joel Embiid. I’m saying this is not the Warriors’ first run at a back-to-back championship. They know from experience, it’s not about peaking now but peaking at the right time. Load management has become a big priority in this organization given its older core. Seeing how they have four championships in the last eight years, it’s safe to say they have to trust their process and not press the panic button until the last half of the season, at least.
WW: The Warriors are the only defending champions to ever open the season with a record of 0-7 on the road. Steph Curry is doing everything he can to carry the Warriors leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists but the pieces around him aren’t performing. The next problem is the direction the team is going in. This is a team with talented young players in James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody who need experience to develop. But this team is in win-now mode with the core of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green not getting any younger. It will take time to get those new players up to speed with the Warriors’ cut-heavy motion offense that relies on timing and player familiarity. That might be time the Warriors don’t have.
IG: I picked the Warriors to return to the NBA Finals but the young core hasn’t stepped up. These guys still need more time to comprehend Coach Steve Kerr’s playbook and the Warriors’ style of play, and if they don’t mature fast enough, the championship window may close real soon.
DD: Championship hangover. The starters have been excellent. I personally think their bench is the problem early in the season. The system of the Warriors is something that players have to get used to, offensively and defensively. Eventually, with the culture that they have, the bench will figure it out.
Is Father Time finally cutting into LeBron’s 20-year lead?
LF: It has cut into him in terms of the frequency of his injuries but definitely not in his game.
CN: LeBron James is still going to be LeBron James. I do see signs of him slowing down. However, he cannot continue to carry the load as he has in the past. This is not the same LeBron who brought a no-name Cleveland Cavaliers team to the 2007 NBA Finals. HE NEEDS HELP! The King can still win you championships but he needs help to get there. Put the right pieces around James and you will ALWAYS have a chance.
WW: While James is averaging 24.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 6.9 assists and is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, the King is also shooting a career-low 23.9 from downtown, while his 45.7 field goal percentage is his lowest since his rookie year. Because of his struggles and recent groin injury, the Lakers have sunk to the near-bottom of the standings. I believe though that the bigger issue is the roster construction. It’s well-documented that LeBron works best when teamed with veteran shooters, and this team is extremely lacking anything close to that. This is one of the most trying seasons for James but I feel he is a couple of player moves away from showing that Father Time can’t keep him from leading my Lakers back to prominence.
IG: Sadly, it has. It may not be so evident, especially since LeBron is still putting up massive numbers. However, the 3-point shooting has dipped a bit. The small injuries are starting to affect him a little bit more. LeBron will surpass Kareem and will still put up massive numbers but Father Time is creeping in.
DD: The numbers are still there for sure but if you watch their games, he’s not as active on defense too much and, at times, paces himself during some stretches of the game. Nothing bad with it, though. I think AD is the one that needs to step up. Bron’s still producing at this part of his career - no one can top that.
Which rising star deserves his signature shoe?
LF: Jordan Clarkson. Embroidered with Philippine culture and colors, please.
CN: This is always tough because there are so many who are deserving of it. If I had to pick just one, for now, it would have to be Morant. He’s been giving me 2000s Allen Iverson vibes, and he is slowly becoming a generational icon.
WW: I definitely believe Ja Morant should be given and will eventually get his signature shoe. Morant is one of the NBA’s brightest stars with the ninth most popular jersey in terms of NBAstore.com sales. The Memphis Grizzlies’ All-Star starred in countless highlights while leading his team to the second-best record in the NBA last season. It’s only right that he should be doing more of the same while wearing his own signature shoe.
IG: The Joker should get a signature shoe. He’s not only a baller on the court but a personality off the court as well which will help them sell shoes. Granted, Jokic prefers function over style but imagine the Joker trying to sell shoes. It may be just as funny as Giannis doing it.
DD: Jalen Green for sure! He’s been hooping and I would love to see a Filipino-inspired design and model come out.
