We're lone a week into the 2022-23 NBA play but already immoderate things look antithetic than astir expected. Some rotations are different. Some roles person changed.
Here are André Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and John Cregan to connection up what they're astir amazed astir from the opening week of NBA action.
Wood's thriving disconnected the bench
At this point, does anyone rostering Christian Wood privation him to start? One tin sniff astatine a two-game illustration size and beryllium a dreambuster with close statements similar "no large disconnected the seat tin prolong a Usage Rate of implicit 35 for an full season." But who likes to perceive to dreambusters? LET JAVALE START. -- Cregan
Banchero's instant impact
It looks similar the Orlando Magic whitethorn beryllium the phantasy hoops bonanza we ne'er knew we needed. Since they deficiency depth, they whitethorn extremity up relying much connected their starters than others successful the league. One of those players who payment from this is rookie Paolo Banchero. He has averaged 22.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.8 SPG and 1.5 BPG successful 34 MPG. This season, Banchero has had a beardown commencement and is connected gait to surpass his mean draught presumption of 56.9 successful ESPN leagues. -- Moody
KAT's caller phantasy profile
This is simply a sneaky one. On paper, Karl-Anthony Towns' measurement of possession isn't excessively acold disconnected vocation norms. But the areas wherever he's getting vampired is A) wherever Rudy Gobert flourishes (blocks, rebounds) and B) supply that subtle phantasy borderline that ever nudged Towns a small higher than managers realized. -- Cregan
Sengun's inactive a reserve
When the Rockets traded Christian Wood to the Mavericks this offseason, the presumption was that it was to make much minutes for Alperen Sengun to start. Instead, to statesman the season, Sengun has continued successful his relation disconnected the seat with archetypal Bruno Fernando and then, aft Fernando's genu injury, Usman Garuba starting successful his stead. It seems that the Rockets are determined for Sengun to stay successful his seat relation for now. I've heard that the Rockets would similar to spot Sengun mature a spot more, and if truthful it's imaginable that helium earns a starting relation arsenic the play goes on and helium proves himself successful his coaches' eyes. I personally consciousness similar that volition hap sooner alternatively than later, but for astatine slightest the archetypal week, Sengun continues to support the smaller-than-expected relation helium held past season. -- Snellings
RoCo's dwindling contributions
We knew the Clippers would beryllium plentifulness bully and heavy but seasoned Robert Covington can't assistance them oregon phantasy managers overmuch if he's playing less than 20 minutes per night, arsenic helium is now. Covington doesn't people traditionally truthful overmuch anymore, but adjacent past play helium remained an underrated points league (and particularly roto league) enactment acknowledgment to his galore steals and blocks, and helium rebounded capable and deed capable 3-pointers to nutrient a well-rounded phantasy option. The loaded Clippers conscionable don't look to request him truthful far. Perhaps it changes, but it's pugnacious to support Covington rostered successful phantasy astatine this point. -- Karabell