The Utah Jazz held their annual open practice for fans. It’s an awesome annual event that introduces fans to old and new players. This year, Jazz fans who went got in for free and had free J Dawgs!
It’s also worth checking the comments to see all the Jazz players commenting. Utah invited Hudson, and his family and Keyonte George welcomed him to the floor.
Perhaps some rookie duties here, but I can confidently say that Darryn Peterson is much, much, much, much better at basketball than singing. pic.twitter.com/NljlNKKJp5
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The wait has concluded, and the new-look Sixers look as strong as imagined through the first preseason game.
They defeated the Knicks 120-97 without the services of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona and, oh yeah, LeBron James.
It was a good test for Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe, who showcased the ability to hold their own without a full rotation. It was even an impressive night for the end-of-rotation guys like Jabari Walker, Caleb Love, Saint Thomas and Dillon Jones.
Call it a hangover or not, but the Sixers looked a step above the reigning champions.
The Jaylen Brown revenge tour is apparently not waiting until the regular season begins. He put up 22 points in 17 minutes against the Knicks and was effective from all over the floor.
First player reel of the 2026-27 Sixers (pre)season goes to Jaylen Brown, who looked absolutely dominant offensively on the floor tonight.
While the Sixers were absent Embiid, Maxey and James for the preseason opener, Brown flashed his volume scoring. He came out the gates firing from midrange and the low post to establish a rhythm, and ended up accounting for nine of the first 13 Sixers points.
He got it going from three, including a straightaway pull-up jumper and fadeaway corner three in the second quarter. He had a block on Mohamed Diawara just following the fadeaway, showcasing his two-way ability early in his first Sixers campaign.
If anything, Brown’s performance displays the luxury Philadelphia has in scoring power. Three of the four main offensive engines were out, and they did not skip a beat against strong wing defenders on New York.
VJ Edgecombe:12 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 4-of-5 FT
Edgecombe made his presence felt mostly in the paint, as his drives look as explosive as ever. He did not let a poor shooting night deter him from attacking the paint when given the oppurtunity, and was rewarded with a handful of free throws.
VJ Edgecombe looks like an improved, stronger version of the player we got to know in his rookie season. Some shooting inconsistency, but good buckets and great assists fill his reel from tonight's preseason matchup.
Edgecombe’s playmaking was on full display. He found Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for an easy look in transition and a beautiful dime to Dillon Jones late in the second quarter. Then, to finish the half, Edgecombe spun out of a double team on a drive, and found Caleb Love on the wing for the buzzer-beating triple before the break, giving the Sixers a 72-58 advantage.
Walker has made things interesting at the bottom of the rotation after his strong performance against New York. He was the best rebounder for the Sixers and was being a pest on the other end, doing the best he could against taller matchups like Karl Anthony-Towns or Diawara.
He finished 3-of-5 from three, joining Brown and Love as the only Sixers to make three from deep. He had a nice block on Pacôme Dadiet near the end of the first half. Walker took advantage of Dominick Barlow’s absence.
Last player reel for the night is a quick one for Jabari Walker, who really impressed me tonight with his long-range shooting and aggressive/effective rebounding.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 5: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks moves the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the first game of their new era, the Milwaukee Bucks showed glimpses of their potential in front of Fiserv Forum fans, but ultimately came up short, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-97 in their preseason opener. Despite fouling out in just 14 minutes, Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 15 points, while Kel’el Ware chipped in with a double-double, and both Bucks rookies showed promise. The Timberwolves were led by sophomore Joan Beringer, who finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
After much anticipation, Taylor Jenkins rolled out his first set of Bucks starters—Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Ryan Rollins—opting for veteran experience. Rudy Gobert won the tip but action lasted just two seconds before a technical delay. Wolves newcomer Jonathan Kuminga then opened the scoring on a slashing layup. A nice feed from Turner gave Rollins his first two and he doubled that on the Bucks’ next possession. Trailing 7-4, Rollins was sent to the locker room after a nasty elbow to the eye and the Bucks had their first substitution—Kevin Porter Jr. The Bucks generated plenty of good looks, but were largely unable to convert outside of Herro’s back-to-back threes with just over five minutes to go in the quarter. The good news? They hit the offensive glass, especially once Kel’el Ware and Jericho Sims checked in. More Bucks bricks—they shot just 6/28 for the quarter—and another technical delay brought the period to a close, Milwaukee trailing 31-20.
Ware looked to change that to start the second, nailing his second above-the-break three of the night, and despite the Bucks struggling to defend without fouling, a Turner three soon had them within three, 35-32. But Anthony Edwards sparked a 12-0 run that ended in alley-oop finishes from Kuminga and Gobert, forcing Jenkins to call a timeout. When action returned, Sims flushed his own—from Gary Trent Jr. no less (even if it might’ve been a shot)—but, moments later, the Bucks inexplicably let Jaden McDaniels sneak behind the defence for the easiest of twos after Kyle Kuzma bricked a free throw. And when LaMelo Ball swished a corner trey, things looked bleak. Jenkins noticed too, subbing in Brayden Burries for his first action. A three of his own and two assists for Trent threes brought life back into Fiserv, but Milwaukee still entered halftime with plenty of work to do, down 60-48.
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch pulled his starters to begin the second half and Rollins quickly found his groove with two triples and a sneaky layup, cutting the lead to seven. Dunks from Terrance Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer momentarily paused the Bucks’ momentum, and by the time Jaquez was called for an eight-second violation I thought I’d developed tinnitus—there were that many whistles. With 4:42 left on the clock, Nate Ament checked in for his first action and Kevin Porter Jr. came to life with an offhand layup bookended by trips to the free throw line. But it was Ament who brought the crowd to its highest decibel reading, first with a corner three that tied things up at 74, then with an offensive rebound putback plus the harm. An ill-advised Ware three-point attempt led to an Enrique Freeman leak-out jam and, by the time the siren blared, the Wolves had regained their lead, 81-77.
Ware showed off his length to begin the fourth, swatting a shot, but three consecutive paint buckets by the Wolves extended the lead to 10 before two more forced Jenkins into a timeout. He came out of it with an interesting lineup featuring Caris LeVert as the most trustworthy ballhandler. By this point, the game well and truly felt like garbage time. Still, Burries showed promise, looking comfortable getting his own shot and setting up others, and Ware finished strong, recording a double-double as the Bucks went down 116-97.
Stat That Stood Out
0, as in minutes. That’s exactly how many Ousmane Dieng, Kasparas Jakučionis, and Bogoljub Marković combined to play. It’ll be interesting to see how Jenkins manages minutes for the rest of the preseason.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns tries to drive around Duncan Robinson #55 of the Detroit Pistons in the first half during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On an early October evening, we finally arrived at a destination we’ve been pining for since late April. And while the game ultimately doesn’t count toward the standings, Monday night marked the debut of the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns as they made their way to the Motor City to tip off their preseason. The result?
The starters played only the first half, led by Devin Booker’s 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. He added three assists as well. Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks combined for 22 points while shooting 3-of-8 from three. But perhaps the biggest presence you felt Monday evening was Jordan Goodwin, who was an absolute firecracker during his 11 minutes on the floor: 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Goodwin was active and everywhere.
Phoenix built a 19-point lead in the first half before coughing it up in a disastrous third quarter. The Suns turned the ball over 13 times and were outscored 34–16, completely erasing the cushion they had built over the first 24 minutes. There will be plenty of teaching points for the Suns after this one. Phoenix turned the ball over 32 times, allowing Detroit to score 37 points off those mistakes. After carrying a 68-50 lead into halftime, the Suns were outscored 59-39 in the second half.
Credit the Suns, they made things interesting at the end, putting together an 8–2 run to tie the game with 12.1 seconds remaining. But Pistons rookie Ebuka Okorie out of Stanford attacked and finished with his left hand, a bucket that ultimately proved to be the difference.
The loss showed us plenty, from what the potential of this team could be to where the opportunities for improvement lie. The standings will say 0-1, but we know the preseason isn’t about wins and losses. It’s about constantly learning, regardless of the result.
Game Flow
First Half
The first bit o’ news for all of those wondering? It was Oso Ighodaro who received the start at the five, receiving the nod over Khaman Maluach by head coach Jordan Ott.
Miles Bridges wasted no time making his presence felt. After Devin Booker turned the ball over on the opening possession, Bridges chased down the transition opportunity and stole the ball back. On the ensuing possession, he cleaned up a missed Jalen Green three with an offensive rebound and a dunk. Welcome to the Valley, Miles Bridges.
After another make, Bridges buried a corner three, scoring the first seven points of the game for Phoenix.
Shortly thereafter, Oso Ighodaro jumped the passing lane for a steal. Booker pushed the ball up the court to Bridges, who dished it to Jalen Green for another Phoenix jam.
It didn’t take long for Dillon Brooks to find his first skirmish of the season. With 7:23 remaining in the first quarter, the kung fu training was officially put into action. Following an offensive rebound by newly acquired Pistons power forward John Collins, Brooks aggressively swiped at the ball and was called for a foul. Collins took exception to the manner in which Brooks attempted to dislodge it, and the two exchanged words, resulting in double technical fouls.
But Collins grabbed Brooks by the neck during the altercation, prompting the officials to take a longer look at the play. After review, Collins was assessed a Flagrant 1.
With 5:36 remaining in the first quarter, we got our first look at Khaman Maluach as he entered alongside Jordan Goodwin, who replaced Miles Bridges at the four. Collin Gillespie replaced Jalen Green shortly thereafter. Green departed having scored five points on 2-of-5 shooting, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.
We also witnessed one of the NBA’s points of emphasis early on. As Devin Booker attempted to come off a screen, Ron Holland II hooked him and was called for impeding his progress. Will it be something we consistently see throughout the season? Time will tell. But if Booker plans to play off-ball with more frequency, it could ultimately benefit him as he navigates screens and attempts to create separation in a manner reminiscent of Klay Thompson a decade ago.
Jordan Goodwin’s impact was immediate as he attacked the offensive glass and pressured opposing players. In his first three minutes, he grabbed three offensive rebounds, scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting, both coming on putbacks, and added a steal. He was a major reason Phoenix dominated the offensive glass early, grabbing six offensive rebounds and outscoring Detroit 13–2 in second-chance points during the first quarter.
The other reason? Khaman Maluach. His first quarter was impressive. He was aggressive on the interior, deterred shots on the defensive end, and put himself in position to protect the rim. The shooting could use some love, however, as he missed his lone three-point attempt and went 0-of-3 from the free-throw line.
After one quarter, despite shooting 4-of-14 from beyond the arc for 28.6%, the Suns led 35-21. Phoenix ended on a 9-2 run. Miles Bridges led Phoenix with seven points, while Goodwin had five rebounds and two steals. And Dillon Brooks? He had three of the Suns’ four fouls.
The nastiness carried over into the second quarter, and the Suns’ effort didn’t wane. It was apparent on one broken possession that could ultimately become a microcosm of what Phoenix is trying to establish. The Suns kept moving, kept hustling, and despite Detroit’s physicality and multiple attempts to tip the ball away, Phoenix maintained possession until Luke Kennard knocked down a 10-footer. A small sequence, but a perfect example of how hustle creates possessions.
A nice welcome to Phoenix moment, for Luke Kennard.
It's now his turn to win on a tag, gaining a possession. Then, he's rewarded by the game, with a good look at the basket shortly thereafter.
Jalen Green appeared to have a little rust in his new point guard role. There were a couple of possessions where he delivered passes without a clear recipient, almost like a quarterback throwing into a zone and hoping one of two crossing receivers comes down with it. He looked a little fatigued as well, although some of that could be attributed to the effort he was putting forth on the defensive end, which deserves credit. One point of emphasis for Green moving forward will be driving with his eyes up rather than his head down. But you get him out in transition…
Yes, his explosiveness appears to be back. Green continually attacked the cylinder, flying through the air and getting to the line as a result. He finished the second with 4 points in the quarter, all coming at the line.
The three-ball started falling with much more regularity as well. Halfway through the third quarter, Phoenix was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, helping push its lead to 19 points. Add in the fact that Detroit was shooting 29.4% from the field, and the Suns were comfortably in control.
After scoring 35 points in the first quarter, the Suns added another 33 in the second, shooting 58% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc in the quarter. Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green were all in double figures at the half, with Booker leading the way with 13 points while adding four rebounds and three assists.
Phoenix outscored Detroit 26-14 in the paint, 12-5 in second-chance points, and 7-2 in fast break points, carrying a comfortable 68-50 lead into halftime.
Second Half
The second half began with Collin Gillespie, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, Rasheer Fleming, and Khaman Maluach. The starters? They were done for the night. Detroit kept its starters on the floor except for Cade Cunningham, giving Phoenix’s second unit a chance to compete against much of the Pistons’ starting five.
Fleming looked a little choppy defensively and somewhat unsure when pursuing rebounds, but he confidently knocked down his first three-point attempt, which came off a dribble handoff from Gillespie.
Maluach continued to make his presence felt. On one possession, John Collins came charging toward the rim looking like he wanted to throw down one of his patented posterizing dunks. But when Maluach went up to challenge him, Collins adjusted his shot. He knew he wasn’t going through him. Then came a play in transition in which Maluach was rewarded with an easy dunk. He certainly looks bigger and more powerful this season, and that added strength is already showing itself on both ends of the floor.
Koa Peat entered the game for the first time midway through the third quarter. On his first opportunity, Peat went left and attacked the basket, drawing a foul as the Pistons pushed Duop Reath into him. Peat went to the line for his first points in a Suns uniform, but missed both free throws.
He would score his first points moments later, in true Koa fashion.
The lead the Suns had built in the first half completely dissipated in the third quarter as the second and third units struggled to hold onto the ball. Phoenix scored only 16 points in the quarter despite shooting 40% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. The problem was the 13 turnovers.
Detroit took full advantage, outscoring Phoenix 14-6 in the paint and 14-5 in points off turnovers. The Pistons won the quarter 34-16, closing it on a 22-3 run to erase what had once been a comfortable Suns lead. After three, we were right back where we started, 84-84.
Jamaree Bouyea provided a spark to start the fourth, knocking down a three and attacking the basket for five quick points. But an 8–0 Detroit run followed, giving the Pistons their first lead of the game.
The fourth quarter was much of the same. Sloppy play, turnovers, and clearly a group of players still learning how to play with one another and settle into their roles. Bouyea had a rough go of it leading that unit. He had no trouble finding his own offense, but some of his turnovers were simply ugly. With three minutes remaining and the Suns trailing 99–97, an ill-advised foul by Bouyea on Bryce Williams gave Detroit three free throws. When Rex Chapman starts singing Barnum and Bailey circus music on the broadcast, you have a pretty good idea of what it looked like on the court.
The same could be said for Detroit. This was their third unit as well, and the execution wasn’t exactly pretty on that side either.
With time running out, the Suns put together a late 8-2 run to tie the game. Jamaree Bouyea brought the ball down the floor with 24 seconds left, nearly losing it before recovering and knocking down a three to pull the Suns within 107–105. On the ensuing inbound, Kennedy Chandler came up with the steal and found Koa Peat, who threw it down to tie the game at 107 with 12.1 seconds remaining.
Detroit got the ball back, and rookie Ebuka Okorie went left and finished at the rim with 5.8 seconds remaining, putting the Pistons ahead 109–107. Jamaree Bouyea had one final opportunity, hoisting a three as time expired. It hit the rim and bounced out. Ballgame.
Up Next
Phoenix heads to the Windy City to play the Chicago Bulls for Game 2 of the preseason. We’ll see you then!
With the NBA season right around the corner, and the Utah Jazz presumably being competitive for the first time in far too long, everyone is right to place the majority of the responsibility on the shoulders of our biggest names. We just drafted Darryn Peterson #2 overall in the NBA Draft, we just signed Keyonte George to a contract extension, and we just traded away a massive amount of draft capital (not to mention we’re paying him $50 million a year) to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. These guys will obviously play a huge role in our team’s success this year, but if this isn’t a true team effort from everyone involved, I believe that we are doomed to fail.
Long gone are the days in the NBA where we could throw 3 superstars on the floor and ride on their coattails. The league is much too talented for that type of strategy to work, so even though the aforementioned players will grab the headlines whether we win or lose, there are three players in my mind that will need to step up their game if the Jazz want to be successful. This is the first edition of my mini-series “The Burden of Expectation,” and I don’t think that there is anyone more vital to this team’s success from a role player’s standpoint than Kyle Filipowski.
I think that enough time has passed to where I can now comfortably say that Walker Kessler will be missed. The draft picks that we received in return are great, and I’m sure that Trader Danny will put them to good use eventually, but our frontcourt depth chart is looking… grim.
Our frontcourt depth wouldn’t have been elite even if we were able to retain Kessler’s services, but now that he’s in Tinseltown, it is quite worrying. Now, I’m not on Will Hardy’s staff (although I am open for hire), but I’d imagine that our starting lineup goes one of two ways:
a) Start Jaren Jackson Jr. out of position at the 5, Lauri at the 4, Ace at the 3, Darryn Peterson at the 2, and Keyonte George at the 1.
Or
b) Start Jusuf Nurkic at the 5 and push Ace to the bench, allowing JJJ to play his natural 4 position and making Lauri play out of position, and if the preseason is anything to go off of, it seems like this will be the starting lineup.
Regardless of which path we take, I don’t like the reality very much. Despite being 6’10”, JJJ averages 5 more rebounds a game for his career than I do, and with this being his 9th year in the league I don’t see a scenario where he magically becomes a double-double threat every night. Even if we were to start Nurkic, who IS a double-double threat, I worry about his ability to stay on the floor for the entire year and what other teams would do to him in the pick & roll. There is so much size in this league, and while casual viewers of this game will have you believe that just shooting from deep is the key to winning games, I believe that if you don’t have players on the floor who can fight for rebounds it will put your team at a significant disadvantage.
Lauri Markkanen isn’t exactly a Quincy Acy out there either, averaging 7 rebounds a night last season. When you look at some of the league’s best front court players, you’ll notice that even if they are considered elite at a different skill, they also show up on the glass. Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Victor Wembanyama all averaged over 11 rebounds a game last year, and when a potential starting frontcourt of Lauri and JJJ barely cover that combined, it’s important to look for other players who can step up. Enter: Kyle Filipowski.
Filipowski’s steady rise during his Sophomore season will get lost in the sands of time due to the team’s record, but his impact was noticed by those who were keeping a watchful eye on him. It was marginal, but he increased his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking output from his rookie season. His shooting splits did take a slight hit, but he did take over 150 more shots compared to his rookie year.
That kind of dip should also be taken with a pinch of salt as it was pretty clear, especially after the New Year, that the goal for the team was to develop and push players out of their comfort zone. Now that there are going to be define roles for this season, and now that Filipowski will have the chance to make a true impact off the bench, I think that we could be in for a very promising third year campaign from the quintessential hustle guy.
The raw counting stats won’t pop off the page, but you may be surprised to learn that Filipowski and his 0.9 steals per game was actually in the 86th percentile in the entire league last year. His forced turnovers (steals + offensive fouls drawn) was also relatively high being in the 87th percentile last year.
I will admit that most of his impact will have to be viewed through a “wishful thinking” lens, because at the end of the day scoring 11 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 22 minutes a night isn’t going to win any sort of hardware at the end of the year. However, if you were to scale up his projected production, it could very well be the difference in a win or loss on most nights. Filipowski’s Per 30 numbers jump up to 14.6 points and 9 rebounds a night, and given our lack of size and skill in the rotation, I fully expect Will Hardy to trust a guy who’s been in his system for two years to play big minutes and fill any voids.
Again, if we were able to retain Walker Kessler, maybe Filipowski isn’t exactly needed to produce. Most third year role players aren’t ready to take that big of a leap, but that’s the essense of the burden of expectation.
The weight of the responsibility is heavy, and while you won’t find other outlets writing think pieces about Kyle Filipowski, his role and importance to this team cannot be undervalued. He can’t do it alone, of course. There are a few other players role players on our team that will have to carry the weight with him, but that’s what this team does best.
The Utah Jazz teams have always been established in team play and relying on each other to get the win. Sure, the coverage of Peterson this year will be fun, Keyonte’s fourth year is going to be very exciting, and seeing how JJJ and Markkanen play off of each other is tantalizing, but it does take a village. I believe that Kyle Filipowski is ready to contribute in a big way this year, and when he does, you remember who told you first.
Who else do you think will have an underrated impact on the team this year? What kind of rookie campaign do you think we’ll see from Darryn Peterson this year? Sound off in the comments!
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns in the second half during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the NBA, Ebuka Okorie. The rookie guard selected 17th overall had quite an eventful first preseason game in the NBA. After not playing at all through three quarters and seeing his team go down 18 points, Ebuka entered and promptly hit a three-pointer to give Detroit its first lead of the night. He then capped it off with a game-winning drive in the game’s final seconds to give the Pistons a 109-107 win over the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena.
In a game where the Pistons starters struggled with Phoenix’s physicality and intensity, the game completely flipped when both teams turned to their benches in the second half. It turns out all those Pistons fans saying Detroit might have the deepest team in the league might have been onto something. There was just no match in size, speed, and talent between the end of Detroit’s roster and Phoenix’s.
Ron Holland scored a team-high 15 points and added five vintage Ron Holland steals, including one late that pushed Detroit’s lead from three to five with less than a minute left in the game. Dannis Jenkins was a team-high plus-15 on the night, largely behind some crisp and high-degree-of-difficulty passes and a vintage off-balance three with defenders in his face to tie the game after three quarters.
We shouldn’t handwave away the starters’ struggles, though. There was some errant passing, there were a lot of early shots, and there wasn’t a lot of rebounding. The Pistons clearly went into this game with an eye toward asking a lot of the players stepping into larger offensive roles to put their summer of work to the test. That meant a lot of ball-handling responsibility for Ausar Thompson, a lot of shooting from Holland, and a lot of center minutes for John Collins (Jalen Duren was held out as he ramps up his prep work with teammates, and Paul Reed started in his place). It wasn’t always pretty, but that is what preseason is for.
The Suns, meanwhile, wanted to keep it simple — run their offense and play with the kind of physicality that is non-negotiable for them as they seek to build on the somewhat surprising 45-win season of a year ago. Devin Booker led the Suns with 13 points, and Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks added 11 apiece. Phoenix dominated Detroit on the boards 47-35, mostly building up that advantage in the first half. The Pistons were able to counteract that with 21 steals that led to 37 points off turnovers. Most of that done against the Suns’ scrubs in the second half.
It was a fun game, and some vintage Detroit basketball. The Pistons will next play on Saturday in Washington against the Wizards. Hopefully by then we will see some Jalen Duren minutes.
When USA TODAY Sports reached out to ESPN, a representative declined to comment.
In his playing days, Kidd was a nine-time All-Defensive player, a 10-time All-Star and was the 1994-95 Rookie of the Year. He spent time with the Phoenix Suns, the then-New Jersey Nets and played one season with the New York Knicks. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and won the 2011 NBA championship with them. He coached the Mavericks from the 2021-22 season until this spring when he and the team "mutually agreed to part ways."
Kidd, 53, has twice been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: as a player in 2018 and again in 2025 as a member of Team USA's gold-medal winning 2008 Olympic team.
Kidd first became a head coach with one season at the helm of the Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry on the roster. He had a stint with the Milwaukee Bucks but was fired midway through his fourth season there. He also spent time as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers where he helped guide the team to the 2020 NBA championship in the Bubble.
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off on Oct. 20 with three games. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons face off in an afternoon tilt, followed by an evening doubleheader which begins with LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the defending champion New York Knicks. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals to cap things off.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Real fans watch preseason games, these half-hearted scrimmages in which stars tend to lollygag, and the guys fighting for roster or rotation consideration tend to play as you’d expect—like guys trying to secure seats at the southern reach of the bench. Bandwagoners and parade crashers don’t tune in for this slop. Real fans do, cuz a Knicks game is a Knicks game. We even watch summer league!
After a short summer respite, the World Champion Knickerbockers and your loyal P&T blogger were all feeling rusty. From the start of tonight’s 120-97 loss to the Sixers, the champs continued to show their penchant for the long ball, heaving more than half their shots from the outfield. Both teams converted 33% from deep through the first 12 minutes, and here’s some good news: Finals MVP Jalen Brunson’s surgically repaired wrist had a familiar sweet snap as he drilled two three-pointers.
The guests took an early lead, but Philly answered with a 14-3 stretch through the heart of the quarter. Seeing former Celtic Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia blue boggled the brain for a moment. He carried his unit with LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey taking the night off (chickens), and the new Sixer collected 13 early points. Meanwhile, Brunson and OG (The Tipmeister) Anunoby scored eight points apiece for our heroes.
JAYLEN BROWN IS COOKING THE KNICKS STARTERS RIGHT NOW 🔥🍿
Former Knick Ariel Hukporti started the game, but exited early with an injury after facing up with Karl-Anthony Towns. He was assisted to the locker room, and it had the hallmarks of an Achilles tear. If that turns out to be the case, it’s a devastating blow to a likable guy who stood to get significant playing time this season.
On the subject of Towns, he attacked the paint and looked not a bit sour about his contract situation. Behind him, Andre Drummond played his first (unofficial) game as a Knick and was exactly the same Drummond he’s always been.
As the quarter went on, Tyler Kolek (with longer locks) assumed ball-handling duties. He seemed to have a mandate to score and forced it a little. Due to an absence of defense on either side, the teams swapped buckets like high-schoolers on layup lines. One welcome exception was the dependable Landry Shamet, who drained a pair of triples.
But, true to his word, Coach Mike Brown doled out minutes to as many players as he could. The spotlight in these early days is squarely on sophomore Mohamed Diawara. He attacked the rim with mixed results and coughed up the ball twice. Not a great sign after a crummy summer league. Alongside him, Jordan Clarkson logged his allotment of minutes, picking up where he left off.
Veteran James Wiseman took a turn at center, hoping to convince Brown to award him the team’s final roster spot. He scored two buckets but seemed a step slow on defense. Speaking of which, Pacome Dadiet guarded with more aggression than I remember. His offense, however, was pretty much exactly as I remembered—he and Miles McBride combined to shoot 0-of-4 from downtown in the half.
The second quarter belonged to the 76ers, who reached a 14-point lead late in the period and went into intermission ahead 72-58. They shot 53% from the field and 46% from deep, converting 11 dingers to the Knicks’ five. After missing a bunch of shots in the second quarter, our guys had shot 23% from deep. Brown led all first-half scorers with 22, while Anunoby logged 12 for the good guys.
Kolek and Shamet started the third, as did Walker, who answered their buckets with a trey of his own. Diawara turned on the charm with consecutive finger-rolls, a putback, and a steal. From there, the teams traded inefficient offensive blows.
Drummond swatted three blocks, and his layup fueled a nice push during that run, but Clarkson committed two travel violations and whiffed on multiple shots. Wiseman hit from the line and dunked a tip-in, while Ochai Agbaji went scoreless with some misses, and Dadiet’s fouls sent the Sixers to the stripe. By the end of this sludgefest, both teams had scored 21 points. The Knicks were still down, now 93-79.
Drew Eubanks and Bruce Brown started the fourth quarter for the Knicks, and we saw cameos by Kevin McCullar, Jr., Tyler Nickel, Tony Bradley, and Jaden Akins. By the buzzer, Brown had played 20 players (and it would’ve been 21, but Jose Alvarado is nursing a bruised knee). Aikins and Dadiet both hit from deep, which were rare sights on a night when the Knicks shot 8-of-41 from yard.
For the home team, rookie forward Saint Thomas impressed with a double-double. Thanks to his efforts, the Liberty Bells inflated their lead to 23. Caleb Love continued to have a nice game for them (15 points, 3-of-6 from deep). When the cutting was done, our heroes had fallen, 120-97. Big deal. We’ll give these bums the business on banner night.
Up Next
The Knicks host the Wizards on Thursday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers, and get well soon, Huk.
The team announced that Max Strus suffered a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot during Sunday's preseason game. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks, which means he will miss the start of the season.
This is a rough start for Strus, who missed the majority of last season with a foot injury (a fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left foot, which required surgery). He returned for a dozen games at the end of the season for the Cavaliers, then had a larger role for them in the playoffs, which prompted the Clippers to send a pick to Washington to obtain him as part of a five-team trade this summer that saw Los Angeles send out John Collins.
Look for rookie Keaton Wagler, as well as Gradey Dick, to get more run with Strus out.
As noted by Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points, the Clippers have what would be a solid five-man regular-season rotation lineup all out injured already: Jordan Miller (shoulder surgery), Bradley Beal (knee), Strus, Brandon Ingram (partially torn Achilles) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot). Four of them — Miller, Strus, Ingram and Niederhauser — are all expected to miss the start of the season.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 5: Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 5, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in action on Monday evening to face the Memphis Grizzlies for their first preseason game. This was the first time that fans were able to see the team in action, and it was also the first time the team would be able to play against another team other than themselves.
CJ McCollum and Lu Dort were out for this game, and the starting lineup consisted of Kingston Flemings, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.
Alexander-Walker got things started for the Hawks with a 3-pointer.
The Hawks’ defense was solid with the starters in the game, and they were able to keep the Grizzlies from scoring much. That led to the Hawks gaining an 11-point lead, and they were able to maintain for some time before the Grizzlies started to get some shots to go.
Aaron Wiggins was the first person to come off the bench for the Hawks, followed by Jock Landale. The second unit wasn’t as crisp as the first, but they were still able to keep the lead. Asa Newell worked hard for his first bucket of the game, and got an and-1 to go with it.
The Grizzlies started to find a rhythm in the second quarter, and they started pulling away from the Hawks, even with most of the starters in the game.
Alexander-Walker tried to keep the Hawks in it, getting this spin move to go in the lane.
Even that wasn’t enough for the Hawks to get some momentum, as the Grizzlies continued to pile up the points. It wasn’t the best showing for the Hawks, as they gave up 49 points in the second and trailed 81-61 going into halftime.
The Hawks pulled most of their regular starters for the third quarter, and it was only Flemings who remained on the floor. Corey Kispert, Keshon Gilbert, Jock Landale and Newell were the other four players who joined him in the third.
Kispert had it going in the quarter, scoring 10 points and shooting perfect from the field. Dorian Finney-Smith saw his first minutes of the game in the third, and made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball.
The ball does 2 full circles around the court and Dorian Finney-Smith knocks down the triple 🔥 pic.twitter.com/n7pLmHYt6I
It was a way better quarter for the Hawks on defense, only allowing 29 points, and they trailed the Grizzlies 110-98 heading into the fourth.
The Hawks had already found some life in the third, and they continued that in the fourth to cut down their deficit. Jalen Wilson knocked down two 3-pointers and the Hawks were down only single digits.
The Hawks tried to keep cutting into their deficit late in the fourth, but the Grizzlies always had an answer on the other end. It was a strong effort from the Hawks’ third unit, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough.
Kispert finished the game with 19 points, Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points and Newell finished with 12 points and rebounds.
The Hawks will be back in action on Oct. 8 against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks played their first game since winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals, as the starters shook off some rust and the bench fought to earn minutes in a 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Here are some takeaways...
-- Mike Brown went with the starting lineup that won the NBA Finals on Monday night: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Sixers and Nick Nurse took a different approach as LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid all sat out; leaving him with VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown as the only regular-season starters in the lineup.
-- Former Knick Ariel Hukporti, who signed with Philadelphia over the summer, also started for his new team. Unfortunately for Hukporti, the big man took an awkward fall in the first quarter and grabbed for his ankle. Knicks and Sixers players gathered around him and helped him to the locker room. He did not return to the game.
-- Andre Drummond, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Tyler Kolek were the first four players off the bench for Brown's group. Shamet picked up where he left off in the playoffs, making two threes right away.
Philadelphia led 33-32 after the first quarter as Brown led the way with a game-high 13 points. Anunoby played the most minutes out of the New York starters (10) and was second in points (six) behind Brunson (eight).
-- Brown played more of the bench in the second quarter, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson entering for the first time. The back-and-forth game continued as Brown and Caleb Love scored eight straight to put the Sixers up 58-51 and force a New York timeout with 4:29 left in the half. Philly's young guards continued to attack with Edgecombe converting the and-one layup over James Wiseman to go up double digits.
The Knicks were outscored 39-26 in the second quarter as Love nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer, taking a 72-58 lead into the half. New York allowed Philadelphia to shoot 53 percent from the field and 46 percent from three (11-for-24). Brunson and Anunoby were tied for the team-high with 12 points each, while Brown had 22 points for his new team.
-- The bench started the second half as Brunson and Co.'s night was done early, as was Brown's for Philly. New York's shooting struggles continued without their starters, failing to score a field goal for five-plus minutes toward the end of the third quarter and trailing, 93-79, heading into the fourth.
-- Overall, NY shot 38 percent from the field and 20 percent from three (8-for-41). Shamet led the bench with 10 points, while Diawara had eight points in 17 minutes. Fighting for a backup center role, Wiseman had eight points and five rebounds in nine minutes while Tony Bradley had two points in six minutes. Drummond scored six points with five rebounds and three blocks against his old team.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media during NBA Media Day on September 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was unlikely the Lakers were going to be at full strength in their preseason opener — or in any exhibition game — on Monday.
In the first contest of a back-to-back and three games in four nights, head coach JJ Redick announced pregame that Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler would both be out. Joining them on the sidelines are Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma.
Walker Kessler jammed his finger on the backboard while Austin Reaves tweaked his ankle, per JJ Redick.
Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma are dealing with lower-body ailments.
None of them are dealing with serious injuries and are day-to-day, per Redick. https://t.co/JehtenA9rN
With two projected starters out, the Lakers’ starting lineup included Luka Dončić, likely starter Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney.
Lakers starters tonight:
Luka Dončić, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney
It’s unclear how many, if any, of these players were among those modified participants in practice. We’ll get a better idea of how serious these injuries are as well come Tuesday when the Lakers play again against the Warriors.
Ideally, Kessler’s injury, in particular, is short-term so he can build as much chemistry as possible with Luka and Reaves. In that same vein, Reaves getting back as soon as possible is the best-case scenario.
For the devoted fans who caught Summer League, not getting a chance to see Kaluma will be a bummer. He has a skillset that, in theory, could really complement the team’s stars.
Again, though, players were always going to sit out during this opening stretch of preseason games. We’ll have to wait to see how serious, if at all, the injuries are.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We are so back.
The Sixers tipped off their preseason with a 120-97 win over the defending champion New York Knicks Monday night.
In his first game as a Sixer, Jaylen Brown put up 22 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the floor along with two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes of action. VJ Edgecombe played 19 minutes and put up 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and seven assists.
Out tonight for the Sixers was LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona. Before the game, Nick Nurse said he’s aiming to get the starters in two of their four preseason games, and that he isn’t concerned about the minor injuries picked up by Simons and Barlow.
As expected, the offense early was centered around Brown. He got to his spots to pull up, but missed his first two attempts and split his first pair of free throws as well. He had a layup roll out on him but fought for the offensive rebound, putting it back and getting fouled in the process.
99% of the preseason is just getting through it healthy. Unfortunately, Ariel Hukporti went down just five minutes into the game, favoring his right ankle in what looked like a non-contact injury. His former Knicks teammates were quick to put an arm around him as he was being helped off the floor. Jabari Walker came in to replace him, now the only healthy backup five on the team.
Brown did eventually get into a rhythm, making three straight shots to put up 13 in the quarter. Edgecombe made his presence felt as well, consistently getting to the basket successfully, but he couldn’t get a jumper to fall. Labaron Philon Jr. was the first sub of the night but he took a back seat for the first few minutes of his shift as those two were cooking. Philon made his first shot of the night, a pull-up jumper from the midrange.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope became the latest Sixer to get in on the fun with a quick seven points to end the quarter. He drilled a three that looked like it would keep the Sixers up by three, but a missed boxout allowing OG Anunoby to grab the rebound and get fouled on the putback attempt. He split his pair of free throws, giving the Sixers a two-point lead after a high-scoring first.
Second Quarter
The concerns about this center rotation were on display as the Sixers gave up three more offensive rebounds early in the second. One was courtesy of our old friend Andre Drummond, but Brown drilled a three in his face a few possessions later as he continued to have the hot hand.
Walker was really active with six rebounds and a couple of stocks, but being a couple inches shorter than the average center just catches up with him. On top of his strong effort on that end of the floor he knocked down his first two threes of the night, getting them up quickly. The makings of a stretch-five are there for Walker, and it’d be huge if the Sixers could unlock that.
Brown continued to put on a show for everybody, getting up to 22 points in just under 17 minutes of play. Just as he checked out of the game, Edgecombe came in and went right back to the basket for an and-1 layup. Everything he was doing off the dribble was intriguing. He made a really nice pass to a cutting Dillon Jones, and spun around to find Caleb Love in the corner for a three as the buzzer expired. The only thing he couldn’t do in the half was a get a three-pointer to fall, but he was good enough to help the Sixers get out to a 14-point lead.
Third Quarter
Neither Brown or Edgecombe were out on the floor to start the second half, officially ending their nights. Walker started the half with another three, but the team cooled down, missing five straight shots. The Knicks got aggressive in where they were picking up the Sixers, forcing them higher up the court and forcing worse passes and shots as a result.
It was encouraging to see Philon be the one to put his head down and get to the basket to stop some of the bleeding. He also made a nifty behind-the-back dribble to evade a defender, but couldn’t get the floater to fall to complete the highlight play. His attack though remained the only consistent offense for the Sixers in the quarter.
Labaron Philon with the footwork and handles to dance his way right to the rim pic.twitter.com/Ijn7UuifoZ
Like Edgecombe, Philon was also struggling to get his outside jumper to fall, but also like Edgecombe, it was a good quarter for him to showcase his playmaking chops. He found a cutting Jameer Nelson Jr. shortly after he checked into the game for his fourth assist of the night. Nelson finished an and-1 that helped keep the Sixers lead at 14.
Fourth Quarter
The rest of this recap is going to be random observations about the two-ways and exhibit 10 contracts still playing in this game. Rayan Rupert has the makings of a defender. He seems to know where to be and is always hustling to get there. Nothing he did tonight really showed up in the stat sheet though, and two of his shot attempts were two of the easiest blocks for the Knicks’ defenders.
Caleb Love is what the kids call a bucket and hooper. If shoots like he did in the first half he’s going to be very fun to watch in the preseason, but he seemed to really run out of gas in the second half. Definitely a situation worth monitoring over the next three games.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves tweaked his ankle but is “fine”. William Liang for CA Post
Reaves tweaked his ankle, while Kessler jammed one of his fingers on the backboard.
Coach JJ Redick said both Reaves and Kessler were “fine”.
Walker Kessler (14) and Collin Sexton (10) were both sidelined against the Kings. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLakers guard Collin Sexton had his right lower leg/calf wrapped during the team’s shootaround on Monday. Khobi Price
Veteran guard Collin Sexton and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma were also sidelined for Monday’s game because of “very light lower-body injuries,” according to Redick.
Sexton had his right lower leg/calf wrapped during the team’s shootaround on Monday
All four players are deemed day-to-day, per Redick.
In light of their absences, the Lakers started lineup against the Kings was Luka Doncic, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney.
The Lakers’ preseason opener against the Kings was the second night of a back-to-back set in Northern California. They’ll make the quick trip to San Francisco postgame for Tuesday’s matchup against the Warriors.
“The guys that are out [Monday] may play [Tuesday,” Redick said, “but for the most part, they’re all day to day.”
It’s a line from the TV show Ted Lasso, of course. And whether you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan, or an FC Richmond fan, you understand.
The Dallas Mavericks were in the Finals just 838 days ago. That season was full of the kind of playoff moments you tell your grandchildren about.
Will you tell your grandchildren about the time Luka Dončić absolutely cooked Rudy Gobert on an isolation 3 to win a playoff game? I will.
Then the Celtics came along and made the Mavs look a little like Rudy Gobert trying to guard on the perimeter.
As a fan, you were likely devastated by the Luka trade. Then Anthony Davis gave two quarters of perfection, and suddenly hope was putting on a Beyoncé concert at the American Airlines Center.
And then… many fans expanded their sports-injury vocabulary.
Next, just when all hope felt lost, the Mavs, with a 1.8 percent chance, won the NBA lottery with a generational stud at the top of the class. Cooper Flagg arrived on a team that, at least in theory, was supposed to be competing for a playoff spot. Hope is all fans had last year — and all Nico Harrison had in his roster construction. It didn’t take long for the positivity to turn to complete darkness. Anthony Davis couldn’t stay healthy, there was continuous turmoil that led to Nico finally getting fired and there were casualties all around.
Now, a new regime has come into power. The Mavs certainly have some new energy. There’s a generational prospect entering his second season with an extra inch at his disposal. And, despite everything fans have been through, that dangerous little feeling is starting to creep back in.
Hope.
Are you ready to buy in again? Because there’s something else we learned from Ted Lasso: It’s not actually the hope that kills you. It’s the lack of hope. However, maybe Mavs fans should reconsider what they’re hoping for.
This is not the year to hope for the Larry O’Brien Trophy — or the NBA Cup — for that matter. That’s not what this season is about. The Mavs are building. The team’s average age is under 25, and there are plenty of players who are still figuring out exactly what they can become. This can be a fun team without being a contender. Maybe it’s about finding reasons to believe that the next great Mavericks team is taking shape right in front of us.
Here are five things that can provide real hope this year, with a meter to show how logical this hope is:
Let’s start with the obvious one.
Cooper Flagg takes a massive leap
Hope Meter:🔥🔥🔥🔥 4/5
Cooper Flagg is a Dallas Mav.
And for a franchise that has spent the last few years making many question the basketball gods, that feels like a pretty good place to start.
Fans get to watch this 19-year-old with extraordinary expectations figure out what kind of NBA player he’s going to become. Now, can he make that second -year jump?
For this hope to become reality, Cooper Flagg needs to, become an above-average 3-point shooter, assert himself as floor general at times and be transcendent at defense.
Kyrie provides nightly highlights
Hope Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥5/5
Let’s not overlook the impact of having a healthy Irving back. This offseason, Masai Ujiri quoted Kevin Durant in says “there’s only one Kyrie Irving walking around in the world.”
That one Kyrie Irving bleeds blue these days, and provides electric energy that all basketball fans know too well. Even in losses, fans get to see Irving hitting transition 3-pointers, making sick left-handed hook shots at the buzzer, and cooking younger NBA stars that think they can come at the King of Handles. If Irving is the Irving that Mavs fans have come to know and love, then the games are must-watch — win or lose.
Young pieces become a young core
HOPE METER: 🔥🔥🔥 3/5
The Mavs took some swings on reclamation projects this off-season — and it’s not likely all the swings connect, but if a few do, the Mavs could have a real core.
The core candidates are Zaccharie Risacher, Max Christie, Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio de Larrea, Tarik Biberović, and Marcus Sasser. Maybe a couple of them take a massive leap. Maybe someone surprises us (Jett Howard). Maybe someone we thought would be important turns out not to be part of the long-term picture.
That’s the fun of a building season. Every game and gives us a little more information, and deeper into the season, there could be some real answers here — or more questions.
Dereck Lively II becomes a healthy top 100 NBA player
Hope Meter: 🔥🔥🔥 3/5
Ooooh, this is a dangerous one. And yes, the hope is still high, but don’t get too close to the fire, you might get burned. Fans will always remember who Dereck Lively II was in the finals run, with Lively’s big hair flopping around, creating chaos, grabbing boards and being a master facilitator.
Fans thought the Mavs finally had their forever center, but injury after injury has taken that away. This is a contract year, and it would be hard to question Lively’s dedication and work ethic.
The future is taking shape
Hope Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 5/5
Maybe this is the biggest reason to be hopeful. The Mavericks don’t have to win the championship this year.
They don’t even have to convince that they’re one piece away from winning anything. nThis season can simply be about finding out what they have. What does Flagg become? Who fits alongside him? What does this coaching staff bring out in the roster?
Those questions are worth the hope they bring. It turns out it’s not the hope that kills you. It’s living for too long without any. And maybe this season, it’s about what you hope for.
