They’ve opened the season by making a statement with wins over the Spurs and Nuggets.
asserted
They → open → Spurs
The 2025 champions are showing they’re serious about reaching the mountaintop again after getting eliminated by the Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference Finals.
asserted
they → show → Finals
LeBron James and company look like the real deal after beating the defending champion Knicks as well as the Celtics.
asserted
James → look → Knicks
James, who’s turning 42 years old this season, could actually win his fifth championship if the 76ers keep this up.
uncertain
76ers → turn → this
But they’re the defending champions and deserve to be near the top of these rankings until proven otherwise.
asserted
they → ’re → rankings
But it won’t be long until they figure it out.
asserted
they → figure → it
Wemby carried this team to the Finals last year and he’s expected to carry them far again.
asserted
he → carry → them
This team might’ve been slept on entering the season.
uncertain
team → sleep → season
Fred VanVleet is back and Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. are looking dangerous.
asserted
Durant → look → ?
This team’s success is going to hinge on Walker Kessler.
asserted
success → go → Kessler
And Kessler is looking good.
asserted
Kessler → look → ?
He opened this season with a 45-point performance against the Heat.
asserted
He → open → Heat
When he and LaMelo Ball figure things out, the Timberwolves could make some real noise.
uncertain
Timberwolves → figure → noise
Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard and Immanuel Quickley can’t be slept on this season.
asserted
Barnes → sleep → ?
The Raptors’ starters combined for 92 points to beat the Bulls by 43 points in their opening game.
asserted
starters → combine → game
They’re looking good but were dealt a blow when Jalen Duren suffered a right hamstring strain.
asserted
Duren → look → strain
He’s going to be reevaluated in two weeks, which means the team is going to face a very tough stretch without him, including playing the 76ers twice and the Knicks.
asserted
team → go → 76ers
Paul George had a 38-point performance in the Celtics’ loss to the Pistons in their season-opener, followed by Jayson Tatum scoring 36 points in a win over the Knicks.
asserted
Tatum → have → Knicks
The Celtics’ stars are looking ready to go.
asserted
stars → look → ?
This team has a great starting lineup.
asserted
team → have → lineup
We missed you.
asserted
We → miss → you
Lillard has seemingly found his rhythm after missing last season because of a torn left Achilles’ tendon.
asserted
Lillard → find → tendon
Lillard, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara are going to be a lot of fun this season.
asserted
Lillard → go → fun
The 19-year-old Cam Boozer already looks like an All-Star.
asserted
Boozer → look → Star
In his second NBA game, he finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals in a win over the Warriors.
asserted
he → finish → Warriors
The Cavaliers will need more scoring from James Harden, who’s averaging 14 points over two games, if they’re going to make any noise in the East.
asserted
they → need → East
Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg could be dangerous when they find a rhythm alongside one another.
uncertain
they → find → one
They’ve had a tough opening schedule, with losses to the Spurs and Rockets.
asserted
They → have → Spurs
But this team has a lot of promise.
asserted
team → have → promise
We’ve learned not to underestimate Tyrese Haliburton after he led the Pacers to the Finals in 2025.
asserted
he → learn → 2025
But Bam Adebayo hasn’t looked like himself.
asserted
Adebayo → look → himself
We’re still optimistic that he and Giannis Antetokounmpo will figure things out, though.
asserted
he → ’re → things
The Hawks beat the Magic and Hornets and a lot of guys are making contributions.
asserted
lot → beat → guys
They have a lot of promise on both sides of the court.
asserted
They → have → court
Love seeing Naz Reid balling out for the Hornets.
asserted
Reid → see → Hornets
He’s averaging career-highs in points (20), rebounds (8.7) and assists (three) in his team’s three games, including wins over the Heat and Nets and a loss against the Hawks.
asserted
He → average → Hawks
An 0-2 start isn’t what Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs had in mind.
asserted
Banchero → have → mind
This team better get things together or it’s going to be a long season.
asserted
it → get → things
But it’s early and I expect Lauri Markkanen to get his act together soon.
asserted
Markkanen → ’ → act
They lost to the Trail Blazers by 41 points in their season-opener.
asserted
They → lose → opener
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
