Make sure to listen and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast the Shot Clock Pod to your list! This week Steve shares his thoughts after week 2 of the 2025-26 NBA season. Is there an NBA Power Shift: Surprise Starts, Star Injuries, and Teams Searching for Identity.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Injuries Slow a Once Dominant Start
- The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the two preseason favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. This year they have started slowly and injuries to two of last year’s starters, Darius Garland and Max Strus, may be a reason. After having watched a few of their games this year they aren’t the same team. Remember last year they began the season winning fourteen straight games. It seems like the Cavs are waiting for the playoffs. Their demeanor is not at all like last year. They just appear to have little spark when they play and look like they are going through the motions. One thing that is difficult to do in sport is turn it up when you want to.
New York Knicks: Ball Movement Struggles Testing Jalen Brunson’s Role
- The other favorite in the East is the New York Knicks. They also are struggling. It’s interesting to note one of the reasons Mike Brown was hired as their coach was to build more of a ball movement, less isolation offense. This takes the ball out of the hands of one of the best, if not the best isolation player in the league, Jalen Brunson. Brown’s offense also does not help their second-best scorer, Karl-Anthony Towns. It’s interesting that in the Knicks’ two losses while being behind in the fourth quarter in an attempt to rally, Brunson began to play like he did last year.
Milwaukee Bucks: Ryan Rollins Emerging as a Hidden Gem
- Ryan Rollins, the point guard of the Milwaukee Bucks, is this week’s up-and-coming player. Rollins was the forty-fourth player chosen by the Atlanta Hawks in 2022. He was since dealt to Golden State and Washington. Washington waived him in February last year and Milwaukee signed him to a two-way contract. This year in four games he’s averaging 18.6 points and 5 assists per game. This in 31 minutes per game. Thursday night in the Bucks’ win over the Golden State Warriors Rollins had 32 points and 8 assists. This in a game the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
New Orleans Pelicans: Defensive Woes Threaten Willie Green’s Job Security
- The New Orleans Pelicans are off to a horrible start. The Pelicans are giving up over 123 points a game, and are ranked in the bottom three defensively in the league. To their credit they are still playing hard as evidenced by their 2-point loss last night in LA against the Clippers. Nobody likes to see someone lose their job but if this doesn’t turn around soon it doesn’t look good for Willie Green.
Los Angeles Lakers: Austin Reaves Carries the Load Without LeBron and Luka
- Austin Reaves, what a week. The Lakers without Luka Doncic and LeBron James managed to hang in there and it’s all because of Reaves. On last Sunday he had 51 points in a win over Sacramento followed up by 41 in a loss to Portland. The topper was a game-winning last-second shot to beat Minnesota, a game where he had 28 points and 16 assists. With him probably opting out of his contract he’s due for a nice raise.
Chicago Bulls: Strong Bench and Defense Fuel Early Winning Streak
- How about the Chicago Bulls who have won their first five games. This includes their impressive win over the Knicks last night. The Bulls have utilized a good bench. Last night they got fifty-three points from that bench. They also are defending well having presently the sixth-best defensive rating in the league.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Hot Start Even Without Jalen Williams
- Something to think about: the Oklahoma City Thunder have won their first six games this year and this without one of their big three, Jalen Williams. Williams was an All-Star and was All-NBA last year. How much better can a healthy OKC be?
