{"id":340977,"date":"2025-10-29T15:04:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/340977\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T15:04:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:04:21","slug":"giannis-makes-a-new-york-statement-plus-nba-teams-who-have-early-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/340977\/","title":{"rendered":"Giannis makes a New York statement. Plus, NBA teams who have early concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bounce Newslette<\/b>r<\/strong>\u00a0\":basketball:\"\u00a0| This is The Athletic\u2019s daily NBA newsletter.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>\u00a0to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.<\/p>\n

On this date in 1996, the NBA announced its Top 50 players from the league\u2019s first 50 years. Shaquille O\u2019Neal made the list, despite only having four years of NBA basketball under his belt. That\u2019s how good he was. Here are five minutes of his Orlando highlights<\/a> to get your day going.<\/p>\n

Everybody panic<\/p>\n

Concern-O-Meter for Magic, Hawks and Mavs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bouncers, I know what you\u2019re thinking. Yes, Game 3 of the World Series still doesn\u2019t feel over even though we\u2019re on to Game 5 tonight. You\u2019re also thinking, \u201cZ-Rabbit, we\u2019re only a week into the season, so there\u2019s no need to have concern for teams \u2014 and also nobody calls you \u2018Z-Rabbit.\u2019\u201d You might be correct about both! However, we\u2019ve seen some concerning things out of three teams in the first week that I want to highlight.<\/p>\n

The Concern-O-Meter works on a scale of 1-5 emojis, with one emoji being of little concern and five emojis being a five-alarm emergency. We\u2019ll go over these three squads and figure out if things will get smoothed out.<\/p>\n

Orlando Magic (1-3): <\/strong>108.1 offensive rating (25th) | 114.1 defensive rating (15th) | -6.0 net rating (22nd)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the concern? <\/strong>Their offense still stinks<\/a>, and their defense hasn\u2019t been elite. Let\u2019s tackle the offense first. Health, Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones have not solved the offensive issues this Magic team has had the last few seasons. It\u2019s only been 16 minutes over three games, but Bane and Jones with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. are scoring just 86.1 points per 100 possessions.<\/p>\n

The passing and movement still aren\u2019t there. Meanwhile, they can\u2019t seem to stop any quick guards on the defensive end of the floor. So their defense has been middle-of-the-road, when it\u2019s typically amazing.<\/p>\n

Is there a solution? <\/strong>Defensively? Yes. Jalen Suggs is there, and this team will eventually get comfortable with the new players on the floor and execute the way they\u2019re supposed to. However, I\u2019m not sold that the offense can get fixed without a new system. You don\u2019t typically put new systems in during the season unless there is a coaching change. I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s the solution either.<\/p>\n

Concern-O-Meter: <\/strong>\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n

Atlanta Hawks (1-3): <\/strong>108.9 offensive rating (24th) | 118.1 defensive rating (25th) | -9.2 net rating (25th)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the concern? <\/strong>They\u2019re still playing like the Hawks. Actually, it might be worse than normal! Their offense is brutal, and their defense is somehow awful with Dyson Daniels on the floor. Really with almost anybody. Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is has been scoring when he\u2019s on the floor, but they can\u2019t defend anybody with him. All that offseason hype seems to have already deflated.<\/p>\n

Is there a solution? <\/strong>An encouraging sign is that they\u2019re not turning the ball over, and you expect their shooters to eventually make shots. However, this team can\u2019t stop anybody defensively, and when they do, they give up the offensive rebound. They\u2019re gambling on defense way too much. Stop that, and they\u2019ll cut down on a ton of mistakes.<\/p>\n

Concern-O-Meter: <\/strong>\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n

Dallas Mavericks (1-3): <\/strong>103.8 offensive rating (30th) | 113.2 defensive rating (12th) | -9.3 net rating (26th)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the concern? <\/strong>They can\u2019t score at all. The Mavs aren\u2019t just missing shots. They have no movement, no playmakers (outside of the occasional D\u2019Angelo Russell flurry) and despite all their size, they\u2019re the worst offensive rebounding team in the NBA so far. If they don\u2019t get to the free-throw line, they don\u2019t really have a chance to deliver on that end of the floor.<\/p>\n

Is there a solution? <\/strong>Give Kyrie Irving a bionic knee or see if Devin Harris wants to leave the announcing booth to run the point. Klay Thompson looks nothing like the guy we saw in Golden State. Cooper Flagg simply isn\u2019t a point guard. And this team just has four guys watching one player try to score against a set defense. It can\u2019t get much better unless they just sell out and crash the offensive glass constantly or get Kyrie back.<\/p>\n

Concern-O-Meter: <\/strong>\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n

The last 24<\/p>\n

Michael Jordan shares his ideal player mentality<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc10 Not necessary. <\/strong>Michael Jordan sat down with Mike Tirico and dismissed load management. \u201c<\/strong>It shouldn\u2019t be needed<\/strong><\/a>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd14 Lakers\u2019 dilemma? <\/strong>Sam Amick has a lot of observations about the first week of the season. Including the Austin Reaves \u201cproblem\u201d in LA<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Long list. <\/strong>The Pacers are already dealing with major injury situations. Obi Toppin and Bennedict Mathurin are missing a lot of time<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Philly fortitude. <\/strong>There\u2019s something different about these unbeaten 76ers. One thing that sticks out? They\u2019re resilient, Tony Jones writes<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u231b Time extended? <\/strong>The WNBA labor negotiations are not moving forward well. The league is offering the players an extension for the talks<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa7 Tune in. <\/strong>Today\u2019s NBA Daily discusses why the Sixers are Tyrese Maxey\u2019s team now<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free!<\/a>)\u00a0and catch out-of-market games on\u00a0League Pass<\/a>.About last night<\/p>\n

The Greek Freak speaks \u2014 loudly<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my city!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo exclaimed that to the raucous Milwaukee Bucks crowd with 7:23 left in the third quarter. He had just blocked a shot on one end and then got an offensive rebound and dunk in transition on the other end to cut the New York Knicks\u2019 lead to 79-76. What happened next is up for interpretation \u2014 or at least some very good lip readers. There are lots of people who think he followed \u201cThis is my city!<\/a>\u201d with \u201cI\u2019m not f\u2014\u2014- leaving you<\/a>!\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll remind you that many people on the internet are interested in Giannis leaving the Bucks and becoming a Knick. They\u2019re called \u201cNew Yorkers.\u201d But there are also a lot of people just assuming Giannis will force his way out because the situation in Milwaukee keeps getting worse. Giannis is off to a superhuman beginning to this season.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a 32-point, eight-rebound and seven-assist performance last night, the Greek Freak is averaging 35.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists while making 69.5 percent of his shots. He helped the Bucks (3-1) take down the Knicks 121-111 while screaming to the crowd what they want to hear.<\/p>\n

Now, we must take a quick break and mention the other viral moment from this game. It was this play with Giannis attacking downhill against Karl-Anthony Towns. He appears to take a dribble and then \u2026 I don\u2019t know \u2026 a hundred steps?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Look, technically this is legal if you are willing to accept that Giannis didn\u2019t gather the ball until his left hand touched the ball too. It\u2019s ridiculous that this is technically legal, and he\u2019s absolutely stretching the rule to its limits and beyond. It should be a travel \u2014 but it kind of isn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Regardless, the formula for the Bucks against the Knicks is what the team has to go with all season long. Giannis is a hero. The defense locks down (aside from Jalen Brunson going for 36 points). And someone else steps up. This time it was Ryan Rollins getting 25 in the start. Maybe Milwaukee can bring everybody down into the mud and find consistent success.<\/p>\n

Warriors 98, Clippers 79: <\/strong>This is what we call \u201cCLAMPS.\u201d The Warriors\u2019 defense put the clamps on the Clippers\u2019 offense<\/a> and completely nullified everything they wanted to do. The Clippers (2-2) made six 3-pointers on the night. Quinten Post had four 3s for the Warriors (4-1). Jimmy Butler had 21-5-5, and Steph Curry had 19 points and eight assists. James Harden had 20 points but zero in the second half.<\/p>\n

Heat 144, Hornets 117: <\/strong>The Hornets\u2019 defense seemed to get the South Beach flu! The Heat (3-1) obliterated Charlotte (2-2) by shooting 54 percent from the field and knocking down 20 3-pointers. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led everybody with 28 points off the bench, and Bam Adebayo had 26 points. The Heat had five games of 140 points or more from 2014-15 to 2024-25. They have two already this season.<\/p>\n

76ers 139, Wizards 134 OT: <\/strong>Nobody can stop Maxey to start this season, and it means nobody can stop the 4-0 Sixers. The Wizards (1-3) led by 19 in this game and 17 in the fourth quarter, but Maxey scored 14 of his 39 points in the fourth to bring them back. Quentin Grimes scored 12 of his 23 points off the bench in the fourth quarter as well. Philly forced overtime and pulled out the victory to remain perfect.<\/p>\n

Maxey finished with 10 assists too, and Joel Embiid had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes. Alex Sarr had 31-11-5-2-2, but it wasn\u2019t enough for Washington. Should the Sixers be on the 74-win watch too?<\/p>\n

Thunder 107, Kings 101: <\/strong>The Thunder (5-0) were able to keep pace with the Sixers on the season, using a 27-18 fourth to come back and take the game against Sacramento (1-3). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn\u2019t have Chet Holmgren (lower back soreness) or Jalen Williams (wrist surgery), but he did have nine of his 31 points in the fourth. Also, Ajay Mitchell is the next Thunder guy who makes you wonder how he slipped through the cracks. He had 18 off the bench and is averaging 18.2 points on the season.<\/p>\n

Also, the wrong GIF accidentally went out yesterday with Chet\u2019s dunk on Cooper! This is the poster by Holmgren and the hilarious landing he had.<\/p>\n

\"\"Big Honey<\/p>\n

A decade of Nikola\u00a0<\/strong>Joki\u0107 <\/strong>has truly made history<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week, Joki\u0107 started his 11th season in the NBA. A lot of basketball fans know this, but I\u2019m still amazed when people find out the three-time MVP was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial<\/a>. Such is the life of the 41st pick in the 2014 draft. To say he\u2019s exceeded expectations is an understatement. He would have exceeded expectations if he were the first pick in that draft.<\/p>\n

Over the last decade, Joki\u0107 has become one of the greatest players we\u2019ve ever seen. In those 10 years, he\u2019s been an All-Star seven times, All-NBA First Team five times (Second Team twice), won three MVPs, recorded 188 triple-doubles (with playoffs), finished second in MVP voting twice, won an NBA championship and a finals MVP. And he\u2019s not even close to exiting his prime yet, at 30 years old.<\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve hit a decade with Joki\u0107, I wanted to see what his career stats look like versus other great big men through their first 10 seasons.<\/p>\n