Be sure that to pay attention and add the 13 Guidelines: NBA Random Ideas podcast the Shot Clock Pod to your listing! This week Steve shares his ideas after week 3 of the 2025-26 NBA season. Dysfunction in Memphis, Celtic Struggles, and Surprising Lakers
The Ja Morant state of affairs isn’t a great search for the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA, or Memphis. Ja continues to be younger and has been the star since he acquired to Memphis. He wants to grasp that irrespective of how he feels about what his coach mentioned about him, he nonetheless has to play laborious. Your staff is all the time greater than one participant. The typical fan appears to be like at Ja as simply one other NBA participant making ridiculous cash and beginning issues. For town of Memphis, most gamers don’t wish to play there, and his actions simply make it tougher to draw free brokers. Sure, Ja might be sad; nonetheless, he ought to play laborious and hold his ideas to himself.
The Lakers’ Robust Begin
The LA Lakers are taking part in good basketball. Presently they’re 7-2, and that is with out LeBron James for all 9 video games. Luka Dončić has missed 4 video games, and Austin Reaves two. That’s unquestionably their three greatest gamers. What’s attention-grabbing is the Lakers are plus-three in level differential. They’re the one staff among the many Western Convention’s prime 5 groups to have a differential lower than plus-ten.
This week’s up-and-coming participant is Alex Sarr. Sarr, solely 20 years outdated, was the second participant chosen in final yr’s draft. His rookie season didn’t go in addition to hoped for, and there have been questions on whether or not he ought to have been drafted that quickly. Final yr, he averaged 13 factors per recreation with 6.5 rebounds and a pair of.4 assists per recreation. He shot 31% from three. This yr his numbers have elevated, averaging 19 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and capturing over 45% from three. I do know it’s early, however Sarr is exhibiting nice enchancment.
So far, Jaylen Brown has confirmed he might be the primary man on his staff. Brown is averaging 27.7 factors per recreation in solely 31.1 minutes a recreation. This contains 5 video games the place he scored over thirty, together with his greatest recreation being 41 in opposition to the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic’s Defensive Struggles
The Orlando Magic are off to a gradual begin, going 3-5. I believed the Magic can be a top-three staff within the Japanese Convention this yr. Although it’s early, it’s simple to see why they’re struggling. Final yr, the Magic gave up 105.6 factors per recreation, the bottom within the league. They have been rated the second-best protection within the league statistically. This yr, they’re giving up 117.6 factors per recreation and are rated 14th.
Pacers Hit by Accidents
The Indiana Pacers have been decimated by accidents. They’re 1-7 to this point, and whenever you see their accidents, you perceive why. Apart from Tyrese Haliburton being out for the season, so far Bennedict Mathurin has performed two video games, Obi Toppin three, Andrew Nembhard one, and T.J. McConnell has but to play this yr. That’s 5 rotational gamers lacking important time. I don’t suppose Rick Carlisle believes in tanking, but when these gamers aren’t again quickly, which may be the way in which to go.
The Three-Level Debate
There was lots of debate about groups capturing so many threes in a recreation. This week, the Boston Celtics went 11-for-51 in a winnable recreation they misplaced in opposition to the Utah Jazz. The three-point shot is an even bigger threat with an even bigger reward. Scorching capturing from three could make it simpler for a poor staff to beat a a lot better staff. A greater staff, as within the case of the Celtics the opposite night time, might lose a recreation they need to win.
Individuals discuss groups taking too many threes, and my take is straightforward: the subsequent time you go to a recreation, arrive early and watch gamers shoot. Naturally, no person is defending them; nonetheless, these guys can shoot persistently nicely when open. I as soon as watched Marcus Sensible, not referred to as a shooter, make ten in a row from three. My level is, so long as it’s an open shot, an NBA participant ought to take it.
