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Top Play:
Standings:
1.Toronto Raptors 5-1
2.New York Knicks 3-4
3.Boston Celtics 2-3
4.Philadelphia 76ers 0-6
5.Nets 0-7
Toronto Raptors
*Photo via Getty Images
The reigning Atlantic division champs have picked up right where they left off last season. Starting this young season 5-1 with wins over Indiana, Boston, Milwaukee, Dallas and Oklahoma City, with their lone loss coming in Orlando. Next week’s schedule gets tough as they will go on a five game road trip out west with games against Sacramento, Golden State, Utah and Los Angeles for games between both the Clippers and Lakers. Before they head out on that road trip they will host the Knicks and Pelicans and visit the Sixers. DeMar DeRozan Leads the team with 22 points per game he will look to build on his strong start.
New York Knicks
*Photo via NYPost
Season two of the Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson run Knicks is off to a much better start than the 16 win campaign last year. They are far from a contender, but you can see the difference a year makes, the Knicks are hustling and making a much better attempt to play defense. This team has been competitive in the four losses to Atlanta, San Antonio, Cleveland and Milwaukee, who all made the playoffs last year. The Knicks picked up three wins this week Against Milwaukee, Washington and the Lakers. Coming off knee surgery Carmelo Anthony has struggled to find consistency with his shot, but is getting to the line a good amount. The Knicks are getting encouraging play from their young players in Kristaps Porzingis, Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway, they will look to keep improving this week versus Toronto, Charlotte, Cleveland, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Houston
Boston Celtics
*Photo via USA Today
After a surprising playoff appearance last year this young Celtics squad was looking to build off their postseason experience. They’ve started mediocre with two wins against Philadelphia and Washington, and three losses to Toronto, San Antonio and Indiana. Isiah Thomas is the very early leader for the Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 22 points off the bench. He will look to stay hot this week against Milwaukee, Indiana, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Houston, Dallas and Brooklyn.
Philadelphia 76ers
*Photo via NBA.com
New season same 76ers, the kings of tanking are at it again starting off the first week of the season winless with losses to Boston, Utah, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Orlando. The lone bright spot for Philly has been the play of their number three pick Jahlil Okafor who is averaging almost 20 points a game. They will look to pick up their first win this week with games against Chicago, Toronto, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Dallas, Indiana, Charlotte, and Miami.
Brooklyn Nets
*Photo via NYPost
The Nets finally gave up on the dream that they were somehow going to be contenders, and have started rebuilding by releasing Deron Williams and trying to trade Joe Johnson this offseason. The only problem is they may be too bad too early, as they have been the worst team so far this season at 0-7. They also will lose their 1st round pick to the Celtics after the trade they made a couple of years ago for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, all of whom are no longer with the team. Joe Johnson is a shell of himself averaging 10 points per game, he is surely on the move this trade deadline. One player who has contributed is center Brook Lopez who is averaging 20 points and seven and a half rebounds. The Nets will look to remove the goose egg from the win column this week with games against Houston, Sacramento, Golden State, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Boston.