In the end, the 2024-25 NBA common season is right here. As has been the custom in latest seasons, Week 1 begins with a two-game slate, together with the reigning champion Celtics and projected contenders New York and Minnesota. The fourth group on the schedule is the Lakers, who’ve two superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, however must navigate a loaded Western Convention. Sadly, some groups are already battling the damage bug, and a few absences will considerably affect fantasy basketball. Let us take a look at the Week 1 schedule breakdown and a few important storylines for fantasy managers to recollect.
Week 1 Video games Performed
3 Video games: ATL, BOS, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIL, MIN, NOR, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR, TOR
2 Video games: DAL, DEN, MIA, NYK, SAC, SAS, UTA, WAS
Week 1 Storylines
– How a lot will 76ers stars Embiid, George, and Maxey play?
Philadelphia is certainly one of many groups that can play three video games in Week 1, however the availability of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey is up within the air. Embiid and George are coping with knee points. Whereas the previous didn’t play through the preseason, the latter was injured throughout a sport in opposition to the Hawks final week and can be re-evaluated early subsequent week. As for Maxey, he injured his thumb throughout Philadelphia’s preseason finale in Orlando. The excellent news for fantasy managers who’ve Embiid or George rostered is that Philadelphia’s Week 1 schedule doesn’t embrace a back-to-back. With the availabilities of those three stars but to be decided, gamers like Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. can be extremely worthwhile.
– Clippers can be with out Kawhi Leonard indefinitely
Sadly, Leonard’s knee stays a problem; it’s unknown when he’ll return to motion. After leaving USA Basketball earlier than the Paris Olympics, he underwent a process on his knee, the specifics of which haven’t been revealed by Leonard or the Clippers. What is understood is that the Clippers will start the season with a beginning lineup of James Harden, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Derrick Jones Jr., and Ivica Zubac.
Whereas Harden is an early-round choose in fantasy drafts and Zubac can have top-100 worth, can worth be derived from the opposite three? Powell could have the very best likelihood resulting from his scoring capability, however his defensive manufacturing has been restricted in earlier seasons. Additionally, whereas reserve guard Kevin Porter Jr. may have worth below regular circumstances, the league could droop him because of the off-court authorized points that factored into his not enjoying final season.
– Cavaliers lose Max Strus for at the very least six weeks
Saturday afternoon, the Cavaliers introduced that Strus can be re-evaluated in six weeks after he suffered a sprained ankle in a person exercise on Thursday. Given the timeline, this is not your commonplace rolled ankle. Fantasy-wise, Strus was a late-round possibility at greatest, getting into the weekend with a Yahoo ADP of 144.8 per Hashtag Basketball. With that being the case, managers holding their drafts this weekend can not draft Strus.
So, who ought to they contemplate forward of Cleveland’s three-game week? Caris LeVert is the obvious reply and sure the one one relating to potential long-term streaming worth. One thing else to observe with the Cavaliers is Evan Mobley’s involvement within the offense and whether or not extra alternatives for him negatively affect Jarrett Allen. That wasn’t a problem through the preseason, however the common season could possibly be totally different.
– Will Oklahoma Metropolis have Jalen Williams?
Williams sprained his proper ankle throughout Oklahoma Metropolis’s exhibition in opposition to the Hawks on October 17. He didn’t take part in Saturday’s follow, however the excellent news is that the Thunder do not open their season till Thursday night time in Denver. The unhealthy? That is the primary of three video games Oklahoma Metropolis will play in 4 days, ending Week 1 with a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back in opposition to the Bulls (street) and Hawks (residence). With Isaiah Hartenstein (hand) already sidelined, the Thunder could possibly be down two essential contributors for the opening week. Within the case of JDub, would he be obtainable for each video games of a back-to-back this quickly? Alex Caruso was already due for a extra outstanding function resulting from Hartenstein’s damage, however Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins may additionally determine extra prominently within the rotation.
– Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic are on observe to play
Curry (finger) and Doncic (calf) handled accidents through the preseason, with the previous sitting out Golden State’s finale on Friday and the latter not showing in any of Dallas’ video games. Nonetheless, each are on observe to be obtainable when the common season begins. Doncic has been a full participant in latest Mavericks practices, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated earlier than his group’s win over the Lakers that Curry can be prepared for his or her season opener in opposition to Portland.
That is nice information for fantasy managers, with Curry and Doncic being first-round picks primarily based on their respective Yahoo ADPs. We’ve not seen how Klay Thompson will carry out as a part of a lineup with Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The previous Warriors guard will not lack catch-and-shoot alternatives in Dallas; whereas he did not shoot the ball effectively through the preseason, Thompson’s observe file doubtless alleviates a few of the concern.
– How will the Knicks’ new items mesh now that the video games rely?
New York pulled off two trades this offseason, including Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Cities. Each struggled from deep through the preseason, with the previous capturing about 11% from three. The transfer to New York has pushed Cities into second-round territory in most fantasy drafts, whereas Bridges’ worth has held regular. Being on the ground with Jalen Brunson will assist as a result of he can draw defensive consideration. Nonetheless, the Knicks want Cities and Bridges to hit the bottom operating after uneven preseason performances shooting-wise.
Throughout New York’s three-game opening week, Josh Hart’s function throughout the offense is one thing else to observe. He hasn’t minced phrases through the preseason, even failing to try a shot throughout one sport. Hart is the starter who has essentially the most to lose from a productiveness standpoint with the Knicks including Bridges and Cities; will he settle for that? Or will a change to the rotation have to be made? Keep tuned.
Mild Sport Days
Tuesday: 2 Video games
NYK vs. BOS
MIN vs. LAL
Thursday: 4 Video games
BOS vs. WAS
SAS vs. DAL
OKC vs. DEN
MIN vs. SAC
Sunday: 5 Video games
PHI vs. IND
MIL vs. BKN
NOR vs. POR
ATL vs. OKC
LAC vs. GSW
Week 1 Again-to-backs
Tuesday-Wednesday: None
Wednesday-Thursday: None
Thursday-Friday: None
Friday-Saturday: CHA, CHI, CLE, DET, HOU, LAL, MEM, ORL, PHO, TOR
Saturday-Sunday: LAC, OKC
Sunday-Monday (Week 2): ATL, IND, MIL, POR
