NBA Watchability Tracker - week 3
What is this?
In this weekly tracker, I keep track of which NBA teams are must watch. This isn’t about just the best teams. It’s about heart in the mouth, can’t look away, or downright enjoyable basketball.
I cannot stand lists like this that just have the best teams at the top. Just because a team is good, does not mean they are watchable!
Number 1: The Spurs
Wemby.
I am frequently in awe of what I am seeing. I have NEVER seen ANYTHING even remotely like this guy. I think it’s only a matter of time until this guy has a 5 by 5 or a quadruple double.
He is currently averaging 26.7/13.7/3.2/4.7(blk)/1.3(stl).
Basketball Reference currently has his defensive rating at 90.11 which would put him top 15 all time! The next closest of the last 20 years is Dwight Howard’s 2010/11 season at 94th with a rating of 94.18. The next closest active player? Kawhi Leonard’s 2015-16 season all the way down at number 213 with a rating 95.97.
His stats are one thing, the way he plays is another. That’s the real kicker. He is one of those guys who just plays and prepares the right way.
How long have we been pleading for Zion to simply eat right? This guy goes and trains with Shaolin monks in the offseason for god’s sake! What is there not to like?
PS: we won’t talk about the game vs the Suns…
Number 2: Denver
After getting rid of (most) of their bench for the last two seasons, it is just a breath of fresh air to see the team not get absolutely destroyed as soon as Jokic goes to the bench. Those minutes that Jokic is now on the bench are actually entertaining - its like: can they extend the lead?!
While most of the watchability of this team comes from Jokić, who is again averaging a triple double, this team is just fun to watch again. Their scoring is up this year to 124 ppg (4th in the league) with 20.2 fast break points a game (3rd in the league), and their offence (3rd in offensive rating) and defence (4th in defensive rating) are elite.
I don’t think we have even seen their final form yet. Cam Johnson hasn’t really hit his straps, Jonas Valančiūnas is still finding his fit and their rotations still need to be worked out.
I think this team is primed for a big year and are only just beginning.
Number 3: Bulls
This team might be one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. They are now 5-1 on the season and have beaten some good teams so far! I don’t even really know what is so attractive about them, maybe it’s because this team is a bit of a “what’s going to happen next” team.
They just share and share and share the ball - it seems like it’s always moving. The stats back it up: they top the charts in assists per game in the league to date with 30.2 per game. Nearly 70% of their baskets are assisted. It’s really just a joy to watch.
Although, as an Aussie, Giddey’s career year in the making is captivating. I always knew this guy was special. There are very few players who can pass the ball like this guy. Anytime he has the ball in the open court, my heart rate rises by 15 bpm!
Small shoutout to Stacey King of course. Tune into the Bulls broadcast when you watch, just trust me.
Number 4: 76ers
What a shock this team has been. The Maxey/Edgecombe combo is the most entertaining backcourt in the NBA. They play with such pace and enjoyment that it is impossible not to enjoy yourself when watching them. This team is second in the league in ppg at 125.7.
But what makes this team so watchable is that it is basically two teams - the Maxey/Edgecombe team, and the Paul George/Embiid team. Embiid is on a minutes restriction and PG hasn’t returned from his offseason knee surgery. However, reports are that PG is set to return in a week or two.
Which means this team may be a train wreck waiting to happen, with boos raining down from the stands.
The fans LOVE Maxey and Edgecombe and it’s not hard to see why. Should PG and Embiid come back and detract from the fun the fans are having, it doesn’t take much imagination to see the result. That tension is ever present at the games. Even when the camera cuts to either Embiid or PG, it’s “you can’t look away” stuff. The combination of the on the floor and off the floor product makes them so watchable.
Number 5: The Lakers
This team is just fun to watch at the moment. The vibes are immaculate. They are winning, the bench is up and about and the fans are too. It’s impossible to watch them right now and not enjoy yourself.
With Luka and AR balling out, La Ravia surprising and Marcus Smart bringing the energy to this team, they are just fun to watch. On top of that, Bronny brings a fun little wrinkle too - the crowd loves it when he touches the ball.
Not much else to say about this one, they are just a fun watch.
Also, they have a possible 5-white guy lineup with Luka, AR, La Ravia, Dalton Knecht, and Maxi Kleber which is always an interesting watch.
Honourable Mention: Charlotte Hornets
This one’s a surprise. The Hornets are just so unpredictable.
It all started from their first game vs the 76ers. It was a tied game, 40 seconds left, and Lamelo takes a step back 3 from the Hash Mark and nearly airballs it. Bridges has his hands out, Colin Sexton on the bench can’t believe what he’s just seen, and the announcers just go “wooooow … he may have forced that a little bit”.
On the other hand, Lamelo was pretty brilliant in that game with a stat line of 27/10/8/3/1 and 4 turnovers.
That’s what you’re getting when you watch them - sheer unpredictability.
We’ll see how long they stay on this blog though.
Honourable Mention: The Nets
Why on Earth are the Nets an Honourable Mention? Well if you want to watch a team that might be the worst you’ve ever seen, then you have to watch the Nets at least once, and that makes them watchable.
If you’re into you’re betting, just bet against the Nets all season long. They might actually win less than 10 games.
