NBA Week 1 Overreactions

The NBA is back and after just one week, it’s time to overreact to what we have seen from the limited sample size so far.

Chris’s Overreaction: The Dallas Mavericks will make the Western Conference Finals

The Dallas Mavericks fell apart at the end of last season, dropping down the standings and missing the playoffs.

However, it was just two seasons ago that the team made it to the Western Conference Finals behind Luka Dončić.

Now with Kyrie Irving in the mix, the Mavericks have a top-tier offense that can go toe to toe with any team.

Their defense is a major concern, but with the ball in Dončić or Irving’s hands at the end of the game, they stand a chance against any opponent.

Their first overall pick, Dereck Lively Ⅱ, has proven to be an effective big man, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has been impressive off the bench.

Dončić’s heroics against the Brooklyn Nets won the team their second game of the season, as he finished with 49 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

The defense will make or break this team’s postseason chances, but a team with Dončić and Irving in the same backcourt can’t be counted out.

Declan’s Overreaction: The Milwaukee Bucks are the best team in basketball

The Bucks have only played one game this season, but those 48 minutes were enough to prove they’re the team to beat right now.

After last season’s disappointing first-round exit, Milwaukee knew they had to make a splash in the off-season to alleviate pressure from Giannis Antetokounmpo. They delivered in spades with the acquisition of Damian Lillard.

Lillard’s 38 points set the Buck’s franchise record for points in a debut performance. Dame’s scoring output included 14 of Milwaukee's final 16 points in their 118-117 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. After the Bucks almost blew a 19-point lead, Lillard proved he still has the ability to take over the fourth quarter, a trait that’s been absent from the Bucks outside of Giannis.

This is the first time in years we’ve seen this version of Dame. This is also the first time we’ve seen him coupled with a player of Antetokounmpo's caliber, and they’re just scratching the surface of what they can accomplish.

To all the kids out there who never got the opportunity to watch Shaq and Kobe play together, now’s your chance.

Rocco’s Overreaction: The Philadelphia 76ers will get past the second round

This is finally the year. The curse will be broken. Philadelphia will make it to the Eastern Conference Final.

After three straight second-round exits and five total in the last six years, the 76ers are ready to exercise their demons.

Under new head coach Nick Nurse and an absent James Harden, Philly’s offense has been flowing through their two stars in Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

On Saturday, Maxey and Embiid both dropped 34 points on 26-41 (63.4%) shooting total. In the season-opening loss to Milwaukee by one point, the pair combined for 55 points against an elite defensive unit.

Without Harden’s inconsistency in the playoffs, this team is finally built to close out a series with their defense and more volume from Maxey.

John’s Overreaction: The Oklahoma Thunder will finish as a top-six seed in the Western Conference.

Despite the fact that this Thunder core is extremely young and inexperienced, I believe this season so far they’ve shown they have all the talent in the world to compete with other top teams in the Western Conference.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a superstar dropping 30 plus points in the first two games of the season while contributing to wins.

They’ve started off the season 2-0 with their latest victory being against a very formidable Cavaliers team, and before that blowing out the Bulls by 20 points.

Aside from the fact players like Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey continue to contribute at a high level, Chet Holmgren after missing his entire first year looks like a powerhouse. He dropped 16 points and 13 rebounds but finished with seven blocked shots, a rookie record for the Thunder.

If the Thunder can maintain such an electrifying start to their season, they can easily finish as a playoff team out west.

Declan Stablow is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email djs7159@psu.edu.

Christopher Reynolds is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.

Rocco Pellegrino is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email rdp5387@psu.edu

John Maldonado is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jim6132@psu.edu