Copyright yardbarker
With a tough schedule ahead, the message is simple: keep stacking stops and trust the rotations. League Themes: Size, Smarts And Open Lanes Broader trends support these early snapshots. Double big lineups are circling back with a modern twist. Shooting and passing have stretched the floor while keeping size on the court. Oklahoma City enters as the team to watch as they defend their title. Denver added ballast behind Nikola Jokić to stabilize non-star minutes. The East feels open for a surge by New York or Cleveland. The West remains a maze. Dallas can comfortably run two-big lineups with Anthony Davis alongside Dereck Lively or Daniel Gafford. This setup provides strong rim protection while allowing Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg to spark cuts and offense. Golden State will create spacing with Al Horford as the pick-and-pop centerpiece, opening lanes for Stephen Curry and creating passing options for Draymond Green. Meanwhile, New York’s size on the boards fuels their fast-paced game without sacrificing structure. What Matters Next In An Accelerating Race Dallas needs to strengthen its defensive habits and push the pace with quick outlet passes, especially under pressure— turnovers will be a key indicator of progress. Golden State must carefully manage veteran minutes while continuing Jonathan Kuminga’s steady development, paying close attention to late-game fouls and rebounding discipline. For New York, maintaining a broad rotation is essential, but so is refining execution in crunch-time situations. Early Watch List For Fans Look for Dallas to improve weak-side tags and early help. Keep an eye on Flagg to see if he earns late-game reps. For Golden State, note how often Kerr calls set plays late. A low count signals trust and flow. For the Knicks, count second-chance points and transition threes. Across the league, the title chase already feels real. A Practical Way To Follow The Storylines Fans can center on three simple markers. Health for Dallas. Decision speed for Golden State. Defense for New York. If those boxes stay checked for each team, April will arrive with stakes. Ultimately, these three teams will need to find consistency if they hope to be better than a middling organization hovering around the break-even point. The season has begun with noise and nuance. The smart teams will ignore the distractions and stick to their strategies. The smarter ones will evolve. *Content reflects information available as of 11/5/2025 and is subject to change.
