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Wednesday 23 november 2022
Analysis: As NBA’s first quarter ends, the contenders emerge

By TIM REYNOLDS You kind of have an idea through 20 games. the road record, you can’t 10 through 20 games last
AP Basketball Writer of who you are, where Golden State last season, even find a sustainable pe- season and wound up in
Miami Heat President Pat you need to improve, your best record through 20 riod of success when habits the NBA Finals, where they
fell to Golden State in six
games.
Besides, rallies from near
the middle to the top have
happened before.
The 2002-03 San Antonio
Spurs were ninth-best af-
ter 20 games; the 1998-99
Spurs were eighth-best,
and both those clubs went
on to win titles. During Mi-
chael Jordan’s first cham-
pionship season, 1990-91,
the Bulls were 10th in the
league after 20 games.
And in the NBA’s initial two
seasons, the first two cham-
pions got off to slow starts.
The 1946-47 Philadelphia
Warriors were fifth-best out
of 11 teams through 20
games; a year later, the
Baltimore Bulls were fourth-
best out of eight teams.
And this year, let’s face it,
mediocrity reigns. It’s still
early. Not enough time has
passed for anyone to truly
separate themselves. A
five-game winning streak
could send some clubs
vaulting up the standings. A
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a 3-point basket by guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first half of an five-game slide could send
NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. some teams into a freefall.
Associated Press So, maybe this will be the
season when a team can
buck the trend, shake off
Riley has a longstanding strengths from a numbers games. The 2018-19 Toron- start to form and we’re in a a slower-than-anticipated
belief: After 20 games, a standpoint, and then the to Raptors and 2019-20 Los position where we’re feel- start and become a con-
team knows its identity. players pretty much have Angeles Lakers, best record ing good about ourselves. tender after all.
He’s right. And after 20 an idea of what kind of through 20 games. The We’re still searching and But in games, the team that
games, title contenders are team you’re going to be.” 2014-15 and 2016-17 War- chasing a little bit.” leads after the first quarter
usually known as well. In 2005-06, Miami had riors, best record through The Celtics aren’t chasing. usually wins.
Think of this as the end the league’s 13th-best re- 20 games. They’re among those be- In seasons, it tends to go
of the season’s first quar- cord through 20 games; They all won titles. ing chased. The team with the same way. And the first
ter. That’s basically where the Heat were just 10-10, That’s good news for the the best record through 20 quarter is about to end. If a
the NBA is right now, with though few knew at the Boston Celtics, who are well games has won the title 34 team is going to get into the
teams starting to approach time Riley was about to re- on their way to having the times in the league’s first 76 race, this would be a good
the 20-game mark. turn as coach. In 1997-98, best record in the NBA at seasons. time to get into gear.q
There’s much basketball Chicago — then winners of the 20-game mark this sea- “You have to be able to
left to be played, but 20 five of the league’s last sev- son. That’s not great news make each other better
coach Joe Mazzulla, who ARUBA
games has proven — al- en titles— was 11th-best in for the Warriors, who are whether you have the ball
most without fail — to be the NBA through 20 games; 8-10 and 11th in the West — or not,” said Celtics interim
more than enough of a the Bulls looked bored and but are still well within strik-
sample size when deter- were 12-8. ing distance of everyone. in the span of less than two CLEAN
mining which teams have a Those are the only two in- That’s also not great news months has gone from be-
legitimate shot at a cham- stances of an eventual NBA for the Heat, who finished ing an assistant coach, to
pionship. champion not being in the with the best regular-sea- the person in charge after
The numbers show it. The top 10 in terms of record son record in the Eastern the Ime Udoka suspension,
teams know it, too. that deep into a season. (In Conference last season to the coach of a team
“We look at 20 games,” fairness, there were a few and are 7-11 now with a that’s a popular pick to win
Phoenix coach Monty seasons without 10 teams slew of key players hurt. the NBA title. “And our guys
Williams said. “It can get back in the early days, but “We need to figure out are bought into making
stretched out a bit if you play along.) what it’s going to take to each other better if they
have injuries, but for the That’s bad news for a lot of win and figure out what have the ball or not. It’s
most part, your identity and teams right now. everybody needs to do dif- cool to watch.”
who you are is pretty much Each of the last 16 cham- ferently, more consistently,” The Celtics should be the IS MORE
set. You’ve gone through pions have had no worse Golden State guard Ste- first team not to write off DUSHI
the league to a degree. ... than the fifth-best record phen Curry said. “Forget anyone. They were 10-