NBA Starting 5, Oct. 21: Wembanyama’s wild 2 minutes, NBA Fantasy primer

And similar to that, the preseason involves an finish.

But no longer prior to Wemby & Steph gave us a couple of viral moments to wrap issues up…

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THE LINEUP 🏀

October 21, 2023 | 6-min learn

Gotta credit Steph for no less than attempting.

• Friday: Preseason Finales 🔥
• Fantasy: Latest Top 1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣
• Fantasy: Risers 📈 & Sleepers 😴
• Lowe’s League Pass Rankings 👀
• 30 Stats 30 Teams: West 📊

FRIDAY: WEMBY, SPURS CLOSE OUT PRESEASON WITH WIN OVER WARRIORS

Check out Wembanyama’s 1st-half highlights, together with this ridiculous stretch from halfway in the course of the 1st quarter in below 2 mins:

• 6:33: Hits 18-foot pull-up after shaking his defender
• 6:08: Sinks 8-foot using bounce shot with the and-1
• 5:56: Blocks 3-point shot via Thompson…
• 5:50: … then throws down the dunk in transition
• 5:14: Blocks floating jumper via Wiggins within the lane …
• 5:07: … and hits a 27-foot 3-point bounce shot in transition

Wembanyama had 15 issues and four blocks within the opening part prior to wrapping up his evening halfway in the course of the Third quarter.

• The Spurs were given 13 issues apiece from Devin Vassell and Zach Collins as they completed with 6 gamers in double figures 
• Moses Moody led the Warriors with 18 issues off the bench, whilst Dario Saric added 17. Jonathan Kuminga had 13 issues, 6 forums and 5 dimes to cap off an outstanding preseason, completing because the league’s Second-leading scorer (21.8 ppg in 5 video games) 
• Steph Curry completed with 11 issues in 20 mins, and got here up simply quick in opposition to Wembanyama on a jumpball

More from the overall evening of the preseason:

• 🦌 Bucks 124, Grizzlies 116: Giannis (26 issues, together with this reverse dunk) and Dame (19 issues, together with a logo 3) blended for 45 issues in 27 mins. Desmond Bane led the Grizz with 24 issues and 5 3s, Zaire Williams post 15 and a poster dunk, whilst Marcus Smart had 11 issues and six dimes in his preseason debut 
• 🔔 Sixers 120, Hawks 106: Joel Embiid had 21 issues and 5 forums in his preseason debut, however DeAnthony Melton stole the display with 29 issues whilst hitting 4 of his 6 3s within the Third quarter. Trae Young had 10 assists, together with a no-look dime to Clint Capela 
• 🚀 Rockets 110, Heat 104: Houston finishes 4-1 within the preseason after Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet every dropped 20 in Friday’s win. Alperen Sengun had 16 issues, 12 forums, 4 blocks and a no-look dime to Amen Thompson, who completed with 19 issues together with this crossover dunk

Obi Toppin brings some Showtime to the Pacers preseason finale.

• 🏁 Pacers 109, Cavaliers 104: Buddy Hield scored 20 issues, knocked down 6 3s, together with a 4-point play with a dap-up for a fan after the triple. Tyrese Haliburton dropped 9 dimes, Obi Toppin threw down a few dunks, whilst Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 28 
• 🦕 Raptors 134, Wizards 98: Scottie Barnes scored 23 issues (10-14 FG) together with this 2-hand throwdown, whilst Pascal Siakam added 19 issues and eight forums because the Raptors (4-0) joined the Timberwolves (5-0) because the simplest unbeaten groups this preseason 
• 🐴 Mavericks 114, Pistons 104: Josh Green led all scorers with 22 issues (4-5 3P), whilst Kyrie notched a double-double with 17 issues and 11 dimes, together with a using lob to Dereck Lively II for the slam 
• 🔮 Magic 109, Flamengo 76: Orlando’s 1st spherical alternatives Jett Howard (21 points, 5 3s) and Anthony Black (7 issues, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) blended for 28, whilst Trevelin Queen had a game-high 24 issues, 4 steals and a poster

That’s a wrap from the preseason. All the video games rely from now till June!

FANTASY: LATEST TOP 1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ RANKINGS

Will Jayson Tatum be a best 5 fable participant this season?

With simplest 3 days till opening evening, the clock is ticking to get your fable drafts executed forward of Week 1.

This weekend is the easiest time to fasten in with model 4.0 of RotoWire’s Top 150 fable gamers for the 2023-24 season, with probably the most up-to-date ratings and information.

Here’s the highest 10:

1. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
2. Joel Embiid (Sixers)
3. Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
5. Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
6. Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)
7. Stephen Curry (Warriors)
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
9. Kevin Durant (Suns)
10. Anthony Davis (Lakers)

Check out the total record right here and keep tapped in with actual time fable hoops news all season lengthy to stay your lineup proper

More fable protection

FANTASY: RISERS 📈 & SLEEPERS 😴

Mikal Bridges averaged 26.1 issues in 27 video games with the Nets after a midseason industry. 

When it involves development a fable roster, the league’s superstars frequently dominate the primary few rounds. Where leagues are gained or misplaced comes with what occurs subsequent.

• Who are the up-and-comers set for a breakout season? For fable, understanding who’s subsequent is simply as vital as understanding who’s now.

• As emerging skill comes off the board, which sleeper gamers can be flying below the radar, possibly even outdoor of the highest 100 at the ratings record?

Who does RotoWire’s Alex Barutha have as 3 risers and three sleepers at every place heading into 2023-24?

Centers

Forwards

Guards

ZACH LOWE’S LEAGUE PASS RANKINGS 👀

The Dame-Giannis combo helped the Milwaukee Bucks succeed in the highest of the record.

A brand new NBA season brings with it a couple of traditions: The annual GM Survey simply launched its twenty second version. LeBron James continues to defy Father Time as he enters his twenty first season. Who He Play For is ready to succeed in two decades subsequent week. And ESPN’s Zach Lowe returns for his twelfth version of League Pass Rankings.

So the place does your favourite group fall? Did they make the top 10 indexed beneath, or fall someplace in the bottom 20? Either approach, give all the record a learn to get you able for every other season of League Pass a laugh.

1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Boston Celtics
6. Los Angeles Lakers
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Dallas Mavericks

Sign up for NBA League Pass and take a look at 20 can’t-miss video games this season to be had completely on League Pass.

30 STATS FOR 30 TEAMS: WESTERN CONFERENCE EDITION 📊

Dallas’ Luka Doncic led all gamers in isolation scoring remaining season.

Every group has an id. But what’s the only stat that is helping to outline them?

We dug into remaining season’s numbers to search out that key stat for every group that is also telling for the approaching season. We start with the West and can hit the East groups in day after today’s Starting 5.

🐴Dallas Mavericks: Led the NBA in issues consistent with sport on isolations (13.2 ppg) with a league-high 7.9 coming from Luka Doncic, whilst Kyrie Irving (5.5) remained within the best 10 after becoming a member of Luka midseason

⚒️Denver Nuggets: Tied for 1st in FG% on possessions with a paint contact (70.5%) and an elbow contact (65.1%) – spaces the place 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic is going to paintings

🌉Golden State Warriors: The lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney had the most efficient web score (+21.9) amongst 5-man lineups to play 100+ mins. What lineups will paintings perfect incorporating Chris Paul?

🚀Houston Rockets: Had the best offensive rebound price within the NBA remaining season, grabbing 34.4% of all to be had offensive rebounds, and translating them right into a league-high 16.7 Second-chance issues

⛵LA Clippers: Ranked Third in group 3-point proportion (38.1%) however simplest twenty second in 2-point proportion (53.9%). Could an building up in 3-point makes an attempt (33.3 3pg, 14th in NBA) result in a extra environment friendly offense (seventeenth remaining season)?

🌇Los Angeles Lakers: Made 21.8 box objectives consistent with sport 5 toes or nearer to the basket, the Second maximum within the NBA remaining season. L.A. tied for sixth in post-up scoring (4.9) and 4th in speedy damage issues (16.7)

🐻Memphis Grizzlies: Led the NBA in issues within the paint (58.4 ppg) for the 4th consecutive season, whilst additionally permitting the Fifth-fewest issues within the paint to their fighters (47.5)

🐺Minnesota Timberwolves: Scored the Third-most issues consistent with sport on drives (31.6), led via Anthony Edwards (9.3), who’s certainly one of 5 gamers who may problem for the scoring name

⚜️New Orleans Pelicans: The trio of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum performed simplest 172 mins in combination in 10 video games; the Pelicans had been +60 in the ones mins. Keeping this trio at the courtroom very much building up the Pelicans’ ceiling

⛈️Oklahoma City Thunder: Drew the maximum fees within the NBA with 1.44 consistent with sport. Making hustle performs used to be a part of the Thunder’s id as in addition they ranked within the best 10 in deflections (seventh), unfastened balls recovered (Third), contested pictures (Third) and field outs (tenth)

☀️Phoenix Suns: Knocked down 11.2 pull-up 2-pointers consistent with sport, the Third-most within the NBA. Kevin Durant (3.9) and Devin Booker (2.9) ranked Second and 4th, respectively, in mid-range FGs consistent with sport remaining season, and newcomer Bradley Beal (2.0) ranked ninth

🔥Portland Trail Blazers: Scored probably the most issues consistent with ownership off handoffs with 1.08. Of the 76 gamers that averaged no less than 1 handoff ownership, Anfernee Simons used to be the best, scoring 1.34 issues consistent with ownership

👑Sacramento Kings: The beginning 5 of Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray performed extra mins (900) than any 5-man lineup. The Kings saved their core in combination as they give the impression of being to make every other playoff run

🤠San Antonio Spurs: Ran 18.92 miles consistent with sport, the best mark within the NBA. The Spurs performed on the Second-fastest tempo (102.07), will they care for that velocity with rooke phenom Victor Wembanyama at the courtroom? The preseason numbers say sure

🎵Utah Jazz: Held fighters to 60.8% on pictures 6 toes and nearer, the Third-lowest proportion within the NBA. Walker Kessler ranked 4th in each blocks (2.3) and rim coverage (51.5% allowed) as a rookie; can he be even higher in season 2?

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