With teams playing barely a half dozen games thus far there are no teams that have gone unbeaten nor are there any winless teams.
In fact only two teams have suffered just one defeat and both are in the Western Conference. The L A Clippers have started 4-1 while Memphis, with a Season Wins Total of just 37.5 (not expected to make the Playoffs) is off to a 5-1 start.
Four teams have tasted victory just once and none of them are considered surprises. Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Sacramento have each won just once and of that quartet only Dallas was projected to win more than 27.5 games (34.5).
From a pointspread perspective Detroit has started 6-1 ATS with Boston close behind at 5-1 ATS.
The early Money Burners have been the two teams from the last three NBA Finals as both Cleveland and Golden State are each just 1-6 ATS through Sunday.
Minnesota has started 4-0-1 to the OVER while 3 teams have yet to be involved in a single OVER. The Clippers have started 5-0 to the UNDER while both Memphis and Utah are 5-0-1 to the UNDER.
Through the first two weeks of play, comprising 91 games, Home teams are 45-45-1 ATS
Totals have shown a strong UNDER bias despite some very high scoring games. Through Sunday there have been 36 OVERs and 52 UNDERs with 3 pushes, using closing numbers from the Westgate.
With baseball winding down over the next day or two this column will explore more about the NBA in coming weeks as the long season has just begun.
Here are looks at three games to be played over this weekend.
Houston at Atlanta (Friday): Houston has started 5-2 as they seek to again contend in the West. Atlanta is in a rebuilding mode but are well coached under Mike Budenholzer. That suggests the Hawks, considered by many one of the three weakest teams in the East, to struggle early but make progress over the second half of the season, having to integrate so many players into new, and starting, roles.
That progress may not show here against the very talented Rockets but could set the stage for a play on the Hawks when they visit Houston in late March. But not here. HOUSTON
Golden State at Denver (Saturday): Defending champion Golden State has started a rather mundane 4-3 but there is no cause for concern as the Warriors know that pacing themselves through the regular season is what it is all about. Reaching three straight NBA Finals has put a lot of extra mile on their legs and taken additional tolls on their bodies. Even in regular season games we can expect to see Golden State pace themselves through the first three quarters and turn it up in quarter four when the game may be on the line.
Denver is just 3-3 and considered a marginal contender to make the Playoffs but historically has played much better at home than on the road. Overall the Nuggets have covered 7 of 10 over the past three seasons and figure to come as a generous home underdog here. Denver has an extra night of rest and Golden State is off a meaningful game at San Antonio on Thursday. DENVER
Washington at Toronto (Sunday): With the injury to Boston’s Gordon Hayward both of these teams are considered the main challengers to Cleveland in the East as things stand at the start of November. Both have started the season with modest winning records in their first handful of games. Both have competitive, covering losses at Golden State as part of their early season play.
Toronto has been somewhat more impressive in their start than has been Washington although this is Toronto’s first home game following an early 6 game road trip.
The first game back is often a negative as players reaclimate to dealing with the realities of home life after a couple of weeks away. Interestingly, the road team in this series last season was 3-0 both SU and ATS and the teams remain evenly matched against this season. WASHINGTON