More Surprising Start: 3-0 Lakers or 0-2 Nuggets?

The NBA is back and with it comes some early season surprises with the first week concluded. The Lakers and Nuggets are two teams that have collided in the playoffs the past two years with the Nuggets coming away victorious both times. However, early on the Lakers have looked like the more talented team coming away with three straight wins to start the year against quality opponents. Denver has looked nothing like the elite team they have been for the past several seasons after losing back-to-back home games. The Lakers have looked impressive under new head coach JJ Redick while the Nuggets appear to have some issues, especially on the offensive end. Which team's start is more surprising?

The Lakers appear to be playing better basketball this season under new head coach JJ Redick, who has instilled confidence and energy in the team. Their improved ball movement and newly established offensive identity have allowed Anthony Davis to shine as the focal point of their strategy. LeBron commented on the Lakers' new approach, stating, "It's very important that he is the main focus for us every single night. We know what he can do defensively, but offensively, we have to find him in multiple places on the floor throughout the game. And we've successfully done that in the first two games."

Through three games, the Lakers have the sixth-ranked offense in the league, averaging 121.3 points per game, despite attempting the fifth fewest three-pointers. Anthony Davis has been the center of their success, both literally and figuratively, leading the team in nearly every category. He has scored 30 points in each of the first three games of the season, marking a level of offensive production the Lakers haven't seen since Kobe Bryant in 2005.

In addition to Davis, LeBron James is performing at an All-NBA level without the need to run the offense through him. This shift takes some pressure off LeBron and could benefit the Lakers in the long run, allowing him to pace himself throughout the season.

Furthermore, Redick's new offensive approach may lead to a career year for Austin Reaves, who has emerged as the Lakers' third-best player and their best three-point shooter. While consistent offensive production outside of James and Davis has been a challenge in recent years, maintaining this level of performance from Reaves could make the Lakers serious contenders in the Western Conference.

Arguably the most impressive aspect of their 3-0 start has been the quality of their opponents after defeating the Timberwolves, Suns, and Kings. All three teams are considered contending teams in the West that made moves in the offseason while the Lakers kept the same roster. Their early success could prove the Lakers' lack of offseason moves was a sign of stability despite the outside criticism.

Denver's start to the season has been significantly impacted by the financial constraints imposed by second apron limitations, making it difficult for teams to maintain their rosters. Since their championship season in 2023, the Nuggets have lost several key players to free agency, which has affected their competitiveness as a championship contender.

Despite having arguably the best player in the league, Nikola Joki?, the Nuggets find themselves winless after two games and struggling offensively. Currently, they have the lowest-scoring offense in the league, averaging only 95.5 points per game. This highlights a significant lack of offensive productivity beyond what Joki? can generate. The departure of talented shooter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has worsened this issue, forcing the Nuggets to find new ways to space the floor. As a team, they are shooting just 28.8% from three-point range, a substantial decline from last season's average of 37.4%.

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After their season-opening loss to the Thunder, Jokic addressed the team's shooting difficulties, stating, "We are not a good shooting team, except probably Mike (Porter Jr.) and then Jamal (Murray). All of us are kind of streaky — not streaky, but, you know, just average shooters. So, yeah. But we have something else. We can probably be better and have an advantage in some other aspects of the game."

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The Nuggets will need to find a way to improve their offense, and their best shooter, Michael Porter Jr., must play a significant role in addressing their outside shooting struggles. Currently, he is shooting only 18.8% from three-point range, despite being a career 40.8% shooter.