Trending Topics: Biggest surprise of the season?

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Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.
With one month of the 2024-25 NBA season in the books, what has been the biggest surprise so far?
Maybe we got lulled by the Houston Rockets’ persistent mediocrity in recent seasons, not properly appreciating their 19-victory improvement in the West last season. At 11-5 so far, they look like they’ll blow past that 41-41 mark.
No-nonsense coach Ime Udoka in Year 2 has Houston up from 20th in offense to 11th, from 11th in defense to third and is at or near the top in rebounding, offensive boards and turnover percentage while running opponents off the 3-point line. The roster is balanced, with no one averaging 20 points but seven scoring 10 or more. Veteran guard Fred VanVleet has been the 2023 free-agent prize most anticipated.
The Rockets have only beaten four 2024 playoff teams, and they rank 25th or worse in field goal, 3-point and free throw accuracy. But with Alperen Sengun as their tent pole, young guys Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson maturing, and Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams on board for grit, there’s plenty of opportunity for fast improvement.
The throwback to the 2015-16 season with the Cavaliers and Warriors sitting atop the conferences. Cleveland’s 15-0 start was surprising, but they were expected to be a top-tier team in the East, with continuity in the roster and a proven new coach in Kenny Atkinson to elevate them.
Meanwhile, Golden State received just one fourth-place vote in the West in the 2024-25 NBA.com GM Survey with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green getting older and Klay Thompson gone. But thanks to their young talent rising, the offseason additions contributing and a revival of Steve Kerr’s “Strength in Numbers” philosophy, the Warriors are thriving.
A 2015-16 throwback must include LeBron James, whose Lakers are third in the West after receiving zero top-four votes in the conference. Anthony Davis and Dalton Knecht are in the Kia MVP and Kia Rookie of the Year races, respectively. With James continuing to defy Father Time, the Lakers look like contenders.
We just saw the Cleveland Cavaliers start the season 15-0 and no, this isn’t 2016. This wasn’t with LeBron James. This was done by a team that only needs to play a little better than .500 basketball the rest of the season to reach 50 wins.
While this doesn’t happen by accident, some context is in order. The Cavs have been healthy, unlike the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic, three weakened conference contenders. Cleveland took advantage of a relatively tame schedule with 12 of its 15 wins coming vs. teams in the East (the lesser conference so far). Salute to first-year coach Kenny Atkinson and bounce-back seasons by Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Having Donovan Mitchell doesn’t hurt, either.
Through Wednesday, the only team that ranks in the top five on offense and defense is the Golden State Warriors. That’s with the Warriors having played the fourth toughest schedule (regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage) among the 13 teams that are at least two games over .500, with more road games (eight) than home games (six).
They’re 3-0 without Stephen Curry and playing strong defense (less than a point per possession allowed) when Draymond Green is off the floor. It’s fair to have thought that the Warriors made upgrades this offseason, especially defensively. But for them to be this good on offense (with a bunch of rotation guys that had never shot well from the perimeter) is pretty remarkable. Heck, forget the other numbers, the biggest surprise could be that there’s a team playing 12 guys every night and having success with it.