Fansided

NBA Week 1 rewind: Stephen Curry, Thunder put on a show

By Tom West

October 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates during the first quarter in a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena. The Nuggets defeated the Warriors 114-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates during the first quarter in a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena. The Nuggets defeated the Warriors 114-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 7
Next
Oct 13, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) looks on against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) looks on against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Under-the-radar Players to Watch Next Week

There are plenty of superstars to catch your attention night in and night out, but there are other players stepping up that are worth looking out for, too. Whether it’s to see who’s finding success or who could help your fantasy team, here’s a selection of a few under-the-radar players to look out for in the NBA’s second week.

Victor Oladipo

The third-year Magic shooting guard couldn’t be left off this list after what he did against the Thunder. Not only did he record a triple double with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Oklahoma City, he also started his season with a double double (17 points, 11 rebounds) against the Wizards.

The main issue is his efficiency, which has by no means been as impressive as the way he’s stuffed the stat sheet and came up clutch against Durant and Westbrook. Oladipo is only shooting 33.3 percent so far, although after making a solid 43.6 percent of his shots last year, they should start falling at a higher rate soon. He looks aggressive, and could be ready to breakout as an offensive threat (when his shots start falling) in addition to his defensive talents.

Isaiah Thomas

After coming so close to being Sixth Man of the Year last season, Thomas is back at it again in 2015-16. With such a high usage rate with the Boston Celtics already, he’s making the most of the opportunities he’s getting. Thomas ranks 4th in the NBA this season with a usage percentage of 34.2, and in 28.3 minutes per game off the bench he’s averaging 22.3 points, albeit on 39.6 percent shooting after a shaky 4-of-18 night against the Spurs on Sunday. Despite one poor game against one of the NBA’s top defenses, he’s still off to a surprisingly good start, and even ranks second in the league in assist percentage (54.1) so far as well.

Marcus Morris

Someone you weren’t expecting to average 19.3 points and 7.7 rebounds through their first three games? Marcus Morris. Yet, after being traded away from the Phoenix Suns this summer, the Morris twin seems to have found a situation that suits him so far with the Detroit Pistons. As a starter with a heavy 38 minutes per game, he’s making it count. With plenty of opportunities (14.7 shots per game) Morris has still been efficient by making them at a 47.7 percent rate, and has shown glimpses of a potential breakout season so far.

Until the review of week 2 next Monday, enjoy what the NBA has to offer in the second week. With so many stars kicking off their season with a meteoric bang, there’s certainly going to be a lot more great basketball in store.

Home/Chicago Bulls