Yes, it's that time once again
A year ago I posted this, and I'll probably be posting it every year for as long as people continue to overreact at the start of the season. It's a post that pretty much says it all when we're at this point in the season. Every win does count, but let's not overreact, we're still within the first two weeks of the season. Throughout the history of the game we've seen teams get off to hot starts and cool down. We've also seen teams start off horribly and pick it up.
A great recent example of this would be the Dallas Mavericks from the '06/'07 season. That was the season that the Dallas Mavericks were coming in looking really good after they made the finals the previous season. However, once the regular season got started, the Mavericks quickly found themselves with zero wins and four losses. From there on out the Mavericks won 67 games and lost only 11. Sure, they fell flat on their faces during the playoffs, but that's a different story. Right now we're talking regular season and the playoffs are nothing more than a faint light at the end of a very long tunnel.
This season has seen the Atlanta Hawks get off to a blistering hot start, having won each of their first five games of the season. That's one team that will take somewhat of a fall. However, the biggest false start of the season as far as this season is going to wind up being the New Orleans Hornets. They are not a bad team by any means and might even be able to slip into the playoffs. Right now they are looking like championship material though, undefeated through their first four games.
You don't even have to leave the division to see it from the other end. The Houston Rockets have started off with no wins and four losses. However, this is a very good team. They have a very good group of guys who can score in bunches as well as several solid defenders and good all around players. Look for them to go on a run before too long and wind up making a strong push for the playoffs by the end of the season.
Early season overreaction isn't limited to teams though, when players get off to an extra quick or extra slow start, fans are often way too quick to jump on them. No, Derrick Rose isn't going to average 27 points per game or 10 assists per game this season. No, Rajon Rondo isn't going to average 16 assists per game this season. Joakim Noah isn't going to average 16 rebounds per game either. I know this may come as a surprise to some, but neither Michael Beasley or Lamar Odom are going to shoot 80% from three for the season.
This isn't here to rip on any player or team, and it isn't here to give extra praise to anyone. It's just to remind everyone that when these quick starts show themselves, 90% of the time they're just players getting off to quick starts or teams getting off to fast starts that they soon return to Earth from.
