Early in the NBA season, bad surprises receive more attention than the good ones.
For teams in the occasional negative spotlight, it's annoying and they often complain about it and quite fairly. But it's the nature of a high-profile, high-stakes business. And there will be plenty of that in this weekly space, but this week there's a pull toward some of the more pleasant developments with the 2026-27 season in its third week.
The advance scouts and pro personnel directors have made their first loops and filed their initial reports. Assistant coaches have seen the first rounds of film as they prepare for opponents.
We've talked to them and others and here's some of what they're saying about two of the hottest teams in the league, plus the next steps for
What is the league making of the Philadelphia 76ers' start?
Brian Windhorst: The term superteam is often overused, but with five Most Valuable Player awards and five Finals MVP awards on this roster, it qualifies.
Historically, superteams see their offense lag behind their defense early as stars settle into their roles. This was true of the 2007-08 Boston Celtics, who averaged just 93.5 points over their first 10 games but were No. 1 on defense from day one. In 2010-11, the Miami Heat had a top-five defense right away but sluggish offensive nights contributed to a 9-8 start.
Add the 2026-27 Sixers to the list, with Philly languishing in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency but boasting a top-three defense. That stinginess is a major reason for the 76ers' 4-0 road record, including wins against the New York Knicks on opening night and Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
And LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are owning clutch time.
"They've been terrific in the clutch and I haven't seen much clunkiness or indecisiveness in them at all in the games I've watched," an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN. "They also aren't turning the ball over, which you expect to see with a bunch of new guys playing together."
The 76ers are 7-0 this season in games that have entered clutch time -- defined as the score being within five points in the final five minutes -- the driving force of their league-best 8-1 record. It's not prudent to jump to conclusions or to overanalyze it, but it's fair to say it has been a very good sign. And league personnel have a reason.
"It's Maxey," an East executive said. "He's making them go and you can see he already has all of their trust in fourth quarters. LeBron definitely trusts him and they've already really developed a nice two-man game that stresses defenses."
Another East executive said, "LeBron brings a lot of things when he comes to your team. And we've seen it before, he raises everyone's level. Maxey was already a great player, but he's also raised his level and some of that has to be having LeBron there."
Tim MacMahon: There were a lot of questions -- and doubts -- around the league about how the Sixers' four All-Stars would mesh.
As much as egos were considered a potential obstacle, it has been interesting to see Maxey, the least decorated of the quartet, emerge as the clear No. 1 option. He has been the primary reason that Philadelphia keeps pulling out close wins, ranking third in the league with 21 points in 19 clutch minutes.
"He comes and gets the first bucket or two of the fourth and ... 'Here it comes, here it comes,'" 76ers coach Nick Nurse said of the 26-year-old guard. "In an incredibly humble way, he just seems like he knows he's really good. I don't know if I've sensed that until this year."
Windhorst: Another factor league insiders have noticed is the working relationship James already has built with his new coach.
They didn't have a previous relationship, but James and Nurse had an extensive conversation before James chose the 76ers in free agency. They talked several times before the start of training camp, establishing an important base. That might seem like something that would be taken for granted. Considering James' history when joining a new team, it shouldn't.
"LeBron didn't vibe with [Heat coach Erik Spoelstra] at the start, and lots of people think he wanted him fired in the first month [of 2010-11]," one veteran NBA executive said. "He never gave David Blatt a chance (when James went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers) and it went sideways really quick when he went to L.A. with Luke [Walton].
"From the outside [Nurse and James] look like they're working together very well."
James has indeed shown a positive relationship with Nurse, who is tapping into the 41-year-old's versatility and buy-in. For example, James has been used as the lead ball handler for sections of the games and, conversely, had shifted to defensive center with the Sixers managing injuries to their big men. Before the season, James praised Nurse specifically for the job he did with the Toronto Raptors, who won the franchise's first title in 2019 behind Nurse's guidance.
"[LeBron] had a good relationship with JJ [Redick] from day one [with the Lakers] and they worked well together and that's a better way to live," a Western Conference assistant coach said. "If LeBron thinks you're smart and you put him in a position to be successful, he's going to respect you."
MacMahon: Major offseason additions typically force teams into roster shuffling that create other issues -- consider the Miami Heat's lack of depth after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo. But that hasn't been the case for Philadelphia, which gave up a starter in Paul George for an upgrade in Brown, then added James on a minimum deal. New Sixers president Mike Gansey also found value on the fringes, signing Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency this summer.
"Their bench is [strong] outside of a backup big," an East scout said. "Simons might be the best bench scorer in the league. KCP is really good in the role that they have for him. You add one backup big and they have an A-plus rotation."
The Sixers addressed that need by signing former Knick Ariel Hukporti, but the 7-footer is out for the season after tearing his Achilles in the preseason. Philadelphia's payroll is hard capped at the first apron ($1.8 million under the threshold), limiting any options to add frontcourt depth.
Philadelphia would be an attractive destination in the buyout market after the Feb. 11 trade deadline, when the Sixers could squeeze a pro-rated minimum onto their books. But several executives around the league wondered how much the new anti-tanking lottery rules will weaken the buyout market.
What are people saying about the Memphis Grizzlies hot start?
MacMahon: The most pleasant surprise in the West so far? The 6-2 Grizzlies.
"They've got a bunch of guys that are trying to prove themselves, but they play together," a West executive said. "They're very physical. Sometimes you get those teams where all the pieces fit together because everybody accepts their roles."
Or, as a West scout put it: "Memphis is the Phoenix of last year," a team widely projected to finish in the lottery that will barge its way into the postseason.
But there is one drastic difference between last season's Suns, who won 45 games and the 8-seed despite losing Kevin Durant, and these Grizzlies: It's easy to envision Memphis making significant strides over the next few seasons.
Guard Ty Jerome's sudden emergence as a scoring machine has commanded attention, but the Grizzlies' long-term foundation is the other four starters, all still on rookie contracts: Rookie of the Year contender Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells.
Memphis GM Zach Kleiman loaded up on draft capital during the deconstruction of the Grizzlies' previous era, as the team has nine tradable first-round picks, the most valuable being the Utah Jazz's pick in 2027 and Suns' in 2031. The Grizzlies are also positioned to have significant salary cap space in the offseason.
If the Grizzlies are aggressive before the 2027 trade deadline, anticipate a "pre-agency" move focused on the future. For example, if the Grizzlies have a potential restricted free agent they covet, Kleiman could trade for the player and secure his rights instead of trying to sign him to an offer sheet in the summer.
No matter what, Kleiman is primed to add a significant player to an impressive young core.
"For where they are in their arc, they're pretty freakin' good," a West coach said.
Windhorst: Jerome's hot start seems to have transported us back two years.
The Cavaliers were already expected to be a contender in 2024-25, but they surged out of the gates and Jerome's explosive scoring -- then in a lead bench role -- was a big reason they won 60 games.
That came after he sat out almost all of the previous season because of injury. Well, Jerome sat out almost all of last season because of injury and kind of was forgotten again. Then, wham, he's healthy and sparking Memphis' fifth-ranked offense.
"If you look at Ty's career, when he's been healthy he's always reliably been a real contributor. The teams who've had him have always loved him," a West executive said. "If he's healthy and playing and you put the ball in his hands, the guy is going to put up numbers. It's just been hard to get all three of those aligned year over year."
There's no doubt the Grizzlies have benefitted from a favorable early schedule. Scouts expect them to find their level, but that might end up higher than most expected.
"If they stay healthy they can be a .500 team and I think they'd absolutely have taken that at the start of the season," a West scout said. "Having some early success can be great for young guys.
"You can see how sometimes young guys who are used to winning hang their heads when they get bashed early in the league. These guys, you can see their chests growing right now."
What else are league personnel talking about this week?
MacMahon: It's way too early for trade discussions to pick up steam, but multiple scouts and executives are keeping an eye on the LA Clippers as likely sellers.
The Clippers, who are off to a league-worst-tying 1-7 start, have a handful of impact veterans on expiring contracts. Center Brook Lopez, guard Kris Dunn, forward Rui Hachimura (team option next season) and wings Max Strus and Derrick Jones Jr. all could fill roles for playoff teams.
Windhorst: One of this early season's box score parlor games has been counting the shots Kings' rookie Darius Acuff Jr. takes (he's averaging a whopping 23.6) compared to All-Star teammate big man Domantas Sabonis (who is averaging 8.6, his lowest since his rookie year a decade ago). And Sabonis subtly criticized Acuff for it the first week of the season.
But, subsequently, Sabonis has praised Acuff several times and has gone to lengths to support him. Sources in Sacramento insist that Sabonis has taken a liking to the 19-year-old, appreciates his immense scoring talent and enjoys the process of playing with Acuff as he learns the league.
Does Sabonis like every shot Acuff takes? Unlikely. Would it benefit both the 30-year-old Sabonis and the Kings to find a trade partner? Likely. The same goes for Malik Monk and Zach LaVine. (They are the three oldest players on a rebuilding team that, to loosely paraphrase ESPN's Fran Fraschilla, is a year away from being a year away.)
Be all of that as it may, we are told emphatically any perceived Sabonis-Acuff beef is a nonstory.