Vince Carter enjoying his decision to go to Atlanta
“It’s good for me,” Carter said. “Keeps me young.”
Toronto is off to the best start in the NBA at 20-4, four games clear of Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference already (and four games in the loss column ahead of Philadelphia as well).
The scary thing is, it could have been better.
It’s been forgotten, but the Raptors’ season also includes a three-game losing streak — all in a five-day span last month. They lost by 16 against New Orleans to fall to 12-2, then wasted a 19-point lead and lost to Detroit, then watched Kawhi Leonard miss late in regulation in what became an overtime loss to Boston.
They’re 8-0 since, and first-year coach Nick Nurse has his team rolling.
“Nick has done a really good job with this team and the way they play,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said.
A game per day to check out this week:
Oklahoma City at Detroit, Monday: Former teammates Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson seem to like going head-to-head.
San Antonio at Utah, Tuesday: The Spurs struggled with the Jazz last season, and this opens a tough road back-to-back.
Philadelphia at Toronto, Wednesday: The Raptors have opened up a sizable lead in the East, and face a good test here.
New York at Boston, Thursday: After a sluggish start, the Celtics are starting to look like the team many envisioned.
Golden State at Milwaukee, Friday: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the same floor is must-watch.
Miami at L.A. Clippers, Saturday: Wade is eager for this — his wife and their newborn daughter are currently staying in Los Angeles.
Milwaukee at Toronto, Sunday: A matchup of two of the East’s best teams, and it’s never too early to think about positioning.
Carter could have gone anywhere.
Not even two months into the season, and the Golden State Warriors have already done something that no team in more than 50 years has accomplished.
The Warriors are the second team in NBA history, joining the 1961-62 Los Angeles Lakers, to have three different players with a 50-point game in the same regular season. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have reached 50 already this season.
The 1961-62 Lakers’ trio to do so: Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Rudy LaRusso.
Could Golden State get a fourth into the 50-point column? Who knows, but remember, DeMarcus Cousins — who hasn’t played yet this season — has a pair of 50-point games in on his career resume.