First impressions: Sixers, Clippers, Kawhi, Doncic are rocking

1.  The Clippers are the most complete team, and the 76ers aren’t far behind

We thought the end of the Warriors' dynasty would mean there would be no elite teams, just many good teams capable of winning a title. Well, four games in, it looks like the Clippers might have something to say about that. Not only is Kawhi Leonard still playing at a Finals MVP level, but the rest of the roster also fits perfectly around his skill set and demeanor. With Leonard on the court and three-point shooters all around, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell have more space to operate their elite pick-and-roll. Williams looks even deadlier than usual and might average a career-high in points per game. (He’s at 22.3 ppg; 22.6 ppg is his previous career high). Harrell is putting up 21 points and seven boards per game and shooting 76 percent! Pat Beverley is playing his customary pit bull-like defense, and Mo Harkless and JaMychal Green appear to be ideal three-and-D off-season pickups. Oh, and did I mention Paul George still hasn’t played?

As expected, the Sixers have an elite defense (second-best rating through three games) and an offense that is still figuring how to adequately space the court around its stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. After dismantling the new-look Celtics in the opener with a suffocating defense that held Boston to 93 points, the Embiid-led Sixers earned an impressive comeback win on the road against the surging Hawks. It was the kind of win a true contender guts out on the road even when the shots aren’t falling. (Philly was only 11-for-41 from three that night.)

2. Luka Doncic, Trae Young look like superstars

After putting up better numbers than LeBron James did as a rookie, Dallas' Luka Doncic looks slimmer and in much better shape. He came back playing like a no-brainer All-NBA player, and maybe even an MVP candidate, averaging 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists through three games. He’s running devastating pick-and-rolls with a healthy-looking Kristaps Porzingis, who is averaging 26 points himself. He’s making insane behind-the-back passes to beat double-teams, and he’s burying step-back threes where he creates so much space it doesn’t seem possible for him to be balanced enough to get off a good shot.

The Hawks' Trae Young, the player Doncic will forever be linked to because of the Dallas-Atlanta draft day trade, is also having himself one hell of a start. (Note: Young injured his ankle Tuesday night but appears to have avoided major damage.) Ice Trae exited the 2018-19 season playing like an All-Star. Through three games, he's playing like an All-NBA player, averaging 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds and shooting 52 percent from three. He has the Hawks at 2-1, and had the Sixers not double-teamed him down the stretch, he would have almost single-handedly beaten them too.

Young is starting to warp defenses the way Steph Curry does, shifting the entire gravity of the court with his ability to shoot at a high clip from 30-plus feet from the basket — just look at the attention he’s receiving from the defense in this picture. His play-making and passing are equally impressive, as he’s making difficult cross-court, off-the-dribble passes look easy. He’ll always be a sieve on defense, but the Hawks are doing a wonderful job building around their superstar.

3. Giannis and Kawhi are improved playmakers

The league’s two top players (at least according to ESPN’s and Sports Illustrated’s rankings), Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard look better than ever. Each added a playmaking element to his game. 

For Giannis, it's clear that the only things keeping him from taking a stranglehold as the unequivocal Best Player on the Planet were his shooting and his playmaking. It’s too early to tell if his shooting has improved. (Early signs suggest not, as he’s shooting 17 percent from three.) Early signs, however, indicate his playmaking has improved -- he's dishing out nine assists per game. If he keeps this up, he’ll be as good as any player in the league at creating points for his teammates. (He’s currently creating over 25 points per game, third best in the league.)

Kawhi, on the other hand, wasn’t really expected to make a huge leap at this point in his career. Instead, we expected him to keep terminating opponents with his crisp, Jordan-like mid-range jumper and excellent one-on-one skills. Looks like we expected too little of the Board Man, as he is averaging 7.5 assists through four games, four more assists than he’s ever averaged in his career. With so many gifted offensive players on the Clippers' roster, these assist numbers should remain relatively high the rest of the season.

4.  Maybe rookie class can hold its own without Zion

The 2019-20 rookie class wasn’t supposed to be impactful outside of the Pelicans' Zion Williamson, especially early in the season before teams start tanking and giving young players opportunities. With Williamson out indefinitely with a knee injury, Ja Morant (Grizzlies), RJ Barrett (Knicks) and several other rookies have stepped up. Morant recently went toe-to-toe with Kyrie Irving in an exciting overtime win over the Nets, scoring 30 points, handing out nine assists and blocking Irving’s game-winning attempt at the end of regulation. Draft analysts who told us Barrett would thrive in a more open NBA setting where the court was better spaced than in college are looking like geniuses. He's averaging 21 points and eight rebounds.

Lesser-known rookies are outperforming expectations as well, none more so than undrafted, 24-year-old guard Kendrick Nunn of the Heat. He has taken Dion Waiters’ spot in the rotation and won’t give it back. Nunn is averaging 21 points  through four games and may have secured a spot in the starting lineup. His rookie teammate, Tyler Herro, scored 29 points in only his fourth career game. And finally, Chicago's Coby White turned more than a couple of heads by scoring 42 points in his first two games.

5. MVP! MVP! MVP! Anthony-Towns' leap 

Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 32 points, 13 rebounds and five assists and has a league-best 15 three-pointers (52 percent) in three games, appears to have made the MVP Leap. I wonder if anyone predicted that?

And a few more quick-hitters ...

Brandon Ingram is one of the few bright spots for the 0-4 Pelicans. He is averaging  27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and shooting 50 percent from three on seven attempts per game! 

Derrick Rose has continued to excel in an ultra-aggressive sixth man role off the Pistons' bench, averaging 22 points and five assists. 

The Raptors' Pascal Siakam looks like he made the All-NBA Leap, averaging 28 points and 10 boards through four games.