The Athletic NBA Daily Early NBA Season True or False | Morning Shoot Around
6 snips
Nov 19, 2025 
Dave DuFour, an NBA analyst known for his deep insights, Es Baraheni, an engaging NBA reporter with a knack for team dynamics, and Zena Keita, a contrarian voice with a love for culinary commentary, dive into early-season truths and misconceptions. They tackle whether the East is deeper than the West, examine the impact of injuries on the Cavaliers, and discuss which team desperately needs the number one draft pick. Along the way, they sprinkle in some lighthearted food banter that keeps the convo fun!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Net Rating vs. True Team Strength
- Early-season net rating lists can mislead about true contenders because injuries and experimentation distort results.
- Andrew, Dave, and Zena argue the Cavs look like a top team despite the Cavs' current net-rating position because injuries mask long-term strength.
West Shows More Nightly Competitiveness
- The West currently looks more competitive night-to-night with more close games and depth across teams.
- Dave and others point to frequent tight outcomes and higher parity as evidence the West is deeper than the East.
East Has Top-Heavy Depth Problem
- The East has a stark top-versus-bottom gap: strong top teams but an abysmal bottom that weakens conference depth.
- Panelists note the East's bottom teams (Pacers, Wizards, Nets) drag down the conference despite a strong upper tier.
