The NBA is here, and that means we have tons of new stats, tools and information to dive into. This article will present you with five actionable stats in order to help you with the night’s NBA slate of games. 

 

We only have a small two-game slate tonight, but we have some of the best teams in the NBA on the hardwood, so let’s get to the 5 Stats!

1. The Warriors are playing at the second-fastest pace

A lot of last year’s success can be attributed to their strong defensive play as well, which has not been there this year, as the Warriors rank 20th in defense, so this could lead to a solid matchup for the Magic. 

2. The Thunder have been top 3 in defense so far this season 

We are still early in the season, so there’s no guarantee this sticks, but it is a much-improved unit compared to last year. However, the Thunder have been putrid against opposing centers, allowing the second-most points and rebounds to the position, and a date with Nikola Jokic does not stand to cure that case. 

3. The Thunder rank sixth in pace

Even with their improved defensive play, they are still playing at a very fast pace, which could mean more possessions in this game for both the Thunder and the Nuggets.

 

4. Nikola Jokic is averaging .23 FPPM less than he did last year 

He is averaging about the same FPPM as he was two seasons ago, so maybe last year was more of the outlier, but I would beg to differ. Before last season, Nikola Jokic had a 30% usage rate even with Jamal Murray on the floor, but that usage rate has dropped to 23% this season – which is a number I expect to improve mightily as the year goes on. 

5. Bol Bol is averaging 1.2 DK FPPM this season. 

We are finally seeing some real time on the floor for Bol Bol, who projects as an elite per-minute producer, and so far that has proven to be true.