Five things to watch over the weekend

We’re less than a week into the NBA season but already there are plenty of things around the league that are worthy of a closer look, at least as far as fantasy basketball managers are concerned.

Here are five things to watch over the weekend.

Can Lillard or Beal be like Harden?

Prior to last season, the NBA changed the rules to make it harder for perimeter scorers to draw the easy fouls that helped so many produce monster statlines on a daily basis. In the league-wide decline in volume ISO-scoring, three players in particular stood out as the poster children for the effect: James Harden, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal. While all three dealt with injury at some point, even when healthy their scoring volume and efficiency dropped precipitously.

Fast forward to this season, and through two games James Harden looks like himself again. He’s not just putting up Rockets-onian scoring lines, but he’s also drawing Hardenesque fouls on the perimeter. In Game 1, he drew at least three shooting fouls on 3-point attempts, and converted one into a four-point play.

But that’s not what happened with Lillard and Beal in their season debuts. Lillard went 5-for-18 from the field for 20 points, while Beal was a more efficient 9-for-17 but still “only” managed to score 23 points. Lillard has games against the Suns and Lakers this weekend, while Beal faces the Bulls and Cavaliers. I’ll be watching to see if either shows signs of partying like it’s 2020-21 again anytime soon.

Chris Paul of old, or old Chris Paul?

Chris Paul was flowing along on a late career renaissance, leading the Suns into contention and even the best record in the NBA last season…until his 37th birthday. Then, it was like the clock struck midnight on Cinderella and Paul’s basketball chariot turned back into a pumpkin. Starting May 6, 2022, Paul averaged 9.4 PPG, 5.8 APG and 3.4 RPG in five playoff games, then turned in 6 points (1-of-6 FG), 9 assists and 3 rebounds in his 2022-23 season debut against Dallas.

The Suns ended last season by getting run off their home court by the Mavericks, and history was repeating itself in the season opener before Coach Monty Williams sat Paul in the fourth quarter… at which point the Suns stormed back and won the game.

So, the…