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The NBA is speeding. An up-and-comer is bruising. And an All-Star believes he can lift his teammates — both literally and figuratively.

For the first time this season, let’s open up the notebook to run through three trends that have caught my eye during week one:

Bennedict Mathurin’s physical drives

Somewhere, as you read this article, no matter when you do it, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is zigzagging into someone’s defense.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing a basketball game right now, at this hour, mired in never-ending matches that are their apparent punishment for a championship season. Each of their first two contests has fallen into double-overtime, an NBA first. And especially during Thursday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers, the reigning MVP couldn’t stay away from the h

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