We are just about a month into the NBA season, and some trends are starting to stand out. Keeping an eye on them now can tell us a lot about how the early part of the season might take shape.

That's what this column is about. We'll start with a high-altitude view of the league and then zoom in on the details that matter.

One of the biggest stories revolves around Victor Wembanyama , who is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks with a calf strain. The timing is unfortunate because he was on pace for career highs in PPG (26.2), RPG (12.9), APG (4.0) and field-goal percentage (50.2%), and he currently leads the league in BPG (3.6).

With Wembanyama on the court, the Spurs have a 105.5 defensive rating, which would rank second in the league behind Oklahoma City. With him off, it rises t

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