Hardwood Highlights • Updated on October 16, 2026

Opening Week: Watch the Habits Before the Standings

The regular season begins October 20. The first useful evidence is in the details.

The following is independent Hardwood Highlights analysis.

Start with a possession

Before assigning a team an identity, watch how its possessions begin. Who brings the ball up? Where does the first screen arrive? Is the weak-side player moving with a purpose? Those details establish whether the offense is creating advantages or waiting for someone to improvise.

Then watch the response

A defense tells us something when its first plan fails. After a switch or a rotation, does somebody organize the next assignment? When a shot goes up, do players locate opponents before chasing the rebound? These are useful viewing questions even when early shooting percentages swing wildly.

Give experiments enough room

Opening-week basketball mixes preparation with discovery. A lineup may deserve another look after a poor shooting night if it generated good chances and defended with discipline. An impressive win can still contain problems worth tracking. Keep a short notebook of repeated actions, then revisit those observations after several games. That approach gives the season room to develop without making the first result carry the weight of a final verdict.