RealGM

3.1 ppg over last year and 2.2 ppg over 2022-23, which had the highest average team score since the 1960's. Not sure if last night's games are included in Basketball Reference's current numbers but they were high scoring as well.

The big difference is free throws. Teams are averaging 3.9 more FT attempts so far and hitting their FT's at a little higher rate. Pace is also up, as are turnovers.

So if anybody wondered what would happen if games were played at a higher pace with more fouls called, this is your year.

Maybe we'll see a regression the mean but it does look like something has changed with officiating.

Here's the data:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html

All by design to push a more entertaining product and hope fans get more excited to tune in and view high scoring games and 50pt explosions which are on the rise very early into the season.

On the flipside teams are getting reff'd, all around inconsistent officiating on both sides. Refs will call it light for one quarter then decide to let them play it out the next. I've witnessed it in various games. NBA should just change it to NBE, National Basketball Entertainment and get it over with.

League average ORTG is 115-116. That's basically where it's been the last few years.

Free throws. And we have 7 teams playing below .300 ball. Five of whom have a point differential in the -10 or more. I get the upcoming draft is full of talent, but man, some of these teams beginning the tank from Game 1 are just shameless.