**A Thrilling Start to the NBA Season: Winners, Losers, and Overreactions**

The NBA's first week has been packed with excitement, surprises, and strong performances, with several teams and players standing out. Let's break down some of the top highlights and key takeaways.

One of the major winners this week has been the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been pulverizing opponents with an impressive average margin of nearly 20 points per game. They comfortably sit at the top of the Western Conference standings with a 3-0 record, which includes a commanding victory over the Denver Nuggets in Denver. Chet Holmgren has been a standout, averaging 23.7 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game. The Thunder's performance has been especially notable given that Isaiah Hartenstein has yet to join the lineup.

The Los Angeles Lakers also emerged as one of the week's big winners, appearing vastly improved compared to last season. Under J.J. Redick's guidance, the Lakers boast a flawless 3-0 record. Anthony Davis has been a force to reckon with, averaging 34 points, 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. The Lakers' revamped offensive strategies and solid defense make them a team to watch.

The Celtics are off to a strong start as well, with Jayson Tatum averaging 33 points per game on impressive shooting percentages. Meanwhile, the Clippers have found an unexpected star in Ivica Zubac, who is capitalizing on increased opportunities in the absence of Kawhi Leonard. Zubac is averaging 22.7 points on 59.2% shooting, along with a league-leading 14 rebounds per game.

But it's not all good news. Some teams and players have struggled out of the gate. The Denver Nuggets, despite Nikola Jokić's brilliance, have seen poor results. Russell Westbrook's shooting woes and Jamal Murray's continued regression have contributed to their challenges. The Nuggets are also feeling the absence of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown, affecting their overall performance and offensive spacing.

The Philadelphia 76ers, expected to be championship contenders, are facing difficulties too. Injuries to Paul George and Joel Embiid have left Tyrese Maxey carrying much of the load, resulting in inefficient scoring despite high individual numbers. This isn't a sustainable model for success, and the team will need to adjust quickly to avoid further setbacks.

The Milwaukee Bucks have also had a challenging start, losing to less formidable teams like Chicago and Brooklyn. Despite having Giannis Antetokounmpo and a presumably healthy Damian Lillard, the Bucks' back-to-back losses raise questions about their consistency and competitiveness this season.

Among the biggest overreactions from the first week are concerns about the Lakers' true potential and whether the Bucks are already in trouble. It's too early to make definitive judgments, but these initial performances certainly provide plenty of food for thought. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see which of these early trends hold true and which prove to be mere anomalies.