NBA 2016/17: 5 things we learnt from the opening week

LeBron has begun from where he left off last season

The NBA season is finally underway and we’ve already seen some mighty performances through the opening week. From 50-point outbursts to career nights for the ages, from triple-doubles to tactical thrashings. It’s a long road ahead but some performances, some strategies, some moments have already set the tone for how thrilling this season is going to be.

If you thought the road to the championship was a mere formality and the champions could well be crowned already, think again, and think hard!

On that note, take a look at 5 things we learnt from the opening week of the NBA:

#1 LeBron is still the King of the East

If there still was any doubt left on who the gatekeeper of the East was, LeBron answered that with a triple-double in the season opener, following that up with two solid games, one of which saw him play Center in Tyronn Lue’s latest experiment.

LeBron finished the opening week with averages of 21 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Cavs may not have faced the most dangerous of opponents in the new look New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic, but with a hard fought win against last year’s Eastern Conference Finalists in the Toronto Raptors, the King and the Cavs are hitting the right chords early on.

LeBron may not match his career average when it comes to scoring, but the offense will flow right through him while he’s on court. With minutes’ restrictions on the cards, he may not have an MVP-esque season statistically, but we all know that once playoff time looms, who the Cavs Go-To man will be.

We’re still through only 3 games of 82 in the regular season for the Cavs, but the King definitely looks all set to defend his throne, both as an individual and as the leader of the defending champions.