Opening night in the NBA sees rings, drubbings and injuries
28th October 2014 – The day for the NBA season to tip-off had finally arrived.
The opening night of the season began where it ended last season back in San Antonio, Texas. Newly crowned NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs were given a symbol of their achievement- their championship rings. The Spurs players were not given enough time to cherish their newest championship banner go up to the rafters along with the four others in franchise history as their hardest competition from last season’s Playoffs, their state rivals the Dallas Mavericks were in the arena for a battle.
The double header saw the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Housotn Rockets in Staples Center, Los Angeles. It was the first time when Kobe Bryant faced Dwight Howard since the latter left the Lakers. The third game, predominantly a NBA League Pass regular was between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Orlando Magic.
San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks
Despite playing seven pre-season games, both teams were slow off the block taking almost half of the first quarter to get 10 points each. Nonetheless once they got going everything right from the intensity to the competitiveness to the standard of play was back to where we are accustomed to seeing in the NBA.
This game between the Mavericks and Spurs might have been the closest opening night games comprising of the champions that we might have ever witnessed. Down 1 point Chandler Parsons, the Mavericks off-season signing had a chances to clinch the game but failed to knock down what could have been a game winning three. Instead the defending chams literally escaped with a point win
Los Angles Lakers vs Houston Rockets
Everybody predicted that this would be another forgettable season for the Lakers and the first game at home on Tuesday showed that they were not wrong. The purple and gold franchise might have shuffled the roster this summer but injuries are still reluctant to leave their side. With Steve Nash already out for the entire season and Nick Young out for two months with a thumb injury it would be safe to say it couldn’t get any worse. However, during this first game of the season, it did.
In what was touted to be a competitive game which eventually turned into a blowout with the Rockets leading by 27 at one time. The game already lost, the things went from bad to worse when the Lakers 7th overall pick Julius Randle suffered a broken leg on his NBA debut. The rookie is now said to be out indefinitely.
Here’s the video of his injury.
New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic
A game not covered by the national television channels was dominated by the front court of the Pelicans. Dominated would be an understatement for their performance alone almost won the game for the team. By front court, not only the starting two but also the bench came up huge.
Anthony Davis, the team’s power forward had 26 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocks and 3 steals while Omer Asik the starting center had 14 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks. Ryan Anderson came off the bench and had 22 points. Among the rest of the others in the Pelicans, shooting guard Tyreke Evans had a fantastic game with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Speaking of big men, the Magic starting center Nikola Vucevic had a monstrous 23 rebounds along with 15 points and 4 blocks. Other than Tobias Harris the Magic were missing players who could consistent get something going on the offensive end.
If this was anything to go by then the Pelicans become strong Playoff candidates making the Western Conference tougher than it already is.