5 talking points from week 1 of NBA Pre-Season
Every NBA franchise plays roughly 7-8 pre-season games for a number of reasons, majority of which are common for teams almost across all professional sports. The pre-season games begin a little over 3 weeks before the real deal, a grinding 82 games regular season.With just over two weeks remaining for opening night of the NBA, we have witnessed a week’s action so far in the pre-season.For a roster which has underwent a lot of changes like that of the Miami Heat, these 7-8 games are used by Head Coaches to empty the bench and find players off the bench best suited to play in the regular rotation of 9-10 players.On the other hand for rookie Head Coaches like Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher or head coaches who have signed with a new team, the pre-season is extremely crucial to get to know their new team better.Other than being easy on the starting five on every team and playing some games outside the country, the pre-season is known to have very few headlines however through one week of the NBA 2014-15 pre-season we already have a lot to talk about.Here are the 5 biggest headlines/ talking points from week one of the pre-season:
#5 Consequences of the Paul Pierce and Joakim Noah scuffle
With an intense but spectacular 2014 Playoffs and a lot of player movement during this off-season, there were some team rivalries that were re-igniting and some that were building in anticipation of being equally matched and having to fight for the same spot in the standing later in the season.
The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls were two teams of the latter case and there was tension in just the first pre-season game. Looks like both teams have not forgotten their extremely physical first-round match-up from last season.
Based on last season’s performance (the team won their first Playoff series in a decade) and the addition of veteran Paul Pierce to a young talented team, the Wizards were expected to have a great upcoming season.
Due to a scuffle between Pierce and Joakim Noah in the pre-season game, four Wizards including Nene Hilario were suspended for the first game of the regular season against the Miami Heat for leaving the bench during the scuffle. An unfortunate start to a season that many believed would be extremely successful for the franchise.