The wait is over! NBA basketball is here after the first regular off-season in three years. As we count down the hours until tonight’s opening two games, we have got to make sure you get the correct viewing experience.
While you’re tuned into the Boston vs. Philadelphia and Los Angeles vs. Golden State matchups, don’t only watch the games for the action, watch for the storylines. And in both matchups, there are plenty of them to follow.
Before the ball is thrown in the air, we go over five different things you should be watching for during tonight’s two openers.
Anthony Davis' Health
We’ve heard many complaints about the Lakers over the past couple of seasons, and chief among them is Anthony Davis’ inability to stay healthy on the court. So, it couldn’t have felt good for fans to sit through preseason games that A.D. ended up missing during this preseason as he dealt with a back problem.
But Davis did look good in the preseason games he played in. Like, REALLY good. And there’s a reason to be excited about what he’ll bring to the table this year.
Let’s all keep an eye on him tonight, though, and see how he’s moving around. It’ll be a physical game as he’ll likely have a matchup with Draymond Green.
How the Fans Receive Draymond Green
Speaking of Draymond, he’s had quite the last couple of weeks. From punching Jordan Poole to not getting the contract extension that his teammates got, it’s easy to assume he’s ready to move past the off-season and start playing basketball.
And as Draymond gets his championship ring tonight and is introduced to the Chase Center crowd, I’m very interested in how they’ll receive him. Is he going to get booed or cheered? I want to see it!
James Harden's Burst
James Harden lost a ton of weight this off-season. He joked he lost 100 pounds.
While he didn’t drop that much weight, he does look to be in better shape. Now, we have to wait and see if he’s got that “burst” back so he can drive by defenders in the way that he used to. If he can’t, we’ll need to be prepared for a ton of dribble-stepback threes and plenty of pick-and-rolls with Joel Embiid.
I’m hoping we get a little of the old Harden back.
Russell Westbrook's Minutes
If there’s one topic that’s been hotter than Anthony Davis’ health, it’s been Russell Westbrook’s…well, his everything. Can he fit alongside LeBron James? Can he shoot better? When will he get traded? How much will he play? All questions that still don’t have answers.
However, it has been determined that Russ will come off the bench. He left the final preseason game early with an injury, but it looks like he’ll play tonight. So, now the question is if Westbrook will embrace his role off the bench. If so, what’s his on-court play going to look like?
We could get a glimpse tonight of how it may look for a while.
Leadership Amidst Ime Udoka's Absence
The NBA’s biggest off-season story was easily Ime Udoka’s situation. And with him being suspended for the entire season, one can only wonder who is going to lead the Celtics the way that he did a season ago.
Will it be Marcus Smart that ends up being the vocal leader? Will Jayson Tatum step into that role? Or how about interim coach Joe Mazzulla?
Whoever it ends up being will have some big shoes to fill in helping Boston reach the heights they’re expected to.
