Jordon Canada
Staff Writer
What was perhaps the most anticipated NBA season in league history tipped off Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. After much player movement this past offseason many fans were left with enthusiasm and others with frustration. The first game featured the two teams that have been the center of attention this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.
After Lebron didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years the Lakers made a move to acquire Anthony Davis and traded away Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks. It would seem that after obtaining two of the most dominant all-around players in the NBA the Lakers would be the favorite in the West or at least in Los Angeles, but the Los Angeles Clippers had other plans.
The Clippers, with a hall of fame coach in Doc Rivers, and an already deep roster which includes the best sixth man in the game Lou Williams and one of the best defensive players in the league Patrick Beverly, signed two big-name free agents in the offseason in Paul George and the reigning finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
So that is where the season began the battle for Los Angeles. It was a back and forth game early, but the Clippers played with a certain confidence and control even when they were down on the scoreboard. Lou Williams and the fifth-year man from Louisville Montrezl Harrell ran a nearly unstoppable pick and roll all game. Leonard led all players with 30 points and got the win with a final score of 112 – 102.
After watching the season opener, Greg Smith, a senior ethnic study major from Jackson, Miss. said, “the Clippers have the potential to go all the way, however with the west being as stacked as it is I see them getting upset in the second or third round.”
The second game of the night was between the reigning champions the Toronto Raptors and the young New Orleans Pelicans. Most of the hype surrounding this game was centered around the first round phenom Zion Williamson who wasn’t able to make his regular-season debut because of a knee injury that could cause him to miss the first few weeks of the season.
In Williamson’s absence, the Pelicans played fairly well but the defending champs were too much to handle offensively. The Raptors who are without a superstar after the departure of Kawhi Leonard had two guys who might be ready to step into that roll in Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakim who both finished with 34 points in the 130 – 122 overtime win over New Orleans.
On the east coast, another overtime game was played between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are another team that had high expectations entering the season after a productive offseason where they signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. With Durant still in recovery from his Achilles injury, it is Irving’s team and he proved it by dropping 50 points in the opener.
Despite Irving’s high scoring, the Grizzlies never backed down as they were led by their rookie point guard out of Murray State Ja Morant. Morant and Irving battled all game long, but as time expired in the fourth Morant drove for a clutch layup to tie the game and on the other end blocked Irving’s shot to send the game to overtime. In overtime, the Grizzlies Joe Crowder hit a buzzer-beater off an assist from Morant to defeat the Nets 134 – 133.
The Dallas Mavericks looked good early with their new duo of Luca Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, and the Atlanta Hawks Trae Young has taken a step forward as he is averaging 34 points per game through the first 3 games, second to only Kyrie Irving.
The Houston Rockets started their season 3-1, and their new edition Russell Westbrook has already edited the record books early this season. In the win over the Pelicans, Westbrook finished the game with 28 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. Westbrook obtained his 139th career triple-double, surpassing Magic Johnson. Westbrook is now only second in career triple-doubles to Oscar Robinson who has 181.
After nearly a decade of super teams, the NBA’s talent is as spread out as it has been since Lebron James took his talents to south beach. 2019 could be one of the most entertaining seasons in league history.
Matthias Wilson, a sophomore psychology major from Jackson, Miss believes, “This season should be fun and competitive. This is the first time since the early 2000’s where nearly every team had a chance to take it.”
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