After an offseason highlighted by vaccine controversy and a Ben Simmons holdout, the 2021-22 NBA season is set to tip-off this Tuesday.
The 75th NBA season is here‼️
Who will dethrone Giannis and the Bucks? pic.twitter.com/YkVynLNvzK
— ESPN (@espn) October 19, 2021
Chicago had a splashy offseason with the additions of Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan.
Los Angeles found a third star to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis by trading for Russell Westbrook.
And Brooklyn surrounded their Big 3 of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving with quality depth.
All of it crescendos when the Brooklyn Nets face off against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.
That is followed up by a late-night marquee matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
There are plenty of great games scheduled for opening week.
Here are three that fans should make sure they’re in front of a TV to watch.
3. Golden State Warriors At Los Angeles Lakers
Milwaukee versus Brooklyn should be another great opening night matchup, but Kyrie Irving will not be playing.
Irving being out takes away some of the star power from that game.
Instead, we look to the late game – Lakers versus Warriors.
Westbrook will be making his regular-season debut alongside James and Davis.
Lakers 360 😍 pic.twitter.com/VKeJHlihkr
— NBA Latam (@NBALatam) October 13, 2021
Pundits and media personnel will be watching closely to see the initial fit between those three stars.
Will there be enough spacing on offense?
Can Westbrook and James coexist as ball-dominant stars?
Will Davis accept his role as playing more minutes at center?
On the other side of the court, Steph Curry will begin his encore on last season’s remarkable run.
The 33-year-old point guard led the NBA in scoring last year by pouring in 32 points per game.
He did so while slashing .482/.421/.916 and taking and making career highs in threes (12.7 and 5.3, respectively).
Curry and the Warriors will be looking to make one last run with their original core.
Especially with Klay Thompson hopefully set to return to the court sometime this year.
The Lakers and Warriors will provide plenty of star power and firepower in what should be an exciting opening game.
There’s also the mini rivalry between LeBron and the Warriors that formed during James’ second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The second leg of the opening night doubleheader is must-see TV.
2. Milwaukee Bucks At Miami Heat
Miami was somewhat of a disappointment last season.
They brought back many of the key pieces that fueled their surprising Finals run in the bubble two years ago.
But the Heat never rediscovered their Disney magic.
A slow start to the season saw them sitting at .500 by the All-Star break – good for sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Miami finished the regular season stronger, but still finished in sixth place and got swept by the Bucks in the first round.
The Heat will get a chance at revenge at home to start the season when the Bucks visit Miami on Thursday.
Jimmy Butler and Co. will be joined by title-winning point guard Kyle Lowry this time around.
“The Heat have 3 All-Stars this season. Adebayo is going to be more than deserving, and coaches love Butler and Lowry. The Heat will need to be a 3-seed or better when the All-Stars are voted on by the coaches, but I’ll predict all three make it.”
– The Athletic’s Zach Harper pic.twitter.com/ZNDZEDSokx
— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCom) October 18, 2021
The 15-year veteran was acquired in a sign-and-trade this offseason.
Lowry, along with other acquisitions PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris, will help Miami try to prove their bubble run was no fluke.
Exacting some revenge against the defending NBA champs on opening night would be a strong opening statement.
1. Brooklyn Nets At Philadelphia 76ers
Any of the four games between the Nets and Philadelphia 76ers this season should be a must-watch for NBA fans.
If both teams have their full rosters playing, there are few matchups that feature more stars.
Durant, Harden, Irving, Joel Embiid, and Simmons are five of the NBA’s best.
Durant, Harden, and Embiid are arguably three of the top ten.
While it remains to be seen whether Irving suits up, there’s a chance that Simmons will be playing.
He has been suspended for their opener Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, but Friday against the Nets seems more promising.
76ers have suspended Ben Simmons for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2021
Matchup aside, it would be the first home game of the season for the Sixers.
And the first time Simmons will play in front of Philadelphia fans since the infamous Game 7 last summer.
He will be greeted with a boisterous welcome from the hometown fans, and not in a good way.
There’s no love lost between Simmons and the Philly faithful.
Simmons feels he never got enough support from the fans and allegedly never wants to play another game in Philadelphia ever again – even as a member of another team.
And the fans feel like he never tried to improve on the weaknesses in his game – namely shooting.
If Simmons does play, the Nets versus Sixers will be appointment viewing.
The fireworks will start early and should continue until the final whistle.
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