The 75th season of the NBA finally commenced, and there’s much talk about their all-time team.
Fans shared their two cents worth on which players deserved to be on the list while some defended controversial choices.
However, that was not the only surprise that the league dished out early in the season.
The NBA’s 75 (76*) Greatest Players Ever list: pic.twitter.com/it0cVQyZFQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2021
Some teams looked as if they were in midseason form while other expected contenders struggled to find their spots.
The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and there’s a long way to go before the playoff picture develops
But given that the race just started, here are the biggest storylines throughout opening weekend.
3. Charlotte Hornets Start 3-0
Granted that it’s a small sample size, the Charlotte Hornets handily defeated the Kyrie Irving-less Brooklyn Nets.
LaMelo Ball is shaping up to be the team’s leader after favoring Ish Smith to stay on the floor for the fourth quarter because of his hot shooting.
Ball could not care less about getting huge numbers as long as they get the victory.
However, during their season-opener against the Indiana Pacers, he had his shining moment, wherein he finished with 31 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
🏀 FINAL SCORE THREAD 🏀
Miles Bridges (32 PTS, 9 REB) leads the way as the @hornets win the matinee matchup in Brooklyn!
LaMelo Ball: 18 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST
Ish Smith: 15 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
Cody Martin: 12 PTS, 5 AST
Kevin Durant: 38 PTS pic.twitter.com/ZXriLVdL9i— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2021
The Hornets are hardly a one-person team because Smith, Kelly Oubre, Miles Bridges, and Gordon Hayward contribute to maintaining their balanced offense.
Charlotte’s 3-0 start is more surprising than the Chicago Bulls’ 3-0 ru because Chicago was dominant during the preseason.
Likewise, they defeated a Detroit Pistons team with no true superstar and a Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans.
The Hornets’ defeat of Brooklyn makes their flawless run more impressive.
2. Are The Golden State Warriors Back?
Stephen Curry remained a consistent fixture for the Golden State Warriors amidst the chaos surrounding the team for two seasons.
He continued to be the marksman he is, and he’s not relinquishing his crown as the game’s best shooter anytime soon.
He’s averaging 31 points per game while leading the Warriors to victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings.
But aside from the two-time NBA MVP, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and Damion Lee contribute to the Warriors’ offensive attack as well.
Davion Mitchell meet Steph Curry … pic.twitter.com/R5YCakcxj6
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 25, 2021
Imagine how good they will be once Klay Thompson regains his old form.
His return could spark the second chapter of the Warriors dynasty.
However, it’s hard to see them returning to the postseason once the injuries start to pile up again.
Yet so far, Golden State is making a statement not to count them out.
1. Trouble In La-La Land
This item goes both for the Lakers and the Clippers.
The Clippers continue to be without Kawhi Leonard, who still has no definite timetable for his return.
Paul George, Reggie Jackson, and Eric Bledsoe hold the fort for the Clippers, but they still fall short.
They had a chance to reverse their losing trend against the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, it’s hard to bank on a win without their leader.
The Clippers lost, but Paul George was an absolute monster. 😤 pic.twitter.com/zxndsjtMYY
— theScore (@theScore) October 24, 2021
On the other hand, in-fighting among the Lakers isn’t a good sign to start the season.
Of course, these veterans will find a way to co-exist and play as a cohesive unit.
Unfortunately, they must shake off their egos and determine where they fit in Frank Vogel’s system.
The Lakers finally got into the win column against the Memphis Grizzlies but gave up 40 points to Ja Morant.
Ja Morant had a chance to tie the game but missed the free throw and the Lakers got the win 😧 pic.twitter.com/Uw2tOtExbR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 25, 2021
Sustaining fresh legs will be a challenge for the oldest team this season.
But once they all play on the same page, the purple and gold are scary.
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