The first week of the season has come and gone. The teams are out of the gate and will soon find their rhythms, regain their legs, configure their line-ups and we'll see them settle into their conference ranks. There were some great performances, great shots, and big moments in the first week, the kind that made me glad basketball is back;
1. Rookie Michael Carter Williams and the undermanned, alleged tanking 76ers! They are a perfect 3-0 right now, and while the seasons only started two of their wins came against the Heat and the Bulls, probably the two highest projections to win the east by season's end. MCW has led the team in their victories and makes you wonder at what point the front office reminds him they are trying to have a modest season with a high lottery ending.
2. The Lakers taking the first meeting against the Clippers. Their bench played amazing, really showing some hustle in grit and scoring 41 points in the fourth quarter alone. The Lakers have since lost to the Warriors and Spurs, landing them at 2 & 2 with their win over the Hawks. Still probably a long shot for the playoffs but it was nice to see them outwork the Clippers.
3. The Splash brothers, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, stepping up into the spotlight. In the season opener against the Lakers Thompson went for 38 pts and the next night in a close loss to the Clippers, Curry putting up 38 pts himself, going toe to toe with Chris Paul in what was a great offensive face off. Curry's pull up three on a fast break with Iguadala ahead of him, and the subsequent foul by Jared Dudley leading to the 4 pt play was one of the craziest basketball things I've seen in a while. True poise
4. Roy Hibbert pulling in seven blocks and 16 rebaunds in the Pacers season opener against Orlando, adding to the Pacers total of 18 for the game. To say that team is a sleeper wouldn't be right, people have definitely been made aware, but I'm not sure teams are really ready for what the Pacers bring to the table in regards to size and toughness.
5. Dwight Howard grabbed an amazing 26 rebounds in his Rockets debut. Maybe this WILL be as good as everyone believed it would be.
6. Bill Russell finally being honored with a statue in Boston. A long time coming for the most dominant player to have ever done it and one of the most underrated humanitarians to have been in the league. A true leader by example both on and off the court. Very long overdue.
7. Kevin Love's big fall away three pointer to send the Timberwolves season opener against the Magic into overtime, and an eventual win for the T-Wolves.
8. Not a great moment but one worth mentioning from the Nuggets home opener against the Trailblazers. During their pre-game introductions the Nugget's mascot, Rocky, was lowered to the court on a cable and he was unconscious for the entire act, resulting in his lifeless body slumping on the court like a pile of clothes as horrified fans looked on in shock. Rocky was later confirmed alright, passing out as the result of a dizzy spell.
9. There was a moment in the first half of the Clippers' win over the Warriors in which DeAndre Jordan got the ball in the high post and was wide open, not a defender within seven feet of him. It was only about two seconds, but you got to see his gears turning. He knew the defense was daring him to shoot and he knew how good an opportunity it was, for anyone but him. It was a great moment in self actualization and I was glad to see to it and even more so that DeAndre passed it off. His range and ability to be a dynamic scorer is a big key to the Clippers making it over their hump.
10. Derrick Rose! The Bulls suffered an agonizing loss to the Heat in their season opener, putting a damper on what was a big return for the NBA but were able to avenge it Friday night in their home opener against the Knicks. A close, low scoring game, Rose hit a swift floating fall away jumper that only he, maybe Tony Parker, could pull out. The Knicks knew he'd be the man taking the shot, but it was a move that despite a great defensive effort was just going to be willed in.
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