The NBA is officially back as two games are already in the books. The defending champion Toronto Raptors outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime in the opener while the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers in the first edition of the “Battle of Los Angeles” in the nightcap. After two great games on opening night, there are five major takeaways for the remainder of the NBA season.
The Top Five Takeaways from Opening Night in the NBA
1. The Los Angeles Clippers are For Real
The Clippers came away victorious Tuesday night at Staples Center. Despite being the home team on the scoreboard, it was obvious they were the “road” team, even in their own arena. They didn’t mind the hostile environment, though, and put on a showcase for the NBA world. Newly acquired superstar and reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard went for 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in his Clippers debut.
Even without Paul George, the Clippers looked like they could compete for a championship. Lou Williams (21 points, 7 assists), Montrezl Harrell (17 points, 7 rebounds), and Patrick Beverley (10 rebounds, 6 assists) all stepped up in George’s absence.
Overall, the Clippers backed up previously held assumptions about their 2019-20 squad. They are well-coached, deep, talented, and play ferocious defense. They may not be loaded with All-NBA talent, but they’ve got hustle and fundamentals. Though there is still an entire season to play, the Finals favorites did not disappoint in the opener.
2. Pascal Siakam may be Worth the Money
When Pascal Siakam signed a four-year max contract worth $130 million, many were skeptical. Though he won Most Improved Player last season, it was yet to be seen how he would function as the first option on a team. In his debut, he did not disappoint.
Siakam exploded for 34 points and 18 rebounds on the night, despite fouling out in the fourth quarter of an overtime game. Through two games, he leads the NBA in both categories.
Though he will need to maintain consistency to prove he’s worth a max deal, he proved why he was worth it to the Raptors. In the wake of Leonard’s departure, the franchise needed a new centerpiece. With just one game down, Siakam looks as if he could very well be that piece.
3. Former Toronto Raptors Showed Out
It was a good night to be a member of the 2018-19 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors team. Not only did the Raptors hang their first banner and present their title rings, but nearly all key pieces from last year’s squad had big games.
Outside of Leonard and Siakam in their aforementioned victories, two other members of the defending champions played great as well. Danny Green was perhaps the brightest star on the Lakers, despite sharing the stage with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Green notched 28 points on 77.8 percent shooting (7-for-9) from three-point range. He scored 19 of his points in the final 9:41 of the third quarter, single-handedly keeping the Lakers afloat in the stretch.
Fred VanVleet continued his post-child hot streak from last season, posting 34 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. He shot 67 percent from the field, including an impressive 71.4 percent clip from deep (5-for-7).
Overall, four of the key pieces from last year’s championship team proved the title run was no fluke. They were champions for a reason.
4. The New Orleans Pelicans have a Solid Future
The New Orleans Pelicans nearly notched a regulation win over the defending champions on the road but ended up falling short in overtime. However, the young squad showed plenty of promise. Brandon Ingram posted an impressive stat line of 22 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds but clocked in at a -19 for the game. Teammates J.J. Redick, Josh Hart, and rookie Nicolo Melli all had solid games as well.
Though Lonzo Ball did not have his best night, the young trio traded from the Lakers looked promising. Add in the fact that Zion Williamson was a non-participant, and the Pelicans start to look even more intriguing.
When Williamson finally makes his much-awaited NBA debut, fans will get a better idea of the future for the Pelicans. As it stands now, though, they look very promising.
5. The Los Angeles Lakers will be Fine
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to their in-city rival Clippers on opening night. The Clippers were without their second-best player in George, yet the Lakers still couldn’t find a way to win. James and Davis disappeared late while Green looked like the best player on the squad. Quinn Cook struggled to hit open shots and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was virtually a no-show.
But the Lakers will be just fine.
James and Davis are arguably the best duo in the NBA. Though they did not play their best, the outing is likely an anomaly. For their entire respective careers, they have been two of the best players in the league and fans should expect no different going forward.
Coming into this matchup, most expected the Lakers to struggle off the bench, which is a relative strength of the Clippers. That differential ended up deciding the game, as the Clippers reserves outpaced their opponents 60-19. The Lakers will likely struggle with quality depth for the remainder of the season, but most teams won’t be able to take advantage of the disparity as the Clippers did.
With 81 games remaining, it’s not quite time to hit the panic button on the Lakers.
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