Halloween is nearly here, so naturally sports fans are salivating. The baseball season is winding down (and 17 people are watching), football is in midseason form, Wayne Rooney is getting paid (and paying prostitutes), Alex Ovechkin and friends have a few weeks on the ice under their belts and the NBA season tipped off the other night.
With all the drama surrounding LeBron and his South Beach crew, there seems to be a little more interest than normal in the NBA this year. While the season is 82 games long and no one likes the guy who predicts a Nets championship after one win, it's too fun not to build outlandish expectations after the first two days. I mean, you can't hand Brett Favre a cell phone and expect him not to take pictures of Favre Jr.
So take what you will from it, but here's what we learned so far...
1. Neither the Heat or the Celtics are going 82-0 this year.
While LeBron James led an admirable comeback in Bean Town on Tuesday night, the Heat still fell to the defending Eastern Conference champs. And although Miami showed signs of being The Dream Team the media so desperately wants them to be in their win against the Sixers, I think most now realize it's going to take some time for the new Big 3 to gel.
Meanwhile, LeBron's old friends up in Cleveland did what LeBron struggled to do the past two years - beat the Celtics. After Boston looked defensively dominant in their season-opening win over the Heat, they followed it up by laying an egg against the Cavaliers (led by J.J. Hickson). Really Boston? Really? J.J. Hickson beat you? Bill Simmons cannot be pleased.
2. Could the Blazers be a darkhorse out in the West?
No one is questioning the talent in Portland. Brandon Roy and Andre Miller make up one of the more underrated backcourts in the league, and who knows what could happen if LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden stay healthy. While Lindsay Lohan has a better chance at becoming a credible actress (can you say prison porno) than the Blazers staying healthy all year, maybe they can at least avoid the big injuries. If Roy and Oden can suit up together for at least 60-70 games, there's no reason why Portland can't challenge for the #2 spot in the West. Because who really thinks the Lakers aren't going to be back in the Finals this year with Steve Blake running the show (Terp love). While beating the fading Suns (unoriginal pun intended) isn't saying much, the Blazers' road win against the Clippers is more impressive than some may think. Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon are the real deal.3. Point guards continue to dominate the NBA.
While NBA cynics complain about an overly-offensive style because most teams don't play defense until April, something has to be said for just how difficult it is to stop these offenses. Kobe, LeBron or Kevin Durant is more than likely going to win the MVP, but what these point guards do is absurd. Over the past three years, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Deron Williams have been interchangeable atop the assist leaderboard with around 11 per game. Again, it's only a game or two into the year, but look at these numbers...
Jason Kidd put up 18 assists in the Mavericks first game, and he only played 32 minutes (more NBA stars are already beating their wives in an effort to rejuvenate their careers). Rajon Rondo had 17 when he carved up the Heat Tuesday night. And Chris Paul put aside his offseason issues with 16 assists in his season opener as well. You never want to count out Steve Nash, but the Suns sans-Amare just aren't the same. I guess Nelly Furtado will have to find a new favorite Canadian to sing about. My vote's for Jim Carrey. Was there a funnier movie than Ace Ventura when you were 10 years old?
But maybe this means a changing of the guard (more bad puns) at the position. Rondo showed everyone what he could do last year in the postseason, but Stephen Curry dished out 11 assists last night and Brandon Jennings's sweet hair accounted for 10 assists too. Aaron Brooks and Mike Conley were solid with eight assists apiece in their openers. I know I'm stretching when I'm talking about Ohio St. basketball players, but I haven't even gotten to Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and Russell Westbrook. The young point guard talent deserves some love. Dish it out little fella (Bill Walton voice obviously necessary here)!
We can only hope David Stern comes to his senses and does what is necessary to prevent another NBA lockout. If not, how else are we going to get to see Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson butcher the English language every night?
Smoke more weed, Turtle. Seriously, smoke more weed.
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