We finally made it. All of the offseason talk, hot takes, and predictions are behind us, as NBA Opening Night is just a day away. On Tuesday, the league’s 79th season will begin, and the seven-month roller coaster that is the NBA will take its first turn.
The first matchup of opening night pits the two best teams in the Eastern Conference against each other as the New York Knicks look to send a message to the champs, the Boston Celtics. Then, it’s the old versus the new, as Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Los Angeles to face LeBron James and the Lakers. The two-game slate features some of the best players in the world, but how will it play out? What are the biggest storylines of Opening Night?
5 Biggest Questions Surrounding NBA Opening Night
Can the LeBron James and JJ Redick-led Lakers Actually Compete?
The Lakers are the most talked about team in basketball, and this past offseason was no different. First, it was the drama surrounding LeBron’s future. Next, they signed former player and podcaster JJ Redick as their new head coach. Then, they drafted Bronny James with the 55th pick in the NBA draft. Yet, although Lakers news dominated the sports talk shows, they didn’t do anything to actually get better. The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets last season due to the many glaring holes on their roster and will enter next season with those same problems. Their offense gets far too stagnant at times. Their defense is entirely reliant on an injury-prone Anthony Davis. There is a lack of depth and playmakers who can create their own shots.
In this upcoming season, the Lakers are banking on Redick to change the trajectory of the team, and hoping James and Davis can stay healthy for one more year. They need Austin Reaves to take another step forward as a lead guard and Max Christie to break through as a quality rotational wing. And even if these things do happen, I’m still not sure the Lakers can compete with the elite teams in the West. That is what opening night will show us. Is there any reason for Lakers fans to have hope for the season?
Are the New and Improved Knicks Real Threats to the Celtic’s Throne?
Despite finishing as the two seed in the Eastern Conference last season, the Knicks decided they were still outside the contender pool. They decided that they were still a move away. So, the Knicks pushed their chips into the middle of the table and traded for Mikal Bridges. For a couple of weeks, the Nova Knicks were in full swing, and the power of friendship looked like it would engulf Madison Square Garden. But the Knicks still weren’t done. News came out that Mitchell Robinson would be out for a majority of the regular season, so the Knicks put even more assets on the line to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns. They said goodbye to Donte DiVincenzo and built a seemingly flawless starting five that they hope can contend with Boston.
Now, in the grand scheme of things, this one game on opening night holds little value. Regardless of who wins, the Celtics and Knicks will be just fine, likely both finishing as top three seeds in the East. But this game is an important opportunity for the Knicks to send a message. It’s an opportunity to let the Celtics know that there is real competition in the East this season and that it’s not going to be as easy as last year. This game will set the tone for the season and let the Celtics truly see what they are up against.
Did the Additions of Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle Make the Timberwolves Better or Worse?
One of the biggest surprises of last season was the emergence of Edwards and the Timberwolves. They finished the regular season with 56 wins, the third seed in the West, and then made a run to the Western Conference Finals. In the postseason, the Timberwolves dismantled Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in four games and then dethroned Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in seven. These two statement series had the Timberwolves’ hype train at an all-time high, mainly because people had been seeing flashes of Michael Jordan in Edward’s game. Yet, a disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks, and the momentum was lost; they couldn’t get over the hump. So then, in the fleeting moments of this offseason, the Timberwolves decided to drastically change things up and acquire DiVincenzo and Randle for KAT.
Randle is a two-time All-NBA player and brings toughness to the Timberwolves, which Towns didn’t have. DiVincenzo had a career year last year, shooting over 40 percent from three and averaging 15.5 points, and is motivated to be even better this year coming off the bench. His shooting ability should complement Edwards’ game perfectly, as he is the knockdown corner shooter that the Timberwolves have needed for years. However, the substitution of Randle for Towns in the starting lineup counteracts the added shooting of DiVincenzo. Randle shot 31% from three last season, and his isolation-heavy game will clog up the paint and limit Edward’s attacks on the rim. Having two non-shooters in the starting lineup, Randle and Rudy Gobert, might not work in today’s NBA. Nevertheless, opening night will provide insight into how the Timberwolves’ team will work and what that means for Edward’s fifth year in the league.
Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown?
Despite the ups and downs throughout the last seven years, they have played together, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have become one of the best duos in the league and are the defending NBA champions. Yet, there always has been, and there always will be, drama surrounding the Celtics’ star duo. The main question: who is the guy?
Tatum should enter next season with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. He didn’t win finals MVP last year. He was forced to the bench for Team USA and only given sympathy minutes to appease Celtics fans. He has constantly been critiqued and called overrated, as, despite winning a championship, people still question his ability to be the leader of a team. Yet Brown has also seen his share of disrespect. Team USA’s very public decision to select Derrick White over Brown most definitely rubbed the finals MVP the wrong way. He must feel disrespected and ignored. He must want to make Team USA regret their decision.
These two Celtic stars will enter next season wanting to silence their doubters. But what will this dynamic be like? Will Tatum be more aggressive and put together an MVP-caliber season to cement himself as a face of the league? Will Brown demand the ball more to show his ability as a 1A on a championship-level team? Or, can the two stars maintain the level of selflessness they had last season that resulted in a championship? The Celtics once again have the best roster in the league heading into next season; they just have to stay off social media and play their own game.
Will We See LeBron and Bronny Share the Court?
After a preseason game in which he scored 17 points and had three steals, Bronny’s stock is at an all-time high. Despite having a -37 plus-minus when on the court in the game, James showed flashes of his defensive ability and offensive potential. So, building off of James’ big game, the headlines of opening night will be all about his possible debut alongside his father. During the entire game, the camera will be panning to Bronny on the bench as we wait for his first steps onto the court. Although he will likely have no impact on the actual basketball aspect of opening night, he may be the most talked about player on social media come the following morning. When arguably the greatest player of all time could be playing alongside his son, it is the biggest storyline in basketball. One can only hope that the Lakers get Bronny’s first minutes out of the way as soon as possible so he can develop in the G-League and learn what it takes to be an NBA player.
Tatum, Brown, and Jalen Brunson. LeBron, AD, and Edwards. Opening Night will feature the best players in basketball, so make sure you have a working TV and a clear schedule for Tuesday.
Main Image: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
