There are simpler minds that “contribute” to this space that would have wanted you to believe that Tuesday night was the NBA’s opening night. And I suppose technically that’s true. Two games were indeed played and were showcased on a network that is currently preparing a lawsuit to remain part of the landscape.
Sure, a lot of people tuned in. AWFUL ANNOUNCING’s Drew Lerner quickly confirmed that fact late yesterday:
The first night of potentially the final season of the NBA on TNT got off to a strong start for the network.
Tuesday’s NBA Opening Night on TNT averaged 3 million viewers for its doubleheader featuring the defending champion Boston Celtics against the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. The telecast was up 6% versus Opening Night in 2023 which featured the Lakers taking on the then-defending champion Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns taking on the Golden State Warriors. Per the network, Tuesday’s Knicks-Celtics opener drew the largest audience for an early window game on Opening Night in seven years.
But the problem I have with such a focused lens on just two locations is that we are tempted to jump to conclusions that may or may not have any bearing on what the marathon ahead will actually bring. Yes, the Celtics are good, but are they going to hit 29 3-pointers every night? Sure, the Lakers of J.J. Redick may not be quite as terrible as many feared, but to anoint them as one of the West’s best just because they happened to upset the Minnesota Timberwolves on an emotionally charged night in downtown LA as so many pundits did yesterday?
Sorry not sorry, as some simpler minds might protest, but to me that’s not how REAL NBA basketball fans roll.
Real NBA fans live for overloaded schedules and the return of League Pass MIX, where we can transform our living room screens into a de facto sports book, without the actual need to gamble on anything. Real NBA fans can watch in true ADD style and notice plays and players only when truly noteworthy, not when well-intentioned national announcers want us to.
I identified quite a bit with the emotions expressed by THE ATHLETIC’s Zack Harper in his BOUNCE newsletter earlier this morning:
Could you feel it last night? The overwhelming flood of basketball games you tried to consume? Didn’t it feel great? Throwing four games into the multiview on League Pass, having the national games on a separate screen and trying to drop witty and insightful jokes into multiple group chats full of takes and denials. The first full night of the NBA season hit us, and it was glorious.
Well, maybe glorious for Harper. As for me, it was more than a little frustrating. Every single one of the teams I had even a remote rooting interest in proceeded to come up short. Harper succinctly recaps how my night went:
Suns 116, Clippers 113: There was a moment, in the third quarter, when it felt like Houston James Harden was playing for the Clippers. The 35-year-old former MVP dropped 16 of his 29 points right after halftime and was cooking the Suns. Then, Durant and Devin Booker brought Phoenix back in the fourth before Bradley Beal helped close it out in overtime. People love the new Clippers arena, though.
Hawks 120, Nets 116: This was a fun game! Ben Simmons looked ok! Trae Young had 30 points and 12 dimes. Cam Thomas put up 36 on his way to this season’s scoring title. We had pushing and shoving and a flagrant-2 ejection for Nic Claxton.
Pelicans 123, Bulls 111: No Zion. No Trey Murphy III. Oh, and remember Murray got hurt. No problem for New Orleans, though.
Warriors 139, Blazers 104: Portland, you’ve already got Sam Vecenie’s mock draft link bookmarked.
Magic 116, Heat 97: Orlando put this one to bed after halftime with a 39-18 third quarter. Paolo Banchero (21 years old) was dominant with 33 points and 11 rebounds. Contract Year Jimmy Butler had three points on 1-for-8 shooting.
And the latter on a night when the Kasera Center’s court was named in Pat Riley’s honor no less, while he and his family were still very much alive and well to appreciate it.
No, it wasn’t a very enjoyable night results-wise. But the great thing about it is that when there’s that much volume in a season destined to eventually reach “who cares” status as nights grow colder and longer there’s little time to focus on the negatives. The Clippers will possibly be able to close out a foe or two. The Heat won’t necessarily crap the bed every night. The Blazers might actually win a game. The Bulls? Well, you’re certain to know a lot more about their noble battle for a tenth seed in ensuing weeks.
We’ll watch. We’ll react. But we’ll try not to OVERreact. That’s what REAL NBA fans do, right?
Courage…