Paul George, LA Clippers.
Happy first week of the regular season, NBA fans! The preseason is finally over, and I’m sure many teams are happy about that. Before I leave behind the preseason, let’s take a look at how it ended. The result in just two of the preseason games I watched was funny because one team thought they were so great in how they were beating their opponent. Of course, I watched the Knicks/Cavaliers game. I also watched the Atlanta Hawks/Memphis Grizzlies game. Remember that old saying… “he who laughs last, laughs best.” My stomach hurt because I laughed so hard!
The last two preseason games for the New York Knicks were hilarious. The hilarity could be found on the shocked faces of the Cleveland Cavaliers! They were literally beating the brakes off the Knicks in their Wednesday night game. Laughing at them. Slapping five, pointing at the misses. With about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Tom Thibodeau was looking very sad, and I presume he threw his hands up as he threw the young players into the fire. With less than eight minutes to go, Immanuel Quickley, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, and Obi Toppin went to work!
I wasn’t watching the game, so I turned it off. I fussed and cussed and couldn’t understand how a team with William Worldwide Wesley and every one of the best scouts and coaches in the NBA could play exactly the same as last year, losing. Watching the tape (of course, I taped it.) I was stunned at how wrong I was and how the new coaches, particularly Kenny Payne, were actually doing a fantastic job. Twenty-fifth draft pick Immanuel Quickley led the team from 17 points down to a seven-point win. Making Kevin Knox II look good at the same time!
In the next game this past Friday, Thibs allowed the young Quickley to start. Actually, through “coach’s decision,” he sat every point guard down, and Quickley had to start! I won’t take you through all of my yells and screams but suffice it to say, every Knicks starter had a positive plus/minus and every Cavaliers starter had a negative. Mitchell Robinson had no fouls and a plus 46! In the third quarter, the Knicks were actually leading by 49 points. Young Quickley, in his first NBA (preseason) start, had 22 points.
Another hilarious preseason game was Trae Young‘s Atlanta Hawks taking on Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were another team beating their opponent, laughing, slapping five, and jumping up in the air…until the fourth quarter. At one point in the third, the Hawks were losing 66-82. They came back from 19 down to defeat Morant and the Grizzlies by one. Now that’s something to laugh about!
The Portland Trailblazers had a great offseason. They did not have a great preseason. Now unfortunately for all Blazers fans, their season is done. Before they step out on the court, it’s over. On TNT’s season-opening day broadcast, Charles Barkley gave one of his jinxed premonitions. So sorry, Portland.
Quite frankly, I was very bored during the ring ceremony! King James got his ring. Number four. Then they allowed the Clippers and Paul George to beat them. The Clips did not beat them badly. Lebron and the L.A.L. start the defense of their championship with a loss. I wish I could add more about the game, but seriously, it was boring as heck!
Before the boring Lakers game was the boring Brooklyn Nets/Golden State Warriors game. Wow! KD and Kyrie beat Stephen Curry. No Klay, no Draymond. Just Steph, the rookie, and his role players. When are Durant and Irving going to play a full team…like Denver. The Eastern Conference is nowhere as strong as the Western Conference. Analysts, please hold your applause until Brooklyn plays a full team and not one gutted due to injury.
To the NBA fans out there, Happy Holidays to all, stay safe, and see you next week!
Again these comments are my personal opinions, and they do not reflect the opinions of Pacific Northwest Sports or their contributing writers.