Maybe Dwyane Wade’s nickname really should be ‘3’

Good morning! Let’s basketball.

THE ‘THREE’ ALPHAS: The revamped Bulls were supposed to have no shooting. Instead, they nailed 11 threes, including a Dwyane Wade dagger, to hold off the feisty Celtics in their season opener. Jimmy Butler was all too happy to rub our skepticism in our faces. Maybe this can actually work? My response would be: let’s see y’all do that 81 more times.

ALWAYS PRACTICE: As the rest of the players went over to break up a Butler/Jae Crowder scuffle, Wade got some practice threes in. Maybe that’s why he was able to put the game away.

GET YOUR SCORES HERE: Thursday’s action

ATL 114 WAS 99

CHI 105 BOS 99

SA 102 SAC 94

LAC 114 POR 106

MORE OF THESE, PLEASE: Clippers-Blazers was feisty in the TNT nightcap, but L.A. did enough to hold the fort for an eight-point road victory. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul looked like their old selves and Griffin even nailed a three-pointer for good measure. We feel bad for that kid who looked petrified when Mason Plumlee landed on him.

LOVE THE AMBITION: The Kings opened their beautiful new Golden 1 Center with a spirited eight-point loss to the Spurs. Already, they’re talking about bidding on the 2020 All-Star Game while possibly bringing in cruise ships to make up for their hotel shortage.

HOUSTON, WE NO LONGER HAVE A PROBLEM: Dwight Howard dominated the paint and the Hawks beat the Wizards after Washington imploded in the fourth quarter. John Wall shot 3-15 from the field and committed five turnovers, while Bradley Beal struggled with foul trouble. Not a great start for Wall’s quest to get Beal onto the All-Star team.

ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE: TNT will have Kevin Garnett join Inside the NBA starting next week. A free idea for the Turner people: have KG and Shaq arm wrestle and post it on Facebook Live.

SUUUURE: The 76ers fan that flipped the double bird at Russell Westbrook claims he was provoked when Westbrook called him fat.

IS THIS NORMAL? Kevin Durant shouted out his critics, or something, while going through a post-practice shooting drill. “They told me I ain’t have no drive! I’m out here. They called me a coward! Putting in work!” I’m actually yelling at myself too while writing this sentence. “They say I don’t get this newsletter out as early as Ziller!”

YUP: The Knicks’ focus has to be on developing Kristaps Porzingis more effectively, writes Chris Mannix.

HOW CAN YOU NOT ROOT FOR THIS GUY? ESPN’s Pablo Torre does a wonderful job telling the story of Miami’s Tyler Johnson while weaving in the larger structural dilemmas that are represented by his new $50 million contract.

PROCESS THIS: Joel Embiid was worth the wait for the 76ers.

AMEN: The Pelicans need to give Anthony Davis the help he needs.

MAYBE? There could be some light at the end of a dark tunnel for the Lakers.

CO-SIGN: The NFL should take a page out of the NBA and let their players enjoy themselves.

READ THIS: Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indy Star catches up with Greg Oden, who admits he’s still figuring this whole life thing out after injuries wrecked his NBA career.

ANTHEM-GATE UPDATE: Friend of the program John Gonzalez provides some new details on why the 76ers prohibited Sevyn Streeter from singing the national anthem in a “We Matter” uniform. Liberty Ballers (correctly) called the fiasco an “embarrassment.”

THEY’RE BACK: The first Spurs HEB commercials of the new season.

Tom will return next week. Thanks for putting up with me. Until next time.