It was the first night of the NBA season and the Warriors were already ruining sleep patterns by letting the Thunder -- without Russell Westbrook, mind you -- stick around until deep into the fourth quarter. Golden State eventually won 108-100 as Stephen Curry went for 32-8-9. But it wasn’t a terribly inspiring win -- in these circumstances (at home, no Westbrook, ring night), you’d expect a focused, conditioned Warriors team to take care of business a little more easily.
Have the Warriors ruined your sleep pattern yet?
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Steve Kerr admitted as much after the game, telling reporters the Warriors weren’t ready to play and aren’t in shape. The result: a close game that was never in doubt. The worst kind! It’s like a wearing anti-drama.
Look, Warriors. LeBron is playing for a West Coast team now. The Lakers aren’t, like you, one of the most dominant rosters ever assembled. That means we’re going to have a lot of must-watch 10:30 p.m. ET tip-offs. We need you to help out a little here. If you see a path to put a game away, please -- for the love of all that is holy -- do it. Just blow teams out when they are missing an All-NBA player and stand no reasonable chance. We’ll forgive you, I promise.
Scores Galore
PH 87, BOS 105
OKC 100, GSW 108
Schedule Check
On National TV:
Pelicans at Rockets, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Mavericks at Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Best League Pass early games:
Bucks at Hornets, 7 p.m. ET
Grizzlies at Pacers, 7 p.m. ET
Cavaliers at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET
Best League Pass late game:
Nuggets at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET
Links Galore
The Warriors’ championship rings are incredible (even by championship ring standards) and their ceremony was cool. I mean, there’s a little spot in there where Steph and KD can bury LeBron’s dreams of passing Jordan!
The Celtics are kind of terrifying. What a convincing win over the Sixers. They did it with Kyrie Irving having a horrible first half and Gordon Hayward playing limited minutes.
This bucket from Jaylen Brown over Joel Embiid definitely isn’t an official poster, but it’s like a honorary poster. The Celtics don’t fear Embiid at all. In fact, I daresay they want to challenge him. Embiid knows the score, too.
Here’s Paul Flannery on the Sixers-Celtics rivalry defining the Eastern Conference this season and into the future. Don’t forget that one of these two teams will also get the Kings’ first-round pick.
Matt Ellentuck on why Jayson Tatum might already be the Celtics’ most important player.
SB Nation NBA writers tried to predict various firsts of the season. Mostly, this will be an ongoing debate as to what qualifies.
You will be unsurprised to learn unfiltered, brash, and earnest Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins get along really well together.
Kevin Garnett’s first night on TNT this season came with an earnest and uncensored claim that Timberwolves franchise owner Glen Taylor -- for whom KG played a decade -- “doesn’t know s--t about basketball.” Welcome back, KG.
Interesting Will Leitch piece on the ascendancy of the NBA that I’m not sure I agree with.
Kristian Winfield explains just how the NBA’s new offensive rebound shot clock rule works.
Kevin Arnovitz on the trio at the helm of the Sixers ... including Markelle Fultz.
Loved this profile of Harry Edwards, one of the most important American athletes ever.
Day 1 fashion champ? Marcus Smart.
Ian Karmel on the bridge Paul Allen and the Blazers created in Portland.
Be excellent to each other.
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