The NBA Had An Electric Opening Night
(this picture makes me want to vomit)
It had been 127 days since the NBA season ended, and last night thankfully things finally kicked off. Coming off the greatest Finals performance in NBA history, last night was all about Cleveland, and rightfully so. Not even a Cavs hater like myself could have a problem with it because to say they earned this night is the understatement of the century. As much as it pains me to type, Lebron shut us all up…forever.
Having personally experienced a night like Cleveland and Cavs fans had, there is one thing I can tell you. It is an out of body experience to see the first title of your lifetime go up in history. I’m tearing up just thinking about it. For the people who have watched that team go from laughingstock to contender to laughingstock to champion, I have no hate for. For the assholes who jumped on the bandwagon once Lebron came back, you still suck, but for the most part watching your team raise a banner up to the rafters, is truly an incredible experience. So, for this blog and this blog only, we put our Cavs hate aside.
The best part of the opening ceremony is without a doubt the ring celebration. Championship rings in all sports are getting more and more ridiculous, but you have to tip your hat to Dan Gilbert because this troll job is A+++++++++
If you didn’t catch it…
See it’s great because the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Did you know that was the biggest collapse in NBA history? No team had ever lost a 3-1 lead. Never. 3-1. Don’t let the signing of Kevin Durant distract you #PeopleDontForget
As for the actual game, what do you think happened? In my extensive research, the defending champion is the lock of the century in their first game after winning a title, unless you’re the ’07-08 Heat. Last night was no different as the Cavs blew the next NBA Super Team out by 29 points. Oh and after basically not playing the entire preseason Lebron shook his dick for a nice 19/11/14 triple dub. God this sucks.
No offense to CLE, but the game that the entire basketball universe was waiting for happened in the Bay, and boy was it incredible. Sure maybe like 10% of my enjoyment of the 29 point BEATDOWN the Spurs handed the “unbeatable” Warriors is probably due to KD burning the Celtics, but oh my was this everything I could have hoped for.
The Warriors, while incredibly talented are the exact type of team you love to see get demolished. They are the classic “can dish it but can’t take it” team. They LOVE to showboat after made baskets or big plays, but cry when you beat them and celebrate. Things are going to be wildly different as the villain, a role this group isn’t that used to being. They’ll probably only lose around 14-16 times this year, so savor this.
The real story is what a goddamn STUD Kawhi Leonard has become. I thought it made no sense that he was so low in that GM survey on who you would choose to start your franchise with. He is a robot. Already the best defender in the NBA, I don’t think the league is ready for Leonard to have this sort of offensive arsenal. Going 10-21 for 35 points 5 rebounds and 5 steals against what was one of the best defenses in the league last year is ridiculous.
While that’s impressive, the surprise of this game was a guy named Jonathon Simmons. If you have no idea who that is I don’t blame you. He’s a 27 year old SG out of Houston, who got his start through a D-League tryout. Of course Pop finds a diamond in the rough, of course. Between his end of half three, this block on Curry
And this poster to end the game
This was without a doubt the best game of his life and his 8-13 20/4/3 performance proves it.
Will this game matter in a week? No, but this is the new reality for GS. Every loss they have, no matter when it happens or how insignificant it may be is going to be followed by endless internet trolling.
Also #STAYWOKE
It’s crazy to think that with what went on in Cleveland and Oakland, that the game of the night actually took place in Portland. Coming off what will probably be a triple platinum album, everything is coming up Damian Lillard. 39 points 9 rebounds 6 assists on 13-20 shooting, here’s a guy that not only should be an all star, he’ll probably get MVP votes for christ sake. How good was his performance? Oh I don’t know, he only did something nobody has done since Michael Jordan. I guess that’s pretty good. What a shootout against the Jazz, who were without two of their main guys in Favors and Hayward. Fortunately they had the player that just won’t die, Joe Johnson and his 29.
At the end of the day this game was another episode of Dame’s World and of course he took it upon himself to put the dagger in, as he has done so many times before
Hey Rudy Gobert, maybe try challenging a shot? No big deal or anything, just that you know, the game was on the line.
All in all, a fantastic opening night for the NBA and basketball lovers everywhere. Good news is everyone else starts today and there’s basketball essentially every day from now until June. League Pass might be the best money I’ve ever spent.
P.S
Have to mention the awesome tribute for the legend Craig Sager. Awesome stuff.
As always, fuck cancer