Fansided

5 best things from NBA opening week

By Hunter Kuffel

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 17: Boban Marjanovic #51 of the LA Clippers dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets during a game on October 17, 2018 at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 17: Boban Marjanovic #51 of the LA Clippers dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets during a game on October 17, 2018 at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA opening week
PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 18, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. LeBron James is a Laker

Although it surely took some getting used to after seeing him in his new jersey, it’s undeniable that this season is going to a whirlwind as we watch him take the Western Conference by storm. No matter what happens, we’ll all be keeping our eye on Nik Stauskas this year.

Jk, but it was peak NBA for LeBron to start off his Lakers career with two absolute monster dunks and then quickly have the online discourse shift to freaking out about Sauce Castillo’s pathological inability to miss from deep. #ThisLeague

The Lakers lost the game 119-128, and the flaws that we fretted over all summer were on display throughout the game. Los Angeles was 7-for-30 from behind the 3-point line, which just isn’t going to cut it in 2018. Further, their defensive execution was more reminiscent of a preseason game than a season opener with all the spotlights in their direction.

Still, there was something unquestionably exciting about seeing the best player on Earth and possibly the best player of all time in one of professional sports’ most recognizable uniforms. Even if the team fails to rise to the occasion every night and falls short of its backers’ predictions, the Lakers are going to be a spectacle this year. Their highs are going to be spectacular to watch, and their lows might be too, although likely for very different reasons.

Los Angeles welcomes the Rockets to town on Saturday for their home opener, another difficult opponent. If the Lakers bring the same effort defensively and from behind the arc, they’ll most likely be looking at an 0-2 start to the season.

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