NBA Tips Off: A Look at 2 Big Openers

NBA Tip Off, and we've had lots for today. There's the Wizards-Mavs opener with the return of Gilbert Arenas and the absence of Josh Howard, as well as the Rockets-Blazers game without Yao. But here are those that count the most:

Big Game Number One:

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers


Boston was able to pull off an outstanding first game performance when they shrugged off a 15-point slump and made their way in the second half to get past the newly designed Cleveland Cavaliers. They ended the game with 89-95.

-Shaq didn't make any difference in the game. All he had to contribute was post presence that didn' even assure an instant field goal. I think it would be better for him to come off the bench rather than start, because the Big Z could fill in as a true, legit, scoring teammate for James.

-LeBron James hasn't changed at all save his post play. We see on this first game how LeBron plays the post much better than last season. Perhaps with this skill, he could already play the number four position at times when they need it.

-Though with all the hate in the world, I would love the Celtics being complete for their first game, and I hope that this will last until most of the season. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce did it too well on the outside, and KG and 'Sheed seem to cooperate well. But then, it is surprising that they have to get over a slump in order to win. Is it age dragging them down? Or the Cavs are that hard to be taken over early in the game?

-Best move of the night: Jamario Moon receiving James' pass for the alley oop. Non-factor? Mo Williams

-The star stamp for the night would be for Paul Pierce. There is already a trace of determination to get back after months of trying to argue his way into Twitter that the Celtics will be better this season. But I seriously doubt it, considering that the first five (and even some members of the bench) are highly injury-prone. Yes, a double-double would be sweet for a first game.

-Seriously, I loved the way Boston beat Cleveland, even though I hated them both. This game is already a reason for bad blood to boil and loom over the two teams

And for Number Two (the better one actually):


The Lakers held off the Clippers' runs and was able to grab the first win in L.A. with 99-92. More important than these? The Ring Night, especially when you give one to the true Triangle Master: Tex Winter.

-Hey, can we say that this is a fair fight? Blake Griffin is absent, but so is Gasol. Thus, no extravagant big man performance included.

-It's surprising that this is not a big and grandiose opener for the Lakers since forever. Rather, many of them went back to the fundamentals (with the exception of Kobe Bryant and a few individual performances, of course). Basic passes, layups, and post-ups became the keys to winning.

-But Andrew Bynum remains to be the first-game factor. With his splendid performance in this game (26 points, 13 boards, and only 2 fouls for the game), he is groomed to be the next go-to big man of the Lakers, next to Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

-In spite of Ron Artest's speed, the Lakers still managed to set up running plays. I guess Ronron could somehow catch up and make remarkable offensive influence. He has made a substantial contribution to the team, not to mention the crucial baskets and stops he had made during the second half. And I dig his 'hawk design today. He came out well-behaved and well-disciplined. Good one, Ronron.

-The preseason groove still hasn't faded and made way for the regular season dibs. The Lakers gave up a lot of turnovers, and the bench was as soft as the cushion of the championship rings given earlier. They gave up an 11-1 run to keep the Clippers as close as 3. They should have owned the game a little earlier if not for this. But kudos to Josh Powell and Shannon Brown with their presence in the court (in spite of going -4 and -1 respectively in the stats). In the following games, I hope to see the bench becoming a better and more versatile force to replace the Lakers big five.

-Again, I'm giving the First Game MVP Award not to Lebron (in spite of his 38 point performance, with the rest of the game centered on him 80% of the time), but to Kobe (who had 33 points and gave way for Andrew Bynum to seize scoring opportunities). As for me, the Mamba is still above The Walkout.

-I don't feel the Kardashian Kurse on Lamar Odom today. Probably, she's the one for him, and the other way around.

-The first game kinda sets everything right. I hope that for the back-to-back champs, it does.

And never forget that it was ring night tonight. Probably next year, it will be the same in Staples Center... and Artest will finally receive one he could call his own.