Anthony Davis/Omer Asik- It doesn't matter that he played the Magic. Anthony Davis would've dominated any team, and looks primed for another spectacular season. Posting 26 points, 17 rebounds and nine (yes nine) blocks in the the Pelican's 101-84 win. Davis looked dominant on both tends of the floor, showcasing his athleticism anytime he wanted to. Asik on the other hand, posted 14 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks, proving that he can be a defensive anchor alongside his young teammate. The duo should be worth keeping an eye on, as the Pelican's defense will lead them to the postseason.
San Antonio Offense- Even though they only scored 101 points and defeated the Dallas Mavericks by a point, the Spurs offense looked like it did in the NBA Finals last year. Yes they committed 20 turnovers, but they shot 53% from the field, 50% from three point range and 81% from the foul line as a team. Five players scored in double figures, led by 23 points on 9-15 shooting (4-4 3pt) from Tony Parker. Even without Patty Mills and Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs looked comfortable and should post another 50-win season.
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| Source- Getty images/Bleacherreport |
Who Was Not
Chandler Parsons- The Dallas Mavericks' big free agent acquisition failed to live up to his big contract Tuesday night, scoring only five points on 2-10 shooting in 34 minutes. For Dallas to be successful and grab a high seed in a tough Western Conference this year, Parsons will need to be a legitimate third scoring option. For now, I'll chalk it up to nerves and a good Spurs' defense.
Los Angeles Lakers- The return of Kobe Bryant was supposed to revive the Lakers and give them the extra boost they needed. For the most part, #24 looked good. His athleticism, speed and shot selection looked respectable, and he showed no ill effects of two major surgeries in the last two years. The rest of his team however, was a different story. Turnovers, silly fouls, and no perimeter shooting plagued L.A. most of the night as they shot 35% from the floor. Oh, and rookie Julius Randle broke his right tibia, and will most likely miss the rest of the season. Oh, and Bryant took an elbow (or two) from former teammate Dwight Howard, and then the two exchanged heated words for a minute or two, drawing technical fouls. The Laker's superstar is playing with subpar teammates to begin with, and will now have to do even more work than anticipated.
Stat of the Night- The Spurs have now won all of their openers when coming off of a championship (5-0).
All stats and info courtesy of espn.com
Follow me on Twitter @Lower_Merion33
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