What's up RotoBallers, welcome back. Every day we'll be providing you with a recap of last night's NBA games, and some of the relevant impact each had on seasonal leagues and daily fantasy.
Last night was opening night for the 2016-17 NBA season, and what a night it was. All the games turned out exactly the way we thought they would, right? Let's take a look.
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Game Notes for October 25th, 2016
New York Knicks 88, Cleveland Cavaliers 117
- The King certainly reigned supreme Tuesday night, defending a championship for the first time since 2013; the inaugural in a Cavaliers uniform. Only three more until everyone can stop comparing you to MJ. LeBron James posted a triple-double in a blowout victory versus the new-look Knicks, putting up 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists; something he has never done on opening night. Kevin Love contributed a double-double of his own (23 points, 12 rebounds).
- The Knicks, despite their showing against the Cavs, have a surprisingly large number of fantasy relevant players. What did we think was going to happen on a night where a championship flag was raised, flashy rings were received, LeBron shed some tears, and another Cleveland franchise, stuck in their own respective rut, took one step closer to tasting their own glory just miles away from the Quicken Loans Arena? New York played the World's Best. Give them time to mesh. Early prediction: look for Brandon Jennings to see the most playing time of any Knickerbocker guard except for Derrick Rose (please, please stay healthy).
Utah Jazz 104, Portland Trailblazers 113
- Did anyone think this was going to be the best game of the night? Well, anytime these two squads take the floor, start believing that's exactly what's going to happen. Also, is it safe to say that Portland has one of, if not the, best backcourts in the league? It was the sharpshooting of Damian Lillard (39 points) and C.J. McCollum (25 points) that stole the show, both of whom set the tone as early as possible for the other shooters of the NBA. Lillard posted an impressive 65% from the field, while his counterpart sunk eight of 16 attempts. Oh boy, these two are going to be fun to watch.
- With Derrick Favors picking up where he left off from last season, injured and on the bench, the French Phenom, Rudy Gobert, stepped in and displayed to the league just how much of a double-double threat he is...when he scores. Gobert finished the night with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and an oh so important two blocks. But it was the ageless wonder, Joe Johnson, that raised a couple eyebrows in a new uniform, thinking to himself...hold up Damian, C.J., I was doing this while cheerleaders were still chanting your names in high school during homecoming. Johnson drained 12 of 16 from the field, three of four from behind the arc, all for an impressive 29 points. Quite the showing for a 35 year old playing on his sixth professional team.
San Antonio Spurs 129, Golden State Warriors 100
- The Super Team, Super Squad, MonStars, whatever they're calling themselves these days, fell, embarrassingly, to the fundamentally sound basketball of Gregg Popovich, and two players specifically. LaMarcus Aldridge (26 points, 14 boards) and reigning, back-to-back, Defensive Player of the Year, Kawhi Leonard (35 points, five acts of thievery) spoiled the debut of the league's most talked about offseason acquisition.
- Kevin Durant had a day, posting 27 points, 11-18 FGM, 1o rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks, and one...giant...target on the back of the Warriors. Which team wasn't watching that game (granted it was one of 82) and thinking to themselves, they bleed just like us. It's going to be tricky picking any Golden State player in daily fantasy, simply because any one of their starting five is capable of going off. Although, despite a schoolyard whooping from the Spurs, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry also threw up some big numbers. Just wait until that other guy Klay Thompson gets going. The addition of Kevin Durant has not addressed their issues on defense, but anytime they take the court makes for a solid stack, from both teams, in daily fantasy.