Headlines in the East

One week into the opening tip-off, the NBA already has fans everywhere excited for the new season. Many headlines and surprises have already caught people’s eyes. The primary pre-season headline of the two-time defending champions Heat has drifted over into the regular season. The Heat owns a 3-2 record that barely breaks even after a shaky start.

            Another championship was added to the Heat’s trophy room last year, along with an even bigger target on their backs. Despite the offseason preparation, the Heat has come out as a different team compared to last year. The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets have both topped the Heat in last second thrillers. The Nets starting lineup has completely changed this year, as three new additions consisting of Small Forward Paul Pierce, Power Forward Kevin Garnet, and Shooting Guard Jason Terry. Brooklyn’s big three seem to make the difference against Miami’s big three, as the final score was 101-100.

            The other loss came from an unexpected 76ers squad. Miami has been known to not show up in games against bad teams, as the Orlando Magic nearly snapped Miami’s win streak last year. The two-time defending champions did not show up for the game against Philadelphia, and the 76ers took advantage. The 76ers jumped out to a commanding 33-14 lead after the first quarter, but Miami battled back throughout the game and kept it close. Ultimately, the 76ers left the arena with a win, 114-110. Philadelphia’s standout player was Rookie Point Guard M. Carter-Williams, who finished the game with 22 points, 7 Rebounds, 12 Assists, and 9 Steals, nearly reaching an unheard of quadruple-double.

            Although we are only one week in, the Indiana Pacers are the only team left standing who remain undefeated. The schedule has not been a challenge to Indiana yet, as they have defeated Orlando, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Detroit. The biggest challenge of the new season will be Thursday night, as the Chicago Bulls will roll into town. A new Bulls team will be on the floor, as Point Guard Derrick Rose is back after taking last season to heal and repair his torn ACL. Rose will be matched with Indiana’s Point Guard George Hill, who has led the Pacers in scoring the past four games. This game could be one of the most exciting games yet, and will surely go down to the wire.