After a tremendous 2025 NBA Playoffs and an eventful off-season, tonight marks the beginning of the 2025-26 season.
Rockets/Thunder at 7:30; Warriors/Lakers at 10. Both games on NBC and Peacock, which gets the NBA back this year for the first time in awhile.
The Pacers are without Tyrese Haliburton. The Celtics don’t have Jayson Tatum. Damian Lillard was released by the Bucks, signed with the Blazers, and will be on the shelf for this upcoming year as well.
LeBron James is also on the injured list, with sciatica.
Can the Thunder repeat? Will the Pacers be able to deal with the loss of their star? How will the Nuggets and Bucks do with their superstars? And how long before Kevin Durant demands another trade to leave the Rockets?
Very excited for the Magic this year, Demond Bane was a great addition. Now if we can only stay healthy. The east is going to be very different with so many top tier teams without their stars.
SGA uncharacteristically missed four free throws in the game, but he was clutch when it mattered, hitting the equalizer and the game-winner and fouling Durant out on the same play.
A desperation Rockets three missed, and OKC won by 1 point in double overtime.
NBC will be very happy with their ratings on this game, I think.
Well, they’re smacking the Pistons around tonight, so that’s good.
The problem is that if they do finish like 8th, management will take it as a sign that their brilliant plan is working and no further improvement is necessary.
OKC 141, IND 135 in 2OT, final score. Three of our guys fouled out. One starter, Nembhard, was injured and didn’t play the second half. We played the last few minutes with Siakam and a bunch of roleplayers and still only lost by 6.
I am SO PROUD OF THESE MEN.
SGA had a career-high 55-point game. The Thunder became the first team in NBA history to start the season with two double-overtime games, and they won them both, against legitimately good teams.
I have to say they’re the favorite to win back-to-back titles. But it’s early.
Just out of curiosity, I looked to see what Damian Lillard has been up to and was surprised to see that he’s back in Portland! He likely won’t be playing this season, as he’s recovering from a torn Achilles. I think he really likes living in that area, and I know he owned a car dealership when he played there. Maybe homesick? Perhaps aiming at becoming the coach?
Yeah, the fucking Bucks released him and did a complicated buyout of his contract so they could clear up the salary cap room to pry Myles Turner from my Pacers; can you believe the unmitigated gall of those assholes?
Speaking of the Pacers, the Nets earned their first son of the season against them last night, causing us to drop to 1-7.
The Pacers own their own 2026 first-rounder. So… who’s looking like the likely top picks this year? This may be a blessing in disguise.
Don’t look now but the Detroit Pistons are first in the East, have won nine straight, and the last two games have been without most of their starters. Two years ago they lost 28 straight. It’s crazy that the core players are still the same. Having good support and bench players goes a long way. And not employing basketball terrorist Monty Williams as the head coach.
