October 22nd - New Orleans Pelicans @ Toronto Raptors - 0-0
So it's here. It's been a long, long summer. It's been a summer that's felt even longer than that, because despite the best efforts of the roster we still had, last season ended at the close of January for the New Orleans Pelicans. All of that is behind us, and with this game this franchise moves into a new era.
Sadly, the defining player of this new era won't be on the court in game one: that's Zion. We all know he's been injured, and while he will be totally fine and back before 2020 even hits, it's still a shame that we don't get to watch him open the season. Still, that just means it's on everyone else to pick up the slack and win a couple of games for him, no?
We open the new era taking on the Toronto Raptors on the road. The Raptors, as we all know, are the reigning NBA Champions. Obviously congrats to them, they played a great playoffs, and despite Kawhi and Danny Green leaving, they still have enough on the roster from old hats like Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka, to younger faces like OG Anunoby, and the newly extended Pascal Siakam, who was extraordinary in those playoffs and definitely earned his extension. It's great to kick off the season facing them, as difficult as the matchup will be, and I'm happy for them that they managed to win their first ring and that we get to share that moment with them: hopefully that'll be us in the near future.
I don't really walk into this game expecting a win. The Raptors are a very good team, filled with experience: they are literally championship tested, and despite losing Kawhi they have a lot of roster continuity. On the other hand, we are just so much younger, and outside of JJ Redick, we don't really have anyone on the roster that's familiar with deep NBA playoff intensity. And of course, we're on the road, and they're going to fuelled by ring night. And we're down Zion.
So although an upset would obviously be fantastic, and I would love to see it, I'm not betting on it. I would still like to see a fun, competitive matchup where the team shows some of the potential for what they could be by, oh I don't know, January-ish?
For me, I'm just grateful to watch the New Orleans Pelicans play NBA basketball again: games that matter, even if it's only game 1 of the regular season. Hopefully we'll see some promising things. In fact, that excitement is why I'm starting this game thread nearly 11 hours in advance of tip-off. Oh well :hihi:
Let's go, let's have fun, play hard, and go for the win. #WBD