I still remember the palpable excitement building up to the 2021 NBA opening day after that unusually long offseason. Having covered the league for over a decade, I've learned that opening night often sets the tone for the entire season, and this particular schedule had some absolute gems that had basketball fans buzzing for weeks. The league office really outdid themselves with this lineup - we got two fantastic doubleheaders spread across December 22nd, featuring matchups that felt like they could easily be conference finals previews.
That first game between Brooklyn and Golden State particularly caught my eye. Kevin Durant facing his former team is always must-see television, but what made this special was seeing him alongside Kyrie Irving against Steph Curry's Warriors. I had this game circled on my calendar for months, and it didn't disappoint - the sheer offensive firepower on display was something I haven't seen since the Heatles era. The Nets ultimately took it 125-99, but the score doesn't tell the whole story about how electric that game felt from tip-off. What fascinated me was watching how both teams approached their offensive sets differently - Brooklyn relying heavily on isolation brilliance while Golden State maintained their signature motion offense, though they clearly missed Klay Thompson's spacing.
The Lakers versus Clippers matchup felt like a proper Hollywood sequel to their opening night clash from the previous season. Having attended both games, I can confidently say the intensity level was turned up several notches this time around. LeBron and AD combining for 47 points against Kawhi and Paul George's 58 points made for compelling viewing, but what stood out to me was the defensive adjustments both coaches made throughout the game. Frank Vogel's decision to switch everything in the fourth quarter particularly impressed me - it's not often you see championship teams completely change their defensive identity mid-game.
What really struck me while watching these opening games was how some teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm, reminding me of that observation about Galeries Tower struggling to activate its scoring frontline all-match long. Several teams faced similar challenges - you could see the offensive rust from the shortened preseason, with timing being slightly off on pick-and-rolls and defensive rotations. The Miami Heat particularly stood out in this regard during their game against Orlando, where they shot just 42% from the field and looked out of sync for long stretches. Having analyzed countless season openers, I've noticed this pattern often predicts which teams will need several weeks to find their footing versus those that hit the ground running.
The Dallas-Phonix game provided what I consider the most entertaining basketball of the night. Luka Dončić's 32-point triple-double was a masterpiece, but Devin Booker's 25-point response kept this game competitive until the final minutes. What made this matchup special was the strategic battle between Rick Carlisle and Monty Williams - you could see them making real-time adjustments that you typically don't see until deeper into the season. The small-ball lineup Dallas deployed in the third quarter completely changed the game's tempo, and I suspect we'll see more teams adopting this approach as the season progresses.
Looking back at that opening night, what strikes me most is how these games foreshadowed the narrative arcs for the entire season. The Nets' offensive explosion hinted at their potential as a championship contender, while the Clippers' victory over the Lakers demonstrated their mental toughness in high-pressure situations. As someone who's watched basketball evolve over the years, I appreciate how these opening matchups give us our first real glimpse into team identities and potential playoff matchups. The 2021 opening night delivered exactly what basketball fans crave - compelling storylines, superstar performances, and just enough unpredictability to keep us all guessing what might come next.
