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Warriors Over Clippers – Disappointing That There Were No Fights
When two teams that hate each other clash, even in a preseason game, you expect the bad blood to mean something. Instead, the Golden State Warriors (won 112-94) and the Los Angeles Clippers focused on purely basketball things, which might mean that they’re saving the nastier, and sometimes better stuff, for later, when it actually means something.
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Minnesota Timberwolves – Andrew Wiggins Shows There’s Plenty to be Excited About
The number one draft pick in 2014 wasn’t on the winning side of his NBA preseason debut, but Andrew Wiggins did everything expected of him and more playing his first game for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they lost to the Indiana Pacers. Who knows, maybe his abilities will be able to hide the fact that Ricky Rubio still looks awful when it comes to scoring.
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Houston Rockets – James Harden Doesn’t Change One Bit
The focal point of the preseason opener for both the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets was Chandler Parsons playing quite well against his former team, but the best player on the floor was James Harden, who doesn’t seem like a changed player for good and bad despite a summer of improved responsibility with the national team.
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Chicago Bulls – Jimmy Butler Hides the Fact That Derrick Rose Was Terrible
Another preseason loss for the Chicago Bulls, this time 111-109 to the Detroit Pistons, as Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol had less than an impressive showing, while both Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, along with Aaron Brooks playing off the bench, provided the sliver linings when it comes to individual ability and scoring.
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Miami Heat – Chris Bosh & Luol Deng Look Great in Preseason Debut
A new era for the Miami Heat began with a preseason loss to the Orlando Magic, but the ability of Chris Bosh and Luol Deng (not so much Dwyane Wade at this point) was more than pleasing, as the ghost of LeBron James hovered in the arena.
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NBA Preseason – Boston Celtics Have Hope, Philadelphia 76ers Still Terrible
The Boston Celtics won’t make the playoffs this season. Neither will the Philadelphia 76ers, but even without Rajon Rondo (who might get traded at some point), there’s some ready talent on this team and not just extremely young players backed with too many draft picks. For Sixers fans, it’s just going to be another season of hovering around or having the worst record in the NBA.
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Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant Looks Good, Jeremy Lin Great Without Scoring
The best news for the Los Angeles Lakers after their first preseason game, in which they beat the Denver Nuggets? No one injured and no other health-related issues. Kobe Bryant looked rusty but dangerous, Steve Nash didn’t breakdown like a porcelain doll while Jeremy Lin, struggling to put the ball in the basket, looked at his finest when trying to make others do the scoring.
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Chicago Bulls – Nikola Mirotic, Not Derrick Rose, Rules Preseason Debut
How seriously do teams take the NBA preseason? From the tension and borderline violence in the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards, it seems that very seriously. Derrick Rose look good, Nikola Mirotic looked even better, but most of the attention went to Paul Pierce acting like a little kid in front of Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler doing everything possible except for putting the ball in the basket.
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Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James & Big Three Get an Easy First “Real” Game
The Cleveland Cavaliers have already made their second LeBron James era debut in front of the home fans, but against another team? Their 107-80 win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the former team of head coach David Blatt, proved to be another smooth milestone on the way to hopefully contending and maybe even winning the NBA title.
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Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James & the New Big Three Make Preseason Debut
And so it begins. LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving teamed up for the first time as part of the annual Wine & Gold Scrimmage the Cleveland Cavaliers hold each year at the beginning of every preseason. Unlike the past four years, this one came with plenty of expectations and anticipation.