NBA Power Rankings: Opening Day
By Joe Dexter
October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during a stoppage in play against the Utah Jazz during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Tonight is a holiday for basketball fans, as the NBA season opens up. Thousands of fans will fire up their NBA League Pass to catch the Pelicans and Magic. The defending champion Spurs also open up the season tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.
And you better believe the east coast and midwest will have their eyes on the late night game as Kobe Bryant returns to the Staples Center and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets.
One thing you have to love about the NBA is the story lines and going into the season.
LeBron James has returned home to Cleveland and somehow turned Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett into Kevin Love and title contention.
New coaches Stan Van Gundy, Jason Kidd, Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher, Lionel Hollins, David Blatt, Byron Scott, Quin Snyder and Flip Saunders are out to prove their worth to their new organizations.
It all begins tonight and we have you covered — with our first NBA power rankings of the season.