The NBA — just like high school

[duncan228]

The Chanifesto: The NBA — just like high school
By Lorne Chan - Express-News

It may be the middle of football season and the World Series may be going on, but there's still something captivating about NBA opening night.

After taking the summer off, it's our first look at how everybody changed. The first games, filled with plenty of great matchups, often end up being pretty accurate glimpses of how the rest of the season is going to look.

Opening night is basically the first day of high school. Everybody's nervous and can't wait to see everybody else, as long as they got better-looking over summer.

Having already packed a lunch, here's a look at how NBA teams did.

Los Angeles Lakers

High school look: The cool kid's back, and he even got a better car.

The Lakers got the opening night fanfare with their ring ceremony and an easy victory against the Clippers. Adding Ron Artest gives the defending champions another solid option. But all the talk about the cool kid is getting annoying when they're not talking about you.


Orlando Magic

High school look: Look who grew a mustache over summer.

They were close but not quite, reaching the NBA Finals last season. So they went for a more dynamic look, adding Vince Carter.

Now they have to hope their new look isn't already out of style.


San Antonio Spurs

High school look: The ones who actually did the summer reading.

Sure, everybody else can scoff. Pick on them because they're boring. But guess who's prepared on the first day of school. Guess who did a little homework and got DeJuan Blair in the second round.


Cleveland Cavaliers

High school look: It's the first day of school ... but it's still junior year.

You're all excited about the first day of school, then realize junior year is more of the same. Cleveland added Shaquille O'Neal, yet still couldn't find much offense aside from LeBron James in its 0-2 start.

Maybe you'll get a car later in the year and things will get better.


Washington Wizards

High school look: They were unnoticed, then showed up and, umm, developed over summer.

The Wizards didn't make a splash with big offseason moves, but they did get better.

DeShawn Stevenson shows up with a neck tattoo, Caron Butler is slimmer from quitting a Mountain Dew addiction, and Gilbert Arenas is healthy. Suddenly, the Wizards are making everybody in the cafeteria turn their heads.


Minnesota Timberwolves

High school look: The foreign-exchange student.

Half the roster changed, and drafting Ricky Rubio didn't work out. They're in over their heads, but they're going to keep trying. No matter how much they miss their friends back in Spain.


Dallas Mavericks

High school look: Still trying too hard to be cool.

Regardless of how much money they seem to spend on fancy things, such as offseason acquisition Shawn Marion, they still seem left out of the “in crowd.”


Oklahoma City Thunder

High school look: The kid brother's a sop re now.

With young stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the sop re's still got the acne and he's still a little annoying, but there are some obvious signs the kid's going to be cool someday.


Boston Celtics

High school look: The returning starter's back for his senior year.

He was cool last year when he was hanging out with the seniors, but now there's the worry he might just seem old.

After a 2-0 start, with a road victory at Cleveland and a rout of Charlotte, these seniors have confidence.


Houston Rockets

High school look: Just got their schedule with none of the same classes as their friends.

Things are looking pretty scary now that Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Artest aren't there.

Instead, Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier are left to fend for themselves. It could be a long few months before they're reunited with McGrady next semester.


Los Angeles Clippers

High school look: Maybe they'll be cool someday. Not today, though.

No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin has a great preseason, Baron Davis is in shape, and the Clippers aren't looking so bad. They're actually getting excited about the first day.

Then Griffin suffers a knee injury before the season opener, and the Clippers are still the Clippers.


Golden State Warriors

High school look: Detention? On the first day?

Stephen Jackson's already clashing with coach Don Nelson, and the Warriors didn't play defense in their opener, a 108-107 loss to Houston. After the first day, it already looks like it's going to be a rough school year.

[badfish22]

haha funny article.

[iggypop123]

so the celtics have super seniors?