Every morning, we will give you five things from the night before in the NBA to start your day.
1: All is new again
It was only a few hours after the Lakers finished up a blowout win over the Kings that the news broke. The Lakers had a new coach in Mike D'Antoni and the 2-0 Bernie Bickerstaff era had ended. It was a wild week for the Lakers as their slow start led to the rumors and ultimate demise of Mike Brown five games into the season. Changing coaches midseason is enough to throw any team into turmoil.
Sometimes though the new voice in the locker room and the change of direction can help. Firing Brown relieved a lot of pressure and the team has played considerably better.
Sunday against the Kings, the Lakers played perhaps their best overall game of the season in the 103-90 victory. Without DeMarcus Cousins and Thomas Robinson, Sacramento had no answer inside for Dwight Howard (23 points, 18 rebounds). This seemed to be morel ike the Lakers team everyone expected to see.
How will that change with Mike D'Antoni?
That is a really good question. D'Antoni will bring a free flowing offense featuring pick and rolls and a high tempo. That should benefit Steve Nash and Dwight Howard a whole lot. If the Lakers have guys who can spread the floor this team could be very dangerous with D'Antoni running the offense. The question is how long the team's transition will be to D'Antoni.
The Lakers are playing much better now. But the real reset is about to begin.
2: Grizzlies run amok
No team may have more success against Miami in the two-plus years the LeBron trio has been together than the Grizzlies. Memphis did it again to Miami, blowing out the defending champions at FedExForum on Sunday.
A 34-20 second quarter win for Memphis helped Memphis build a cushion for a somewhat stunning 104-86 win. After all, to this point in the season, the Heat were the best offensive team in the league. It did not seem possible to slow this juggernaut down.
The Grizzlies did that as Rudy Gay scored 21 points and Wayne Ellington came off the bench to score 25 points. The two positions you always watch against Miami — point guard and center — also took advantage of its matchup. Zach Randolph had 18 points and Mike Conley added 18 points and nine assists.
Was this a game announcing the Grizzlies as a top team in the West? Not this early in the season. But Memphis continues to have Miami's number and continues to be a team nobody can forget about.
3: HIGHLIGHTS!!!
DeAndre Jordan throws it down
Serge I-block-a
Arron Afflalo goes back door
4: Line of the Night: Kris Humphries — 14 points, 21 rebounds
Kris Humphries is really an unsung rebounder in the NBA. The perfect complement to Brook Lopez becauseo f his struggles on the glass, Humphries is an agressive rebounder who uses his size well. He did that and more against the Magic on Sunday. Brooklyn built its lead in the first quarter thanks to offensive rebounding and limiting Orlando to one shots. Humphries was a big part of building all that.
5: You can quote me on that
There's been a few instances this year so far — and it's still early in the season — where we've fought hard. But now we have to kind of put it together. It's one thing to fight hard, but you've got to fight for the win, too.
–Arron Afflalo on the Magic's struggles the last four games
I thought our guys followed our game plan for two and a half quarters. Midway into that third quarter, it’s like we totally forgot what had put us in the position we were in. As I told them, on the road we have to be consistent, we have to be on the mark with all of our coverages
–Hawks coach Larry Drew after Atlanta's loss to the Clippers
