NBA: 4 Overreactions after Nuggets, Suns shine on opening night

A few overreactions from opening night in the NBA. 

The 20223-24 NBA’s opening night slate lived up to the billing. While there was some theater in both games, in the end, it was more of what we already knew – the Denver Nuggets continued to dominate the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns proved to be too much on the offensive end for the Golden State Warriors on night 1.

With opening night in the books, let’s take a look back at four overreactions from the first two games of the NBA season.

4 Big overreactions after opening night in the NBA

The Lakers are still missing one more playmaker

Even after the additions made during the offseason, one thing was abundantly clear for the Los Angeles Lakers when they took on the Denver Nuggets on opening night, and it was that they’re still a playmaker away from being a real contender. It was the same story from last year’s playoffs. The Lakers, in a way, haven’t changed much on that front.

Even if they do play at a high level, which they did against the Nuggets, the Lakers are still lacking that additional difference-making offensive player. At least for now, it doesn’t appear as if Austin Reaves is going to make a big enough jump in his development to fill that role and LeBron James and Anthony Davis can’t do it alone.

Through one game, the Lakers still have an issue beyond their big 2. The duo of Gabe Vincent and D’Angelo Russell left a lot to be desired from the point guard position and aside from a shooting clinic from Taurean Prince, there wasn’t any newcomer that jumped off the screen in their debuts.

The Lakers still very much have a lot of the same issues from last season. And that’s not ideal.