New Additions Make Noise in Opening Night

Toronto Raptors defeats New Orleans Pelicans | 130 – 122

The Kawhi-less, defending champion Toronto Raptors took down
the young New Orleans Pelican team on the first night of the season. The
Pelicans took the Raptors to overtime, but the veteran led defending champs
took the game with a score of 130-122. The Pelicans have many new faces on the
team while only one new Raptor played in the game.

Raptor Addition: #0 Terrance Davis

Davis makes this list based on two tenants: first he was
signed in free agency as an undrafted free agent out of the University of
Mississippi, and secondly, he was the only new Raptor to see playing time in
the game. He played 15 minutes for Toronto coming off the bench and did well
with the little things in his role.

The wing scored five points on 2-6 shooting and 1-3 from
behind the arc. He also added in five rebounds with two being offensive. Davis
continued to show why the Raptors added him in the offseason as he put in two
assists and two steals.

Davis gives the Raptors an athletic wing off the bench that
can play three positions. He puts in another three point threat from the three
point line alongside all of the Raptors shooting threats.

Pelican Addition: #20 Nicolo Melli

This selection may get some flak from the readers based on
the new additions of Lonzo Ball, JJ Reddick and the many others that the Pels
have added. However, the power forward from Italy showed out in the matchup
against the Raptors. The 28 year old Italian joined the Pelicans via free agency
after spending 12 years playing in Europe.

Melli’s has earned many accolades including  “a three-time Italian League All-Star (2011-13), Italian League Champion (2014), two-time German League Champion (2016, 2017) and First-Team selection (2016, 2017), German Cup Winner (2017), All-EuroLeague Second-Team honors (2017), Turkish League Champion (2018) and EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer (2018), including a EuroLeague record 28 points in the final game, and Turkish Cup Winner (2019)”(nba.com).

He scored 14 points on 5-7 shooting including 4-5 from downtown
in his 20 minutes of action in the Pelican uniform. He added in five rebounds,
three defensive and two offensive, and had two assists adding a +11 plus minus in
the game.

Melli’s ability to be a stretch forward for New Orleans will
help this team progress. It gives the Pelicans another threat behind the arc
alongside JJ Reddick and Josh Hart.

Los Angeles Clippers defeat Los Angeles Lakers | 112-102

The two Los Angeles teams faced off in a heated rivalry game to open the NBA season. They begin the battle for the Pacific Division of the NBA. In the game many new faces joined the fight as Anthony Davis put on the purple and gold while Kawhi Leonard suited up for the Clippers. In the end Leonard and the Clips deep bench outlasted Lebron and the Brow.

LA Lakers Addition:  #14
Danny Green

After winning a title with the Toronto Raptors, Green joined the Lakers as one of their many additions during free agency in the offseason. Last season the former Spur was a part of the Kawhi Leonard trade landing in Canada’s team revitalizing his career. Green averaged 27.7 minutes per game scoring at a 10.3 clip per game; his highest point average since 2015-2016 season. He also shot a career high 45.5% from behind the three point line.

This selection is the easiest on the list as Danny Green
went off in his first game in the purple and gold scoring 28. He gave the
Lakers a chance down the stretch with a +7 plus minus. He was extremely tough
on the defensive end with two steals and a block guarding Kawhi Leonard and Lou
Williams all night. Green shot 10-14 from the field including 7-9 from three
and added seven rebounds for the Lakers

Green will be the third scoring option for the Lakers until
Kyle Kuzma returns from injury. He will hold down the shooting guard position next
to Lebron James and Anthony Davis.

LA Clippers Addition: #8 Mo Harkless

During the offseason the Clippers added many big names, but
one that flew under the radar was the trade for Mo Harkless from the Portland
Trailblazers. For the Trailblazers last season Harkless averaged 7.7 points and
4.5 rebounds a game while giving Portland 53 starts. Harkless was a part of the
four team deal that sent Hassan Whiteside from the Miami Heat to Portland.

Mo was vital for the Clips tonight on the defensive end as
he took on guarding Lebron James and Anthony Davis off of the bench all night long.
His defensive prowess showed all night as he had four steal sand two blocks. He
gave the Clippers a great 29 minutes of play. Scoring 10 points on the day, he
was 4-7 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc.

Mo Harkless will be a part of the very deep Clippers bench.
He can guard four positions from shooting guard to center. He also can put in
buckets when he needs to averaging well from the field and the three point
line.

At Overtime Heroics we will continue to look at under the
radar additions made during this chaotic offseason. Basketball is back and we
are excited to bring you coverage of the NBA. Go follow our Twitter account @oth_basketball