As an avid NBA fan who's been following preseason games for over a decade, I can't help but feel that familiar excitement bubbling up as this week marks the beginning of preseason action. There's something uniquely compelling about these early games - they're like the first few chapters of a novel where you're just starting to understand the characters and plotlines that will define the entire season. What I've learned from watching countless preseasons is that while the final scores might not matter in the standings, the patterns and habits teams develop during these games often carry through to the regular season.
I was reminded of this while thinking about that incredible TNT game where they won in overtime despite nearly throwing it all away with those seven turnovers in the fourth quarter. Honestly, watching teams struggle with ball control during preseason always makes me nervous - it's one of those fundamental issues that can haunt a team all year if they don't address it early. The way the Elasto Painters capitalized on those errors to erase a 90-76 deficit with just eight minutes left? That's preseason basketball in a nutshell. Teams testing their resilience, working through rotations, and sometimes discovering uncomfortable truths about their roster construction.
What really fascinates me about the start of NBA preseason games is how differently coaches approach these matchups. Some treat them as extended practice sessions, while others genuinely want to build winning momentum early. Personally, I've always believed that establishing good habits from day one matters more than people think. When I see a team like TNT struggling with turnovers but still finding a way to win in overtime, it tells me they have that crucial "next play" mentality that championship teams need. Though let's be honest - seven turnovers in a single quarter would keep most coaches up at night regardless of the victory.
The beauty of preseason basketball lies in these imperfect performances. Watching young players get meaningful minutes, seeing how offseason acquisitions fit into new systems, and observing which teams have improved their conditioning - these are the storylines that make preseason must-watch television for hardcore fans like myself. That TNT-Elasto Painters game perfectly illustrated why I never skip preseason games. The dramatic comeback, the overtime thriller, the clear areas for improvement - it had everything you'd want from meaningful basketball, even if the game technically "didn't count."
As we dive into this week's preseason action, I'll be paying particularly close attention to teams that struggled with consistency last season. The way a team handles pressure situations in October often foreshadows how they'll perform in April and May. While some analysts dismiss preseason results entirely, I've found that certain patterns - like TNT's turnover issues - tend to resurface during crucial regular season moments if not addressed properly. The teams that use these games for genuine development rather than just going through the motions are usually the ones that surprise people later in the season.
What I'm most curious to see is how teams balance developing chemistry while avoiding the types of errors that nearly cost TNT their game. Preseason should be about working through these issues, but there's a fine line between experimental basketball and developing bad habits. From my perspective, the successful teams are the ones who treat every possession with purpose, regardless of the game's official significance. As the preseason kicks off, I'll be watching not just for flashy highlights, but for the fundamental execution that separates contenders from pretenders. The journey to June begins now, and every turnover, every defensive rotation, every clutch shot in October could be building blocks for something greater - or warning signs of challenges to come.