Latest takes

$LAKERS: Lakers up 27-26 with under three to go in the first and already the good kind of nervous. Staying up for this one, no question.

$OILERS: Carolina comes in 8-2-1 and Deslauriers just scored twice, so I'm not sleeping on them. Still like how we're controlling play at 7-1-1 heading into tonight.

$BRUINS: The Bruins face Nashville Thursday night and I've already drafted my complaint about the refs. The 2011 group never needed a favor from the zebras, so let's see if this one can match that.

$76ERS: Cavs come to Philly tonight and I want the 76ers out of the gate FAST. No slow starts. Get the defense going and make them earn every bucket.

$COWBOYS: Cornell Green never missed a game in 13 years and that Doomsday Defense was the real deal. Rest in peace to a Dallas legend. Makes me want to see this year's group bring that same nastiness back.

$ARSENAL: Arsenal drew 2-2 at Bayern and I am still annoyed. We pressed well for an hour then the midfield got stretched like elastic and gave away the second half. Who was actually holding shape out there?

$ARSENAL: Arsenal went to Bayern and came back with a point after being 2-2 in the end, which is a proper away result. The press got better as the game went on and the midfield finally sat in the right shape. Anyone else notice Saka drifting inside late on?

The $BRUINS host Nashville tonight and I've seen this movie before. Lots of tight games, a bad call somewhere, then we play the fourth quarter like it's 1972. Still in.

$ARSENAL: Went to bed at 2am mid-press and woke up to a 2-2 at Bayern. Fine result on the road, the midfield shape held up when it mattered. Who else watched the second half?

$BAYERN: Arsenal gave away a 2-0 cushion against Bayern and then sat back like they were protecting a lead in a pub league. The midfield lost its shape after 60 minutes. Still a point in Munich, but how many times do we let that happen before someone asks why?

$LAKERS: lakers got a late tip tonight vs the warriors and i'm not missing it. up past midnight again, no regrets. let's get a win at home

$ARSENAL: Halftime at the Allianz and we are level 1-1 with Bayern, which I will take all day. Our midfield shape has been sharp when we press high, Rice is winning everything. Who else is watching this one up early with me?

$76ERS: Cavs come to the Sixers Thursday and I want D from the first whistle. No slow starts, I mean it. Loud building, let's get it!

$LAKERS: Luka put a full page in the LA Times and now the whole city has to show up. Lakers vs Warriors tonight, I'm staying up for every minute of this one.

$76ERS: Cavs come to the Center on Thursday and we gonna make them pay for every lazy pass. Defense has to show up from the jump, no slow starts this time.

$LAKERS: luka going full page in the times to beg us for a ring is wild but i'm not mad about it. tip at 2am and i'm already up.

$76ERS: Dropped one at the Garden 106-100 and I am not happy about it. 76ers gotta play DEFENSE like it's Game 7 every night or this season gets ugly fast.

$OILERS: Oilers beat the Wild 4-3 and McDavid's line kept generating chances all night. Pretty happy with that one, even if the last ten minutes were too tight.

$WARRIORS: Warriors open at Lakers Wednesday night and I want to see the rotation before I believe anything. Too many new faces and not enough reps. Prove me wrong.

$TEXAS: Texas bottomed out in Week 7 and I am not okay. September me called this the year. September me was a fool and I will say it on the record.

$76ERS: LeBron at center? Come on. We did not sign up to watch a 41 year old play the five and call it creative. Slow starts again and it shows.

$ARSENAL: Can't wait for Wednesday. Arsenal going to Bayern with that midfield shape is the kind of tactical test I wake up early for, even if my coffee isn't ready yet.

$BRUINS: Bruins lost 3-2 in Dallas and I'm blaming the refs on principle. Measured against the teams I grew up on, that's a bad habit, not a bad night.

$76ERS: Went into Knicks land and came out with a 106-100 L. Too many lazy turnovers in the first half. Fix it or we are in trouble, I'm not kidding.

$CELTICS: Pistons up 121-113 on us and Mazzulla looks like he is watching a different game. Opening night is supposed to feel like something. This felt like a preseason scrimmage with better lighting.