10 Things We Learned from NBA Opening Day

Christmas has come and gone, and the NBA's opening day is in the books after a wall-to-wall day of action that saw everything from a New York Knicks comeback win to the Los Angeles Clippers debut of Chris Paul. Five games were on the slate overall and produced some thrilling moments.

Here are 10 things we learned overall from the NBA's Opening Day.

Carmelo Anthony Will Do Some Big Things in New York

Ladies and gentlemen, the Knicks have a closer.

The only way the New York Knicks would have won yesterday's game was if Carmelo Anthony took over and the Knicks got some stops.

Both happened, and the Knicks start out the season 1-0.

Anthony's 17-point fourth quarter was ultra-impressive, as was the 37-point output he put up for the game and the Knicks needed everyone.

A full season of Anthony in the Big Apple could lead to some big moments.

Kevin Garnett Is a Sore Loser

By now, we've all seen the highlights of Kevin Garnett going after New York's Bill Walker after Boston's loss to New York.

So much for Merry Christmas.

The funny part of the situation is that had Garnett made the shot and Boston had later went on to win the game, his mouth would still be running.

If you dish it out as much as Garnett does, you have to be able to take it as well.

LeBron James and the Heat Are in Midseason Form

James made a point of silencing the critics from last season with an impressive 37 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two block opening day performance against Dallas.

Dwyane Wade wasn't so bad either, with a 26 point, eight rebound and six assist effort.

Miami looked very impressive, and this could be a sign of things to come. They will be very tough to deal with in 2012.

Dallas Will Not Repeat

Let's not make too much of one loss, but this isn't the same Mavericks team that hoisted the trophy high a season ago.

Too many new parts from a season ago, and they've lost a bit of toughness and defense. That can't be replaced with this group.

Of course, give them the benefit of the doubt; they did run into a machine in the Miami Heat.

The Mavs will be good, but aren't a championship-caliber team.

Derrick Rose and the Bulls Will Be a Handful in the East

Christmas Day wasn't the best Chicago Bulls team we will see, but we got the message.

The Bulls are deep and good defensively, and that will be enough to have them competing for the Eastern Conference title.

Oh yeah, they have that Derrick Rose guy as well.

Rose's game winner was just one of the big plays in the Bulls win over the Lakers.

That was a game Chicago had no business winning, but that's what championship-caliber teams do.

The Lakers Aren't a Championship-Caliber Team

Kobe Bryant's wrist injury and Mike Brown's new system aside, when is the last time you saw a Lakers team melt down and simply give a game away in the fashion they did on Christmas?

Despite what Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said during halftime, this team as it's assembled right now isn't capable of winning a championship.

They need Dwight Howard, and need him soon.

Dwight Howard Will Play His Way out of Orlando

One of the questions surrounding the Orlando Magic coming into the season was how would the trade demands that Howard has put out there effect his play?

It's easy to say that they wouldn't, but he's only human, and if Sunday's 11-point performance is any indication, it could be a long season for Howard and the Magic until he's eventually dealt.

Howard was only 4-for-12 from the floor and didn't show his normal aggressiveness on the block. He did have a good day though on the boards, but the duo of  Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed made Howard a non-factor.

That's not supposed to happen to superstars.

The Thunder Will Live Up to Expectations

This season, they aren't the feel good story anymore. Instead, the Oklahoma City Thunder have high expectations.

Sometimes those expectations can cripple a young franchise, but not to this group.

Kevin Durant made it look easy and went for 30 on the night, and the Thunder showed how deep they are and are a team capable of meeting and possibly exceeding all preseason expectations.

The Clippers Will Be the Talk of Los Angeles

It took a half of basketball to really get going, but the new-look Clippers finally got the motor running in what turned out to be a route of the Golden State Warriors.

Los Angeles scored 64 of their 105 points in the second half and had four starters in double-figures. More importantly, they showed signs of things to come.

Once this group gets to play with each other for a week or two, they could be very good.

They struggled in the second quarter and didn't rebound well, but those are things that can get worked out.

Chris Paul's debut went well, and the Clippers are close to becoming the best team in the city of Los Angeles.

The Knicks Have Plenty of Work to Do

A good as they were in the first quarter is as bad as the Knicks were in the third quarter.

They turned a 17-point lead to an eight-point deficit in the matter of a blink of an eye.

Much of that had to do with the fantastic performance of Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, but the Knicks have some things to fix quickly.

If they continue to be very good one quarter and very bad the next, this team will have no chance of competing for an NBA championship.