By Nick Jones |@Kernel_Nick

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The opening week of the NBA season began with great enthusiasm and expectation.

Hurricane Sandy left its mark on the east coast and required former UK standout Keith Bogans and his Brooklyn Nets to reschedule their first regular season game in their new home of the Barclay’s Center.

Out of all of the performances this week from former UK players, Rajon Rondo’s stood out above the rest. He recorded a double-double and logged more than ten assists for the Celtics in each of their first three games.

Rondo is the first player in the NBA to dish out ten or more assists in three consecutive games to start the season since John Stockton in 2001.

Another bright spot during the early season competition has been the activity of point guard Eric Bledsoe off the bench for the L.A. Clippers.

Bledsoe has provided an excellent spark and has produced on both ends of the floor during his 15 minutes per game thus far.

“There’s no question that he has been playing well,” Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said to the Los Angeles Times.

“And Chris (Paul) is going to be out there. But Eric deserves minutes.”

After missing the season opener, Patrick Patterson returned to the starting line-up as the Houston Rockets faced off against the Hawks in Atlanta. Patterson averaged over ten points and six rebounds in his first two games of the season.

Another player affected by the injury bug is superstar rookie, Anthony Davis. After what was a flawless 21 point season opener against the Spurs, Davis was struck by an elbow of fellow rookie teammate, Austin Rivers, resulting in a mild concussion.

The number one overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft was forced to sit out the entire second half as he team mates wrapped up an 88-86 win against Enes Kanter and the Utah Jazz.

Davis is currently listed as day-to-day.

DeMarcus Cousins and Chuck Hayes’ Sacramento Kings got off to a poor start, matching the nearby Los Angeles Lakers’ 0-3 record in the opening week.

Hayes played well in each of the three games, doing the little things right and making hustle plays to contribute coming off the bench.

Cousins came into this season with the expectation to take his game to the next level and prove that he is among the leagues top big men.

In his first two games he showed flashes of that, but he ran into foul trouble and found himself on the Kings bench for extended periods.

In his third game against the Pacers, Cousins managed to stay on the court for 42 minutes. He finished with 21 points 13 rebounds and four steals, a stat line that should become the norm for the young center.

“I feel like a rookie, like I’ve got to prove myself all over again,” Cousins told The Kansas City Star.

In off the court news, Daniel Orton, was picked up by the Oklahoma City Thunder as they used their final roster spot to acquire the 6-foot-11 center. Orton will likely spend much of this NBA season bouncing back and forth between the Thunder and their D-league affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers.

Week two T.V. Schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012

New Orleans Hornets (Anthony Davis, Darius Miller) vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 8:00 PM EST on ESPN

L.A. Clippers (Eric Bledsoe) vs. San Antonio Spurs – 10:30 PM EST on ESPN

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Oklahoma City Thunder (DeAndre Liggins, Daniel Orton) @ Chicago Bulls (Nazr Mohammad, Marquis Teague) – 8:00 PM EST on TNT

L.A. Clippers (Eric Bledsoe) vs. Portland Tail Blazers – 10:30 PM EST on TNT

Friday, November 9, 2012

Utah Jazz (Enes Kanter) @ Denver Nuggets – 10:30 PM EST on ESPN