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The Celtics-Pistons opening day clash that starts mid-afternoon is an “experiment” by the NBA that was a “joint decision” made with executives at NBC, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. McMenamin, on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” said NBC execs see the decision to start the game at 3pm ET on Tuesday, Oct. 20 as “something we can turn into a celebration of the game.” He said the first day of regular-season action is “already a marquee moment for the league,” and executives want to see if they can “enhance it and turn it into a major showcase” that might eventually be a tradition for fans. He added that an “added bonus” is that the game is “prime time viewing in Europe,” where the league is aiming to launch a new NBA Europe competition (“NBA Today,” ESPN, 8/11). LOVE THE NEW TIME: In Boston, WBZ-FM’s Michael Felger, asked about the earlier start time, responded, “love it.” He said he “can’t emphasize enough what a good play this is by the NBA.” He said it is a window that is “wide open,” noting it has “no competition.” WBZ-FM’s Tony Massarotti called it “maybe the best decision they’ve ever made” (“Felger & Mazz,” WBZ-FM, 8/11). WHO WILL WATCH? SI’s Liam McKeone called the early game an “unnecessary and senseless change that will take away from the prestige of opening night.” It is a “puzzling decision that screams of a money grab.” NBC and the international audiences are the “only two parties who benefit from that early of a start time.” The NBA has a “bigger international fanbase than any of the other traditional American sports and catering to those fans is undeniably a good thing.” But the NBA has “never” let the schedule of European fans “dictate their decision-making when it comes to big games before,” and that the league is doing that now “leads to the conclusion that the driving motivator here is to boost ratings numbers for opening night” (SI, 8/11).