2013-2014 Official NBA Thread

[Al Bundy]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ey...4-nba-schedule

With the Schedule released today, I figured it would be a good time to start the thread.

The NBA released its 2013-2014 schedule on Tuesday in a televised special on NBATV alongside a release on NBA.com and its team websites.

The season kicks off Tuesday, October 29th as Miami hosts the Chicago Bulls in Derrick Rose's expected return to the court. Then it's the Battle of LA as the Lakers host the Clippers. It could be the return of Kobe Bryant from his Achilles injury he suffered last spring, and will be the regular season debut of Doc Rivers as the Clippers' newest head coach.

It's a massive gamble by the NBA, considering Rose's struggles returning from his ACL injury suffered in the 2012 playoffs and Bryant's more recent Achilles surgery. If those players were to miss the opening night, it's going to make for a very underwhelming opening night of basketball, regardless of the markets involved for ratings.

Opening week continues on Thursday with the Bulls hosting the Knicks in what is likely to be Rose's return to the United Center in the regular season. The Knicks will be on a back to back, opening the season on Wednesday vs. the Bucks. Thursday night the revamped Warriors visit the Clippers, who are clearly the hot team, with two national appearances in the first three days.

Opening week concludes Friday with the Nets' home opener vs. the Heat, followed by another Lakers home game, this time vs. the defending Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs.

On the NBA's biggest regular season day, Christmas Day, starts with the Nets hosting Chicago, followed by the scoring-champ rematch of Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Durant as the Thunder visit Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. Then in the main event, the Heat play the Lakers at Staples Center. Dwight Howard joins the Christmas fun as the Rockets travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs. And in the night cap, the Clippers visit Oracle Arena to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors.

Monday, January 20th continues the NBA's tradition of making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a huge basketball event, with four games on the schedule. Brooklyn travels across the bridge to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, followed by the Grizzlies hosting the Pelicans, the Lakers taking on the Bulls at the United Center, and the Pacers facing the Warriors in the bay to cap off the night.

The Lakers first meet Dwight Howard on November 13th in Houston, and again on January 14th. They first host Howard at Staples Center on February 19th, and again on April 8th.

The NBA Finals rematches occur on January 26th in Miami and March 6th in San Antonio. Will Gregg Popovich rest his starters? It's not a back to back, as the Spurs face Atlanta on the 24th, but it is in the middle of a three-game road trip.

Despite the departure of Dwight Howard, the Lakers keep the max number of nationally televised (non-NBA TV) games in the league at 25, tied with the Knicks and Heat. The Clippers have 21 nationally televised games, while the defending Western Champs, the Spurs, only have 15. The Bulls jump to 24 national games, with the league banking on Rose's return to carry audiences. The Thunder also feature on national TV 24 times.

Houston, with newly-signed Dwight Howard and James Harden, feature 20 games on national television, a pretty low number given the star power. The Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011, and now have just eight national TV appearances. The Warriors meanwhile jump to 17 games, while Eastern Conference finalist Indiana only appears 10 time next season. To put that in perspective, the Denver Nuggets appear 13 times.

The rest of the schedule is at the link.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by -King-

This year feels different from the past year for some reason. Even when they turn it on, they're barely winning. Last year when they turned it on, there was no team in the league that could hang.

Grantland had a good article talking about it. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/wh...with-the-heat/

I'll check it out. The thing is, offensively, they're as great as ever. LeBron is playing at a ridiculously efficient level. But defensively they've become league average this season. I believe a lot of that comes down to effort, but I guess we'll see when the games start mattering.

[okcchief]

I think the Heat were plenty motivated to beat the Thunder. KDs comments about Wade over the summer and KD stealing Lebron's spotlight. They just flat out didn't have it Wednesday Night. They just don't look like the same team this year.

That being said. Any team with Lebron has a chance and if Wade returns to form they will be right there again.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I think the Heat were plenty motivated to beat the Thunder. KDs comments about Wade over the summer and KD stealing Lebron's spotlight. They just flat out didn't have it Wednesday Night. They just don't look like the same team this year.

That being said. Any team with Lebron has a chance and if Wade returns to form they will be right there again.

I suspect a bit of it simply comes down to winning back to back and cruising a bit, and then thinking they can dial it back up for the playoffs.

[mcaj22]

Pacers sign Bynum, lol

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by -King-

This year feels different from the past year for some reason. Even when they turn it on, they're barely winning. Last year when they turned it on, there was no team in the league that could hang.

Grantland had a good article talking about it. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/wh...with-the-heat/

That is why three-peating is hard. The Heat have played a massive amount of games the last 4 years eventually it is going to catch up to them. They are still the team to beat though only because of Lebron, without him they would be a 20 win team.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Will Bynum be motivated for pacers?

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Pacers sign Bynum, lol

Low risk potential high reward. Love it.

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Will Bynum be motivated for pacers?

If not that locker room will eat him alive. DWest will bring the hammer.

[mcaj22]

Oh my Wizards are getting beat by Tabo Shcaweofarts. Joy

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

That is why three-peating is hard. The Heat have played a massive amount of games the last 4 years eventually it is going to catch up to them. They are still the team to beat though only because of Lebron, without him they would be a 20 win team.

Yep, they get burned out. Lakers won 2 of 3. Then they fell off. Guys start getting hurt cant recover during the offseason. It gets to everyone. Its ALOT of basketball. Its gonna happen to LEbron sooner or later, he's a big ass dude and moves around. His body is taking a massive beating year in and year out.

Being in the Finals every year gotta be rough.

[-King-]

[KC_Connection]

He's no Marcus Smart.

[kcxiv]

LOL Lakers are down to 5 players holy crap! lol there is NO One Farmar hurt agian, Kaman fouled out. LOL

[kcxiv]

wow, if there are only 5 players on a team that are available, if a guy fouls out, he doesnt foul out. He stays in the game.

Sacre is playing with 6 fouls. lol

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

LOL Lakers are down to 5 players holy crap! lol there is NO One Farmar hurt agian, Kaman fouled out. LOL

and the Cavs are still losing. Deng is 1-10. Feel bad he went to that garbage mess