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.

[Al Bundy]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m

Steve Blake has been traded to Golden State, league source tells Yahoo Sports.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

The Servant is such a terrible nickname

[Al Bundy]

Rusty Simmons ‏@Rusty_SFChron 5m

The Warriors have acquired Steve Blake from the Lakers for guards Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks, pending the league's trade call.

[kcxiv]

Good trade for the Warriors. Steve Blake is a scrappy son of a bitch that can play. He's also pretty clutch will make the tough shots.

[dirk digler]

Poor Marshon Brooks. He has probably been traded as much as Thomas Robinson has now.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Howard humiliating a bitter LA in the first 2 minutes. Hope he keeps it up

[okcchief]

Brooks said he would start Perk tomorrow which seals a bet I have with a co-worker. I'll start the game about 15 minutes late with Miami up 20-5.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Howard humiliating a bitter LA in the first 2 minutes. Hope he keeps it up

Every team beats this D-league team and beats them bad. This team is has been built to tank this year. I seriously doubt Kobe is really hurt anymore. He's just staying in shape and he will come back for the last 10 games of the season possibly to make it look like its not a tank. As a lakers fan, im 100 percent OK with it.

So far this shit is setting up wonderfully going forward.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Yeah. Tanking and holding Kobe out is the right move. Still enjoying the shit out of it though.

[KC native]

No Tony, Tim, or Kawhi tonight but the Spurs still pulled it out. I watched the stream while trolling the Ray Rice thread.

Spurs have locked in a winning record for the rodeo road trip and their play is looking better recently.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Every team beats this D-league team and beats them bad. This team is has been built to tank this year. I seriously doubt Kobe is really hurt anymore. He's just staying in shape and he will come back for the last 10 games of the season possibly to make it look like its not a tank. As a lakers fan, im 100 percent OK with it.

So far this shit is setting up wonderfully going forward.

It still wouldn't surprise me if Kobe wants to come back this season just from being super competitive. Other than that the I figure it will turn out like it always does for the Lakers. Maybe one of the top three in this draft and Kevin Love next year.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Yeah. Tanking and holding Kobe out is the right move. Still enjoying the shit out of it though.

As a Lakers fan for 30 years, i am too. This is the best thing they could possibly do. Its going to be a high draft pick in the deepest draft in about 10 years or Kevin Love who's from L.A. T-Wolves have to do something with him or get nothing in return. Plus, they other team trading for him has to make sure he's going to re-sign there. Its looking good right now. As long as the Lakers keep sucking.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Miles

It still wouldn't surprise me if Kobe wants to come back this season just from being super competitive. Other than that the I figure it will turn out like it always does for the Lakers. Maybe one of the top three in this draft and Kevin Love next year.

Kobe will come back and he should play for a few games about 10-15. They should be so far down and have a top 10 spot clinched by then. They are the worst team in the West right now. lol

[-King-]

I cannot ****ing wait for tonight.

Most exciting player in the NBA to watch IMO.

[Mav]

As a BobCats/Hornets/Pelicans fan, to see what the Bobcats are doing right now specifically with Al Jefferson, is down right AWESOME.

Build the love up for the team before it erupts next season with the REVIVAL OF THE BUGS!!!!!