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]

Golden State is out of the playoffs, no way this team makes it past the first round IF they even make the playoffs.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Golden State is out of the playoffs, no way this team makes it past the first round IF they even make the playoffs.

Don't freak out yet. I don't see the Suns maintaining their play or Dallas.

[Anyong Bluth]

Aldridge is beasting this year! He's gotta be in the top 5 for MVP discussion as this point- even though it is way early. Good thing they didn't move him in the offseason when there was talk of possible trade deals mainly stemming from its believed that he was unhappy with losing and wanted to play for a winning squad that had a chance to contend soon.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Golden State is out of the playoffs, no way this team makes it past the first round IF they even make the playoffs.

It's the refs fault.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Golden State is out of the playoffs, no way this team makes it past the first round IF they even make the playoffs.

You overreact after every single game. Calm down dude.
Posted via Mobile Device

[dirk digler]

My sucky Celtics beat SNR's T-Wolves.

[lcarus]

Orlando beat the Bulls tonight lol. Damn it, they're screwing up their lottery chances!

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

My sucky Celtics beat SNR's T-Wolves.

That's not very difficult to do.

This is NOT a playoff team in Minnesota. The starters play way too many minutes because our bench is complete ****ing crap. Would help if JJ Barea would stop sucking dick, but whatever.

Until the bench starts being not worthless sacks of shit, the Wolves aren't doing anything.

[GoChargers]

Great win for the Clipps tonight against the always-tough Spurs.

- Blake Griffin was fantastic. Most underrated player in the league by far.
- We might finally be getting the Jared Dudley we traded for. The last two games, he's actually started hitting shots.
- The defensive effort was impressive. Rarely do you see the Spurs look as disorganized as they did at several points in the game tonight.
- We blew out the Spurs without Redick, Barnes, or Bullock. 'Nuff said.

After a disappointing road trip, we needed a win like that. If this team can get healthy, stay healthy, and click, they could be formidable - especially if we can sign a decent backup big.

[-King-]

Blake Griffin....underrated. Does not compute.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Don't freak out yet. I don't see the Suns maintaining their play or Dallas.

Dont know about Dallas, but the Suns will, they will get better and better as the year goes on imo. That Bledsoe and Dragic combo is going to be real nice.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by -King-

Blake Griffin....underrated. Does not compute.

Yeah, when he's more consistent then maybe. Dude will play pretty decent one game, then puss out the next game and look like the 2012-2013 Pau Gasol soft. lol

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Yeah, when he's more consistent then maybe. Dude will play pretty decent one game, then puss out the next game and look like the 2012-2013 Pau Gasol soft. lol

That's his most frustrating flaw. He's at his best when he's hustling and energetic, yet some nights he plays like he's out of it and just preserving himself.

Still though, he's still pretty young, and he's averaging 20 and 10. He's not the one-trick-pony scrub that the media paints him as. The best part is that he hasn't even come close to reaching his ceiling yet.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

That's his most frustrating flaw. He's at his best when he's hustling and energetic, yet some nights he plays like he's out of it and just preserving himself.

Still though, he's still pretty young, and he's averaging 20 and 10. He's not the one-trick-pony scrub that the media paints him as. The best part is that he hasn't even come close to reaching his ceiling yet.

I think he's kind of like Dwight Howard all kinds of athletic, but to robotic. You want the guy to be able to take the ball in the post and count on his skills to get you 2 points late in games, but you cant. Im not sure if Blakes offensive game is going to come out. He's more or less an above the rim player and a hustler getting garbage points.

Its a shame too, cause guys like Blake and Howard have some damn crazy good god given athletic ability. Maybe Blake can turn into a guy that you can count on at the end, but i wouldnt bet on it.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Race Card native

It's the refs fault.

Nope. They just are turning the ball over far too much.