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.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Man, I wish the Thunder had a guy like Harden. Still miss that guy's ability to get to the rim.

That finals left a bad taste in management's mouth. I think that was the real driving force behind it.

[Miles]

/

Originally Posted by Pushead2

That finals left a bad taste in management's mouth. I think that was the real driving force behind it.

Haven't heard that defense of the trade before. Is that related to the decision about money and not wanting to spend it?

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

That finals left a bad taste in management's mouth. I think that was the real driving force behind it.

Deal is, it would be ironic if the trade comes full circle and the Rockets end up knocking the Thunder off in the Western Conference Finals keeping them from advancing to the NBA Finals...I dont think Houston has the point guard play yet to accomplish that, but that day might arrive soon...Changing sports, if the Chiefs made a similar decision, it would most certainly come back to haunt them in the worst way possible.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

A new low for Indiana as they are losing 57-23 to the Hawks at home. They obviously stopped giving a shit some time ago. I Hope they find it's not so easy to flip the switch and get bumped in the first round. **** them.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

A new low for Indiana as they are losing 57-23 to the Hawks at home. They obviously stopped giving a shit some time ago. I Hope they find it's not so easy to flip the switch and get bumped in the first round. **** them.

Someone send a Hazmat team to Indiana, good lord

[Miles]

Only recorded stat for Hibbert is 1 TO. Good job, good effort.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Interesting scoring timeline in the Rockets-Denver game.

Nuggets up 10 in the 1st Quarter
Rockets up 17 at Half
Game tied after 3 quarters
Nuggets up 13 with 4 minutes left
Overtime
Rockets win!!!

Get healthy Howard!

[KC_Connection]

The Pacers running out of gas is another example of why you need to pace yourself over the course of the regular season. Coming on like gangbusters at the beginning of a season isn't sustainable (unless you're a ridiculous basketball machine like the Spurs that can run interchangeably with about 10 different guys). Considering how massively they are tanking right now, they should still be fine energy-wise for the playoffs, though.

LeBron is supposedly planning on taking no days off himself (in the attempt to ensure the #1 seed, I guess). But that may change if the Pacers keep losing like this.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Interesting scoring timeline in the Rockets-Denver game.

Nuggets up 10 in the 1st Quarter
Rockets up 17 at Half
Game tied after 3 quarters
Nuggets up 13 with 4 minutes left
Overtime
Rockets win!!!

Get healthy Howard!

Exactly!
At first I wasn't concerned, but I am now. The ankle has not responded as well as the Rockets had hoped. Howard had it drained again last Thursday. Ankles injuries can take a long time to heal. Even when he comes back, its gonna bother him.

[okcchief]

[QUOTE=TEX;10543117]Deal is, it would be ironic if the trade comes full circle and the Rockets end up knocking the Thunder off in the Western Conference Finals keeping them from advancing to the NBA Finals...I dont think Houston has the point guard play yet to accomplish that, but that day might arrive soon...Changing sports, if the Chiefs made a similar decision, it would most certainly come back to haunt them in the worst way

There is something wrong with the Thunder, but Im pretty confident if they make it to the WCF they will win. That's a big IF though. I think they will lose to the Clippers, and the Spurs beat the Clippers. I'm hoping getting Thabo back and WB off restricted minutes rights the ship. Right now they are broke.

No way Houston beats SA in a playoff series. That's crazy talk.

[TEX]

[QUOTE=okcchief;10547082]

Originally Posted by TEX

Deal is, it would be ironic if the trade comes full circle and the Rockets end up knocking the Thunder off in the Western Conference Finals keeping them from advancing to the NBA Finals...I dont think Houston has the point guard play yet to accomplish that, but that day might arrive soon...Changing sports, if the Chiefs made a similar decision, it would most certainly come back to haunt them in the worst way

There is something wrong with the Thunder, but Im pretty confident if they make it to the WCF they will win. That's a big IF though. I think they will lose to the Clippers, and the Spurs beat the Clippers. I'm hoping getting Thabo back and WB off restricted minutes rights the ship. Right now they are broke.

No way Houston beats SA in a playoff series. That's crazy talk.

I agree for the most part BUT I've experienced first hand a Houston team, ranked 6th in the Western Conference, beat a Spurs team ranked #1 and then sweeping Orlando to win the Title. That Rockets team was better, though not record -wise, and there were certainly different circumstances and I know the past has nothing to do with the present. However, there is a heated rivalry that spans generations between the two that I would not dismiss. Back then, everyone did, and said the same thing that you're saying now...

Like I said, I don't think Houston gets past OKC and the Clippers, but if they get the Spurs, I think they make more of a series out of it and might win it. All speculation, and just my opinion. You're free to call it "Crazy" as I'm sure most will.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Anything less than 6 playoffs wins for Houston and I'd be disappointed, but they are not ready to compete with the top 3. Maybe next year if we see growth in Jones, Lin, Canaan, and Covington while replacing turds like Motiejunas, Hamilton and Casspi with actual NBA role players.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

The Pacers running out of gas is another example of why you need to pace yourself over the course of the regular season. Coming on like gangbusters at the beginning of a season isn't sustainable (unless you're a ridiculous basketball machine like the Spurs that can run interchangeably with about 10 different guys). Considering how massively they are tanking right now, they should still be fine energy-wise for the playoffs, though.

LeBron is supposedly planning on taking no days off himself (in the attempt to ensure the #1 seed, I guess). But that may change if the Pacers keep losing like this.

The Pacers will be lucky to get past round 1 at this point. I haven't seen a meltdown like this..well maybe never

And their meltdown is more than just running out of gas, that is the least of their problems. They have major locker room problems and too much finger pointing going on.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Anything less than 6 playoffs wins for Houston and I'd be disappointed, but they are not ready to compete with the top 3. Maybe next year if we see growth in Jones, Lin, Canaan, and Covington while replacing turds like Motiejunas, Hamilton and Casspi with actual NBA role players.

I agree. However, Im done with Lin though. Id like to see them get a solid Point Guard.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

The Pacers will be lucky to get past round 1 at this point. I haven't seen a meltdown like this..well maybe never

And their meltdown is more than just running out of gas, that is the least of their problems. They have major locker room problems and too much finger pointing going on.

The Pacers will get out of round 1. The East is very weak, especially the bottom feeders.