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.

[-King-]

[tecumseh]

Paul George. Comin' on like MJ. Go Pacers. Sorry Blake. Ice up, son,ice up.

[MIAdragon]

[kcxiv]

That Paul George dunk was sick. That VC dunk in a game.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

That Paul George dunk was sick. That VC dunk in a game.

I remember young VC doing stuff like that all the time. He was amazing. I miss that.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I remember young VC doing stuff like that all the time. He was amazing. I miss that.

Dude was a really good player, but his knees gave out, lost some explosive and that wasit for his superstar status. He was fun to watch thats for sure. It was like what did Kobe and VC to in the game tonight! lol

Was fun

[Al Bundy]

Warriors taking another ass kicking. Curry is the only NBA player on the squad that is worthwhile. Crawford is a bum, Harrison Barnes is a pile of shit and David Lee is soft.

[O.city]

Chandler Parsons has become a really good player

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Warriors taking another ass kicking. Curry is the only NBA player on the squad that is worthwhile. Crawford is a bum, Harrison Barnes is a pile of shit and David Lee is soft.

Pacers are really good, they make a lot of teams look bad.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by KevB

Pacers are really good, they make a lot of teams look bad.

Ohh I know. This Warriors team is a long way off. When you have to depend on David Lee as one of your key players and when the bust AKA Harrison Barnes is one of your key guys off the bench, you are ****ed. Pretty close to having to start this thing over, I would love to unload David Lee, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguadola for some draft picks and call this season over.

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by KevB

Pacers are really good, they make a lot of teams look bad.

They sure embarrassed us a couple days ago, although we were on the second night of a back-to-back without our best player.

I like Paul George (mainly because he was a Clipper fan growing up) and Indiana is generally likeable, but David West and Lance Stephenson are douchebags.

[tecumseh]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

They sure embarrassed us a couple days ago, although we were on the second night of a back-to-back without our best player.

I like Paul George (mainly because he was a Clipper fan growing up) and Indiana is generally likeable, but David West and Lance Stephenson are douchebags.

Your only saying that about West because he schooled your boy Griffin. Lance is spirited and youthful. Both admirable qualities.

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by tecumseh

Your only saying that about West because he schooled your boy Griffin.

He didn't "school" anyone. He tried to punk Blake with a dirty cheapshot, and it backfired on him in the form of a well-deserved fine. And it's not just Blake, he's pulled the same shit in the past with other players - Dirk and Udonis Haslem immediately come to mind.

Lance is spirited and youthful. Both admirable qualities.

He overcelebrates and showboats a bit too much, IMO. He's one of those guys who you'd love to have on your team but is annoying as hell when he's on the opposing team.

[KevB]

Refs have allowed this game to turn into a street fight

[-King-]

Warriors just love coming back.