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.

[okcchief]

I'm pretty sure Brooks had money on the Nets tonight with the lineups he threw out there. What the ****ing hell?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by -King-

Warriors smack the Heat in Miami. Steph Curry hit 8 3s.

I would have loved to watch that game. Damn shame that wasn't on TNT

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by -King-

Joe Johnson might be the clutchest player in the league. Seriously.

He does seem to hit a lot of buzzer beaters. It was a tough shot. Glad I stayed home the last 2 games. 2 16 points blown leads at home.

Get well Russ.

[okcchief]

I'm hoping all of my Thunder mojo is being transfered to the Chiefs. That was an awful loss. Good one Brooksy.

[Mav]

Hmmm, going to be interesting next year to go watch the Bucks when they get Wiggins. Clearly the fix is in for that. IIRC wasn't Larry Drew on the Hawks staff when they drafted Marvin at 2, instead of CP3?

[kcxiv]

This might be one of the worst NBA seasons i have seen in a long time, there are so many bad teams. Its unreal.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

This might be one of the worst NBA seasons i have seen in a long time, there are so many bad teams. Its unreal.

Lottery this year may turn out to be best in at least a couple decades- if, and I'm pretty sure to at least some degree they are, teams are tanking for the lottery, I hope to God it ends up being a team with a low probability of getting the top pick because they actually tried to win and not simply stack the deck to get the most ping pong balls in the lottery.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Lottery this year may turn out to be best in at least a couple decades- if, and I'm pretty sure to at least some degree they are, teams are tanking for the lottery, I hope to God it ends up being a team with a low probability of getting the top pick because they actually tried to win and not simply stack the deck to get the most ping pong balls in the lottery.

The 4th seed in the east is a .500 team. That's insane. A .500 team may end up with home court for the first round. West is brutal.

Lakers need to tank. They tried not too but the basketball gods are just inflicting injuries on their players. Every single person that's played pg for the lakers has gotten hurt. They are down to some guy named Marshall they signed from the D league. Strange season. Fairly significant injuries too Nash has nerve damage in his knee and back. Kobe has a fracture in his leg/knee. Blake tore some ligaments in his elbow. Jordan farmar tore his hamstring, healed up a week later tore it again in a different spot. X Henry tweaked his knee and will get another MRI in 10 days. Insane

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

i dont know how they even let him ref games after he threw Tim Duncan out of the game for laughing. Such bullshit

I agree (he also challenged Tim Duncan to a fight in that game too). He sure seems to get a lot of the Spurs big games. I think it's David Stern's way of saying "**** you" to Pop because Pop does what he wants and not what Stern wants.

[-King-]

Chris Paul is expected to miss three to five weeks with a separated shoulder suffered in Friday's win over the Mavericks

[KC_Connection]

Joey Crawford threw Ariza out for complaining in the Raptors/Wizards game tonight. I swear he does it every game he works.

[okcchief]

Kevin Love gets fouled with 2 seconds left shooting a 3 and misses all 3 FTs to allow the Thunder to hang on. Thanks for salvaging something out of this awful sports day.

[dirk digler]

Celtics trade Courtney Lee to Memphis for Jerryd Bayless

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by -King-

Chris Paul is expected to miss three to five weeks with a separated shoulder suffered in Friday's win over the Mavericks

Karma's a bitch, got hurt flopping.

[Al Bundy]

SportsCenter ‏@SportsCenter 17m

BREAKING: Cavs agree to trade C Andrew Bynum and a draft pick to Bulls for Luol Deng.