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.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by -King-

New Delay of game rule just slows down the game even more. They really have to change it.

It does early in the season, but once the players become accustomed to it, I do think it will speed up play.

[Shogun]

I still love Kirk Hinrich.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by TEX

You're entitled to your opinion, but the Howard trade is not overrated. He doesn't have to be a monster offensive low post player (but I bet Olajuwon teaches him something) with the players around him. All he's got to do is be somewhat of a threat, clean the glass and be active around the basket and he'll get his. The beauty part is the Rockets STILL have Asik. When he spells Howard, they still have very capable backup. Play them both together and the lineup is HUGE with enough smalls and or scorers to be used as needed.

Do you really think the Spurs and Warriors are deeper than Houston? Maybe the Warriors are as deep but the Spurs are a different case all together because they're old and it shows every season. What depth they have needs to be counted on more so than the others.

Did you check out Howard's line last night? He had 17 pts and 27 boards, and a couple of blocks. If you can count on that point-wise and half that board wise, all year from him - the Rockets have all the other pieces and will likely represent the West in the Finals.

Fair enough about needing to show you more, however, yours is one of the few discussion they're not in, but in time I bet they will be...

I think what bothers me about Morey's moves is that he is going to be paying Lin and Asik $16M for each of the next 2 years to sit on the bench in mop-up time, when these guys are really, really bad fits with the superstars they later brought in. And the way they poison pilled their contracts, they're probably stuck with these 2 contracts. Howard can't play at the same time as Asik. Lin can't play with Harden. And then the question that will always come up is if Howard can play with Harden. McHale. Hell, anybody.

So we'll see on Howard. Given his contract, he had better see more good days than pouty days.

[dirk digler]

Rose with the floater! Up 1 with 5 seconds left

[dirk digler]

Bulls squeak out a win 82-81 over the Knicks. Melo takes the final shot which was a 3, don't get that but whatever

[-King-]

Originally Posted by KevB

It does early in the season, but once the players become accustomed to it, I do think it will speed up play.

I don't know. Refs are pretty tick tacky with it. It's natural reaction to catch a ball falling in front of you. There have been a few where they called it even though the player passed the ball to the inbounder or even the ref.

[Shogun]

Damn, sweet halfcourt shot by Speights that didn't quite count

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by KevB

If they knew Harden would be this good, they should have kept all three. How could anyone think it's a bad thing to have 3 of the top 12 players in the league, all three playing different positions? Presti missed on his projection for how good Harden would become.

Harden wouldn't that player on the Thunder. There is only one ball. Either way it was a horrible trade. Presti deserves the chance to redeem himself since he built the roster to begin with. IMO Adams can be the center they need, but they will have to go grab a shooter unless Lamb grows up real quick. They need a lights out shooter desperately.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Harden wouldn't that player on the Thunder. There is only one ball. Either way it was a horrible trade. Presti deserves the chance to redeem himself since he built the roster to begin with. IMO Adams can be the center they need, but they will have to go grab a shooter unless Lamb grows up real quick. They need a lights out shooter desperately.

the Clippers acquired all the available ones

[KC_Connection]

Who needs defense?

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Shogun

Damn, sweet halfcourt shot by Speights that didn't quite count

Who's he with now? He was one of the few bright spots on the Cavs last year after the season was all but over.

[GoChargers]

CHRIS. MOTHER****ING. PAUL.

That is all.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

The Mavs look ****ING AWESOME.

Dirk and Monta on FIRE.

Who was the last player to lead the Mavs in scoring, besides Dirk? Josh Howard?

Defense and turnovers need a little work, but I hope that will come with time in Carlisle's system and experience playing together.

Once Harris comes back, I think we will look a lot better. But, for a 4th string PG, Gal isn't doing too bad.

I'd like a little bit more of a scoring punch at the two off the bench, I'm not certain how much Ellington can do for us. I believe they want Harris to fill that role as well, occasionally.

Dejuan Blair has some hustle, especially on the offensive glass. That was a good thing to see.

11 assists by Calderon and he wasn't a complete defensive sieve for us. The threes will drop soon enough.

All that said, this was against the Hawks, I'm a little iffy about their place in the league. We have a much better test tonight against the Rockets.

Get 'em Mavs!

[Al Bundy]

Flop city.

[okcchief]

I havent seen the Mavs play, but the roster is better, and Carlisle is a hell of a coach. Wouldn't suprise me if they made the playoffs if Dirk stays healthy.