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.

[kcxiv]

D12 might be one of the worst Post up players i have ever seen

[KevB]

Anybody watching this Rockets/W's game? Why in the hell did McHale pull Beverly off Steph at the end? Maybe the most head scratching decision I've seen from a coach all season.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

This game is awful. Both teams playing like shit. Jeremy Lin can lick my ass.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Intentional fouling up 3. The biggest pussy shit ever. Hurts the game.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Intentional fouling up 3. The biggest pussy shit ever. Hurts the game.

Would never happen if he could hit at least 65 percent of his free throws, its just smart to do. Howardgets nervous when he shoots free theows. He admitted that last year.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Would never happen if he could hit at least 65 percent of his free throws, its just smart to do. Howardgets nervous when he shoots free theows. He admitted that last year.

He wasn't just talking about Howard, he was talking about in general. It's a pussy play.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by -King-

He wasn't just talking about Howard, he was talking about in general. It's a pussy play.

im immune to it as Shaq was a Laker and i got to see that shit all the time then last year with Howard. So it doesnt bother me anymore. lol

Its also a smart play especially if you foul and your up by 3. Its just the right thing to do. Kind of like on 4th down 3 seconds left in the game and the defense plays 50 yards downfield. Kinda the same principle.

[KC_Connection]

Completely the smart play, just not the most interesting play.

[Jimmya]

Fouling like that sucks but many use it as a scheme versus certain players.

[okcchief]

Hit your damn free throws and it's a non-issue.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Hit your damn free throws and it's a non-issue.

It's an issue even if you foul Reggie Miller. Harden was the one fouled, btw. Even if it is smart, it hurts the game and punishes a team for what is supposed to be a reward. Down by a couple scores?... ok I get the foul game. You wanna hack-a-howard and give up free points? go right ahead. Up 3 and less than 8 seconds left? Play some ****ing defense.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

It's an issue even if you foul Reggie Miller. Harden was the one fouled, btw. Even if it is smart, it hurts the game.

I guess I misunderstood. I saw someone comment about Howard's poor free throw shooting and thought they were talking about the Hack a Shaq scenario. Didn't even read your comment, and I didn't stay up for the game.

As KC said not exciting, but it's the right strategy. Nothing you can really do about it, and teams dont do it as often as they should.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Granted, I understand the Rocket could have just "played some ****ing defense" while the warriors tried to run the clock, but it's just something that has always bothered me. I think because the Spurs used to do it all the time. (though not in last year's finals! haha)

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I guess I misunderstood. I saw someone comment about Howard's poor free throw shooting and thought they were talking about the Hack a Shaq scenario. Didn't even read your comment, and I didn't stay up for the game.

As KC said not exciting, but it's the right strategy. Nothing you can really do about it, and teams dont do it as often as they should.

I've noticed and I'm thankful for that.

And yeah, there really isn't anything that could be changed that would be consistent with the rules.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I guess I misunderstood. I saw someone comment about Howard's poor free throw shooting and thought they were talking about the Hack a Shaq scenario. Didn't even read your comment, and I didn't stay up for the game.

As KC said not exciting, but it's the right strategy. Nothing you can really do about it, and teams dont do it as often as they should.

Yeah I admit that the only reason I want teams to stop doing that is just for my personal enjoyment. I just hate how it turns what should be the most exciting seconds of the game into a free throw challenge. But it is the right strategy if you want to pretty much assure yourself of the win.
Posted via Mobile Device