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.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

correct me if im wrong but cant the Lakers position themselves for both Westbrook and Love? I think that only gives Kobe a year to play with them and he has to play through two seasons before thats even a consideration. But the post Kobe era those two players as FAs in a couple years is a good start

No, because Love ain't going to be acquired for just money.

The Lakers have no trade assets. They're not getting Love.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just wanted to add something about the NBA coverage of late:

The pronouncements of the end of Derrick Rose's career are becoming more and more ridiculous. He suffered an unfortunate injury, but by having the meniscus repaired rather than removed, he'll likely come back with fewer long-term ill-effects. Had he opted for a removal, like Chris Paul and D-Wade, he would have lost his explosiveness. This is a manageable injury being unnecessarily overhyped by ESPN.

I don't know about that. 2 knee surgeries on both knees and losing 2 full seasons is pretty concerning. He could have Grant Hill disease.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I don't know about that. 2 knee surgeries on both knees and losing 2 full seasons is pretty concerning. He could have Grant Hill disease.

Looks like Rose has joined the elite fraternity.

Antonio McDyess 6'9 245 F I think him and Grant Hill play Russian Roulette at Penny Hardaway's place on the weekends. Either that or they just throw hammers at each other.

classic line courtesy of ****aslikeus

[KC_Connection]

This has reminded me that Tyshawn Taylor tore his meniscus mid-season in his senior year at KU, had surgery and yet didn't miss a single game for them. He also proceeded to raise his game and be their best player after that point.

[KC_Connection]

LeBron's on a bit of a different level: http://statcenter.blogspot.ca/2013/1...est-usage.html

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I don't know about that. 2 knee surgeries on both knees and losing 2 full seasons is pretty concerning. He could have Grant Hill disease.

If his meniscus heals properly it's not going to be a long-term detriment to him. These are isolated, traumatic injuries.

If he had his meniscus taken out and was back on the court by Christmas, everyone would be lauding him for his toughness, even though that would be a far worse move for his career.

[RustShack]

Cavs are trying to trade Dion Waiters. I like him, but he's better off without a top PG. Hope we can get a nice piece out of him!

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Rockets proving they have a pretty damn good supporting cast offensively. 3rd win in a row without Harden. 6-2 with T-Jones getting starter minutes.

[mschiefs1984]

Not even a month into the season and I think it's safe to say the East is down to Indiana and Miami. Pretty much what everyone thought at the start of the year outside of the Bulls who are now back to being an ok team without Rose again

[okcchief]

Westbrook and Durant play like utter shit offensively tonight. Maybe the worst I've seen them play in the same game. Reggie Jackson has a Harden like game. Jeremy Lamb with solid D and 5 of 7 from the field. Serge Ibaka playing monter interior D and draing the jumper, and the Thunder beat the Spurs. A very bizarre, ugly, defensive gruntfest as the Spurs stars were off all night as well. The Thunder bench was outstanding tonight though. The sky is the limit with this group.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by mschiefs1984

Not even a month into the season and I think it's safe to say the East is down to Indiana and Miami. Pretty much what everyone thought at the start of the year outside of the Bulls who are now back to being an ok team without Rose again

Yeah, it was always going to be Miami and Indiana in the East finals. The only real surprise is the East is a little more shitty than I thought it would be so far.

The Raptors are the same mediocre to bad team as usual but that's apparently good enough to get them the Atlantic division.

[mschiefs1984]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Yeah, it was always going to be Miami and Indiana in the East finals. The only real surprise is the East is a little more shitty than I thought it would be so far.

The Raptors are the same mediocre to bad team as usual but that's apparently good enough to get them the Atlantic division.

Yeah the Nets were suppose to be a contender to some but they have been really bad. There are going to be some really bad teams in the playoffs in the east again this year

[KC_Connection]

Speaking of the Nets:

Kidd, who enjoyed a can of Coca-Cola at his postgame press conference, was coy about his move, not acknowledging his words.

"Cup slipped out of my hand I was getting Ty," Kidd said. "Sweaty palms. I was never good with the ball."

"In the heat of the battle, you're trying to get guys in and out of the game, and the cup fell out of my hand."

Sure thing, coach.

Taylor also denied that the spill was intentional. "Naw, I wasn't paying attention," Taylor said after the game. "I didn't even know he was holding nothing. Like, coach is drinking soda on the sidelines! I'm like 'What? What you doing?'"

http://thebrooklyngame.com/jason-kid...taylor-hit-me/

[mschiefs1984]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Speaking of the Nets:




http://thebrooklyngame.com/jason-kid...taylor-hit-me/

That team is a mess

[Hammock Parties]

the white lebron