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]

Farmar is ballin tonight.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I go both ways on this. It should stop dipshits like Aaron Craft from being perceived as good defensive basketball players, but the good thing about college is the games only lasted 2 hours. They were short and quick. If they enforce this rule change on the court, that won't be the case any longer. They're just going to be even bigger foul fests than they already are.

This is the problem with it. The games are going to drag on forever.

[Shogun]

I always knew that Henry could get to this level

[dirk digler]

The scrubs of the Lakers are owning the Clippers

[KevB]

I see the Clippers haven't changed, no poise when things go a bit sideways for them. Chris Paul is a petulant child. Griffin has no move he can go to when it matters. Doc is going to figure out real quick (why hasn't he figured it out?) that Crawford has to be in the game down the stretch.

[dirk digler]

Blake Griffin should be embarrassed

[okcchief]

The Lakers reserves are sticking it to the Clips. Doc has a lot of work on his hands to change the mentality of this team.

The Lakers tonight are the exact opposite of last year. They played really hard tonight.

[-King-]

Clippers thought this would be an easy win. They underestimated the power of Jordan Farmar.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Blake Griffin should be embarrassed

Clippers are a sportscenter team. They're just flashy, but they're not championship caliber material.

[CaliforniaChief]

I heard Nash had a stiff neck/back...why isn't Gasol playing?

[Shogun]

@NotBillWalton 4m

You know its all bad when Lauryn Hill is hitting bank shots on you. Ready or not, here he comes!

[-King-]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I heard Nash had a stiff neck/back...why isn't Gasol playing?

Cause the backups are doing work right now.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by -King-

Cause the backups are doing work right now.

They certainly are. at the Clippers.

[okcchief]

I tip my hat to D'Antoni for letting the backups ride the wave. Keep in the hot hands.

[CaliforniaChief]

That was pretty damned impressive.