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.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I think he wants to coach again. He could be worse off than what the Cavs have.

George Karl would be my pick if the Thunder by some miracle fired Brooks. I think he's enough of a players coach he wouldn't lose Russ and he has this thing that some of you NBA fans call a system I might as well talk about what color unicorn I'd like to fly.

Karl and the Thunder would be the best fit. But I think Brooks is going to stay just because of the Ibaka injury.

Man, can you imagine Karl running an offense with KD, Westbrook, and Ibaka? That's the best talent he'll have ever had by far. That would be must see tv.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

According to ESPN it'll be Wiggins or Embiid. Cavs have an unhealthy obsession with Wiggins so it'll be hard to pick anybody over him but Embiid's ceiling is causing them to have fights with themselves. Rock Chalk.

[KevB]

Another idea I've seen floated in a couple of places : trade first pick and a player or two (Tristan Thompson) for Kevin Love. Who knows if Love would be willing to sign an extension in Cleveland, but with Kyrie and other good young players, maybe? Also, could Cleveland sell out to get Love and LeBron to pair with Kyrie? I don't believe LeBron wants to come back to Cleveland despite all the confident talk from Cavs fans, but interesting to consider.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by -King-

Karl and the Thunder would be the best fit. But I think Brooks is going to stay just because of the Ibaka injury.

Man, can you imagine Karl running an offense with KD, Westbrook, and Ibaka? That's the best talent he'll have ever had by far. That would be must see tv.

Believe me I've thought about it. It just makes me sad though.

I've also seen him analyze us on ESPN and he recognizes their biggest issues. I would float on a ****ing cloud if that happened.

Back to Memphis could have done us a favor.

Who knows? Maybe Scotty will do a brilliant job and win the title this year. Yeah, I'll take the purple unicorn. Weeeeeee!

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I feel like the Cavs win the draft lottery every year. Why are they so bad then?

Chris Grant.

A guy more obsessed with being clever than being smart. Drafted Dion Waiters who was a terrible complement to Kyrie even if he ended up being decent. Ridiculous reach for Anthony Bennett even with Thompson on the roster. Stockpiled a bunch of draft picks and never used them for anything useful. Then the worst… he apparently was the guy who pushed for Mike Brown, who was terrible. He kept putting people in the wrong positions and his team was a circus, starting with Kyrie, who badly needs a coach to put him in his place.

They have more than enough talent to compete. Even without LeBron, they become a hell of a team if they keep Hawes and draft either Wiggins or Parker. Even more incredible if they can get rid of Waiters for good value and Bennett plays even like a top 20 pick.

[mcaj22]

if my man Hawes was smart he needs to go play for a winner. He should sign with the Spurs and let Pop use his skillset

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I feel like the Cavs win the draft lottery every year. Why are they so bad then?

Mike Brown this year at least. The other years just a bunch of new young guys trying to mature and develop.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

if my man Hawes was smart he needs to go play for a winner. He should sign with the Spurs and let Pop use his skillset

Awful defender, so yeah, he needs a coach who can mask his weaknesses while using his strengths (shooting/passing well above average for a big).

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by KevB

Another idea I've seen floated in a couple of places : trade first pick and a player or two (Tristan Thompson) for Kevin Love. Who knows if Love would be willing to sign an extension in Cleveland, but with Kyrie and other good young players, maybe? Also, could Cleveland sell out to get Love and LeBron to pair with Kyrie? I don't believe LeBron wants to come back to Cleveland despite all the confident talk from Cavs fans, but interesting to consider.

I think trading players and picks to acquire players who fit and mesh better was the plan, but you would have to think that they were assuming they were picking nine instead of first.

[okcchief]

I've seen the Thunder mocked for trading up for McDermott. Also picking Napier and Early. I think I could live with all of those. They will have to make a decision on Reggie soon too and I don't think it's wise to pay a backup PG what he's probably going to get. Might be able to package him and the 2 first rounders to move up or go get a Vet if they chose to amnesty Perk.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by KevB

Awful defender, so yeah, he needs a coach who can mask his weaknesses while using his strengths (shooting/passing well above average for a big).

and also not play on shit teams like the Kings/Sixers/Cavs

[GoChargers]

LOLAKERS. All that tanking and you didn't even get a good pick.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by RustShack

I think trading players and picks to acquire players who fit and mesh better was the plan, but you would have to think that they were assuming they were picking nine instead of first.

Two players that were picked first the last 20 years won a ring with the team that drafted them (David Robinson and Duncan). The 9th pick might have gotten you a decent vet, but not a guy that gets you over the hump. The #1 pick on the other hand could be part of a package that gets you a top 10-15 player in Love.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by KevB

Two players that were picked first the last 20 years won a ring with the team that drafted them (David Robinson and Duncan). The 9th pick might have gotten you a decent vet, but not a guy that gets you over the hump. The #1 pick on the other hand could be part of a package that gets you a top 10-15 player in Love.

That's nice and all, but isn't Wiggins supposed to be the next Durant/James? I wouldn't pass on that type of player for anyone.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by RustShack

That's nice and all, but isn't Wiggins supposed to be the next Durant/James? I wouldn't pass on that type of player for anyone.

He's got talent but he's not on the same planet LeBron or Durant or many others were at that age. He's got a long way to go.