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.

[KCCHIEFS27]

Originally Posted by KevB

Looking back at my pre-season predictions.....not bad. Injuries played a role in my misses. 6 out of 8 playoff teams in each conference. Portland and Toronto were the big surprises, as I had both out of the playoffs. Rose going down was a blow to the Bulls. New Orleans was decimated by injuries, but I did get the Anthony Davis part right, guy is a monster already.

I don't see the Bulls winning the East without Rose/Deng, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. OKC/SA is still the likely WCF matchup, but you'd have to give the Spurs the edge the way they've played this season.

Should be a great playoffs, can't wait.

I look forward to seeing your playoff predictions, as well, when the final pairings come out. I shall be back to offer my two cents. I've been reading a lot about "sleeper" teams, but I just don't see it. Unless they are concluding that the 4 seed's, as of now, Houston and/or Chicago could make a quiet run.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

OKC swept the Spurs. Regular season ain't everythin, but the Spurs matchup horribly vs. OKC

Between the injuries during the year and scheduling, I wouldn't read too much into the regular season results on Spurs vs. Thunder.

The Spurs are playing tremendously better ball now than they were even at the halfway point of the season.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

OKC swept the Spurs. Regular season ain't everythin, but the Spurs matchup horribly vs. OKC

The Rockets swept them too but the the playoffs are a totally different animal.

[mcaj22]

Sucks that Memphis has to play the Spurs in the first round

[KevB]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Sucks that Memphis has to play the Spurs in the first round

Not necessarily. Memphis and Dallas play in Memphis tomorrow night (Grizz have 14 game home win streak). Winner gets the 7 seed. Not that getting OKC is a walk in the park.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by KC native

Between the injuries during the year and scheduling, I wouldn't read too much into the regular season results on Spurs vs. Thunder.

The Spurs are playing tremendously better ball now than they were even at the halfway point of the season.

Kawhi over the last month has been the beast that many predicted he'd be from the get go this season.

Over the last month (only 30 minutes per game, several minutes less per game than most "stars") :

15 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3 apg, 1.7 steals, 1 block, 1.5 3s.....all while shooting 52% from the field and 81% from the line. Oh, and he's an elite defender.

[Snapplez]

Originally Posted by KC native

Between the injuries during the year and scheduling, I wouldn't read too much into the regular season results on Spurs vs. Thunder.

The Spurs are playing tremendously better ball now than they were even at the halfway point of the season.

This is exactly what people were sayin in the WCF a few years back.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

This is exactly what people were sayin in the WCF a few years back.

This Spurs team is a lot better than that team was.

[dirk digler]

Memphis - Mavs going toe to toe

Ellis just ties it up with the 3 with 13 secs left

[dirk digler]

Some interesting things tonight on the last day of the regular season. Nets tank the last game to get the #6 seed so they don't have to play the Bulls instead they will play the Raptors.

Thunder come back and beat the Pistons to clinch the #2 seed. Durant had 42 points and should be the MVP this season

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Some interesting things tonight on the last day of the regular season. Nets tank the last game to get the #6 seed so they don't have to play the Bulls instead they will play the Raptors.

Jason Kidd's tank may work for one round, but the Heat loom in round 2 now.

[dirk digler]

Mavs lose so they are the #8 seed and Memphis #7

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Jason Kidd's tank may work for one round, but the Heat loom in round 2 now.

I am sure that was part of their thinking.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

coonley got 6 steps before getting fouled but whatever

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I am sure that was part of their thinking.

Heat won't lose to the Nets. Pacers...they may have.