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.

[Shogun]

Klay 'Clay' Thompson is really having himself a game

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Jeff Green as a 6th man and not a starting power forward would be helpful, but id just like a couple of bombers that could stretch the floor for Russ and KD. They are all over the league we just never have any

Jeff Green started at SF for the Celtics tonight haha

[Al Bundy]

27 point lead....

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Jeff Green started at SF for the Celtics tonight haha

His biggest problem is he's a man without a position.

[okcchief]

The Warriors are legit. I'm not sure why people arent putting them ahead of the Rockets and Clippers. The only concern with them is injuries which is a very real concern.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by okcchief

He'll score 20 points in 6 minutes in meaningless situations, and brick shit all over the place in clutch situations. Plus get raped on defense.

Yeah, **** him!

He did okay in overtime. But now I'm seeing exactly why people hate his guts.

It stinks, because the Wolves figure to be just good enough to not be just bad enough to take advantage of the talent in this upcoming draft. They've got their one stud playmaker (Love) and **** ever getting a legitimate scorer from the 2 or 3 position that everybody needs to win championships.

[RustShack]

Bynum actually played. Can't wait until he's ready for a whole work load! Or at least split Center minutes with Varejao. If we keep them both healthy we are stacked!

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by okcchief

God damn the Thunder are hard to watch without Westbrook. However, I'm glad Brooks is letting the young guys play. Painful but neccessary.

I believe they have to use the trade exception they picked up in the Martin trade to acquire a veteran shooter if they want to contend. I love Adams potential, but Lamb looks lost. Yes, the trade still looks like shit.

Get well soon Russ....

When does Westbrook get back?

You know I hated the Harden trade. There was NOTHING positive about that trade, unless you were a Rockets fan. Did Presti ever explain why he made such a dogs shit move?

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by SNR

He did okay in overtime. But now I'm seeing exactly why people hate his guts.

It stinks, because the Wolves figure to be just good enough to not be just bad enough to take advantage of the talent in this upcoming draft. They've got their one stud playmaker (Love) and **** ever getting a legitimate scorer from the 2 or 3 position that everybody needs to win championships.

I love the Wolves, but they never do anything right. Signing Martin was horrible. The year they drafted Rubio and Flynn was horrible.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by okcchief

God damn the Thunder are hard to watch without Westbrook. However, I'm glad Brooks is letting the young guys play. Painful but neccessary.

I believe they have to use the trade exception they picked up in the Martin trade to acquire a veteran shooter if they want to contend. I love Adams potential, but Lamb looks lost. Yes, the trade still looks like shit.

Get well soon Russ....

It may not be all that bad for getting their young guys some experience and just having Durant will keep the record afloat until Westbrook gets back. Won't be too long for things to be back to normal.

They have the trade exception but will their aversion to taking on more salary keep them from making a move with them so close to the lux tax threshold?

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I love the Wolves, but they never do anything right. Signing Martin was horrible. The year they drafted Rubio and Flynn was horrible.

....and Ty Lawson, who they traded. Heck of a PG draft. Steph Curry went right after Flynn. Jennings went 10th. Jrue Holliday and Jeff Teague bracketed around Ty Lawson in the late teens.

Meanwhile, my Grizzlies took Thabeet over all of those PG's as well as Harden and Tyreke Evans. Oof.

[KC_Connection]

Rumor is that the Raptors plan to trade Gay and DeRozan as soon as they get off to a bad start, so they can commence the tank effort in the last 2/3 of the season (could be too late by then). Any team going to want those guys?

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

When does Westbrook get back?

You know I hated the Harden trade. There was NOTHING positive about that trade, unless you were a Rockets fan. Did Presti ever explain why he made such a dogs shit move?

Yahoo reported he's way ahead of schedule and be back in two weeks. They had to trade Harden or Ibaka for cap reasons. The return obviously sucked though I do have high hopes for Adams. I hope Lamb picks it up , but I have my doubts. It would also help if Ibaka lived up to his contract.

I was in wait and see mode on the trade, but it is definately one of the worst trades in the history of the league at this point.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Yahoo reported he's way ahead of schedule and be back in two weeks. They had to trade Harden or Ibaka for cap reasons. The return obviously sucked though I do have high hopes for Adams. I hope Lamb picks it up , but I have my doubts. It would also help if Ibaka lived up to his contract.

I was in wait and see mode on the trade, but it is definately one of the worst trades in the history of the league at this point.

I don't know how you feel okchief but I think the window may be closed temporarily for OKC unless they get another top player.

Also it is my understanding they didn't have to trade either one they would have just had to pay the luxury tax which let's be honest they should have. You don't get many chances to be a dominant team in the NBA.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

When does Westbrook get back?

You know I hated the Harden trade. There was NOTHING positive about that trade, unless you were a Rockets fan. Did Presti ever explain why he made such a dogs shit move?

I am a ROCKETS fan and THAT trade turned the franchise around.Without it, Howard does not come to Houston. If they stay free from injury, the Rockets can contend for a title for years to come!