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.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Lotto will be rigged for Lakers I'm sure

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Lotto will be rigged for Lakers I'm sure

No shit.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Ball. So. Harden!

What a quarter for him.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Ball. So. Harden!

What a quarter for him.

Rockets taking the Pacers to the woodshed, goodness. The Western Conference playoffs are going to be a bloodbath, but entertaining as hell.

[-King-]

Welp. Time to start taking the Rockets seriously.

[tecumseh]

I'm not too concerned about the Pacers recent losses, but damn. All meltdown on NBA Friday? K, Rockets....just....k.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by -King-

Welp. Time to start taking the Rockets seriously.

I've been saying that all season. Dwight is happy, the team is jelling and they can play with anyone. Their biggest problem would be matching up with the Clippers early. For some reason (Chris Paul) its a bad match up for the Rockets. However, they are getting closer at being able to beat them. Last time they played it was a back-to-back situation and the last game of a 5 game WC road trip and it was anyone's game till the end...Im sticking to my Rockets / OKC Western Conf Finals pre season prediction. Its burried in this thread somewhere, along with lots of posts telling me I was "dreaming" and that "Howard would not work out in Houston."

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by TEX

Last time they played it was a back-to-back situation and the last game of a 5 game WC road trip and it was anyone's game till the end...

True, but keep in mind that the Clippers had crucial injuries and were playing their third game in four days. Both teams were disadvantaged in some way and that's why it turned out to be a grind-it-out type of game.

[mcaj22]

also keep in mind, there's still a team out there called the Spurs too

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

also keep in mind, there's still a team out there called the Spurs too

They're as good as always. Horrible matchup for us, too, as they know better than any other team how to contain CP3. Definitely want to avoid them at all costs.

The Western Conference playoffs are going to be a bloodbath.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

also keep in mind, there's still a team out there called the Spurs too

Which has proven not to be much of a problem for Houston this season. However, the playoffs are a different animal and the Spurs must be respected.

[Simplicity]

I really do believe the Spurs don't have much of a contention in the West this year in the playoffs... Thunder, Rockets, and the Clippers are young and for the Spurs to go through teams like the Warriors, Phoenix and Dallas (and the teams above) are going to show the Spurs age.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I really do believe the Spurs don't have much of a contention in the West this year in the playoffs... Thunder, Rockets, and the Clippers are young and for the Spurs to go through teams like the Warriors, Phoenix and Dallas (and the teams above) are going to show the Spurs age.

That has been the argument against the Spurs for several years and hasn't happened yet.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Miles

That has been the argument against the Spurs for several years and hasn't happened yet.

But in what years has the West truly been this deep?

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by TEX

I've been saying that all season. Dwight is happy, the team is jelling and they can play with anyone. Their biggest problem would be matching up with the Clippers early. For some reason (Chris Paul) its a bad match up for the Rockets. However, they are getting closer at being able to beat them. Last time they played it was a back-to-back situation and the last game of a 5 game WC road trip and it was anyone's game till the end...Im sticking to my Rockets / OKC Western Conf Finals pre season prediction. Its burried in this thread somewhere, along with lots of posts telling me I was "dreaming" and that "Howard would not work out in Houston."

T-Jones just can't handle someone like Griffin yet. Clippers are a horrible matchup. But I think they both finish ahead of the Blazers and avoid each other. Still don't see a conference championship appearance by the Rockets. Still young, not a great bench, and trouble closing games under McHale. Probably gonna take one or two more years.