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]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

This. Again. No team is scared of anyone besides Rose on the Bulls.

Nobody is even afraid of Rose right now.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by Shogun

Nobody is even afraid of Rose right now.

Very true.

[RustShack]

Too be fair I didn't follow the NBA much at all until like LeBrons 2nd year. And I didn't really hear about Wade until his third year, just because I wasn't that big if a fan back then. I was straight football.

I actually wanted Barnes in that draft. But I also liked Waiters... Actually wanted him with our other first.

[CoMoChief]

Pacers gettin it done tonight.

Rose is a bum.

[RealSNR]

This is the worst I've seen the Wolves play all year.

I know Golden State isn't exactly at its best this game, either, but god damn. What an abortion the Wolves have put up.

Pekovic has been worthless all game against these bigs. And when Rubio isn't on the court, the offense just sucks air. Massive massive amounts of air. It turns into Kevin Love and four sacks of shit.

Nobody gave Alexey Shved the memo that he's not worth shit, and shouldn't try to be Allen Iverson out there. It's painful to watch him dribble around like an asshole.

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Lance Stephenson feasting on a bag of aids dicks tonight.

Hmm stat line looks good.

[KevB]

Steven Adams is already head and shoulders better than Perkins. They need to play him as many minutes as he can handle to get him ready for the post-season.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by SNR

This is the worst I've seen the Wolves play all year.

I know Golden State isn't exactly at its best this game, either, but god damn. What an abortion the Wolves have put up.

Pekovic has been worthless all game against these bigs. And when Rubio isn't on the court, the offense just sucks air. Massive massive amounts of air. It turns into Kevin Love and four sacks of shit.

Nobody gave Alexey Shved the memo that he's not worth shit, and shouldn't try to be Allen Iverson out there. It's painful to watch him dribble around like an asshole.

How do you really feel about the TWolves performance tonight?

[Al Bundy]

Really good road win for the Warriors tonight.

[RealSNR]

Myeh myeh myeh Really great road win for the Warriors tonight myeh myeh myeh myeh myeh myeh myeh

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Pacers gettin it done tonight.

Rose is a bum.

I am pretty much writing off the Bulls unless they add a scorer or three.

[-King-]

Westbrook might be my favorite player to watch in the league. His speed is ridiculous.


And Adams isn't bad at all. OKC probably has their center of the future. Perk really shouldn't get any meaningful minutes the rest of the year.

[okcchief]

Yeah, I've been telling you guys Adams is solid. I think his ceiling is high. We'll see how long it takes for dummy to start him.

[okcchief]

Estatic to see Lamb having a good game. Confidence builder.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Estatic to see Lamb having a good game. Confidence builder.

Better, but still not real comfortable IMO. He HAS to get stronger. A liability on defense as well. I liked the Adams pick when you made it. He's proving to be a bit more polished than expected, but that happens from time to time. College perimeter players have no idea how to use a good big man.