Hi guys--I've pulled my favorites from an article ESPN did on their favorite games
of this upcoming NBA season.
Here we go! Yea Suns!
--Dan
The NBA's 2008-09 schedule is out ... and you know what that means.
An equally anticipated document has to go with it: ESPN.com's first
rundown of must-see games for the coming season to immediately input into
your electronic calendar of choice.
Oct. 28: Opening Night
An earlier-than-usual launch to the season starts with a tasty TNT
doubleheader, leading off with the new champs from Boston hosting LeBron
James' Cleveland Cavaliers on ring night and capped by Greg Oden's
long-awaited NBA debut in Blazers at Lakers.
Oct. 29: Opening Night (continued)
Ron Artest makes his Rockets debut in Memphis at Houston, and Oklahoma
City makes its debut as a full-time NBA city with a visit from the
Milwaukee Bucks.
And ...
ESPN dishes its own doubleheader doozy: Phoenix at San Antonio to renew
year after year of recent playoff pleasantries, followed by Lakers at
Clippers in a fitting bow for the Clips' new Angeleno point guard: Baron
Davis.
Oct. 30: Houston at Dallas (TNT)
The Mavericks are one of two teams (along with Charlotte) that must wait
until Thursday for their opening game, giving Mavs fans more time to fret
that the Rockets' acquisition of Ron Artest reduces Dallas to the
third-best team in Texas.
Oct. 31: San Antonio at Portland (ESPN)
The best of the Halloween fare, at least in NBA terms, is unquestionably
Oden matching up with Tim Duncan.
Nov. 1: Washington at Detroit (NBA TV)
The league is still sorting out its full 96-game NBA TV schedule, but
Wizards-Pistons has been confirmed as the opener of NBA TV's maiden
doubleheader, which concludes with a Portland-at-Phoenix nightcap.
If Yao can stay healthy, this could be a preview of the 2009 Finals.
Nov. 4: Boston at Houston
You don't have to wait long for a look at the NBA's reigning threesome of
doom (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) throwing down against the new trio on the
block (McGrady, Yao and Artest).
P.S. How much playing time will the twins get in Phoenix at New Jersey ...
also known as Robin Lopez at Brook Lopez?
Nov. 6: Houston at Portland (TNT)
Yao Ming and Oden go toe-to-toe for the first time. Health permitting, of
course.
Nov. 9: Houston at L.A. Lakers
The denizens of Lakerland who so badly wanted to see Artest in purple and
gold will get their first dose of torture early. In L.A.'s first Sunday
home game of the season, actually.
Nov. 10: Portland at Orlando
Oden will have lined up against Shaquille O'Neal (Nov. 1), Yao and Dwight
Howard in a span of 10 days by the time he gets through this one. Health
permitting, of course.
Nov. 13: Dallas at Chicago (TNT)
Mavs owner Mark Cuban could know by this point whether he has won the race
to buy the Cubs, which would make this somewhat of a home game for him and
certainly spice up his relationship with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf,
since Reinsdorf owns the White Sox.
Nov. 14: Detroit at L.A. Lakers (ESPN)
What sort of reception awaits Kwame Brown at Staples Center? Just a hunch:
If history is any guide, Kwame needn't expect (or want) any mention of a
cake.
Nov. 20: L.A. Lakers at Phoenix (TNT)
Kobe, tell me how many times do you think you and Shaq will be asked about
recent rapping exploits?
Detroit at Boston, incidentally, isn't exactly a bland appetizer for TNT.
Nov. 21: Boston at Minnesota
A hamstring strain prevented KG from playing in his first visit to 'Sota
as an ex-Wolf last February. Hard to see him missing two in row, though.
Nov. 28: Miami at Phoenix (ESPN)
Shawn Marion spent eight and a half seasons as a Sun, playing alongside
Jason Kidd, then Stephon Marbury, then Steve Nash. Which makes this one of
the season's standout reunion games.
Dec. 15: New York at Phoenix
If the Knicks are a running team by this point -- and if the Suns are
still running by this point -- we should be treated to a fun track meet in
Mike D'Antoni's honor.
Dec. 17: San Antonio at New Orleans (ESPN)
Spurs at Hornets for the first time since that fateful Game 7.
Dec. 19: Dallas at New Jersey
Jason Kidd is back in Jersey as a visiting player for the first time
since, well, making Jersey matter to the NBA.
Dec. 22: L.A. Lakers at Memphis
The Lakers were out of trips to Memphis by the time they stole, er,
acquired Pau Gasol from the Grizz in that infamous, er, famous trade. As
if that isn't enough of a story line for you, don't forget that Pau and
his brother Marc Gasol will be dueling, too.
Not to be overlooked: Houston at New Jersey will only be the most watched
game of the regular season ... once you factor in the Chinese TV audience
tuning in for Yao Ming vs. Yi Jianlian.
Dec. 25: Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!
This has to be some sort of record: Christmas Day delivers five NBA games on
national TV.
Five!
New Orleans at Orlando gets us started at noon on ESPN.
ABC follows with a pretty handy doubleheader: Spurs at Suns, then your
inevitable Celtics-at-Lakers Finals rematch.
TNT takes us home with Washington at Cleveland -- LeBron and DeShawn
Stevenson together on a holiday? -- followed by Dallas at Portland.
You can't ask Santa for more.
Jan. 14: L.A. Lakers at San Antonio (ESPN)
We repeat: Manu Ginobili's ankle injury had to be worse than anyone
imagined for the Lakers to win the West finals in five.
Jan. 19: Cleveland at L.A. Lakers (TNT)
Can't do one of these schedule columns without the obligatory LeBron
versus Kobe reference.
It's part of a Martin Luther King Day tripleheader which also features
Detroit at Memphis and Phoenix at Boston.
Jan. 25: L.A. Clippers at Golden State
We believe Baron Davis will get a warm reception from Warriors fans who
will never forget how much he did to help Golden State halt a 12-season
playoff drought.
We also believe that you'll enjoy the first ABC Sunday doubleheader of the
season:
Dallas at Boston, then Spurs at Lakers.
Jan. 28: Golden State at Dallas (ESPN)
It sure would inflate the tension nicely -- assuming that's possible with
these two -- if Warriors coach Don Nelson hasn't yet collected his $6.3
million in deferred compensation from his old boss Cuban by the time this
game rolls around.
Feb. 2: L.A. Lakers at New York
It's not just Mike D'Antoni versus Phil Jackson any more. It's D'Antoni
versus Jackson with D'Antoni coaching the Zen Master's beloved Knicks.
Feb. 5: L.A. Lakers at Boston (TNT)
The season's second NBA Finals rematch, which comes with the added bonus
of knowing that Paul Pierce's recent comments about being the best player
in the game will be brought up incessantly whenever he and Kobe are in the
same zip code.
Feb. 6: Portland at Oklahoma City
Kevin Durant versus Greg Oden for the first time as pros. We hope.
Feb. 11: Oklahoma City at Portland
Durant versus Oden is still a rivalry even if the geography has changed
drastically.
Right?
You have to believe some Sonics fans will make the drive from Seattle to
chime in on this one.
Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
What's the over-under on how many times TNT shows the Charles Barkley-Dick
Bavetta kiss on this particular All-Star Saturday Night?
Steve Nash and the Suns will play host to the 2009 All-Star Game in
Phoenix on February 15.
Feb. 15: All-Star Game
In gorgeous-in-February Phoenix, no less.
Feb. 17: New Jersey at Houston
Yi vs. Yao, Round 2.
March 4: Phoenix at Miami
Some 13 months after he was dealt to the desert in a deal that's still a
little hard to believe, Shaq is back.
March 17: Boston at Chicago
After all those years of trade speculation, Bulls fans undoubtedly still
dream of having KG on an everyday basis. Just seeing him on St. Patrick's
Day doesn't cut it.
April 1: Houston at Phoenix (ESPN)
No joke: Yao and Shaq are hooking up on April Fools' Day.
April 9: Houston at Sacramento
If the reality of the Artest trade hasn't sunk in yet for the Kings' loyal
subjects, it certainly will by the time Artest finally makes it back to
Arco Arena, which won't happen until the 78th game on Sacramento's
schedule.
April 15: Regular season ends
Twenty-eight teams will be in action on the final night of the schedule --
all but the Jazz and Lakers -- but I suppose the fact that taxes are due
might be more important to some people.
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