Look at the Schedule!

by Vishal

As my main man Woody Paige loves to say, LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE! While the NBA's longer schedule pales in comparison to the significance of the NFL's, the placement of intriguing matchups on the calendar is certainly quite interesting, especially during the usually slow news days of summer.

Tuesday October 30 is the TNT's Tip-Off doubleheader, featuring the revamped Portland TrailBlazers at San Antonio for the Spurs' ring ceremony, followed by the Houston Rockets at the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA listened to my advice in booking D-Wade versus Lebron for ABC's Christmas Day annual debut. That will be followed by the Suns visiting the Lakers, and then we shall switch over to ESPN for Durant at Oden for the nightcap.

Other early notes that caught my eye on the initial glance at the schedule:

• The first few games of Oden and Durant are all on national television, including three out their four meetings against each other. Seattle gets seven total appearances on ESPN and TNT combined, while Portland has eleven.
• Not suprisingly, the Boston Celtics also made a big leap in national television appearances with ten.
• It will be interesting to see how the Miami Heat open up after a horrific first round sweep. Does Shaq come in out of shape as usual or storm back pissed off with a statement to make? Big early tests when they open up against Detroit (11/1 on TNT) then visit San Antonio the next week (11/7 on ESPN)
• Rashard Lewis returns to Seattle November 28 on NBATV.
• Ray Allen returns to Seattle December 27 on TNT.
• They each drop 50 on Durant, by the way.
• Cleveland at Miami highlights a TNT triple header on Martin Luther King Day.
• Dallas at Phoenix on Valentine's Day. Uh oh. Remember what a show these two high scoring clubs put on when on the same court? Hmm, decisions, decisions...
• All-Star Weekend in New Orleans - February 15-17, 2008
• As the NBA's longest tenured broadcast partner, TNT continues to get the best matchups as practically every Thursday night will feature a couple great matchups with a bunch of stars.

BigPPupMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

Score 5

Your first problem is that you consider Woody Paige your main man

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InsanMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

Score 0

I'm marking down December 25th only because it's Oden vs. Durant for the very first time. I'm also excited to see the Knicks got 3 national television appearances this year where last year they had... ready?..... 0! I can actually watch them play this season.

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JoshkrossDraft Pick

879 days ago

Score 0

As someone who can see all 82 games, the Knicks were unwatchable. You didn't miss anything

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BigPPupMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

Score 1

Sorry but Oden vs. Durant is not Johnson vs Bird. Lot of hype little do

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HappyskinnyAll-American

879 days ago

Score 1

Yeah, the better game that is nationally televised this year is Portland vs San Antonio. Duncan is going to take Oden to schol.

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InsanMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

Score 0

I dont know, I like the Oden-Durant matchup better. Young guys vs young guys. Battle of the Northwest. Perhaps a new rivalry born?

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VishalJV Squad

879 days ago

Score 0

If and when Duncan takes Oden to school, I do not see how it is the better game then. Some in the Pacific Northwest claim that Portland-Seattle is already a rivalry, although it must be a rather weak one until both these teams rise.

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BigPPupMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

Score 1

This is what bothers me about basketball. They hype these matchups and rivalries, but they never happen on the court. What do I mean? Oden is a true 5 center. Durant is a swing may 2-4. He will never guard Oden, in the post which is where Oden will live while playing offense. Oden will never venture out to guard Durant out by the arc. The only time they come into contact with each other is a possible collision in the paint.

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VishalJV Squad

879 days ago

Score 0

Correct, but it is more about seeing this year's top two draft picks perform on the same floor. Lebron, Melo, and Wade will forever be linked together as a result from being of the same draft class, and there is always excitement when they are on the same court, regardless of whether they guard each other or not.

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Silencer76AAA-er

879 days ago

Score -1

First of all, who the hell cares about the Knicks? They had 0 national TV appearances last year for a reason. They SUCKED. The biggest story out of NY now is that Marbury plans on playing in Italy after his contract ends in two years. For the rest of it, Portland may be revamped but they still lack the experience to go anywhere, the Sonics are a team without a leader after moving Allen and Lewis, and the Spurs are still the same plodding, methodical, boring team that contributed to the lowest rated NBA Finals EVER.

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