The latest iteration of the NBA schedule release commenced Monday afternoon at 3 p.m., and fans of the global game have only the remnants of the summer left to wait until a new year dawns upon the calendar. NBA preseason games will be here before we all know it, and we will get a small glimpse of just what all 30 clubs across the basketball stratosphere are cooking up.
Brand new powerhouse dynamic duos, gripping storylines, gritty rivalries and a palate of instant-classic level matchups sprinkled like parsley across the league schedule await all experts, and prognosticators, alike as October 22 approaches.
It has been nothing short of an explosive offseason and free agency period, with Woj and Shams notifications on every eager NBA fan’s personal device dominating the summer. Kawhi and Paul George head home to sunny California, Kemba is headed to Boston and more specifically, back to the Northeast where he brought a national championship to the University of Connecticut in 2011.
The Klutch Sports pairing of LeBron and Anthony Davis unite in Tinseltown to take on the suddenly horrifying Clippers in the Battle of LA. Kyrie and KD team up in New York – not that part of New York you may have been thinking of back in January – to contend for an NBA Finals bid in the coming years. The Brodie has found his way back to the Beard to potentially recreate the success the two had in 2012 and contend for a title this year.
All of these tales yet to be told signify that we are that much closer to the October tip-off, and we are all chomping at the bit to get this show on the road. We are getting treated to a plethora of return and revenge games, which will be complete with cheers and boos, just the way we like them.
With that in mind, check out below the ten best matchups, both early and late in the season. You can never predict what games will have playoff implications, so some of these ten games could impact playoff seeding.
10. Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks, Nov. 14, 8 p.m., TNT
Cross the first revenge game off the list. The Knicks will be hosting Kristaps Porzingis’ first game in New York as an ex-Knick and to the chagrin of supporters of the Knicks former first-rounder, it is no secret that the boo birds in the Garden will sell out during his return. New York is off to a considerable rebuild as the 7’3 unicorn, as explained by most witnesses of the multifaceted talents Porzingis displays when at full strength, but it is more than likely the Mavs will trounce all over the new-look organization, especially now that the 100% healthy Porzingis joins the Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic in Dallas.
Still, it will be worth the watch to see and hear the reactions and sounds of the Garden during that night, and whether Porzingis will be met with sympathetic cheers as he comes back from injury or apathetic dismay from diehard Knicks fans who felt disrespected by his choice of words about requesting a trade from the rebuilding and uncompetitive Knicks back in February.
9. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., TNT
Much of the speculation around Kawhi’s intentions leading up to July surrounded the single topic of whether he would stay in Toronto by signing a long term deal with the Raptors, right after winning the franchise’s first championship. We know the answer to that question now, as Leonard decided to head back home to join the Los Angeles Clippers and replicate the model of success in helping to mold a championship roster that he displayed to the league a year ago.
Now, one larger question remains: how will the city of Toronto react when their Finals MVP is handed his championship ring? The matchup between the championship roster constructed by Masai Ujiri against the new-look Clippers will tell a lot of people whether or not to perceive the Raptors as a venerable playoff contender in such a saturated Eastern Conference.
8. Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, Nov. 27, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Another returning game here. The entire fiasco back in January concerning Anthony Davis’ discontent with the Pelicans, and LeBron James’ need to acquire championship pieces to immediately compete in the West came full circle, with AD finally having his request honored by David Griffin and the Pelicans in June. The six-time all-star was shipped to the Lakers in exchange for the Lakers’ young and developing core of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and the 4th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Anthony Davis’ first year out of New Orleans – and his injection into the system of one of the sport’s most storied franchises – will signify just how much of a talented asset he is on the court to a lot of prognosticators, especially so now that he shares the same frontcourt with the prolific James. Throw in the new rivalry between LBJ and his ex-Laker teammates who now are not quite fond with the King, and rookie phenom Zion Williamson’s first test against the best player on the planet, and you have a fun primetime battle on national television.
7. Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics, Nov. 27, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
You are going to hear a lot of booing from inside the TD Garden on this night. Brooklyn’s new acquisition Kyrie Irving personally claimed that he would re-sign with the Boston Celtics in a heartbeat only if “you fans would have me back”, and also said he wanted to be the reason no other Celtic would ever wear No. 11 again in a Nike commercial, as he played on the parquet with his father.
And as fate would have it, everything went completely opposite of how we all expected for the Celtics last season. A preseason favorite to commandingly win the entire East was bounced in the second round, and Irving promptly jumped ship in order to team up with a rising power in the East in Brooklyn. Best believe that in his return to Boston aa an ex-Celtic, Irving will receive the bitter end from the Boston natives with every touch he has with the ball, and when his name is announced during the introduction of the starting lineups.
That scene should provide plenty of fireworks – especially with many of Irving’s former teammates looking to prove the team can more than move on without him. It is up to Kemba Walker, the new face of the franchise, to lead the Celtics back to prominence in the East. This is going to a high-scoring affair between former Celtic Irving and new Celtic Walker, no question about it.
6. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Houston Rockets, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
It’s rather the cliche’ to include a game like this on the list, but then again, you would be remiss to leave it out. It is the first battle of league MVPs, though it is kind of a 2 to 1 handicap match considering the Rockets picked up another league Most Valuable Player in Russell Westbrook just a couple of weeks ago. Still, a man who is arguably being decided as the most dominant player in basketball on the other side of the floor contains the strength, speed, pliability, and tenacity of two, maybe even three, men.
The debates of who should have won the league’s most coveted individual award will be settled in these two teams’ first meeting on the year.
5. Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Jan 9, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
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The last of the original big four have left the coop of OKC, as longtime Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook departed from an organization that he reached unparalleled heights with, and a community that accepted him in as one of their own in the 11 years he spent there. A trip to the NBA Finals, a league MVP, and the identity as one of the two men in league history to average a triple-double for an entire season are all on the resume of one Westbrook, who will return to Oklahoma for the first time since the trade. The night will be incredulously emotional, in more ways than one.
If he is to remain in a Thunder uniform, expect the still-existent bad blood between new Thunder guard Chris Paul and James Harden established from their fallout after last season’s failure in reaching the conference finals to display itself on the floor during Westbrook’s homecoming.
4. Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Nov. 13, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
LeBron renews his rivalry with Stephen Curry and the Warriors since they last left off with a Lakers win and LeBron injury on Christmas day. This time, however, Curry is heading to this battle with a depleted army, as he is now without Kevin Durant for the first time since 2016, Andre Iguodala since 2013, and the recovering Klay Thompson since 2010. This time around, LeBron finally walks in with the better hand of cards, bringing in perhaps his best All-Star big man in Davis and a new cast of veteran shooters around him.
This game features a couple of notable reunions. D’Angelo Russell faces the organization that drafted and later banished him to Brooklyn him to make room for Ball. Also, Cousins returns to the Bay to face his former teammates and coach, looking to prove he can still return to his All-Star form where he was unanimously declared the best big man in the game. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see Quinn Cook try to hit a few 3s against his old mates.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, Jan. 18, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
This is the Saturday Primetime game of the year, no debates necessary. The floor is scattered with MVPs in Westbrook, Harden, and LeBron James (5 league MVP titles combined) with AD having been potentially budding into the Most Valuable Player conversation every year since 2015. Expect a flurry of highlights from this battle of titans and maybe, just maybe, a triple-double or two. Another chapter in this spectacular rivalry between the Lakers and Rockets is yet to be experienced by all NBA fans and on these teams’ first matchup of the year, and it could very well be a preview for the playoffs in the spring.
2. Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Jan. 25, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Yes, this will be your NBA Finals. No debate necessary.
In the East this year, the new look — and new average height Philadelphia 76ers — will be an arduous out in the postseason and are heavily favored to advance to their first NBA Finals since 2001. It is correct to fully trust the process in 2019-20, as Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have one of the most skilled frontcourts in basketball, especially after prying away Boston’s Al Horford and putting him in the mix.
Though a scoring average of a nightly 20+ points from the likes of the departed Jimmy Butler will be missed, Joel Embiid is easily the best pure center in the NBA, Ben Simmons’ game has vastly improved in the offseason (especially his jumper), and Tobias Harris will garner all-star votes. Sixers fans can expect a four-headed monster heading into this season, and the ballers on Broad street will be well endowed at just about every position, accounting their bench depth as well.
Klutch Sports Agent Rich Paul is going to have a blast watching this one, considering that three of his most famous clients — Ben Simmons, Anthony Davis, and LeBron — will duke it out in Wells Fargo in what will be consecutive Saturday night primetime wars, a treat for all fans of the game.
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Dec. 25, 12 p.m., ET, ABC
Of course, you knew this was coming, It wasn’t really going to be a surprise anyway.
Lo and behold, the revamped Battle of Los Angeles. A clash of two Western Conference powerhouses on Christmas Day that could very well set as a precursor to first-ever Western Conference Finals to take place in a neutral site.
Though the Clippers and Lakers start their season against one another on October 22 on TNT, the season opener has a little less salience compared to Christmas Day’s duel. Acquired in a package deal with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George has been dealing with shoulder soreness from a prior offseason surgery after his first-round loss to the Blazers last season, so his status for game one is uncertain. Conversely, this game on October 22 is the No.1 game to watch for the year if he is suddenly announced as healthy.
Nonetheless, the union of two of LeBron’s most tedious foes in George and Leonard create even more of a high-tension turf war inside the Staples Center. James isn’t empty-handed though. He will unveil his newest All-Star big man as the Anthony Davis era begins to the delight of the purple-and-gold nation.
This game will be the debut for several Lakers, from head coach Frank Vogel to DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green and former Clipper-turned-Laker Avery Bradley, with a variety of others making their first appearances in the Staples Center as permanent figures.
On the blue and red side, Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers might have two new superstars, but he has plenty of chemistry and continuity with veterans such as the scrappiest guard in the league in Patrick Beverley as well as the most intimidating bench in basketball, starring sixth man of the year Lou Williams and the rising superstar Montrezl Harrell.
This is war. And basketball cannot come soon enough.
