The NBA released the schedule for the 2013-14 season Tuesday evening.
As usual, the schedule is loaded with blockbuster matchups from the first day (Oct. 30th) until the season comes to a close in mid-April.
Here are a dozen games to keep an eye on once the games tip off:
Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat (Oct. 29)
Derrick Rose will get to watch the Miami Heat collect their NBA Championship rings before he takes the court for the first time in over a year. The Bulls won the regular season title two seasons ago with a healthy Rose, and now we can finally see if they have enough to prevent the Heat from a three-peat?
Miami Heat @ Brooklyn Nets (Nov. 1)
Some believe the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat’s main rival in the Eastern Conference will be Brooklyn this season. That may or may not be true but the icy relationship between two of the newest members of the Nets, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, will only continue to stoke the fire between the two teams.
Toronto Raptors @ Memphis Grizzlies (Nov. 13)
The most polarizing player in the NBA, Rudy Gay, returns to Memphis for the first time since being dealt by the Grizzlies’ analytics-based front office to the Raptors, who took on his onerous contract under the former regime. It will be a revenge game for Gay.
New York Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 5)
In Year 1 of the Brooklyn era, the Knicks got the best of the Big Apple battle as they finished second in the Eastern Conference. It’s a little early to call this a rivalry but perhaps the addition of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will spice things up a little bit as they have had heated battles in the past with the Knicks.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Boston Celtics (Dec. 13)
While it will likely be a happy homecoming for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the same may not be true for Doc Rivers in Boston. The former Celtics coach played a heavier role in his cross-country move to the Clippers and Bostonians are sure to be less-than impressed.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors (Dec. 25)
The NBA season truly gets underway every year on Christmas Day when the league releases a spate of appetizing matchups. The Clippers and Warriors are two of the up-and-coming teams in the Western Conference and have quickly developed a heated rivalry. Will relations remain civil between these two sides on the holiest of holy days.
New York Knicks @ Toronto Raptors (Dec. 28)
The Raptors faithful lustily booed Andrea Bargnani for much of last season and it was clearly time for him to go. It seems unlikely that the former No. 1 overall pick will be welcomed with open arms when he returns to the Big Smoke as part of the Knicks. More likely, the boos will continue although it will be interesting to see If they grow to the levels heard when Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady came back to town.
Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Dec. 29)
James Harden has his Sundance Kid (Dwight Howard) as he gets a chance to hammer home the point that the Thunder made a bad decision when they traded him to Houston. Does he have enough help to handle Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook or will the Thunder’s dynamic duo prevail? Perhaps more importantly, can Serge Ibaka outshine Howard in the paint?
San Antonio Spurs @ Miami Heat (Jan. 26)
Things took a nasty turn during the regular season last year when Gregg Popovich rested most of his stars in a trip to Miami. The Heat then made a similar move in San Antonio in a little tit for tat. While that was a fun regular-season episode, the two teams then threw their best on the floor when they met in the NBA Finals. Will we see the best of both teams in this rematch or will we wonder what could have been in this regular-season tilt?
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics (Jan. 26)
Longtime Celtic Paul Pierce’s heart remains in Boston despite his move to Brooklyn. It will be a little strange to see him in anything but Green and White and it will also be odd to see if he doesn’t receive a warm welcome in his first visit back to Beantown.
Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers (Feb. 20)
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol both unfollowed Dwight Howard on Twitter when he decided to take his talents to Houston. It will be interesting to see how much animosity spills over to the floor when these two clubs meet for the first time in Los Angeles.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors (Feb. 21)
No. 1 overall pick and Brampton native Anthony Bennett will get his first trip home on xxx xxx. It remains unclear how he will fit into a Cavaliers lineup which will also feature newcomer Andrew Bynum. Surely the Raptors will also develop a better understanding of how they fit into the playoff picture as one of the teams they are expected to be fighting for a spot with will be Bennett’s Cavaliers.