As long as we play the Lakers 4 times, I'm happy if we don't get to clown them on opening night. The Rockets ALWAYS play them 4 times every year, and this better not be the first season that doesn't happen.
Past opening night lineups (not counting lockout season) 2013 Opening Lineup Wizards vs. Cavaliers ( Inter-conference, duel of young PG) Mavericks vs Lakers (Last two champs from the west, debut of 'Big 4') Celtics vs Heat (Marquee matchup feat. Champ. Rematch of ECF) 2011 Opening Lineup Heat vs Celtics (Debut of "Big 3", feat. EC champs. Rivalry) Rockets vs. Lakers (First game of defending champs,Return of Yao; rivalry game) Suns vs. Trailblazers (Playoff rematch) 2010 Opening Night Celtics vs. Cavaliers (Heated rivalry, two of the top contenders) Wizards vs Mavericks (Arenas came back?) Clippers vs. Lakers ( First game for defending champs, division rivals, SUPPOSED to be Blake's debut) Rockets vs. Trailblazers (Playoff rematch; Greg Oden returns) So based on these patterns... 2014 Opening Night - Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Jennings return to Milwaukee; assuming that S&T happens. Josh Smith debut with new team. Central Division rivalry and competing for the playoffs) - Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat (First game of defending champs, revisits rivalry between players, debut of 'Brooklyn's Finest) - Houston Rockets vs. Los Angles Clippers (Two rising contenders; the two top FA of the summer going head to head) Sound like a good lineup?
Rockets @ Mavericks I want to see the 1st game of the season! And it comes with the added benifit of watching Cuban pout over a home loss to the Rockets.
My ideal opener would be slightly different: Miami at Brooklyn (wanna open the season in front of the hostile BKN crowd) Houston at LA Clippers Possible preview of the conference finals for both sides? Obviously won't happen this way but could seriously happen with BKN at MIA to start.
Don't want to play LA to begin with because of Kobe's injury. I don't really care to see Miami vs San Antonio again really. I'd like Brooklyn @ Miami and Dallas @ Houston
I think the league is going to hold out on Dwight's return to LA until Christmas to increase the chances of Kobe being there. Maybe it'll even be the same game. "Kobe returns from a torn Achilles to take on James Harden, Dwight Howard, and the red hot Rockets!"
Opening night Miami @ Brooklyn Houston @ Clippers As for Christmas, I have seen some talk about that being the target date for a Kobe return. I want the Lakers in LA on Christmas day. Imagine handing Kobe his own backside in LA on Christmas.
