Ususally the NBA waits to find out where all these FAs will end up before they release the schedule so they know who the best teams will be. Last year the Rockets got the maximum TV games available to them. I am sure they will get the same again this year along with the Heat. My guess is Lakers vs Miami will once again be the Christmas day game since that has the most sizzle for TV.
Lakers vs. Heat maybe possible, I could see us vs. either SA or Dallas for an XMas game. Actually, I hope we have an XMas game here in Houston, that would be special All the XMas games I remember have been road games. Its funny, I bet that Detroit and SA will have the least amount of games because they are just boring to watch, but the ratings for this year's finals was so-so.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/805950 Ticketmaster has the two Rockets pre-season games on sale. Spurs in SA October 15th on a Saturday and Hornets October 27th on a Thursday in Laredo.
Why would the NBA subject the fans to either of those matchups? An 80-78 final score is not what people wanna see on X-Mas.
The NBA loves televising the Texas Trio games, all of our in-state games are always nationally televised. I understand Houston vs. Dallas, but SA is the most boring team in the league, I can't even stand watching us play them. The NBA should try to make more out of the Houston vs. Miami games, JVG vs. SVG, Shaq vs. Yao, TMac vs. Wade, that is the perfect storyline for a NBA game.
Shaq vs. Yao would be a major draw. Kobe vs. Shaq would still be a huge draw now that everyone expects LA to bounce back with Phil Jackson back at the helm.
I would have to disagree. We were tied for the most national tv appearances last year because of the novelty of Yao/T-Mac as the new Shaq/Kobe. As the year went on, media opinion of Yao came back down to earth. By the end of the year, it became T-Mac and a bunch of really good role players. Despite the Swfit signing, I see us having about 15 nationally televised games. I hope I'm wrong. I wish they would hold off before releasing the schedules until all the transactions are made.
thacabbage, I think you will be wrong. The "novelty" hasnt worn off yet. Yao and Tmac in the minds of the public eye are stars, the all star votes prove it. National TV will follow the Rockets every step of the way the same way it will follow Lebron and the Cavs and Shaq and the Heat. Phil back with the Lakers gives them extra games too, ditto for Larry Brown and the Knicks if he takes the job. Notice I havent said anything yet about the two best teams in the league, Detroit and SA? Sad, but that's TV ratings for ya.
The schedule will not be released this week. It will be two weeks from today. Yes the CBA did have something to do with this, but not because of player signings.
