Christmas days games are not surprising in the least to me. The "time shifting" is surprising however. Knicks vs Bucks - Knicks "brand" gets this this game. Toronto crappy Canadian TV market gets screwed again. Thunder vs Rockets - You could absolutely see this game coming. I predicted it earlier. But it is in Houston this year which is nice. The TIMESLOT it a surprise. Hope Houston will show up for the EARLY game. ugh. 76ers vs Celtics - No surprise. the premier east rivalry. Surprise is it is at the "prime X-mas window" game timeslot. Lakers vs Warriors - No surprise. Only surprise is the 8pm game vs the prime X-mas window game. I thought this would be the Rockets timeslot. Blazers vs Utah - Not really a surprise. SOMEONE from the West Coast has to play this. In the past they would roll out Clippers vs Lakers. With those off the table, what is left? Not Suns, Kings etc. They market Lillard vs Mitchell. I suppose Denver was another option.
Houston OKC is a nice little rivalry. + I think Espn noticed 8pm was perhaps the best time slot nationally. Bc that is a 5pm game in California.
Yeah, last year it was Warriors/Cavs at that 5pm game. NOW with BOTH West coast teams playing, moving that 5pm game to 8pm to appease the West and maximize that TV window makes sense. I hadn't thought about it that way with BOTH teams being West...so that makes more sense now. I was pretty annoyed last year the Rockets weren't healthy for that Christmas OKC matchup. Hopefully they are, this year.
October 16 Sixers/Celtics 7:00pm Thunder/Warriors 9:30pm October 17 Pelicans/Rockets 7:00pm Mavs/Suns 9:30pm October 19 Celtics/Raptors 7:00pm Warriors/Jazz 9:30pm October 20 Rockets/Lakers 9:30pm October 18 Bulls/Sixers 7:00pm Lakers/Blazers 9:30pm October 20 Raptors/Wizards 6:00pm October 21 Rockets/Clippers 8:00pm December 25 Bucks/Knicks 11:00am ESPN Thunder/Rockets 2:00pm ABC Sixers/Celtics 4:30pm ABC Lakers/Warriors 7:00pm ABC Blazers/Jazz 9:30pm ESPN January 21 Pelicans/Grizzlies 4:30pm Rockets/Sixers 7:00pm Warriors/Lakers 9:30pm
So our first three games are vs. Pelicans, @ Lakers, @ Clippers. Tough start, three teams that compete for a playoff spot in the west.
Yes! Rockets gonna ruin LeBron's Lakers home game debut just like how the Rockets ruined GS ring/banner night last season!
Great opening at Lakers for Lebron’s home debut, but home opener on ESPN sucks unless it’s JVG and Mike! Rather hear Worrell, which we can still get streamed for us international ones. Glad it’s not TNT so we have a chance at local broadcast at least! We’re heavily featured nationally, as we should
LA fans are sad. Starting season with loss having to face the Rockets. Strippers and p*rn stars will be happy though that Harden is making the trip to LA
