NBA Preseason 2016: Schedule and Predictions for Remaining Marquee Games
The 2016-17 NBA season will have no shortage of storylines, but basketball fans will have to wait until Oct. 25 for tipoff.
Fortunately for those starving for hoops, there are still a handful of preseason games remaining before we finally get to see how Kevin Durant fits with the Golden State Warriors, whether the Cleveland Cavaliers can repeat as champions and if Russell Westbrook will tear up the league on his way to an MVP award as the clear-cut alpha for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With that in mind, here is a look at the schedule and predicted winners for some of the remaining marquee preseason games.
The full preseason schedule can be found at NBA.com.
| Tuesday, Oct. 18 | Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 p.m. | Cavaliers |
| Wednesday, Oct. 19 | New York Knicks at Boston Celtics | 7:30 p.m. | Celtics |
| Wednesday, Oct. 19 | Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves | 8 p.m. | Timberwolves |
| Wednesday, Oct. 19 | Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. | Lakers |
| Friday, Oct. 21 | Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs | 8:30 p.m. | Spurs |
| Friday, Oct. 21 | Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | Warriors |
Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers
This game makes the cut because it is the last time fans will get to see the defending champions during the preseason.
The Cavaliers will host the Washington Wizards in Columbus, Ohio, so look for them to play their regulars such as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving a bit more than usual in the preseason so some of their Buckeye fans outside of Cleveland can catch a glimpse.
Cleveland will go a week until its season opener on Oct. 25 against the New York Knicks, and the extended rest following this game is another reason to expect more minutes from the starters as they attempt to develop a rhythm.
The Cavaliers taking this game more seriously than normal will spell trouble for John Wall and Co.
Predicted winner: Cavaliers
New York Knicks at Boston Celtics
Cleveland is a step ahead of the rest of the Eastern Conference, but the Boston Celtics may be best suited to challenge James’ team come playoff time.
They added Al Horford to an already talented roster that includes Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart, among others. Head coach Brad Stevens is widely considered one of the best in the league and will likely have his team ready to challenge in the East.
The Knicks represent one of the more interesting storylines of the season, and not just because they play in the Big Apple. They added Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee to play alongside Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
Rose already called the Knicks one of the league’s "superteams," per Lang Whitaker of NBA.com, which raises expectations around the group.
The new-look Knicks will need some time to fully grow accustomed to playing with each other, which means the Celtics will defend home court in this one.
Predicted winner: Celtics
Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have one of the most exciting young rosters in the league with Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn and will look to take the next step and reach the playoffs this season.
If they are going to do that, one of the teams they will have to get through is the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis made each of the last six postseasons and has established itself as one of the consistent contenders in the Western Conference.
Minnesota is younger and still growing under Tom Thibodeau’s system, so the new head coach will leave his starters on the floor for additional minutes with the season approaching. That will lead to a Minnesota victory.
Predicted winner: Timberwolves
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
The Warriors are a marquee attraction any time they take the court after winning a record 73 games a season ago and adding the 2013-14 MVP in the offseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering their first post-Kobe Bryant campaign, and this game will give their young playmakers such as D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson a chance to test their skills against Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Golden State will take an early lead as one of the actual superteams in the league, but head coach Steve Kerr will limit his regulars’ minutes after playing in each of the last two NBA Finals. That will give the Lakers a chance to win on a late comeback.
Predicted winner: Lakers
Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
If anyone is going to challenge the Warriors in the Western Conference, it is likely the San Antonio Spurs.
They added Pau Gasol to a lineup that includes LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard and are still operating under the steady guidance of head coach Gregg Popovich.
The Houston Rockets still have James Harden and figure to be a playoff contender, and Zach Lowe of ESPN.com predicted them to finish second in the league in points per possession with a number of shooters around Harden.
Still, the Spurs will defend home court in this contest, as two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year Leonard limits Harden’s overall effectiveness when they are both on the court.
Predicted winner: Spurs
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors
This game stands out above the rest of the preseason contests because of the star power that will be on the court and the fact it is a rematch of a classic postseason series from a year ago.
Between Curry, Thompson, Durant, Draymond Green and Damian Lillard, fans tuning in just for the players will be pleased. What’s more, this is a budding rivalry in the West after Golden State beat Portland in five games in last year’s conference semifinals.
While a five-game series doesn’t seem like a classic, three of Portland’s four losses were by single digits, and one of the games went to overtime. The Trail Blazers lost the final contest 125-121 in a high-scoring thriller and were not intimidated by the then-defending champions.
The Warriors will win another shootout in this one as both teams shift into regular-season mode.
Predicted winner: Warriors
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