NBA Preseason 2014: Schedule and Predictions for Remaining Marquee Games
The NBA season is rapidly approaching, but there is still work to be done in the preseason as new stars, draft picks and veterans get accustomed to their teams.
Predicting the outcome of preseason games is something of a fool’s errand, since staying healthy is more important than actually winning and impacts how the minutes are dispersed. However, with the season less than 10 games away, key contributors are likely to see more action.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some predictions for a few remaining marquee games on the preseason schedule. Remember, the preseason kicked off Oct. 4, while the regular season begins Oct. 28. The entire preseason schedule can be seen at NBA.com.
Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers (in Columbus), Monday Oct. 20
The Cleveland Cavaliers may play their home games in northeast Ohio, but all of Ohio is going to have Cavs fever this season.
Monday’s game between Cleveland and the Chicago Bulls takes place in Columbus in front of what should be a raucous crowd. However, there don’t need to be 20,000 people in attendance for the intensity to be there when the Bulls match up against LeBron James.
Chicago's rivalry with the Miami Heat was one of the best in the league when James was in South Beach, and that is likely to carry over to Cleveland with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving playing the Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade roles.
This could very well be an Eastern Conference Finals preview, as Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler represent the biggest challengers to the Cavs. Chicago is also rather deep with Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell and brings a lockdown defense to the table.
Chicago will challenge Cleveland during the regular season and playoffs, but the Cavs are going to win this one. The crowd will be behind them, and James and Company will look to put on a show.
Prediction: Cavaliers 97, Bulls 92
Minnesota Timberwolves at Milwaukee Bucks, Wed. Oct. 22
It’s not exactly a secret why this game is on the list; it’s certainly not because these teams will be challenging for playoff spots.
Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were the top two picks in the NBA draft and will go head-to-head on Wednesday night. Interestingly, they already played each other in the preseason once in Minnesota, a game in which Parker thrived with 21 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. It was exactly the type of complete game Milwaukee envisioned when it drafted him No. 2.
Bleacher Report captured one impressive play in particular:
As for Wiggins, he is the centerpiece of a Timberwolves youth infusion. Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Thaddeus Young, Anthony Bennett and Glenn Robinson III should bring plenty of excitement to Minnesota in the coming years, but it will take some time for everything to come together.
The opposing Bucks also have plenty of talent, which will gel in this game against the inexperienced Timberwolves. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Larry Sanders, Brandon Knight, Ersan Ilyasova, Kendall Marshall and John Henson give Milwaukee a solid combination of veterans in the backcourt and youth in the frontcourt.
This team is more than just Parker, although it still isn’t really a playoff contender.
Sure, the attention will be on Parker vs. Wiggins in this preseason showdown, but Parker’s superior supporting cast (for this season at least) will get the Bucks the victory.
Prediction: Bucks 94, Timberwolves 87
Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers, Wed. Oct. 22
These are two teams trending in opposite directions entering the 2014-15 season.
The Portland Trail Blazers are still filled with youth and talent after making the second round last season behind the impressive trio of Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers have the history but not the talent this season. Kobe Bryant may be back, but surrounding pieces Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin, Nick Young and Julius Randle will not be nearly enough to compete in the loaded Western Conference. That much has been clear as the Lakers have struggled in the preseason.
At least Bryant will be motivated, if his comments he made when ESPN.com ranked him as the league’s 40th-best player were any indication, via Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com:
"I've known for a long time [that] they're a bunch of idiots. Honestly, all jokes aside, it really doesn't bother me too much. I'm going to do what I do regardless. God willing, I can stay healthy, and if I wind up proving a lot of people wrong in the process, that will just wind up being collateral damage.
"
Motivation can only take you so far, though, even if you are one of the best players in the history of the game. The Trail Blazers are just the better team on paper and will prove so again on Wednesday.
Prediction: Trail Blazers 99, Lakers 91
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