NBA Schedule 2016-17: The 1 Game You Can't Miss for Every Team
How's your calendar looking these days? Still a clean slate? Or have you already highlighted the biggest dates on the NBA schedule?
It can be a tall order to sort through all 1,230 games on the Association's slate. That's doubly true after a summer in which so many big names switched jerseys via free agency and trades.
If you haven't taken the time to comb through the contests on tap, never fear: We've got you covered. We went ahead and picked out the most intriguing game on every team's schedule, based on matchups, storylines and, in some cases, the potential for great basketball.
These 30 contests, listed by team in alphabetical order, should be well worth the time and effort it takes to set notifications, let alone to sit down and watch them.
Atlanta Hawks: vs. Boston Celtics on Friday, Jan. 13
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It's been a decade since the Atlanta Hawks started a season without Al Horford on the roster. During his nine years with the team, the Hawks never missed the playoffs, advancing past the second round five times and enjoying a banner 2014-15 that set a franchise record for regular-season wins (60) en route to the organization's first conference finals.
All throughout, Horford served as the Hawks' rock, the foundation of a winning culture that's grown stronger under head coach Mike Budenholzer.
So when Horford returns to Atlanta for the first time as a member of the Boston Celtics on Jan. 13, it figures to be an emotional affair.
As the four-time All-Star told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore shortly after signing with the Celtics: "It wasn’t an easy decision for me, but I think at the end, Boston just felt it was the best fit for me when looking at everything from their players top to bottom, the amount of players they had and the potential there."
The Hawks aren't exactly poor on potential themselves. With Dwight Howard sliding into Horford's spot at center and Dennis Schroder taking over for Jeff Teague at point guard, Atlanta could become a bruising Eastern pick-and-roll machine.
As sentimental as this meeting may be, it could be just as important within the cold context of basketball. Boston and Atlanta could both be vying for a slice of home-court advantage, transforming an otherwise ordinary midseason game into a potential pivot point as far as seeding is concerned.
Boston Celtics: at Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Nov. 3
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With Al Horford aboard, the Boston Celtics might be the biggest threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East.
Last season, the C's were a dynamic defensive team (fourth in defensive rating, per NBA.com) and a middling offensive outfit (13th in offensive efficiency) that generated good looks but lacked frontcourt scorers who could consistently convert.
Horford should only strengthen the Boston defense, after anchoring the Hawks' second-ranked unit, and jolt the Celtics' attack with his interior passing, low-post repertoire and shooting range out to the three-point line.
Between Horford's arrival and the internal growth of incumbents such as Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart, the C's should have the goods to crack 50 wins and go for more. But will all that be enough to challenge Cleveland's claim to Eastern Conference hegemony?
Boston's first chance to answer that question will come during the first full week of the 2016-17 season, when the C's meet the Cavs in Cleveland on Nov. 3.
Brooklyn Nets: at New York Knicks on Wednesday, Nov. 9
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How's your calendar looking these days? Still a clean slate? Or have you already highlighted the biggest dates on the NBA schedule?
It can be a tall order to sort through all 1,230 games on the Association's slate. That's doubly true after a summer in which so many big names switched jerseys via free agency and trades.
If you haven't taken the time to comb through the contests on tap, never fear: We've got you covered. We went ahead and picked out the most intriguing game on every team's schedule, based on matchups, storylines and, in some cases, the potential for great basketball.
These 30 contests, listed by team in alphabetical order, should be well worth the time and effort it takes to set notifications, let alone to sit down and watch them.
Charlotte Hornets: at Miami Heat on Friday, Oct. 28
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It won't be long before the Charlotte Hornets get their first shot at avenging a seven-game playoff loss to the Miami Heat. They'll face off at American Airlines Arena on Thursday of opening week.
Much has changed between these two combatants since then. The Hornets parted ways with Al Jefferson, Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee, and will welcome Michael Kidd-Gilchrist back from injury.
The Heat took the bigger hit by letting Dwyane Wade walk to Chicago. He was particularly lethal during that first-round series, averaging 19.0 points and hitting seemingly every clutch shot, including a pair of threes late in Game 6.
"We [had] a chance to beat this team and win the series two days ago," Hornets wing Nicolas Batum said after his team's Game 7 defeat, per the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell. "We didn’t do it because [Dwyane] Wade was amazing two days ago.”
Wade won't be around for the rematch, but that shouldn't diminish Charlotte's motivation to give Miami a taste of its own medicine.
Chicago Bulls: vs. New York Knicks on Friday, Nov. 4
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By the end of the 2015-16 season, it was clear that the Derrick Rose-Joakim Noah era had run its course for the Chicago Bulls. Even owner Jerry Reinsdorf, amid all his White Sox myopia, couldn't ignore the writing on the wall.
As he said in addressing the trade that sent Rose to New York with the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson:
"What we felt was it was time. We felt Joakim wasn't going to be a frontline guy anymore. I was pretty confident that Pau (Gasol) was going to leave. So it was important for us to get the center in (Robin) Lopez. It was time for Derrick to go on and play someplace else and try to establish himself. Gar and Pax were high on the Grant kid (Jerian). We thought that was the necessary first step no matter how we were going to go.
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Both players have seen their once-stellar careers crumble under the weight of major injuries in recent years. But the Knicks apparently still saw promise in Rose and Noah. They gave up Lopez, Grant and Jose Calderon to get Rose, and shelled out $72 million over four years to sign Noah.
In Chicago, though, Rose and Noah will still be revered. The former was the face of his hometown team, an MVP—the youngest in NBA history—with the talent to bring even more hardware back to the Windy City. The latter served as the Bulls' heart and soul, a rugged competitor who kept Chicago in the playoff picture after Rose tore up his knee and won the league's Defensive Player of the Year award for his efforts.
Together, they put the Bulls back on the map for the first time since Michael Jordan's second retirement. Chicago enjoyed a streak of seven straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals following a 62-win campaign in 2010-11.
Seeing both of them back at the United Center, in different colors, figures to be nothing short of surreal. At the very least, expect a roaring ovation from the crowd, followed by a fierce Eastern Conference clash.
Cleveland Cavaliers: vs. Golden State Warriors on Sunday, Dec. 25
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There may be but one team standing between the Cleveland Cavaliers and a successful title defense: the Golden State Warriors.
Last spring, the Cavs clipped the Dubs, with a hobbled Stephen Curry, by way of a thrilling comeback from a 3-1 series Finals deficit. This time, Golden State will be packing reinforcements, none bigger than Kevin Durant.
"I think everyone had the 'wow' thing," LeBron James told Business Insider of his response to Durant's decision (h/t Slam). "My [reaction] was no different from the average person who doesn't know basketball to the person who watches it or covers it every day. So, I think it's all great for our league. Our league is very competitive."
We'll see just how competitive this matchup is once the NBA's elites get their licks in against Golden State. A Christmas Day tiff in Cleveland comes with the added intrigue of yet another faceoff between James and Durant. The two superstars have met 21 times between the regular season and playoffs, with James' team winning 17 of them.
Will LBJ continue to crush KD in the win-loss column? Or will Durant and the Warriors help each other turn their respective tides against the game's pre-eminent player?
Dallas Mavericks: at Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Nov. 9
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The Dallas Mavericks could've whined and complained about Kevin Durant forming a juggernaut in Golden State. Instead, they made lemons out of lemonade, signing one former Warriors starter (Harrison Barnes) and absorbing the salary of another (Andrew Bogut).
"It sure helped," team owner Mark Cuban told ESPN's Tim MacMahon of the impact Durant's decision had on Dallas' summer.
The Mavs' plan A of snagging Mike Conley and Hassan Whiteside (per Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News) fell through, as have so many of their primary objectives in recent offseasons. But in Barnes and Bogut, Dallas snagged potential upgrades at two key positions while strengthening Dirk Nowitzki's supporting cast.
The Mavericks might not have the horsepower to hang with Golden State head-to-head, but thanks to Barnes and Bogut, their first trip of the season to Oracle on Nov. 9 should be an interesting sight, if only to see old faces in new threads.
Denver Nuggets: vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, March 13
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How could a mid-March meeting of two Western Conference bottom feeders qualify as must-see TV?
For one, there's the matchup between Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell, two of the NBA's most promising young point guards. The Denver Nuggets swept the Los Angeles Lakers, while Mudiay logged more points, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals and free-throw attempts and better shooting percentages than his fellow rookie floor general.
This past summer, Mudiay and Russell crossed paths again as members of Team USA's Select squad in Las Vegas.
"You kind of got to see that in the first year how we went at it, which was fun," Mudiay told Believe the Hype's Jamieson Welsh. "We both had that chip on our shoulder that we wanted to prove who’s what."
The physical, forceful Mudiay will look to create more daylight between himself and the flashier Russell throughout 2016-17. On March 13, draft day could also come into play, with both teams potentially vying for lottery spots.
Detroit Pistons: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Dec. 26
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The Detroit Pistons' first game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 19 would be well worth watching if not for Reggie Jackson's recovery from treatment on his right thumb and left knee. But the platelet-rich plasma therapy he underwent could keep him out of action past that date.
Better, then, to tune in to this Central Division tiff once Jackson, Detroit's star point guard, is healthy enough to play. Otherwise, this matchup won't look much like the one seen when the Pistons pushed the Cavs during as closely contested a four-game sweep as you'll yet see in the NBA. Jackson didn't score a ton during that series (14.3 points per game) but still ably captained the Pistons' pick-and-roll-heavy offense (9.3 assists to 2.5 turnovers).
The bigger story came courtesy of rookie Stanley Johnson, who barked up LeBron James' tree during, after and between games amid a hail of bumps and trash talk.
"I know Stanley, and there was no disrespect intended out of it, because he knows who LeBron is; he knows what LeBron has accomplished and what he will continue to accomplish," Mike Brown, James' former coach in Cleveland and a personal friend of Johnson's, told Bleacher Report. "It was just his competitive nature and his belief in himself and him probably trying to get his team going for that series and trying to get a win."
Assuming Jackson is back, Detroit should have the goods to sneak out a victory at home against a Cleveland team coming off a Christmas melee with Golden State the day prior.
The Pistons might have no better opportunity to knock off the Cavs this season.
Golden State Warriors: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Jan. 16
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The new-look Warriors will get their first look at the Cavaliers on Christmas Day but won't see the defending champs at the scene of the crime (i.e., Game 7 of the 2016 Finals) until Jan. 16.
By then, Golden State and Cleveland could both be miles clear of their respective conferences. If so, this game may be the last true test of either's mettle until the playoffs start.
The previous regular-season meeting between these two most recent title winners in Oakland, on Christmas Day 2015, turned into a grinding affair. LeBron James led five Cavs in double figures with 25 points, and Kevin Love grabbed 18 rebounds for his double-double, but Draymond Green (22 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks) was everywhere on both ends—enough so to help Golden State secure an 89-83 victory.
Fans at Oracle Arena will remember that battle far more fondly than they will the winner-take-all end of the most recent Finals. The Warriors had their opportunities to take control of that game, but couldn't come up with even a single bucket over the final four minutes.
A midseason win over the Cavs would do little to dull the pain of that shortfall, though it wouldn't hurt either.
Houston Rockets: at Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, Nov. 16
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Oh, to be a fly on the hardwood when James Harden and Russell Westbrook meet on Nov. 16 for the first time as the top dogs on their own teams.
Harden has had plenty of practice at it. He became the Houston Rockets' best building block the moment he arrived in Oct. 2012, held on to that role through Dwight Howard's three years in Space City and will once again be lone star now that Howard is in Atlanta. Harden has yet to bring a title to Houston, though he's made the playoffs four times in as many seasons and has a trip to the Western Conference Finals under his belt.
Westbrook, on the other hand, will still be adjusting to his perch atop the Oklahoma City Thunder's totem pole when the Rockets come to town in mid-November. He had his turn at the wheel during the 2014-15 season—when Kevin Durant suffered a series of foot injuries—but failed to carry OKC into the postseason.
Perhaps Harden will have some advice for his old teammate and fellow Angelino. Or, better yet, maybe he'll show Westbrook what it takes firsthand.
Indiana Pacers: vs. San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Feb. 13
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The fates of the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs have been intertwined for at least the last five years. During the 2011 draft, the Pacers acquired George Hill from the Spurs in exchange for two international prospects (Erazem Lorbek and Davis Bertans) and the draft rights to Kawhi Leonard.
Indiana made out well enough from that deal. With Hill at the point, the Pacers made the playoffs four times in five years and twice advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
But Hill is gone now, shipped off to Utah in a three-team swap that brought Jeff Teague home to Indianapolis. The Spurs, meanwhile, have been to two Finals, won a title and found their bridge to a vibrant Tim Duncan-less future since striking gold with Leonard.
That past makes for a rich prologue to any Spurs-Pacers battle, slightly more so with Bertans set to make his NBA debut this season. The real draw, though, will be the battle between Leonard and Paul George.
Where once Indy could've had two of the league's best two-way wings on one team, it instead has just George, who's more than capable of competing with Leonard on both ends.
And unlike him, George has shown he can be "the man" on a playoff team; he now has a squad around him that was built to accentuate his strengths and mask his weaknesses.
Los Angeles Clippers: vs. Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Dec. 7
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Chris Paul claims he's not concerned about what the Golden State Warriors did over the summer to soup up their squad.
"It ain’t changed nothing," Paul told Bleacher Report's Howard Beck. "It ain’t changed nothing. It’s another summer of free agency."
Maybe Paul's opinion will change once he sees what the Warriors look like with Kevin Durant during the regular season. His dismissal of Golden State's additions came before the Dubs took his Los Angeles Clippers behind a woodshed during a 120-75 flattening at Oracle Arena.
The Clippers shouldn't have any trouble drawing motivation from that embarrassing effort. Nor should it ever be a struggle for L.A. to get up for a battle with The Bay. The Clippers have fostered a fierce rivalry with the Warriors for nearly four years, as USA Today's Sam Amick detailed last November.
There will be no love lost between the two Western powers when they meet on Dec. 7—even less so with Durant flanking Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Paul, then, might be right after all: Nothing has changed, at least as far as the Clippers' distaste for the Warriors is concerned.
Los Angeles Lakers: vs. Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 25
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For the last three years, the Los Angeles Lakers were all too closely acquainted with the spot of "league laughingstock" that the Los Angeles Clippers had occupied for decades.
The Clippers, though, have never quite capitalized on the Lakers' doldrums, blowing consecutive shots at the Western Conference Finals before bowing out of the playoffs during the first round this past spring. Now, the Lakers look to be on the rise. Kobe Bryant is gone. So is Byron Scott.
In their stead, the Lakers have a coach, in Luke Walton, who's uniquely equipped to relate to L.A.'s core of young talent. And there is plenty of that, from D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson to Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr.
Within a few years, that crew could restore the former luster to the team's purple and gold.
The Lakers will suffer through plenty of growing pains this season but should start to show signs of new life—perhaps enough to get Angelenos back on their bandwagon. That would be bad news for the Clippers, who have yet to put much of a dent into the Lakers' local pre-eminence and could be up against the clock, with Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick ticketed for free agency next summer.
Undecided L.A. fans won't have to choose sides just yet. They'll get to see how the Lakers and Clippers stack up against each other on Christmas Day—with the former acting as hosts.
Memphis Grizzlies: vs. San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Feb. 6
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The Memphis Grizzlies got swept out of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs last season, but they might as well strike that series from the history books. Those Grizzlies were as much an injured mess as the NBA has ever seen, having cycled through a league-record 28 players.
"Last year, man it was tough with all the injuries, especially the playoffs not having a full-strength team, so it was very tough," Zach Randolph said during Memphis' media day, per the Associated Press' Teresa M. Walker.
"Now we all healthy, and now we looking at the big picture, and that's getting a championship and getting a ring."
Bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Tennessee might be a stretch, but the Grizzlies should be a better bet to pull it off now—with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley back healthy—than they were with Jordan Farmar and Matt Barnes starting during the most recent postseason.
But before Memphis can come close to challenging the Warriors out West, it will have to see how it stacks up against Golden State's toughest competitors. The Spurs figure to be one of those, and if Chandler Parsons can get his knee right, the Grizzlies might have the goods to stop San Antonio in February and beyond.
Miami Heat: vs. Chicago Bulls on Thursday, Nov. 10
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Bittersweet barely begins to describe the swirl of emotions that's sure to flood American Airlines Arena when Dwyane Wade walks out of the visiting team's tunnel with the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 10.
Even Wade himself has left the door ajar for a return to the Miami Heat later on. As he told Sports Illustrated's Rohan Nadkarni:
"I never thought I would not be there. At this point in my career, I’ve been asked that, and it’s not a focus of mine. I’m happy where I am. I gave Miami everything I had for 13 years. The years I have left, hopefully I can give as much to Chicago. You never know what the future holds so you never want to say yes or no. Anything is possible. But, I’m cool right now. I’m good.
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Wade left the Heat under acrimonious circumstances this past summer, when the team refused to meet his asking price during free agency. He found the money he wanted in Chicago and took it, marking the second time in three summers Miami has lost one of its stars to a homecoming.
For that, some Heat fans might spit fire and brimstone at Wade from the stands. The majority, though, figure to applaud him for what he previously did to turn Miami's team into much more than just a plucky beachside outpost.
Still, there will be some awkwardness on display all around that night. And you can bet Wade's old teammates, including fellow shooting guards Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson (if healthy), won't hesitate to go after their old mentor.
Milwaukee Bucks: vs. Golden State Warriors on Saturday, Nov. 19
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Last December, the Milwaukee Bucks buried the Warriors' 24-game winning streak at the Bradley Center under a deluge of youthful energy and inside scorers.
"We didn't have it tonight," Luke Walton, then Golden State's interim coach, said after the 108-95 defeat, per the Associated Press' Genaro C. Armas.
"That's why it is so hard to do what these guys have done so far. It caught up to us."
That Warriors squad was short at small forward, with Brandon Rush starting for the injured Harrison Barnes, and even shorter on legs after needing double overtime to outlast the Boston Celtics the night prior. The schedule-makers have once again put the Dubs down for a fall back-to-back in Boston and Milwaukee.
The C's could be even tougher to silence this season, with Al Horford plugged into the middle of an improving young cast. That could once again put the Warriors up against it when they face the Bucks, who have a budding star of their own in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He looks like what Kevin Durant would be without an elite jump shot.
Minnesota Timberwolves: at Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, Dec. 13
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Of all the revenge games on the NBA calendar this season, perhaps none will inspire more ferocity among suits than head coach Tom Thibodeau's return to the Windy City.
Remember when the Chicago Bulls fired Thibs in May 2015 with a lengthy, subtweet-rich explanation from team owner Jerry Reinsdorf? Here's a snippet to refresh your memory, courtesy of the Bulls:
"The Chicago Bulls have a history of achieving great success on and off the court. These accomplishments have been possible because of an organizational culture where input from all parts of the organization has been welcomed and valued, there has been a willingness to participate in a free flow of information, and there have been clear and consistent goals.
While the head of each department of the organization must be free to make final decisions regarding his department, there must be free and open interdepartmental discussion and consideration of everyone's ideas and opinions. These internal discussions must not be considered an invasion of turf, and must remain private.
"
Feel free to translate Reinsdorf corporate speak as you please. Thibs, with his fiery disposition and manic competitive drive, probably has copies of that letter plastered on his walls, just waiting to be used as fuel for his fire.
A chilly trip to Chicago should be the perfect occasion for that. Aside from his own motivations, Thibs will have the up-and-coming Minnesota Timberwolves at the ready to take on a Bulls team that—with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol out but Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo in—barely resembles the groups he took to the playoffs each year he was on the job.
New Orleans Pelicans: vs. Houston Rockets on Thursday, Feb. 23
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There's plenty of crossover between the New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets these days.
This past summer, the Rockets picked up sharpshooters Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, who'd previously flanked Anthony Davis in the Big Easy. They also brought aboard head coach Mike D'Antoni, under whom Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and assistant Phil Weber learned the gospel of spread pick-and-roll offense once upon a time with the Phoenix Suns.
Feb. 23 will mark the second meeting of the season between Gentry's Pelicans and D'Antoni's Rockets, but the first for Gordon and Anderson back in New Orleans.
Davis could have a field day against a Houston front line that looks thin and vulnerable, with Clint Capela and Nene assuming Dwight Howard's duties at center.
This game could have serious implications for both teams down the line, too. With so many talented squads vying for spots in the West's top eight, one of these two could wind up just far enough on the fringes to fall into the draft lottery.
New York Knicks: vs. Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Feb. 8
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More than six years ago, Chris Paul made what could prove to be a prescient toast at Carmelo Anthony's wedding to LaLa Vasquez.
"We’ll form our own Big Three," Paul reportedly said, per the New York Post's Marc Berman.
Back then, Anthony was a Denver Nugget and Paul a New Orleans Hornet. They've both since moved on to brighter lights in bigger cities—Anthony in New York, Paul in Los Angeles.
Next summer, they could bring that champagne-tinged vision to life: Paul can opt out of his deal at season's end and could look to assume Derrick Rose's spot at point guard with the New York Knicks.
Thus, a Feb. 8 meeting between Paul's Clippers and Anthony's Knicks at Madison Square Garden could be a preview of what's to come, albeit with potential star teammates acting as combatants for the time being.
Oklahoma City Thunder: vs. Golden State Warriors on Feb. 11
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“I don’t pay to watch sporting events, but I would pay to watch Russell Westbrook against Golden State.”
Perhaps nothing from Lee Jenkins' profile of Russell Westbrook for Sports Illustrated better summarizes potential public opinion when Kevin Durant returns to Oklahoma City for the first time on Feb. 11 than that line from an anonymous NBA star.
Westbrook will have earlier opportunities to unleash hell on KD's new club. The Thunder will land twice at Golden State—on Nov. 3 and Jan. 18—before the Warriors repay the favor in February. Chances are, Westbrook will come ready to play on those occasions, though he'd hardly admit to taking those games more seriously than any others during the regular season.
The meeting in OKC, though, will be different.
It won't be just about whatever scorn Westbrook and his teammates may or may not feel in the wake of Durant spurning them for the squad that ousted them during the Western Conference Finals. At Chesapeake Energy Arena, Durant will be confronted with the full throat of Loud City, for better or worse.
Will the fans cheer for all Durant did to turn the Thunder into a powerhouse shortly after their arrival in OKC? Will they shower him with boos, like thousands of lovers scorned? And what might that energy do to drive the young, hungry Thunder against their Bay Area tormentors?
Orlando Magic: at Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Nov. 13
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Loud City shouldn't be quite so ambivalent about Serge Ibaka's return to Chesapeake Energy Arena as when Kevin Durant comes to town. While Durant chose to join the Warriors of his own accord, Ibaka wound up with the Orlando Magic via draft-day trade.
Not that Ibaka didn't have some influence in the decision. As The Vertical's Chris Mannix reported at the time:
"Oklahoma City’s reasons for trading Serge Ibaka boiled down to one: A year from now, the Thunder didn’t believe they could keep him. It wasn’t a money issue, as team officials have stressed that the days of being hell bent on staying under the cap are behind them. For Oklahoma City, it was the staunch belief that Ibaka’s desire for a larger role would lead him to leave the Thunder when his contract expired after next season.
Playing third wheel to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook didn’t suit Reggie Jackson, and Oklahoma City didn’t believe Ibaka was interested in signing up for another tour of duty in that position, either.
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The Thunder will see for themselves what kind of offensive weapon Ibaka has become in Orlando. He should have ample opportunity to show off against OKC's frontcourt, which features one player (Steven Adams) he knows well and another (Domantas Sabonis) who will be finding his footing as a rookie.
Philadelphia 76ers: at Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, March 12
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The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers will meet at the Wachovia Center in mid-December, but their rematch at Staples Center in March figures to be much juicier.
For one, Ben Simmons, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, could be back from foot surgery by then. That should also allow Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 choice this year, ample time to work his way into a starting spot for the Lakers, giving fans a greater glimpse of the league's top two rookies going head-to-head.
How those two fare against one another could affect who else joins the rebuilds in Philly and L.A. If the Lakers land outside the top three in the draft lottery, their first-round pick in 2017 will convey to the Sixers.
Considering Philly's tanking expertise, don't be surprised if the Sixers draw on that experience to help the Lakers improve their record ever so slightly, especially if the 2016-17 season is already long gone by then.
Phoenix Suns: vs. San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, Dec. 15
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ESPN's Jackie MacMullan and Zach Lowe each reported recently that LaMarcus Aldridge might not be long for the San Antonio Spurs. Last summer, Aldridge chose the Spurs over the Phoenix Suns, who signed Tyson Chandler as a lure to Arizona.
As Lowe noted, the Suns still have the goods to bring that pairing to life if the opportunity to do so arises:
"Aldridge almost signed in Phoenix, and Suns owner Robert Sarver is dying to get back to the playoffs. They have a stockpile of prospects stuck behind fogies and mid-career guys, plus those extra Miami picks.
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All the more reason, then, for Phoenix to bring its A-game to Talking Stick Resort Arena when San Antonio comes to town. Aldridge doesn't have any real leverage to leave the Spurs, though the Suns cozying up to their old free-agent target couldn't hurt.
As it happens, that game falls on Dec. 15, the same day teams can start trading players they signed during the offseason. Perhaps San Antonio would be amenable to moving Aldridge if a package of, say, Jared Dudley and one of Phoenix's more mature guards (i.e. Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight) winds up on general manager R.C. Buford's desk.
Portland Trail Blazers: vs. Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Nov. 1
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The last time the Portland Trail Blazers saw the Golden State Warriors in a meaningful game, they gave the then-defending champs all they could handle before bowing out in Game 5 of their second-round series, 125-121.
The Warriors have since upgraded, adding Kevin Durant to their stash of stars. But the Blazers didn't stand pat this summer, either. They signed Evan Turner to serve as a third playmaker and Festus Ezeli to fill out their frontcourt.
With those two joining Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in Rip City, the Blazers could look like much more than a plucky upstart when they host the Dubs at the Moda Center on Nov. 1. A win over Golden State would put the rest of the West on notice that Portland belongs in the conference's upper echelon. So would a strong showing for Lillard and McCollum opposite the backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Another big game for Liillard against his hometown team would do plenty to back up his offseason assertion that he wouldn't go back to Oakland to bolster the NBA's most buzz-worthy superteam.
Sacramento Kings: vs. San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, Oct. 27
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Watching DeMarcus Cousins match wits with LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol will be a pleasure in itself. Pitting the stalwart San Antonio Spurs against the Sacramento Kings quagmire on opening night should also make for an intriguing contrast in organizational quality.
But the real reason to tune in to Sacramento's first game of the 2016-17 season?
That has less to do with the players and teams involved than with the building in which they'll be performing.
The shiny, new Golden 1 Center has already hosted Kings preseason games and concerts from Paul McCartney and Maroon 5, but Oct. 27 will mark the first time it has seen a meaningful NBA contest. If the star-studded closing of Sleep Train Arena was any indication, team owner Vivek Ranadive should put on quite a show to introduce the crown jewel of Sacramento's downtown to the world.
And who knows? The game between the Kings and Spurs could be fun, too.
San Antonio Spurs: at Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 25
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The Oklahoma City Thunder deprived us all of a matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors—who combined for 140 regular-season wins—in the 2016 Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs won't have to wait long to see how their latest iteration compares to what the Warriors are packing; San Antonio will get both its first crack at Golden State's super squad and its first look at its own hand on opening night in Oakland.
The Spurs will walk in without Tim Duncan, who retired over the summer, or David West, who now wears Warriors colors. They've since been replaced by Pau Gasol and former Dub David Lee, who project as inferior frontcourt defenders.
But what Gasol and Lee give away on one end, they could take back on the other against a thin Golden State interior. How that matchup plays out could go a long way toward determining whether these Spurs will be worthy challengers to the Warriors' Western Conference throne.
So, too, will Kawhi Leonard's ability to lock up Golden State's perimeter stars. If he can handle Kevin Durant on his own, San Antonio just might have enough other horses to handle Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Toronto Raptors: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, Oct. 28
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The Toronto Raptors took two games from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, but as the Akron Beacon Journal's Jason Lloyd confirmed to The Vertical's Chris Mannix, the eventual champions never really feared their foe.
Nor should Cleveland tremble before Toronto now.
The Raptors didn't do much to bolster their roster this summer, save for signing Jared Sullinger and drafting Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam.
Any improvement on Toronto's part will have to come from its incumbents. Jonas Valanciunas could be on the verge of a breakout in his fifth NBA season. DeMarre Carroll should make more of an impact after enduring a surgery-delayed debut campaign with the Raptors. Perhaps Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan will (finally) find some consistency come playoff time.
For now, Toronto can see where it stands in the East on the first Friday of the season, when the Cavs venture north of the border.
Utah Jazz: at San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, Nov. 1
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After taking three of four from the San Antonio Spurs in 2014-15, the Utah Jazz didn't score a single win against them last season.
Boris Diaw and George Hill, with their institutional knowledge of San Antonio, could help the Jazz turn the tide, beginning with a meeting between the two in the Alamo City on Nov. 1. Those two are pivotal to general manager Dennis Lindsey's plan to Spursify the Jazz organization.
"We're familiar with them … there's a comfort level with who they are as players, how they fit with our group," head coach Quin Snyder, another Gregg Popovich disciple, said, per the Salt Lake Tribune's Kurt Kragthorpe. "Certainly, some of that can be attributable to the experience they both had in San Antonio."
Following in San Antonio's footsteps should help Utah realize its true potential sooner than later. Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors form an imposing frontcourt pair, one that could have a field day on both ends against the likes of Pau Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and David Lee.
That will conclude an eventful first 10 days to start 2016-17 for Utah. During that stretch, the Jazz will get to measure themselves against the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Spurs, all of whom should factor heavily into the West's playoff picture.
Washington Wizards: at Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, Nov. 30
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So much has changed for the Oklahoma City Thunder since Scott Brooks was last their head coach.
Kevin Durant is gone. So is Serge Ibaka.
Rookie Domantas Sabonis is on track to start at power forward, and Victor Oladipo is likely to join Russell Westbrook on OKC's perimeter.
Brooks should get plenty of cheers from Loud City when his Washington Wizards stop into Chesapeake Energy Arena on the final day of November. He oversaw the development of OKC's young stars and the Thunder's attendant rise to prominence among the league's elite.
Whether the home crowd feels so warm and fuzzy about Brooks' return will depend on how the battle of backcourts plays out. Between John Wall and Bradley Beal for D.C. and Westbrook and Oladipo for OKC, these two teams may field the most athletic group of guards anyone will see in one game this season.
That matchup should keep folks pinned to their seats, be they in the building or at home, after the cameras catch the emotions of Brook's return.
