August is around the corner, the lockout is almost a month old, both sides are miles apart on a proposal, and there are no actual talks scheduled.
Seems like a perfect time to release a schedule, huh?
But like seagulls fighting over a dirty french fry on the beach, we’re all just dying to analyze the NBA schedule that was released at 2PM today.
Here are some highlights (All times Eastern):
- The Dallas Mavericks raise their banner with the Chicago Bulls in town on November 1 (8PM on TNT). The LA Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder on the back end of TNT’s double header.
- The Mavs-Thunder Western Conference Finals rematch is November 5th.
- On Christmas Day we get Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (noon, ESPN), Heat at Mavericks (2:30PM, ABC) and Bulls at Lakers (5PM, ABC)
- And on MLK Day: Bulls at the Memphis Grizzlies (1PM, ESPN), Toronto Raptors at the Atlanta Hawks (4PM, NBA TV), and Thunder at Celtics (8PM, TNT) and Mavericks vs. Lakers (10:30 ET, TNT)
In the “returning home” series of games:
- Carmelo Anthony and his Knicks go to Denver November 16th
- Andre Miller and the Nuggets open up in Portland on November 3rd
- LeBron goes back to Cleveland (again) November 18.
- Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets go to Utah January 14
You’ll have to pardon my lack of enthusiasm. But right now the NBA saying “here’s my schedule” is like the hot girl at the party making small talk with you at the keg. Oh sure, you think there’s a chance of this thing happening, and technically at that point there is a theoretical shot it happening, but reality is that you’ve got no shot. So just go back to the corner and fantasize for a little bit until mom comes to pick you up at 10:30.
