The NBA schedule is here, and it’s great, and we love it, and we can’t wait for a season loaded with rising teams, stars, rivalries, and storylines. But there are a few notable holes in the league’s national broadcast schedule, announced Thursday, so here are five games that we think should be shown to the masses that won’t be:
Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder: Sunday, November 13
Like much great beef, this showdown gets its seasoning from a multi-player trade. Serge Ibaka was sent to the Magic in June for a return of Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova, as well as the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis. When you consider the likely emboldened state of Westbrook and the Durant-spurned Thunder, plus the athleticism of Orlando’s Aaron Gordon and all the chips on all the shoulders in this one, it’s easy to see things getting explosive quickly.
Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz: Thursday, December 8
One curious team has been talked about as a possibly potent Warriors antidote this offseason: the Jazz. Utah will be longer at every position than basketball’s newest super team, and with their unusual amount of mobile size upfront, in particular, they are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the Warriors’ relatively weak center position. They also added much-needed veteran presence in the persons of George Hill, Boris Diaw, and Joe Johnson this summer. Whether it happens this season or not, the Jazz-Warriors alchemy eventually promises to be an NBA main event.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons: Monday, December 26
The Cavs swept the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs in 2016, but the series was much more competitive than any sweep sounds. Rookie Stanley Johnson talked trash to LeBron James by way of reporters, and most remember Johnson getting roasted for it, but in fact he played very well while James made the impossible sorts of shots he always does when his reign is questioned. Watch for the upstart Pistons to grow into the role of thorn in Cleveland’s crown under Stan Van Gundy’s tutelage.
Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves: Friday, December 30
Length, speed, youth, and explosiveness will be on display here perhaps more than ever before in the history of the NBA when these two evolution-friendly rosters square off. Though players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Zach LaVine are raw and at times sloppy, throwing them all onto a floor together guarantees at least several moments of completely pyrotechnic dunkage. Karl-Anthony Towns is the game’s next unquestioned superstar, too, and these franchises have the winter tundras in common. Could this be the beginning of a the league’s next great rivalry? Let’s hope so.
New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers, Wednesday April 12
Playoff stakes are likely to define this game scheduled for the very last of the regular season. In an increasingly unpredictable bottom half of the Western Conference playoff picture, the Blazers and Pelicans have a wide range of potential seeding results. There’s even a good chance they’ll be fighting each other for the privilege of not playing the Warriors come April. Talk about stakes.
