After a crazy 2016 NBA Finals, who knows what is going to be in store for fans this coming season. The NBA released its schedule on August 11, 2016 and boy is opening week a dandy. The season will open up with a banner raising ceremony 52 years in the making, as the Cleveland Cavaliers raise their first championship banner to the rafters at Quicken Loans Arena! Looking to spoil the festivities will be the same team that spoiled the festivities when LeBron returned to Cleveland, Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks. The Knicks will look very different this season as they added former Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. The Cavaliers will be looking to repeat as back to back champions just as the Miami Heat did in 2013 and 2014. But out in the Bay Area, is a juggernaut that is looking to spoil those plans.
The Golden State Warriors will be looking to somehow do better than their record breaking 73 win regular season from last year, and thanks to signing Kevin Durant in the offseason, they have a chance to break their own record. Durant gets to make his Warriors debut at Oracle Arena, but the NBA gave him a difficult opponent to open the season, the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs will look very different this season because Tim Duncan retired and will not be on the court this season.
There are some teams in the Eastern Conference who could be problems to the defending NBA champions. These teams include: Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, and the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers are going to be a very dangerous team this season as they added Jeff Teague. The Pacers open up their season at home against the Dallas Mavericks. In Boston, the Celtics added Al Horford and drafted Cal forward Jaylen Brown. The Celtics open up their season at home against the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, north of the border, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Raptors are coming off their first ever appearance in the eastern conference finals, and these guys look poised to get there again. Toronto opens their season at Air Canada Center against the Detroit Pistons.
Of course when talking about the anticipated opening game for this season, you have to include the top 2 draft choices making their debuts for their respective teams. With the #1 pick in this year's draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons from LSU. He will make his debut in front of the 76ers fans against the Westbrook lead OKC Thunder. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers used the #2 pick on Duke forward Brandon Ingram. Ingram will make his Lakers debut in Staples Center against James Harden and the Houston Rockets.
This NBA season is going to have its share of surprises along with twists and turns. Fans are already predicting a trilogy in the NBA finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. WIll that happen? Maybe, but maybe another team could have other ideas and throw a monkey wrench in those plans. The only thing that a fan should do during the season is sit back and enjoy the ride.
