Winning back-to-back championships, the Miami Heat have established themselves as one of the most dominant NBA teams in recent memory. Taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals, the Heat followed up that strong showing with another title run in 2013 where they took down the veteran San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling seven-game series. Led by four-time league MVP LeBron James, nine-time All-Star Dwyane Wade and head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Heat are once again expected to compete for another title and their quest for franchise championship No. 4 will begin with a showdown at American Airlines Arena against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, October 29. The Heat and Bulls will officially open the 2013-2014 regular season with an Eastern Conference showdown that could very well be a preview of a possible postseason series.
Derrick Rose sat out the entire 2012-2013 season due to a lingering ACL injury he suffered during the 2012 playoffs but now that he is healthy and ready for what should be a strong season for the Chicago Bulls, the star guard will certainly garner loads of attention come October 29. In addition to Rose being happy with his long-awaited return to meaningful basketball - though he did participate in the recent NBA preseason - LeBron James is also excited about having one of the best player's in the league back on the floor, noting that Rose did all the right things to assure that his personal health was in top shape before returning to the court. "I'm happy and thrilled that he's back," James said. "I'm happy with what he did last year, to be able to stand strong throughout everything, throughout all of the adversity of everybody criticizing him about what he should do. He did what was best for him."
In addition to Miami hosting Chicago, multiple premier games will help launch the highly anticipated 2013-2014 NBA season. The defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs are expected to be strong competitors in the West once again while the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers will certainly pose threats to the defending conference winners. While Miami headlines the Eastern Conference, talented teams such as the newly sculpted Brooklyn Nets, Bulls, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers will all be looked upon as stingy opponents with each passing game throughout the 82-game campaign.
With the 2013-2014 NBA Season officially beginning on Tuesday, October 29 with a three-game slate, here's a list of some of the premier match-ups that will take NBA fans through the early portion of the season.
OPENING NIGHT - Tuesday, October 29 (TV Coverage)
Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers, 7pm, ET (NBA League Pass)
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls, 8pm, ET (TNT)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30pm, ET (TNT)
Thursday, October 31
New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls, 8pm, ET (TNT)
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30pm, ET (TNT)
Friday, November 1
Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat, 8pm, ET (ESPN)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30pm, ET (ESPN)
CHRISTMAS DAY - Wednesday, December 25
Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets, 12pm, ET (ESPN)
New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 2:30pm, ET (ABC)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat, 5pm, ET (ABC)
Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8pm, ET (ESPN)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors, 10:30pm, ET (ESPN)
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