Highlights from the 2013-2014 NBA schedule

The 2013-2014 NBA season schedule dropped on Tuesday. Let’s take a look at some of the highlight games on the schedule included the Christmas day line up.

The Heat start their quest for championship number three at home against the Chicago Bulls on October 29th. This game also will mark the return of Bulls point guard Derrick Rose to the court for the first time since April 2012. Plus, the Heat get their rings. Also on that TNT line up. My two teams face off against each other in the kick off of the hallway series between the Lakers and Clippers

The Christmas slate of games puts the defending champs on the road for what many are assuming will be the return of Kobe Bryant to the hardwood with Lakers vs. Heat as the main event:

Christmas will also showcase Knicks vs. Thunder, Rockets vs. Spurs, Bulls vs. Nets and Clippers vs. Warriors.

Other key match ups for the Heat:

• The NBA Finals rematches with San Antonio, at home on Jan. 26 and at the Spurs on March 6.
• And the Miami Heat will be on Broadway the night before the Super Bowl – which takes place in New Jersey at the Home of the Jets and Giants. February 1st Knicks vs. Heat.
• Heat vs  Pacers  following their seven-game Eastern Conference finals match up happens on December 10th.

• Of course everyone is waiting on the return of the first major free agent to LEAVE the Lakers franchise return home. That comes in 2013 when Dwight Howard and the Rockets face off against the Lakers at Staples Center on February 19th.

• Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce head back to Boston on January 26th when the Nets take on the Boston Celtics.
• Speaking of returns to Boston, former head coach Doc Rivers hits town with the Clippers December 11th.

• In another coaching return, Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd returns to Madison Square Garden a few months after being a player on the Knicks, January 20th.

Of course more storylines will start to take shape as we get closer to the NBA season. Just two months and 22 days until NBA basketball is back. Yes, I’m already counting down.

photos via @NBA