NBA: 5 Must Watch Games in the First Week of the Season

NBA: 5 Must Watch Games in the First Week of the season

By John Bauman | Oct 26, 2014

Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) drives to the basket between Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) and forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 24, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) dunks against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
8:00 PM ET, October 28, 2014
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

This game will be one of the three on opening night, along with Magic Pelicans and Rockets Lakers. This game will also be when the Spurs raise their championship banner and get their rings from their 2014 NBA Championship. There is also some good basketball to be played. Remember, the Mavs pushed the Spurs to seven games in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Fans on Mavericks Moneyball were joking that the Mavs need to take Game 8 in the series, and the game might have that kind of feel.

These two teams also have an in-state rivalry going for them. San Antonio and Dallas are around 250 miles apart and share the state of Texas. Finally, I want to see how Chandler Parsons looks in Dallas blue. He came over to Dallas this summer from another Texas franchise, the Houston Rockets, and will be beginning the first year of a three year, 46 million dollar contract with Dallas.

I don’t think San Antonio lets Dallas push them around on their home floor on banner raising night. Both teams will be hyped up and ready to go, but I would be surprised to see Dallas win. San Antonio is too big down low for the Mavs, and I think Tim Duncan and Tony Parker both come out energized in front of the home crowd and after a summer’s worth of rest.

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