Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: NBA's Most Anticipated Games

Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: The NBA Season’s Most Anticipated Games

May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts after Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) last second shot in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center.Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) shoots in the first half against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /

I’m looking forward to Cavaliers vs. Spurs on Thursday, March 12
By Daniel Leroux (@DannyLeroux)

For me, part of the joy of the regular season is just seeing how the various pieces fit together both within a team and between potential playoff opponents.

LeBron’s return to Cleveland means we have a new favorite in the East and thus a new most likely NBA Finals matchup. While Miami won consecutive titles and beat the Spurs in the best Finals of my lifetime, the Cavs may establish themselves as a more compelling foil for San Antonio. By returning home, LeBron joined a team that will give him the leeway to adopt some of the tricks Coach Popovich employs like resting starters and using the regular season as a laboratory. We will not see David Blatt run King James into the ground to keep a teammate fresh.

Since the first Cavs/Spurs game comes in mid-November when Cleveland will still be figuring things out, my most anticipated game of the 2014-15 regular season comes three and a half months from now on March 12. That tilt sits in the sweet spot deep enough in the season to have both squads fully meshed and early enough to be a factor in strategic positioning. Kawhi vs. LeBron, Duncan vs. Love, Parker vs. Kyrie, Pop vs. Blatt. I am in on all of it.

Of course, Pop will probably sit his stars and ruin it.

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