The season's calendar appears to promise a show with rematches and surprises.
The wait is finally over: the new season will premiere tonight. Fans from all over the world have been anticipating this moment since July, eagerly anticipating the new calendar to learn which challenges will be the most interesting of the year.
What NBA games should you watch in 2021-22? We've selected seven games starting tonight that no basketball fan should miss.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets | October 19
Let's begin with the marquee matchup of the 2021-22 season's first night: Bucks vs. Nets. The Bucks will be determined to continue where they left off last season, which was with an NBA championship. The Nets, on the other hand, will be looking for vengeance for their loss in the Conference Semifinals last season.
Only Kevin Durant led the Bucks to Game 7 last season, and they were just one game away from being eliminated from the playoffs.
The former Warriors averaged 35.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in that series. Despite the Kyrie Irving case, James Harden will be on hand on opening night, just as determined to have a rematch on the Milwaukee team. Durant and Harden will be able to send a clear message to Antetokounmpo right away that they are the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz | October 26
Within the Northwest Division, the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz have had a long-standing rivalry. In the last three years, they have battled for first place until the final game in the Western Conference.
The challenge will pit two young and entertaining teams against each other, led by MVP Nikola Jokic and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Because they both play the same role, it is predicted to be a real challenge.
Another noticeable thing is the raids of Donovan Mitchell, a player who manages to turn on with very little and light up the arenas with his plays, and Michael Porter Jr., a main contender for the Most Improved Player award according to bookmakers. Thus, it's one of those games that can keep viewers glued to the television.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat | October 29
Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat is another game not to be missed. The first reason is that LaMelo Ball is already one of the most entertaining players on the court today. He won the freshman of the year award in his rookie season.
Secondly, Terry Rozier is the type of player who can go off at any point during the game: a triple hit can set off a three- or four-hit streak. These are the types of actions that typically erupt in NBA arenas.
Another reason is that the Miami Heat has made some excellent additions to their roster, particularly Kyle Lowry. As one of the East's favorite teams, this is the ideal matchup to assess their offensive potential and team chemistry.
Besides, Jimmy Butler is simply Jimmy Butler, and that's all there is to it.
In a nutshell, Charlotte vs. Miami is one of those League Pass Alert games that promises to be entertaining.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers | November 21
Over the last few years, the one between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers has almost become a rivalry. In fact, the Mavericks have been eliminated from the playoffs twice in a row by the Lakers, and Dallas will undoubtedly seek at least one retaliation during the regular season.
Furthermore, the challenge will have a distinct allure: on the one hand, we'll have Luka Doncic, who is in his fourth season in the NBA and is determined to finish in the top ten of the MVP finalists once again this year. On the other hand, until Kawhi Leonard comes back, we will have Paul George as the team's leader.
The former Spurs and Raptors player could return from his Crusader injury in March, putting his recovery ahead of schedule. Who will be the first to take the field in this challenge?
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers | 25th December
What more could you want from Christmas than two contenders playing in the NBA on Christmas Eve? And then there's the perfect post-dinner challenge: Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving take on LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. On one hand, this is an experienced group, and on the other, a roster of shooters.
It's a fascinating game that shouldn't be missed, especially from the standpoint of determining which of the franchises will win the NBA championship.
Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks | February 11t
The first NBA Finals rematch will take place on February 11th, late in the season. Many things could happen between now and then, but the challenge will retain its allure.
The Suns will be ascertained to have a small rematch in the regular season after coming within two wins of winning a legendary NBA title last year. Chris Paul is the team's undisputed leader, and he'll be backed up by Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton once again. Their chemistry is flawless.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates, on the other hand, will be focused on defending the franchise's second title, even during the regular season. The ring's key players, such as Kris Middleton, have stayed the same: the match's intensity will shoot up.
Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia Sixers | March 14
It's hard to predict where the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia Sixers will be a month before the regular season ends, but the challenge will be interesting because Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, or the first two finalists for the MVP award last year, will compete against each other.
It will be fascinating to see which of the two big players prevails over the other, as they are playing the same role but have completely different play styles. In the last five fights between the two franchises, Jokic has better stats than Embiid, but Embiid and his team have won four of the five times.
Moreover, the challenge will be intriguing because of Jamal Murray's return and Michael Porter Jr.'s improvement. In short, it's the ideal matchup to put the Nuggets' title hopes to the test against a strong opponent like the Philadelphia Sixers.
