NBA Opening Night Schedule 2016: TV Coverage, Live Stream and Predictions

On June 19, the Cleveland Cavaliers brought their city its first major sports title in 52 years, and on Tuesday night, when a chaotic and drama-filled offseason finally ends, the Cavs will raise the franchise’s first NBA championship banner ahead of their game against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena. 

Later Tuesday night, two Western Conference upstarts—the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers—will square off in Portland, and the league’s revamped villains, the Golden State Warriors, will battle the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. 

The beginning of a new season typically brings with it boundless aspirations due to untainted 0-0 records across the board. This year, though, the consensus seems to be that June’s NBA Finals is preordained—that we will see the third installment of the Warriors vs. Cavaliers, this time with Kevin Durant swathed in blue and gold. 

In terms of Tuesday night’s action, there are two ways to judge that perspective. First, nothing is certain. Teams overachieve, underachieve and get injured. In other words, there’s a reason they play the games. 

Second, if you’re hearing none of that and believe no other team has a shot, Tuesday will provide a first look at the defending champion Cavaliers and the stacked Warriors. Remember, the 2010 Miami Heat lost their first game with the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and the Spurs would like nothing more than to inject some doubt into the Dubs’ heads. 

Here’s where you can get access to all three games on opening night: 

Predictions

New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers

Downtown Cleveland will be in a state of pandemonium when the Cavaliers begin their title defense just 30 minutes before the Indians take the field for Game 1 of the World Series across the street. 

Before we assume the Cavaliers will run the Knicks out of the building, there’s something to remember. Two seasons ago, when James returned to Cleveland from Miami and Kevin Love had just arrived in town, the Cavs opened their season at home on an emotional night in late October. Their opponent was the Knicks, who would go on to win just 17 games that season. However, New York stole that game, shocking the crowd that had come for a celebration rather than a real competition. 

Can the Knicks play spoilers once again? They will trot out their fortified starting lineup against Cleveland, which has played limited minutes together due to Derrick Rose’s sexual assault trial (he was found not liable) and Joakim Noah’s bouts with injury during the preseason. 

…

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com