The NBA has released its full schedule for the 2015-16 season, and while it’s debatable how successful the Portland Trail Blazers will be, we have a solid idea of what the national audience thinks.
Despite playing in 15 nationally televised contests last season, Portland has just five during the upcoming campaign. Odds are, even Blazers fans will be skeptical throughout the year, but if you look closely at the team’s schedule, there are a handful of contests that even the most dubious of Rip City followers should be ready for.
Click Here For A Look At The Trail Blazers’ Entire 2015-16 Schedule, Via CSNNW.com
October 28 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Oct. 28 is a new beginning for the Trail Blazers. Quite frankly, the season opener would have been one of the most-anticipated games of the year regardless of the opponent in a post-everyone era, but a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans is actually quite fitting.
For all intents and purposes, the Blazers are now where the Pelicans have been the past few seasons: enduring growing pains, chasing a playoff berth and establishing a core designed to complement a legitimate superstar from the 2012 draft.
Speaking of that star, this contest will be the first where Damian Lillard is the undisputed face of the franchise. One game isn’t going to determine whether or not he can carry the weight of an entire city on his shoulders, but you’d better believe the fanboys and the critics alike will be ready with hot takes immediately following Game 1 of the season.
November 11 vs. San Antonio Spurs
LaMarcus Aldridge, following nine seasons with the Trail Blazers, is officially a member of the San Antonio Spurs. And on Nov. 11, he’ll make his highly anticipated return to Rip City.
The big question here isn’t about the outcome of the game, but the reception for Aldridge. While the big man undoubtedly deserves a standing ovation, chances are he’ll receive a stentorian mix of cheers and jeers from the moment he’s introduced until he exits through the tunnel after the final buzzer.
If head coach Gregg Popovich is smart, he’ll run the offense through Aldridge the entire contest. You know the big man will feel pressure to perform the second he steps into the building, and barring a bizarre lack of production, he’ll live up to that pressure.
January 23 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Hate him or love, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to ever suit up in the NBA. And chances are, Jan. 23 will be the last time fans in Portland will have an opportunity to see him play in person.
Although Bryant has yet to declare that the upcoming season will be his last, it’s widely speculated that the soon-to-be 37-year-old will shut it down at the conclusion of the 2015-16 campaign. The legendary 2-guard doesn’t want his final go-round to be a farewell tour (despite the NBA’s attempt to make it that way with 19 nationally televised games), but Portland fans should embrace the opportunity to see greatness in person just in case it’s for the last time.
February 19 vs. Golden State Warriors
This contest isn’t so much about the competition, as it is about evaluation.
At this point in the year, the Blazers will have played 54 contests. For perspective, that’s nearly 66 percent of the season officially in the books.
This matchup versus the Golden State Warriors isn’t just a battle against the defending champions; it’s the first game following the All-Star break. It’s also likely one of the last contests on the schedule before the trade deadline.
In reality, this will be the first game that gives us an idea of whether the Blazers are in the playoff hunt, the chase for the No. 1 pick or something in between. The fact that it’s against the Warriors is icing on the cake, as it will give Portland fans a chance to see what it’s young squad can do with fresh legs against a true contender.
March 23 vs. Dallas Mavericks
When Aldridge comes to town, the crowd reception is inevitably going to be split. When Wesley Matthews returns, it’s going to be the feel-good story of the year.
Or at least we hope.
Although Matthews makes his return to Portland on Dec.1, there will still likely be questions as to whether or not he’s able to make a full recovery from the devastating Achilles rupture that ended his 2014-15 season. He’ll be welcomed back with open arms during that contest, but it won’t be until his second game back on March 23 that we can tell whether or not he’s the same Iron Man who made a name for himself with the Trail Blazers over the past five seasons.
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