You won’t be able to find the canceled first two weeks of the NBA season anywhere on NBA.com, but we know what was there. Here’s what we’re most disappointed to miss: 5. Washington at Miami, Nov.?6?»
What better way to measure John Wall’s improvement from his rookie to sophomore season and the health of Andray Blatche’s shoulder than against LeBron, Wade, Bosh and whatever no-names the Heat put around them this season.
4. Cleveland at Sacramento, Nov. 6 » Will Jimmer Fredette’s game translate to the NBA? Can the NBA handle the Jimmer? Seeing him take on No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving would’ve made what is normally a sleeper matchup well worth watching.
3. Memphis at Los Angeles Clippers, Nov. 2 » ESPN had a favor — or joke, depending on the point of view — planned for former analyst Mark Jackson, showing his first game against the Lakers as the Golden State coach. We’d prefer checking on Rudy Gay’s chemistry with the Grizzlies and a first look of the year at Blake Griffin.
2. Phoenix at Minnesota, Nov.?9?» Ricky Rubio finally decided to come to America, and along with No. 2 overall draft pick Derrick Williams, this would’ve been his first time facing fellow point guard and the NBA’s best Canadian, Steve Nash.
1. Chicago at Dallas, Nov. 1 » It wouldn’t have been hard to ride the wave of momentum from last year’s playoffs by seeing recast Dirk Nowitzki against Derrick Rose and a Bulls team that felt it should’ve been in the NBA Finals instead of Miami. Instead, who knows when the Mavericks will raise their championship banner.
– Craig Stouffer
