Early TV exposure for the draft darlings as well as the top teams - both east & west.
From NBA.com (
http://www.nba.com/news/schedule_index_070802.html )
The 2007-08 season tips off on TNT, which will begin its 24th season of NBA game action, with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 30 that features the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and the No. 1 overall selection from the 2007 NBA Draft Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers at AT&T Center at 8 p.m. ET. TNT’s coverage of the Spurs-Trail Blazers game also features the Championship ring ceremony for the Spurs. The second game of TNT’s doubleheader showcases Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets squaring off in Los Angeles against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers at Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. ET.
ESPN’s game coverage begins with a doubleheader Wednesday, Oct. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. as the 2007 Finals runner-up Cleveland Cavaliers host the Dallas Mavericks, who won a league-best 67 regular season games in 2006-07. The nightcap features the debut of Kevin Durant, the second overall selection of the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 Draft, in Denver to battle Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET.
On Thursday, Nov. 1, TNT presents a doubleheader featuring perennial Eastern Conference heavyweights and a battle out West showcasing the promise of present and future. Two recent NBA Champions square off as Chauncey Billups and the Pistons (2003-04 Champions) travel to Miami to tangle with Shaquille O’Neal and the Heat (2005-06 Champions) at 8 p.m. ET. The second game features Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns heading to Seattle to face the SuperSonics at 10:30 p.m. ET.
MOST NATIONAL TV APPEARANCES
ESPN
10 -- Chicago Bulls
10 -- Denver Nuggets
10 -- L.A. Lakers
10 -- Miami Heat
10 -- Phoenix Suns
TNT
9 -- Chicago Bulls
9 -- Dallas Mavericks
9 -- L.A. Lakers
9 -- Miami Heat
9 -- Phoenix Suns
9 -- San Antonio Spurs
ABC
5 -- Cleveland Cavaliers
5 -- Dallas Mavericks
5 -- L.A. Lakers
5 -- Miami Heat
5 -- Phoenix Suns
