University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: A Tar Heel Guide To The NBA Schedule
August 15, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Wednesday, Oct. 29: Milwaukee Bucks (John Henson/Kendall Marshall) at Charlotte Hornets (Marvin Williams/P.J. Hairston): OK, it's not typical to get excited about an NBA game at the end of October. But this one promises to be fun. It's the regular season debut for the Henson/Marshall reunion, which should put up plenty of highlight reel plays. It's also the return of the gone-too-long Hornets, who very possibly might have Williams in the starting lineup. Oh, and it's the NBA debut of P.J. Hairston, and it's also one of the rare games that might very well include four Tar Heels on the court at the same time. The Hive is alive.
Monday, Nov. 24: Los Angeles Clippers (Reggie Bullock) at Charlotte Hornets (Hairston/Williams): Watch this one and remember, just briefly, that Bullock and Hairston were supposed to be on the floor for the Tar Heels last season. Instead, they both last shared the hardwood at the end of the 2013 season, when both were showing the promise that would eventually make them first-round picks--perhaps just not when and how you might have expected.
Sunday, Dec. 7: Bucks (Henson/Marshall) at Mavericks (Felton/Wright): Because anytime you get a chance to see four Tar Heels on the court at the same time, it's a worthwhile game. The Felton/Marshall matchup was a good one in Smith Center pickup games over the summer.
Sunday, Dec. 21: Memphis Grizzlies (Vince Carter) at Cleveland Cavaliers (Brendan Haywood): Unless Antawn Jamison signs somewhere--he recently told GoHeels TV he wasn't sure what his playing status for 2014-15 might be--this game is likely to match the two most veteran Tar Heel alums in the NBA.
Wednesday, Jan. 14 and Friday, Jan. 16: Dallas Mavericks (Raymond Felton/Brandan Wright) vs. Denver Nuggets (Ty Lawson): This is such a good matchup--pitting the point guards of Carolina's last two NCAA title teams--that they had to play it back-to-back. The first game is in Denver, with the rematch 48 hours later in Dallas.
Friday, Feb. 20: San Antonio Spurs (Danny Green) at Golden State Warriors (Harrison Barnes): This ESPN showdown features Carolina's latest NBA champion against Barnes, who is trying to help build his Warriors into a contender in the West. This game could also include James Michael McAdoo if he's able to make the Golden State roster.
Sunday, March 8: Mavericks (Wright/Felton) at Los Angeles Lakers (Ed Davis): With the Wright/Davis matchup in the post, it's a battle of two big Tar Heel big men you wish had stayed just one more year.
Saturday, April 4: Boston Celtics (Tyler Zeller) at Toronto Raptors (Tyler Hansbrough): Hopefully, you'll have some other Tar Heel-related plans on this night, when the Final Four will be played in Indianapolis. If not, watch two of Carolina's last three ACC Players of the Year go head to head.
Sunday, April 12: Sacramento Kings (Wayne Ellington) at Nuggets (Lawson): It's always fun to see championship teams reunited, and this game near the end of the regular season will bring Carolina's 2009 title backcourt back together.
