The 2011-12 NBA preseason schedule tips off on Friday with four games. The league has grossly truncated its preseason along with the regular season; the NBA will hold a total of just 30 exhibitions between Friday and Thursday, December 22. Each team will play a home-and-home set with a regional rival, with NBA TV televising a number of match-ups. All other games are available via local broadcasters, if at all.
NBA Preseason 2011 TV Schedule: Cavaliers Vs. Pistons Presents First Opportunity To See Rookies Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight
The NBA’s preseason schedule tips off on Friday with four games. NBA TV will broadcast Kyrie Irving’s pro debut as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m. ET).
NBA TV's first live game of the preseason will feature Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m. ET). It will be the pro debut of three of the top eight picks in the 2011 NBA Draft, including Cleveland's No. 1 pick overall, Duke guard Kyrie Irving. The Cavs waived Baron Davis and Manny Harris is injured, meaning that Irving and Ramon Sessions are the only two healthy point guards on the roster, which means that fans should get a long look at Kyrie on Friday.
The Pistons counter with their own new point guard: No. 8 pick Brandon Knight out of the University of Kentucky. Knight was the youngest player in the June draft, and is seen as a combo threat with a penchant to score (which seems to be the Pistons' way). The Cavs will also bring No. 4 overall pick Tristan Thompson, a power forward of the University of Texas, to the table.
For a deeper look at the revamped Cavs, visit Fear The Sword. For more on the Pistons, visit Detroit Bad Boys.
The three other games will give fans early looks, too.
Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. ET. The Bulls didn't do much in free agency, picking up Rip Hamilton (waived by Detroit) and losing Kurt Thomas. The Pacers, however, added David West this week and traded a draft pick for George Hill in June, giving the club a couple new looks.
Philadelphia 76ers at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. ET. Jan Vesely makes his NBA debut for the Wizards, who are still waiting to see whether Nick Young will be back. The Sixers are largely intact, having retained Spencer Hawes and Thaddeus Young.
New Orleans Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET. The gutted Hornets -- who lost Chris Paul and Baron Davis, the team's only All-Stars since 2004 -- will begin their preparation for a campaign of doom against Memphis, one of last season's several darlings. The Grizzlies lost only Shane Battier and DeMarre Carroll in free agency, which makes it a good thing this one doesn't count.
See More:
