NBA 2016-17 Season Schedule and Match Highlights: Top 5 Most Anticipated Games, TV Coverage and Appearances

By Regin Anthony Salo Olimberio, CP Contributor Friday, August 12, 2016

NBA 2016-2017 season schedule is out earlier than expected after a gushing leak circulated in the basketball world since last week. The best part is that NBA decided to prolong the rivalry between 2016 Champion Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors since both will immediately step into the action.

Television networks TNT, ESPN and ABC will showcase NBA 2016-2017's 164 games starting on October 25. Several local channels, domestic and international, are also set to cover the hottest league in the planet, as well as live streaming via licensed platforms.

Cavs vs Warriors rivalry

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Since the sports world is currently focused on Rio Games, NBA will have plenty of time to hype up the schedule and highlight the rivalry between the Cavs and Warriors. Including the now-confirmed rumor that both squads will face off on Christmas as well as three appearances on ABC's Saturday Night Series.

Golden State Warriors are also set to appear 28 times during the regular season in National TV. The exposure is mainly attributed to Kevin Durant who made any Warriors game an instant hit in ratings.

Several squads are trailing to get the national attention, including the Los Angeles Clippers who will appear 26 times, defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers with 25 appearances, Chicago Bulls with 25, and completing the top five list is the San Antonio Spurs with 23 TV outings.

The sixth spot is actually 22 appearances shared by strongholds New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Game schedule

There are also several games to land within the top five most anticipated matches in the NBA 2016-2017 schedule, and as predicted earlier, the number one will not happen until next year. Topping the list is the February 11 schedule between the Warriors and Thunder, all because fans simply want to see how Oklahoma City will receive Durant while on the opposing team.

Christmas day match between the Warriors and Cavs are second in line since this is going to be the first test if Cleveland can handle the supposedly "invincible" roster that Warriors boasts this season. Again, thanks to super scorer KD running with Oklahoma.

Falling at number three for the most anticipated match is Bulls against Miami Heat in November 10. Then, October 28 is sure to spike the TV ratings with a matchup between the Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors. Lastly, landing fifth in the anticipation list is December 7 head-on collision between Warriors and Clippers.