CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 4: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half during Game One in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena on May 4, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kyrie Irving; Derrick Rose
2015By Matt Yoder on

One of the new quirks of the NBA schedule is the creation of a new series of primetime games on ABC during the regular season.  On eight Saturdays from the end of January through the end of the regular season in April, ABC will feature a very rare regular season basketball game in network primetime.

So when the NBA schedule was released on Wednesday, our attention immediately turned to just how the NBA would schedule these premier games.  And by looking at the 8 games on the docket, basketball fans should not be disappointed.

Sat, Jan. 23 8:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers
Sat, Jan. 30 8:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers
Sat, Feb. 20 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
Sat, Feb. 27 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder
Sat, Mar. 5 8:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls
Sat, Mar. 12 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs
Sat, Mar. 19 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs
Sat, Apr. 9 8:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls

In total, that’s eight games.  And the one thing that jumps out at NBA fans is that only seven teams will have an opportunity to make an appearance in the primetime series.  Here’s the count for each team that will play on Saturday night primetime.

Chicago Bulls: 3
Cleveland Cavaliers: 3
San Antonio Spurs: 3
Golden State Warriors: 3
Oklahoma City Thunder: 2
Los Angeles Clippers: 1
Houston Rockets: 1

You know what?  I really don’t have a problem with this.  The NBA has loads of games on national television that should give widespread exposure to all of the league’s teams.  But this Saturday night package needs to have a different feel to it.  Like there’s something at stake and something on the line beyond just being 1 of 82.

Having 25% of the schedule be Cavs-Bulls might be a bit much, but overall this is about the NBA and ABC highlighting the very best that the league has to offer in primetime.  The NBA has real trouble making regular season games mean anything at all, so hopefully by focusing on the very best players, the very best teams, and the very best rivalries, they can get something (anything) out of these matchups and create a series that is must-see.  And with this strong of a schedule, the NBA is already doing everything they can to make it so.

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