Washington Wizards 2016-2017 Full NBA Schedule: Key Dates, thoughts and notes.
It might seem like the 73-win Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers just a week ago, but believe it or not, a new season is right around the corner.
For hoop heads, the summer is one of the most exciting times to be a basketball fan.
Sure – the competitive basketball is over. But, there was still plenty to talk about.
The NBA Draft, Summer League and Free Agency created the stories we’ll follow throughout the course of the regular season.
We’ll track how well Ben Simmons will develop in his first season. We’ll get to follow how Kevin Durant will transition into playing along side a couple of other superstars in Golden State.
Before that happens, though, the schedules are released.
Every year, we pointlessly break down the schedules as if they’re not fluid.
The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are going to play on Christmas. The sky is blue. They’re bad, but they’re still the most popular teams in existence.
And every year, Washington Wizards fans will get to complain about how the national media doesn’t care about their team.
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And they don’t – because they don’t have a reason to care.
The schedule was released today, and yes, the Wizards won’t be playing very often on national television again.
They’re the Wizards, and as much as we love them, we have to accept that the team will never get the recognition you think they might deserve.
The full schedule for the 2016-17 season has been published on the Wizards’ official website.
Here are some key notes:
- The Wizards will begin their season on October 27 against the Atlanta Hawks.
- Washington won’t play their first game at home until November 2. They will take on the Toronto Raptors.
- After their first two road games to begin the season, the Wizards will play 10 out of their next 14 games at home (per @LedellsPlace).
- Durant and the Warriors come to D.C. on February 28.
- Washington’s first meeting against the Cavaliers will take place on November 11 at home.
It’s difficult to examine the schedule right now because no one really knows how good each team is going to be.
We can sit here and say “stretch x” is going to be tough, but none of that is concrete.
Next: 5 Reasons to Be Optimistic About the Wizards
For the Washington Wizards to get back into the playoffs, they’re going to need to play better at home and take care of the lesser opponents on the road. One thing is certain: Durant is going to get booed late in February.