Breaking Down the 2016-17 Opening Night Games

(photo credit: logodesignlove.com)

The 2016- 2017 NBA regular season kicks off Oct. 25 on TNT and will showcase some of the league's top talent. Lebron James and The Cleveland Cavaliers will play at home against a revamped New York Knicks team. Fortunately for Cavs fans, they will get to experience the raising of their first championship banner in franchise history that was rightfully earned. The Knicks hope to spoil this evening for the newly crowned champs with the help of former MVP Derrick Rose as the new starting point guard. Other new players on the roster include two presumed starters in Joakim Noah at center and Courtney Lee at the shooting guard position. With three formidable starters along with an elite scorer in Carmelo Anthony and last years rookie sensation, Kristaps Porzingis, expectations are high this year in The Big Apple. Tip off is at 8pm Eastern Time.

Game two on TNT will display The Golden State Warriors and their newest member, Kevin Durant, against a savvy San Antonio Spurs team that will open the season without Tim Duncan for the first time since 1996. Once the NBA's cinderella team, the Warriors are now considered to be the league's villains and Durant has faced much scrutiny for joining the team that defeated The Thunder in a seven game series last postseason. With Durant joining arguably the greatest offense in NBA history, many believe this team should steamroll through the competition like they did in the last regular season. Tip off will be at 10:30 p.m. ET.

The third game on opening night will be between two teams on the rise in the Western conference. The Portland Trailblazers and their dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum will test themselves against The Utah Jazz. The Jazz have been slowly rebuilding through the draft the past few seasons since the departure of head coach Jerry Sloan and star guard Deron Williams. They have a solid core of Gordon Hayword, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert and have several new veterans that have signed in the offseason as well. George Hill and Joe Johnson will provide leadership as the new starters in the backcourt, which will allow their young talent to develop more naturally. Tip off is at 10 p.m. ET.