NBAs stunning schedule drop comes with interesting Lakers omission

Adam Silver and Co., we tip our hat to you. The schedule for opening night and Christmas were released Tuesday and there’s no shortage of juicy storylines to anticipate while we’re stuck in the doldrums of August. Here are our seven takeaways from the first batch of games that have been posted. It’s the greatest team in the league versus one of the greatest players of all-time.It’s James facing the team he would’ve joined in free agency if they hadn’t won a championship.

It’s the Knicks receiving their rings in front of James, who moved across the country from his family in pursuit of his fifth title in his unprecedented 24th NBA season. It’s the face of the league versus a guy who had to claw his way into the national consciousness in Jalen Bruson.It’s the team atop the mountain versus the team with the best chances of usurping their spot.

It’s a team that oozes chemistry versus a team that’s desperate to build it.It’s Madison Square Garden.

It’s New York.It’s…why do we have to wait so long for this?Opening night features the following slate: Celtics vs.

Pistons, Knicks vs.76ers and Thunder vs.

Spurs. There’s a notable omission, eh? The Lakers have played on opening night seven straight years before James left in free agency this summer.That speaks volumes about James’ star power.

The 17-time championship Lakers are the darlings of the league, sitting in one of the biggest media markets.They have Luka Doncic, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season.

But without James, none of that mattered.They didn’t secure one of the league’s most coveted windows. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs left us stunned when they eliminated the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a thrilling seven-game series.

The Thunder were the reigning champions at the time.They had reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

No one expected the Spurs to rise that quickly. The joke’s on us. Wembanyama has proven that the league is hi...