The NBA recently released the 2006-07 schedule. There are some very interesting games on the schedule. The NBA is heading into its 61st season and basketball fans around the world are already licking their chops. The new season is just around the corner. The preseason begins October 5th. The first games that count are on October 31st?Halloween. There are two great games on the 31st?Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago at Miami. It's title defending time.

On November 1st, we just might get to see the 2006 number 1 draft selection, Andrea Bargnani, in action. The Toronto Raptors are in New Jersey to take on the Nets. Also on the 1st, the Indiana Pacers are in Charlotte to take on the Hornets. Might we see Adam Morrison playing? Many felt that Morrison was the one player in the draft that could provide immediate help to his team. Hopefully, Charlotte will throw him right in so we can see what he's made of.

November 2nd is going to be a great day. We get to enjoy a rematch of last season's Texas playoff battle between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. The game is in Dallas and will be on TNT at 8pm. The entire month of November is going to be exciting. We will have to see how many rookies get playing time, but November will hopefully provide enough of a glimpse that we can see the future of the NBA. Morrison is one of my favorites.

Another player I am waiting to see is Brandon Roy. He was drafted 6th in the 2006 draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He could be very exciting. Roy is out of the University of Washington, and he gets to go "home" right away. On November 1st, the Portland Trailblazers are in Seattle to play the Sonics. The game tips off at 10pm. Might we see the 2006 10th overall pick by the Sonics, Mouhamed Saer Sene, in at center for a little action? Most likely not, but it would be nice to see why the Sonics drafted Sene 10th.

The match up on everyone's calendar each season is the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. In what's become a tradition, these two teams are meeting on Christmas day?December 25th. The game will be on ABC at 2:30pm. It will be another chance for Shaq and crew to show why he was more valuable than Kobe.

Finally, the rematch we all want to see, Dallas against Miami, is going down on January 21st. The game will be at 1pm on ABC. It's taking place in Miami and the Mavericks should be up for the game. Maybe they can shake off last season's disastrous meltdown. The 2006-07 NBA season is going to be a blast. Buckle up, it's almost here.