Portland Trail Blazers 2014-15 Schedule: 5 Stand-Out Games To Watch

By Jared Doyle

 

Portland Trail Blazers 2014-15 Schedule: 5 Games That Stand Out

Damien Lillard
Pool Photo- USA Today Sports

The Portland Trail Blazers will have their work cut out for them this season. Although the organization has been able to hold on to key players, they are still playing in the uber-competitive Western Conference, and several teams have retooled for a real shot at representing the West in the NBA Finals. The regular season standings will have significance, so here are five games that stand out for the Trail Blazers in 2014-15.

5. October 29 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant, Nicolas Batum
Mark D. Smith- USA Today Sport

5. October 29 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant, Nicolas Batum
Mark D. Smith- USA Today Sports

Season openers are always a big deal, especially when they're against the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the perennial top teams in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers will use this game to gauge the rest of the season, and it will show just how far they have come in their quest to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

4. November 4 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trailblazers
Sam Forencich- Getty Images

4. November 4 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trailblazers
Sam Forencich- Getty Images

Since the Cleveland Cavaliers are now the new team to beat in the Eastern Conference, due to the acquisition of LeBron James and Kevin Love, the Trail Blazers could be battling against the team that represents the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season. This will be a great game showcasing some of the league's elite players.

3. December 22 vs. Houston Rockets

James Harden, Damien Lillard
Sam Forencich- Getty Images

3. December 22 vs. Houston Rockets

James Harden, Damien Lillard
Sam Forencich- Getty Images

Although the Trail Blazers narrowly escaped the Houston Rockets in the first round of last seasons NBA Playoffs, they have emerged as a rival for this franchise in terms of playoff eligibility. The Rockets have taken a step back this offseason in respect to talent, so it will be interesting to see if the intensity between both teams stays high throughout their four meetings this season.

2. January 5 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant, Nicolas Batum
Noah Graham- Getty Images

2. January 5 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant, Nicolas Batum
Noah Graham- Getty Images

Kobe Bryant’s return is being touted as one of the biggest storylines this season, so the Trail Blazers' first game against Kobe and the rest of the new-look Lakers will be a must-watch event.

1. February 25 vs. San Antonio Spurs

LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan
Chris Covatta- Getty Images

1. February 25 vs. San Antonio Spurs

LaMarcus Alridge, Tim Duncan
Chris Covatta- Getty Images

This game will be a perfect way for the Trail Blazers to gauge how far they have come as title contenders from the beginning of the season. Against the team that bounced them quickly in the second round last season, the Trail Blazers will have to play at a higher level in order to pull out a victory. This won't be an easy task.

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