HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Lakers have announced their schedule for the 2013-14 preseason, including two games to be played in China. On Oct. 15, the Lakers and Golden State Warriors will play an exhibition game in Beijing at the MasterCard Center. Three days later, they'll meet again in Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, China, Schedule 

Tim Bontemps: According to @tfrank14 the Pacers and Celtics will be first teams to play less than 82 games since the league went to an 82-game schedule. Twitter @TimBontemps

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Schedule 

The NBA announced early Tuesday a "comprehensive global preseason schedule" that involves the Chicago Bulls playing the first-ever game in Brazil. The Bulls will face the Washington Wizards at Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena on Oct. 12. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Schedule, Brazil 

The veteran big man wouldn’t deny the reputation that Brazil — and Rio in particular — has for being a little wild. “I know, and the whole world knows that,” Nene said. “You guys hear about the Carnival. All celebrities come down. But there’s a lot of things to do. Nice beach, nice mall. A lot of shows, a lot of events. For me, nothing’s changed … but for [my teammates], it’s going to be a lot of new things. I hope they slow down.” Coach Randy Wittman didn’t spend a lot of time elaborating on the trip. “Eh, the weather’s nice, especially at that time of year, I hope,” he said. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Schedule, Nene, Brazil, Randy Wittman 

The NBA global games will conclude with two games in China between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. The teams will play on Oct. 15 at the MasterCard Center in Beijing, then travel to Shanghai for a game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Oct. 18. To date, the NBA has staged 138 preseason and regular-season games in 19 countries and territories across Europe, the Americas and Asia since 1978. NBA.com

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, China, Schedule 

Li Shuangfu: NBA China announces that Lakers and Warriors will play two preseason games in China. Beijing game on Oct. 15th and Shanghai game on 18th. Twitter @LiShuangfu

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Schedule 

Arash Markazi: The Lakers will wear their "Los Lakers" uniforms on March 3 (Hawks), March 10 (Bulls) and Kings (March 17). #NocheLatina Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Schedule 

The 76ers may be headed to Europe in the fall. The Web site solobasket.com is reporting (in Spanish) that the Sixers are scheduled to participate in the 2013 NBA Europe Live Tour next October. Solobasket said there will be at least one game in Bilboa (northern Spain). phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Spain, Schedule, Bilbao, Solobasket.com 

Tom Moore: If reports in Spain are accurate, the #Sixers may be playing at least one preseason game in Bilbao (northern Spain) in October. Twitter @tmoorepburbs

Philadelphia 76ers, Spain, Schedule 

Several professional and college sports teams were forced to rearrange their travel plans as a massive storm swept through the Northeast. The NBA's New York Knicks were stuck in Minnesota after playing the Timberwolves on Friday night, hoping to try to fly home sometime Saturday. The San Antonio Spurs were also staying overnight in Detroit after seeing their 11-game winning streak end against the Pistons, awaiting word on when they might be able to fly to New York for their game Sunday night at Brooklyn. 13wmaz.com

Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Schedule 

The Lakers are expected to play October exhibition games in Beijing and Shanghai before next season as part of the NBA's annual China Games series, although the NBA has not announced its plans yet. Bryant, who has an epic fan following in Asia, has said he might retire when his contract expires at the end of next season. Dwight Howard, who could re-sign with the Lakers this offseason, did a promotional tour for Adidas in China last summer also. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, China, Schedule 

Brian Windhorst: According to @LiShuangfu Lakers & Warriors will play games in China next fall, Pacers & Rockets will play in Taipei & Philippines Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, China, Schedule, Philippines 

The seventh-winningest coach in league history told NBA.com that the travel has become especially wearing and that he may speak with team officials about staying overnight in a city and flying to the next stop the following morning, rather than leaving with the team after the game and often arriving early in the morning. Karl said he does not, however, envision missing games. “I don’t think it’ll ever go that far,” he said. “I’ve thought about not traveling with the team on the late-night flights. I’ve thought about instead of getting to bed at 4 o’clock in the morning, I’ll let my coaches have the morning shootaround. I’ll sleep in in L.A. or I’ll sleep in in Sacramento, get up at 7:30 or 8 o’clock, catch a flight. I’ve thought about that. But my energy level is getting better and stronger every year. I’m feeling healthier. I’m trying to eat better. People ask me all the time how am I doing. I’m doing a hell of a lot better than I was doing before I got cancer.” NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Schedule 

“The NBA is four to five games a week,” he told NBA.com. “I think I can handle that the way I’m doing it now, but I also don’t want to intensify my life any more. I would like to slowly cut whatever I’m cutting. Five or 10 percent of my intensity. I don’t want the organization to be unhappy with me. I think my organization’s happy with me, but I delegate a lot. I give it to my assistant coaches a lot more than I think most coaches do.” NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Schedule 

By the end, though, the product the Lakers put on the court drew cheers of amusement and derision Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Actually, it started in the first quarter, long before the Knicks' 116-107 victory. The Lakers (9-14) didn't find anything close to a tonic, falling further into mediocrity, or sub-mediocrity, if that's even possible. "I wish we had the Washington Generals on the schedule," Bryant said afterward. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Schedule 

“It is pretty logical,’’ Popovich said before his gritty understudies made a game out of it, leading 98-93 with two minutes left before previously lackluster Miami came back and took the lead for good at 100-98 on a Ray Allen 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left. “I don’t think it was a tough decision at all. In fact, the decision was made when the schedule came out.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Schedule 

Yet one of the more interesting changes to the international basketball calendar involves the introduction of six planned qualifying windows for the 2019 World Cup that will be staged in November 2017, February 2018, June 2018, September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019. You'll notice, as you re-read that sentence, that four of those six windows take place at the same time that the NBA schedule calls for NBA players to play NBA games. ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

The notion of an international break in the NBA, however, is a complete non-starter. Even at this early juncture, one source familiar with the NBA's long-range thinking told ESPN.com that building breaks into the NBA's regular-season schedule is simply "not being considered." Not now and not later. ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

How big a deal is that? Not that massive, realistically, when viewed through a strictly American prism. USA Basketball will continue to field teams that qualify for every major tournament even if it has to trot out a pack of All-Stars from the D-League for most of the qualifying games starting in November 2017. As one longtime European coach told ESPN.com this week: "There's no way FIBA would go to a system that hurts the big countries. They want the stars playing in the biggest tournaments." ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Biggest hurdle in Lakers-Jackson talks remains "How Phil's going to handle the travel schedule," source w/ knowledge of discussions tells Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jerry Buss, Schedule, Jim Buss