Your Complete Guide to the 2019-20 NBA Preseason Schedule and Key Matchups
As a lifelong NBA analyst who's spent over a decade covering preseason basketball, I've always found this period particularly fascinating. While many fans dismiss these games as meaningless exhibitions, I've witnessed firsthand how these matchups can shape entire seasons. The 2019-20 NBA preseason schedule kicks off on September 30th with the Shanghai Sharks facing the Houston Rockets in Hawaii, followed by a full slate of games beginning October 5th. What many don't realize is that these games serve as crucial testing grounds - much like what the Philippine women's basketball team experienced during their developmental phases. I remember watching young prospects struggle through preseason games only to emerge as confident starters by opening night.
The preseason schedule runs through October 18th, featuring 49 total games with some intriguing international flavor. The Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons will play two games in Tokyo on October 9th and 11th, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets face off in Shenzhen and Shanghai on October 10th and 12th respectively. Having covered international preseason games before, I can attest to the unique challenges teams face - the travel fatigue, unfamiliar environments, and pressure of global exposure. It reminds me of what the Philippine women's team went through, building experience through international competitions with young players developing under pressure. These global games test a team's adaptability in ways domestic games simply cannot.
Several key matchups stand out to me personally. The October 22nd showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors at the new Chase Center promises fireworks, even if both teams likely won't play their stars heavy minutes. As someone who's watched preseason basketball for years, I've noticed that championship contenders often approach these games differently - they're working on specific offensive sets rather than showing their full hand. The Clippers-Rockets matchup on October 3rd interests me tremendously, given the dramatic roster changes both teams underwent during the offseason. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George playing together for the first time, even if briefly, could give us glimpses of defensive dominance we haven't seen in years.
What many casual observers miss about preseason is the development aspect. Teams typically carry 20 players during this period before trimming rosters to 15 for the regular season. This means approximately 150 players who participate in preseason won't make opening night rosters. The competition for those final spots creates an intensity that belies the "meaningless" label often attached to these games. I've seen undrafted players use strong preseason performances to secure guaranteed contracts - sometimes worth millions over multiple years. The financial implications are very real, even if the wins and losses don't count toward standings.
The scheduling itself reveals team priorities. Back-to-back games occur frequently, with teams playing 17 such sets throughout the preseason. Coaches use these to test player endurance and experiment with different rotation patterns. Having spoken with numerous coaching staffs over the years, I've learned that these back-to-backs provide valuable data on player recovery and readiness - information that becomes crucial during the grueling regular season. The condensed timeline forces teams to make quicker evaluations, much like international tournaments where teams must adapt rapidly to consecutive games against varied opponents.
International games present unique challenges that I believe prepare teams better than traditional preseason matchups. The time zone adjustments, unfamiliar courts, and different basketball environments create adversity that builds team chemistry in unexpected ways. Teams that embrace these challenges often carry that resilience into the regular season. The global growth of basketball means these international preseason games serve as both business opportunities and competitive advantages for organizations willing to embrace the discomfort. Having traveled with teams abroad, I've witnessed how these trips can accelerate bonding and create shared experiences that pay dividends months later.
Rivalry games during preseason always carry extra juice, even if coaches limit star minutes. The Celtics-76ers matchup on October 8th and Lakers-Clippers game on October 17th will undoubtedly feature intense moments, regardless of who's on the court. These division rivals know they'll be battling all season, and establishing psychological edges - even in preseason - matters more than people think. I've seen bench players fighting for rotation spots go extra hard against rivals, knowing these performances could determine their roles once the real games begin.
As the preseason concludes on October 18th, teams will have just five days to finalize rosters before the regular season tips off on October 22nd. This compressed timeline creates urgency that transforms these exhibition games into genuine competitions for roster spots and rotation minutes. The 2019-20 preseason may not count in the standings, but its impact will reverberate throughout the entire season. For developing players and teams integrating new pieces, these games provide invaluable opportunities to build chemistry and establish identities. Much like the Philippine women's basketball team's experience with young players growing through international competition, NBA teams use this period to develop cohesion and test strategies under game conditions. Having covered countless preseasons, I can confidently say that what happens in October often foreshadows what we'll see come playoff time.