The Cleveland Cavaliers are apparently back to their mid-2000 prominence. During his first stint with the Cavs Lebron James made them perennial title contenders and, of course, must-see-TV. Those days are back. With the release of the NBA's 2014-15 Season schedule, the league has favored the Cavs with the 25 national TV appearances--tied for the most national TV games with the Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The Cavs will open the season on Thursday, October 30th against Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks, and then will face the Chicago Bulls the next night on a back-to-back. Both of these games will be on national TV. 

In some welcome news, the NBA has graciously extended the mid-season All-Star weekend break. This will mean every team now gets seven days off during the break, providing much needed rest for teams about to make their playoff push toward the end of the season. 

According to Fear the Sword, the Cavs will play 12 of their 15 games on the road between Feb. 12 to March 5, which will most likely be grueling for the team as they enter the second half of the season. And this, just a month after they are scheduled to complete a five game Western Conference road trip in January, figures to make the early part of 2015 a grind for the Cavs. 

KEY GAMES FOR 2014-15 (via the Cleveland Cavaliers)

October 30 2014 - Cavs vs. Knicks

Opening night. Lebron vs. Carmelo. National TV. Look for both teams to bring their 'A' game. The Cavs re-tooled roster has James, Kyrie Irving, and will have either Kevin Love or Andrew Wiggins. The game is a back to back for the Cavs so if things aren't going their way in the late third quarter, look for the starters to possibly be pulled to save their legs for the Bulls the following night. 

October 31 2014 - Cavs vs. Bulls

Halloween night will see the Cavs face one of their toughest rivals in the Bulls in what is now a wide-open Eastern Conference. The second of a back-to-back, the game should test the Cavs early season conditioning, and will also give them an early look at the hopefully health Derrick Rose, who'll they'll have to go through if they want to make the NBA Finals. 

November 19 2014 - Cavs vs. Spurs

The defending NBA champs, the San Antonio Spurs, come to town looking to defend their title in 2014-15, and if they are to be successful, they might just have to face the Cavs come next June. 

Christmas Day 2014 - Cavs vs. Heat

Lebron James returns to Miami in what is sure to be one of the most anticipated games of the season. Heat fans rightly will hold a grudge on their former MVP who brought them two straight titles, and will probably always wonder about what might have been if James had stayed. Look for Wade and Bosh to try and prove James made the wrong decision by trying to pound the Cavs. 

January 31 2015 - Cavs. vs. Timberwolves

If Kevin Love is traded to the Cavs at the end of this month as so many expect he will be, this would be Love's first trip back to face his former team, and also Wiggins first game against the club that used him for trade bait.