NBA Schedule: Ranking the 10 Premier Games of the 2010-11 Season

Yesterday, the NBA released it's marquee games on the schedule for the first few months of the season. The marquee games including the opening week of games from October 26-November 2, Christmas Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The NBA always takes extra steps to ensure that the games on those days are of the highest caliber with the most stars and biggest drawing teams playing on national television.  But which of those games are the 10 best that we want to see and what will the outcomes be?

The schedule was taken from NBA.com.

10. Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks

Many aren't expecting big things from the Knicks despite the acquisition of Amar'e Stoudemire. Meanwhile, many expect the Bulls to take a significant step toward an Eastern Conference title this season.

The current edition of the Knicks and Bulls may not be the sexiest matchup of the marquee games, but Knicks v. Bulls at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day recalls the days of Jordan and Ewing.

Now, it has been a long time since then but any time the Bulls visit MSG is a special occasion for the NBA and the league offices show that by putting the game on Christmas Day.

How will the game play out? Well, the Bulls are a much different and better team than they were last season while the Knicks still have question marks virtually everywhere but power forward. The Bulls bring a scoring and defensive balance the Knicks cannot match.

FINAL SCORE: Bulls 101 - Knicks 87

9. Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls

The NBA closes the first week of the regular season by pitting two of the youngest and most promising teams in the league against each other.  The Blazers visit the Bulls on November 1 which should be a showdown of two up and coming point guards (Derrick Rose and Brandon Roy) and young rosters with something prove to the rest of the league.

The Blazers and Bulls are a fairly even match that feature a lot of floor-running, up-tempo offense, and explosive players.  This should be a very close game that closes the first week of action with a bang.

FINAL SCORE: Bulls 109 - Blazers 103

8. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns

The Lakers and Suns locked up in last season's Western Conference Finals. The Suns lost an important piece in Amar'e Stoudemire but, barring injury, should remain contenders in a now-weakened Western Conference. The Lakers are the two-time defending champions and will receive the best shot from a team which uses the Lakers as a barometer in the conference.

We know what these games entail—lots of points and lots of running. Every game in the 2010 Western Conference Finals was played in the triple-digits and that should not change when these two teams meet on October 29th.

FINAL SCORE: Lakers 113 - Suns 108

7. Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder

The matchup of the young and talented gets even more juice when the Bulls visit Oklahoma City on the second night of the season (October 27).  The Thunder are riding very high off their playoff appearance a year ago while the Bulls have to feel energized after their offseason acquisitions.

The game will feature two of the league's future icons in Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose and two teams which were eighth seeds in last years playoffs looking for more in 2010-2011.  It's almost too bad this inter-conference game is so early in the season.  It will be an even better game when they match up later in the season.

FINAL SCORE: Thunder 107 - Bulls 99

6. Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics (x2)

Two of the Eastern Conference's top teams get together on Christmas Day (the second game of the quadruple header) and again on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 17.

The Celtics brought back their big three for another shot at a title while the Magic want to show they have not taken a step back in a conference that made more moves than Orlando did during the summer. 

The Magic are no longer young kids at the party. This is now a veteran team with one NBA Finals appearance and ready for more.  Getting by the Celtics is one step toward that goal.

We know what these Celtics-Magic matchups feature. They are slugfests with some of the game's best big men and two All-Star point guards in Rajon Rondo and Jameer Nelson.

FINAL SCORE: Celtics 96 - Magic 91....Magic 94 - Celtics 89

5. Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers

The Thunder pushed the Lakers to six games in the opening round of the playoffs last season. Oklahoma City no doubt wants to show the Lakers that last year was not a fluke run and that they have since improved. The young, rising team against the two-time defending champs on January 17. Talk about a barometer game for one team.

Plus, who can turn down a matchup between the game's up and coming star in Kevin Durant and the game's best player in Kobe Bryant?

This should be an electric game hopefully with standout performances by both Durant and Bryant that has us looking toward a postseason matchup.

FINAL SCORE: Lakers 104 - Thunder 100

4. Orlando Magic at Miami Heat

What the NBA hopes will develop into a more notable rivalry in the league, the Heat and Magic offer two of the best young rosters in the league.

The Magic are likely the team that suffered the most by the Heat's offseason acquisitions. Now, Orlando must show that, despite its relatively lesser moves, it still has the firepower to remain not only the best team in the state of Florida, but the better team in the Eastern Conference.

This is going to be a test for Orlando which has the big man to cover Bosh and the guard play to cover Wade, but what matchup will slow down LeBron? Not surprisingly, LeBron will make the difference in this clash of Sunshine State powers.

FINAL SCORE: Heat 110 - Magic 102

3. Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers

For some reason this game was not on NBA.com's list of marquee matchups. Will this game likely be one-sided? Yes. The decimated Cavaliers roster has absolutely no answer for Miami's big three.

However, what the Cavs have is a vengeful and furious crowd that is foaming at the mouth for LeBron to walk back into Quicken Loans Arena for his first of the year on December 2nd.

The Heat will likely trounce the Cavaliers on that night, but it will not matter for Cavs fans who may force extra security to be present in the building.  This nationally televised game will make for great theater, but not a great game.

FINAL SCORE: Heat 106 - Cavaliers 88

2. Miami Heat at Boston Celtics

The NBA season kicks off with the "Big Three v. 2.0" traveling to the TD Garden to take on the original "Big Three".  The Heat want to assume the Celtics spot as the best team in the Eastern Conference, but the prideful "Big Three" of Boston are not ready to give up that mantle.

Pierce vs. LeBron. Allen vs. Wade.  Bosh v. Garnett.  It's a perfect matchup, but do the Celtics have the legs to stay with the younger guys from Miami? Will Rajon Rondo be the x-factor? This will be one of four matchups between the two sides during the regular season, but the NBA provides us a glimpse right out of the chute on opening night.

FINAL SCORE: Heat 104 - Celtics 102

1. Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers

The newly minted favorites for the 2011 NBA title pay a visit to the two-time defending champions on Christmas Day.  This game should get even the most fair-weathered fan in front of the TV after a long day family and food.

You know Kobe Bryant wants this game. The vision created by many fans after LeBron's "decision" is that of a scoffing Kobe Bryant mocking LeBron James for taking the apparent easy way out.  One can only believe Kobe wants to show LeBron and the Heat that he does not need other superstars.

With stars all over the court and the sheer intrigue of the two teams, this Christmas Day showcase should be the highest rated regular season game all year.

This is a game that can only be judged as a coin flip more than four months out. Take the Lakers on home court.

FINAL SCORE: Lakers 103 - Heat 101