2011-12 NBA Schedule: Ranking Top 10 Must-Watch Games of New Season

Despite being in the midst of a rather ugly lockout and facing the potential of a mass exodus of superstars to play overseas, David Stern and the NBA released the 2011-12 NBA schedule today.

They are clearly trying to gauge the interest of the fans following one of the most entertaining seasons in recent memory, and as expected, we basketball fans bit hard.

We want our NBA action, and we will do anything to anticipate the exciting action, including breaking down the top 10 must-watch games of the new season.

If you’re like me, you can’t get enough NBA. It’s one of the most entertaining events in the history of mankind—the remarkable display of athleticism and will to win is simply top-notch.

Of course, we have to take a long, hard look at the upcoming schedule to see which games will highlight a sure-fire entertaining season. The number of storylines, along with a crop of elite superstars across the league, will have us all salivating at the mouth waiting for these games to take place.

We’re all wondering if the lockout will cause us to miss games or even cancel the season altogether, but like the NFL, I’m not worried about that. Admittedly, I am worried more about the NBA lockout than the NFL lockout, but I’ll continue to stand by my stance that we will have basketball on time, just like we are expected to have NFL action on time.

The top markets are truly back in action with Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony anchoring the Knicks. Dwight Howard still represents Mickey Mouse and the Magic Kingdom in Orlando.

MVP Derrick Rose will look to repeat with the Chicago Bulls as Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks look to repeat as NBA champs. Will Kobe Bryant and the Lakers get back to the big dance? How will Boston rebound with its Big Three on its last legs?

As usual, all eyes will be on LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat. How many of their games will fill our list of the 10 Must-Watch Games of the 2011-12 NBA Season?

With the number of superstars and cinema-esque drama littered across the NBA, it’s going to be difficult to pick just 10 must-see games, but here they are as we take a look into our crystal ball.

10. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers, November 1

We’re going to kick off our list with the game that will truly kick off the NBA season.

I understand the best team in the regular season last year, the Chicago Bulls, and the best team in the postseason, the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, begin the NBA festivities earlier in the night, but it’s all about Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against Kevin Durant and the Thunder.

The Lakers and Thunder will once again enter the season atop everyone’s Western Conference wish list once the Mavericks lose momentum from their postseason run later this summer.

Durant may very well be the best player in the league by the end of next season, and Bryant will be more determined than ever before to get back in everyone’s good graces after his Lakers were swept by the Mavs.

As enticing as regular season MVP D-Rose vs. Finals MVP Dirk is, it’s all about Durant vs. Kobe in my eyes.

9. Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, January 16

Once again, we see the defending champs, who will be a hot commodity the entire year. We will see two of the best players over the past decade in Dirk and Kobe once again go at it on the hallowed court.

The Lakers were bounced by the Mavericks via sweep in the postseason and will be seeking revenge—especially the bloodthirsty "Black Mamba."

Dirk has essentially taken Kobe’s throne atop the NBA this summer, which will not go over well with the most fearless and vicious player in the league. Kobe has the killer instinct others can only dream of. Dirk showed he has what it takes in the postseason, but will it carry over?

This epic Western Conference showdown will highlight Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

8. Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat, January 29

Everyone will highly anticipate the rematch of the Eastern Conference finals between the Bulls and Heat.

The Bulls toppled the Heat in the regular season last year, but the Heat won when it mattered most in the postseason.

Derrick Rose will look to counter LeBron James’ phenomenal defense, which will be among the most anticipated one-on-one battles of the season.

We could very well see this matchup again in the Eastern Conference finals, which is why all of their matchups will be among the most entertaining duels throughout the entire 2011-12 campaign.

The Big Three against Rose, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer? I’m all over it!

7. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies, November 25

These two teams put together the single greatest game in the NBA last season with their epic three-overtime thriller in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Grizzlies are one of the top up-and-coming young teams in the league and will only improve with Rudy Gay back from injury. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are an unstoppable duo in the post and effectively took out the Spurs 4-2 to open the postseason last year.

The Thunder will once again make a run for the NBA Finals, but the Grizzlies clearly have the talent to take them out if they meet again. This will surely be an exciting matchup as we all reminisce about the thriller leading up to their first meeting of the season.

6. New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat, November 2

The first of the series of games between the Big Three of the Knicks and the Big Three of the Heat.

These two teams put together a classic on February 27 last year. New York matches up well against Miami, as it boasts Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. These three have the defensive abilities to counter LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh throughout an individual contest.

New York basketball is back, so we have to highlight Madison Square Garden rockin’ on Broadway. Owner James Dolan may not deserve it, but Knicks fans certainly do.

5. New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics, December 25

It may not be Yankees-Red Sox, but the Knicks-Celtics rivalry is back in full force with the extravagant starting five of the Celtics squaring off against the Big Three in New York to kick off the Christmas Day festivities.

Thanksgiving NFL is my favorite holiday event, but Christmas NBA is a close second. With New York and Boston taking matinee honors in Madison Square Garden, it’s difficult to go wrong.

The Celtics are rapidly aging, while the Knicks are rapidly improving. This will be a major opportunity for the Celtics to prove they are a legitimate threat for the NBA title. Conveniently, the same will be said for the Knicks.

New York was swept in the first round of the playoffs last year by Boston as Amar’e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups sat out injured. Carmelo Anthony put together a string of remarkable performances against the C’s, and everyone will be on the lookout to see what this team can do against Boston at full strength.

You simply could not ask for a better Christmas Day matinee when opening gifts.

4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls, December 25

This could very well be the game when Kobe Bryant officially passes the torch to Derrick Rose. On Christmas Day, the Lakers and Bulls will give us the great gift of basketball to fulfill our appetite and holiday spirit.

The Bulls are finally back in the thick of the NBA, and the Lakers seem to never leave. With two of the best players in the game today meeting on center stage, all eyes will be on this game instead of the children’s new toys.

This game could very well give us a glimpse into the future to the 2012 NBA Finals. These are two of the most diehard fanbases in all of sports, so it will surely be an exciting matchup before the New Year.

3. Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers, March 11

You always need to put the greatest rivalry in the history of basketball on the list.

These two teams may be aging, but they will be right there the entire year fighting for a spot in the NBA Finals. This matchup highlighted two of the past four NBA Finals, which is why this is still one of the most coveted meetings of the NBA season each year.

These two teams match up perfectly against each other and always give us a classic. The number of characters in this game is more than enough to keep us going each and every time.

Some may be sick of the Lakers and Celtics at this point in league history, but I love the fire both teams show when representing their tradition against one another. In the final weeks of the NBA season, both teams will look to prove to the other who the top dog is.

2. Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers, March 4

It almost made No. 1, but we have another nice matchup to take the top spot.

No, this isn’t the first meeting between the two squads of the year, but we have to get the matchup in Los Angeles with the number of celebrities.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh against Kobe Bryant will continue to be one of the most coveted matchups of the season.

The Heat swept the Lakers last year and sent Kobe into a state of paranoia, or so it seemed. The Lakers never seemed right after that matchup in Miami late last year, which saw Kobe stay on the court following the game shooting shots until he had to be kicked out. He didn’t stop there, as he went to the weight room to take out his aggression.

He finally has the Heat’s Big Three on his stage and will look to dismantle the Heatles one by one to prove he is still the man in the Association.

Will the Heat continue to stomp out the Black Mamba, or will Bryant bite back? The atmosphere will be NBA Finals-esque and will easily be one of the best games of the season.

1. Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat, December 25

We’re back on Christmas for the midday NBA Finals rematch extravaganza. This will be the must-see game of the season, as it pits Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks against the choke artists that were LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat.

These two teams put together arguably the most entertaining and drama-filled NBA Finals in the history of the league. They will once again take center stage on Christmas afternoon, and we’ll see if the Heat have what it takes to beat the Mavericks after losing three straight to lose the Finals.

Dirk is our new hero against the Big Three villains. He has been anointed the top player in the league this summer, but will that momentum carry over to the next season? Will James finally show that killer instinct back at the scene of the crime? Will it even matter?

This game will bring Miami’s demons back to the forefront as we reminisce about the NBA Finals and replay those events throughout the game.

Unfortunately for Miami, Santa Claus isn’t bringing an NBA championship to the team even if it wins this matchup. Dirk and Dallas will forever have one up on the Big Three.