NBA Lockout Ends: 10 Games Fans Can't Wait to See During Opening Week
The NBA Lockout ended yesterday with the players and owners reaching a tentative agreement with a handshake deal. The lockout lasted 149 days, through pre-draft negotiations early in the summer and a 15-hour marathon session Friday night spilling over into early yesterday morning, but we will have an NBA season.
When Ken Berger of CBS Sports broke the news via Twitter NBA fans rejoiced (at least those who were awake did).
The NBA season will last 66 games and will begin with a triple-header on Christmas Day. The deal is still rough around the edges and details are still unclear at this point, but it appears that the games that were scheduled will be played.
If that is the case then these 10 games will be the ones fans crave most during the opening week of the new NBA season. After losing 16 games for each team, it appears that we will finally see basketball.
This is the best Christmas gift any fan could have asked for.
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
1 of 10Date: December 25, 2011
Time: 12:00 noon
When the Boston Celtics travel to New York to take on the Knicks, it will officially start the 2011-12 NBA season. This is the first game scheduled and it will remind us why we love the NBA.
The Celtics are led by point guard Rajon Rondo and their Big Three. When Boston acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to join Paul Pierce, they began a streak of dominance that lasted a few years. Now the team is getting older and this could very well be the last chance these stars have of getting another ring.
The Knicks are also gunning for an NBA championship. They have brought in Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire to bring the city of New York a title, and it all starts on Christmas.
This game is not only the first of the season, but it also pairs two playoff-teams looking for a title. The Celtics eliminated the Knicks from the playoffs last season, and you can guarantee that they want revenge.
Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks
2 of 10Date: December 25, 2011
Time: 2:30 p.m.
In a rematch of last year's NBA Finals, the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks play once again.
The Big Three of Miami couldn't beat Dallas' team-oriented style of play in the finals last season, and in the second game of the NBA season they are given a second chance.
Fans and experts alike used LeBron James as a scapegoat when the Heat lost, saying that he was not clutch enough. Now King James is given the chance to prove the critics (including myself) wrong.
The Mavs are trying to win back-to-back championships, and it all starts here. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks will be looking to prove that they are still the best team in the NBA on Christmas Day.
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers
3 of 10Date: December 25, 2011
Time: 5:00 p.m.
The final game of the Christmas Day triple-header features the reigning MVP, Derrick Rose, against former MVP Kobe Bryant. In a battle of the past versus the present we will see a slowly fading, aging Lakers' team square off with a rising Bulls' team.
This game features two of the best players in the NBA, and all eyes will be on them. The deciding factor in this game could be the play of the two superstars, and if any game goes to overtime, I would bet it would be this one.
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
4 of 10Date: December 26, 2011
Time: 7:00 p.m.
In a game featuring three top five picks from the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors play on Boxing Day.
The Cavs look to take the next step toward beating LeBron to a championship, and having point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Tristan Thompson will only help them.
Toronto boasts No. 5 overall pick in the NBA Draft Jonas Valanciunas, a center from Lithuania.
Both teams have future stars on their teams, and this will be a battle of up-and-coming teams.
New Orleans Hornets vs. Charlotte Bobcats
5 of 10Date: December 26, 2011
Time: 7:00 p.m.
In a game between the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats, the focus will be on point guards.
Chris Paul will be playing against the hero of the NCAA tournament last season, Kemba Walker.
Critics have questioned whether or not Walker will be able to take his game to the next level, and his first test will be against one of the best point guards in the league.
Walker will either be a star or a bust (there is no gray-area for him), and this game could give us an early indication of which way he will go.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
6 of 10Date: December 26, 2011
Time: 8:00 p.m.
When the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves open their seasons, fans will be watching for one particular matchup: Kevin Durant against Derrick Williams.
Williams is a highly regarded rookie who was taken second-overall by the Timberwolves. He plays tough defense while scoring in bunches, and he is going to be a big, powerful small forward.
Durant, on the other hand, is the most prolific scorer in the NBA. He cannot be stopped, but Williams will try his best.
We don't know for sure whether or not Minnesota will put Williams on Durant, but all indications point to Williams having one of the toughest games of his life be his first. There really is no learning-curve in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz
7 of 10Date: December 26, 2011
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Enes Kanter will be the man to watch in this game. The Utah Jazz will want to show off their third-overall draft selection when the Denver Nuggets come to town.
Fans are wondering whether or not to trust Kanter, as he did not play at all last season due to some payment issues overseas. He still trained with the Kentucky Wildcats but did not actually play in any games.
It is also difficult for fans to put their trust into an overseas player because they have never seen them play before. The game is different in Europe, where big men like Dirk Nowitzki can drain threes, but the Jazz need Kanter to play inside.
This first game should quell most of the worries troubling Jazz fans, but they are surely anxious to see Kanter play, as are the rest of us.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
8 of 10Date: December 27, 2011
Time: 10:30 p.m.
In the battle of Los Angeles, the Lakers will host the Clippers. This is the first game of the season for the Clippers, and the first chance we get to see Blake Griffin in action.
Griffin had one of the most entertaining seasons in NBA history last year, and we all expect a repeat-performance. He is one of the most gifted and exciting athletes in the world, and he will try to help the Clippers reach relevance this season.
It's the Blake Show against the Black Mamba in the fight for LA. What more do you want?
Boston Celtics vs. New Orleans Hornets
9 of 10Date: December 28, 2011
Time: 8:00 p.m.
When the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Hornets play, the game will feature two of the best pure point guards in the league.
Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo are always in the top of the league in terms of assists because of their great vision and passing abilities. This game will have some of the best passing we will see all season and should come down to the wire.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
10 of 10Date: December 29, 2011
Time: 9:30 p.m.
The World Champion Dallas Mavericks have a pretty hard schedule to start the year. After hosting the Miami Heat they must then travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder.
In a matchup featuring Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks have to prove that they are the best team yet again by winning against playoff teams from both the East and the West.
This closes out the incredible first week of play, and with 38 other games during the week, NBA fans will want to take off until the New Year.
Josh Schoch is an aspiring sportswriter dedicated to bringing you everything related to the NBA, NFL, MLB, college basketball, college football and much more. Follow him on Twitter.
