NBA Christmas Schedule: 10 Reasons Opening Day Is Must-Watch TV

Christmas morning is a time for family, for loving one another and for opening gifts. 

The rest of the day is for basketball, particularly this year. Once you get all your gifts opened up, turn on the tube and spend the rest of the day watching some serious basketball. 

Here are 10 great reasons to spend the day celebrating with the NBA. 

Boston Celtics

The aging Boston Celtics, led by young pure point guard Rajon Rondo, will be one of two teams launching off the first game. 

The Celtics will be trying to push for a second ring with their own version of a Big Three. With Ray Allen ad Kevin Garnett both in the final year of their contracts, this might be their last Christmas Day game together, and it should be one worth watching. 

New York Knicks

The Celtics will be facing off against their Eastern Conference rivals, the New York Knicks. Last year offered several great games between the two teams including a playoff series in which the first two games went down to the wire. 

Of course there's the other big question here, which is who will the starting point guard be for the New York Knicks? 

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat will be on the road for the second game of the day, and any game involving Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh is worth watching. This one should certainly be entertaining. 

It will interesting to see LeBron James' new post game. And then there's the question of who will be the starting center for the Heat? Will it be Joel Anthony or Samuel Dalembert?

Dallas Mavericks

The Miami Heat will be facing off against none other than the world champion Dallas Mavericks in a finals rematch. Who will be the starting center for the defending champs? Will it be Tyson Chandler or will Dallas be looking elsewhere to fill the void?

Or will Chandler be starting on the other side? Whatever happens, this promises to be a great game, as Dallas will be protecting their title from the team who is the favorite to take it from them. 

Chicago Bulls

My personal favorite reason to watch on Christmas Day, though, is that Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls will be paying. Carlos Boozer is in shape. Derrick Rose has developed a post-up game too. Of course, the biggest question is who will be their starting shooting guard?

Will it be Caron Butler? Jason Richardson? What a game it's going to be!

Los Angles Lakers

Kobe Bryant will open his season pursuing his sixth ring against the Chicago Bulls at home. After last year's crushing sweep at the hands of the Mavericks, you know with his competitive fire he didn't sit on that well. 

There are questions regarding who will be starting at the center spot for the Lakers too. Will it be Andrew Bynum, or will it be Dwight Howard? This could be the game of the day, and it will come in prime time.

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic will be the next team on the docket. Will Dwight Howard be the starting center? Will Chris Paul be running the team? Will Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum be in the Eastern Conference? No team right now has more questions than the Orlando Magic. 

While Howard might not be on the team anymore, if he isn't he'll bring in quite a haul. The Magic will be a team worth watching this year; it just remains to be seen who the team is. We'll get our first look on Christmas Day!

Oklahoma City Thunder

If there's a team that doesn't need to make any changes this year, it's the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will be hosting the Orlando Magic. With the high-scoring, fast-racing way of the Thunder and electric duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder are always a fun team to watch. 

The Thunder will be on many people's list as the team who could represent the Western Conference in the finals. Our first chance to see them will come on Christmas evening. 

Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers will be on the road for the next game. The Clippers have one of the most exciting young rosters in the NBA already with Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Eric Gordon. 

Or else they might have the most dominant force underneath the net since Tim Duncan and David Robinson patrolled the paint for San Antonio Spurs. If the Clippers manage to get their Christmas wish and can land Dwight Howard in a trade, he may very well be playing alongside Griffin in the holiday's final game. 

Golden State Warriors

Hosting the Clippers will be the Golden State Warriors and their exciting backcourt of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. Now they are adding Klay Thompson to the fray. The Warriors are definitely going to be a fun team to watch this year. 

But now they have a new coach, and with Mark Jackson at the helm there promises to be a more defensive mindset. This game will feature two rosters stocked with young talent, and it should be an enjoyable nightcap after a day of exciting activity. Either of these teams could be this year's Memphis Grizzlies.