2011-12 NBA Schedule: Lakers vs. Heat and More Games to Mark on Your Calendar
The 2011-12 NBA schedule was announced on Tuesday for the upcoming season which has been shortened to 66 games due to the lockout.
The season stars on Christmas with teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks giving fans a great holiday present of fantastic basketball excitement.
Let's look at four post-Christmas games you must circle on your calendar and get excited for.
1. Celtics at Heat, December 27
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are two teams who simply don't like each other. LeBron James finally defeated his nemesis last season as the Heat beat the Celtics in a five-game Eastern Conference semifinals series.
The matchups in this game are awesome. Kevin Garnett vs. Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce vs. James and Ray Allen vs. Dwyane Wade is more than any basketball fan could want.
Both teams will once again be top teams in the NBA and there is bound to be bad blood from the start. The Celtics are out to prove they can make another Finals run, while the Heat are trying to get back to the Finals and come out on top this time.
If you love basketball, you must watch this game.
2. Thunder at Celtics, January 16
Thunder center Kendrick Perkins will return to Boston early in the season when OKC plays the Celtics in mid-January.
Celtics fans were not happy with the Perkins trade last season, when the center was shockingly dealt to the Thunder for Jeff Green among others.
Not only will this game have two great teams going at it, the Boston crowd will surely give Perkins a warm reception and a standing ovation to show their gratitude for what he gave the team. It will be a moment you must witness.
3. Lakers at Celtics, February 9
The best rivalry in the NBA is the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, and two historic teams will play their first matchup on February 9 in Boston.
The Celtics beat the Lakers in Los Angeles in late January, but the Lakers won the rematch in Boston about a week later. In that Boston game, Ray Allen broke Reggie Miller's NBA record for most career three-point field goals made.
The Celtics and Lakers are two teams who don't like each other, and all of their battles are must-see TV.
4. Heat at Lakers, March 4
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the second matchup of the season against the Miami Heat, and fans will be treated to an awesome matchup between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Even though Kobe vs. LeBron is not a real rivalry, it's still one of the better one-on-one matchups to watch.
This is certainly an NBA Finals matchup and will be a heated battle. The Heat will want to show they can beat the elite teams in the west, and the Lakers will seek revenge after they were soundly beaten by the Heat at the Staples Center last season.
5. Bulls at Thunder, April 1
ABC will broadcast a Sunday matchup between the two best young teams in the NBA, and a possible NBA Finals matchup for the next few years.
Thunder star Kevin Durant as well as Bulls point guard and reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose are two of the best players in the game, and this late season matchup will be a good test for both teams as the playoff near.
This is the only matchup between these elite teams, so be sure you mark this one on your calendar so you don't miss it.
