NBA Christmas Day 2011: Complete Schedule, Start Times, TV Info and More
The 2011-12 NBA season tips off on Christmas Day, and there are five great games on the schedule.
With all of the superstars poised to grace the court, there are a litany of reasons to watch every single game on the schedule.
There's not a better way to kick off such a highly anticipated season than with a quintuple-header.
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Time: 12 PM ET
Channel: TNT
For the Celtics: Boston is gearing up for a final title push with the original "Big Three" still together. Both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have expiring contracts after the season, and the Celtics will be looking to prove that this team isn't done just yet.
For the Knicks: Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire struggled to find a rhythm together in their first season with the Knicks, and all eyes will be fixated on this group as New York looks to take the next step forward and assert itself as a real title contender.
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
Time: 2:30 PM ET
Channel: ABC
For Heat: Miami has one thing and one thing alone on the mind, and that's the loss to the Mavericks in the championship round last season. LeBron James will look to come out with a bang after an offseason where he endured serious criticism.
For the Mavericks: The Mavericks roster might look a lot different from the one Dallas rolled out last season, and expectations have never been higher for this team. Dirk Nowitzki will have to prove that it wasn't just Tyson Chandler that got this group over the postseason hump.
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Channel: ABC
For the Bulls: Derrick Rose is coming off of a season where he was the youngest MVP in league history, but that wasn't enough to get the team into the Finals. This season, the Bulls will once again be led by Rose, but the success of this team is tied to the health of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
For the Lakers: Andrew Bynum is suspended for the first five games of the season, so Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol will have to play a big part against a stacked front line of Chicago. Kobe Bryant will also be looking to quiet down any conversation that he's regressed with age, and it'll be very intriguing to see how he comes out of the gates in a shortened season while he aims to tie Michael Jordan with six championship rings.
Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN
For the Magic: Everyone will be watching Dwight Howard with careful eyes. Outside of the big man, the Magic will boast a starting lineup that looks a lot different than last season, and that may not be a look that translates to wins for this club.
For the Thunder: The MVP of summer league tour around the world, Kevin Durant, makes his season debut in Oklahoma City. The real story to watch will be how he and teammate Russell Westbrook come together and attempt to gel a little more efficiently than in last year's playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors
Time: 10:30 PM ET
Channel: ESPN
For the Clippers: Let the Blake show continue. Will the opening day lineup include Chris Paul? How will the youth on the roster translate to production on the court? Can Vinny Del Negro get the most out of this group after an extended offseason? A lot of questions facing the group.
For the Warriors: There is a lot of fluidity on the current roster, and nothing is certain. Almost every notable name on the roster, including Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, has popped up in trade rumors, and this is a group that could have several new faces before the action gets underway.
