2011-12 NBA Schedule: Breaking Down the Top Contenders' Schedules

The 2011-12 NBA schedule features a variety of intriguing games, and similar to past seasons, the contenders will have a daunting task ahead.

The top teams from each conference have a ranging difficulty in the schedules outlined for the campaign, and it will be fun to see how a shortened season has a different impact on those clubs.

Does your team have a lot of tough times ahead? There's going to be action on almost every night, and it's going to be a very happy holiday season for hoop fans desperate for basketball.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have a lot of talent on the roster, and these games are those that no fan of the team should be willing to miss.

Perhaps the most notable of all the highlighted games are four tilts against the Celtics, the team that's looking to make one final championship push in a rapidly improving Eastern Conference.

Toughest Stretch: April 1-12

Marquee Games:

at LAL

VS MEM

at BOS (2)

at MEM

at MIA (2)

at NY (2)

VS BOS (2)

at SA

VS NY (2)

at OKC

VS DAL

Miami Heat

The Heat have a lot of tough tasks ahead, and their schedule is going to feature a lot of important games at crucial times against really talented opposition.

All eyes will be watching Miami this season after a failed championship run, and the Heat know exactly that and may be ready to make a commanding statement.

toughest Stretch: March 23-April 6

Marquee Games:

at DAL

VS BOS (2)

VS LAL

VS NY (2)

VS CHI

at ORL (2)

VS ORL (2)

at LAL

at CHI

VS DAL

at BOS (2)

VS OKC

VS MEM

at NY

New York Knicks

How's it going to work in New York this season? Will Stoudemire and Anthony be able to gel and make it work, or will panic once again set in in the Big Apple?

The Knicks will have to prove that they can be taken seriously as real championship contenders, and that won't happen until this group consistently beats better teams.

Toughest Stretch: February 23-March 7

Marquee Games:

at LAL

at MEM

at OKC

at MIA (2)

VS CHI (2)

at BOS (2)

VS LAL

VS DAL

at DAL

at SA

at CHI (2)

VS PDX

VS ORL

at ORL

VS MIA

VS BOS

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have an extraordinarily tough schedule, and the veteran group is really going to have to play outstanding basketball for the club to establish itself atop the conference.

With four games against both the Bulls and Heat and two against the Lakers, the Celtics won't be able to take a single night off at any moment.

Toughest Stretch: February 3-February 12

Marquee Games:

at NY (2)

at MIA (2)

VS OKC

VS ORL (2)

at ORL

VS NY (2)

VS MEM

VS LAL

VS CHI (2)

at CHI (2)

at DAL

at OKC

at LAL

VS MIA (2)

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers will be looking to quiet the criticisms that the team's title window is closed after last season's embarrassing postseason loss to Dallas.

Los Angeles has one of the more favorable schedules of any of the "top dogs," and it's important that this team takes care of business in the contests which they should.

Toughest Stretch: March 23-March 29

Marquee Games:

VS CHI

VS NY

VS MEM (2)

 VS DAL (2)

at MIA

at ORL

at BOS

at NY

at DAL (2)

VS PDX (2)

at OKC

VS MIA

VS BOS

at MEM

VS OKC

at SA (2)

VS SA

Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City has a very real chance to make a run to the championship, but it's not going to come with any favors from the league in terms of team's schedule.

This roster is going to face some challenges and tests that some players might not be used to seeing, but there are plenty of reasons to like this youthful group.

Toughest Stretch: February 22-March 5

Marquee Games:

VS ORL

at MEM (2)

VS DAL (2)

at DAL (2)

VS PDX

VS SA (2)

VS NY

at BOS

VS MEM (2)

at SA

at PDX

VS BOS

VS LAL

at ORL

at LAL (2)

at MIA

San Antonio Spurs

Do the Spurs have a championship season left with this group? Will Tony Parker be able to continue his offseason revival and translate his European success to San Antonio?

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili don't have many seasons left in their respective careers, so there's no reason for any member of this team to hold anything back.

Toughest Stretch: April 3-April 11

Marquee Games:

VS MEM (2)

VS DAL (2)

at MIA

at ORL

at DAL (2)

at MEM (2)

VS OKK

at PDX

VS CHI

VS NY

at OKC

at BOS

VS LAL (2)

at LAL

VS PDX

Dallas Mavericks

Winning a championship was priceless to the Dallas team that had never had one, but the reward is in the form of a very, very tough schedule.

The Mavericks play the Lakers four times, the Thunder three times and the Grizzlies three times, on top of meetings with Miami, New York and even Boston.

The defending champs have tough sledding ahead.

Toughest Stretch: March 17-March 23

Marquee Games:

VS MIA

at OKC

VS OKC (2)

at SA (2)

at BOS

at LAL (2)

VS SA (2)

VS PDX (2)

at NY

VS BOS

VS LAL (2)

at MEM (2)

VS NY

at MIA

at ORL

VS MEM

at CHI