Celtics 2012 Schedule: 10 Must-Watch Games for Boston Fans This Season

The NBA lockout is in the books and the new 66-game NBA schedules have been released, and there are a plethora of games that Boston Celtics fans should be looking forward to.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen know that this year may be the last time this team contends with the Big Three. The three will attempt to bring the Celtics back to the NBA Finals. Another appearance would make the third in five years for the team.

A three-game road trip against three of last year's playoff teams to start the year is only one of many obstacles this team will have to overcome this season.

Here are the 10 games that Boston Celtics fans must see this season.

Sunday Dec. 25, at New York Knicks

Christmas Day, the Celtics will open the season against their division rival New York Knicks.

Unlike in years past, these Knicks are as offensively a gifted team as any in the NBA. Led by Carmelo Anthony and Ama're Stoudemire, these Knicks give teams headaches scoring the rock.

Last season, the team was No. 4 in the league when it came to points per game.

The Knicks have recently acquired Tyson Chandler as well, as they look to be a more complete team than the one that was swept by the Celtics in last year's playoffs.

Stoudemire throwing down highlight-reel dunks, along with Carmelo putting the moves on with the basketball, and Celtics fans have more than enough reason to watch this matchup.

Tuesday Dec. 27, at Miami Heat

In their second game of the season, the Boston Celtics take on LeBron James and the Big Three in Miami.

The Heat will not only make for an exciting opponent, but will also be a must-win game for the Boston Celtics early on in the season.

Why?

From a mental standpoint, the Celtics must set the tone in this heated rivalry. These two teams will inevitably be atop the East when it's all said and done, as a win head-to-head will be important for the team's confidence going forward.

This will be the second game of a three-game road trip to start the season, as the Celtics will have to survive with a winning record to get off on the right foot.

Expect one heck of a showdown between two teams that will be contending for an NBA championship at the end of this season.

Wednesday Jan. 11, vs. Dallas Mavericks

Paul Pierce and the Celtics take on the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in what should be a down-to-the-wire contest between two of the NBA's best.

With the NBA champions coming into town, what's there not to like in this game?

Not to mention, it will interesting to see how these Celtics perform against a Mavericks team that has established themselves as the best team in basketball. It will be a game that will serve as a measuring stick for this team.

Not to mention you get a Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett matchup that will feature a plethora of impressive moves on the offensive end. It's must-see-TV when two of the game's great veteran power forwards square off.

Given the Celtics are at home, there is all the more reason for Celtics fans to be excited. The Celtics are one of the more composed teams when playing at home and should give these Mavericks a tough showing.

Friday Jan. 13, vs. Chicago Bulls

Judging by the look on Kevin Garnett's face in the last game against the Chicago Bulls, whether or not this game will be a fun one to watch is a given.

The Celtics lost the last two games of the regular season to the Bulls, failing to slow down Derrick Rose in either contest.

Rose and the new-look Bulls were close to unstoppable the second half of the season and took the Celtics down by double-digits in both games.

Derrick Rose himself provides enough entertainment to watch a game, as he has emerged as one of the elite point guards in the league. Meanwhile, Rondo continues to make a name for himself around the league as well, making the matchup all the more intriguing at the point guard position.

In a game that will feature defense, defense and more defense, expect a thriller in Beantown between these two top-notch teams.

Monday Jan. 16, vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell Westbrook. Kevin Durant. What more could you ask for?

The young, talented point guard Westbrook and his Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Big Three in Boston in what should be a game of epic proportions.

For one, it features one of the game's fastest, high-flying point guards in Westbrook that is always a thrill to watch. Meanwhile the Thunder also feature arguably the best scorer in basketball in Kevin Durant as well.

The Celtics will have to rebound the ball and score points to win this game, as the Thunder proved to be one of the better scoring teams in the league last season. With 104.8 points per game last season, the team ranked No. 5 in the NBA in scoring.

Last season, the Celtics split the team's two games against the Thunder, with each road team coming out on top.

Thursday Jan. 26, at Orlando Magic

The one main reason to watch an Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics matchup: It's otherwise known as the Rajon Rondo show.

When it comes to playing against the Magic, there seems to be an extra ounce of energy in Rondo's game. Last season, Rondo averaged 18 points and 9.5 assists per game against them. The 18 points was the highest average for Rondo against any team in the league.

Another reason this matchup is all the more intriguing is because this is where head coach Doc Rivers used to coach basketball. Before joining the Celtics eight years ago, Doc was head coach of the Magic.

Not to mention the Magic are a top-half team in the East, always looking to make a postseason push. This gives the Celtics a game that will not only be an exciting one for fans, but also a must-win if they expect to establish themselves as the best team in the conference.

Thursday Feb. 9, vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The two teams have won roughly half of the league's championships and have met in the NBA Finals twice in the last four seasons.

It's always a battle for the ages when these two teams take the court. Fans should expect no less in this one.

The Boston Celtics will take on the Los Angeles Lakers midway through the season, as Kobe Bryant will try to help lead his Lakers to victory. More than anything, this will be an important game for both teams to win from a mental standpoint.

The Lakers are a team that go into the season with an added pressure to prove doubters wrong after essentially "shooting themselves in the foot" in their performance against the Mavericks.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have seemed to lost a bit of their edge, looking like a team that might not have what it takes to contend for an NBA championship. It will be more significant for the Celtics to come out in this one, as they are a team that can prove they are capable of beating the league's best teams.

With the history and renewed rivalry that has further intensified this matchup, this is one game Celtics fans nor Lakers fans can afford to miss this season.

Monday Feb. 20, at Dallas Mavericks

In the team's second game of the season against the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics will have to prove they are capable of keeping up with the league's best with little to no rest.

This game will be the second game of a back-to-back that features two road games. The first one will be played on Jan. 19 against the Detroit Pistons, as the team has to travel to Dallas that night and prepare for the 2011 NBA champions.

It will be an intriguing game for fans to watch. There is no question a game like this is telling when it comes to the team's title chances as well as how they can perform when faced with tough situations as this back-to-back set up on the road.

Make no mistake about it, Rivers will have the team ready to go. Yet, older, tired legs will surely be put the test in this one.

Sunday April 8, vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Although the Philadelphia 76ers are no NBA championship contender just yet, they are a team that continues to improve.

This is one of the younger teams in the league, and they have been playing a much-improved brand of basketball over the last season.

In the 2011 NBA playoffs, the 76ers were knocked out 4-1 by the Miami Heat, nearly squaring the series at two games apiece. In the matchup against the Heat, the team showed much promise and will look to give the Celtics a run for their money late in the season.

Facing a tough, young division opponent like the 76ers late in the season, one cannot count out what this team can bring to the table.

Tuesday April 24, vs. Miami Heat

LeBron James breakaway slam dunks, Dwyane Wade highlight-reel drives to the hoop and a one-on-one duel between Paul Pierce and James are all expected to go down in a contest like this one.

What's not to love about it?

In the second-to-last game of the season, the Celtics will undoubtedly be put to the test against the Miami Heat.

Despite playing this game in Boston, the Celtics know that this is a game that won't come easy. The two will likely be fighting for the top seed in the East, as each game will make a difference down the stretch.

Not to mention it will be a game featuring potentially seven All-Stars, which always makes a matchup between these two teams a special one.

Given the magnitude of this game as well as the fact that there are seven elite players in the league on the court, this is arguably the one must-see game all season for the Celtics.