NBA Schedule 2012: Opening Week Games Guaranteed to Be Amazing
It still is somewhat surreal to think that the NBA is actually back in action, but even with a shortened season this year, the 2011-12 season may be one of the best we have seen in a long time.
There are superstars galore, and the storylines surrounding some of the league's most high-profile teams are both entertaining and intriguing.
Will the Miami Heat's Big Three be able to redeem themselves from a disappointing showing in last year's NBA Finals?
Just how much longer will we see Dwight Howard in an Orlando Magic uniform? Speaking of uniforms, have Chris Paul and Blake Griffin stolen the hearts of Tinseltown away from Kobe and the Lakers?
Don't forget about the Mavericks in all of this; they are the defending NBA champions, mind you.
We've barely scratched the surface of what is sure to be a great season...
It all starts Christmas Day with some very entertaining matchups to stuff your stocking with, but all-in-all Week 1 of the 2012 season boasts some pretty amazing battles.
Here are the games from opening week that are guaranteed to be amazing.
Sun, Dec. 25: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. EST ABC
There's no better way to start getting your NBA fix than watching a rematch of last year's NBA Finals.
It's Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James against Dirk Nowitzki and the defending champion Mavericks again, but this year there may be a different vibe.
With last year's focus being so heavy on LeBron James as the "villain" of the NBA, you could barely mention the Heat without the infamous "decision" to take his talents to South Beach.
This season has a different feel, as the media storm around the Heat has definitely subsided. Things have seemed to calm down, and one cannot help but feel the Heat are still the team to beat in the East, especially with the signing of perennial "glue guy" Shane Battier.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, have a new feel themselves, losing center Tyson Chandler in free agency but picking up former Lakers star Lamar Odom via trade.
This should be a great matchup that many feel will be not only a rematch of last year's Finals but a preview of this season's.
Sun, Dec. 25: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m. EST
You could be tuning into this game to see Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry ball out for the Warriors, but I have a sneaking suspicion they aren't going to be the big draws of this matchup.
This game is going to be amazing, if only because we will get to see the new-look Clippers in action.
Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and friends lit up the NBA highlight reels in the preseason, so I can only imagine what they are going to do when the games actually mean something.
Seriously, though, this Clippers team is going to be a force to be reckoned with. I can't believe I am saying that, but it's true.
Chauncey Billups still has enough in the tank to make quite a difference, and I have a sneaky suspicion that DeAndre Jordan is going to vastly improve on the 7.1 points per game he scored last year now that he has so many playmakers and great passers around him.
Speaking of passing, I hope you're ready for a whole lot more of this:
Wed, Dec. 28: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. EST
Lost in all of the hoopla of the lockout and trade talk this offseason is a player that many consider to be one of the best young superstars in the league, and that's Thunder star Kevin Durant.
It will be intriguing to see if he can improve on the 27.7 points, 2.7 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game he averaged last year, but there is no doubt that he and point guard Russell Westbrook may be one of the most explosive combos in the league.
It's also easy to forget that the Grizzlies made a playoff run last year and pushed the Thunder to seven games in the second round, losing in triple overtime.
They also boast the likes of newly-signed center Marc Gasol, explosive Rudy Gay, point guard Mike Conley and Zach Randoph.
This game will be an excellent mid-week pick-me-up for even the casual NBA fan.
Thu, Dec. 29: New Jersey Nets vs. Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. EST
The intrigue of this game is simply off the charts, with the Nets coming in to face the Magic.
This would be just your regular run-of-the-mill NBA game, but Dwight Howard came out and stated that the Nets are his ideal trade spot.
This is essentially the equivalent of the person your current significant other is interested in coming into your house and having dinner with the two of you, and they know things aren't going to well.
How can you not tune in to this game?
Sun, Jan. 1st: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. EST
Here are the Grizzlies again, and yes, I suggest you get used to it, but they aren't the main attraction of this game.
Remember a guy by the name of Derrick Rose?
It's no big deal, he's just the reigning NBA MVP who just signed a five-year contract extension with the Bulls that's reportedly worth over $94 million. With averages last year of 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, I dare say he earned it.
The Bulls are going to be a great team that will compete in the East once again. With the addition of Richard Hamilton's shooting touch and another year under the belt for Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah, I expect them to be in the running when all is said and done.
Conclusion
I've come to conclude—and no, it wasn't hard—that I am extremely excited that the NBA is back in action.
These are the games that I think will be great opening week, but there are certainly more.
What games are you excited about?
