NBA Opening Day: Ranking the Christmas Day Games

After a long and tense lockout, Christmas Day is fast approaching with the opening of the 2011-2012 NBA season.  

In celebration, the league has graced its fans with a whole host of amazing matchups to kick the new year off in style.

But still, not every game is created equally, and some are without a doubt more compelling than others.  

The following will breakdown how each of the games stack up.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic

If it seems strange to you to rank a primetime game starring Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder last, you're in good company.  

The Thunder seem to be everyone's favorite to take advantage of the shortened season and surge into the NBA Finals.  

Under most circumstances, seeing such a hyped team's season debut would be must-see TV.

Unfortunately, the Orlando Magic haven't been receiving quite as much love as their opening day opponents.  

In fact, the only news the team has made so far this offseason is the countless amount of speculation over whether or not superstar Dwight Howard will be traded.

Various sources have reported that Dwight has already asked to be moved, and his gaze seems to be fixed squarely on the Brooklyn-bound New Jersey Nets.

Watching the Thunder is reason enough to tune into this game, but don't expect much from a team playing a dangerous waiting game with a star player looking to leave town.

4. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks

Any game being played at Madison Square Garden is usually one you want to keep an eye on.  But it's being taken to new extremes on opening day, when the Celtics take on the Knicks in a classic rivalry that's starting to heat back up.

The Boston Celtics are one of the two most iconic clubs in the NBA, and the Knicks are trying to work their way back into the league's upper-echelon of teams.  Plus, it will be great to see free-agent pickup Tyson Chandler making his debut in a Knicks' uniform.

Still, this matchup just lacks the intrigue of the other Christmas Day games.  

Both teams fizzled in last seasons playoffs; the Knicks were actually swept by the Celtics, who in turn lost four games to one against the Heat.

The fact that many question the Celtics' sustainability given the age of their roster also takes some of the shine off this game.

In the end, this will be a good game, but ultimately, it's just not as compelling as the next three.

3. Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors

You know, two weeks ago this game would have ranked dead-last on this list by a wide margin.

Oh, the wonders that a shortened offseason can do.

Yes, the much-talked about and, if you're an LA resident who hasn't switched bandwagons yet, much lamented Chris Paul trade has catapulted the lowly Clippers into the hottest ticket in the league.

Granted, the other side of the court won't be offering much in this game; the Golden State Warriors don't exactly seem poised for a breakout season, especially with team captain Monta Ellis caught up in a sexual harassment lawsuit.

But this will still be the first chance most of America will have to see Blake Griffin and Chris Paul on the same team.  You could have them play a D-League team if you wanted; this is still a must-watch game.

2. Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Here's where the games start getting great.  A rematch of last years NBA Finals on opening day?  Sign me up.

The fact that LeBron and the rest of Miami will have to sit and watch as the Mavs raise their championship banner is all the drama this game needs, and virtually guarantees a monopoly on every television set in the city of Cleveland.

The addition of Lamar Odom to the Mavericks will also be something to watch out for during this game, although the losses of both JJ Barea and Tyson Chandler create some questions for the reigning NBA champs.

But still, it's Miami's "Big Three" squaring off against Dirk Nowitzki and the team that crushed their hype the season before.  Why wouldn't you tune in for this?

1. Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The reigning NBA MVP.  

One of the most storied franchises scorned by the very league it's celebrated by.  

A disgruntled five-time champion trying to prove the rest of the world wrong.

Please, stop me if I somehow bore you.

The Chicago Bulls face off against the Los Angeles Lakers at 5 p.m. EST on ABC.  

With the Bulls, we get a championship-caliber team led by reigning MVP Derrick Rose.  

After a dynamic season last year, Chicago now finds itself with the weight of the world on its shoulders, as Championship dreams flourish in the Windy City.

As for the Los Angeles Lakes, after one of the most controversial offseasons of all time, the team finds itself cheated out of point-guard Chris Paul, lacking the services of Lamar Odom and surrounded by questions of whether or not they're even the best team in their own city anymore.

With Christmas Day fast approaching, this could be the Lakers' best chance to prove they still belong in the NBA's top-tier.

It's a classic battle between the old guard and the new elite, and it's the most compelling game on Christmas Day.