NBA Schedule : Top 10 games in December

The NBA released the 2011-12 schedule a couple of days ago. The schedule came out despite the NBA owners and players being in a labor dispute. Who knows when the lockout will end? All I know is that it will be nasty and I don’t think the season will start on time, and there are many experts saying that the whole season could be missed. So if the lockout continues many of the scheduled games won’t take place, I have no idea how the NBA will handle the schedule then. I think it’s smart for the NBA to release the schedule now since it creates buzz and the hype machine even though the league is still in a lockout.

So don’t get too excited with the release of the schedule especially the December games, but anyways here are my top 10 games in the month of December.

1. Heat at Mavericks (Dec. 25th) – This will be a rematch of last year’s NBA finals in which Dallas won. Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki outplayed Miami’s Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. James came up really small especially in the 4th quarter. Wade and James mocked Nowitzki illness, but still Nowitzki got the last laugh as he was named finals MVP.

2. Lakers at Heat (Dec. 8th) - Last year on Christmas Day the Heat got the better of the Lakers. This year there is no question that Kobe Bryant wants to change that. Every time Bryant and LeBron James are on the same court there is a debate to who is the better player. Give me Bryant any day of the week; he’s got the rings to prove it.

3. Magic at Lakers (Dec. 11th) – Even though the Magic and Lakers faced each other in the NBA finals a couple of years ago, this game will be all about Magic star center Dwight Howard. Howard is a free agent after this season, and he has been linked most to be headed to L.A. So Lakers fans could be getting a preview of Howard in Lakers uniform.

4. Celtics at Knicks (Dec.25th) – Yes, the Knicks are back and the rivalry with the Celtics should heat up. The Celtics defeated the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs last year. Anytime it’s New York against Boston it is must watch TV.

5. Heat at Celtics (Dec. 1st) - There was a lot of trash talk back and forth from both of these teams last year. Each team has their set of superstars. They were supposed to meet in the Eastern Conference playoffs but that never happened. This year might be the Celtics last long run in the playoffs.

6. Bulls at Lakers (Dec. 25th) – Doesn’t seem like the Lakers play every Christmas Day, well they do. This game will be all about Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose. Which superstar will steal the show?

7. Mavericks at Thunder (Dec. 29th) – Last year the Mavericks defeated the Thunder in the Western Conference finals and went on to win the NBA championship. A year later will the Thunder be able to use their fresh legs to beat the older Mavericks?

8. Hornets at Bobcats (Dec. 26th) – The New Orleans Hornets used to play in Charlotte. Hornets star Chris Paul went to college at Wake Forrest and is from North Carolina. There is a lot of chatter that the Charlotte Bobcats will go hard after Paul in next year’s free agency.

9. Lakers at Mavericks (Dec. 15th) – The Mavericks swept the Lakers in 4 games last year in the playoffs. If Dirk Nowitzki continues to play like he did last year he might overtake Bryant to be the best player in the league.

10. Thunder at Heat (Dec. 23rd) – Why not, watch Kevin Durant battle LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Durant is a much more likeable star than James or Wade.

Tags: NBA Schedule