It’s similar to being led on by someone you’ve had your eye on for a while. Or like being near death due to starvation and having a plate of your favorite food right in front of you, locked in a glass container that you cannot open. Insert any tease you’d like, and it applies. The NBA released its 2011 – 12 schedule yesterday and it feels somewhat empty given the lockout and the generally pessimistic outlook. But, the NBA has to release a schedule. It’s standard protocol, so it’s not as if they’re doing anything different.
The season is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, November 1 with a double-header on TNT. The Mavericks will host the Bulls, followed by Thunder at Lakers. The following night on ESPN, the Heat visit the Knicks followed by Mark Jackson’s coaching debut for the Warriors as they host Kobe and company.
Other key games include:
November 16: Knicks at Nuggets (Carmelo’s return to Denver)
Thanksgiving: 76ers at Hawks and Hornets at Clippers
Christmas: Celtics at Knicks, Heat at Mavericks and Bulls at Lakers
Martin Luther King Jr., Day (all nationally televised): Bulls at Grizzlies, Raptors at Hawks, Thunder at Celtics and Mavericks at Lakers
February 9: Lakers at Celtics
March 11: Celtics at Lakers
March 29: Mavericks at Heat
Again, it feels strange reporting something like this given the current circumstances of the lockout, but at the end of the day it’s still basketball related news. Also, the NFL did the same thing. They released their schedule a few months ago even though they were locked out. Hopefully, it will all come to fruition according to schedule. You can check out your team’s full schedule at NBA.com.
