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SALT LAKE CITY - The NBA lockout is over, and the season is set to begin in just a few days. Here's a rundown of some of the best games to take place this season.
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks - December 25
Christmas day kicks off the NBA season with a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. Finals MVP Dirk Nowitski leads Dallas in return in search of a second straight World Championship. Miami most definitely have a grudge to payback. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh lead the Heat again this season but have things to improve on from last year's collapse in the Finals. Right away we'll see if these two teams are contenders again.
Memphis Grizzles at San Antonio Spurs - December 26
The Grizzles travel to Texas to take on the Spurs in the season opener for both teams as San Antonio looks to get revenge for last year's playoffs. The Grizzles are hoping to build off of last year's landmark year. After beating the Spurs in the first round Memphis nearly beat Oklahoma City but fell in game seven. Memphis has enough talent and youth to run the old legs of the Spurs out of the gym and compete with everyone in the league. Zach Randolph is coming off of his first All-star season, and looks to add another this year.
New Jersey Nets at Utah Jazz - January 14
Deron Williams returns to Utah to play for the first time since being traded to New Jersey last year. How Jazz fans will welcome Williams back to Utah is unclear. The former No. 3 draft pick of the Jazz wasn't going to stick around after his contract was up so Utah traded its franchise player. Even though he was the Jazz leader for year, don't expect to see his jersey in the rafters. No matter Besiktas, the Turkish team he played for during the lockout, retired his jersey.
Denver Nuggets at New York Knicks - January 21
Carmelo Anthony hosts his former team as the Nuggets travel to New York to face the Knicks. It's unfortunate that the two teams won't meet in Denver so that Nugget fans can welcome Anthony back, but the New York media will be sure to spotlight it.
L.A. Lakers at New York Knicks - February 10
Kobe comes to the Big Apple in hopes of a performance good enough for Broadway. Bryant has played well in NYC, but will have to compete toe-to-toe with Carmelo in a showdown between two of the top offensive players in the league. With Chris Paul joining L.A. the big names on these two rosters will attract much attention in New York.
Miami Heat at L.A. Lakers - March 4
South Beach brings its talents west as the Big Three visit Hollywood to take on Kobe and the Lakers. The big names that highlight these rosters occupy almost half of the Olympic roster and could fill stadiums much larger than the Staples Center. This could be a possible Finals matchup as both teams have stacked their rosters in an effort to get a ring.
Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder - March 5
In a rematch of the Western Conference finals the Thunder and Mavs face off to start March madness. The Thunder fans are engaging and loud and with OKC's young roster a colligate feel is brought to the game whenever they play at home. Kevin Durant may be the league's best player but the Thunder have to play as a team if they're going to make it past Dallas this year.
L.A. Lakers at New Orleans - March 14
Chris Paul returns to New Orleans after being dealt to the Lakers in the biggest offseason deal of the year. It will be interesting to see how Paul will be welcomed by Hornets fans that were so faithful to him since coming into the league. It can't be worse than LeBron returning to Cleveland. Or can it?
Miami Heat at Boston Celtics - April 1
The original big three host the new big three in the first of three games between the two teams in the month of April. This mini series battle will likely determine playoff seeding and give both teams a feeling of the playoffs before they come. With so much attention being given to other teams Boston seems to be lost a bit, but don't expect them to fly under the radar this whole season, and Miami will be sure not to over look them.
Dallas Mavericks at Chicago Bulls - April 21
Could this be a preview of this season's Finals? NBA MVP Derrick Rose leads his Bulls into Dallas to take on Finals MVP Dirk Nowitski days before the playoffs begin. Most of the playoff pairings should be decided by then but this will be a good comparison for the playoffs between two of the top teams in each conference.
