After 149 days the NBA lockout has finally ended. The owners and the players agreed to terms on a new deal, and the first games of the season will be played on Christmas day, which is historically one of the most competitive days of play during the regular season.
The normal 83 game schedule will be shortened to only 66 games this year, the first coming on Christmas. Players will only miss about two pay checks, and shouldn’t suffer much financially. Getting back on the court is what most players have been looking forward to during the lockout. Some players have played overseas, while others like LeBron James and Kevin Durant have played a number of street league games in their hometowns and across the country.
Many players signed overseas to play during the lockout, and most of them should have no problem getting back to their NBA teams and out of their contracts with non-NBA teams. However, some players that signed contracts with Chinese teams will have a little more trouble, but should be able to get back to training camp on-time.
The NBA is hoping that they haven’t lost fan support after a successful last season. TV ratings from last season were some of the highest the league has ever seen. Part of this is due to the large number of superstars in the NBA right now, ranging from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James, both of whom were vocal about getting a deal done during the lockout.
The Christmas day schedule includes some of the best teams across the country going head-to-head from coast to coast. The marquee matchup would have to be the NBA Finals rematch from a year ago, as the Miami Heat try to beat the defending champions of last year, the Dallas Mavericks. Another game with big names is the Chicago Bulls against the Los Angeles Lakers. Two of the top MVP candidates from last year, Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose - the winner of the award - will face off in L.A. The Boston Celtics look for another good start to the season as the face the emerging New York Knicks. The Oklahoma City Thunder play the Orlando Magic, a game that will feature last years scoring champ and defensive player of the year in Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard respectively. The last matchup is the Los Angeles Clippers against the Golden State Warriors, in a game of in-state rivals.
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