Knicks on national TV 29 times in 2011-12
LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat is guarded by Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks during a game at American Airlines Arena. (Feb. 27, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
The Knicks are slated to host LeBron James' Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on opening night on Nov. 2, provided there is an opening night on Nov. 2.
The NBA released its schedule for the upcoming season, which , of course, is contingent on the lockout being lifted in time for the regular season to start. The league imposed a lockout on July 1 when the collective bargaining agreement expired, and owners and players have not scheduled a date for labor talks to resume.
Other notable games at the Garden: the Knicks' hosting the Boston Celtics, the team that knocked them out of the first round of the playoffs, at noon on Christmas Day; the Knicks' hosting the defending champion Mavericks on Feb. 19 for a 1 p.m.; and the Knicks' hosting Miami and Boston in consecutive games in the final week of the regular season.
The Kicks play 10 of their first 13 games on the road, including consecutive road games from Nov. 14-26 that includes five games in the West against Utah, Denver, the Lakers, Phoenix and Sacramento. The game at the Nuggets on Nov. 16 would be Carmelo Anthony's first game back in Denver since he was traded to the Knicks in February.
The Knicks are slated to be on national TV 29 times next year, which ties them for second with Chicago, behind Boston and Dallas (which are on national TV 30 times) overall.
In the lockout-shortened seasons of 1998-99, the league played a 50-game schedule that did not start until February and featured back-to-back-to-back games.
