After a longer than expected offeseason, the NBA's 2011-12 season tipsoff Sunday afternoon, as the New York Knicks host the Boston Celtics in a Eastern Conference Atlantic Division match up at Madison Square Garden (Noon on TNT). The Knicks will be playing in their league-high 47th Christmas Day game, a tradition that began in 1947, and begin a solid day of NBA games that feature: Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET on ABC), Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. on ABC), Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. on ESPN) and concludes with Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. on ESPN).
Last year's Knicks' season, which featured their first playoff appearance since 2004, ended with a first-round playoff sweep to Boston, so a victory against the Bean Town rival would be a solid start to this year's season.
On Sunday, New York will showcase new free agent acquisition, center Tyson Chandler, who should fit in nicley with star forward Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.
Again, here's the Knicks-Celtics TV schedule and game info:
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 25, 12 p.m.
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
TV: TNT (National)
For more on these two teams, vist Knicks blog Posting And Toasting and CelticsBlog. SB Nation New York ran a four-part season preview of the 2011-12 New York Knicks, if you missed it here's a link to each part.