The lockout is coming to an end, and the 2011-2012 basketball season will be here before we know it. The typical 82-game schedule has been shortened to 66 games total, and will go from Christmas day to mid-April. Fans who have been waiting for their favorite players to get back on the court now have less than a month to wait before the opening tip-off.
The main difference between the lockout-shortened season will be in the non-conference games. Teams will only face up against non-conference opponents once or twice, which means the two teams that make it to the NBA Finals in 2012 may only meet up once during the preceding regular season, making calling the winner all the more difficult.
Fans and media will be eagerly awaiting this year’s dramas, as well. Last year, it was all about LeBron, D-Wade, and the Miami Heat. The Chicago Bulls also have some unfinished business from last year’s playoffs, and the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to recover from their going-through-the-motions season in 2010-2011.