NBA releases 2011-12 season schedule despite lockout
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Shanghai Daily, July 20, 2011
The National Basketball Association (NBA) released its full playing schedule for 2011-12 yesterday despite fears the season may not go ahead.
The NBA has been in lockout since July 1 because of a labor dispute that shows no signs of ending soon.
Team owners and players failed to reach an agreement on a new collective agreement but were still able to release the playing schedule.
According to the draw, the regular season will start on November 1 when last season's champions, the Dallas Mavericks, host the Chicago Bulls in Texas.
Later that same night, the Los Angeles Lakers, the champions the previous season, host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Most teams, including Miami Heat, will start their seasons on November 2. The Heat, led by their Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, will start their season in New York against the Knicks.
The Mavericks and Heat, last season's Eastern Conference champions, will face each other for the first time snce their NBA finals showdown in Dallas on Christmas Day.
The All-Star weekend was scheduled for Feb. 24-26 in Florida while the Orlando Magic and the New Jersey Nets will lock horns in London on March 7 and 8 as part of the NBA's annual overseas excursion.
The schedule was released earlier than normal because the lockout prevented the usual free agency and trading period, which the league normally waits for to determine any marquee games.
The chances of the season going on time ahead remain uncertain. The last time the league was plunged into a lockout was in 1988. The feuding sides eventually reached a settlement but only after reducing the 82-game season to 50.
