Fuck Yea[h] NBA

The Christmas Day Quintuple-Header tipping off the 2011-2012 NBA season that has me and every other basketball fan drooling in anticipation, is finally set! After word came yesterday the Warriors and Clippers will be playing at 10:30 pm EST slot, now Orlando-Sentinel scribe Zach McCann is reporting the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder will be the 8:00 pm EST game.

So here is how the quintuple-header looks right now:

• 12:00 (noon)* Boston Celtics at New York Knicks on TNT
• 2:30 Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks on ABC
• 5:00 Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers on ABC
• 8:00 Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN
  
• 10:30 Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors on ESPN
  

The rest of the NBA’s 2011-2012 schedule should be released at some point today or this weekend (lets hope). But for now, fans can warm themselves with the Christmas embers of 5 games on Christmas day featuring Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo (maybe), Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard (maybe), Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, Stephon Curry and Monta Ellis.

As my old man told me while we were discussing my return home for the holidays and the various games we’ll be watching: “You’re gonna be in heaven.”

All basketball fans will be; although, it remains to be seen how sloppy the players will be with only two weeks of preparation.

I’m engorged with delight!

*all times Eastern Standard

pic via the Oklahoman

[UPDATE: The full NBA season schedule will be out this Tuesday night December 6, at 7 PM EST during a special airing on NBA TV, reports Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Inquirer]