This was David Stern’s fantasy during the dog days of the five-month NBA lockout — an opening five-pack of Christmas games, led off by one of the league’s storied rivalries.
The Celtics are comin’ to town.
It finally is here — the season opener, Boston at Knicks inside a transformed, sold-out Madison Square Garden, tipping off the NBA’s 66-game season at noon.
Christmas time in the city has never been so good for basketball. The Celtics will parade their green-colored jerseys on Broadway just as the rivalry has become the hottest it has been in many years.
“The atmosphere will be just like — if not better — than a playoff game,’’ Stoudemire said yesterday. “It’s Christmas Day, first game on TV. It’s going to be incredible. The season opener happens to be on Christmas Day. It’s never happened before in my career. So we’re very hyped.’’
The hype around the Knicks is growing fast — a team many believe will knock off the Celtics for the Atlantic Division crown. According to Will Flaherty of Seatgeek.com, the average price for tickets on the secondary market for today’s showdown is $299.30 — and figures to be among the highest for an NBA game regular-season game all season.
The celebrities will be out on Christmas, with Whoopi Golderg, Tracy Morgan, John McEnroe, Spike Lee, and model Jessica White glittering up Celebrity Row.
The Garden floor will be transformed into a giant 3D video screen before player intros, highlighted by a film presentation.
“Boston is always a special game and the atmosphere in the Garden is always good,’’ coach Mike D’Antoni said. “But it will probably be at a fever pitch. It should be great.’’
April 24 seems like a long time ago, when a taped-like-a-mummy Stoudemire and the Knicks departed the Garden floor after losing in a four-game sweep to the Celtics in the first round.
Because of a pulled muscle in his back, Stoudemire was filled with anti-inflammatories that afternoon. Now he is filled with high hopes about a potentially special 2011-12 season.
“It’s never fun losing,’’ Stoudemire said. “I don’t regret one thing about last season or the playoffs. We definitely left our heart on the court. I think we’re in a much better place with a better team and feel more confident about our team this year. We look forward to great success.’’
The Knicks are looking to dethrone the Celtics as four-time defending Atlantic Division titles as the first step to a potential title. Center Tyson Chandler will make his Knicks debut, forming the NBA’s most dangerous frontcourt with Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire.
“The Broadway Bigs’’ finally hit Broadway for the first time, and the new edition is expected to be more defensive-oriented than in years past.
“They’re a lot longer than they’ve been in a long time,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “[Tyson] gives them a conscience. It’s the same thing as when we got Kevin [Garnett]. He turned us into a defensive team. He made an enormous difference for us, and I’m sure [Chandler] will have the same effect.”
The Celtics could be without Paul Pierce. He has a bruised heel but the Celtics said yesterday he was “improving’’ and there’s speculation he’ll play but not start.
Without Pierce to defend Anthony, the early task will lie with Sasha Pavlovic.
“I’ve guarded him before, and I feel comfortable,” Pavlovic said. “I know I’m going to get out there and play as hard as I can and make him take tough shots and help the team win.”
Pierce is not ready to proclaim the Celtics’ window for a another title is closed despite the Big 3’s age, all over 34, and wear and tear. They won it all in 2008 and lost a Game 7 to the Lakers in 2010.
“We privately said that we thought we could win two or three championships with this group,” Pierce said. “That was our goal. We let one slip away, we felt like. But we definitely feel like the window is still open, especially this year.’’
The Knicks have been respectful of the Celtic mystique this week.
“They’re still a high octane,’’ Stoudemire said. “They’re still one of the smartest teams in the NBA and very well-coached. They execute their plays better than anyone else I’ve seen. They’re a threat for sure.”
The Knicks get Boston today, then have a challenging three-games-in-four-nights West Coast fling. They have point-guard issues with Toney Douglas as the starter, backup Mike Bibby already questionable with back spasms and Baron Davis still a few weeks away.
It all doesn’t matter today. The new Knicks are ready to be unwrapped. “Hopefully we don’t get too ecstatic because sometimes adrenaline flowing that much, you have tendency to overthink and overplay,’’ Stoudemire said. “We just have to remain calm and play our style of basketball.’’