The renovated Garden could be bedlam on Nov. 2. It could be sparkling and alive, with the defending Eastern Conference champion Heat in the house and villain LeBron James back on the court facing his nemesis Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks’ season opener.
Or the Garden on Nov. 2 could be as dark as Alaska in winter. Take your pick.
The Knicks released documents filled with their 82-game 2011-12 schedule yesterday, but the games could be completely scuttled or at least vastly rearranged because of the NBA lockout. Even on the NBA’s network, host Matt Winer during the announcement show said the program was “admittedly an optimistic exercise.”
Mike Bass, an NBA spokesman, said the schedule is out early because of the lockout.
“Because we haven’t begun our free agency period this year due to the lockout, it afforded us the opportunity to complete the schedule two weeks earlier than last year,” he said.
At the very least, the Knicks, with the combination of Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, are a hot commodity — with 22 scheduled national TV games. It starts with their ESPN season opener, which could be James’ first game since his shocking Finals disappearance. The Bulls and defending champion Mavericks kick off the season in Dallas on Nov. 1, and the Knicks take on Miami the next night when the Garden could show off its new lower bowl.
As reported yesterday, the Knicks have a rugged five-game West Coast trip in November that could be in jeopardy — highlighted by the Nov. 16 battle in Denver marking Anthony’s first return to the Rocky Mountains. Don’t expect a video tribute.
The Knicks face the Lakers the next night. In 1999, during the 50-game season, the Knicks played just six Western Conference teams, so Anthony ultimately may be spared playing at the hostile Pepsi Center. Danilo Gallinari’s Nuggets visit the Garden on March 28. Maybe.
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Bay Frazier, Anthony’s top advisor, wrote on Twitter that Anthony is being sought to play lucrative exhibitions in Europe: “I keep getting all these offers for [Carmelo] to play overseas in exhibition games. Lol. And the paper ain’t bad at all.”