With the NBA lockout upon us, that doesn't mean the league can' t plan ahead as if everything was normal. On Tuesday afternoon, the NBA will release its 2011-2012 season schedule, per Sekou Smith of NBA.com. The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat will play on Christmas Day, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Might the Lakers and Celtics also do battle on Christmas?
↵The Lakers have played on Christmas Day for 12 straight seasons, so it seems logical that they might be scheduled to play again on December 25. The Lakers haven't played the Celtics on Christmas since 2008, a 92-83 win by Los Angeles. If the Heat and Mavs play in Dallas at 12:30 p.m. PST, as Jackson suggested, that would likely mean an earlier start for another game, so the Lakers could conceivably play at Boston.
↵This is all just speculation at this point, especially considering their might not even be basketball on December 25. But if there is, expect the Lakers to be playing, as they have for 12 consecutive years.
↵For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.