The Celtics Unveil Their 2012-13 Regular Season Schedule

It feels funny saying this as we get into the dog days of summer but the 2012-13 NBA regular season is really not that far away. Before we know it, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Co. will be back on the Garden parquet looking for Banner 18. I am also looking forward to seeing how Jason Terry integrates himself to his new surroundings along with rookie Jared Sullinger's adjustments to the rigors of the NBA.

Last night, the Celtics unveiled their full 82-game schedule that begins with what promises to be a highly-anticipated visit to see Ray Allen and the Miami Heat on Tuesday, October 30 which is a national broadcast on TNT.

I gotta say that other than the fact that it was condensed, I enjoyed the 66-game schedule of last season. Looking over all these games (many which will be mostly meaningless), I'm reminded how the NBA regular season is generally too long but I digress.

Boston's home opener is Friday, November 2 vs. the Milwaukee Bucks, not exactly a marquee opponent. Other highlights in November include an Eastern Conference semifinals rematch with the Sixers on Friday, November 9 in Boston; San Antonio comes to TD Garden the night before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 21) and Oklahoma City is here the night after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 23) in what will undoubtedly be two of the best home games of the season.

Boston and Philadelphia have a home-and-home series on December 7 (ESPN) and 8 before Terry gets his first game against his former team-the Dallas Mavericks-who visit on Wednesday, December 12 (ESPN). Celts take a trip to San Antonio on Saturday, December 15 and they play in Brooklyn on Christmas afternoon (ESPN, 12 p.m.) against the Nets. The C's close out 2012 with three games on the West Coast (Clippers-TNT, Warriors, Kings).

The Celtics-Knicks rivalry begins again on Monday, January 7 as Boston travels to New York. The Knicks make their first appearance in Boston on Thursday, January 24 for a TNT game. C's head coach Doc Rivers's first game against his son Austin is on Wednesday, January 16 as the New Orleans Hornets come to the Garden (ESPN). The Heat's first contest in Boston is Sunday, January 27 (ABC).

We get both of the Celtics-Lakers battles in February with Los Angeles coming to Boston on Thursday, February 7 (TNT) then the C's in LA on Wednesday, February 20 (ESPN). The annual grueling West Coast trip is in the end of February as Boston hits Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland and Utah around the time of the NBA trade deadline.

March finds Jeff Green and the Celtics visiting Kendrick Perkins and the Thunder on Sunday, March 10 (ABC). Another matchup against the Heat in Boston on Monday, March 18 (ESPN) is followed by a trip to New Orleans on March 20 and sneaky tough back-to-back games at Dallas (March 22) and Memphis (March 23).

Regular season games in April usually don't have much significance unless you're jockeying for home court advantage (which the Celtics should be). Boston's home schedule ends on Tuesday, April 16 vs. the Pacers then the regular season concludes the next night in Toronto.

So there you have it, get some rest since the NBA season starts in basically three months. With college football and the NFL getting underway in September, not to mention MLB playoffs in October, the time should fly by very quickly.

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