Looking Ahead: The Five Most Anticipated Games From the Upcoming NBA Season

In case you were stranded on a deserted island, or have been living under a rock for the past three months, you already know all the headlines that stole the NBA off season. 

Dwight Howard got his wish, Ray Allen found South Beach, and the Knicks are hoping to have found the fountain of youth-and oh yeah, Linsanity is no longer playing on Broadway.

After an off season full of trades, transactions, and of corse, drama, we are now only 63 days away from the start of a brand new season. In honor of this, we felt is was necessary to preview the five most anticipated and intriguing games of the 2012-13 NBA season.

KNICKS @ NETS

Was there ever any question? 

The Nets are the first team to call Brooklyn home since the Dodgers back in 1957-needless to say the borough was in dire need of a fix. 

The Knicks and Nets were never really known for heated rivalries, but that's all about to change now that both teams are stacked and primed for runs at an NBA title for the foreseeable future. 

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has already fired warning shots at the Knicks, calling owner James Dolan a "little man". 

The battle for New York gets underway November 1, at 7:00pm on TNT.  And like the saying says, "They Know Drama".

THUNDER @ HEAT

"My time is now" 

Those were the words of the NBA's scoring champion Kevin Durant, who was visibly shaken after dropping four games to the Miami Heat in last year's finals. 

If the Olympics are any indication of what's to come, then the league, and its fans, had better start strapping in for one intense ride.

The Heat on the other hand have added some firepower to an already solid roster with the acquisitions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Miami was in need of some outside shooting help, and have once again solidified themselves as the top dog entering the season. 

Sparks will fly on Christmas Day when these two teams meet in South Beach. 

ROCKETS @ KNICKS

One word - LINSANITY! 

But will it have the same effect in Houston? 

That remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, Knicks fans were left with a bitter taste in their mouth after their golden boy skipped town for a bigger deal on a dimmer stage. 

All that is a thing of the past for the rest of league, but New Yorkers don't forget, and Lin will get a cruel taste of that reality when he visits Madison Square Garden as the enemy instead of the savior. 

The Knicks should also enjoy an easy win here, as the Rockets gutted their entire roster this season and made players like Lin and Omer Asik major players. 

SIXERS @ LAKERS

Personally, I can't wait for Andrew Bynum to outshine Dwight Howard-not only this season, but for years to come. 

Professionally, I think this will be statement game, not only for Bynum, but for the Sixers as a franchise to show they are ready to return to NBA prominence. 

Catch this game News Years Day @ 10:30pm. 

HORNETS @ CLIPPERS

If you have any interest in watching the future stars of the NBA light it up, then this is a can't miss game. 

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan will take on Austin Rivers, Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson.  

Still not sold?

Did we mention the underlying story that involves Chris Paul playing against his former franchise? 

This game is ripe with emotion, drama, and highlights. These two franchises have complied the most exciting young talent in the NBA, and if you're not sold on that then the NBA doesn't apply to you.