Exciting Season is on the Horizon for the Knicks

The New York Knicks announced their 2009-10 schedule on Tuesday in what promises to be an exciting season for the orange and blue.

The 2009-10 campaign tips off in Miami on Oct. 28, when the Knicks take on Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Incidentally, New York opened the Mike D'Antoni era last season at home against the Heat, emerging victorious with a 120-115 win.

This season's home opener is set for Halloween, when New York takes The Garden court for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Andre Iguodala and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Once November rolls around, the Knicks will host a bevy of the league's biggest and brightest names in a rollicking first month of basketball at the World's Most Famous Arena. It begins when Chris Paul leads the New Orleans Hornets into town on Nov. 2 before Tyler Hansborough makes his professional Garden debut two days later. Reigning MVP LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers pay their lone visit on Nov. 6, followed by Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz on Nov. 9, former Knick Jamal Crawford and the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 11 and Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 13.

The Knicks then go on to play five of six on the road, with the lone home game coming on Nov. 22 against Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and the rest of the Boston Celtics. Finally, after returning from an arduous West Coast swing, November's slate of games wraps up with a Sunday afternoon tilt on the 29th against Dwight Howard and Orlando Magic, now featuring Vince Carter, in the Eastern Conference Champion's only visit to New York.

Other highlights include a Christmas Day matinee against the Heat the Garden. A few weeks later, Kobe Bryant and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers pay their yearly visit on Jan. 22. The team's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. game is set for Jan. 18, when they host the new look Detroit Pistons featuring Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

First overall draft pick Blake Griffin makes his professional Garden debut on Dec.18. Other notable rookies who will be making only one appearance this season in New York include Memphis' Hasheem Thabeet (Feb.27), Sacramento's Tyreke Evans (Feb.9) and Golden State's Curry (Nov. 13).

On paper, the Knicks easiest month at home stands to be February, when seven of their eight home games pit them against teams that finished in the bottom third of the league last season.

New York has two season-long five-game home stands this year, from Dec. 18-27 and Jan. 18-28. On the other hand, the Knicks will leave the confines of The Garden for a pair of five-game road trips late in the season from Mar. 10 -17 and Mar. 26-Apr. 4.

The Knicks last regular season game at home is set for Apr. 12 when they host the Washington Wizards.

Click here for the complete schedule, official press release and scroll below for a more in-depth breakdown of the 2009-10 season.

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