No sign of lockout ending, but NBA releases schedule

Take a look at the Bulls’ 2011-12 schedule, but please don’t make any viewing plans that include a nonrefundable deposit.

Thanks to the lockout and slow-moving labor negotiations, virtually no one expects the NBA season to begin on time.

When the 1998-99 lockout ended in early February, the league scrapped the original schedule and created a 50-game model.

So these games probably won’t be played, but the NBA thought highly enough of the Bulls to give them 23 appearances on ABC, TNT and ESPN, including opening night at defending champion Dallas on Nov. 1, which is scheduled for TNT.

After a visit to New Orleans, the Bulls would open at the United Center on Nov. 5 gainst Atlanta. Another potential highlight is a Christmas Day game on ABC in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

This schedule has the Bulls playing 12 of the 15 Western Conference teams on the road by Dec. 28 — all but Memphis, Minnesota and Oklahoma City.

It also includes a circuitous circus trip, starting in Washington, then moving all the way to Portland on the way to eight games in four time zones over 14 days.

The Bulls were given two trips to Miami within 10 days, on Jan. 19 and 29. The Heat is not scheduled to visit the United Center until March 14 and April 12.

Bulls 2011-12 schedule

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 1 at Dallas 7 p.m.

Nov. 2 at New Orleans 7 p.m.

Nov. 5 Atlanta 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 L.A. Clippers 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 Oklahoma City 7 p.m.

Nov. 12 Sacramento 7 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Washington 5 p.m.

Nov. 16 at Portland 9 p.m.

Nov. 18 at Phoenix 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 19 at L.A. Clippers 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 21 at Utah 8 p.m.

Nov. 22 at Denver 8 p.m.

Nov. 25 at Indiana 7 p.m.

Nov. 26 at Milwaukee 8 p.m.

Nov. 30 San Antonio 7 p.m.

Dec. 3 Houston 7 p.m.

Dec. 7 Dallas 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 Washington 7 p.m.

Dec. 10 at Detroit 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 13 Atlanta 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 at Houston 7 p.m.

Dec. 17 at San Antonio 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 Milwaukee 7 p.m.

Dec. 23 Cleveland 7 p.m.

Dec. 25 at L.A. Lakers 4 p.m.

Dec. 26 at Golden State 9:30 p.m.

Dec. 28 at Sacramento 9 p.m.

Jan. 1 Memphis 6 p.m.

Jan. 4 Indiana 7 p.m.

Jan. 6 at Orlando 7 p.m.

Jan. 7 at Atlanta 6 p.m.

Jan. 9 Philadelphia 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 Washington 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 at Charlotte 6 p.m.

Jan. 14 Golden State 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 at Memphis noon

Jan. 17 Phoenix 7 p.m.

Jan. 19 at Miami 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 Portland 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 Charlotte 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 New Jersey 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 Milwaukee 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Miami 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 at Philadelphia 6 p.m.

Feb. 2 at New York 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 at Milwaukee 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 at Cleveland 6 p.m.

Feb. 10 at Minnesota 7 p.m.

Feb. 12 at Boston 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 Toronto 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 Boston 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 New Jersey 3 p.m.

Feb. 22 Orlando 7 p.m.

Feb. 28 New Orleans 7 p.m.

Feb. 29 at Washington 6 p.m.

Mar. 2 at Cleveland 6:30 p.m.

Mar. 3 Detroit 7 p.m.

Mar. 6 at Indiana 6 p.m.

Mar. 8 L.A. Lakers 7 p.m.

Mar. 10 Utah 7 p.m.

Mar. 12 New York 7 p.m.

Mar. 14 Miami 7 p.m.

Mar. 16 Cleveland 7 p.m.

Mar. 17 Toronto 7 p.m.

Mar. 19 at Orlando 7 p.m.

Mar. 21 at New Jersey 6:30 p.m.

Mar. 23 at Toronto 6 p.m.

Mar. 24 Indiana 7 p.m.

Mar. 26 Denver 7 p.m.

Mar. 28 at Atlanta 6 p.m.

Mar. 30 Detroit 7 p.m.

Apr. 1 at Oklahoma City noon

Apr. 3 Charlotte 7 p.m.

Apr. 5 Boston 8:30 p.m.

Apr. 6 at Toronto 6:30 p.m.

Apr. 8 at New York noon

Apr. 10 New York 8:30 p.m.

Apr. 12 Miami 7 p.m.

Apr. 13 at Philadelphia 6 p.m.

Apr. 15 at Detroit 5 p.m.

Apr. 16 Minnesota 7 p.m.

Apr. 18 at New Jersey 7 p.m.