In analyzing the 2011-12 Celtics schedule we begin, of course, with the obvious notion that almost three weeks have passed since the NBA imposed a lockout of the players and there has not been even a hint of a bargaining session between the owners and players, let alone any talk of a resolution.

Nevertheless, the NBA forged ahead and released its schedule for next season on Tuesday and while things look grim – and they are – we are still months away from the start of training camp and the exhibition season. There’s time before true pressure sets in that all or part of the season will be lost. With that in mind, here’s a look at the challenges and opportunities facing the Celtics in 2011-12 as well as a look at the marquee matchups. (Click here for a full schedule).

The Dreaded Back-to-Backs:

The Celtics have 20 back-to-backs scheduled, up one from last year’s total of nineteen. Of those 20, the second game will be on the road 16 times. That’s undeniably rough.

Last season the Celtics were 15-4 in the first game and 8-11 in the second of back-to-backs, but just 3-11 on the second night of a back-to-back on the road. To put it another way, almost half of the Celtics 26 losses came on the road in the second game of a back-to-back, and there were some ugly defeats in there.

Jan. 22: An 85-83 loss in Washington when the Celtics scored only 27 points in the second half and blew a 15-point first quarter lead.

Jan. 28: An 88-71 loss at Phoenix that featured ejections for coach Doc Rivers and the infamous Kevin Garnett incident with Channing Frye.

Feb. 7: A 94-89 loss in Charlotte that saw the Celtics blow another fourth quarter lead.

March 14: An 88-79 loss at New Jersey, that if not for the Phoenix debacle would have stood as the worst loss of the regular season.

Considering the Celtics finished two games behind Miami for second-place in the Eastern Conference, there’s a strong argument to be made that their inability to perform well in back-to-backs on the road was the biggest reason for their second-half fade.

This season figures to be even tougher. Not only are 16 of the second games on the road, but they also face defending champ Dallas, Orlando and Chicago and Philadelphia twice each on the road in the second game of a back-to-back. 

Twenty back-to-backs is toward the high end for a typical NBA team, but 10 teams play 21 or 22 and the Knicks have 20 second game back-to-backs on the road, so it could be worse. It could be better too. The Lakers have 19 back-to-backs and play 10 of the second games at home. (See a full league-wide breakdown here at NBA Stuffer).

The Marquee Matchups:

There are two showcase days for the NBA: Christmas and Martin Luther King Day. For the third straight season the Celtics will play on Dec. 25, but this time they will be in New York to play the Knicks at noon. On MLK Day (Jan. 16), the C’s host Oklahoma City in the 8 p.m. TNT slot. That will also be the first game back in Boston for Kendrick Perkins.

Then there are the rivalry games. The Celtics will visit Miami on Nov. 16 for their only trip to South Beach and then host the Heat on Feb. 1 and April 1. The Celtics will play the Lakers in Boston on Feb. 9 and play them in L.A. on March 11. The opener is at home against Cleveland on Nov. 2.

All told the Celtics have 30 nationally-televised games (including six on NBATV). They also have 10 games on ESPN, 10 on TNT and four Sunday afternoon games on ABC.

The January Homestand:

The first month of the new year is the time for the Celtics to make a move. They play five of the first seven games of the month at home and then after a quick trip to Charlotte (for a back-to-back, naturally) they have six straight home games from Jan. 16-27.

In all the C’s play 11 of 14 games at the Garden to start the month of January. That’s similar to last season and they went 11-3 in those games (10-1 at home) before heading out on a west coast trip. That stretch also marked the high point of the Celtics regular season. They were 34-10 after beating the Cavaliers at the Garden on Jan. 25 before going 22-16 the rest of the way.

The Celtics then play six of eight at home to start the month of February. After that, it gets rough.

The Road Trips:

As always, the Celtics will make two trips out west and there is also a brutal Texas swing before the All-Star break. After their long homestand in January and February, the Celtics head out for a four-game trip that will have them play Chicago (in the second game of a back-to-back), Houston, Dallas (back-to-back) and Oklahoma City in less than a week.

Then in March a five-game speed trip takes them from Los Angels to play the Lakers through Phoenix (back-to-back), Golden State, Sacramento and Denver (back-to-back, and on St. Patrick’s Day, no less) in a week. The saving grace of that trip is they get the Lakers on the first day of the trip.

The first west coast swing is also strange as it begins in Milwaukee and takes them through Los Angeles – to play the Clippers – Portland and then Utah in, of course, the second game of a back-to-back.

Here’s the month-by-month breakdown:

November: 14 games (six home, eight road)

December: 14 games (six home, eight road)

January: 16 games (11 home, five road)

February: 13 games (seven home, six road)

March: 16 games (six home, 10 road)

April: Nine (five home, four road)

Longest homestand: Jan. 16-27 (six games)

Longest road trip: March 11-17 (five games)