Celtics in the national spotlight

The Celtics' season opener at TD Banknorth Garden Nov. 2 against the Washington Wizards will be the first of Boston's 19 nationally televised games, a marked increase from recent years, and shows the interest generated by the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

The opener, which will start at 8 p.m., will be shown on ESPN, which will also air the Dec. 27 matchup at Seattle at 10:30 p.m., one of four games the Celtics play the week of Christmas, three on the West Coast. When the Celtics head to Minnesota Feb. 8, TNT will show the 8 p.m. contest.

In addition to the Christmas road trip, the Celtics head back out west in the third and fourth weeks of February with stops in Denver, Golden State, Phoenix, Portland, and Los Angeles (Clippers). A mid-March journey makes stops in Milwaukee, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans.

But the real key dates come when Boston plays Eastern Conference contenders. The Celtics will test themselves against Cleveland Nov. 27, Miami Nov. 30, and Detroit Jan. 5. They play West powers Dallas Jan. 31, San Antonio Feb. 10, and Phoenix Feb. 22. Top draft pick Greg Oden comes to town Jan. 16 with Portland and Kevin Durant and Seattle will be at the Garden March 12. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers visit Nov. 23.

Former Celtic Satch Sanders, who recently retired as vice president of player programs for the NBA, is the recipient of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement festivities Sept. 7-9 in Springfield.

Drafted by the Celtics in 1960, the All-American out of New York University played 13 years in the NBA (all with the Celtics) and won eight league championships while playing with Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, and John Havlicek, and being coached by Red Auerbach.