Boston Celtics (0-0) vs. Miami Heat (0-0)
8 p.m./TNT
Tonight's game of the night is the grudge match to end all grudge matches. Kevin Garnett gets to meet up with his old friend Ray Allen and the Heat and the Celtics renew their rivalry.
Oh, and Miami is getting its rings for winning the championship.
What could possibly go wrong with Kevin Garnett foaming at the mouth with his rabid desire for all things intense?
The Heat and the Celtics mark the unofficial opening of the NBA's regular season, kicking off the national television broadcast on TNT. Miami and Boston trot out largely the same lineups from the teams that made the Eastern Conference Finals last year. And you know they will be in top form. Or maybe Boston will begin pacing itself and let Miami have its night.
The Heat have to be hoping that they have their focus. They should remember last year when they trounced Dallas in an opening day statement when Dallas received the team's championship rings. Then there is the Heat's own ring ceremony from 2006 when the Bulls left Miami big winners on the Heat's ring night.
Strange things happen at the beginning of the season. Maybe we should not expect so much and just enjoy the fact we have basketball again.
Other Storylines to Watch
-Jeff Green makes his return to the court after an irregular heartbeat caused him to miss the entire season last year. Green's comeback has been very improbably and he expressed his gratitude on Twitter earlier today:
–The Celtics care not for the Heat's ring ceremony. They will be lurking in the hallways and locker rooms of American Airlines Arena during the ceremony.
Tonight's Other Games
Washington Wizards (0-0) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0)
7 p.m.
This should have been a really fun matchup to start the season between two young and exciting point guards. Instead John Wall is hurt. So why watch this game? Kyrie Irving playing basketball… not in old man makeup!
Dallas Mavericks (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (0-0)
10:30 p.m./TNT
The Lakers premier their new lineup … well, Kobe Bryant says there is an 85 percent chance he will play tonight. But Dwight Howard will go and play his first game since injuring his back last year while with the Magic. His matchup? Eddy Curry will start for the Mavericks. This could either be a really nice story… or a complete disaster for Dallas.
Tonight's Fantasy Picks
F Pau Gasol, Lakers (vs. Mavericks)
F Brandon Bass, Celtics (@ Heat)
C Dwight Howard, Lakers (vs. Mavericks)
G Bradley Beal, Wizards (@ Cavaliers)
G Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers (vs. Wizards)
