The NBA Where Amazing Happens

``I think the NBA did an unbelievable job of picking a great first game" -Dwayne Wade

The NBA is back! 


In just a few hours, the highly anticipated Heat v. Celtics game will begin, followed by a Phoenix v. Portland showdown and finally Lakers v. Rockets. What I wouldn't give to be in the TD Garden tonight.


Miami @ Boston will begin at 7:30 ET on TNT
Houston @ LA will begin at 10:30 ET on TNT

Bryant, Jackson and the Lakers will watch as the franchise's 16th championship banner is raised tonight. Celtics fans like myself are still bitter about the outcome of last season's final game.

But even though they the defending champs, the Lakers spent most of the summer being outdone in the media by the decisions of free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade with Miami. So now Miami has their own 'Big 3' to try and defeat Boston's ever-aging version of the 'Big 3' (possibly 'Big 4' now if we want to include Rondo, which I do). 

One of the teams looking to challenge the Lakers in the West is Houston, who missed the playoffs for the first time in four years last season. 

The absence of Yao was a major reason for the Rockets rough season, but the seven-time All-Star center appears set for his first action since May 8, 2009, when he broke his foot in the Rockets' loss to the Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

"I am very excited," Yao said. "I am just looking forward to playing a great season. I think I can count on my foot now."

Miami is up against the reigning Eastern Conference champion Celtics in a matchup for the ages.

So many things to consider and be excited about: LeBron James' opener with Miami after seven seasons in Cleveland. Wade's first time with James and Chris Bosh as his Heat running mates. Shaquille O'Neal - once a teammate to both Wade and James - playing his first game in green. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett motivated by a Game 7 loss to the Lakers in last season's finals. 

Not to mention the fact that Wade and James were both kicked out of the playoffs by Boston last spring, defeats that helped along their decision to play with one another.

#NBA: @Celtics @iamBigBaby11 works on his corner J for tonight's opener vs. Heat.

``There's never been an opening game that has been more heavily anticipated,'' Allen said. ``I do believe that people are definitely excited to see them more than they're excited about seeing us. Truly they know, as a team, what we represented. The two teams are Eastern Conference powerhouses. It's going to be a game.''

``As far as the East, we're the champs,'' point guard Rajon Rondo said. ``But that's in the past. New season. We're not going to go down without a fight.''

``I think it'll be a very hostile environment,'' James said. ``And us being the most hated team in the world right now, I think it'll be even more hostile.''