Tick Tick Tick... BOOM!

When has there been a more anticipated year in the NBA? There hasnt been this much hype since Lebron Wade & Bosh were all on their own teams. The new look Heat take on the Eastern Conference Champion Celitcs to tip off the NBA season. The very next night the revamped Cavaliers look to exact some revenge on a Celtics team that ended their season last year. Then on Thursday night the first overall pick comes to meet his new divisional rivals in the retooled Orlando Magic. Who has the edge in these Matchups?

Tuesday 7:30 Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics

This may very well be an Eastern Conference Finals preview. We all know the big moves each team has made. Miami acquired the top 3 free agents in Lebron James , Dwyane Wade & Chris Bosh. The Celtics brought in two big bodies that share the same last name : Shaquille & Jermaine O'Neal . The Celtics took out the Heat in a commanding fashion in the playoffs last year but this is a very different Heat squad. Let see how they match up.

Point Guard

Advantage Celtics

Rajon Rondo showed us all one thing last year. He deserves to be considered an elite NBA pg. Nate Robinson is as explosive as they come. He can easily shift the balance of a game off the bench. Chalmers , however, wont be given much responsibility except to pass to the all stars. 

Shooting Guard

Advantage Heat

How can you pick against D-Wade? He already gives teams fits when they double team him. Just wait till he is in one on one situations verses an aging Ray Allen. Allens best years are now behind him. He was never known for his defense & now that Tony Allen , their best on ball defender, is now in Memphis look for the Heat to exploit this match up.

Small Forward

Advantage Heat

This was a little closer than most would imagine. Lebron is an absolute freak of nature on the court. Physically he is unmatched in the NBA. Paul Peirce , however , is a winner. He does what it takes to win games, much to the chagrin of his opponents. Lebrons defensive prowess will get this upper hand in this matchup though.

Power Forward

Advantage Celtics

Kevin Garnett was plauged by injury last year. He could never get it all together.While his offense suffered his defensive intensity never waned. With a summer off to get healthy look for KG to give Chris Bosh fits all night.

Center
Advantage Celtics
Shaq maybe old but he can still do what he needs to do at his position. Joel Anthony will have his hands full.

Bench
Advantage Celtics
Mike Miller is dinged up so the biggest threat off the Miami Bench is Haslem. The Celtics , on the other hand, is one of the best in the NBA. Nate Robinson, Jermaine Oneal , Delonte West & Kendrick Perkins could start on many NBA rosters.

Prediction
The Heat have 3 young stars in their prime. The Celtics counter with proven verteran winners & leadership with a bench to boot. The Celtic bench may very well be the key to this game. The starters for Miami can hang but i think the fall off once they take a breather will be too much.

Heat 97
Celtics 101

Wednesday 7:00 Boston Celtics  @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The Lebronless Cavs look to exact revenge on the Celtics. Moe Williams will have to shoulder the load of his team young team . If the Cavs have a chance to take down one of the Easts elite, this is their chance since the Celts will be coming off a tough matchup the night before. Jamison has now been there long enough to get acclimated to his teammates. Byron Scott will have this Cavs team ready but will that be enough?

Point Guard

Advantage Celtics

Moe Williams has proven he can score. Any given night he can drop 20+. But Rajon Rondo is the perfect antidote for that. He is quicker , faster & more athletic than Williams. While Moe has the obvious offensive advantage, Rondo has the overall advantage.

Shooting Guard

Advantage Celtics

Ray Allen may have his best years behind him but Anthony Parker could only pray to have one year like Allen. Parkers defensive pressure may win out initially but Ray Allens ability to get to the stripe should keep him in rhythm all night. Parker may have some bursts of greatness but Allen is just too much.

Small Forward

Advantage Celtics

Jamario Moon is athletically superior to Paul Peirce. However, Paul Peirce's repertoire of offensive moves and his ability to draw contact on shots will decide this matchup. 

Power Forward

Advantage Celtics

Jamison will need to channel his all star years to help this team. The Celtics arent the team to do that against. KG takes this matchup easily.

Center

Advantage Cavaliers

Ok, on paper Shaq should take this matchup by a landslide. But there is something about Anderson Verajao that brings out the worst in opposing teams big men. Look for him to get Shaq in trouble early in this game

Bench

The Celtics bench may be , in some respects, as good as the Cavalier starters.

Prediction

The Cavs will keep it close with lots of energy to start off the game but the Celtics will finish it off.

Celtics 96 

Cavaliers 80

Thursday 8:00 Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic

Agent Zero is back & John Wall is ready to take the NBA by storm. Will that be enough though to stop the Orlando Magic? The Magic havent made many big changes but they have bolsterd their rotation. The Wizards show lots of promise & the Magic wont be satisfied with anything less than a championship. But will Orlando get caught looking ahead to Fridays game verses Miami?

Point Guard

Advantage Washington

This is tough. Jameer Nelson is the perfect point guard for this team offensively but he struggles on defense vs bigger PGs. I Really think that the rookie might have the upper hand. He has exhibited all the tools needed to be a top tier PG in the NBA. His size & athleticism however sets him apart.

Shooting Guard

Advantage Orlando

Gilbert still isnt back in the swing of things. Vinsanity is out to silence all the talk of him being wshed up. This will be exciting to watch. Both , when hot, can torch a team. Look for Vince to have the upper hand though since Gilbert is seeing his first real competition in more than 6 months.

Small Forward

Advantage Orlando

Al Thornton is a solid SF in the NBA. He is however a bench player. His defense may give MP some resistance at first but not for long. Pietrus is looking to rebound from a season where he fell into a slump. Offensively Pietrus is superior but look for his defensive pressure on Thornton to cause problems too.

Power Forward

Advantage Orlando

Andray Blatche took a huge leap last year. His size & post pressense make him a tough match up for Rashard Lewis. Conversely i dont think Blatche can contain Lewis. But Blatche's commitment to being a true PF tips the scales in Lewis' favor. Blatche will have to come out of the paint if he looks to keep Lewis from heating up.

Center

Advantage Orlando

Do i really have to explain this? Javale McGee is a legit 7 footer but he is young. His youth might allow him to sneak in a few athletic plays but thinking that he stands a chance against the NBAs premiere center is absolutely foolish. Dwight will have his way with McGee all night.

Bench

With the addition of Kurt Hinrich the Wiz have a bench player that can lead the offense. But the Magic are far too deep for that to affect them. Bringing back Redick & the growth of Brandon Bass this preseason makes this bench the best in the NBA , only rivaled by the Lakers.

Prediction

The Wizards just dont have enough to stop the Magic. Not on this night.

Washington 82

Orlando 103

Here are the rest of my predictions for the first 3 days of the NBA season

Wednesday

Detroit 89

New Jersey 94

The Nets look to start off their season with a win vs a Pistons team that underachieved last year.

Miami 110

Philadelphia 87

The Heat will be reeling after an opening night loss. Too bad for the 76ers.

New York 115

Toronto 82

Amare is about to show out in his official debut. 

Feedback is always welcomed. Please Comment. Let me know what you think. Happy NBA TipOff Everybody.