The countdown has started and the 2012/2013 NBA season is approaching. In 20 days the Kia tip-off will start a double header; the Miami Heat will host the Boston Celtics and the L.A. Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks.
The Miami Heat have a reputation to uphold after winning the NBA finals last year, but that should not be a problem with the lineup they have. Both teams (the Heat and the Celtics) have a strong lineup and even thought the Heat did win the finals, it doesn’t guarantee them a win in the game on Oct. 30.
According to ESPN.go.com the Heat will have Ray Allen for the 2012/2013 season. With the addition of Ray Allen, the Heat will be able to play at their peak. The players in the Heat’s starting lineup are great on their own, but will they work well together? The ego level of the Heat has reached an all-time high with the addition of Ray Allen.
Miami does have a lot of stars, but the positive part of that is that they have a working bench. This will come handy if any of the starters get injured and even during the finals. With the team the Heat has, it is going to be an arduous task for Boston to try to bounce past their defense.
The Celtics have a lot to bring to the table as well. They did inherit Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo though, both first round draft picks, according to boston.com. They still may not be able to face the Heat and come out with a win. The Celtics still have Paul Pierce, one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, but that will not be enough to save this game. The only hope Boston has lies with Kevin Garnett. If he plays hard in the paint, they may be able to snag themselves a win.
On paper the L.A. Lakers seem to have to have a better team than the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers have more depth and they have more experience. They may not have had the best luck with draft picks this year, but they still have players like Kobe Bryant and Metta World Peace who have been in the game 10+ years. Bryant is an outstanding scorer, but he doesn’t have to do it all because they have a well-rounded team.
Dallas has veteran players as well, but even with that advantage it will be hard for them to surpass the expertise the Lakers have taken time to hone. Dallas also does not have as good of a bench. The only real chance they may have is if all of the starters play at their maximum potential.
These games can go either way. The Heat could defend their title and conquer the Celtics; or the Celtics can start off the season well with young, determined players. The Lakers vs. the Mavericks will be the game to see, though. Tune into to TNT at 8pm ET to watch this double header.
