LeBron James, shown here during The Decision, will make his Heat debut tonight. (Bob Luckey, Associated Press)
Happy opening day! The Orlando Magic’s two biggest rivals — Miami and Boston — face off tonight in the first game of the regular season.
It’s the beginning of an era, the first time the Superfriends will play a game together that counts for the Heat. With Dwyane Wade missing most of the preseason and Mike Miller out, this isn’t the exact Heat team we’ll see all season. But it’ll give us a taste of what to expect from each of these rivals.
The game’s on TNT at 7:30.
To capture the occasion, here are some links, beginning with season predictions from 25 ESPN analysts. Hint: No one thinks the Magic are winning it all.
1. ‘10-11 Predictions: NBA champs, ESPN.com
The Buzz: Two of the 25 writers put the Magic in the NBA Finals.
2. Orlando Magic Fans: Don’t knock Miami Heat, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel
The Buzz: The Magic tried to acquire their own Big Three in 2000 with Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. They only signed Hill and McGrady, of course.
3. Bar offers free drinks whenever LeBron James, Miami Heat lose, Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel
The Buzz: A bar in South Florida is paying for everyone’s bar tab whenever the Heat lose. They officially turned their customers into Heat haters.
4. 2010-11 NBA Eastern Conference preview, Peter Vecsey, New York Post
The Buzz: Vecsey chooses the Magic to reach the NBA Finals and dethrone the Lakers.
5. Which NBA team will have the most surprising season?, Tribune Company
The Buzz: Four Tribune Company writers, including one particularly good looking fella, give their take on who will surprise this season.
6. Magic’s Week Ahead, Josh Cohen and Dan Savage, OrlandoMagic.com
The Buzz: The OM.com duo take a look at Orlando’s games against Washington and Miami.
7. Keith Bogans to start for Bulls, Nick Friedell, ESPNChicago.com
The Buzz: Bogans, the former Magic guard, earned the starting nod over Kyle Korver and the injured Ronnie Brewer.
8. Miami Heat coach motivates with NBA trophy, Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Buzz: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy into Miami’s locker room yesterday. Motivation trap: sprung.
9. Monday Musings: Season’s biggest X-factors, Zach Lowe, The Point Forward
The Buzz: Jameer Nelson is one of the league’s biggest X-factors, Lowe says.
10. Video: LeBron James’ new Nike ad, Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don’t Lie
The Buzz: What should you do, LeBron? Make more ambiguous Nike ads.
