A preview of what is likely to be the Eastern Conference
Finals in the opening game of the season? Sure, why not. We take a look at the
early betting odds for this heavyweight NBA matchup.
The whirlwind surrounding the incredibly hyped 2010 free
agent class has finally settled and with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal both leaving the Cavaliers, there is now a new force to be reckoned with emerging
in the East.
Obviously, the big winners during the offseason have been
the Miami Heat, who managed to sign both LeBron James and Chris Bosh to form a
new "Big Three" alongside Dwayne Wade in South Beach. NBA bettors everywhere
are salivating at the prospective damage this trio could cause even as massive
chalk.
Millions of people watched live as LeBron ditched Cleveland
for the sun and glamour of Miami. His teammate from last season, Shaquille
O'Neal, also left the Cavs but opted to sign a two-year deal with the Celtics
in hopes of adding even more NBA titles to his collection. The two larger than
life characters will butt heads in this already highly publicized opening game
of the 2010/11 season.
Miami team president Pat Riley also re-signed Udonis Haslem
over the summer, while filling out the rest of the roster with sharpshooter
Mike Miller and reliable role-players such as Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Eddie
House. Additionally, Dexter Pittman and Da'Sean Butler are two rookies with a
lot of promise and could see some minutes as the season progresses.
Still, the NBA betting world is rightfully focused on the
newly formed three-headed monster this upcoming season. How will Wade, LeBron
and Bosh fare on the same team fighting for the touches they all so desperately
desire?
That remains to be seen, but on talent alone it's hard to
imagine the Heat not winning at least 60 games this season. Though it may take
some time for the chemistry to develop, it will spell bad news for the rest of
the league once (or if) it does.
The new-look Heat are already backed by the books to claim
the 2010/11 NBA Championship at +175
odds, ahead of the defending champion Lakers who are at +300.
One team standing in Miami's way of an NBA title is an
experienced and undeniably tough Boston Celtics squad.
Last year's Eastern Conference champs, the Celtics are
priced at +1200 to win the title this year which seems like great value for
such a notoriously strong playoff team. Boston knocked out Miami, Cleveland and
Orlando in the 2009/10 playoffs before losing in Game 7 of the Finals to the
Lakers.
The older "Big Three" of Boston consisting of Kevin Garnett,
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen again were the backbone of the team with Rajon Rondo
developing into one of the finest point guards in the league.
Coach Doc Rivers, who contemplated stepping down over the
summer, will return for the 2010/11 season with the core of his roster still
intact. The team was able to add even more size over the offseason however,
signing both Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal as frontcourt cover with Kendrick Perkins
still recovering from knee surgery.
The two teams will square off in Boston on October 26th
and the matchup is clearly not void of juicy storylines. Celtics vs. Heat.
Boston's "Big Three" vs. the South Beach All-Stars. Shaq vs. LeBron. KG vs.
Chris Bosh. The list goes on and on.
As of now, the Heat are early 1.5 point favorites on
Pinnacle to leave Boston with the W, though the Celtics will try their hardest
to spoil the much-anticipated debut of Miami's revamped lineup. This will be
one you definitely don't want to miss.