Heat will Open Against Celtics
In a game guaranteed to be a feast for fans, the revamped Miami Heat will open the regular season against the Boston Celtics. Fans will be treated to the sensational match-up of the new big three—LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade—against the league’s tried and tested big three, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.
The game will be on Oct. 26 at TD Garden in Boston, league sources said Monday night. A portion of the league’s schedule will be released Tuesday night during an hour-long special on NBA TV.
The special will feature matchups which will be announced for TNT’s opening night double-header, as well as Christmas Day games on ABC and ESPN. The Heat-Celtics game will open the TNT, which will feature the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, in a second game.
Sources said ESPN was busy securing the rights to Miami’s home opener, which is set for either the following night, or that Friday.
The Heat are expected to play 34 nationally televised games, the maximum team allotment. Interest in the team skyrocketed with recent superstar additions.
The Heat opener against the Celtics is drenched in context and significance. The Celtics, who are the reigning eastern conference champions, knocked out Wade and the Heat in five games in the first round of the playoffs last year. In the second round, the Celtics dominated James’ Cavaliers in six games, proving one of the most controversial and troublesome moments in James career. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said afterwards that James quit during the series.
Rajon Rondo, Celtics point guard, refuse to hand over the keys to the eastern conference until the Miami Heat prove they're for real. He recently told Yahoo! Sports: “They should be good, but they ain't done nothing yet. Miami looks really good on paper, and I'm sure they're going to be really good. But they still have to come together as a team. I'm not saying they won't, but who knows if those guys can jell.''
In the face of the criticism, Dwyane Wade responded: “I understand people are going to say stuff. And we accept it with open arms. And even on the road, because every place is going to sell out when we come to town. So [opposing teams] can thank us now.''
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