It feels like the ‘09 playoffs just ended just a few days ago, but when the ‘09/’10 season begins tonight it will have been over 4 months since the Lakers won the title. With the excitment of last years playoffs still fresh in my mind (see the numerous articles in May/June where I get WAY to excited) I’m anxious to get this season started. As a Raps fan I’ll have to subdue myself until tomorrow, but there are still a number of matchups which, despite the fact that it’s October and WAY to early for games to mean that much, are pretty big games. Here is a super quick preview (only 30 mins to game time restricts my ability to say much more):

Celtics/Cavs: A matchup up of the two teams the Magic beat on their way into the NBA Finals. Both teams have title hopes this year and have restocked their lineups to hopefully defend the Big Black Superman a little better this time around. The Cavs brought in “The Original Superman”, Shaq, and the Celtics brought in Rasheed Wallace, which makes both teams much better down low and at the same time qualifies them for Grey Power Insurance However, this game will be decided by the play of their young superstars, LeBron and Rondo, who both carried their team in the playoffs I think last years MVP takes the cake:

Cavs 95 – Celtics 92

Wizards/Mavs: The Mavs were part of the massive deal that brought Antoine Wright and Hedo Turkaglu to Toronto, and in return got Shawn Marion, a high energy forward who is one of the best rebounding wingmen in the league. The Wizards made an addition this offseason, but it wan’t a big name free agent, it was Agent Zero. Both teams are projected to make the playoffs this year, but I’d like to see if Arenas is his old self before saying they are a top team in the East. So until then:

Mavs 104 – Wizards 93

Trail Blazers/Rockets: The Rockets lost a top 3 center (Yao Ming) and the Blazers bring back Greg Oden who is reportedly 13 pounds lighter and looking alot more like the #1 overall pick. That makes the difference between two teams. Brooks is a quick young guard and Miller is a physical vet, neither can defend the other (PUSH). Brandon Roy has emerged as a superstar and while Trevor Ariza isn’t quite there yet, his defense is, which will slow down Roy significantly in the Rockets defense oriented gameplan (PUSH). Battier and Webster… meh (PUSH). Aldridge is looking like a young Chris Bosh (they might be the same age?) and is currently the Blazers go to down low, Luis Scola isn’t as gifted offensively but is their glue guy down low (PUSH-ish). So with Oden making the difference:

Trail Blazers 98 – Rockets 90

Clippers/Lakers: Blake Griffin is out for 6 weeks:

Lakers 115 – Clippers 90

Enjoy the games guys and come back for more intense NBA coverage once the season is in full gear.

- KC Roberts