STORYLINES
1. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh » What could possibly go wrong? If nothing, then the assault on the Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 regular-season wins begins Tuesday in Boston. Oh wait, the Heat already lost Mike Miller to a hand injury that will sideline him until January, and Wade and James each missed preseason games with niggling hamstring issues. But when James has played, he’s put everybody on his infamous list on notice that he’s heard everything that’s been said about him since he turned his back on Cleveland over the summer. But will his outsized ego be able to defer to Wade down the stretch in tight games? Aside from the Olympics, he’s never played with a player of Wade’s caliber before.
2. The looming labor battle » NBA commissioner David Stern talked last week about contraction and a reduction of player costs by $700-800 million. National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter accused the owners’ stance of potentially leading to a lockout. Sounds like the predictions of fire and brimstone will come from both sides as the current collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners gets set to expire next summer. Both sides will admit the current model is broken. Does that mean the NBA needs to go the way of the NHL? Not exactly. The negotiating parties have dealt with each other before, but venting in public always makes matters worse.
3. Thunder rumbling but there’s no storm out West » What happened to the top-heavy Western Conference? San Antonio is coming to grips with its age, hoping Tiago Splitter will be the next Tim Duncan and that Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have one more run in them. Dallas still has Dirk Nowitzki but didn’t get a huge upgrade from Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Steve Nash’s Phoenix Suns have been retooled. Portland could be sneaky good, if Greg Oden is finally healthy — and there’s little reason to believe that will happen. Utah may have gotten the steal of the summer in Al Jefferson, but unless Deron Williams can solve the Lakers or Oklahoma City, the Jazz will go four straight years without reaching the conference finals.
Games to watch this season
Miami at Boston, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., TNT
How vilified will the Heat be? There are few places where the visiting reception should be as harsh as Beantown. The Celtics, meanwhile, will unveil the Two Old O’Neals — Shaquille and Jermaine — both of whom will be facing their former team. The quick hands of Rajon Rondo will steer Boston this season, but expect coach Doc Rivers to save up for next spring and throttle back outside of big games like this one.
Thanksgiving doubleheader, Nov. 25, 8 p.m., TNT
Take an early nap after Thanksgiving dinner, then wake up and sit down to watch premier rookies all evening. First, John Wall and the Wizards visit the Hawks, then DeMarcus Cousins and Blake Griffin will duke it out in the low post at Staples Center as the Kings face the Clippers. The next morning, shop early and buy jerseys for all three.
Denver at New York, Dec. 12, noon
Nothing like an uncomfortable Sunday brunch for Carmelo Anthony. If he hasn’t left the Mile High City by now, it may be hard to persuade him to return — and the fans at Madison Square Garden might not let him, especially if the new-look Knicks haven’t proved to be any better with Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton. The Nuggets don’t have to visit the Nets’ temporary home in Newark until Jan. 31.
