No Regard Daily Previews: 11-11-10

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat

It seems like just yesterday that we were sitting here, jittery, waiting for these two teams to open up this season in Boston. Before that kickoff on October 26, expectations could not have been higher to watch these teams play each other, to see if the reigning Eastern Conference champs would be able to defend their turf against the newly-created behemoth.

We now find ourselves two and a half weeks into the season, and here we are, just as anxious to watch sparks fly, this time in Miami. Sure, we know more than we did then. We now know that this Heat team, at 5-3, is very human indeed, and also that the Celtics are more ready than a lot of us expected to reassert their dominance. We know that LeBron James probably won't give KD a run for the scoring title, but that there's a damn good chance he finishes in the top ten in assists. We know that Rajon Rondo is pretty much definitely going to finish first in that category, and probably in steals, as well. We know that Kevin Garnett is not the most sensitive person in the world (okay, we already knew that).


But there's a lot we don't know, and there's a lot we're hoping to learn tonight. Like: How will the Heat recover from what has to be their most crushing loss of the season? Will the Celtics be able to match the motivation Miami is sure to carry into this game? If it comes down to the wire, to whom is Spoelstra giving the last shot?

We may not get all of these questions answered, but rest assured that this game is going to do a lot to build the narrative of these two teams for the rest of the season. If the C's pick up another win here, they officially become the gigantic thorn in the side of a Heat team that will be seen as underperforming against elite competition. If Miami can take this game, though, it will go a long way to restoring some of their preseason image as the new titans of the Conference and will build some serious momentum for the rest of their current home stretch.

Calling a game in early November a must-win is ridiculous. I understand this. Yet, for Miami, the result of this game will raise one of two questions that will stick with them until April: Are they a team that just can't beat Boston? Or are they a team that can beat anyone?

Another Game We're Going to Watch Tonight: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

This game is sort of analogous to the aforementioned Celtics-Heat matchup. The Lakers have done nothing to take themselves out of the Western frontrunner position, getting off to an 8-0 start despite narrowly beating the Timberwolves on Tuesday. The Nugs, like the Heat, find themselves in a bit of a something-t0-prove situation. After getting crushed by the Pacers on Tuesday (and allowing that now-famous 20-for-21, 54-point third quarter), Denver needs a win tonight to reassert themselves as a contender in the uber-competitive West.

By the way, we're also probably going to be flipping to Golden State-Chicago during commercial breaks in the Boston-Miami game. We're all winners tonight!