Senior Analyst IOctober 29, 2010
For the first time on the young NBA season, the Orlando Magic will take on the Miami Heat. This could quickly become one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA as each team will battle for supremacy in the East and the state of Florida.
In the off season the Heat made headlines nearly every day after it was announced that LeBron James would be bringing his talents to South Beach. Other teams in the NBA felt slight and overwhelmed by the amount of coverage the Heat were given.
Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy was one of the people the noticed the “extra” coverage the Heat had received. Earlier this year at a press conference Van Gundy stated: “I’m surprised there was enough media left for you guys to get here. ESPN is all Heat, all the time.”
Van Gundy has never been shy with the media and speaking his mind. During the summer when he was asked about Chris Bosh following Dwayne Wade, he said, "Well, he's been following him around for two weeks like his lapdog. So that doesn't really surprise me.”
The coach was not the only member of the Magic to take a shot at LeBron James and the new trio in Miami.
The players got involved as well. Marcin Gortat said “Honestly, I’m sick of listening every hour about Miami—Miami that, how great they are, how big they are, what kind of record they gonna have.”
Dwight Howard chimed in by simply stating “We’re trying to take their heads off.” Even upper management got involved in the verbal feud.
Otis Smith, the president of basketball operations for the Orlando Magic was discussing LeBron going to Miami and had this to say: "I was surprised that he went. I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor."
LeBron responded to this comment by saying, “Orlando, that’s funny that they questioned my competitiveness. “I like that. The locker room—we’re going to put a lot of stuff in the locker room...We'll deal with them later."
Well, that time is now.
The Miami Heat has their home opener Friday in a game against the Orlando Magic. The crowd will be hyped to get the first look at what they consider a championship roster. James and Co. will not forget the comments uttered by the Magic and will take it out on them on the floor.
Brobury Sports have posted the latest NBA odds and the Heat is listed as three point favorites over the Magic. If James and Co. have it their way, that number will be covered, as the Heat will pour it on to prove a point.
This has taken over the NBA as the best and most anticipated rivalry in the game. It will be at the same level as the Knicks and Bulls and the Celtics and Lakers of the past. Tune in this Friday and watch the fireworks as the Heat and the Magic square off in the first round of what will be the start of a great rivalry.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews, and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [email protected]
