NBA 2010-2011 Season

It's finally here. The summer of shock is over. The preseason of patience is done. In just a couple of hours, the Miami Heat begins its most anticipated season in franchise history. It starts with a road game befitting of such a circus this grand experiment has already become. The Heat begins the NBA 2010-2011 regular season at 7:30 p.m. against the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics on their home turf.

"It seems like it's taken forever to get here -- I know that,'' said Heat forward Udonis Haslem, who, along with guard Dwyane Wade, was named a team captain on Monday. ``And it's not a coincidence we're starting off against Boston. Don't let anyone tell you it is. There's a reason we're starting off against Boston at Boston. There's a lot of hype built up around it.''

The story line is obvious. Boston is the Eastern Conference's reigning champ and Miami, with its roster built for greatness, is the weight class' top challenger. It's only October, but Tuesday's environment will surely feel like late May. TD Garden will be a violent sea of Celtic green. Heat forward LeBron James, the player everyone outside of South Florida now loves to hate, will be welcomed to Boston accordingly.

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The lights will dim and music will blare. Another banner will rise to the Staples Center rafters and the giant video screens will fall from the scoreboard to the floor to bring reminders of the Lakers' run that won the new championship rings handed out minutes earlier.

The Rockets will be there, invited to attend, but not to join in, like seat fillers at one of those Hollywood award ceremonies across the street.

The Rockets will have their own goals, their own season to open tonight against the Lakers, complete with their own reason to celebrate with the return of Yao Ming.

"There will be a lot of attention," forward Luis Scola said. "They will receive their rings, and everything. We don't have to think about that. It's just one game. Just focus in.

"It could be fun, but we got to win."

They have before. The Rockets opened the 2008-09 season with a win in Los Angeles against the Lakers. They opened their playoff series against the Lakers with another win in Staples Center.

They'll be reminded tonight about everything that has happened since, but also of how much they want to start over.

"We opened out there two years ago and it was just a great atmosphere," said Battier, who clinched the season-opening win with a corner 3. "We were able to sneak one by them and escape with a win. I'm hoping to do the same thing.

"They can have all the fanfare and all the rings they want. We just want one little win and we'll leave."