Heat overshadowing rest of NBA as season approaches | IXGAMES

Fittingly one game on the NBA schedule has the first few hours of opening night all to itself. The Miami Heat opens with what is expected to be a championship season, playing the much-hyped reigning Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics. Miami Heat as Favorites and to win odds The Heat dominated the offseason headlines because LeBron and Bosh decided to shift the balance of power in the league by joining fellow superstar Dwyane Wade in South Beach. Now the Heat are overwhelming 17/10 favourites to win the franchise’s second title and many believe Miami could threaten the Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 regular-season wins. Can LeBron get his first championship and third straight MVP award? Get close to the action with the Bodog courtside NBA betting guide where James is 9/2 to get another MVP trophy. The countdown has begun and the web’s leader will offer a special “Beat the Heat” betting promotion all season. With all the buzz about the Heat, it’s almost like people have forgotten about a certain purple and gold team out West with a superstar of its own and a Zen master as coach. Of course that’s the Los Angeles Lakers, who are only the reigning two-time NBA champions. Phil Jackson goes for the fourth threepeat in his Hall of Fame coaching career, while Kobe Bryant looks for NBA championship No. 6, which would just so happen to tie him with Michael Jordan. And don’t forget the Celtics, who pushed the Lakers to game seven in last year’s NBA Finals and brought pretty much the entire cast back for one more run while also adding Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Co. are seen as the top competition for the Heat in the East. Finally, can young Kevin Durant, the league’s youngest scoring champion ever, lead the up-and-coming Thunder past the mighty Lakers out West after also sparking the USA to a gold medal at this summer’s world championships? Durant, not LeBron or Kobe, is the 9/4 favourite to win the 2011 MVP award. Those are just a few big storylines heading into what should be a memorable season. For all your NBA betting odds and props, choose the Bodog Courtside 2010/2011 NBA Betting Guide.…it pays to be close to the action! For updated odds all season long check out Bodog sportsbook daily.