LeBron James Miami Heat: 25 Marquee 2010 One-on-One Matchups for Big 3
The 2010-11 NBA season is right around the corner, and you can feel the excitement in the air as tip-off nears.
That is especially true for the new-look Miami Heat, a team with high expectations of not only reaching the playoffs but winning a NBA championship.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the 25 marquee one-on-one matchups for the big three this coming season.
From LeBron James to Dwyane Wade to Chris Bosh, there will be plenty more than just 25 good showdowns on the hardwood.
But to quickly look ahead at what's to come in the months ahead for the Miami Heat, let's begin with Bosh at No. 25...
No. 25: Chris Bosh Vs. Dirk Nowitzki
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The Matchup: Coming in at No. 25 in marquee one-on-one matchups for Miami's big three in 2010-11 is a showdown between the Heat's Chris Bosh and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki on November 27, 2010.
The Stakes: Not too much this early in the season, but the stakes will always be high for any team aiming to take down the new-look Heat.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 108, Dallas 90.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Bosh with 23 points, Nowitzki with 16.
No. 24: Chris Bosh Vs. Carlos Boozer
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The Matchup: On January 15, 2011 Miami's Chris Bosh will be battling Chicago's Carlos Boozer.
The Stakes: As usual when facing the dream-team Heat, every matchup against Miami will be big. But this one will be especially big with a showdown between two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 98, Chicago 92.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Boozer with 18 points, Bosh with 12.
No. 23: Dwyane Wade Vs. Joe Johnson
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The Matchup: Miami's long-standing veteran Dwyane Wade will face Atlanta's Joe Johnson in an NBA showdown on January 18, 2011.
The Stakes: Once again, the Hawks will want to win just to dethrone the big three in Miami. But regardless, anytime you have two Eastern Conference opponents going toe-to-toe, it's going to get interesting.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 95, Atlanta 91.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Wade with 30 points, Johnson with 22.
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No. 22: LeBron James Vs. Blake Griffin
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The Matchup: On January 12, 2011, Miami's LeBron James will have a little more unconventional matchup on the hardwood with LA Clippers power forward Blake Griffin.
The Stakes: Maybe not that big when talking about the LA Clippers, but always big when talking about the Miami Heat.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 119, LA Clippers 92.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 40 points, Griffin with 21.
No. 21: Dwyane Wade Vs. Brandon Roy
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The Matchup: On January 9, 2011, Miami guard Dwyane Wade will hit the hardwood for a one-on-one matchup with Portland's Brandon Roy.
The Stakes: Nearly every team in the league has one goal in mind in 2010—beat Miami. So yes, the stakes remain high as always.
Who Will Win the Game: Portland 101, Miami 100.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Wade with 26 points, Roy with 18.
No. 20: Chris Bosh Vs. Zach Randolph
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The Matchup: Miami's Chris Bosh goes head-to-head with Memphis' Zach Randolph in a regular season game on November 20, 2010.
The Stakes: Any time any team faces Miami, the heat is on.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 118, Memphis 92.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Bosh with 28 points, Randolph with 15.
No. 19: Dwyane Wade Vs. Aaron Brooks
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The Matchup: Miami's Dwayne Wade will be battling Houston's Aaron Brooks in a NBA showdown on March 27, 2011.
The Stakes: Big, especially in late March and with two teams that will likely be battling for playoff positioning.
Who Will Win the Game: Houston 103, Miami 100.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Brooks with 32 points, Wade with 27.
No. 18: LeBron James Vs. Caron Butler
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The Matchup: The Dallas Mavericks will face the Miami Heat on Dec. 20, 2010, giving fans a chance to watch a battle between LeBron James and Caron Butler.
The Stakes: Always big when facing the Heat.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 109, Dallas 97.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Butler with 29 points, James with 26.
No. 17: Chris Bosh Vs. Rashard Lewis
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The Matchup: Chris Bosh and Rashard Lewis will be going toe-to-toe on the hardwood on November 24, 2010, when the Miami Heat face the Orlando Magic.
The Stakes: As per usual, and a trend the Heat will quickly get used to, everyone will be gunning for Miami in 2010. But there will be even more at stake in this matchup pitting two Eastern Conference leaders against one another.
Who Will Win the Game: Orlando 98, Miami 93.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Chris Bosh with 22 points, Lewis with 18.
No. 16: Dwyane Wade Vs. John Wall
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The Matchup: On November 29, 2010, Washington's John Wall will get a rude introduction to the NBA when he faces Miami's Dwyane Wade.
The Stakes: For a Washington team in the process of rebuilding, any win and every game is "at stake," especially when facing the Heat.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 121, Washington 87.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Wade with 38 points, Wall with 27.
No. 15: LeBron James Vs. Paul Pierce
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The Matchup: On April 10, 2011, Boston's Paul Pierce will face Miami's LeBron James in a battle of big three teams.
The Stakes: Big, big, big, especially in terms of Miami against Boston and the history of the big three.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 91, Boston 88.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 32 points, Pierce with 26.
No. 14: Chris Bosh Vs. Kevin Garnett
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The Matchup: On November 11, 2010, Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh will be battling Boston's Kevin Garnett as the new-look big three battle the old-school big three.
The Stakes: Plenty at stake here, regardless of it being an early season game, especially with two big three's facing one another.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 108, Boston 97.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Chris Bosh with 23 points, Garnett with 18.
No. 13: Dwyane Wade Vs. Manu Ginobili
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The Matchup: When the Miami Heat face the San Antonio Spurs on March 4, 2011, make sure to keep an eye on the matchup between Dwyane Wade and Manu Ginobili.
The Stakes: It's March in the 2010-11 NBA season and the summer's playoffs are looming. Now will be the time to take down Miami.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 105, San Antonio 88.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Wade with 35 points, Ginobili with 19.
No. 12: Chris Bosh Vs. Amar'e Stoudemire
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The Matchup: The Miami Heat will battle the New York Knicks on February 27, 2011, giving fans an opportunity to watch a one-on-one matchup between Chris Bosh and Amar'e Stoudemire.
The Stakes: Everything is at stake by the time late February and early March rolls around in the NBA, especially when facing the Heat.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 99, New York 98.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Stoudemire with 27 points, Bosh with 20.
No. 11: Dwyane Wade Vs. Ray Allen
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The Matchup: On February 13, 2011, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade will battle Boston's Ray Allen on the NBA hardwood.
The Stakes: It's been stated before and it will be stated again. Anytime anyone faces the 2010 Miami Heat, a lot will be on the line.
Who Will Win the Game: Boston 102, Miami 99.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Allen with 32 points, Wade with 29.
No. 10: LeBron James Vs. Ron Artest
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The Matchup: Who's ready for Christmas Day? On Dec. 25, 2010, Miami's LeBron James will hit the hardwood to face LA Lakers forward Ron Artest.
The Stakes: With the loser surely getting coals, the stakes will be very high in this early season showdown between two of the best teams in the league.
Who Will Win the Game: LA Lakers 108, Miami 103.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 26 points, Artest with 18.
No. 9: Chris Bosh Vs. Tim Duncan
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The Matchup: On March 14, 2011, Miami's Chris Bosh will face San Antonio's Tim Duncan on the NBA hardwood.
The Stakes: With March madness in the air, the stakes will be even higher as the season marches towards the summer.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 102, San Antonio 95.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Tim Duncan with 19 points, Bosh with 12.
No. 8: LeBron James Vs. Amar'e Stoudemire
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The Matchup: The new-look New York Knicks will battle the dream team Miami Heat on January 27, 2011, pitting LeBron James against Amar'e Stoudemire.
The Stakes: It's 2011, and NBA teams will be trying as hard as possible to knock off the Heat. The stakes are high.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 93, New York 88.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 29 points, Stoudemire with 23.
No. 7: Dwyane Wade Vs. Kobe Bryant
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The Matchup: The Miami Heat face the LA Lakers on Christmas Day, pitting Dwayne Wade against Kobe Bryant.
The Stakes: Huge—forget that it's still 2010. It's the new dream team Miami Heat playing the defending NBA champion LA Lakers!
Who Will Win the Game: LA Lakers 108, Miami 103.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Bryant with 42 points, Wade with 33.
No. 6: LeBron James Vs. Vince Carter
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The Matchup: Who's ready for some NBA March madness? On March 3, 2011, Miami's LeBron James will battle Orlando's Vince Carter.
The Stakes: Very high, with March rolling in and the Heat and Magic gunning for positioning in the East.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 99, Orlando 91.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 25 points, Carter with 24.
No. 5: LeBron James Vs. Carmelo Anthony
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The Matchup: On March 19, 2011, the Heat's LeBron James will face the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony.
The Stakes: When talking about James against Anthony, it's got to be huge. Plus, we're talking about the new-look Heat also!
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 102, Denver 94.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 41 points, Anthony with 36.
No. 4: LeBron James Vs. Kevin Durant
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The Matchup: The Oklahoma City Thunder will clash with the Miami Heat on March 16, 2011, putting a focus on a marquee matchup between LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
The Stakes: It's March and it's the Thunder and Heat. The stakes are going to be super high.
Who Will Win the Game: Oklahoma City 116, Miami 109.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Durant with 33 points, James with 29.
No. 3: Chris Bosh Vs. Pau Gasol
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The Matchup: On March 10, 2011, Miami's Chris Bosh will hit the hardwood for a matchup with LA Lakers forward Pau Gasol.
The Stakes: It's March in the NBA season and the Lakers will be facing the new look Miami Heat. What's not at stake??
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 109, LA Lakers 104.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Bosh with 26 points, Gasol with 19.
No. 2: Dwyane Wade Vs. Derrick Rose
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The Matchup: On February 24, 2011, Miami's Dwyane Wade will face Chicago's Derrick Rose in what will surely be a NBA nail-biter.
The Stakes: Plenty when playing the Heat. Plus, Chicago has a new-look team as well.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 94, Chicago 92.
Who Will Win the Matchup: Wade with 27 points, Rose with 22.
No. 1: LeBron James Vs. Kobe Bryant
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The Matchup: The No. 1 matchup of next season will take place on March 10, 2011, when Miami's LeBron James battles the LA Lakers' Kobe Bryant.
The Stakes: Boiling point. Could be a quick snapshot of the NBA finals if people get their wish.
Who Will Win the Game: Miami 109, LA Lakers 104.
Who Will Win the Matchup: James with 45 points, Bryant with 38.
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Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com
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