NBA Opening Day 2012: Bold Predictions for Season's Tipoff

Two point guards, on opposite ends of the career spectrum, will dazzle in Tuesday night's season-opening NBA action. 

Kyrie Irving and Steve Nash will both be roaming the floor while hearkening back to the day when point guards actually set up their teammates for scores.

We'll have more on them below as we discuss a bold prediction from each of the opening three games (check out the schedule here). 

Kyrie Irving Will Prove He's Ready to Take the Next Step

The reigning rookie of the year will open up his sophomore campaign in dynamic fashion. 

The Wizards are without John Wall to start the season and temporary starter A.J. Price is not going to be able to stay with Irving. 

Irving will use this to not only score, but break down the defense and set up teammates. The 20-year-old showed an amazing feel for the game as a rookie. He rarely made a bad decision, and he is not one to force a pass or a shot.

He finished his rookie year averaging 18.5 points and 5.4 assists per game. He has a young team around him and they will grow together, which will undoubtedly see his assists numbers rise—and they will certainly rise in this one.

It will be a complete point guard performance as I expect him to surpass 20 points and 10 assists. 

The Celtics Will Rain on the Heat's Parade

Boston has been waiting nearly five months for this game; Miami has been celebrating a championship. The Celtics are going to bring an intensity the Heat are not prepared to match. 

I'm not trying to say the Heat are unprepared for the season, or they spent the time off like Shawn Kemp during a lockout, simply that Boston is going to bring a playoff-like intensity to this one. 

Not only are they facing the team that eliminated them last year, but they are also going against their former teammate, Ray Allen. It has become clear that there are some Celtics who were not thrilled about Ray defecting to the Heat. 

So the Heat will get their rings before the game, and the Celtics will further fill with rage and determination. 

This will be a well-played and closely contested game, but look for Boston's increased motivation to win out in the end as they defeat the Heat, 97-94. 

Steve Nash Will Be the Buzz of Tinseltown 

The ageless Steve Nash is going to dazzle in his Lakers debut. 

First off, Kobe Bryant is ailing. He has missed the last week with a sprained foot. Now, as ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported, Kobe gave himself an 85 percent chance of playing, but, if he does play, it would be foolish to ride him too hard in the opener if they don't have to. 

And with Dallas playing without Dirk Nowitzki and essentially breaking in an entirely new roster, the Lakers won't have to rely on Bryant to pull out this win. 

This will leave Nash with the ball in his hands to break down the defense and set up his talented big men. Nash will create ample easy buckets for Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol while drilling his open looks. 

Nash will be a highlight-producing machine in this game, and point-guard starved Lakers fans will eat it up.