Opening night is in 83 days. Are you ready, LeBron?

The NBA released its 2008-09 schedule today and the opening matchup features a double header on Tuesday, Oct. 28th with the defending champion Boston Celtics taking on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers; and Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers versus Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. A star-studded night of basketball to be sure.

For more information on some of the other exciting games taking place during the opening week, plus other cool double headers scheduled to take place over the coming NBA season, click here.

Sweet cuppin’ cakes. The Boston Celtics were 4-1 at press time to win the NBA title. Taking that bet just might break every cardinal rule of sharp handicapping.

Look at the Celtics roster. Now look at the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves. They had a “Big Three” of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell. They had more depth than Garnett’s current Boston club. And they didn’t even reach the NBA Finals.

Granted, they also had to run the Western Conference gauntlet, which explains to some extent why the Celtics are tied with the Dallas Mavericks as the second favorites to win the title behind San Antonio (7-2). But let’s not sell the East short. Detroit has climbed the mountain before, and Chicago is loaded for bear. They’re available at 12-1, as are last year’s Eastern champions from Cleveland. Would you take one-third of the payday to bet on Boston instead of these three teams?