By Michael Levine

Ever since the Miami Heat hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy more than four months ago, hoops junkies all around the world have had Tuesday, October 31st circled on their calendars as the day pro hoops comes back into their lives. And while there are lots of things to look forward to – a new crop of rookies, familiar faces in new places, and countless young superstars with another year under their belts – there can only be one objective for the upcoming campaign. Every team wants to get their hands on the hardware come June 2007.

Most Points, Opening Night History

54 - Michael Jordan, 11/03/1989 Chicago vs. Cleveland 50 - Michael Jordan, 11/01/1986 Chicago at New York 47 - Alex English, 10/25/1985 Denver at Golden State 47 - Kiki Vandeweghe, 10/27/1984 Portland at Kansas City 46 - Dale Ellis, 11/04/1988 Seattle at Utah 45 - Latrell Sprewell, 10/31/1997 Golden State at Minnesota 44 - Jerry Stackhouse, 10/31/2000 Detroit at Toronto 43 - Jalen Rose, 10/30/2001 Indiana at New Jersey 42 - Michael Jordan, 11/03/1995 Chicago vs. Charlotte 42 - Shaquille O'Neal, 11/05/1993 Orlando at Miami 42 - Nick Anderson, 11/06/1992 Orlando vs. Miami

Opening night is the first real step towards that goal, a step that will seem like a distant memory by the time the Playoffs are in full swing. Historically, however, a team’s first regular-season game is a strong indicator of what’s to come. In the NBA, it’s hard to start weak and finish strong.

Of the last 15 eventual champions, 13 triumphed on opening night. Most recently, Miami won by 19 points in Memphis to tip things off a year ago. The only teams to start their special season 0-1 in the last decade and a half were the 1997-98 Bulls (title No. 6, for those of you who are counting) and the Pistons of 2003-04. (Note: Chicago also lost its opener on its way to the franchise’s first title in 1990-91.)

While a strong first showing is important, an 0-1 start does not eliminate a team from contention. Plenty have started the year with a defeat and still fought their way to a title; one game does not a champion make.

In fact, two of the greatest dynasties in sports history struggled mightily on opening night. The Lakers and Celtics teams of the 1980s combined to lose five of the eight openers in seasons they would become champions. One memorable exception was L.A.’s 103-102 victory over the Clippers in Magic Johnson’s first NBA game. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit a game-winning basket, he famously told the exuberant rookie to calm down as there were 81 more games to play.

Most Assists, Opening Night History

19 - John Stockton, 11/03/1989 Utah vs. Denver 18 - Tim Hardaway, 11/02/1990 Golden State at Denver 16 - Jason Kidd, 10/31/1997 Phoenix vs. L.A. Clippers 16 - Mookie Blaylock, 11/05/1993 Atlanta vs. Indiana 16 - John Bagley, 11/03/1989 Boston vs. Milwaukee 15 - Pooh Richardson, 11/05/1993 Indiana at Atlanta 15 - Larry Bird, 11/02/1990 Boston vs. Cleveland 15 - Pooh Richardson, 11/02/1990 Minnesota vs. Dallas 15 - Michael Cooper, 10/26/1985 L.A. Lakers at San Antonio 14 - Magic Johnson, 11/04/1988 L.A. Lakers at Dallas 14 - Isiah Thomas, 11/04/1988 Detroit at Chicago 14 - 12 more times

That evidence aside, if your favorite team does not quickly turn the ship around, it just might not be their year. A strong opening stretch is imperative on the drive to a title.

Of the 30 champions since the NBA-ABA merger, only one team – the since-renamed 1977-78 Washington Bullets – lost more than half of its first 10 games. That squad was 4-6 through 10 and hardly dominated the league en route to a 44-38 regular-season mark.

Of the other 29 champs in question, three started 5-5, eight started 6-4, three started 7-3, and five started 8-2. Of the eight 9-1 starts, two were accomplished by an opening-night loser that immediately got hot: the 1983-84 Celtics and 1986-87 Lakers. Two of the last 30 would-be-champs have started out 10-0 or better; the 1993-94 Rockets won 15 times before taking a loss, and the Bulls opened the 1996-97 season with 12 straight victories.

The Houston climate seems to be conducive for hot starts. The 1993-94 "Heart of a Champion" Rockets squad won its first nine games and eventually vaulted out of the West’s sixth spot to claim its second consecutive crown.

SEASON	CHAMPION	OPENING NIGHT	W STREAK	FIRST 10	FINAL
2005-06	Miami Heat	97-78 W @ MEM	1	6-4	52-30
2004-05	San Antonio Spurs	101-85 W v SAC	2	8-2	59-23
2003-04	Detroit Pistons	89-87 L v IND	-	6-4	54-28
2002-03	San Antonio Spurs	87-82 W @ LAL	1	6-4	60-22
2001-02	Los Angeles Lakers	98-87 W v POR	7	9-1	58-24
2000-01	Los Angeles Lakers	96-86 W @ POR	1	6-4	56-26
1999-00	Los Angeles Lakers	91-84 W @ UTA	2	7-3	67-15
1998-99	San Antonio Spurs	101-83 W v SAC	2	5-5	37-13
1997-98	Chicago Bulls	92-85 L @ BOS	-	6-4	62-20
1996-97	Chicago Bulls	107-98 W @ BOS	12	10-0	69-13
1995-96	Chicago Bulls	105-91 W v CHA	5	9-1	72-10
1994-95	Houston Rockets	90-86 W v NJN	9	9-1	47-35
1993-94	Houston Rockets	110-88 W v NJN	15	10-0	58-24
1992-93	Chicago Bulls	101-96 W @ CLE	1	8-2	57-25
1991-92	Chicago Bulls	110-90 W v PHI	1	8-2	67-15
1990-91	Chicago Bulls	124-116 L v PHI	-	5-5	61-21
1989-90	Detroit Pistons	106-103 W v NYK	2	6-4	59-23
1988-89	Detroit Pistons	107-94 W @ CHI	8	9-1	63-19
1987-88	Los Angeles Lakers	113-109 W v SEA	8	8-2	62-20
1986-87	Los Angeles Lakers	112-102 L @ HOU	-	9-1	65-17
1985-86	Boston Celtics	113-109 L @ NJN	-	8-2	67-15
1984-85	Los Angeles Lakers	113-112 L @ SAS	-	5-5	62-20
1983-84	Boston Celtics	127-121 L @ DET	-	9-1	62-20
1982-83	Philadelphia 76ers	104-89 W @ NYK	6	9-1	65-17
1981-82	Los Angeles Lakers	113-112 L v HOU	-	6-4	57-25
1980-81	Boston Celtics	130-103 W v CLE	1	6-4	62-20
1979-80	Los Angeles Lakers	103-102 W @ SDC	2	7-3	60-22
1978-79	Seattle SuperSonics	104-86 W v CHI	7	9-1	52-30
1977-78	Washington Bullets	117-109 W v DET	1	4-6	44-38
1976-77	Portland Trailblazers	114-104 W v NYN	2	7-3	49-33

But what does all that mean for this year’s contenders?

The defending champs look to have a pretty easy first stretch. After a tough season opener in which the improved Bulls come to South Beach Miami plays just three teams that made the playoffs last season in its next nine contests. The 10 opponents include zero 50-game winners from a year ago and combined for a .460 winning percentage.

Most Steals, Opening Night History

10 - Clyde Drexler, 11/01/1996 Houston vs. Sacramento 9 - Michael Adams, 11/01/1991 Washington at Indiana 8 - Larry Bird, 10/25/1985 Boston at New Jersey 7 - Michael Jordan, 11/02/1990 Chicago vs. Philadelphia 7 - Micheal Ray Richardson, 10/25/1985 N.J. vs. Boston 7 - Darnell Valentine, 10/25/1985 Portland vs. Phoenix 6 - Jason Kidd, 10/31/1997 Phoenix vs. L.A. Clippers 6 - Michael Jordan, 11/07/1987 Chicago vs. Philadelphia 6 - Alvin Robertson, 11/06/1987 San Antonio at Houston 6 - Bernard King, 10/27/1984 New York vs. Detroit 6 - 10 more times

One of the West’s best teams is going to start 0-1 because the Spurs visit the defending Conference champion Mavericks on Thursday in the opener for both. Dallas has a comparatively difficult first fortnight; six of its first 10 opponents made the playoffs last year and one of the teams that didn’t – Houston – will be much stronger this time around. Those 10 squads combined for a .510 winning percentage in 2005-06.

After the Texas tussle with the Mavs, San Antonio has an easy stretch to look forward to. Even including Dallas, the Spurs’ first 10 foes had just a .466 winning percentage last season. Drop the first game and that number drops to .436.

The Pistons may have lost Ben Wallace, but they still have the personnel to compete for a title. Their first 10 matchups, starting with a visit from the Bucks, will be a good litmus test: 10 solid opponents, no great ones and no weak ones. Every team had between 33 (Boston) and 49 (Memphis) victories last season, and the 10 combined for a .488 winning percentage.

Most Blocks, Opening Night History

8 - Andrei Kirilenko, 11/03/2004 Utah vs. L.A. Lakers 8 - Elton Brand, 10/30/2003 L.A. Clippers at Seattle 8 - Dikembe Mutombo, 02/05/1999 Atlanta vs. Cleveland 8 - Shawn Bradley, 10/31/1997 Dallas at Vancouver 8 - Shawn Bradley, 11/05/1993 Philadelphia vs. Washington 8 - Charles Smith, 11/02/1990 L.A. Clippers vs. Sacramento 8 - Mark Eaton, 10/26/1984 Utah at Seattle 7 - Alonzo Mourning, 02/05/1999 Miami vs. Detroit 7 - Patrick Ewing, 11/02/1990 New York at Charlotte 7 - Sam Bowie, 10/25/1985 Portland vs. Phoenix 7 - four more times

Phoenix has participated in the Conference Finals in each of the past two seasons and gets Amaré Stoudemire back this year, but it’s hard to imagine a harder opening stretch. After tipping off the season against the Lakers in a rematch of a classic first-round battle, the Suns play six straight teams that won at least half their games last season. The first 10 opponents, including both the Spurs and Mavs, amassed a whopping .567 winning percentage a year ago.

LeBron James and Co. got an early Christmas present in the form of a cushy November schedule. Cleveland starts things off at home against Washington, a team it dispatched in last year’s playoffs. After that, the Cavs get a crack at the bottom three 2005-06 finishers from the East (New York, Charlotte, Atlanta) and bottom two from the West (Portland, Minnesota) in the first few weeks. Their first 10 opponents combined for a .427 winning percentage last season.