It's the opening game of the season and also statement time for Miami. A healthy Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh want to prove to their main division rival - the Wizards - that the Heat still are good and worthy of respect despite the departure of LeBron James.

This is their opportunity being at home and catching the Wizards way short-handed.

Washington is without two starters, Nene and Bradley Beal, and a number of reserves. Nene is suspended while Beal is recovering from a broken wrist. The Wizards aren't that good minus the underrated Beal.

Also out for Washington are Martell Webster, DeJuan Blair, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas. Webster and Blair are key role players. Webster is recovering from back surgery while Blair is suspended as is Orton and Silas. The Wizards may also be missing banged-up Glen Rice Jr. (ankle) and Kris Humphries (hand).

Journeyman guard Garrett Temple, a player who was available in the last round of an 18-round, 20-team NBA experts fantasy basketball draft I participated in, could actually draw big minutes in this matchup.

The Heat have a chip on their shoulders after hearing all off-season how bad they are going to be and how good the Cavaliers, Bulls and Wizards are going to be and how the Wizards are now the team to beat in their division. The prideful Heat will be highly motivated to perform well especially during the early stages of the post-LeBron era.

The Heat did add Luol Deng. Deng, of course, is no LeBron James. But he isn't some stiff either. He's a good two-way player who has a history of slowing down Paul Pierce.

The Wizards last won a season-opener back in 2009. Their time will come. Just not in this matchup.

(Editor's note: Stephen Nover has one of his biggest Wednesdays of the season going today. Fresh off a 2-0 Tuesday, Stephen has his NBA Game of the Month going along with his NBA Wipeout Winner and Game 7 World Series Totals Winner. Stephen is 6-0 on his last six NBA plays going back to the playoffs and has won all of his World Series over/under plays.)