NBA Season 2012-13 Starts When? Oct 30; Old Rivals to Meet

With a new NBA season on the horizon, the Miami Heat is vying for a repeat, the Lakers are hoping for a 16th title and the Oklahoma Thunders are seeking revenge.

The NBA will tip-off in seven days on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7 pm. when the Washington Wizards take on Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving is on track to have a breakout season in 2012-13, according to the annual survey of NBA general managers released on Monday.

At 8 p.m. the Heat will take on Eastern Conference rival Boston Celtics and have home court advantage.

According to the general managers, Miami will win the Eastern Conference and the 2013 NBA Finals.

The managers also said that Lebron James will repeat as MVP winner in the 2012-13 season and said if they were starting a franchise today, they would definitely sign James. James was also voted as the best small forward in the NBA.

The GMs said Boston is on track to win the Atlantic Division.

Former NBA champions Dallas Mavericks will take on 15-time champions L.A. Lakers. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m.

Maveriks power forward Dirk Nowitzki's have been out after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Friday. Nowitzki is expected to be out of the lineup for at least three weeks and the team is hoping that the 11-time All-Star will only miss two weeks of the regular season.

Nowitzki is considered the best international player in the NBA. He is also considered on of the best power forwards in the league.

About 23 percent of the NBA's GMs said that the Lakers will win the 2013 finals and more than half said the team will win the Western Conference finals.

Kobe Bryant was voted as the best shooting guard in the league and teammate Dwight Howard is considered as the best center and defensive player. The mangers believe that Howard's trade to Los Angeles will have the biggest impact on the team.

The mangers also think that Bryant and Metta World Peace are the two toughest players in the NBA.

Steve Nash's move to the Lakers came as "most surprising" move of the off-season.