Ira Winderman

OK, so now the Lakers play the Celtics, a champion is crowned, and then we move directly to 2010 free agency. Right?

If Opening Night 2009 offered insight into what will follow these next eight months, it's that two teams already have an edge.

Even with Rasheed Wallace puffy both in the midsection and the scalp — what was up with the Q-tip look? — and even with Pau Gasol deciding an 81-game schedule sounds more like it, what we witnessed on opening night are two teams with quality depth who made their agendas apparent.

With the Celtics, it was a matter of sizing up the Cavaliers, then seizing control in a 95-89 win. Too many weapons, all seemingly now healthy.

Yes, Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker were nice additions for Cleveland, and certainly might help against the Magic. But against Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, it wasn't a fair fight, even while getting the best of LeBron James.

And when Cleveland went big, with Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas playing, somewhat unfathomably, in tandem, Wallace took his game outside. Rasheed will become even more of a difference maker as the pounds melt away. Marquis Daniels also will boost the depth.

Don't understate stealing a game on Cleveland's home court. With Boston, Cleveland and Orlando so tightly bunched, head-to-head could turn into a significant tiebreaker in the Eastern Conference.

The Lakers, by contrast, had the look of a team offering only as much as needed against the Clippers in a 99-92 win.

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It could become a continuing pattern, with the West not nearly as competitive at the top as the East.

Against the Spurs, the Lakers certainly will display the same passion seen Tuesday from the Celtics.

But other nights could wind up like ring night, with occasional bursts enough to handle matters.

Against an opponent lacking sidelined Blake Griffin and featuring a clearly-not-right Baron Davis, it never should have drawn so close in the second half.

No matter. With enough from Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest merely had to play defense. And it’s not as if Gasol won't be back soon enough from what has been classified as a minor hamstring injury.

No, the Celtics weren't shouting "Beat L.A." when it was over. And instead of Boston, the Laker' next trip will be to that traditional NBA outpost of Oklahoma City.

But in mid-June, instead of the national spotlight coming in consecutive games for the Celtics and Lakers, it could well come head-to-head, with Oct. 27 the day the march began for each.

Also on NBCSports.com   NFL: Best fantasy football moves  |  Waiver moves Predictions 101: Ohio State to have mercy on Michigan? NBA: Why would LeBron go to NYC?  |  Or NFL? NCAA hoops: Who's ready for more non-stop hoops? Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

Ira Winderman writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the Heat and the NBA for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

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