The Eternal Optimist: How the Celts win Game 1?

Just trying to think up scenarios of Celtic wins based on a combination of realistic assessments of teams and players, a touch of imagination, and topped off with a prayer. Given the accumulated knowledge on this site, I start off the post with a few less-than-informed questions, mainly in the hope of hearing more reasoned evaluations from the experienced posters:

Starting Fives: Rondo, Ray, Paul, KG, Perk VERSUS M. Williams, A. Parker, L. James, A. Varejao, S. O'Neal

Questions: Rondo plays Williams even or better? With Parker getting his avg 10-12 points and Ray apparently yet to get back his shooting eye for the new season, how important is this matchup? Or, does Ray come out firing? The Captain seems ready for this one, and so does he pour in in the high 20s? Would you agree that its not necessary for Pierce to match Lebron (as we know he can and has) but a good scoring game (and intense defense) from him should suffice? On the other side, does James again try to do too much, or tries to take over, and that hurts the rest of the team? Or, does he merely share with Shaq? KG takes the other guy to the cleaners? Shaq gets his 15/8 but the new and slim Percolator model runs him ragged?

Bench: The Celtics bench seems to be melding together nice, while even Coach Brown admits that Cavs are yet to adjust to "all the new faces." House, Sheed and Marquis coming in and out of the game in a way that fits in seamlessly with starters, AND the ability to come out as a cohesive second unit with a growing identity and gameplan. So, a distinct advantage for the Celtics here? Couple of specific questions: With Sheed drawing Z out to where the latter likes to hang out anyways, will we miss BBD tonight, or will Shelden already begin to surprise the skeptics? Finally, does the player Celtics eventually got keep pouring it on the player they had initially wanted?

Coaching: Doc seemed to have had a distinct plan right from the get go in terms of adjusting the new faces, creating new plays and sets on offense, and developing a variety of scenarios and lineups, and all the while emphasizing that this is a defense-oriented team. Coach Brown regarded as a very good defensive coach, but lost Keuster on the offense-side. So, in addition to acclimatising the new players, will the Cavs coach also be challenged in creating sufficient offensive schemes, that don't entirely concentrate on James? Does Doc have more scenarios to work with?

Intangibles: Homecourt advantage for Cavs, but the fans seem to be more stoked about the new introductions. Of course, they will pulling hard for the win, but will a few setbacks in the game get them worried and have them sitting back on their hands? Does the single-minded focus, and renewed unity, of the Celtics again become the basis for that intangible advantage of the recent past? Are the Cavs on the same page? Finally, a loss for the Cavs has more significance, while a win for the Celtics has more significance, yes?

The media is, of course and rightly, trumpeting the game - but does two years of admittedly hard games , and holding serves on respective homecourts, already constitute "rivalry"? Does that not diminish the significance of that term when applied, e.g., to Celtics v Lakers?

Important caveat: it should be clear that I am a novice at all this. So, less a case of my presenting definitive opinion, as soliciting the opinions of others.

Enjoy the game!