INDIANAPOLIS -- The NBA season kicks off on Wednesday night for the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks.New faces in both places breed renewed optimism entering the 2016-17 season.The Pacers parted with head coach Frank Vogel after last season, and team president Larry Bird said he wanted to redefine the way his team plays. The overhaul also brought point guard Jeff Teague, power forward Thaddeus Young and center Al Jefferson to the Pacers, who tout superior athleticism and depth than previous seasons.Indianas franchise player Paul George is looking forward to testing the new-look team in the regular season.I dont want to jump the gun and say this is the best team Ive been on, but its shaping up to be, George said. Ive got a new group with unbelievable talent.The Pacers face another of their former coaches, Rick Carlisle, who is entering his ninth season with the Mavericks. Indianas new coach, Nate McMillan brings a style of play to the franchise that might not be recognized.I think our roster puts us in a position to play any style, McMillan said. We want to play with a lot more ball movement. Our guys have to commit to running.Theres a lot of talk about George, Myles Turner and the new Pacer players, but former Maverick Monta Ellis will have a lot to say about the teams success this season after his most diligent offseason in several years.I rededicated myself this summer in the gym, Ellis told NBA.com. Last year was tough. I let the team down. Its a new beginning and I wanted to be part of that.Ellis is hoping to help the Pacers defeat his former team on opening night. Last season, he averaged 18.0 points per game against the Mavericks.For Dallas, the new faces on the team include two NBA champions from Golden State- Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut. The Mavericks havent made it out of the first round of the playoffs since winning a championship in 2011, and they will be relying heavily on these new additions to get over that hump.Theyre champions, said Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. Theyre great players and theyre part of a championship team, so they know how to play and they know how to win.A lot of eyes will be on Barnes in particular after signing a $94 million contract. His preseason performance brought heaps of criticism in Dallas.Theres going to be bigger expectations and Ill have a larger role on this team, Barnes told ESPN.com. But the biggest thing Ive learned in my four years Ive been in the league is that winning is the biggest priority.One of the issues for the Mavericks moving forward will be the aging point guards. Despite the talent, Deron Williams, Devin Harris and J.J. Barea are all on the wrong side of 30. As the NBA continues to play a faster game, the Mavs could struggle keeping up at that position.Last year, the Mavericks and Pacers had identical offensive numbers.Dallas averaged 102.3 points per game, while the Pacers averaged 102.2. In Wednesdays matchup, look for a high scoring contest as each team will try to get out and run on opening night.The Pacers won both games against the Mavericks last season.Lonnie Johnson Womens Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Custom Houston Texans Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Max-scharping-texans-jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. DOnta Foreman Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. DeAndre Hopkins Womens Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series.Daniel Ricciardo says visibility through Eau Rouge was not too bad after experiencing his first taste of the Halo cockpit protection device during Friday practice.Ricciardo was one of four drivers who tested the Halo system in the opening practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix, as further analysis of the device continued ahead of its planned introduction for 2018. Eau Rouge had been one corner of concern regarding potential visibility issues, but the Red Bull driver insists he encountered no problems on his maiden Halo run.It is not too bad, Ricciardo said. It is definitely still a work in progress. The first time Ive run it -- Id only run the aero screen before. So it was definitely different.But it was definitely good to test it, and to test it here. That is what we have to keep doing for now, so more drivers can test it before the end of the season. And just getting feedback. So I willl give some feedback tonight.dddddddddddd Weve been given a sheet, a bit of homework.First impressions were not too bad. There are still a few things that can be worked on, but it is not unexpected for now. Generally speaking, not too bad.Ricciardo revealed he struggled with tyre degradation in the hot temperatures at Spa and expects to have to make at least two stops during Sundays race.The super soft today did not really hold up well. We expected that in this heat, and it is such a long lap around here as well, so we dont want to have too many of them for Sunday. We feel that it is going to stay hot like this.[A] one stop -- if it is hot like this, is very unlikely. If we get a super hard, maybe, but with the compounds we have it will be at least two pit stops. ' ' '