Basketball Season is upon us

It's early October, where teams are getting into training camp following a riveting summer. This past summer brought so much drama for basketball fans that it turned a beloved figure into a huge narcissistic villain in the eyes of basketball and casual fans alike. In addition, we saw huge contracts given out (see Joe Johnson 127 million dollar deal) by owners splurging in the most unprecedented free agency in a long time.

Yet, this might be the last season that the NBA as we know it because of an impending lockout as well as talks of a hard cap by the Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonis, which left him with 100K fine by the league. It's yet another war between millionaires and billionaires that is most likely going to end up like the last labor shortage in 1999.

Despite the impending labor war, the 2010-11 season has got to be the most compelling season as most people wonder if the Miami Threesome could gel together into a powerhouse. This team could potentially rule the NBA throughout the 2010s. It is a team with two future members heading to Springfield (Dwayne Wade and Lebron James) in the not too distant future. In addition, one of the best face the basket scorers in Chris Bosh. All three are in their mid to late 20s, which is downright terrifying to think about if you root for any team not named Miami. Unfortunately, it has holes in the center and guard position which may become costly when the games count in the playoffs.

Besides those weaknesses on its team, Miami also has threats in its own conference in the form of the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. There is some animosity as Stan Van Gundy who once coached the last incarnation of superstars in Miami and was depending on who you ask was let go. Van Gundy went to Orlando where they have been the darlings of the East going to the NBA Finals and Conference Finals in the last two years. They are blessed with three point shooters and one of the best centers in the game in Dwight Howard. Boston is also a threat with a swift point guard (Rajon Rondo) and an aging but crafty big 3 as well as a plethora of Big men. This is a team that was six minutes away from capturing their 18th banner. Chicago is another threat with Derrick Rose who has been improving his three point shot over the summer. The Bulls have an agitating big man in Joakim Noah and new free agent acquisition Carlos Boozer (out for 8 weeks due to a broken hand, Ouch!). They are coached by Tom Thibodeau, a defensive genius for the Boston Celtics who stymied Lebron James and Kobe Bryant in the playoffs. Despite Miami's acquisitions it may be easier said than done to make the NBA Finals.

Out West, can the Lakers win one for Phil the Zen Master Jackson's unprecedented 4th three-peat? It has never been done before and with new threats that reside in South Beach, it might be their most toughest task to defend their championship yet. With a gimpy Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum (no surprise considering his injury history), it's another challenge for a seasoned championship team

On the plus side, the Lakers have a healthy Pau Gasol who rested after playing nearly two consecutive years of basketball without rest. They have bolstered their bench with new additions such as Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff. Last year, the bench was just Lamar Odom and everyone else. The bench was so bad that the Lakers were forced to send their starters into the game much earlier despite building seemingly insurmountable leads. This season hopes to be different as the Laker bench need to keep building or holding the lead while the starters save their strength for what should be yet another grueling championship defense.

Just like the Heat, the Lakers face a formidable rivals in their own conference despite being depleted by Free Agent defections. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers are two young contenders that could give the Lakers fits. Oklahoma because of an athletic core led by their young superstar Kevin Durant who recently led the U.S to their first Gold medal in the FIBA World Championship since 1994. Last season, they nearly took the Lakers to a seventh game had it not been for a Pau Gasol tip-in in the final seconds at a raucous Ford Center. Yet, the question is can they improve from last season, where the majority of the starters were injury-free? It's a big-if because injuries can ravage team in some shape or form as well as the high expectations. Will the Thunder show that they are a force of nature or just a blip in the radar?

Portland is another promising team but has been slowed down by injuries such as Greg Oden their number 1 pick. None more terrifying than his injury early in the 2009-10 season seen below:



Yet, they are resilient and gave Phoenix all they could handle in the first round. The only question is can they get healthy for the whole season. If so, they can easily become the threat to the Lakers most pundits thought they would be heading into last season but it's a big IF.

Dallas is also a threat but like the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs they are aging. They have a short window just like the former as well as the latter to win it all. This year might be their last along with an aging Jason Kidd much like the Spurs have with Tim Duncan who is in his mid-30s. They have big men that could potentially compete with the Lakers height (their strength) thanks to the 3-team trade that netted them Tyson Chandler. The Mavericks also have a sweet shooting big man in Dirk Nowitzki who apparently has been practicing his stroke in this recent commercial.



In short, this season will be full of surprises and disappointments as it always has been. Hopefully, it will not be the last season for a long time. Yet, with a sputtering economy in the United States and Europe, I guess anything is possible.