The NFL (National Football league) and the NHL (National Hockey League) are in full swing and the best baseball game of the year has been played, partially – the last game of the MLB (Major League Baseball) season.  Now, it is the NBA’s (National Basketball Association) turn to begin.

       
     No major basketball controversy or trades were made this off-season.  The Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City and is called Thunder, Seattle may receive another franchise by 2010 according to reports, and the superstars that wear the nice, little Jerry West picture on their jerseys brought the gold medal back to America last summer.  Speaking of the gold medal team, “The Redeem Team”, do those stars have the energy and strength to challenge the rested world champions, Boston Celtics?

           
    The western conference is stacked and the medal superstars want to bring the title back to the west.  The Los Angeles Lakers’ guard and best player in the league, Kobe Bryant is looking forward to leading his young and now experienced team back to the Finals.  Denver Nuggets’ forward Carmelo Anthony (Baltimore) wants to prove he can lead his team pass the first round.  Utah Jazz’s guard Deron Williams and forward Carlos Boozer are almost ready to take the next step to get to the Finals, but struggle to get pass the veteran teams.  The Portland Trailblazers and the new and improved Los Angeles Clippers will be the new prettiest teams invited to the party, but the clock will strike 12 midnight, gong!!  The San Antonio Spurs will still be a threat because they’ll continue to fight but their season rests on the health of guard Manu Ginobili.  The Dallas Mavericks (sorry Jason Kidd), and Phoenix Suns are inconsistent and the window of opportunity has passed while the Houston Rockets will eventually crash because of injuries – let’s hope not because they can become something special.  The team coming out of the west is the New Orleans Hornets.  Led by gold medalist guard Chris Paul, the Hornets, along with forward David West, center Tyson Chandler, has unfinished business.  Forward James Posey signed with the Hornets in attempt to get another “ring around the Posey.”

         
        The Eastern Conference is quickly turning the reign of the league their way.  The Detroit Pistons with their gold medalist, forward Tayshaun Prince, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by guard/forward/center/ six-man/waterboy/ anything the team needs LeBron James, are main stays.  Center Chris Bosh has some help from newly added forward/center Jermaine O’Neal to lead the Toronto Raptors and “superman” center gold medalist, Dwight Howard is ready to lead his Orlando Magic farther in the playoffs.  The New Jersey Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers are back, but it is too early to say the Atlanta Hawks are “for real”.  The Washington Wizards need to get the one, two or three seed to advance in this season playoffs, but that will not happen and just making it to the playoffs will be accomplishment because of early injuries they have now.  Guard Dwayne Wade will put on a show, but it will be more difficult leading the Miami Heat then the redeem team.  The Milwaukee Bucks, led by gold medalist guard Michael Redd, added guard/forward Richard Jefferson, but that still will not be enough.  The Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Bobcats will each have a long season.

           
     Now the Celtics.  It will be tougher for them to repeat, but they will make it to the championship in consecutive years the second time since the 1967 and 1968 seasons.  The lost of Posey is a deadly blow to the team because of his ability to shot from the perimeter and play one-on-one defense.  The Celtics’ team defense is the reason they raised another banner in the rafters last night.  The Celtics held opponents under 100 points 85 times last season.  The challenge will come from the Nets because they now have size, good guard play, athleticism, youth, and guard/forward Vince Carter.  The Celtics experience will get them through and the “big three” guard Ray Allen, forward Paul Pierce and forward/center Kevin Garnett (defensive player of the year last season) are healthy, rested and up for the challenge mentally.  “Every good movie needs a sequel,” said guard Sam Cassel (Baltimore).  The Finals will not be an issue for the Celtics because if they dominant the west as they did  last season, 25-5, they will not lose sleep going up against the Hornets.     

Written By: Barry Barnes