a bleak year for PHX. Card and Sun fans may be left with nothing but the armadilo races to cheer about. I live in PHX also, think I'll keep an eye on the Celtics.

Lakers to win it all.  Heat have too many egos and they only play the game with one ball.

I don't recall this much buzz and anticipation to the start of an NBA regular season in a long long time (perhaps when Jordan hung up his baseball cleats and returned to the NBA the first time in 1996?). The Heat will be a fascinating show to watch throughout. Just how much and how far 3 NBA superstars carry a roster remains to be seen. My best guess is that the Heat win around 60 games and challenge Orlando/Boston for a spot in the finals. In the West, the Lakers, until dethroned, have to be considered the heavy favorite. A lot of media pundits like the Thunder to challenge. I think they are vastly talented, but not quite an elite team. San Antonio (Duncan/Parker/Ginobli) and Dallas (Dirk/Kidd) may have one final run left in them.

As for Hardy's team, the Knicks, Amare and Felton are vast upgrades at their positions, but overall the roster is really lacking in championship caliber talent. They need one more elite player to really be a factor. I suspect they will fall somewhere between a #6 and # 10 seed in the East (40-45 wins). Hopefully, they can make the playoffs...it's been way too long!

-- Modified on 10/26/2010 8:11:32 AM