NBA Pre-season

I can't wait for the NBA season to start. It will be an exciting 82 games for 30 teams to play. I certainly hope that the L.A. Lakers do find a way to win their third consecutive championship. Their bench got better with Steve Blake serving as a reliable backup for Derek Fisher. Blake's defense and steady leadership handling the basketball will be a great relief for the aging Fisher who will be nearly 37. I think that the Lakers got with Matt Barnes was a great help. Barnes will provide a defensive threat along with Ron Artest in the battle of the small forward slots. The Lakers also got Theo Ratliff, who will help Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom fill the lanes. With the Lakers in tow for their third title in three years, the Miami Heat retooled with the additions of two All-Stars in Lebron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade. One can only hope that the Heat can quickly build chemistry and cohesion with all three egos on one team. The Orlando Magic still remain the same, their sharp release of the three-point shot and Dwight Howard manning the middle, nothing's changed for these Magic. They added two players who can shoot the three ball amongst their three-point shooting barrages in Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon. I still like the Boston Celtics' chances of returning back to the NBA Finals for the second time in a row. They added Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal over the summer. That's a load to handle for the C's front line including Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, and Kendrick Perkins. If anything, I'm looking forward to seeing the Lakers back on top of the NBA world for the third year in a row.