Going into the 09-10 season the L.A Lakers are the clear favorites to win the championship,and who cares really. That's a give in last years champion is usually picked,or maybe the runner-up could be in that talk as well. It's fresh into the fans,and the medias eye on the team who just won the championship. It happens every year,and everyone thinks they will pull it out again,and of course repeats do happen,but in today's NBA I think it's harder then before.Look at the East. You have three teams capeable of going to the Finlas.In the West you have 3 teams that can go to the Finals.

Who has the hardest CONF? The East has the harder teams up top. The west has the hardest teams top to bottom.The Nuggets are that third team in the west. Why? People say they didn't do anything to there team.They are a capeable team,and will have improved with the team they have. I don't think they needed to make any changes. They lost to the Lakers do to lack of expierence. They could have won the series if they had the expierence factor. That's what it comes down to sometimes. Do I think it will be easy for the Lakers to reapeat? No I don't. The NBA is not the NBA from the early 2000's. Another point I would like to make on why  the Lakers are favorites right now. We don't know what the teams will look like together. The Magic made major changes,and it's hard to determine how they will fit. For sure they will be a contender,but a contender stil lby the playoffs the regualr season will determine that. The Cavs added to there team,and didn't subtract to what they already have. I thought they over achieved last year,but that was last year.We have to see the Shaq factor to this team,and if they get a healthy Powe. The Spurs added to there core,and to me look like the team that will take the West. IF heathly. I know Tony Paker hurt his ankle,but it's not serious,and we still have 3 months until the first game of the season. The Celtics have added to there championship team of 2008. They are picked to be the team of the East right now. Behind the Lakers to win the Title. The reason for that is due to the fact of age,and mainly will the big 5 be healthy. I'm going to list the factors to win,and this will give us a idea.

1.Talent/Superstar power-You clearly need a superstar or two to win. The last team that won a championship without a clear superstar? The 2004 Pistons. As a team they pulled it out. Wallace,and Billups are close,but not a top 50-100 players of all-time. I think when you have 3 superstars,and a on the verge superstar thats unique. The Celtics have that,and close to that the Lakers. Also the Spurs. The Magic,and the Cavs,and you can put the Nuggets into that conversation of only having one superstar,around good players,but not star power.

2.Healthy/injuries- Clearly we saw this the past 2 years in the NBA.The Celtics and Rockets,and also the Spurs not Healthy. 2008 the Spurs,and Rockets again.You can say the Lakers I guess too with no Bynum,and Ariza was not full strength. The two teams healthy that have the best chances.The Celtics and the Spurs.So deep,but the Celtics still have not gotten Daniels for sure yet,and Baby still up for grabs.I believe they will get the deals done soon,and will see the depth of the Celtics.The Spurs are the deepest to me.

3.Luck and 50/50 plays-Luck goes into it. What calls your team gets.What mistake the other teams make.The coach burns too many time outs. Buzzer beaters.All that is big.The 50/50 plays your team makes.James Posey did that for us in 2008.I think Daniels and Wallace combined,andRondo will make that up. Odom does for the Lakers,and Artest won't give that to the Lakers like they had with Ariza.

4.Homecourt-When does homecourt matter?In the Finals it does.Not round 1-3.It does this year more than any,but overall homecourt in the finals.

5.Defense-The Celtics beat the Lakers with defense. The Lakers won with defensive spurts.Not a great defensive team,but enough to win the Finals. The Spurs are built around that,and so are Cleveland,and the Magic. Your going to say well the Magic lost to the Lakers.Yes they did,but come on the Magic did not have the expierence like the Lakers got the year before. The Magic blew chances at making it a series.Game 2,and game 4. Maybe Artest is the answer,but we don't know yet. He seemed slower.

This post is not in great detail.This is just a breif statement. I remember this from last year. I'm a diehard Celtics fan from the 1980's I grew up in Ohio,and moved to California in the late 90's. Anyways I remember bragging to people about the Celtics 27-2 start,and the day before the LAKERS beat us.I was told by a Laker fan.Who was very mad at me for bragging. He said championships are not won in the regular season. I knew that already,but last year off the championship,and the greatest strart in NBA history. We don't know what can happen.Injuries hurt us last year. Thats why they play the games. Basically we don't know whats going to happen. The Lakers are favorites do to the fact it's a safe guess for the media at this point. I  do think the Celtics will win the championship at 100% or the injuries are not bad. Will have to see if Artest is a better fit then Ariza.I hope it is the Celtics vs the Lakers both healthy.To stop the what if debate.