It seems like just yesterday Kobe Bryant  shook off the haters, hoisted his first NBA championship trophy won without the aid of center Shaquille O’Neal and cemented himself as the NBA’s benchmark for excellence.But all that is forgotten now, as a brand new NBA season started Tuesday night, and a whole new crop of teams and athletes are fighting for that No. 1 spot.But teams may have to wait a while because the Lakers are still the best team in the NBA — which is why they’ll probably be the first team to repeat as NBA champions since their three-peat to begin this decade.THE WESTThe Lakers were good last season and have only gotten better in the offseason with the acquisition of veteran forward Ron Artest.Artest adds a defensive presence to the small forward position Los Angeles lacked last season.A regular starting lineup of Bryant, Artest, forward Pau Gasol, guard Derek Fisher and center Andrew Bynum could rival any teams in the league as the most complete starting five.Gasol will miss some time this season nursing a hamstring injury, but forward Lamar Odom is a more than capable replacement.The Lake Show should easily run away with the Pacific Division — much like last season.The Northwest Division has at least three teams who could still be in the hunt come April and May.Denver, Portland and Utah were all playoff teams last season, and there’s no reason to assume they won’t be just as good this year.The Nuggets feature the talents of two-time all-star Carmelo Anthony and one-time NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups.Anthony averaged 23 points, seven boards and three assists per contest last season, while Billups added 18 points, six assists and three boards of his own last season.The Blazers feature young studs Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge — Roy averaged 23 points, five boards and five dimes, and Aldridge averaged 18 points, 7.5 boards and two dimes per game last season.The Jazz’s best player, guard Deron Williams, may very well be the best point guard in the league. He averaged 19 points, 11 assists, three boards and a steal per contest last year.If I had to choose a team today to win the division — which I do — I’d put my money on the Blazers. The other division in the West won’t be nearly as competitive.San Antonio should have no trouble winning the Southwest Division behind the efforts of Tim “The Big Fundamental” Duncan. The best power forward in the league averaged 19 points, 11 boards and two blocks last season.The other teams in the division simply don’t have enough to compete.Dallas is pretty good, but not good enough to take the division. The Rockets are without Yao Ming, so no dice for them. Memphis is decent but has done nothing and does not have the personnel to convince me they’re a division contender. And the Hornets are pretty bad outside of guard Chris Paul.THE EASTNow onto the East, where big names going new places shook up the offseason.O’Neal went to Cleveland to join LeBron James and “win a ring for the king,” former Detroit Piston forward Rasheed Wallace found himself a new team in Boston and former New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter has settled in Orlando.These three teams will easily win their divisions because the East is awful.Instead of focusing on division records in the East, people should focus on the Eastern Conference  championship.The Magic were in the Finals last season, so it would be easy to pencil them in to repeat as East champs, but the Celtics and Cavs look really good.Those two teams battled in a good season opener Tuesday night, and I know it’s early, but Wallace and his new afro seem to be fitting in well on Doc Rivers’ squad.The Celtics won’t come close to his 73-9 prediction, however, because that’s just silly.The Cavs, surprisingly, could be the team in third place in the East.James is good, O’Neal still has some game despite his age, and guard Mo Williams has been known to light up the scoreboard. But the rest of the roster could get a little hairy for King James’ men.They don’t have guys who’ve consistently proven they’re elite NBA players.The Magic are my pick to win the East. They have the best center in the game in Dwight Howard, added Carter, who can score like nobody’s business, and will have guard Jameer Nelson healthy for the season.It doesn’t really matter, though, because they’re playing for second place.Johanathan Brooks is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Powder Springs, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_jbrooks.
 
 
 
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