Top 10 burning questions for the NBA

The Houston Rockets and LA Lakers kicked off the 2007-08 NBA season on national television with a fantastic finish Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Rockets, potentially a dark horse to win the ever-competitive Western Conference, won on a Shane Battier three-point shot with two seconds left to make an early statement. Here are the biggest storylines to watch throughout the season.


10. Will ‘Melo and AI actually play together?- This team had chemistry issues last year, but what do you expect when you trade for Allen Iverson, and you already have Carmelo Anthony? Some think this team is ready to take off. But unless they fix the internal problems and the rift between rival egos, they won’t make it to the championship.

9. Does Rashard Lewis make Orlando a contender?- The Magic have been looking for another superstar to play alongside Dwight Howard for a few years now, fielding borderline playoff teams in the meantime. However, they traded for and signed Lewis in off-season for five years and $75 million. After a big opening night, he and the rest of this Orlando team look for real for the first time since the Penny Hardaway years.

8. Who will the Grizzlies take in the draft next year?- This team is bad. Really, really bad. They better start looking to next year, and Minnesota should too.

7. Will Kevin Durant take Rookie of the Year honors?- With Greg Oden out of the picture, thanks to a season-ending knee injury, former Texas phenom Durant is the favorite to win the award. His poor showing in his debut Wednesday night shows he will have some growing pains this season. As long as somebody beats Jeff Green, with his notorious game-winning shot against Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament last year (albeit on a traveling violation that wasn’t called), then it doesn’t matter who wins.

6. How many more headlines will Isaiah Thomas make?- First he becomes the Knicks’ general manager, then last year named himself head coach, and now he cost the organization $11.6 million in a sexual harassment lawsuit. Who will be the bigger headline this year, him or his team?

5. How much does “The Diesel” have left?- Shaq has slowed down significantly over the last several years but, when healthy, still remains a tremendous factor in deciding games. He has several years left on his contract, but who knows when he will finally run out of steam? If he and teammate Dwayne Wade stay healthy, the Heat could be legitimate contenders again in the East.

4. Will the betting scandal continue?- Hopefully the referee gambling scandal is a non-factor from this point forward. David Stern will hopefully allow refs to lose money in casinos, but the revelations of the last few months really left a black eye on the sport. Who knows, maybe Dallas fans complaining about the poor officiating in the 2005-06 NBA Finals had a valid point.

3. Where will Kobe go?- Or will he go? That might be the bigger question. We were all positive Manny Ramirez was gone from the Red Sox multiple times over the last three seasons, and it never happened. The Lakers seem pretty intent on getting rid of Bryant, but how many teams will actually offer what he wants in return? Mark Cuban said the Mavs no longer have interest, but maybe the Bulls will bite.

2. Are the Celtics for real?- They personify the great American dream of going from rags to riches. Boston was the worst team in the league last year, but after adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the off-season, they might have a very realistic possibility to cause some damage in the East. Big acquisitions don’t always guarantee success, but in that conference, anything is possible.

1. Which Texas team will emerge in the West?- Of course Phoenix can always win the conference, but they still lack in defense, which makes their success an uncertainty. The real question is if the Spurs will defend their title, if the Mavericks can avoid Golden State in the playoffs, or the Rockets really are ready to take the next step. Maybe Dallas should throw a few games at the end of the year if it looks like they are going to be facing Don Nelson in the first round again.