Celtics' Title Defense, Lebron and Greg Oden Highlight NBA Season

The 2008-2009 NBA season kicks off tonight with three games around the league. Interestingly enough the teams playing tonight represent some of the top stories to watch in the NBA this year. We have the following games tonight:

Cleveland at Boston

Milwaukee at Chicago

Portland at Los Angeles Lakers

The number one story in the NBA this year will be can the Boston Celtics repeat as NBA champions? They have the core players from last years championship team back and they have added JR Giddens and Bill Walker to the roster. But there is a missing piece from last year's championship team. James Posey. James who? James Posey. He played a key role in last years march to the NBA championship. Posey is the kind of guy that's a leader in the club house and a tremendous player when he is on the court. He only helps teams into the playoffs wherever his journeyman career takes him. Look at the Memphis Grizzlies. Their lone trip to the playoffs in recent memory was with a team that had none other than James Posey. What about the Miami Heat and their championship run in 2005-2006? None other than James Posey. So, a key piece of the puzzle is missing but the core is back. Look for the Celtics to have a great season and to repeat as the NBA Champions. However, that road travels through the 2nd key story for the 2008-2009 NBA season.

Can Lebron James carry the Cavaliers to the championship or this his least season in Cleveland? Much has been written about basketball phenom Lebron James. The Michael Jordan comparisons, the endorsement deals, and the lack of his ability to close out big games to get his team over the hump and into the championship. The problem is not Lebron. The problem is with the cast of characters he is surrounded by each and every year. Lebron can play, no doubt. I watched him drop 50 on Memphis last year and he rarely had an uncontested or open shot. If Lebron and the Cleveland Cavaliers want to make a run at the NBA Championship they are going to have to improve the supporting cast for Lebron. Unfortunately I see this year as a repeat of last year. Cleveland will have a good season only to be put away in the playoffs by a better Celtics team.

And finally, the other big story we have all been waiting on, for over year now actually, is Greg Oden going to end up being worth a number one draft pick? Will the Portland Trailblazers 2007 number one draft pick be "the man" this year for the 'Blazers? The Trailblazers have really tried to clean up their team image over the last few years and I think that is a good thing. But will Oden live up to his billing. I think like most rookies Greg Oden will need a period of time to adjust to the game. I mean he is a twenty year old kid and this is his first season in the NBA since he was unable to play last year due to injury. I believe Oden will help the Trailblazers win more games than they did last year but I think it will be two seasons from now before we start to see him bring a dominant game to the court.