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Lakers fans are understandably excited about the new season, and the defending champs are a popular choice to repeat among bloggers in the ESPN.com community.

"I've never been more excited for the opening of any season, any sport," blogs kurtnaphansen. "The combination of being on the heels of the Lakers winning the NBA championship, of all the trash talk from Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Spurs and even Blazers fans, and of a very new interesting development with the addition of Sheed to Boston, Shaq to Cleveland and Artest to LA."

Below are fan blogs and predictions about the season, which tipped off this week. Click through to respond. If you don't already have an ESPN profile, create one now and start blogging.

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Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd have finalized their rosters and hung the bunting for "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Are the Celtics going to win the NBA title?
Boston started well with a win in Cleveland against the Cavs, who have their own title aspirations. Is the first game predictive of the entire season?

Are the Phillies being disrespected heading into the World Series?
Only one of the experts on ESPN.com is picking Philadelphia to win. National sentiment, including in Vegas, favors the Yankees over the defending champs.

Is it time for fans of bad teams to root for better draft positioning?
The Titans, Rams and Bucs are winless. Seven others have one or two wins. Miracles happen, but a high draft pick is more likely than a playoff spot.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Your team-by-team predictions: Eastern Conference | Western Conference
• More predictions: Pick each division, conference and overall champion | Award winners
• Your Power Rankings: Which teams start the season in your top 10?

We understand it's going to take most of SportsNation some time to warm up to the long NBA season -- only a third of voters are more interested in tonight's opener between the Cavaliers and Celtics than Wednesday's World Series opener. But there are some people for whom today is more or a less a national holiday.

For SportsNation blogger bonafide, tonight's showdown in Cleveland is a good chance to see the two teams undeservedly stealing the spotlight from the Magic. And Chad Ford agrees. Did he mention he's on Twitter?

• "Consider that Orlando has improved drastically at PG (Nelson for Alston), and SG (Carter for Lee) and has added additional defensive toughness in Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, and Jason Williams to a team that was already #1 in the league at defensive efficiency while stealing sharp shooter Ryan Anderson in the Carter deal.

  The only thing that can slow the Magic down is injuries. With the talent and coaching on this team they are my overwhelming favorites to win the Larry O'Brien trophy come June.

  Maybe, just maybe, they will finally get some respect then." Read bonafide's full post.

Terry Finisterre (Castries, St Lucia)

I like your Twitterdiciton - Magic over Lakers for the chip. Is ORL really MORE flexible than last season?

Chad Ford

I think they got much deeper. I think VC is an upgrade over Turkoglu but the addition of Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson and a healthy Jameer Nelson makes them, in my opinion, the most dangerous team in the league ... not only for this season, but for a long, long time. Full transcript.

• Vote: How much would performance-enhancing drugs help in basketball?

Looking back now to the summer of 1998, it's difficult to see the hulking frame of Mark McGwire as anything but the embodiment of an era of super-sized players and inflated statistics. Looking at Rashard Lewis today, well, it's tough to see anything but a skinnier Sam Perkins. If this is the face of a developing scandal, color SportsNation surprised.

Lewis has been suspended for the first 10 games of the 2009-10 season after testing positive for a banned substance, reportedly the steroid precursor DHEA. He accepted responsibility and said the failed test was the result of an over-the-counter product. And considering the guy is 6-foot-10 and took more shots from beyond the 3-point line than inside it last season, forgive voters their skepticism as to just how much it helped his game.

• SportsNation voters split when it comes to whether 10 games is enough punishment.
• SN Flashback: Voters react to positive test for NHL's Bryan Berard in 2006.
• Beyond the Nation: Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi on Lewis suspension.

“

Why is this a story? He tested positive for something that 90 percent of people who work out would test positive for. DHEA comes in almost ALL recovery powders on the market. Even if he did test positive for a REAL tesosterone booster -- as in sustanon or something -- who cares? Why do we care what athletes put into their body? Their avg career is about 5 years, so something that can help them make more money and play longer -- GO FOR IT! MOVE ON ESPN.

” -- wshsmrhopper88

“

The makers of DHEA should be ashamed of themselves for selling a product that doesn't work.

” -- trab2u

“

This is a bigger problem than I thought, if Lewis is doing it than a lot of fools are doing it.

” -- walnutkid07

• From the defending champs to the defending lottery winner, rank all 30 teams.

NBA Insider David Thorpe breaks down the NBA's summer leagues in the video above, including a very un-Olowokandi debut for No. 1 pick Blake Griffin. (Did you know Griffin has a low waist? Neither did we.) But as much or as little as we gain from summer league numbers -- Roy Hibbert has looked downright adequate, for crying out loud -- the real summer league comes with general managers and agents dueling over draft picks, luxury tax implications and free-agent offers.

The most recent news came Monday with the Magic matching the Mavericks' hefty offer to Marcin Gortat. Yes, we live in a world where Marcin Gortat's whereabouts for the next five years are a big deal. Get used to it. More than 90 percent of SportsNation feels like $34 million over five years might be a tad excessive for Gortat, but that's not really the question. When it comes to whether the Magic needed to pay it, voters are entirely divided.

So with many of the offseason's major addition and subtractions in the books, what do your NBA Power Rankings look like?

• Rumors of Iverson to the Clippers? Voters prefer Baron Davis and Eric Gordon.
• Keeping Grant Hill and adding Channing Frye doesn't make Suns a contender.
• The Warriors lost Jamal Crawford but Stephen Curry in the draft, and SportsNation blogger -- and pained Warriors fan -- connorcuc thinks it's time for a coach interested in defense and a new mentality for a franchise stuck in neutral.
• Although they aren't among Allen Iverson's rumored potential landing places, SportsNation blogger allikskat wonders why teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks haven't shown any interest in the veteran.
• Groups: Orlando Magic Hoops | Warrior Hoops Nation | Dirk's Posse | Phoenix Suns fans

“

That premise might work if AI practiced with the team and could help Griffin in any way. He won't help or practice. Spending that kind of money for even 1yr. is a waste. They have enough wasted salaries as it is. They should get someone with a little character or desire who has enough talent to help. Not lead. AI will not lead. He is beyond that at this pt. in his career. When you practice with your team it is more about the act and not the effort.

” -- paulc1955

“

LOL! Cuban and the Mavs went all in with 3 kings (casting aside a very good and young foward in Bass) and the Magic waited until the last second to play 4 aces. Now the Mavs only legit big man is Dampier. Better get to work Cuban and find a quality big if you hope to secure a shot at the 8th seed in the playoffs.

” -- the_real_kman

• Rank: Put your own spin on the draft by ranking the classes

SportsNation is not impressed with Rodrique Beaubois or Ahmad Nivins. The former is a French point guard and the latter a 6-foot-9 forward from Saint Joseph's who averaged better than 19 points a game as a senior. They're also the only members of the Mavericks' draft class that SportsNation voters ranked behind that of the Magic. The only problem? The Magic didn't make any picks Thursday night. Now that's a tough crowd.

• Draft Winners: Wolves and Spurs. Voters decisively shouted down concerns about the Wolves taking back-to-back point guards, ranking the team's effort behind only that of the Clippers. The Spurs didn't pick until the second round, but landing DeJuan Blair moved them all the way to fourth in SportsNation's rankings.
• The Nation thinks both Rubio and Flynn start; Minnesota not so sure.
• Draft Losers: Nets and Raptors. Fans panned the Nets for taking Terrence Williams. The No. 11 pick netted the team a ranking of No. 20 on the night. That was still better than the Raptors, who turned No. 9 pick DeMar DeRozan into a No. 22 ranking from De-voters. Curiously, neither was viewed as the biggest lottery reach.
• The good news is there may be a team worse than the Nets next season.

“

Rubio is exactly what is wrong with the nba. If a player comes out of the nba with the fancy dribbles and no jump shot, they would diss him as a street baller. I have Yet to see a shooting highlight from mr. rubio. not one jump shot.

” -- doodieoutlaw

“

I guess I'm not as smart as I thought I was. This Blair thing has me puzzled. I remember thinking that the Dorsey kid from Memphis was a stud also. I haven't seen him play in a game yet.

” -- adeeblack

• Vote: What's the impact of all the big trades in the NBA this week?

We'll get back to the actual draft selections in a bit, but frankly, aside from new Timberwolves general manager David Kahn putting Matt Millen and Jon Gruden to shame by stockpiling people who play the same position in a matter of mere minutes, the week's real drama involved players who long since had their moment on the podium with David Stern.

We're talking trades -- and not just mentally talking, as Shaq seems to prefer.

Vince Carter is in Orlando, Richard Jefferson is in San Antonio, Shaquille O'Neal is in Cleveland and Thabo Sefolosha is in Oklahoma City. And if you don't think that last one matters, you've obviously never listened to anyone with an Oklahoma accent.

• A 'Nation of one? Florida almost alone in thinking more of Carter than Shaq.
• Chat wrap: See what Stepehn Curry, Ricky Rubio and others told SportsNation.
• Fan groups: Cleveland Cavaliers fans | Orlando Magic Hoops | San Antonio Spurs

“

I have a feeling [the Magic] aint bringing back turkoglu now.with the money that howard,carter,and lewis are making,I cant imagine them giving him the kind of money he thought he was going to get last week.

” -- nspe33

“

Get ready, Cleveland. [Shaq] willl be fat and out of shape when camp starts, he'll have to play himself into shape, and he'll be injured the first 1 - 1 1/2 months of the season. Just like every other team he has ever played for! Bank it!

” -- THEBOOTGUY

You're looking at "Mikey breakin' away!" according to Mikez818, who uploaded this picture. We see all the excitement and fun that made us love sports in the first place.

Speaking of the hopes and joys of sports, there are youngsters in Ohio who don't yet realize the futility and frustration of being a Bengals fan.

Cincinnati fans want to be optimistic about Chad Ochocinco's positive comments of late, but many will be unconvinced until Carson Palmer connects with the team's most vocal receiver.

Thanks to BENTABOY for reminding us that everyone starts the season with a blank slate.

Some seasons end too early. Arizona State beat North Carolina 12-5, eliminating the Tar Heels from the College World Series on Thursday, but that doesn't mean MizzouTarHeelsfan09 isn't proud of her team, which finished as one of the eight best NCAA baseball teams this year.

The Tar Heels fan uploaded a gallery chock full of pictures from Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. And she's jumped on the Texas bandwagon just in time for the Longhorns' championship battle with the LSU Tigers.

The Magic were another team that picked up fans as they got deeper in the postseason.

Even though Orlando lost in the NBA Finals, 21antos proudly sports a Magic jersey in front of a wall of team gear, including a Marino Dolphins jersey.

These pictures were among our favorites uploaded this week to the ESPN profiles. If you saw a picture you liked or uploaded a picture you're proud of, drop a link the comments below and we'll take a look.

Sometimes we all need a little extra space to vent. ESPN profiles give fans space to post their own blog entries and go toe-to-toe with commenters.

• puddpirt: More impressive championship: Lakers or Penguins? Based on where they came from and what they had to overcome in the end, at least one person is making a case for the Penguins.
• SNight322: If you're having an unduly good day and need to bring things down a notch, check out one fan's ruminations on life as a Cleveland sports fan. Bleak doesn't begin to do it justice.
• aggiedan711: In what can only be described as an epic rant, one blogger defends the Cameron Crazies and takes USC, Florida, Ben Affleck, designer clothes, Harry Potter and CB radio to task. Actually, it might have been pro CB radio. Hard to tell.
• dhopp34: Looking to store away some good vibes for the day when one of his other teams hits the skids (judging by his profile, we're guessing Iowa), a Penguins fan looks back at the path to a championship.
• kidsox1: A fan of the Red Sox (and of capital letters) makes a case that the Red Sox have all the ingredients to run away from the pack, including a supposedly easy schedule and the eventual addition of John Smoltz.
• More blogs: Check out all the SportsNation blogs.

What's all the fuss about Phil Jackson breaking Red Auerbach's record nine championships? To our way of thinking, he did that with the last title before Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal became the much taller, better shooting, version of Simon and Garfunkel. But apparently nobody else feels guiding the Albany Patroons to a CBA title should count toward Jackson's haul. Just because the CBA wasn't technically the NBA. Semantics.

With 10 championships of the strictly NBA variety, Jackson is getting a lot of attention today as arguably the best coach of all time. In fact, 71 percent of SportsNation thinks he'll have a more prominent place in basketball history than Kobe.

Perhaps that's no surprise, given 84 percent think he's the greatest NBA coach ever.

Where does he rank against some of his coaching peers in other sports?