ESPN

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.

More fan blogs

Fan pictures

Doug Collins doesn't want it. Avery Johnson might, and Bill Laimbeer may or may not even be a candidate. But is Jim Calhoun the name Pistons fans really ought to be talking about for their coaching vacancy? There may not be a pizza joint on every corner or a motorcycle at every stoplight, but Auburn Hills, Mich. is starting to look like Storrs, Conn.

Just days into the search to replace Michael Curry, the Pistons have reportedly agreed in principle on free-agent deals for Ben Gordon (five years, $55 million) and Charlie Villanueva (five years, $40 million). Jake Voskuhl's whereabouts remain unclear.

Gordon is an undersized offensive juggernaut, which sounds suspiciously like Allen Iverson. But if managing Iverson and Richard Hamilton proved part of Curry's undoing, voters are convinced Gordon and Hamilton can coexist on the roster.

That said, if signing Gordon means eventually moving Hamilton, it appears the Pistons made the popular choice in getting the guy who nearly carried the Bulls past the Celtics.

• Almost half of the 'Nation thinks Pistons overpaid for both Gordon and Villanueva.
• And money can't buy SportsNation's love; 72 percent say Pistons not a contender.
• Fan groups: Detroit Pistons NBA Basketball | Detroit Sports Fans
• Chat Thursday: John Hollinger breaks down the numbers at 3 p.m. ET
• Vote: What's your take on the state of the Pistons?

“

Stop justifying poor moves with the mantra "Dumars has something up his sleeve." I heard that all last year after the Iverson trade and nothing materialized. Joe D brought us a championship, but he's made absolutely no good moves since 2004. Particularly regarding coaches.

” -- drackoe28

“

Trading Rip makes the most sense but maybe Joe D wants a solid 3 guard line up. They cannot trade Prince...he's staying there's no doubt in my mind but from what Broussard says they are willing to listen to offers on anyone. Trading prince makes no sense and opens up a huge hole where one didn't really exist

” -- MexDomer

Last week, Chad Ford had to interrupt his SportsNation chat to break the news of the Spurs acquiring Richard Jefferson from the Bucks. This week he was in chat when he got word the Pistons had fired Michael Curry.

Clearly, we need to book Ford every day to get through the doldrums of July.

Aaron (Richmond, VA)

Wow. About the Pistons firing Curry. Wow. Who do you think they should target as a coach and as free agents with their available cash?

Chad Ford

I think Curry had a tough time making the transition to player and confidant to head coach. I especially think he had a difficult relationship with Richard Hamilton after benching Hamilton in favor of Allen Iverson.I can tell you the Pistons are going to go with someone with more head coaching experience ... but I don't know who it will be.

Mike (Detroit)

For all the good work Dumars did in putting the Pistons team together, he sure has crumbled it (starting with the infamous Darko pick). Where do they go from here? Overhaul entire team?

Chad Ford

I'm not sure crumbled is the right word. Teams don't last forever and they had a fantastic run ... longer than most teams have had. But they are clearly rebuilding now ... and apparently the Pistons felt like Curry wasn't a great fit. Full transcript.

• Vote: Where do the Pistons go now?

Michael Curry got to the playoffs and survived the gauntlet that is managing a roster with both Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace, but it wasn't enough to earn a second year on the bench for the Pistons.

Curry isn't the one who pulled the trigger on the deal sending Chauncey Billups to the Nuggets for Iverson (nor the one who pulled the trigger on drafting Darko Milicic, while we're at it), but he's the one looking for work. Then again, he is the one who took a team a year removed from the Eastern Conference finals and had it looking like a team angry about missing quality tee times during a first-round series against the Cavaliers.

What's next for the Pistons? Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer aren't walking through that door. Well, unless you ask.

• Fan groups: Detroit Pistons NBA Basketball | Detroit Sports Fans

“

The Pistons need a defensive minded coach, Curry was not ready to lead a team, especially like the Pistons his first year as a head coach. Bill Lambier and Jeff Van Gundy should be great fits for Detroit.

” -- twin1989

“

Coaching is as much about having the pieces that fit your style as it is X's and O's. Would Popovich be as good of a coach without the particular players he has had in San Antonio? Would Doc Rivers be considered a good coach without being handed 2 HOF players and a very very good point guard? Curry wasn't a good fit but I don't think even Phiil Jackson could have gotten more than about 40 wins out of them.

” -- xxxbrentxxx