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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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In the immediate aftermath of the team's most recent championship, SportsNation was split as to whether or not the Lakers were favorites to repeat. But when the Cavaliers made their big move, literally, by adding Shaquille O'Neal to the mix, popular support swung in favor of LeBron James' team.

So what impact does Ron Artest have on things? Well, voters still think Artest would fit better alongside LeBron and Shaq, but it's no longer a contest for the top spot.

By a better than 2-to-1 margin, it's the Lakers for two.

And Artest's combustible past aside, voters not only think Dennis Rodman was more of a handful for Phil Jackson; they think a current member of the Lakers is more of a chore.

• It was a relatively quiet long weekend, although Hedo Turkoglu did his best to create some dramatic fireworks. SportsNation isn't buying that Toronto's Turkish community or Turkoglu's comfort level with the Eastern Conference had much to do with his apparent reversal after reaching a verbal agreement to sign with the Blazers. They also aren't convinced pairing Turkoglu with Chris Bosh makes the Raptors a playoff team.

• Vote: Jason Kidd's decision to stay and Rasheed Wallace's relocation
• Groups: LA Laker Haters | Celtic Pride CHAMPIONS! | Portland Trail Blazers Nation

“

Great job hedo you went from playing for an elite team in the east to nearly playing for an up & coming portland squad to playing for a lottery team? The raptors will flirt with .500 at best and hedo can watch the playoffs from his cosmopolitan house enjoying the extra $$$ he has accepted for losing!

” -- bos411

“

well i think the hedo deal was worth it for toranto yeah they have no shot at winning the whole thing but they are trying to put fans in the seats making the playoffs do that and hedo proved he is a playoff performer against the CAVS but when it comes down to it great pick up by the raptors

” -- blackmatt86

• 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

NO. 8: NEW YORK KNICKS
Much as their fans might like them to try, the Knicks can't actually turn in a draft card with LeBron James' name. So while the faithful wait for that saga to play out after next season, the team will have to look for pieces to fit Mike D'Antoni's system. One approach would be the player least like Eddy Curry.

• If Chad Ford's worst-case scenario unfolds, SportsNation says take Flynn.
• Take your own shot at ranking this year's class of point guards.
• Knicks draft conversation | Fan groups: Knicks Fan Club | New York Sport Teams

“

PANIC!!!!!!! HIDE THE BABIES!!!!! SCREAM!!!!! THE T-WOLVES NOW OWN THE 5,6,18 and another pick I think in the 1st round!! If they keep 2 pics in the top 10, then our hopes of landing an impact player at 8 are lost. Walsh must trade Lee and/or Nate for picks amd trade down and get Maynor. Or send Lee and the #8 to TOR or PHO for Bosh or Amare. I'm officially worried now...

” -- SeeWhyDee211

NO. 9 TORONTO RAPTORS
The good news for the Raptors is that with the NHL draft set to get underway Friday, they could draft Rafael Araujo again and nobody in town would notice until at least Monday. Check that; Chris Bosh would notice. And at this point, Bosh is the guy the franchise ought to most intent on pleasing.

• Chris Bosh is not with the Raptors for the long haul.
• Was keeping Jay Triano as coach the right move? Flip a coin.
• Raptors draft conversation | Fan groups: Toronto Raptors

“

Raptors should trade down and draft sam young. NBA ready and very underrated. I think he would be a nice compliment for bosh and bargs.

” -- randall-mike

NO. 10: MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Chad Ford assured SportsNation chatters there was a method to the seeming madness of trading Richard Jefferson for a Champions Tour defender in Bruce Bowen and some warm bodies, but we'll believe it when we see it. Getting somebody to high five Andrew Bogut on the free throw line would be a start.

• Need for point guard trumps center, shooting guard.
• If Rubio, Curry and Evans are gone, Jonny Flynn tops wish list.
• Bucks draft conversation | Fan groups: Milwaukee Bucks Fans | Wisconsin Cheeseheads

“

Anyone else think its a joke that Thabeet is rated so much higher than Blair? Am i the only one that watched Dejuan Blair physically manhandle Thabeet like he was a whiny little boy. I would rather take Blair any day.

” -- DiablosFury2