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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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• Vote: What's your take on the season's opening night?
• Beyond the Nation: Cleveland Plain Dealer on Shaq's assesment.
• Chats: NBA Insider David Thorpe, 12 ET | Chad Ford's Tuesday wrap

Posting his NBA predictions minutes before the season's opening tip, SportsNation blogger Dukeyanks1515 pegged the Cavaliers as the best of the Eastern Conference, two spots ahead of the Celtics. Oops. (We'll cut him some slack; he also had the Wizards No. 5 in the East and the Mavericks No. 7 in the West, predictions which look downright prescient after Gilbert Arenas torched Mark Cuban's team in a 102-91 win).

As Tuesday debuts go, Shaquille O'Neal's was rather less successful than, say, the new Michael Jackson movie. Actually, it was less successful than Randy Foye's first game with the Wizards. O'Neal put up 10 points, 10 rebounds and one block in 29 minutes, and the Cavaliers dropped a 95-89 decision to the Celtics. But whether Shaq actually improves the Cavaliers is just one question we've got after the first night of games. Also on the agenda:

• Is Gilbert Arenas one the five best players in the league when healthy? Vote
• Would you rather have Andrew Bynum or Greg Oden for the next decade? Vote
• Did Ron Artest or Rasheed Wallace look like a better fit in victory? Vote

“

C's have the better bench now, which is why it was a relatively easy win tonight. When is Cleveland going to bring in a real PG for Lebron? Mo Williams is garbage; an undersized SG pretending to play PG. He can't set up his teammates, he gets exposed defensively, and if his shot isn't going down, then what's his value?

” -- dinosaurworld

“

It's one game and according to Celtic's fans they have already won the NBA championship. They fail to realize that two of our starters are new to the system and it will take them awhile to get acquainted. There was some sloppy play by the Cavs that will be corrected as time goes on.

” -- eatthegator

It wasn't so long ago that you didn't casually throw around phrases like "lock up for the long term" when discussing the Trail Blazers. That it's fair game these days is proof of why the team wants to lock up Brandon Roy with a long-term contract.

But if Roy is the face of a rehabilitated franchise, can he be the face of a championship franchise?

SportsNation voters have no doubt that the Blazers made the best of the 2006 draft -- Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay and others barely muster a challenge. And even if Portland is a hidden gem up in the Pacific Northwest, Roy gets his share of recognition. Last year, voters ranked him ahead of Kevin Durant among the best players then under the age of 23. And just a few weeks ago, voters were clear they want him on Team USA for the next round of major international competitions.

But none of that is the same thing as saying Roy is a championship cornerstone. When it comes to doing that, a lot of eyes are still on Greg Oden.

• Portland's version trails Halladay and Williams as the best Roy in sports.
• Vote: Is Brandon Roy the right cornerstone for a championship?
• Beyond the Nation: The Oregonian's John Canzano on new hope in Portland.
• Groups: Portland Trailblazers | blazer fans | Portland Trail Blazers Nation

“

Doesn't take a genius to know you've got to lock up your star player when they're willing. Roy deserves a max deal and for him to sign now shows he's committed to the team and trusts the management to surround him with talent in order to compete every May and June when it matters. Can't say the same for two primadonna star players named LBJ and D-Wade who refuse to sign extensions, thereby holding their franchises and their fan bases hostage until their every demand is met. In other words, Roy has class along with his worldly talent.

” -- kshiau

“

Roy has a better chance of winning a RING somewhere else. Is he satisfied with 50-55 wins a year and second round playoff apperances? maybe so.

” -- LidocizaineAndB12

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

While the Washington Nationals prepare for a summer of exchanging pleasantries with Scott Boras (because summer in a city built on a swamp isn't excruciating enough as it is), SportsNation gets to talk to the potential No. 1 pick who really has the power to bring change. Former Oklahoma star and possible future Clippers star Blake Griffin stops by to chat at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Although it's not set in stone quite yet, everyone expects the explosive post player to come off the board first in the NBA draft. That includes mock drafts from SportsNation bloggers dedalotw2003 (who also has an intriguing trade at No. 2) and bball4life578 (who also has a trade at No. 2 ... what does everyone have against Memphis?). Chat with Blake at 3:30!