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Lakers ready to defend title

Author: John Harris
Date: 11/10/2009
Basketball betting

It might have been over five months since they contested the play-off finals but the LA Lakers and Orlando Magic continue to stand tall in the NBA as all 30 clubs prepare for another six-month long basket-fest.

The Lakers and Magic were impressive last season, only separated after the former scraped two overtime wins to claim a flattering 4-1 finals victory.

Even in the regular season only the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers competed at the same level as the current 'big two', with both clubs emerging with slightly better records than Orlando only to under-perform when in mattered.

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It was Orlando, led by the devastating Dwight Howard - who signed himself in as the game's best centre - that proved themselves in the play-offs, showing that they are a team built for the big occasion.

With that experience behind them, the Magic can be expected to challenge for the title again, potentially matching last season's Lakers by following a play-off final defeat with victory 12 months later.

Guard Vince Carter has been Orlando's major summer arrival, brought in to replace Hedo Turkoglu, but his signing was overshadowed by the biggest name over the last decade in basketball joining the man destined to be the league's superstar for at least the next decade.

Shaquille O'Neal's move west to Cleveland to team up with LeBron James should be the final piece in the Cavaliers' jigsaw, but they are not yet set up to overcome the problems shown in last year's play-offs. There is also a doubt as to how Shaq will fit in alongside James in a city lacking any of LA's celebrity glamour.

The champions of two years ago, Boston Celtics, have been busy rebuilding after being felled by Orlando early in the play-offs last term.

Kevin Garnett remains the star attraction, with the declining Rasheed Wallace and Ray Allen lending a hand while Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo should provide enough support to Garnett to ensure that a play-off spot is an absolute minimum.

The San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets should prove tough opposition, while both teams with English interest - Luol Deng's Chicago Bulls and Ben Gordon's Houston Astros - are outsiders in the markets.

Even if Andrew Bynum doesn't prove himself as the team leader, assuming Kobe Bryant finally begins to decline, the Lakers remain online favourites to secure back-to-back titles after keeping an unmatched squad together and investing in forward Ron Artest.

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