Lakers and Suns Kick Off NBA Basketball Season

Are you ready?

The brand new NBA Basketball season is finally here as we are going to start these annual basketball battles with a big-time double-header every red-blooded NBA Basketball fans would just drool over.

FIRST, the Miami Heat will take the basketball court and begin their defense of the NBA Championship against a team probably picked to destroy Miami's stranglehold of the NBA Eastern Conference.

The Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls come in with new acquisition Ben Wallace to give the aging Shaquille O'Neal a tough time in the paint.

The second game of this NBA Basketball double-header is the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. This game is a rematch of that wonderful NBA Playoffs series last season that went the full seven games.

The Los Angeles Lakers were up 3-1 then, needing only a win to advance. If it wasn't for Suns guard, Raja Bell, and Tim Thomas' game-winning three-pointer, Tinseltown could've had a dream playoff match-up between it's Lakers and Clippers.

On Tuesday, the Lakers are looking for revenge on the run and gun Phoenix Suns team. And yes, THIS TIME, Phoenix won't be having Tim Thomas around. The Lakers will probably win this game right? Not quite. Kobe Bryant has not seen the court in the NBA preseason because of a nagging knee injury and he's still questionable coming to Tuesday's game.

Kobe Bryant has not fully recovered from mid-July arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, saying Sunday that he doesn't yet ''trust'' his knee when it comes to planting and cutting. He will, however, be hoping to face the same team that eliminated them in the NBA Playoffs by winning the next three games. That is after he ran through a Monday morning practice in which he said he felt ''really good... really, really good.''

For Tinseltown's sake, let's sure hope so.

All Star Sportsbook has the odds on this NBA Basketball season opener between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix Suns -3.5

Los Angeles lakers +3.5

Houston Look to Blast Things Away in NBA Basketball

The Houston Rockets, after a disappointing season, are looking for reinforcements.

When the Houston Rockets report for the annual physicals and team meeting leading to the start of training camp, they expect to officially add a former Rockets player, Scott Padgett, a heralded new player, Bonzi Wells, and greet four players who will not be with them when the month ends.

With the additions of Padgett and Wells today, the Rockets will bring 19 players to camp. Padgett, Matt Haryasz, Casey Jacobsen and Kelenna Azubuike are going to camp with non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts.

Padgett and Wells are expected to sign different contracts but under similar circumstances. Both chose the Rockets after failing to find the free-agent options they sought.

Scott Padgett was released by the Nets after one season. Though Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy often said he was missed last season, Padgett will need to play his way on to the roster.

''He's coming to camp,'' Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. ''He has a little bit of an inside advantage because he was with us.''

Bonzi Wells will sign for the remainder of the Rockets' mid-level exception after agreeing to the deal last Wednesday.

Can the Houston Rockets win the 2007 NBA Finals? Here are some outright odds from Sports Interaction on who will do just that.

Detroit Pistons 7.50

Dallas Mavericks 6.50

San Antonio Spurs 5.50

Miami Heat 6.00