It all begins again, the  2008-2009 NBA season starts tonight for the reigning MVP Kobe Bryant and the defending Western conference champions L.A. Lakers. Tonight against the up and coming Portland Trail Blazers the Lakers begin their quest for another shot at the title. Let the games and excitement begin!

The Lakers are by and large the favorite to win it all if they can stay relatively healthy throughout the season. Bynum was a huge missing piece of the team during the finals series against Boston. Whether they'd have won or not with him will never be known but one can speculate that it wouldn't have been so lop sided.

So here we are a new season and a chance at possible redemption starting tonight. Portland as I said is a young team that will win lots of games, however they aren't in the same league as the Lakers. The Lakers are to deep and to experienced for a young Portland team. In no way does it mean Portland can't win, indeed any team can be beating any night, it simply means that I highly doubt they will.

Kobe will be on a mission all season to get that elusive 4th NBA Title, as well as Phil Jackson getting that elusive 10th NBA championship of his coaching career. I posted a few days ago that the New Orleans Hornets could possibly be this years Western Conference champion, I still stand by that. They have the team and coach to do so, though I am more inclined to believe the Lakers are a better team in all facets of the game. Chris Paul is good, ok he's very good but Kobe is pure greatness! Mix in some very good players like Bynum and Gasol and you have the making of a championship team.

Say whatever you like but Kobe Bryant is Michael Jordan version 2.0! He was the best player in the league within his first few years and is still the greatest player in the NBA today. Sorry Paul Pierce it's not even close, LeBron James for all his greatness has some years to go and CP3 is another that will have plenty of time to prove he belongs in the same conversation as M.J. and Kobe.

So tonight it all begins anew and in the end there can only be one!