Finally after a long wait the association is back at it again.  This is my favorite time of year in sports.  College football is in full swing, the NFL starts heating up, and a long NBA season is just starting.  Every Friday I'm going to do my best (and worst probably) to try and bring you my power rankings for the league. 

1.  San Antonio Spurs- The Spurs are aging but are off to a fantastic 4-1 start.  Although the record is impressive out of the gate, so far their wins have come against the Mavs, Raptors, Knicks, and Suns while losing to Cleveland. Duncan is averaging 20 and 10 and Parker has come into his own.  Can they keep it up all year?

2. L.A. Clippers- The Clips are off to a good start and have beaten quality opponents by NBA standards.  Elton's numbers have been low but it's only just starting and I'm sure the dominating force underneath will be back on top of his game soon.  In the meantime, will someone call up Sam Cassell and tell him he's 37?  With a 22 ppg and 5.6 apg average, I don't think he realizes he's supposed to be too old to be putting up these numbers.  Again, we're just getting started. 

3. L.A. Lakers- Kobe is actually passing the ball and getting his teammates involved?  Maybe we're seeing more than just a jersey number change this year.  Could he be changing his game?  If so, the rest of the league should be worried. Oh and who the heck is this Bynum kid?  No one expected this from him.  If you haven't picked him up on the waiver wire in your fantasy league what are you waiting for?

4. Utah Jazz- Carlos Boozer looks to be back in full form.  Remember all of those high-profile media types who said he wasn't NBA material?  The only thing stopping him from being a dominant force is his health.  AK-47 has given up some offensive numbers to Boozer and Okur but he's still a monster on defense averaging 2.4 blocks per game. 

5. NO/Okl. City Hornets- Off to a franchise best 4-0 start but they haven't really played anyone yet.  Chris Paul is amazing and he's going to blossom into one of the league's best players.  While it is a feel good stroy (much like the Saints in the NFL) that they're winning, I don't see them being a 50 win ball club.  Maybe they can prove me wrong.

6. Atlanta Hawks-  Yes, I'm just as surpised by their 3-1 start as everyone.  I don't think anyone saw that coming.  Of course, it would be easy to say that they haven't played anyone but does it matter?  The Hawks are winning games for the first time in a long, long time.  Over the long haul, I think they'll probably end up around a .500 ball club though.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers- So, the LeBron "walking off the court" thing got blown way out of proportion.  For Bron Bron, that's just the beginning.  Everything he does from now until he hangs up his kicks will be scrutinized.  That comes with the territory when you're dubbed "the chosen one." The Cavs are looking good though and they are my pick to win the East this year.

8.  Portland Trailblazers- They're off to a fantastic start with their most recent win over the Lakers.  Zach Randolph has exploded and if he can prove to the team that he's committed all season long, they'll likely win the Northwest Division. 

9. Orlando Magic-  They have five players averaging double figures in points for the season.  That's right--five.  Grant Hill is back in top form, but his age may catch up to him.  This team is very deep and will probably make waves in the playoffs.  Look for Howard to solidify himself as an All-Star this season.

10. Sacramento Kings- Kevin Martin is emerging as a star in this league.  Artest is averaging nearly 5 steals per outing.  The Kings are certainly talented but can they keep up with all the other powerhouses in the West?

11. Houston Rockets-  When Yao and T-Mac are both healthy they are a true finals contender.  There are still a lot of games to be played and T-Mac's back has gotten worse each year.  Yao may finally be getting used to playing the long NBA season.  Time will tell how this plays out.

12. Philadelphia 76ers-  AI's window of opportunity is closing and he knows it.  He's one of those rare players left in the league that is actually committed to playing for one team his entire career.  Philly is his city and he is hungry for a ring. 

13. Indiana Pacers- If Jermaine O'Neal stays healthy they can contend for a playoff spot.  This is the same-ol'-same-ol' with the Pacers though.  Always in the playoffs but never can get over the hump.

14. New Jersey Nets-  Some could argue that the Nets could be higher in my power rankings but after only three games, it's hard to tell how good they'll be.  They do have an impressive win over the Jazz and will likely win out the weak Atlantic Division.

15. Miami Heat- They've been buzzing about a repeat but let's be realistic.  This is a team of old timers with one great young superstar in D-Wade.  They didn't make any significant roster changes but after winning the title do they really need to?  Don't fix it if it ain't broken right?  We'll see.

16. Washington Wizards- Everyone keeps talking about how crazy and weird Arenas is but the fact is, he's averaging nearly 30 ppg again and there's no reason to doubt that they can go deep.  There are some serious internal issues that have to be addressed, however, with the whole Thomas vs. Haywood incident.  Sounds like a good boxing matchup doesn't it?  This is the type of thing that can make a team implode.

17. Toronto Raptors- Keep in mind that they're only 2-2 right now and have lost to the Spurs and the Nets.  T.J. Ford and Chris Bosh both bring hope to a franchise desperate for some kind of life. 

18.  Golden State Warriors- The Don is back and the Warriors are looking good out of the gate.  After dealing the Hornets their first loss of the season, Baron Davis is looking like his former self.  Injuries remain the question mark here.  If Richardson and Davis can both stay healthy all season the Warriors may finally make the playoffs.

19. Chicago Bulls- After routing the Heat to open up the season, Bulls fans (myself included) thought we were in for a real treat this year.  Big Ben was supposed to be the missing link needed in Scott Skyles's system.  So far, that hasn't translated into W's but the season is still young and so are the Bulls.  They'll come in second to the Cavs in the Central.

20. Milwaukee Bucks- Michael Redd has been phenomenol so far and Villanueva is putting up solid numbers in his sophomore season.  They still need that missing piece to get them over the hump but I think they make the playoffs this year.

21. New York Knicks-  Is it bad if you're a fan and you want your team to lose?  Not if you're a Knicks fan.  Thomas has turned everything he's been involved with into absolute garbage.  From almost single-handedly ruining the CBA to firing a hall of fame coach in Larry Brown he's done just about everything bad one could think about since stepping off the court.  The worst thing he could do now, for Knicks fans anyway, would be to win. 

22. Detroit Pistons- Division rival Chicago pulled a fast one on the Pistons in the off-season snagging Big Ben after the Pistons traded away Darko.  This is still a solid team focused on team basketball.  The refs are throwing out techs like candy now thanks to the new rules about arguing with officials.  Look for Sheed to break a record this year.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves- KG is hungry.  He wants a title but his window of opportunity is closing rapidly.  Like AI, Garnett is the rare player committed to staying with his team through thick and thin.  In the end, the T-Wolves are simply not a franchise dedicated to winning and Garnett will either have to go elsewhere or be content with the fact that he won't win a championship there.  They started out strong but are on a three game skid.

24. Seattle SuperSonics- The Sonics's lone win came against the Lakers but they are losing close games.  An average margin of losing by four points separates them from being a great team to being a mediocre team.  Wilcox has been a pleasant surprise for them this year and he should only get better.

25. Charlotte Bobcats-  I never would have guessed that I would have the Bobcats over both the Mavs and the Suns five games into the season.  Charlotte's lone win came against a solid Cleveland team.  They can get a pass for a couple of years since they're such a young team but eventually people will begin to wonder why they're losing with such a vast amount of talent.  Hopefully for them they won't get to that point.

26. Memphis Grizzlies-  The Grizzlies lone win comes over the Bobcats.  So why don't I have them higher than the Bobcats?  Because everyone should be beating the Bobcats. This team is in trouble as long as Gasol is out.  When he returns in January, they may be in a hole too deep for him to get them out of in a tough Western Conference.

27.  Dallas Mavericks-  Uhm...can someone tell Avery Johnson that the season has started because I don't think he knows just yet.  That can be the only explanation for the Mavs terrible start.  That was the worst in team history by the way and, due to the fact that the Mavs have had some pretty bad teams in the past, that is saying a lot.  I really don't understand how this team has collapsed like this.  I know Josh Howard is hurt but come on. 

28.  Pheonix Suns-  1-5 To start out the year.  All I can say is wow.  Two years ago when Nash came to town, he stunned the league with how much better he made Amare, Q-Rich, Joe Johnson, and the Matrix.  Last year when Amare went down, they pulled Boris Diaw from the ranks of obscurity and stunned the league.  This season there are no more tricks to pull out of the bag.  Now, it's all about playing good, solid hoops.  The true cloud hanging over this franchise is Amare.  Microfracture surgery is very difficult to recover from and the high-flying, athletic Stoudemire is going to be forced to learn to play the game in a different way.  Until he can do that, the Suns will struggle.  Nash is the league MVP and he, along with Marion, must carry this team if they want any hope of contending this year.  I wish Amare and the Suns the best but this may not be their year.

29. Boston Celtics-  Paul Pierce needs to be in panic mode right now.  He has got to get out of there while he can.  Right now he doesn't want to appear like a malcontent but it's hard to go out and give your all night in and night out only to come up short every time.  He simply doesn't have the personnel around him to compete.  Szczerbiak is good but this team needs a lot more and the Celtics have proven that they aren't going to give him anymore help.  Right now, I don't think anyone would blame him if he came out and demanded a trade.

30. Denver Nuggets-  Melo you got what you wanted.  You're a team captain after threatening to "raise hell" if you were passed over this year.  Look around you; your team is the only one in the league without a win.  Sure you've only played three games and it took five for the Mavs to pick up their first but it doesn't matter.  The Nuggets have a long way to go before they'll be able to contend for anything.  Between K-Mart's injury woes and Melo being, well, Melo, this team has problems galore.

So there you have my first power rankings of the season.  I'll go ahead and make my predictions for the end of the year as well.

Eastern Conference Finals:  Cleveland Cavs vs. Miami Heat

Western Conference Finals:  San Antonio Spurs vs. L.A. Lakers

NBA Finals: Cleveland vs. San Antonio

NBA champs: San Antonio Spurs

League MVP:  LeBron James

Rookie of the Year: Adam Morrison

Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum

Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest