More Questions Than Answers

Much has gone on this NBA offseason.  More than just about anybody can remember happening any other year.  With so much movement, so many new storylines, so many subplots, and one big Decision, we're left with lots of guesses, and even more shoulder shrugs as training camps open league-wide.

One of the biggest questions I have:  Who has a better shot at the title, The Lakers/Heat, or every other team in the league?  I say it's even money at best for the field...

Who's got the edge?

So, with so many questions and so few answers (apologies to Allen Iverson), I've jotted down a couple of the biggest questions for each team in the NBA as the season begins.  These barely scratch the surface, however, and this without a doubt is one of the more intriguing and exciting seasons that I've ever looked forward to.

Here they are, in no particular order:


Boston Celtics – can the original Big Three make another run, and will Shaq be the disruptive influence that many expect him to be? Or, the real question, will Shaq be able, in an end-of-season interview, to tell the world how much it means to have as many rings as Kobe again?


Dallas Mavericks - will the latest assortment of new players compliment Dirk all the way to the promised land? And will Jason Kidd have enough in the tank for a deep playoff run?


New Jersey Nets - is 12 wins the ceiling for this young group? And can they add the veteran superstardom that they’ve been promising those Knicks fans that they've been baiting?


Houston Rockets - this one all hinges on Yao…. Will he be able play for any solid length of time this season? Is he done? And who will the Rockets be trading to pick up more scoring?


New York Knicks - Will Stoudamire be able to keep up his output without Steve Nash delivering the rock? With all the new additions, will there be too much of a learning curve to have success during the season? And will this team play enough defense to get out of the first round should they make the playoffs?


Memphis Grizzlies - Is the monster Rudy Gay deal going to pay dividends? And how well will this group be able to compete in the stacked West while many of the teams that were below them last season seem improved?


Philadelphia 76ers - Does this team make the playoffs even in the top-heavy East? Will Evan Turner be able to keep pace with John Wall in the ROY race? Is Elton Brand still alive?


New Orleans Hornets – Will CP go all out in a contract year even if he’s got nothing to prove? And will a new coach and a shaken-up roster keep them in the playoff hunt?


Toronto Raptors – Where will the scoring come from? And where will the rebounding come from? And where will the ticket sales come from?


San Antonio Spurs – An even bigger question than Boston’s about this group being able to make another run. Can Tiago Splitter make enough of an impact? And will Richard Jefferson remember that he’s Richard Jefferson?


Chicago Bulls – Can Rose, Boozer, and Noah really make a run at the East’s top teams? Will Booze slow down their giant-killing playoff madness too much?


Denver Nuggets – Hmm… oh yeah: Does anyone want ‘Melo enough to give them what they want for him? And in the meantime, will they be able stay among the West’s upper crust? Do the players even take the team seriously any more?


Cleveland Cavaliers – where do they go from here..? And who should they be looking at in the lottery for 2011?


Minnesota Timberwolves – Who should they be looking at in the top five for 2011?


Detroit Pistons – how long before Joe decides to blow it up and start from scratch?


Portland Trail Blazers – Oden, Oden, Oden. And should Elliot Williams just put his name in for the dunk contest right now?


Indiana Pacers – Does Danny Granger have something to prove after being given meager playing time in the World’s this Summer? Will Darren Collison have anyone else to pass the ball to?


Oklahoma City Thunder – By how many points will KD win the scoring title this season? Will people realize that he’s not the only all-star on the roster (hello, Russell Westbrook)? And how well will Cole Aldrich continue the storied string of stiff white centers to come out of Kansas?


Milwaukee Bucks – Of course, will Bogut be good to go all season? If so, can they compete with the East’s upper echelon? Will Mike Redd be able to contribute? Are there enough touches available for all these scorers?


Utah Jazz – Is their roster improved with Al Jefferson? Can Raja Bell replace the youth and athleticism they lost in Wes Matthews (now in Portland)? And with the West getting deeper, do they have enough to make a run?


Atlanta Hawks – Is Joe Johnson really worth that much? Really?


Golden State Warriors – Can Keith Smart find an intelligent way to get this team to .500? Or at least play defense? And are the playoffs out of the question for at least another season or two?


Charlotte Bobcats – Was last season’s playoff appearance a fluke, or something to build on? And is MJ’s belief in Kwame Brown the same stubbornness that he was famous for as a player?


Los Angeles Clippers – Can their core stay on the floor? And what exactly will we see if it does? Can Blake Griffin compete with Wall for ROY?


Miami Heat – How many championships will they win?


Los Angeles Lakers – How many more championships will they win?


Orlando Magic – Can they get out of the East without a legit first option on offense anymore?


Phoenix Suns – Will the loss of Stoudamire really hurt them that much? How deep into the playoffs can they go without his scoring in the lane? Will Hedo's need for the ball work alongside the league's best ballhandler?


Washington Wizards – Clearly, can Wall and Arenas coexist in the backcourt? And is their youth, athleticism, and potential enough to carry them into the postseason in the East?

Sacramento Kings – Will DeMarcus Cousins go stir-crazy in Sacramento?  And can Tyreke give up enough touches to allow Cousins to make a run at ROY?