There are a lot of people that will make a difference in the NBA this season, but only a few people can really change the course of the entire season. We count down 25 people who can do that during the 2010-11 campaign. The No. 1 guy might surprise you.
When we last saw the Spurs, they were getting swept out of the playoff by a team they once dominated. Can they recover and reclaim their place as a legitimate contender for the title?
The Rockets have an interesting roster with intriguing pieces, good young talent and bargains all over the place, but their hopes rest exclusively on the brittle feet of Yao Ming. Will Yao be healthy enough to push them into contender status?
The New Orleans Hornets are at a crossroads. Have they done enough to appease Chris Paul, who made it clear this summer that he wants out unless the team improves?
The Memphis Grizzlies were one of the surprise teams last year. Can they build on that and enter the crowded Western Conference playoff picture?
The NBA season is back, and 2010 could be one of the most memorable seasons in years. It's the year of Good versus Evil, and before Tuesday's look at the team everyone loves to hate, today we preview the Western Conference and the player good enough to steal Thunder from the Heat.
Last year, the Dallas Mavericks won at least 50 games for the 10 straight season, but once again exited the playoffs early. Can they duplicate and even exceed that success this season?
In our latest 2010-11 NBA season preview, we rank every team based on how entertaining they are to watch. No. 1 is, of course, the LeBron-lead Miami Heat.
It's hard to remember an NBA team that ever came into a season with more anticipation than the 2010-11 Miami Heat. How will LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh handle the pressure?
After staying quiet for most of the summer, the Orlando Magic are being written off by many this year. Is this the year the "forgotten" championship contender finally breaks through?
The Atlanta Hawks decided to change their coach rather than their players after getting swept in the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the second year in a row. Will that change be enough to push them into the NBA's elite?
The Charlotte Bobcats made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last year, but they'll trot out a worse roster on paper. Was last season's success the high mark for this team?
The Minnesota Timberwolves have become a laughingstock of the NBA, but will another massive roster reshaping finally pay off with some positive momentum going forward?
There are a ton of outstanding head coaches in the NBA, but which ones rise above all the rest? With the season just two weeks away, we unveil our NBA coach rankings.
The Portland Trail Blazers suffered through more injuries than any team should ever have to suffer through last season, and they still won 50 games. Can they stay healthy this season and finally step forward and become championship contenders?
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the darlings of the NBA last year. Now, after a summer where Kevin Durant led Team USA to a gold medal at the FIBA World Championships, can he lead the Thunder to the top of the Western Conference?
Carmelo Anthony could be on the way out, but the Denver Nuggets still have a season to play regardless. Can they succeed despite all the distractions surrounding them?
The Utah Jazz made big changes to their roster for the first time in years. Now reloaded, can they keep up in an ever-improving Western Conference?
The Detroit Pistons had a disastrous season in 2009-10. Could things get worse, thanks to little cap room and a mismatched roster, or was last year as bad as it'll get?
The Indiana Pacers have defined mediocrity over the last half-decade. Is this the year they break away from mediocrity one way or the other, or will they have to wait one more year to truly rebuild?
The Cavaliers lost a two-time MVP for pretty much nothing, so clearly they will not be good. But how bad will they actually be?
The Chicago Bulls didn't get LeBron or Wade, but they did get a facelift this summer. Is it enough to challenge the elite of the elite in the Eastern Conference?
The Milwaukee Bucks came out of nowhere to nearly make the second round of the playoffs last year. Now, after an active summer, they're poised to move up even more in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
With a new owner and a new head coach, the Golden State Warriors are ushering in a new era after years of incompetence. Will that new era result in a much-improved team in Year 1?
The Phoenix Suns proved last year that you can never count them out. Now, they have to do it again without all-star power forward Amare Stoudemire.
