Here are the teams I feel have a legitimate shot at winning the NBA title heading into the 2010-11 season:

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers are the two-time defending champs and have been to the NBA Finals in each of the last three seasons. They’re the favorite entering the 2010-11 season, but could get off to a slow start. Kobe is still on his way back to 100 percent after undergoing offseason knee surgery, so expect to see heavy doses of Pau Gasol early on. Gasol doesn’t sell NBA tickets as Kobe does, but he’s an integral part of the team’s success. If Bryant can return to form by midseason and stave off the aging process a bit, there’s no reason to think the Lakers won’t be representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this season. They’ve got size, a primetime clutch player and the best coach in the history of the NBA. It’s hard to bet against them.

Boston Celtics: The Celtics came within just one game of winning the title last season, despite the fact that everyone thought they were done going into the 2010 postseason.

Related Coverage

Nba Tickets – Top 10 Power Rankings

Here are the Top 10 teams in the National basketball Association as I see them heading into the 2010-11 season. Nba Tickets – Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Here are some players to target in the late rounds of your fantasy basketball draft. Nba Tickets – Southeast Division Preview

Here are some notes on each team in the Southeast division heading into the 2010-11 NBA season. Nba Tickets – Pacific Division Preview

Here are some notes on each team in the Pacific Division heading into the 2010-11 NBA season.Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are all a year older, but we saw that this team is capable of cruising through the regular season and turning it on in the playoffs. However, it’s risky to do that. The Celtics shored up their dearth of size on the inside by signing both Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal, a pair of veterans that will play in the middle until Kendrick Perkins returns. Having said all that, I still believe that this team can only go as far as point guard Rajon Rondo takes them. Rondo elevated himself into the conversation of best point guard in the league in the playoffs last season, but can he sustain that level of play for an entire season? If so, you might see the Celtics hoisting another championship trophy this June.

Miami Heat: The Heat had one heck of a summer, we all know that.
Obviously the ultimate goal in Miami is to win a title, but I’m dubious of whether or not it can happen this year. I think the Heat will go through an adjustment period early in the season and could have some people pressing the panic button. They’re bound to figure it out, though, and should be a serious contender by the end of the season. However, it’s not going to be easy to overcome their lack of interior size, especially against big teams like the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh can stay healthy, they’re going to be tough to take down, but just how tough is really hard to figure at this point.

Orlando Magic: Believe it or not, I’m picking the Magic to win the title this season. I think they match up very well against the Heat, thanks to Dwight Howard in the middle and their outside shooting. They’re going to have trouble with Boston if they have to face them in the postseason, but I think Dwight Howard is ready to make a run at the MVP this season, which would put them over the top. I do think he’ll come up short of winning that award, but his offensive game could finally be coming around after working with Hakeem Olajuwon in the offseason. If Jameer Nelson can stay healthy and Rashard Lewis can have a bounce-back year, I think the Magic could end up not only being the best team in Florida, but in the entire league.