It seems like only yesterday when Kevin Garnett held up the Larry O’Brien trophy moments after winning his first NBA Championship. This past June, the Boston three-party (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce) helped reassert the Celtics’ right to the throne of basketball. However, the 2008-09 season will be all about the team the Celtics defeated last summer in the NBA Finals - the Los Angeles Lakers.

The humiliation of Kobe Bryant on the biggest stage in basketball should put fear in anyone wearing an opposing jersey next year. Not only is Bryant arguably the best player in the game today, but he will be looking to restore his bruised ego, one of the highest motivations an athlete can have. For Bryant, the time has never been more ripe to take home his first solo championship and establish his name as the heir to Michael Jordan on the all-time greats list.

Looking at the roster of the Lakers, it’s clear why they have been selected as pre-season favorites by many critics to win the 2009 NBA Championship. A now healthy Andrew Bynum will give the team the toughness they lacked against the Celtics, and Paul Gasol and Lamar Odom will give the Lakers an imposing tandum in the frontcourt. The backcourt trio of Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic will provide solid ball-handling and accurate outside shooting, allowing Bryant to penetrate open lanes and dish out when double-teamed.

The Eastern Conference will feature three elite teams: the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons - of whom any could be a potential finals opponent for the Lakers.

Boston, despite having lost reserve James Posey to New Orleans, is the early favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Though questions have already begun to surface on Boston’s aging triumvirate, don’t expect the Celtics to lose much ground on their 66-16 season of a year ago.

Cleveland will once again be ruled from the throne of Lebron James. With a revamped supporting cast, including newly acquired Maurice Williams from the Milwaukee Bucks, 2008-09 could be the year King James breaks free from not only the Celtics, but the winner of the Western Conference as well.

Although Cleveland landed James his best sidekick since Carlos Boozer, Detroit still has to be considered Boston’s biggest contender. With new coach Michael Curry at the helm, the Pistons carry an experience that’s unparalleled by any other team - the lone exception being the San Antonio Spurs. Expect the Pistons to cruise through the regular season, only to lose to either Cleveland or Boston in the playoffs.

Needless to say, the 2008-2009 NBA campaign is shaping up for what could be an oh-so-sweet rematch between Boston and Los Angeles in the NBA Finals, as Kobe and his fellow Lakers do unto Boston what the Celtics did to Los Angeles last year: simply want it more.

2008-09 Regular Season Predictions:

Eastern Conference

1) Boston Celtics: 60-22
2) Detroit Pistons: 54-28
3) Cleveland Cavaliers: 51-31
4) Orlando Magic: 50-32
5) Philadelphia 76ers: 48-34
6) Toronto Raptors: 47-35
7) Miami Heat: 42-40
8: Chicago Bulls: 39-43
9) Atlanta Hawks: 36-46
10) Milwaukee Bucks: 35-47
11) Indiana Pacers: 33-49
12) Washington Wizards: 33-49
13) New Jersey Nets: 30-52
14) Charlotte Bobcats: 27-55
15) New York Knicks: 25-57

Western Conference

1) Los Angeles Lakers: 58-24
2) New Orlean Hornets: 56-26
3) Houston Rockets: 53-29
4) Utah Jazz: 52-30
5) San Antonio Spurs: 51-31
6) Phoenix Suns: 47-35
7) Portland Trailblazers: 45-37
8: Dallas Mavericks: 43-39
9) LA Clippers: 42-40
10) Golden State Warriors: 38-44
11) Denver Nuggets: 36-46
12) Sacramento Kings: 30-52
13) Minnesota Timberwolves: 26-56
14) Memphis Grizzlies: 24-58
15) Oklahoma City Thunder:19-63