Top stars on unfamiliar teams have revamped the set of contenders trying to dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers as National Basketball Association champions with the 2009-2010 season opening today.
Top stars on unfamiliar teams have revamped the set of contenders trying to dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers as National Basketball Association champions with the 2009-2010 season opening today.
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Center Shaquille O'Neal will join NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, who averaged 28.4 points and 7.6 rebounds a game last season, in trying to bring the Cleveland Cavaliers their first title.
Veteran playmaker Vince Carter is among five new players who join Dwight Howard with the Orlando Magic as the reigning Eastern Conference champions cope with losing top talent, including Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu to Toronto.
"Vince can create his own shots or create shots for someone else," said Magic general manager Otis Smith.
Rasheed Wallace will join Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in powering the Boston Celtics while Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess join Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili with the San Antonio Spurs.
Kobe Bryant, who averaged 28.6 points a game last season, and Spanish ace Pau Gasol, who pulled down 9.6 rebounds a game, led the Lakers run to a 65-17 season and a playoff crown last season.
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