The season is finally upon us! After a couple of months planning for our fantasy NBA season, we can finally watch our players run around when it actually counts. Not sure about the rest of you, but Im so excited about the coming season - I reckon this is the most excited I have ever been leading up to an NBA season .

The poll we had going this week was much closer than the East. The question was: Who do you think will be this seasons Western Champ? and the Lakers finished on top with 44% of the votes, followed by the Thunder and the Trailblazers tied with 22% of the vote each.

The next poll Im setting up is to sort out what trophy we should go with out of the suggestions weve had over the last couple of weeks. Go <a title="poll" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/leagueoffice?leagueId=23530" target="_blank">HERE[/url], and login to be able to vote. The question is: Which trophy do you think we should include for the season, out of these suggestions made by league members on TooSerious? There are 6 choices.

All season, Im planning to do a preview and review of each matchup in our league. To view the schedule you can go <a title="schedule" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/schedule?leagueId=23530" target="_blank">HERE[/url]. The first matchup begins in a couple of days with the first NBA games of the season and runs for longer than any other matchup of the season -  13 days in total, from 26/10 to 7/11. It should be noted that matchup 16 goes for 14 days, however includes the All Star break within it.

So 13 days is a long time - Portland play the most games during this time with 8, followed by Miami, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Minnesota, Milwaukee and the LA Clippers, all with 7 games. Washington, San Antonio, Indiana, Dallas and Chicago all play the least games with 5 each during this matchup.

Now over the break Ill do a quick preview of each of our upcoming games :::::

<!--more-->First up is <a title="Team Stowie (Daniel Stow)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=8&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team Stowie[/url] v <a title="Pikus United (Adam Ziegler)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=9&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Pikus United[/url]

With Stowie usually having two picks either directly before or after my picks in the draft, I was able to keep an eye on who he was picking throughout, as quite often he would pick players I was considering, and I think Stowie has picked a great team. I had my 1st pick set on JSmoove and was thinking I would actually get him until Stowie grabbed him with the pick immediately before mine. Pikus United is also a good team, however my tip for this match is Team Stowie, mainly due to some injuries in the United camp - Curry, MMiller, TChandler, Kmart and Livingston are all struggling and in doubt for the beginning of the season.

<a title="Kings of Karlos (Sean Minetti)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=10&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Kings of Karlos[/url] v <a title="Doobia Dominators (Andrew Dubowik)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=20&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Doobia Dominators[/url]

This game is the hardest to pick out of all I reckon - I was almost going to toss a coin! I think Karlos has a better squad with some inspired choices in the draft such as Haywood, Jianlian, Howard all as bargains, and then the biggest of them all being Arron Afflalo who has been touted by some to be the value pick of the draft! However he also has Tyreke Evans who is suspended for the first game of the season, and 3 others whos teams are only playing the minimum 5 games this matchup, whereas Doobs has only the 2. My tip is Kings of Karlos in a really close one.

<a title="Stevos Nuggets (Stephen Nilsson)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=12&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Stevos Nuggets[/url] v <a title="Run TMC (Owen Beebe)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=19&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Run TMC[/url]

Wow, after a really quiet period straight after the draft, the trades slowly started to heat up, but then Steve came along and smashed out 5 trades in the last week, putting everyone else to shame. It is yet to be seen if this will work out in his favor or not - I was actually pretty impressed by his drafting and now there are only a few players left from his original squad. Both of these teams have great lineups, however I reckon Rondo and Andre Miller will pull Run TMC over the line in another close one.

<a title="Ruddys Cavaliers (Peter Rudd)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=14&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Ruddys Cavaliers[/url] v <a title="Dannys Lebronts (Danny Smith)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=18&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Dannys Lebronts[/url]

Before the draft order was set there were a lot of comments from a certain Hawks supporter (AFL, and not me) about the top picks having a huge advantage over everyone else. Now this is Ruddys chance to prove that theory wrong! However I dont think he will this time round. With such a long matchup duration, the stars may come into play a bit more than usual, and especially when that star is Lebron James and the Heat play the 2nd most games of all teams during this matchup. A franchise player is worth so much to NBA teams these days - especially when the team has the same name as the player - and Lebron will carry Dannys Lebronts to glory over the most recent team he carried - the caveliers with an average of 69 fantasy points per game last season.

<a title="Wade Machine (Daniel Laengst)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=15&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Wade Machine[/url] v <a title="Fudges Sixers (Jim Tsilikas)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=16&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Fudges Sixers[/url]

Ok, so one could argue that some of that logic used in the last preview, be used here as well with Wade also playing for the Heat and having the same name as his team, however they are not in the same class IMO and Wade has been hampered by injury over the preseason. On top of that, Fudge has two Trailblazers in Aldridge and Fernandez who should help to get the job done for Fudges Sixers in this game. He also has an awesome starting 5, as along with Aldridge, there is Iggy, Dave Lee, Dev Harris and Wilson Chandler, making it a formidable lineup playing against Dirk and a bunch of second stringers. :lol:

<a title="anthak" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=1&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_blank">Team anthak[/url] v <a title="Too Seriouseses (Les Wales)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=2&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Too Seriouseses[/url]

I couldnt possibly pick myself could I...  Im tempted, but I honestly think Walesy will beat me fairly easily. We have both been fairly active with trades and some may pay off and some may not, but (although I hate to admit it) overall I think Too Seriouseses has a better squad than Team Anthak and they get my tip. This matchup is actually quite interesting in that I traded my first pick to Walesy in exchange for his 2nd and 3rd rounders. He picked Billups at 19, and I picked DRose and Nene at 35 and 46 respectively. Walesy then went on to trade the player (Dirk) he picked with his other 1st rounder to Dan in exchange for JR Smith, Hibbert &amp; Ridnour who were picked in rounds 4, 5 and 9 respectively - some interesting trading that, and im really keen to see how it pans out over the season.

<a title="Team El Bonanzas (Al Lee)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=3&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team El Bonanzas[/url] v <a title="Team Fezkat (Kristian Collins)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=17&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team Fezkat[/url]

Poor Elbonz.  He was the only one that couldnt attend our draft on the date we set. He has been "away" ever since, and probably hasnt even seen his lineup... Im not sure if he put a lot of time into the pre draft list that was used to auto pick his players, as snagging Redd with his last pick may not have been the smartest move . Unfortunately he has 6 players injured at the moment and only one of those is rated as DTD with all the other 5 obviously Out. This all points towards a fairly easy win for Team Fezkat first up, with or without Pietrus!

<a title="Adelaide Maggots (Cameron Sears)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=4&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Adelaide Maggots[/url] v <a title="Team HEAVER! (David Tong)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=13&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team HEAVER![/url]

Heaver, in the words of Whitney Houston, I hope life treats you kind, And I hope you have all youve dreamed of. And I wish for you joy and happiness. But above all this, I wish you love. Kevin was my most prized possession out of the draft however too many power forwards meant that I had to let him go. Im sure he will be huge for you this season, with a double double every time he suits up, and he is the sole reason I am tipping Team Heaver! to win this matchup!

<a title="Jasmines Mob (Jasmine Johnson)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=5&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Jasmines Mob[/url] v <a title="Under Achievers (Richard Chambers)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=11&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Under Achievers[/url]

Under Achievers has done their homework by the look of it with more Portland players than anyone else, however all 3 of them are carrying niggling injuries and are in some doubt to play the season opener. I think that all 3 will get up for the game, and they are the only injury concerns for UAs. Although Jasmine would be rapt Bogut is pack on the court, she has a few other injuries to cover at the moment in S Battier and Arenas; so Im tipping Under Achievers to get the W in this one.

<a title="Westside Hardcore (Michael Walters)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=6&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Westside Hardcore[/url] v <a title="Do Something Knicks (Chris Riches, Steve Smith)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=7&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Do Something Knicks[/url]

Last game of the matchup sees Shaq and the Westside Hardcore up against the co owned Do Something Knicks. I reckon Smitty and Chris have done tremendously well with trades and FA signings over the last few weeks, and have therefore built an extremely strong team right from roster spot 1 to 13. Short and sweet: Do Something Knicks to win in a canter here.

Ok there we have it - not exactly the most sound judgments maybe. And obviously some of it is in jest, so dont get worried if i havent tipped your team, haha :lol: .

Cant wait for the season to start now! Bring it on!