The NBA second season is a little more than a month away but it is never too early to be on the lookout for potential playoff stories and surprises. Last season the Denver Nuggets and the Orlando Magic came out of nowhere to reach the Conference. Out of nowhere is an understatement. Denver was swept out of the playoffs in the 1st round prior to last season’s surprise and the Magic lost to the Pistons 4-1 in round 2 that same year. The Nuggets got Chauncey Billups in an early season trade to finally get Carmelo Anthony out of the 1st round of the playoffs after 5 years and a total of 4 playoff wins. Not series wins, TOTAL wins (4-24) BB; Before Billups. The Magic saw one of it’s best players go down ( Jameer Nelson) midway through the season but they did not Skip (Alston that is) a beat. In fact they put their foot on the accelerator advancing all the way to the NBA Finals without the benefit of home court advantage. Here are 10 things you should look forward to come playoff time:

10. The Young and the Restless…

Last season the NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose led his team to the playoffs and in his first game recorded 36 points, 11 assists, and 4 rebounds as the Bulls beat the defending NBA Champion Celtics 105–103 in an overtime road win. His 36 points tied the rookie debut record of the Legendary Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Rose also became, only the second player in NBA history to record 35 points and 10 assists in his playoff debut ( Chris Paul the other). Rose averaged 19.7 points on 47.5% shooting, 6.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game in his playoff debut, as the Bulls were defeated by the Celtics in 7 games.

Who to look out for this post-season making their debut?

Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook/Jeff Green - All 3 players are under the age of 24 and of the 3 Kevin Durant seems like the obvious choice to have the greatest impact. But I think Jeff Green will have the biggest impact if this team is to pull off a 1st round upset.

Brandon Jennings - BJ has hit the rookie wall with crash dummy-like quickness but with that being said the playoffs will present just the type of scenario which will light a fire under him to come out (pardon my Wizardry) with all guns a blazing. Although all of his numbers have fallen since the double nickel… he still has the ability to take over an entire game.

(Long Shot) - Rudy Gay/OJ Mayo - The Memphis Grizzlies are 4 games out of the 8th seed and have had a difficult post All Star break go at it. Should they get in, they have two players on the roster capable of getting hot and making things very interesting over the course of a 7 game series. But just like their slim playoff hopes; I would not bank on it.

9. Can the Old Dogs learn new tricks?

The Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are two of the OLDEST teams in what is a “young” man’s game. The Celtics just signed 123,627,176,272,182 year old Michael Finley who ironically became too old to play for the Spurs. If either of these teams are going to have a realistic chance of making the Finals their YPIC (Youngest Players In Charge) Rajon Rondo and George Hill are going to have to be all they can be and much much more. The ghosts of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan past are not walking on the court to help.

8. MVP’s GALORE!!!

There are 7 active Finals MVP’s (Tim Duncan (3), Shaq O’Neal (3), Dwayne Wade (1), Tony Parker (1), Chauncey Billups (1) Paul Pierce (1) & Kobe Bryant (1)) who will be in the NBA playoffs this season which is by far and away the most in one post season in NBA History. Add to that, 4 League MVP’s, (Steve Nash (2), Dirk Nowitzki (1), Kevin Garnett (1) & Lebron James (1) and the playoffs are FULL of the game’s VERY best, EVER. You can bet the farm that one of those 11 players will be an NBA Champion this season.

7. Free Agency Impact.

The Summer of 2010 will prove to be a transition period unlike any other in the history of the league. The 3 biggest prizes (Wade, Lebron and Chris Bosh) will all be in the Eastern Conference “tournament” but only James has a legit shot to capture the ULTIMATE prize. If all three are out prior to the NBA FINALS (which has happened each of the last two seasons) look for the chatter of ALL 3 joining forces to run like wildfire on a brushy hilltop on the hills of San Diego.

6. East Coast Home Court disadvantage?

Last season the Eastern Conference champs were the 3rd seed in the Conference but went on the road and defeated the two higher seeded teams. That may not have been a fluke. Boston and Orlando are capable of beating top seed Cleveland at the King’s Palace. Boston has the 2nd best road record in all of the NBA and the Magic are 5th.

5. 4 vs. 5.

The battle between the 4th and 5th seeds in each conference should prove to be the most entertaining of all the 1st round match-ups. The only problem is the winner will most likely get swept away in the next round as they face the #1 seed.

4. The First to Five.

Kobe, Shaq and Duncan all have 4 NBA titles. Shaq and Duncan were much more dominant during their title runs but Kobe has come on strong with consecutive finals appearances (1 win 1 loss). Of the 3, Kobe has the best chance to win his 5th, with Shaq who is more like a court jester in Lebron’s kingdom coming in 2nd while Duncan who continues to play with a rag tag collection of woulda coulda shoulda’s is all but looking forward to another LONG summer.

3. Where Did They Come From?

Who will be this season’s biggest playoff surprises? In 2007 it was the upstart 8th seed Golden State Warriors who came out of nowhere to defeat the number 1 seeded Dallas Mavericks and Lebron James scored like 90 points in a row to lead the Cavs to a shocking series victory over the #1 seeded Detroit Pistons propelling them to the NBA Finals. In 2008 The Hawks gave the #1 seeded Celtics all they could handle in a seven game series thriller. In 2009 the Bulls and Celtics played perhaps the best 1st round playoff series in NBA history and the Orlando Magic took the Eastern Conference by storm going to the Finals as a 3rd seed defeating the top 2 seeds. Who has that “Magic” touch this season? I will list 3 teams:

3. Atlanta - The Hawks are on the brink. Can this be the year they put it all together. 2. Utah - The Jazz have a winning record on the road this season which will be the 1st time they have done that in the Carlos Boozer/Deron Williams era.

1. Dallas - With the addition of Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood the Mavs have the versatility, depth and length to win an NBA Title this season. Do not be surprised to see them at least in the conference finals.

2. Will the King finally be Crowned?

Lebron James is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA today. This is his 7th NBA season and he has only played for the NBA title once. And he was swept. He led his team to 66 wins last season but could not lead his team past Hedu Tukoglu and Rashard Lewis. This season he will be flanked by the best player he has ever played with in his career (Antawn Jamison) and has his best chance, so far, to wear the crown fit for his nickname.

1. And the winner is….

The Dallas Mavericks. Talented, well coached and HUNGRY…

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