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Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant recently turned 31 (Aug. 23), however he is still in his prime. His team ended the 2008-09 year in ethereal fashion.

The Lakers are recently off acquiring Ron Artest and re-signing Lamar Odom. Andrew Bynum agreed to a profitable $58 million agreement last year and, if he can stay healthy, can possibly emerge as a “regular” high impact force in the paint (offensively and defensively).

And if that weren’t enough for Bryant, he’s also got Pau Gasol and Phil Jackson.

Orlando Magic

The franchise is well-rounded, notably at the center position. With the enhancements of Vince Carter as well as Ryan Anderson (via the Courtney Lee/Rafer Alston/Tony Battie deal), the selection of (Jason) Williams (for point guard experience), Brandon Bass, and Matt Barnes, the contract extension of Marcin Gortat, and the return of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, and Mickael Pietrus, this team is looking pretty more like the despicable villain they ended up as in the Eastern Conference Championship.

Only now, they’re gunning for a finals. Howard even forced himself and Nelson to sit in on the Lakers’ celebrations, in an attempt to avoid experiencing a comparable type of letdown.

San Antonio Spurs

They selected up yet an additional overlooked player in this season’s draft, passed on by other franchises for an injury he experienced in high school.

I’m talking, obviously, with respect to DeJuan Blair. You know, the man that ninja flipped Hasheem Thabeet, this year’s No. 2 choice (overall), like he was a Raggedy Ann doll.

Thus, with the additions of Richard Jefferson and experienced players Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff, the Spurs are seeming even more frightening from the perimeter, and less vulnerable in the paint (when Duncan needs to be removed; whether for rest or to prevent possible injury).

Call them old, call them dull, even Eva Longoria-Parker is a devotee of the Spurs. I mean, can you fundamentally be wrong with a team filled whole of fight-tested veterans?