Preview: Young teams can contend for title in shortened NBA season

By Paul Levine and Chris Bernucca Dec 23, 2011, 9:07 GMT

Los Angeles - This is not your father's NBA.

Your dad probably remembers the glory days of 82-game seasons. Then came the playoffs, which left established teams such as the Boston Celtics, LA Lakers and San Antonio Spurs vying for the Championship.

However, last season saw a shift in the balance of power. For just the second time since 1999, the Finals did not include the Lakers, Celtics or Spurs, three proud franchises crossing the fine line between experienced and old.

In their place is the youthful exuberance of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls and even the LA Clippers.

That youth should be served this season, compressed by the lockout to 66 games in 124 days and putting older teams at a disadvantage.

'If you look at the schedule, it keeps coming,' said German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki of the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. 'With a schedule like that, you're gonna need a good bench. ... You're gonna need some fresh legs.'

The Celtics will be anchored by Ray Allen, 36; Kevin Garnett, 35; and Paul Pierce, 34, and need to rely more than ever on 25-year-old point guard Rajon Rondo.

The Spurs will be led by Tim Duncan, 35, and Argentine star Manu Ginobili, 34.

The Lakers are piloted by Kobe Bryant, 33, and Spanish star Pau Gasol, 31. Centre Andrew Bynum is 24 but injury-prone. Coach Phil Jackson retired - replaced by Mike Brown - and super-sub Lamar Odom was traded.

Last year, Boston was eliminated by the Miami Heat's superstar trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, all still in their 20s. San Antonio was stunned by Memphis and Zach Randolph, the geezer of that group at 30.

Los Angeles was tracking its third straight championship but was swept by Dallas. Can Bryant lift the Lakers to another title?

'Kobe can't carry the load,' Hall of Famer Magic Johnson said. 'You can't expect him to be carrying the load, night-in and night-out. They're going to look to those two big men (Gasol and Bynum) to control the paint, give Kobe a break.'

Bryant may not be carrying anything right away due to a preseason wrist injury on his right shooting hand. With Odom gone and Bynum suspended for the first five games, the Lakers may struggle at times this season.

They already are struggling with the cross-town Clippers for attention.

During training camp, the Lakers appeared to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul, 26, from the New Orleans Hornets, who are owned by the NBA. But league commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal, and the Clippers snagged Paul to pair with Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin, 22.

The Clippers also signed veterans Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler.

'We have enough talent that we're going to give ourselves an opportunity to win,' Paul said.

The Clippers haven't made the playoffs since 2006 but believe they can contend for the title. Meanwhile, the Thunder and Bulls know they are genuine title contenders.

Last season, the Thunder reached the Western Conference finals behind 23-year-old stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. And the Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference finals behind NBA MVP Derrick Rose, also just 23.

A two-time league scoring champion, Durant added weight in the off-season to help the Thunder try and get past the Mavericks, who made many changes.

Dallas did not re-sign free agents Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea and Butler, choosing instead to bring in Odom, 32, and Vince Carter, 34.

Nowitzki is 33, Jason Terry is 34 and Jason Kidd is 38. They hope to have one more title run in them before owner Mark Cuban begins replenishing the roster.

The Bulls were eliminated by the Heat, who collapsed on Rose and forced someone else to beat them. So Chicago added veteran shooter Richard Hamilton.

'With the guys,' Rose said, 'we have we have a good chance to go out and play for a championship.'

Miami added defensive standout Shane Battier and is the favourite to win the title after coming up two wins short last year.

James, criticized for his poor play in the Finals, insisted his second year with the Heat will be different.

'I didn't make enough game-changing plays,' he said. 'I see that, and I'll learn from it. I'm just back to being myself. I just wasn't myself last year.'

The Heat will have to fend off the Celtics, Bulls and New York Knicks, who added the defensive-minded centre Chandler, 29, to the explosive offence led by Carmelo Anthony, 27, and Amar'e Stoudemire, 29.

Coach Mike D'Antoni said his team is 'obviously' a contender, but New York has not won a playoff game since 2000.

The landscape could change if the Magic deal superstar centre Dwight Howard, who has asked to be traded to the Lakers, Mavericks or New Jersey Nets if he does not remain with Orlando.