I was amazed at the time you poured into this year’s review. I know I couldn’t do it for time reasons alone.

BTW, I agree with the reasons you gave for Melo to not be considered, still, I wouldn’t count him out. Like Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich hardly ever win coach of the year, especially for how surely they’ve proven they deserve it, people just get tired of heaping honors on the same ole people. Maybe Melo’s day in the sun has come.

On a different subject, I am EXCITED to see the Suns success in the post D’Antoni era. Moreover, that zone in the second half of the Heat game was really something. Until Gasol comes back, the Suns look like they’ll be leading the Pacific for a bit.

I hear you, but I don’t think it is because he’s trying to keep up with Melo in the race for the scoring title. The Lakers had a very low scoring game going on, and he was trying to get points on the board for the team.

For Melo to jump to MVP-caliber would be a major leap, and beyond playing at an MVP level, you have to be recognized for playing at that level, and it typically takes voters a year to notice how good someone really is. Regardless of how they play, Kobe starts with a big edge over Melo because a) his team is better and b) he’s already recognized as an MVP-caliber player.

He’s taking 25 shots a night right now…

— MVP

But I think Carmelo Anthony is a legit MVP candidate this year. I’m not saying he’ll get it, but I do think he’ll make a lot of people think and get a respectable amount of votes.

I don’t think Kobe cares enough about the accolades now to make any kind of a push for them. He appears to be all about the rings right now.

— Elite teams

I agree with your top 5 teams, however, watching how much the Lakers struggled in last year’s playoffs against the Yao-less, McGrady-less Rockets, and seeing how they’ve matched up with the Blazers, depending on seedings, there could be surprises in the west.

The rise of Rajon Rondo, coupled with the additions of Garnett, Wallace and Daniels, this team is scary good defensively, as in record setting scary.

Yes, the Cavs have LeBron, but they’ll have to be in the game for LeBron’s big plays at crunch time to matter, and the Celtics have the capability to squeeze the life out of teams.

Another x-factor for the Celtics, by the way, is Tom Thibadeau, the assistant coach credited with the Celtics’ defensive game plan. I can see him getting calls to interview for head coaching positions, and if he decides he doesn’t want to wait around for another ring, that could shake up what the Celtics have got going as well.

I don’t make predictions, and I’m not predicting Boston as 2010’s NBA champions, I’m only saying I can’t see yet who can stop them.

I HAVE to tell you that these were the most worthwhile season previews I have ever read in ANY year, much less for this year. I hope you do these on an annual basis.

I didn’t always agree, but I always thought they were extremely well researched and written, and I read many insights about teams that I had not thought about.

I’ll be looking out for your articles in the future.