The 2012 NBA season features multiple interesting storylines that make it likely the NBA will top its outstanding TV ratings from last year. The season debuted Oct. 30.

Miami Heat superstar Lebron James finally won a championship ring last May after nine long seasons. He endured heavy criticism about being ringless.  Now that the pressure is off of James, many believe he will play better. Considering Lebron James is a three time MVP and revered as the world’s best basketball player, it’s scary to imagine he still has room to grow.

The Boston Celtics retooled after last year’s seven game loss to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. Ray Allen is gone, but multiple new additions give Boston something it lacked last year- a strong bench.  The Eastern conference runs through Miami and the Celtics have the best shot at beating them.

No team had a better offseason than the Los Angeles Lakers. They acquired future Hall of Famer Steve Nash and the NBA’s best center, Dwight Howard. Those players combined with the Kobe Bryant, whose still a top 10 player, and Pau Gasol, a great all around PF, the Lakers’ have arguably the most talented starting line-up in the NBA. However outside of Howard, their best players are all on the wrong side of 30. Howard is also still recovering from a serious back injury. Their biggest challenge will be staying healthy all 82 games and developing chemistry.

Health has been a problem for Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum. He was traded to the 76ers from the Lakers as a part of the blockbuster four-team trade that sent Howard to the Lakers. Now Bynum will get his wish to be the focal point of an offense. It remains to be seen how he adjusts to life without Bryant and Gasol to take pressure off of him or if Bynum’s knees can be healthy.

The reigning Western conference champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, want to make it back to the finals. This will be harder after the shocking trade of James Harden, their third best player, the day before the season started.

The former Sixth Man of the Year will be the face of the Houston Rockets now. The Rockets hope he is the superstar the Rockets have lacked since Yao Ming retired. Judging from his 37pt-12ast-6reb debut, they have found their man.

If you have never been an avid NBA follower, this is the perfect season to become one.