The new NBA season begins on Tuesday as the Miami Heat try to retain the crown in the face of fierce opposition like the LA Lakers

No more of last season’s lockout farce where teams had to play back-to-back-to-back games.

The new NBA campaign tips off on Tuesday (Wednesday morning, Singapore time) on a regular schedule – not the sole thing that’s regular.

Nothing new is that the Los Angeles Lakers once again boast a Hollywood lineup; like clockwork, David Stern will be commissioner through another season.

But in that we are also witnessing change.

On Thursday, the unpopular figure announced he would step down on Feb 1, 2014, marking exactly 30 years of expansionist, capitalistic and sometimes iron-fisted rule.

A significant law also came into effect this summer. The NBA will attempt to crack down on flopping – simulation or ‘diving’ in other sports – by dishing out fines for those it finds guilty.

The monkey is finally off the backs of LeBron James’ Miami Heat, so we should be in for a very open season.

In this three-part series, xinmsn Sports previews the contenders. We first look at the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Part 2

Part 3