6 Questions to Ask as the NBA Season Approaches.

With NBA training camps opening around the league this week it's time to take a look at a few questions for the upcoming season:

Can the Lakers take down the Heat?

The Lakers obviously went all in this offseason. Adding Dwight Howard brought the Lakers the league's most dominate big man. Howard brings an intense defensive passion to the game and will create matchup problems on the offense end for most opposing teams. With Steve Nash at point guard he will be able to spread the floor and score when called upon, but he is no longer performing at the level of his two MVP seasons a few years ago. He is definitely an upgrade over what the team had last season however. Even with these two big additions, Kobe has been adamant that this is still his team, and he is correct. This team will go as far as Kobe takes them. The window is closing for the Lakers as they have become one of the oldest teams in the league (average age of starter is over 32). They will have to find quick chemistry and get the most out of their bench to be on the Heat's level. A better question may be will they be able to take down the young, explosive Thunder in the West?

Does the addition of Andrew Bynum make the 76ers a legitimate threat in the East?

Last season the Sixers surprised many people by making it to the second round of the playoffs and taking the Celtics to a 7th game. They did so by playing tough defense and winning at home. Doug Collins is one of the league's best coaches at getting the most out of a player. Losing Lou Williams won't be that big a loss as they filled his role with a better shooting Nick Young. The loss of Andre Iguodola may prove to be costly however. Iguodola often went unappreciated but the 2011 All-Star is one of the leagues best perimeter defenders and his loss will be noticed. Moving Iguodola was a move the team had to do in order to bring the NBA's second best center to the City of Brotherly Love. The Sixers have not had a dominating center like Bynum since Moses Malone. Bynum is a matchup problem for most of the Eastern Conference and his skill, along with Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, and a deep bench should take the Sixers on a deep playoff run. Though their future is bright, this team, as it is put together now, will not win an NBA Championship. They must add one more star to the roster before they will be able to compete with the Miami Heat.

What rookie not named Anthony Davis has the best chance to win the Rookie of the Year award?

First overall pick Anthony Davis is the clearcut favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award but there a few other names that should definitely be considered. Out of Webber State, Damian Lillard is a name that is becoming known around the league, and he hasn't even played a game yet. Portland's score first point guard has a large athletic frame that helped him to dominate the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 26 points per game. In some eyes, Lillard should be favored to win the ROY award even with Anthony Davis being considered. Some other names to watch for are the Bobcats Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Detriot's new seven-footer Andre Drummond.

Will Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko return the All-Star form for Portland?

With Brandon Roy coming back from injury and Andrei Kirkilenko returning to the NBA from Russia,  Minnasota added two veterans to a young talented team. However, Roy is no lock to return to star status he had in Portland. His knee's health is a major question mark and the Timberwolves took a big risk by signing him. Kirilenko is by no means what he was three or four years ago in Utah but if he can learn to play a role coming off the bench, he does have the talent to help this team. The question marks surrounding both players are large, but IF Brandon Roy's knee is healthy and IF Kirilenko can learn to play a role, the Timberwolves have the talent to make a playoff run.

What team is poised for a breakout season?

Three teams come to mind when thinking of breakout teams in 2012. First, the New Orleans Hornets. Ask anyone around the NBA and they will tell you that Anthony Davis is the real deal. Fellow rookie Austin Rivers has star potential, but it is to be seen whether he can produce in the NBA. Teamed with one of the leagues most underrated guards, Eric Gordon, it will be interesting to see what this team of extreme potential produces. Another team that is bubbling with young talent is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Love is one of the league's best big men and if Ricky Rubio can return from ACL surgery producing at the same or greater level than his rookie year, the T-Wolves could play a big role in the Western Conference playoff picture. Finally, we have to mention the Brooklyn Nets. They created a lot of buzz with their big name signings this offseason. With Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Brooks Lopez, and Deron Williams, they have the makings of a playoff team. However, Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov seems to be throwing money around with no real plan other than bring in big name players. The Nets will definitely be much improved from last season, but still are no contender, and are not even the best team in their city.

Can anyone beat the Heat?

Simple answer? No. The Thunder and Lakers have the best opportunity but we saw how Lebron and Dwayne Wade dominated Durant and company in the finals last year and the Lakers are old and lack depth. It will be interesting to see how the Heat use Ray Allen. Playing with two players that demand double teams in Wade and James, Allen will see plenty of open three point attempts. However, Allen struggled last season and questions about his ability to defend have arisen. The Heat have a fairly easy run through the East setting up for a rematch with the Thunder or a matchup with star-studded Lakers. Whoever they face, Lebron James and Dwayne Wade seem to be unstoppable.