NBA Season Preview: League Hopes Focus Returns To The Court

The NBA season tips off tonight, and while the Isiah Thomas and Tim Donaghy controversies linger, the league and its TV partners have enough to be excited about heading into the '07-08 campaign.  Many pundits believe the NBA is in a new age of parity, as there are a host of teams capable of making a run at the championship.  Among the items in the first of two special NBA season preview issues:   

• David Stern is confident the focus will return to the basketball court
• Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune and Peter May of the Boston Globe offer their takes on the state of the league. 
• Judge blocks Clay Bennett’s bid for arbitration to settle the KeyArena lease dispute
• Spurs so far fail to sellout tonight's home opener  
• Hornets try to re-establish themselves in New Orleans 
• Raptors fan files lawsuit against MLSE 
• Payless says it, not Steve & Barry's, was first to market low-priced shoe 
• Durant, Oden are just the beginning of marketable NBA rookies 
• Bulls land season presenting sponsor 
• We catch up with Bobcats President & COO Fred Whitfield
• NBA bloggers are out in force   
• Scarborough presents data on NBA fan demographics