Nets-Raptors to meet in London

The Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets are coming to London.

The Commonwealth's only NBA team will face the Nets in two regular season games on March 4 and 5 at the 02 Arena, according to Stateside sources.

The LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves will meet at the same venue in a pre-season friendly in October.

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NBA regular season game in London within a year?

Interesting throwaway from NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper about the chances of a regular season game in London during the forthcoming 2010-11 campaign

According to his regular take, citing sources close to the league's Commissioner David Stern, confirmation of a game in the UK may come next month when the full schedule is announced. "The Nets seem set as one of the teams, barring a late change," Howard-Cooper wrote.

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Lakers-Wolves to meet in London

The Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Minnesota Timberwolves in a pre-season game at London's O2 Arena on October 4, sources have confirmed to Britball.com.

The Lakers, the reigning NBA champions, last played overseas in Paris in 1991 when a line-up featuring Magic Johnson narrowly beat Spanish side Badalona. Their European mini-tour will also see the Lakers travel to Catalunya to take on FC Barcelona, three days later, in a game that will see Pau Gasol meet his former club.

Minnesota, who have one of the worst records in the NBA this season, lost 92-81 to the Boston Celtics in London in 2007 as part of the league's annual Europe Live event. Ironically, they face the Lakers at the Target Center on Friday night.

An official announcement, from NBA Commissioner David Stern, is scheduled for Tuesday.

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NBA set for London decision

The NBA could be set to bring the Detroit Pistons, and their British-born star Ben Gordon, to the UK for a friendly later this year. A number of teams are understood to be in the frame to play in London in October.

'Together with the Euroleague, we are at the advanced stages of discussions with several host cities and teams,” NBA Europe chief Sophie Goldschmidt confirmed.

“We plan to announce the teams and cities for NBA Europe Live 2010 in the coming weeks.”

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Stern: European teams a decade away

NBA Commissioner David Stern, speaking in London ahead of the Bulls-Jazz exhibition, has re-emphasised his desire to have a regular season game in the UK ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

With the first of two NBA Europe Live turns this week scheduled to sell-out, Stern admits he is keen to build on the popularity of the now annual fixture, if logistics can be worked out.

However, he has played down any suggestion that a European division of the league is any way imminent, suggesting it will be an issue for his successor to consider.

"I estimate it would take the better part of a decade before that could happen," Stern told the BBC.

"It requires so many things - we think positively, but we have to be realistic," he says, but discounts travelling distances as a potential problem.

"Broadcasters, owners, pricing models, fan affinity - these would all have to be considered. It is a tremendous undertaking."

The idea of more trans-Atlantic road trips received a mixed reaction from Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, one of several players hit by jet-lag on the way over to the UK.

“I wouldn’t put it past the NBA to do that but it would be tough travel-wise," he said. "I don’t know how they’d work the season.

"I don’t know how it would work because the teams would be hurting pretty bad, particularly when we have a lot of stretches of four or five games on the road.”

Bar raised as new campaign tips off

So after four months of eager anticipation (OK, perhaps mild longing), the new BBL season starts tonight with defending champions Newcastle getting us all under way against Cheshire at the Metro Arena.

Is anyone ready to break the Eagles' monopoly at the top of the tree? Talking to a lot of coaches and players this week, the answer - candidly - is no. However, looking at the rosters, and some pre-season insights, the message heading into this campaign is that there are more teams out there who could - in theory - beat anyone on any given night.

Discounting the ever-shambolic London Capital, and youthful newcomers Essex Pirates, and the 11 other teams appear to have come a little closer together than before.

Newcastle, despite the advantage they possess in continuity, are one down from last term. Everton have been forced into a late rush, and will field an almost wholly new line-up. Guildford and Plymouth are similarly less deep with Heat player-coach Chad McKnight having to learn his new trade on the job. And while the Glasgow Rocks (if they acquire a centre) and the Sheffield Sharks look improved, are either really good enough to challenge for the title?

That leaves Leicester, last season's upstarts, with the potential for leaping into the mix again despite the huge loss of Phil Missere. An unknown quantity again.

Worcester and Worthing, according to at least two rival coaches, will improve sheerly because of the change on the bench. Both should, our informal and unscientific survey says, challenge for a play-off spot.

Which leaves Milton Keynes and Cheshire. Both have opted largely for continuity with 1-2 new faces. At some point though, regeneration is required. I'm not sure either have done enough to mould themselves into a top-eight squad even if Lions coach Vince Macaulay has been talking up their chances.

So that takes us back to Newcastle. It's an easy choice after all. Proven quality, track record, off-court savvy. They may lose 10 games this year but there are multiple reasons why the Eagles remain our favourites. And that's why my money goes on them.

PREDICTED TABLE (check back in April to see how wrong it was)

1. Newcastle
2. Everton
3. Glasgow
4. Leicester
5. Sheffield
6. Plymouth
7. Worcester
8. Milton Keynes
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9. Guildford
10. Worthing
11. Cheshire
12. London
13. Essex