Kobe Bryant Graces Cover, Spurs May Steal the Show

The brand new double issue of Sports Illustrated's NBA Season Preview has hit the magazine racks.

On the cover: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Superstars like Kobe bring marketable style and ratings to the league, but it may be the San Antonio Spurs who may add the substance, and another ring, according to the magazine.

No word, yet, on how well the television ratings might fare for an NBA Finals featuring Kevin Garnett (Celtics) and Tim Duncan (Spurs), but that is exactly what the magazine's staff is predicting for the upcoming season.

Although the predictions place the Spurs as finishing at the number three spot in the Western Conference standings, the magazine predicts that San Antonio will defeat Los Angeles in the Conference finals before facing and eventually defeating the Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Senior writer Ian Thomsen explains SI's predictions and offers expanded versions of Enemy Lines for all 30 teams in the latest issue; it is definitely worth picking up if you aren't already a subscriber.

Here is a glimpse at the predicted order of finish.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Houston Rockets 
San Antonio Spurs 
New Orleans Hornets
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Spurs over Lakers

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Celtics over Cavaliers

NBA FINALS
Spurs over Celtics

Spurs' fans are deep in discussion about the prediction at SpursReport.Com's Fan Forums.

In the meantime, Lakers' fans need not feel completely disrespected. SI picks Bryant to repeat as MVP, picks Lamar Odom to win the Sixth Man Award, and picks Andrew Bynum as the NBA's Most Improved Player.