When you go online in NBA 2K9 to play a game or two, you are probably hoping to be playing against the Milwaukee Bucks or Memphis Grizzlies. On the other hand, the realist in you knows though that it has no chance of happening. These five teams are the teams you had better get used to playing against in NBA 2K9.

5. Miami Heat

I know what you are saying. Miami won 15 games last season and they should be nowhere near this list because of that fact. However, this was a team who to sent Chris Quinn and Earl Barron out on the court last April. It seems everyone has written off Dwyane Wade as injury prone even though I’d say he is healthy after he effectively appeared at Beijing and won gold for the United States. Shawn Marion joined the team late in the season and only played in eleven games with Wade, so that tandem is unproven heading into this season. Being terrible wasn’t all bad for the Heat anyways -- it did allow them to grab Michael Beasley with the second pick in the draft. A strong inside presence would put this team with the Detroit’s and Boston’s in the Eastern Conference. For now you’ll have to deal with the trio of Shawn Marion, Michael Beasley, and Dwyane Wade when you hop online.

4. Houston Rockets

Big men are a pain in video game basketball. They’re tough to guard and they will grab every rebound possible. One team with the biggest man in the game is the Houston Rockets. Unless Gheorghe Muresan comes back for the Bullets, the Rockets still have Yao Ming. The Rockets still have Luis Scola, Shane Battier, and Rafer Alston as well. Houston also has this one guy named Tracy McGrady who averaged 22 points a game, which is ironically fitting since he led the Rockets to a 22 game win streak last year without the injured Yao Ming. No, TMac has never made it out of the first round of the playoffs, but he’s never had Yao Ming and Ron Artest in their respective primes. Nobody would be surprised to see Houston much further than that in 2009.

Left: Expect McGrady and the Rockets to get a lot of playtime this season online.

3. New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets exploded onto the scene and had fourth best record in all of the NBA last season. You can attribute the surge to third year point guard Chris Paul and the rise of David West. Both deserved their All Star bids last season. Part of their success also comes from Tyson Chandler. Chandler averaged 12 boards last year, including four on the offensive end. The offensive rebounds allow him to pass the ball back to Paul, or kick it out to Peja Stojakovic who hit 44% of his three pointers last season. The Hornets are a balanced team who can knock you out with sharp shooting or getting to the basket and banging under the rim. I know two things you can be prepare for this season with anyone using the Hornets, a tough game and a few CP3 alley-oops.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Remember when Kobe Bryant was 'this close' to packing his bags for Chicago? Fast forward to a year later and he’s the MVP on a Los Angeles team that went to the Finals. However, Bryant didn’t do it all by his self last season. Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak made the move in February to bring former All Star Pau Gasol from Memphis. Add that to Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher and the Lakers plowed through the playoffs and were two games from another NBA title. Don't forget about 20-year-old Andrew Bynum who was averaging 13 points a game and 10 rebounds per game before injuring his knee in January. The Lakers have already proved they are the best in the west.  You can also argue the Lakers against the Celtics until you are blue in the face, but it might not get you anywhere. Until then, there can only be one.

Expect to see a lot of Paul Pierce and the Celtics online this season.

1. Boston Celtics

You double team KG, you put the clamps on Paul Pierce and there is Ray Allen hitting a three pointer in the corner. Switch any name with another in that sentence and that is how it feels playing against Boston. No matter what you do, no team in the NBA is as deep. Anybody who disagrees can watch the 2008 NBA Finals. The inside dominance from Kevin Garnett, the automatic shooting from Ray Allen, and the killer instinct of Paul Pierce will be tough to beat. Not to mention the inflated ratings of their championship winning role players and you have a rough match up.

Are the Lakers better than Boston? Will Miami stink again? Was New Orleans a fluke? Will Yao and Ron Artest become best friends? Use the comments box below to let me know what you think!