Rejoice, the NBA season finally is here. Though we still should temper our knee-jerk reactions to opening night's surprises (Lakers to the Finals! Carlos Boozer for MVP!), it all counts now as the long grind of the season has begun.

Indeed, the offseason is for speculation and the big names and big cities rightly soak up much of the spotlight and coverage. But what about the things fans and the media might have missed? Here's a list of the most underrated players, teams and storylines that might have escaped the public eye.