Each and every basketball season begins with hopes and dreams, but ultimately ends with failure and heartache. Never has that been more true for yours truly and my beloved Indiana Pacers this year. With that said, I have chosen to focus on the positive storylines from the eventful 2006-2007 NBA season. ?Cause positive thinking will lead to positive results, right?

North of the Border
Nothing in the league has been more exciting then the surging Toronto Raptors. Fueled by the brain power of Bryan Colangelo and the ability of Chris Bosh, the Raptors have gone from twenty-seven wins and the top pick in the Draft to home-court advantage in the 2007 playoffs. With two games left, at 47-33, Toronto has already tied the franchise record for wins in a season, while also winning the Atlantic Division en route to the postseason.

The Division title was a franchise first, and this spring will mark their first trip to the playoffs in five seasons. Achieving those three goals should be more than enough to earn Colangelo the NBA?s Executive of the Year award and provide Bosh with some free publicity in the race for league MVP. The Raptors are also hitting their stride at the right time, they?ve won six straight and nine of their last ten contests.

The acquisition of T.J. Ford seems to have been the key that started the engine of the youthful Raptors, but you can?t discount the presence of guys like Juan Dixon, last year?s first overall pick Andrea Bargnani, and Jose Calderon (all for $53 million, the league?s fourth-lowest payroll). A first round match-up with the ailing Wizards would be ideal for Toronto?s confidence, but the Nets are a possibility as well.

Dwight?s Disney World
They may have faltered slightly down the stretch, but the Orlando Magic have more promise than the average NBA team. They just slid into the East?s final playoff spot, beating out my Pacers, but have the talent and skills to surprise even the Pistons, the East?s top seed. They rode a hot streak from November into December, winning eleven of twelve, that actually gave them the Conference?s best record, but they have been inconsistent since.

Dwight Howard is one of the league?s best young players, and seems to age like fine wine. I don?t doubt that they will continue to improve as the years go by, so long as they can keep Mr. Howard near Disney. Grant Hill?s $16 million salary comes off the books at the conclusion of the season, giving Otis Smith room to build around his big man.

The Baby Bobcats
Not many teams would consider thirty-three wins (and counting) a good thing, but when you?re the Charlotte Bobcats that?s an improvement. In their third year of existence Charlotte set a franchise win-record by late March, and has won seven of their last ten games. Their current record (as of Monday afternoon) was better than eight teams in the League, including the Knicks, Celtics and Timberwolves.

Coach Bernie Bickerstaff may be gone at the end of the season, but their roster lends itself to more success in 2008. Their army of NCAA standout talent just needs time to grow, and they?ll be able to contend in the ?Leastern? Conference before long. They will finish just a handful of games out of the race this season, but have more than enough to be excited about. Not the least of which is Walter Herrmann.

Golden States Bridges Gap
As of Monday afternoon the Warriors held the Western Conference?s final playoff spot, with a one game lead over the Clippers (with two games remaining). Golden State hasn?t made it to the postseason in twelve years, which was when GM Chris Mullin wore short shorts rather than long ties. If they do sneak into the playoffs this season it may not last for long, but it will feed the hunger of the Bay Area fans (if only slightly).

They unloaded some of their extended contracts on the Pacers in January, but still have the expensive deals of Baron Davis (until 2009), Jason Richardson (2011), Adonal Foyle, Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson (all until 2010). Those financial burdens will be offset however, by young guns like Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins. If they can unload the contracts of Foyle and Richardson this summer, and keep Ellis and Biedrins long-term, Barry Bonds won?t be the only news story surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge.

The West?s Three-Pronged Attack
I don?t know if I have ever seen three teams this dominant at the same time before, and they?re all from the same conference. We?re not talking about the Celtic-Laker battles of the Bird and Magic days; we?re talking about a Western Conference that houses three teams all capable of dominating their way to the NBA title this June. The Mavericks, Suns, and Spurs could all finish the season with sixty-plus wins (San Antonio has fifty-eight with games against Memphis and Denver remaining).

I wouldn?t object if David Stern cancelled the NBA Playoffs and just scheduled games between these three teams for the next two months, they all become instant classics. Heck, to make things balance throw in the East?s top seed (Detroit) and make it a four-team race for the trophy. If the league is worried about money, just make each series fifteen games long ? the winner being the first to post eight victories. The ratings would be through the roof, except for in places like Cleveland, Chicago and Utah, but at least a true champion would be crowned.

Does anyone object?

What part of the 2006-2007 NBA season made you happy to be a fan? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com