Now let's preview the Western Conference:

Western Conference
Cream of the Crop

1. Los Angeles Lakers: The defending champs are primed for another run, and expect Ron Artest to be on his best behavior and provide a nasty factor that the Lakers need. But any team with Kobe Bryant will be a contender, and L.A. should be near the top again. Record: 66-16
2. San Antonio Spurs: I have compared the Spurs to Freddie Kreuger, and this year is no exception; the additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, plus rookie DeJuan Blair, give San Antonio more depth than they've had in some time. This allows Gregg Popovich to rest his Big 3 more, and if Manu Ginobili stays healthy, they will give L.A. fits. Record: 62-20
3. Denver Nuggets: With Chauncey Billups on board for a full year, the Nuggets will continue to contend despite not adding significant pieces. Still, it's hard to believe they will get over the top unless Carmelo Anthony has another starburst season. Record: 57-25

Run of the Mill
4. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers have the best chance to vault into the cream of the crop triad assuming Greg Oden continues to look more spry. Andre Miller (assuming he's in shape) should give Portland its best point guard since Terry Porter, and Brandon Roy continues to improve. A little more maturity makes the Blazers a good-potentially-great team. Record: 53-29
5. Dallas Mavericks: The Mavs made a few good additions in Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden give Dallas more depth, but they're still getting older, and I don't see Dallas getting beyond the hump this year. Expect one more good year, and then look out. Record: 48-34
6. Utah Jazz: With Carlos Boozer on the verge of being traded, things aren't looking great in Salt Lake City. The ship has set sail on this team, and we'll have to see how much longer Jerry Sloan will coach this team. Record: 44-38

Not That Good
7. Houston Rockets: Same song here; Yao Ming is out for the year, Tracy McGrady is damaged goods at best, and Ron Artest is gone. This team will play hard and possibly make the playoffs in the West, but other than Luis Scola and newcomer Trevor Ariza, there's not much game-changing talent. Record: 42-40
8. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league, but his team is regressing around him. Tyson Chandler is gone finally, but Emeka Okafor isn't the player Chandler could be, and perennially injured Peja Stojakovic will try a less-strenuous bench role. Too bad this team couldn't cash in their chips two years ago. Record: 41-41
9. Phoenix Suns: The team may be harmonious now that run-and-gun coach Alvin Gentry has the full-time job, but he's relying on aging vets such as Steve Nash and Grant Hill, and a returning-from-injury Amare Stoudemire. The Suns will score plenty, but it looks like another season without playoffs. Prediction: 39-43

Now We're In Trashville
10. Los Angeles Clippers: Yet again, the Clipper curse has hit; Blake Griffin is out six weeks with a knee injury. Griffin's presence would've lifted Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon et al to a playoff contender. As it is, the Clips will be on the fringe at best. Record: 36-46
11. Oklahoma City Thunder: Yep, the second year in OKC will see an uptick in wins, as Kevin Durant continues to get better, and Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook are a nice duo to have next to him. Expect the Thunder to be on the fringe, with great things to come in 2011. Record: 34-48
12. Minnesota Timberwolves: How did rookie coach Kurt Rambis' Wolves get here? Because they have harmony! Seriously, the Wolves have some decent pieces like Al Jeffeson (assuming he's ready following last year's injury) and Kevin Love (whose already injured), but it will take at least two years to get back into contention. Record: 25-57

Lottery-Bound
13. Memphis Grizzlies: Here's the good news; Allen Iverson is injured and won't play for a couple weeks. The bad news: AI will be back, and his poisonous behavior could affect O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Mike Conley. I hope they sack him, but with or without him, the Grizz will be irrelevent. Record: 22-60
14. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Jackson wants to be traded, Monta Ellis hates rookei Stephen Curry, and the team is generally miserable. Otherwise, they're in great shape! The Warriors have given away all of the good will the Oakland faithful gave them a few years ago, and hopefully Don Nelson gets out after the season ends. Record: 19-63
15. Sacramento Kings: A less-talented team you won't see in the West. Kevin Martin is at best a second option on a contender, but he's all the Kings really have right now. Rookie Tyreke Evans gives them hope for the future, but the present is very bleak for the Kings as new coach Paul Westphal adjust to the NBA for the first time in nearly eight years. Record: 15-67

Well, the NBA begins its new season in a couple of hours, and just like every NBA fan, I'm ready to resume my ranting, er, talking about the NBA! Here are my predictions for the upcoming season, conference by conference.

Eastern Conference
Cream of the Crop

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: If any year is going to be their year, it's this year. Shaquille O'Neal won't be the Shaq of even five years ago, but he gives them their biggest post presence in many years, and he'll be ready come playoff time. Expect LeBron to challenge for another MVP, and for Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker to bolster the bench. Record: 63-19
2. Boston Celtics: The C's have one more year as legit contenders before age sets in. The addition of Rasheed Wallace will definately help Kevin Garnett (returning from injury) and Kendrick Perkins, especially with Glen Davis injured to start the season. Otherwise, expect the C's to be the team version of Shaq and coast until the playoffs. Record: 57-25
3. Orlando Magic: The tradeoff of Hedo Turkoglu for Vince Carter is small, but noticeble; Carter isn't nearly the passer Turkoglu is, nor is he the defensive presence (yikes!). But that may be a blessing, since Dwight Howard might get more looks inside. Otherwise, the Magic will have a healthy Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis after his suspension is up, and the Magic will have a solid year. Record: 54-28.

Run of the Mill
4. Atlanta Hawks: Maybe newcomer Jamal Crawford will finally sniff the playoffs! But seriously, other than Crawford and well-worn veteran Joe Smith, the Hawks haven't changed much, and while that should be good enough to compete for home-court in the 1st round, they won't get very far once that round is over. Record: 50-32
5. Washington Wizards: A real wild-card pick, but if Gilbert Arenas stays healthy (stop laughing!), the triad of Arenas, Antawn Jamison (who is hurt; uh oh) and Caron Butler is very good, and Mike Miller and rookie JaVale McGee are potentially good additions. New coach Flip Saunders has a great track record with bad teams, but we'll see once the season gets going, though. Record: 47-35
6. Toronto Raptors: Hedo Turkoglu should provide them with some solid play, but Chris Bosh isn't quite Dwight Howard, though Bosh is darn solid. But there are no defensive specialists on this team, which means that the Raptors will have great fantasy players, but not a great team in reality. Record: 43-39

Not That Great
7. Philadelphia 76ers: New coach Eddie Jordan has the same conundrum that the previous coach did; how to integrate Elton Brand into a fast-break oriented team. With Andre Miller gone, it will be even tougher to do. Expect a season's worth of struggles as the Sixers fight the old Clipper curse. Record: 41-41
8. Miami Heat: It's the Dwayne Wade show! Other than adding the extremely well-traveled Quentin Richardson, the Heat added nobody. And they weren't well-equipped last year, so hoping that oft-injured Jermaine O'Neal can stay healthy and be productive is a stretch. Fear Wade's free agnecy! Record: 39-43
9. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls put on a memorable show in last year's playoffs, pushing the Celtics to the brink of 1st round elimination. Alas, that would be quite an accomplishment this year; Ben Gordon is gone, and with him goes a lot of their offense. Expect Derrick Rose's PPG to go up, but for the Bulls' wins to go down. Record: 36-46

Now We're In Trashville
10. Detroit Pistons: The Pistons sure did hit the wall last year, and now Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess are gone, along with team cancer Allen Iverson. But adding Ben Gordon is strange, since he and Richard Hamilton are essentially the same player, and Charlie Villanueva is a poor man's Rasheed, so how exactly have they improved. New coach John Kuester has a lot of work to do. Record: 33-49
11. New York Knicks: Now we've gotten to the "Teams waiting for the season to end" list; the Knicks will once again be entertaining, but lose aplenty. At least they added Darko Milicic...wait, never mind! Expect David Lee to have another good year, and for Nate Robinson to be lifting off, but no playoffs. Record: 26-56
12. Indiana Pacers: Hard to believe a team could still be reeling from an incident five years ago, but the Pacers still haven't recovered from the Ron Artest fiasco. Mike Dunleavy won't play initially with a bad knee, and the team still doesn't have a legit second player to go with Danny Granger. Roy Hibbert could become a good post player, but good guys don't always win you games. Record: 24-58

Lottery-Bound
13. Charlotte Bobcats: Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor; trading an injured big for an injured big. Sounds like a push at best. With ownership issues and Raymond Felton wanting a new deal, Larry Brown might be ready to jump ship...again. Record: 20-62
14. New Jersey Nets: The Nets want badly to escape Jersey, but they won't for the forseeable future. With Vince Carter gone, Devin Harris could have a career-year scoring wise, but other than him and Brook Lopez, the next-best player is...Rafer Alston. Yikes! Record: 17-65
15. Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks' slogan is "Work Hard...Play Hard". Great slogan, but less-talented hard workers rarely win, and the firesale purged them of Richard Jefferson, Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva, among others. Expect Michael Redd to be dealt by at least mid-season, and for the Bucks to have the worst record in the East. Record: 14-68