Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics - With KG back and Rasheed Wallace in, the Celtics can climb back to the top of the East.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron has a new weapon named Shaq. "Say hello to my little friend!"
3. Orlando Magic - Hedo Turkoglu gone, Rashard Lewis will have to step up to make even more key jump shots than he already did, and he's capable of just that.
4. Detroit Pistons - How can they do this well without Chauncey Billups or Rasheed Wallace? Rodney Stuckey will step up and be the all-star that everyone expects him to be.
5. Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade wants to prove he can get a title without Shaq at his side, but he'll have to go through Shaq to get it.
6. Atlanta Hawks - Another quiet year? Not if Mike Bibby or Joe Johnson have anything to say about it.
7.Toronto Raptors - After what I'd describe as a "flop" season, Chris Bosh and the Raptors will find a way back into the playoffs with the help of Turkoglu.
8. Washington Wizards - Gilbert Arenas' return at the end of last year resulted in beating the Cleveland Cavaliers. What will it result in this year? Another title try.
9. Chicago Bulls - A disappointing season for Derrick Rose and the Bulls puts questions in the minds of Chicago fans.
10. Philadelphia 76ers - Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, and the Sixers really miss the Blazers' new pickup Andre Miller, and can't find a way to the playoffs without him.
11. Indiana Pacers - Will Danny Granger ever get some help on this team? If the answer is no, Indy is looking at another 82 game season.
12. Charlotte Bobcats - After disappointing their fans by missing the playoffs last year, there'll be even more separation between the Cats and the top 16 this year.
13. New Jersey Nets - Devin Harris will have to wait at least another year for his support to get talented enough to make it even close to the playoffs.
14. Milwaukee Bucks - No surprise here, just another throw away year for the Bucks, who just can't pull it together and be a consistent team.
15. New York Knicks - As the N.Y. basketball world waits for the possibility of King James taking the headlines in 2010-11, no one can do it in 2009-10.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers - The defending champs add Ron Artest and sit atop the Wild West for the third straight season.
2. New Orleans Hornets - CP3 and the Hornets lead the Big Easy with more excitement after the Saints' great start.
3. San Antonio Spurs - While the rest of the world ignores them, San Antonio lets Tim Duncan and Tony Parker carry them to another high seed.
4. Denver Nuggets - Can Chauncey Billups, Melo, and the high-powered Nuggets make it over the hump this year?
5. Portland Trail Blazers - Rip City Uprise continues as Portland uses Andre Miller to the best of his ability and prepares to face a tough first round opponent.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder - First round Pick James Harden compliments the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, jump-starting OKC's imminent success.
7. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Knowitzki and Jason Kidd carry the Mavs into being the sencond of the 2/3 Lone Star State teams to make the playoffs.
8. Los Angeles Clippers - First overall pick Blake Griffin helps LAC shock the world and become the last of the 16 NBA teams to reach the playoffs.
9. Utah Jazz - The Carlos Boozer- Derron Williams show can't make it back to play for a title, even with AK47 and a young power offense to help them.
10. Houston Rockets
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