EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW excerpt:

Let’s start our preview with the Eastern Conference. Overall, many teams here are a mess. Unbalance of veteran and youth players, free agents gone for very little, and franchise crippling injuries. Of course, this is home to the world champion Miami Heat, so that’s something…

ATLANTIC DIVISION
Two very veteran (READ: old) teams, two very young (READ: inexperienced) teams, and Jay-Z (READ: distraction).

Boston Celtics
Jason Terry may be an upgrade to Ray Allen, but you can’t convince me overpaying for Jeff Green was the right move. The C’s still rely too much on Kevin Garnett and his creaky body. Last year was their final push. Note that I believe I said the same thing last year, so you know…

Brooklyn Nets
New town. New arena. New slutty looking cheerleaders. Throw in a Jay-Z christening of their new home, the resigning of Deron Williams, the Joe Johnson acquisition, and this looks like the coolest low playoff seed in the league.

New York Knicks
Adding Jason Kidd and letting Jeremy Lin leave was a major mistake regardless of the spin put on by the Knicks brass. A’mare and Carmelo will have to make it work – if not, expect one of them to be gone by New Year’s.

Philadelphia 76ers
Did they add a healthy Andrew Bynum, or injured one? Also, is Jrue Holiday ready to lead this team? Lots of questions I don’t believe anyone has the answers to yet. This team could finish anywhere from a second seed to missing the playoffs. Stay tuned.

Toronto Raptors
IF they can stay healthy we may finally see what the youth movement of the past few years is all about. A BIG IF!

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WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW excerpt:

Comparing the West to the East is not apples to apples. It’s more like apples (West) and maggot ridden rotten bananas (East). Here’s a look at the Western Conference divisions.

NORTHWEST DIVISION
This is truly the up-and-coming division, featuring last years Western Conference champions and a lot of up and down (SEE: Old School) fast break basketball.

Denver Nuggets
During last year’s playoffs the Nuggets made a clear statement that they can play spoiler to the top seeded favorites. Expect more of the same this year, adding Andre Iguodala only makes them better.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Assuming Ricky Rubio is back, we will get to see a full year of Kevin Love and Rubio playing a fast temp and exciting basketball for the first time in the land of lakes since…well since Marbury and Garnett.

Oklahoma City Thunder
This one is tough. Have they peaked and regress or do they have one more level in them? What about James Harden? What about his beard?

Portland Trail Blazers
Tough division for the Blazers; Hey, at least people have stopped calling them Jail Blazers, right? (This has stopped, correct?)

Utah Jazz
Sometime in March four teams will be competing for the final playoff spot and Utah will be one of them. This isn’t being psychic when it happens every year.

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Click here is the author of ten books including "Happy Hour", "BLOOD: The New Red", and "Bliss."  Follow David on Twitter .david_s_grant