My thoughts on the preseason.

The Celtics, I think, look good.

I think the guys they signed will prove beneficial -- especially Greg Stiemsa. I like this guy. I liked Gilbert Brown, too, but he's now a free agent. To me, that's a disappointment. He could have been used to replace Jeff Green -- and there aren't many guys cheap enough that could have been signed. Brown is a tough, solid defender. And he can score. Undrafted guys, too, usually have good upside, as they recognize that their NBA career could instantaneously vaporize.

They're easy to root for, too. They don't have the hype of a LeBron James or a Kevin Durant, but sometimes, they can rise to greatness.

Look at John Starks.

Stiemsa, though, falls into this category. His play impressed me. So, I'm glad he's secured a roster spot. He's tall, lean, and he can run the floor. He can block shots and rebound. It's what the Celtics need.

I'm not too high on Keyon Dooling -- I never have been -- but maybe he'll turn into a solid backup for Rajon Rondo. It's a curious signing, though, as it takes minutes from Avery Bradley -- the second-in-line for 'point guard of the future.'

Good stuff, though. Pierce needs to get healthy. And the Celtics should have applied for an injury exemption in order to sign a top-caliber player. They could have kept Brown.

But I digress.

Let's talk Clippers. I'm glad to finally see some competition in Los Angeles. They have a solid starting five:  Billups, Paul, Butler, Jordan, Griffin. The latter two need to mature. Once they do, they're going to be a really formidable team.

My predictions:  the Bulls will take the Eastern Conference. SI says the Heat, but I disagree. Until James, Bosh, and Wade recognize that they don't have to be one hundred percent of the scoring output, they won't win championships.

The West, I think, is up for grabs. Dallas lost Chandler. So, I think they're out of the top spot.

I'm going to go with the Thunder. Durant will have a huge season.

I'm excited for Christmas. The NBA will be like another present. Big things are coming, guys. Big things.

Shaq

Shaquille O'Neal is a renaissance man.

Seriously:  take a look at the guy. Read about him.

He's one of the best players in the history of the game. He's funny, jovial. He, like many professional athletes, started humbly.  But he worked hard, ultimately achieving greatness. His number will be retired, and he, along with the other great ones, will be forever remembered.

That's not just it, though.

He's a deputy policeman. He's an actor -- albeit a poor one. He raps. He produces television shows. He writes books.

And he's working on a PhD.

Shaq, on his education:  "It's just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else."

The man understands that there is a world -- often harsh, uninviting, and full of drudgery -- beyond entertainment. Even so, he knows that one must never rest. To survive, one needs to constantly push himself.

But, he's not somber when undertaking this, no. He has fun. And he represents something that I think many of us have forgotten. It's this:  We're not locked in. We can try new things.

We just need the spirit and the drive and the heart.

So, let's take Shaq as a role model.

Get out there and go. Audition for that play. Try out for a team. Write a book. Get back to school.

Cut the rope and sail away.

No More Lockout.

Alright, well, let me at least say this:  I'm from Boston, and I'm biased. So, while I'll try and do my best to offer analysis on other teams, this blog will mainly cover the Celtics.

So, it's onward.

The lockout is over. Teams, then, have an abbreviated time to search for players. It's rushed, frantic. Thus, I would have liked to have seen an 82-game season, but I'm not David Stern.

My concerns:  guys who played in Europe will be exhausted. Others might have gained weight. And, outside of playing, fans might not return. But, I don't blame them. The lockout was obnoxious. It reminded me of trying to get food at a Denny's, only to find that everything's out. All you get is the oatmeal.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Also, I'm worried that teams might not survive the shortened season.

I'm looking at you, Boston.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I think the condensed season will wear the Celtics out. Why? Take a look at the schedule. It's practice, practice, practice. Then, game, game, game. There are no breaks. Old legs need some rest.

As Doc Rivers said during an interview with the Boston Globe, “I don’t think it’s an advantage either way.  You can say the veteran teams can play together so they need less work, but then the younger teams, they’re more athletic and fresher. I think it all evens out.’’

And I'd encourage Danny Ainge to look for a serious center. Chris Wilcox is a four, as is Michael Sweetney. Go after Dalembert. Or someone similar. There was a void after the Perkins trade, and it still needs to be filled.

But, if none are available, they could, potentially, bring Oliver Miller out of retirement. He's got to be, like, 500 pounds by now. He'd be like the Great Wall. Put him by the hoop and no one will score.

I'm excited for the season to start, though.

Game on, guys. Game on.