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.