The NBA season is only a week and a half young yet some things are already quite noticeable and permanent trends are starting to take shape...

The Boston Celtics are not playing down to their competition and are out to prove that they are the best team in the league. Their 14.7 average win margin is evidence of this. Rajon Rondo is second in the league in assists, first in steals, and is easily among the top five PGs in the league. The additions of Shelden Williams, Marquis Daniels, and Rasheed Wallace make the C's a better and more athletic team than their 2008 championship squad that had James Posey, P.J. Brown, and Sam Cassell. They will easily have the best record in the East this year...

The Cleveland Cavaliers are mediocre and I'm not sold, making last year even more of a fluke.

It is often said that sports is a microcosm of society. Even in a depressed economy the rich continue to get richer, and the poor... well... stay exactly the same.

With NBA powerhouses stockpiling their rosters with more beef, talent, and experience, one has to wonder... who will come out of this mess to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy come June 2010?

Here's an early assessment of what the top teams in each conference did this offseason in order to have a decent shot at dethroning the 15-time world champs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. L.A. Lakers

What they did last year:  The best franchise in pro sports made their sixth Finals appearance this decade and captured its fourth title. They were the deepest and most balanced roster in the league and their youth, athleticism, exuberance, and

August is, without a doubt, the most uneventful month in all of sports. The NFL hasn't started. Major League Baseball divisional races have yet to hit their stride. The NHL is nonexistent, and the best the NBA has to offer is the upcoming league schedule.

But I'm still keeping score.

First off... let's not forget Tiger Woods, who keeps on winning and building his legend like my boy Kobe Bryant. Right now, I don't know who has been more dominant over the last five years in their respective sports, Tiger or Roger Federer.

At least Federer has Rafa Nadal pushing him to be better than ever. Woods' longtime rival, lefty Phil Mickelson, hasn't been relevant for quite some time now while up-and-comer Anthony Kim needs to deflate his ego a bit so he can focus on what it takes to be consistent

When Phil Jackson came to the Lakers during the 1999-2000 season, Dr. Jerry Buss knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to take the blueprint for success that Jackson had in Chicago and implant it onto the Laker fabric.

Because there was no longer Showtime and the players who orchestrated the show, it was obvious the system could never be repeated in '99 with Shaq, Kobe, Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, et al. Therefore, he had to bring in the Zenmaster to install a different machine that would eventually capture three more NBA titles.

Although Jackson has always had the best superstars on his teams, the common denominator to all of his championships has always been the triangle system. That's been the constant, and that's the main reason Jackson has the most rings of any coach in the history

With pretty much every major free agent locked up save for Allen Iverson, we now have a good idea where each contender stands for this upcoming 2009-2010 NBA campaign.

Here's a roster rundown of the top 7 NBA contenders and where I think they'll place when it's all said and done...

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

G- Derek Fisher: Don't underestimate him when it counts most. Value is priceless.
G- Kobe Bryant: Inching closer and closer to Michael Jordan's level of greatness.
F- Ron Artest: Former Defensive POY will be Scottie Pippen to Kobe's Michael.
F- Pau Gasol: Reminds me of Kevin McHale. He's the most complete big man in NBA.
F- Andrew Bynum: Addition of Artest makes Bynum even tougher inside. Watch out.

Key Reserves
F: Lamar Odom: Still the best fourth option in the NBA, bar none. Perfect teammate.