The Good: With Jason Kidd running the show and Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson on the wings, they have the potential to put up lots of points in a hurry.
The Bad: PF Jason Collins averages just 4.8 rebounds a game. Every other starter on the Nets averages atleast 5.8.
The Ugly: Clifford Robinson still thinks it is 1998.
2. Boston Celtics
The Good: Paul Pierce is the most undervalued player in the league. He does a little bit of everything, now if only he could get some teammates who can do the same.
The Bad: Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo and Delonte West are three good, young guards. But there isn’t enough room on the court for all three. Someone isn’t going to be happy about their playing time.
The Ugly: Theo Ratliff is starting at center. Michael Olowokandi is his backup.
3. Toronto Raptors
The Good: Chris Bosh is the best player no one talks about. He will be an All-Star for years to come.
The Bad: They imported four guys from overseas, how quickly they can adapt to the NBA will be vital to this team’s success.
The Ugly: They always seem to end up in the NBA Lottery. Why would this year be any different?
4. New York Knicks
The Good: They have some of the better individual scores in the league. Marbury, Francis, Crawford and Richardson can get a shot off from just about anywhere.
The Bad: There isn’t a pure point guard on the roster.
The Ugly: They already gave up the chance to land Greg Odom in the upcoming draft, after trading the pick to acquire Eddy Curry. Not so smart.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The Good: Allen Iverson is the answer to one question: who will score?
The Bad: He won’t be the answer to the question: who will be the leader of this team?
The Ugly: There is no answer to the above question.
CENTRAL
1. Chicago Bulls
The Good: Best set of young guards around, now have a legitimate front court to match.
The Bad: Those young guards (Hinrich, Gordon, Deng) better score in bunches because P.J. Brown and Ben Wallace might combine for 15 points a night.
The Ugly: They might be getting too much hype too early. Let’s see how they play before people start crowning them the champs.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Good: LeBron is, well, LeBron. Larry Hughes is healthy. Zydrunas Illgauskas is a force in the paint.
The Bad: Eric Snow and Damon Jones are not the answer at the point. I have a feeling LeBron might be playing a lot of PG this season
The Ugly: LeBron can try to be Jordan all he wants, but with this supporting cast, he will find himself falling short of his first title.
3. Detroit Pistons
The Good: This team still knows what it takes to win a championship. They might lack some talent of years past but will not lack hustle and desire.
The Bad: With the new post-foul arguing rules, Rasheed Wallace might find himself spending more time in the locker-room than on the court.
The Ugly: Nazr Mohammed replaced Ben Wallace at center. Oh No!
4. Indiana Pacers
The Good: They have a formidable starting five that will get out and run. If Jermaine O’Neal can stay healthy, this team could be a surprise.
The Bad: When Jeff Foster is slated to get the most minutes at backup forward and center, things aren't looking very bright.
The Ugly: Darrell Armstrong should be an assistant coach on this team, not a backup guard.
5. Milwaukee Bucks
The Good: Michael Redd can shoot from just about anywhere on the floor. He will need to light it up every night for the Bucks to win.
The Bad: Bobby Simmons was a complete bust as a free-agent signing last year. He has to bounce back and show that he deserves his contract.
The Ugly: Ruben Patterson is a registered sex offender. That is never a good attribute to have on the back of your basketball card.
SOUTHEAST
1. Miami Heat
The Good: Still the champs until someone proves they can knock them off.
The Bad: Shaq isn’t getting any younger, neither is Antoine Walker, neither is Gary Payton, neither is Alonzo Mourning. Wait a second, this team is old!
The Ugly: Jason Williams attempt to play defense. It is downright atrocious.
2. Washington Wizards
The Good: Gilbert Arenas provides numbers all the way across the board. If he can continue to score and play defense every night, the Wizards will be in good shape.
The Bad: DeShawn Stevenson should not be a starter. Well, he is a starter in Washington.
The Ugly: Arenas’ off the court antics. At some point they may become a distraction.
3. Orlando Magic
The Good: Dwight Howard is a beast down low. If Jameer Nelson can get him the ball, this one-two combo will put up some big numbers.
The Bad: Grant Hill is in the last year of his contact and on his last legs. J.J. Redick better be ready to step in soon.
The Ugly: This is Darko’s last chance to prove that he isn’t a bust. I’m not convinced that he isn’t.
4. Charlotte Bobcats
The Good: Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton are a nice trio of young players to build around. The Bobcats will continue to improve from last year.
The Bad: Their nickname is the Bobcats. C’mon, is this "Any Given Sunday" or something? Get a real nickname and people might take you serious.
The Ugly: Adam Morrison’s mustache is still ugly as ever.
5. Atlanta Hawks
The Good: Josh Smith is only 20-years-old and has an all-around game of a 20-year veteran. Look for him, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams and Josh Childress to all make huge leaps this season.
The Bad: They passed on Chris Paul last year and Brandon Roy this year. Sheldon Williams with the fifth pick? Someone needs to get fired.
The Ugly: Still easily the worst team in the league. Greg Odom should be getting fitted for a Hawks jersey right about now.
Choke on that Phil Mickelson. Looks like “Lefty” isn’t everybody’s All-American anymore. With the U.S. Open in his back pocket, Philly “Cheese Steak” Mickelson pissed it away. Actually, he hit it so far left off the 18th tee that the ball bounced off a circus tent situated about 250 yards down the left hand rough and back into the crowd. Thank God Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey were in town, or Cheese Steak could have been staring a triple-bogey right in the face. Maybe it was meant to be though. Golf is a sport, and athletes compete in sports. With those man boobs of his, Cheese Steak is far from a well-oiled machine. Put down the fork, face!
The NBA Finals are one game away from possible being over. It’s just a hunch but I don’t think Mark Cuban is very happy. Plus he likes to curse..a lot. Give this guy some Ritalin already. He talks more #### behind the referees back than Paris Hilton talks behind Nicole Richie’s. If the finals were a hissy-fit screaming match, the Mavericks would have swept 4-0. But since we actually play the games, the Heat are on there way to the title because of one man- Dwayne Wade. This guy is punking the whole Dallas team every single time he steps on the floor. Forget the Big Aristotle, Shaq is now the Big Sidekick. While Shaq continues to shoot his team out of games, 7-22 from the free throw stripe the last two games, D-Wade is picking up the slack. That’s why they are free throws big fella. Maybe if he stopped running around South Beach playing detective and spent some time shooting in the gym, the Heat could have wrapped this thing up by now.
A football player was arrested last night, and somewhere Lawrence Taylor laughed hysterically. Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes was arrested Monday after being arraigned on charges of domestic violence by assault, assault and speeding. And get this, he swears he is innocent. He is probably right, the police are just out to get him. Sure buddy. Maybe Holmes should stop beating down people off the field and focus on beating down his opponents on it. Athletes just don’t seem to get enough attention in the off-season so they have to do something to get their name in the paper. Whatever helps get your name out there, right Santonio? This is Holmes second arrest since being drafted in April, but unfortunately he still trails Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who has been arrested four times in the past six months, in the unofficial NFL Arrest Race. Easily the most popular player this off-season, Henry will look to make some noise ON the field this season. Yes Chris, they pay you for touchdowns not arrests.
During the seventh-inning stretch at Sunday’s Cubs game, Entourage’s Jeremy Piven decided to add a little something extra to his rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Before he began to sing Piven yelled out, “Let’s hug it out, you little ####es.” But apparently cursing in front of 40,000 fans is a no-no. Cubs fans haven’t gotten this worked up since, well, dare I say 1908. What do expect from a guy who hangs out in Hollywood with Vinnie Chase, Johnny Drama and the rest of the crew every day. I’m personally surprised that he didn’t drop a famous Ari Gold f-bomb on the crowd. Now that would have made Harry Carey turn over in his grave.
Behind a rookie goaltender, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup trophy after beating the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. Is it just me, or is the nickname “Hurricanes” just a little insensitive these days? First the Florida Panthers finish near the bottom of its division, and now Carolina rubs it in just a little bit more. Nothing like turning a national disaster into a national joke.
NBA Eastern Conference preview (in predicted order of finish): 
