The NBA, much like the rest of the country, is made up of have and have nots this season.  There really is no middle class.  The NBA, and pretty much every other sport, as Tim Leiweke put it to me, will have to face the issue of big market vs. small market.  That will be especially evident in the recession that our economy is in.  Discretionary spending may not be down for the celebrities that make up a Laker crowd scene, but I guarantee you it is in Milwaukee.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out in collective bargaining.  But until then, here's how I see the season shaking out when the playoffs begin in about four or five months.  Or is that how long the playoffs last?  I forget.

LOTTERY TEAMS

30.  Sacramento Kings

I don't know what you do with this team now or in the future, but they were going to be in the cellar regardless of Kevin Martin's health.

29.  Memphis Grizzlies

A young team looking to develop its younsters picks up Allen Iverson.  Sad what the economy has done to teams, and players I guess.

28.  New York Knicks

When Danillo Gallinari is your bright spot, things are not going well for your franchise.  At least they have a good shot at LeBron in 2010.  Wait, they don't because of their cap situation?

27.  New Jersey Nets

I don't know about you, but I'm excited for the Russian billionaire to come in and bail this team out. 

26.  Golden State Warriors

I definitely outweigh their so-called savior.  Not a good thing.

25.  Milwaukee Bucks

I like Brandon Jennings, but he needs to bring the fade back.  It's going to be a cold season in Milwaukee.

24.  Minnesota Timberwolves

Some nice pieces for the future but with Al Jefferson injured and Rubio in Spain, the Timberwolves are a recession recovery and then some away.

23.  Indiana Pacers

I'm not sure Danny Granger can be the best player on a good team.  At least Tyler Hansbrough found the puppy in that commercial.

22.  Los Angeles Clippers

You can't have lottery teams without the Clippers.  No explanation required.  I would say they're the Royals of the NBA but that's demeaning to the Royals.

21.  Charlotte Bobcats

They'd have a chance with a college shotclock but not in a league where offense rules.  Because they have zero offense.

20.  Houston Rockets

They'll be feisty but they're a few fries short of the Happy Meal due to injuries this season.

19.  Oklahoma City Thunder

Still too young, but the future is bright in Oklahoma City.

18.  Washington Wizards

I'm actually okay with this team when everybody's healthy.  That happens about -32% of the time.

17.  New Orleans Hornets

A new coach will have this team in good form next season.  I like the Ric Flair sounds effects though.

1st ROUND KNOCKOUTS

16.  Detroit Pistons

I really don't see how their free agent splurge improved them all that much.  That was a lot of money to spend on the same 8-seed they probably would have earned anyway.

15.  Portland Trailblazers

They make a great fantasy team, but they have too many guys vying for the same minutes in the backcourt and not enough depth in the frontcourt where they get injured all the time.

14.  Philadelphia 76ers

Elton Brand needs to be going at somewhere around 75% for this to be a solid playoff team.  Otherwise they're too soft.  Way too soft.  I think they'll be there in a couple of months.

13.  Toronto Raptors

Another beneficiary of playing in the Eastern Conference.  Some good players but nowhere near a contender.

12.  Chicago Bulls

They lost Ben Gordon, but I still like how this team is coming along.  Derrick Rose is a straight stud.

11.  Phoenix Suns

The Steve Nash hourglass is running out and I still think they're a piece away from making the necessary leap.

10.  Atlanta Hawks

Pick up a PG somehwere along the way and how can you not like this team?  You don't want to see them in the playoffs, especially if you lose that home court advantage somehow.

9.  Utah Jazz

Jerry Sloan's a great coach but they're always injured and they can't seem to gel as a result.  That and the crowd HATES Boozer.  Not good when your crowd hates your best scoring option.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALISTS

8.  Cleveland Cavaliers

How exactly does Shaq help this team?  I've never been a big LeBron fan, what with the non-existent jump shot and ego and all, but he single-handedly keeps his coach and GM employed.

7.  Denver Nuggets

Melo is playing like a man possessed, but Billups has some mileage on him and I'm not quite there yet with the bigs up front.  Can any of them score with any consistency?  How many times does J.R. Smith take the wrong shot?  At least George Karl is there to keep them in order.

6.  Miami Heat

I believe in D-Wade.  There's no other way to explain my sleeper pick.  Oh, and they play in the East.

5.  Dallas Mavericks

Poor Mavs fans.  Marion was a great addition for the type of game they like to play.  Dirk is in his prime.  They have a lot of good role players.  But they're playing in a Conference with two many super-powers. 

CONFERENCE FINALISTS

4.  Orlando Magic

They turned Hedo into Vince, but I'm not necessarily sure that was what they needed.  It may be an upgrade on paper, but has Vince ever proven himself?  Hedo was one of many three guys in the NBA last season that I was legitimately terrified of in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.  Vince isn't sending the chills down anybody's spine and when you look up and down the Magic roster I don't think there's anybody else that sends them either.  They weren't going to beat the Lakers with the team they had last year but Hedo wasn't the problem and Vince isn't the answer.

3.  San Antonio Spurs

They added Richard Jefferson.  Manu Ginobili will kill anything in his path, bats included.  Tony Parker is as smooth as Sidney Poitier (okay, I stole that from the soccer announcer on Gol TV).  And the Big Turtle a.k.a. Tim Duncan is more than any team except for the Lakers can handle in a big game in the West.  Add to that one of the best coaches of our generation, especially when it comes to X's and O's and you have a serious contender.

RUNNER UP

2.  Boston Celtics

Despite what some other people think, I think Rasheed helps them.  Even if he's slowed down, I think he finds that extra gear come playoff time.  And you know he doesn't need to turn it on in the regular season.  Rondo is a beast at PG.  Paul Pierce is still a dagger thrower alongside Jesus Shuttlesworth and KG is off his rocker crazy.  I am not looking forward to facing this team in the Finals.

CHAMPS

1.  Los Angeles Lakers

Oh who am I kidding.  It doesn't matter who we face in the Finals!  Did anyone notice that Artest has about 1,000 more dimensions on offense than Ariza?  And why do we need a lock down defender when Kobe can D up anybody else's best scorer in the fourth quarter?  All we need is a fourth banana and Artest more than suffices.  Mbenga scares me but then I realized that he's getting zero minutes once Pau is back healthy.  Give Lamar his candy and he's fine.  Fish is still knocking down shots.  Bynum is a little spacy but sufficient.  And Sasha will be the first to fall victim to the Fan Veto button.  It's the button that all fans in Staples Center will possess.  When a player goes to the table to check in, if enough fans push the Fan Veto button, then he goes back to the bench.  Okay, I'm making that up, but how great would that be?  In all seriousness though, the Lakers got better.  Kobe's still hungry, and while the Celtics will pose some problems, Artest gives the Lake Show the requisite toughness to last in that series.  The Lakers weren't willing to go mano a mano with the Celts two years ago.  I'm no genius, but I have a feeling that Artest is willing to make a statement play or three.  I like this team and the Zen Master is going to have to grow an 11th finger for that extra ring.