Cleveland Cavaliers: Any regular readers of mine know that I'm forever suspicious of the Cavs, no matter how much they win. Their roster has just been so bad, and their coach needing so many excuses, that I've always felt they benefited from a soft East — in last year's improved conference, they were right on the borderline between the new elite and all the rest. Yes, I remember when they made the Finals, but let's be real here: They've had a pretty easy path every season, and all it's taken is a few key showings from Bron Bron for them to end up way deeper than they deserve.

However, this year's different. James is playing out of his mind, and as silly as some of this team's ideas have been, the basic philosophy of Bron reaching yet another level, surrounded by competent, creative guards like Delonte West and Mo Williams, is just enough to make me believe. Now, there's some offense to complement that defense and rebounding, as well as a superstar who is truly terrifying at both ends of the court. It would not surprise me at all if Cleveland won the East, and made the Finals. Which is to say, this LeBron, with these wingmen, has just enough to edge out Boston in seven.

Portland Trail Blazers: Last year, the Blazers were supposed to stink, then they surprised everyone with a midseason bout of respectability. But, as the Hornets should have, they eventually came back down to earth, largely because of their reliance on jump-shooting. For 2008-09, they were ready to team up LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden, which would catapult them to legitimacy. Not sure if you heard, but Oden's missed a few games, and he hasn't looked great when he has played.

Fortunately, Aldridge has improved greatly in both the power and finesse departments, and rookie Rudy Fernandez has given them unexpectedly strong wing play. They've yet to give significant minutes to rookie Jerryd Bayless, are missing sharp shooter Martell Webster for a while with injury, and have yet to figure out exactly what to do with 2007-08 breakout forward Travis Outlaw. Oh, and there's that Sergio Rodriguez, the team's only true point guard, who is just now beginning to get some burn. Oden or no Oden, this is a young team stocked with talent, energy, and in prime position to get a solid spot in the Western playoffs.

Some of these teams will definitely contend; others, probably not. But you can be sure that, as the season rolls on, and the pundits start questioning the standing or decrying the B.S. regular season, these teams are for real. That much will become clear when the playoff start, and they're still standing. And when that "real" competition starts, they'll prove that those records were anything but an illusion accidentally assembled over six months of happenstance.

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Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters

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