Ira Winderman

Spoiler alert: If you'd actually prefer to wait and see what happens this NBA season, if you'd rather not to know in advance who will make the playoffs, advance to the Finals and win the title, if you favor finding out the league's award winners when they're actually announced, then simply save this link for future reflection, while making sure, of course, to first click on all the advertisements.

For those who need to know now, those who don’t need the suspense of the next six months of the regular season and the two months of playoffs that follow, for those who want to know where the individual hardware will be delivered, we cut to the chase.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2009-10 NBA season in roughly 1,000 words:

The crowning achievement
This time, Joey Buss should have ample time to write something resembling a championship speech (under the assumption that dad, Jerry, again will be too busy playing poker during the Finals).

No, we're not ready to put any type of dynasty tag on these Lakers, not with the increasing uncertainly about Phil Jackson's future. But this remains the best-balanced, most-complete roster in the NBA.

Yes, there are concerns about Ron Artest's impact on overall chemistry. But there were those same concerns when Dennis Rodman joined the Bulls, and Jackson turned that acquisition into three more Chicago championships.

Second to one
Don't ever underestimate the heart of an ex-champion.

This time Kevin Garnett won't be a playoff spectator. And this time he'll have Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels also at his side in Boston.

Special feature NBA season preview An in-depth team-by-team outlook at the upcoming 2009-10 NBA season. NBCSports.com

So why not a repeat outcome from this encore of the Celtics-Lakers 2008 NBA Finals?

Because this season, the most grueling road to the championship series will go through the Eastern Conference, with the Cavaliers and Magic likely to offer more of a challenge to the Celtics than what the Lakers will face in the deeper-but-not-as-dynamic Western Conference.

The Lakers will arrive to the Finals with homecourt advantage and less physically taxed.

Who will play beyond April 14?
For the overwhelming majority of teams, the look ahead at this time of year has nothing to do with the championship series or even the conference finals. It has to do with simply making the playoffs.

And the best way to handle that math is to work in reverse.

So which seven teams in each conference won't make the playoffs?

Coming up short in the East will be, from the bottom up: New Jersey, Milwaukee, New York, Indiana, Detroit, Charlotte and Philadelphia.

Failing to make it out of the West, from the cellar to a near miss, will be: Sacramento, Minnesota, Memphis, Golden State, Houston, Oklahoma City and Phoenix.

That means playoff berths in the East for Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Washington and Chicago, and berths in the West for the Lakers, San Antonio, New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Portland, the Clippers and Utah.

Alternate ending
But if not the Lakers and Celtics in the Finals, then who?

Cleveland figures to do everything possible to get LeBron into the Finals, with another trade certainly possible. In the West, the Spurs could be rejuvenated by the additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess.

Longshot angle
As for those who don't consider a rooting interest worthwhile unless it comes with commensurate longshot odds, Philadelphia and Portland could hold considerable attraction.

The 76ers have significant athleticism and length, while Portland has emerging talent throughout the roster. And if not this season for both, then soon.

Market risk
As for teams that stand as risky propositions, tread lightly on the Nuggets, Raptors and Heat.

Special feature Fan ranker: Who will be MVP of the NBA? Visit each week during the regular season to rank the candidates. NBCSports.com

Yes, Chauncey Billups seemingly always positions his team for success, but the ownership concerns with the luxury tax that last season cost Denver the services of Marcus Camby this summer lopped Linas Kleiza and Dahntay Jones from the rotation.

For the Raptors, there certainly was an injection of talent with Hedo Turkoglu, Marco Belinelli, Jarrett Jack and DeMar DeRozan. But where's the grit? Reggie Evans can only inflict so much pain.

And with the Heat, how much more heavy lifting can Dwyane Wade be expected to endure?

Players on the spot
Five individual plotlines, in particular, stand out.

In Washington, Gilbert Arenas insists he is all the way back from injury and is now more of a team player. Of course, Arenas has said plenty over the years.

With Cleveland, Shaquille O'Neal seemingly is an annual fixture on this type of list, again looming as a boom-or-bust presence with a title contender.

For San Antonio, if Richard Jefferson plays well, the burden is significantly reduced for Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

Over in Dallas, Drew Gooden is not a center, but he'll play one for a team desperately trying to make smallball work.

And with Portland rising to the level of contender, patience appears to be running rather thin with Greg Oden.

Each could be critical for success, or, just as easily, cause for concern.

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