The Celtics' capped the 2007-2008 NBA season with a 131-92 triumph over the L.A. Lakers in game 6 of the NBA Finals. For many, the end of the pro basketball season is long overdue ... it means baseball is in full swing and football is not too far around the corner.

But I'm not an NBA hater. It's not my favorite pro league, still I enjoy the following "the association" and get into the six-month long playoffs. OK, so they only last three months but it feels like six.

Here's a few quick notes from this season and a glance ahead at next year.

- You can cross off the names Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce of the list of best players in the league yet to win a title. Here's a short list of players that remain on that list heading into next year: LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd.
I left off some of the younger players like Chris Paul and Deron Williams because I figure they'll have plenty more chances and there's not as much sense of urgency.

- Speaking of Paul and Williams, those two may be my two favorite players to watch in the league after the season's they put together. New Orleans' Paul (21.1 points, 11.6 assists) and Utah's Williams (18.8 points, 10.5 points) should be fixtures in the Western Conference for years to come.

- It'll be interesting to see how Greg Oden performs in this first year in the NBA after missing what would have been his rookie season due to a knee injury. Portland has invested a lot in the 7-footer from Ohio State. If Oden plays to his potential, the Blazers should be an up-and-coming team with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge coming off solid seasons.

- Larry Brown should be a good coaching fit for the Charlotte Bobcats. In Brown's last 2 stops (Detroit and New York), there was intense pressure to win immediately. The veteran coach won't be under that same kind of pressure in the Queen City. Brown's main jobs with the Cats will be to teach and make the young franchise respectable. Getting a few more fans in the seats at Time Warner Cable Arena wouldn't hurt either. I think a playoff berth in 2 years or so is not out of the question.

- A shot in the dark at the 16 playoff teams next year: Western Conference - Phoenix; L.A. Lakers; San Antonio; Dallas; New Orleans; Utah; Houston; Portland. Eastern Conference - Boston, Detroit, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, New Jersey, Cleveland, Washington.

I like Phoenix over Boston in 7 to win it all in 2009 under first-year coach Terry Porter. Nash and Co. have to get their rings sometime.