Last season, the Boston Celtics had the single greatest turnaround in a season in NBA history: going from Eastern Conference doormats to the league's best record, winning the Atlantic Division title, 66 games, and, most importantly, the NBA Finals.

However, most NBA fans already know that. Now, I can bore you all, stating how great the "Boston Three Party" of All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and 2008 Finals MVP Paul Pierce are. That should be common knowledge. If that's not to you, I suggest watching a ton of NBA TV and ESPN Classic.

You see, the Boston Celtics can and quite possibly will repeat as NBA champions, but not just due to their three All-Stars or coach Doc Rivers. Rather, it's their young studs people should pay attention to.

Those young players include (in no particular order) Tony Allen, rookie J.R. Giddens, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and Leon "Powe my God!" Powe. They make up a young nucleus for the future, and the Celtics incredibly deep.

Forget James Posey's significant defensive contributions. Let me tell you something you don't already know.

While these young men mentioned above are not prolific scorers (with the exception of Giddens in college, with 16.3 points per game), they did show flashes of brilliance throughout the regular season and, at times, the postseason.

Guard Tony Allen was particularly productive the season prior to the acquisitions of Garnett and Ray Allen, scoring over 11 points per game. In the event the All-Star Allen was injured, the young guard could step in and at least do a serviceable job.

As far as guards go, Rajon Rondo certainly proved his worth last postseason, which included a 16 assist performance in Game Two of the NBA Finals. As far as I'm concerned, the only reason Rondo doesn't score more is due to the fact that he plays with three Future Hall-of-Famers. Enough said.

If you think Rondo has a bright future, don't look past big man Kendrick Perkins, whose stellar play went beyond the box score. At just 23 years old, there is still a ton of basketball for this man to play. Unfortunately, Perkins is out for the time being with an injured shoulder.

As big of a void as Perkins would leave if he wasn't 100 percent at the beginning of the season, the Celtics do have a backup plan.

That plan is the man they call Powe. Powe is not only a self-made man, but a 6'8" monster waiting to be unleashed; as evident in that same Game Two of the NBA Finals, scoring 21 points in just 15 minutes of play. Along with Powe, the Celtics also have Patrick O'Bryant, a 22-year-old 7'0" former lottery pick they brought in during the offseason.

"Big Baby" Davis was a standout at LSU and can certainly get better with time. Add to that second-year guard Gabe Pruitt, Giddens, and fellow athletically gifted rookie Bill Walker, and you have a young nucleus for the present....and future.

Add these young ingredients up with Sam Cassell, Darius Miles, Eddie House, and, most of all, the Big Three, and you have the makings of an incredibly deep team that has championship experience.

What about the Wizards? They look good, but without Gilbert Arenas, they won't make much noise in the postseason. Could the Cavaliers could be a threat? It might be an insurmountable task for King James to carry the team to another NBA Finals berth.

Is Detroit still a contender? Certainly they are, but not enough of a contender to get past the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Eastern Conference is the Celtics' to lose. With a combination of a very good coach, three future Hall-of-Famers, a strong bench, and a young, but talented group of players waiting in the shadows, the Boston Celtics have a team that can stand toe-to-toe with the best the Western Conference has to offer: no matter who stands in their way.

The Celtics did the improbable last season. Stay tuned for the encore...

Just a couple of seasons ago, a person could claim that Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas was one of the best players in the league without hesitation. Sure, Agent Zero has never been a part of the upper echelon of talent that includes the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan, but he did manage to carve his own talented niche in the NBA.

And then the injury bug bit Arenas in one of the worst ways.

After suffering knee problems in 2006 and 2007, Arenas barely played the '07-'08 season, appearing in only 13 games (including the postseason). It is now October and Arenas will have to wait several months before he can be on the court again, after his third knee operation in one-and-a-half years.

To make matters worse, Arenas refused to speak to reporters on the Wizards' media day regarding his knee injury, resulting in a $15,000 fine. While Mr. Hibachi claims it was due to his desire to have the media focus on the Wizards' young talent, it is a little fishy that he did not share too many details regarding his latest surgery.

The fact of the matter is that even the biggest Gilbert Arenas supporters (myself included) have to be worried that he may never be the same player after this latest operation, and not in a good way. That is not exactly the best scenario to occur, especially when the Washington Wizards recently banked $100 million and some change to secure Agent Zero's services.

So here is the $100 million question:

When Arenas returns, do the Wizards get Agent Zero, the cold blooded assassin; also know as the man who has averaged 23 points and 5.5 assists for his career, or a former All-Star that's a mere shell of his former self (aka Chris Webber mid-2000s)?

Luckily, Arenas at 26 years of age, is considerably younger than the recently retired Chris Webber, who was never the same after a slew of knee problems.

Only time will tell. Until then, the Wizards will have to tough it out without their 100 million dollar man.

At least they still have a healthy team captain in Antawn Jamisona€¦.

Oh wait, they don't have him either.

It's going to be a long fall for the Washington Wizards and Gilbert Arenas. Hopefully, Arenas can come back at least close to his All-Star form, even if that means shutting it down this season.

The Wizards can't afford to have Arenas re-aggravate his knee injury any further......for 100 million reasons.