SOUNDLY BUILT

These teams are solid from floor to ceiling and ready to make a title run.

BOSTON CELTICS

• Last season: 62-20, lost to Orlando 4-3 in second round of the playoffs.

• Starting five: G Rajon Rondo (11.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 8.2 apg), G Ray Allen (18.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.8 apg), F Paul Pierce (20.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg), F Kevin Garnett (15.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg), C Kendrick Perkins (8.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.0 bpg).

• Key additions: F Rasheed Wallace (free agent, Pistons), G-F Marquis Daniels (free agent, Pacers).

• Key losses: F Leon Powe (free agent, Cavaliers).

• Coach: Doc Rivers, sixth season with Celtics, 11th season overall; 401-348.

• Blueprints: The Celtics signed Wallace and Daniels. Remember when Daniels was considered a more promising prospect than Josh Howard? Anyway, it's all about Kevin Garnett's knees. If they're too creaky, it's time to go young.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

• Last season: 66-16, lost to Orlando 4-2 in Eastern Conference finals.

• Starting five: G Mo Williams (17.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.1 apg), G Delonte West (11.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.5 apg), F LeBron James (28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg), F Anderson Varejao (8.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.0 apg), C Shaquille O'Neal (14.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg).

• Key additions: C O'Neal (trade, Suns); F Jamario Moon (free agent, Heat), G Anthony Parker (free agent, Raptors), F Leon Powe (free agent, Celtics).

• Key losses: C Ben Wallace (trade, Suns), G Sasha Pavlovic (trade, Suns), F Joe Smith (free agent, Hawks), G Wally Szczerbiak (not re-signed).

• Coach: Mike Brown, fifth season; 211-117.

• Blueprints: A motivated Shaq buys the Cavaliers some time. But the Big Fella better produce, and not just on the court. If he can't convince James to stick around beyond 2010, the Cavaliers will be starting over and won't find Shaq's humor very funny anymore. Trading for Stephen Jackson might actually make some sense.

ORLANDO MAGIC

• Last season: 59-23, lost to Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in NBA Finals.

• Starting five: G Jameer Nelson (16.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.4 apg), G Vince Carter (20.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg), F Matt Barnes (10.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg), F Rashard Lewis (17.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.6 apg), C Dwight Howard (20.6 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 2.9 bpg).

• Key additions: G Carter (trade, Nets); F Barnes (free agent, Suns), F Brandon Bass (free agent, Mavericks), G Jason Williams (free agent, didn't play last season).

• Key losses: F Hedo Turkoglu (trade, Raptors), G Courtney Lee (trade, Nets), G Rafer Alston (trade, Nets).

• Coach: Stan Van Gundy, third season with Magic, sixth season overall; 223-126.

• Blueprints: Nothing Mickey Mouse about the Magic. Excellent coach. A monster talent in Dwight Howard. Nice supporting cast. Still, the Magic was more imposing with the durable, multifaceted Turkoglu than Carter.

MINOR RENOVATIONS

A new porch or power forward gets these teams in the title mix.

ATLANTA HAWKS

• Last season: 47-35, lost to Cleveland 4-0 in second round of playoffs.

• Starting five: G Mike Bibby (14.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.0 apg), G Joe Johnson (21.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.8 apg), F Marvin Williams (13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.3 apg), F Josh Smith (15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 1.4 spg), C Al Horford (11.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.4 apg).

• Key additions: G Jamal Crawford (trade, Warriors), F Joe Smith (free agent, Cavaliers), G Jeff Teague (draft, No. 19).

• Key losses: G Flip Murray (free agent, Bobcats).

• Coach: Mike Woodson, sixth season; 153-257.

• Blueprints: The Hawks re-signed Bibby (good move) and acquired Crawford (another good move). But this is just another good team, without enough star power to scare the elite.

CHICAGO BULLS

• Last season: 41-41, lost to Boston 4-3 in first round of the playoffs.

• Starting five: G Derrick Rose (16.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.3 apg), G John Salmons (18.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.2 apg), F Luol Deng (14.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.9 apg), F Tyrus Thomas (10.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 bpg), C Joakim Noah (6.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg).