David Chase himself said a lot of the characters are based on the old Boiardo crew in Newark because they were the only mobsters he actually saw growing up. As far as story goes I think season 1 was definitely based on the Decavs, especially with the boss dying of cancer and an old capo starting a war for the throne. I think that's what those wire tapped Decavs were talking about when discussing the show. The later seasons very much resemble the Luccheses trying to kill all of their Jersey crew for holding out earnings. That's where the tension with the Soprano family and John Sack/Carmine begins. John finds out about the HUD scam.