Lakers-Celtics Preview

The return of The Cycle comes just prior to the start of the return to the most famous NBA Finals matchup possible. That's right, it's Celtics-Lakers for the 12th time in history. Of course, this is the worst possible matchup for the majority of NBA fans, who will either tire of another Boston championship (like the Yankees winning last year was for baseball fans) or of another Lakers title (and dealing with the Laker bandwagon, again like the Yankees). Here's the keys to this series.

1. The Artest/Pierce matchup: For all the bad having Ron Artest has been for the Lakers, this is a series where he can be an asset. Trevor Ariza probably doesn't match well as Artest does with Paul Pierce. Also, he won't get punched in the mouth like the Celtics like to do and not keep coming, unlike Vince Carter. So it really comes down to if Artest has declined as a defensive player. I think he hasn't, but Pierce is still a skilled offensive player. I'd be surprised if the loser in this battle wins the series (unless Kobe is Jordan in '93 for this series).

2. Andrew Bynum: He can be the difference if healthy. I'd take the Celtics frontcourt of Garnett/Perkins/Davis/Wallace over the Lakers if it's mostly the Gasol/Odom combo. The main reason, Pau and Lamar aren't great defenders and I'm more confident that the Celtics will score upfront like they couldn't against Dwight Howard, plus I think they will contain both guys on the other end. Bynum is the difference, because he's the better defender in the middle for the Lakers and gives the Celtics another person to deal with offensively. If only he plays well.

3. Rajon Rondo: He's the best player on this Celtics team and will probably be guarded by Kobe. If Derek Fisher guards him, Rondo will explode and shred the Lakers defense. Kobe have to try to contain him and that where Rondo will have to work without the ball to set up shots for Ray Allen or Pierce. It comes down to this, if Rondo plays the guy from Games 4-6 of the Cavs series and Games 1-3 and 6 of the Magic series, the Celtics win. If not, they lose. It's that simple.

4. Kobe Bryant: That's why Kobe is the biggest key to the series and more for his defense and his ability to play at a high level on both ends for a whole series. We all know he needs to keep playing like he has in the playoffs, putting up 29-5-6 and 33-6-7 that he had in the Jazz and Suns series. But he know has to play tough defense for the first time since the Thunder series when he was switched to Russell Westbrook.


As for a prediction, there will be a six game series and I'll go with the team I predicted at the beginning of the year, then hoped no one remembered (which no one did). Yes, the Celtics win in 6.

NBA Preview

Let me start by apologizing to my readers for not finishing this NBA preview last week. The World Series was a clear distraction, but it's not an excuse. You expect me to have timely articles and unfortunately, I've been a little too Twitter happy when sharing my thoughts and not taking the time to have real posts which allow me to express my thoughts in more than 140 characters. Rest assured that from now on, I will have at least three posts a week every week, unless I say so differently.


For some reason, there seems to be less buzz for this season of the NBA than in recent years, then again, living in New York always hurts the buzz of an NBA season. One things for sure, this season isn't wide open, only five teams have a legit chance at an NBA title. Thus the other 25 teams are finished already, some won't be in the playoffs, some will win a playoff series but no more. That's the thing about the NBA, you can't have parody in this league, the absolute best players have so much more control of the game that whomever has them will win, while pretenders who think are as good aren't and never win unless paired with a franchise guy. That being said, here's ten things to look for in this season of the NBA.


1. I was all set to put the L.A. Clippers back into the playoffs. I really was. They have a good young team with Al Thornton and Eric Gordon, plus the number pick in Blake Griffin and an expected better season from veteran Baron Davis who would be motivated by a better ball club. Add that Zack Randolph is gone from this team, a contract year for Marcus Camby and the likely devaluing of Ricky Davis, the stage was set for not only a playoff team, but a team that has the cap space, the talent and the big city atmosphere to attract LeBron James in the Summer of 2010, plus the added bonus of igniting a rivalry with Kobe in L.A. alone. Until this. The Curse of the Clippers strikes again. With Griffin out for the next six weeks, all the jokes about injuring knee/leg/ankle/foot will continue. In other words, the Clippers aren't making the playoffs with this news, plus the fact that Mike Dunleavy is still the coach and should have been fired years ago by Mike Dunleavy the GM. Finally, some advice for LeBron, if the Clippers come calling, run, run for your life.


2. The other two teams that would be possible destinations for LeBron are both going nowhere this season, and I'm sure you know those teams are the Nets and the Knicks. For the Nets, it's simple, play bad, get another high draft pick, and hope players like Devin Harris, Terrance Williams and Brook Lopez will become better players this season. The real battle for the Nets is if they can get the move to Brooklyn before New Year's. It seemed like a forgone conclusion that the Nets would move there a few years ago, then it became absolutely dead until some recent court decisions and the potential new buyer for the team, who is thought of as the Russian Mark Cuban.


The Knicks are in much more worrisome condition because they don't have their first round pick, so losing this season has no benefit and the giant elephant in the room that this team doesn't realize; the Knicks will not have the roster that LeBron James can win an NBA Championship with and he can't have the same place in history if he can't lead a team to a title. I've written it before and I'll write it again, the Knicks have such a financial advantage over the majority of the 30 clubs and they can use that to pick up a good player 50 cents on the dollar. That's how they should turn their team into a better team. Speaking of financial disadvantages...


3. The NBA is riddled with teams who are in financial trouble with Memphis, Charlotte, Indiana, Sacramento and Milwaukee among the first teams you'd think of. Which means we will be seeing more teams trade players away to this season's big five like a Rudy Gay or perhaps a Mike Dunleavy Jr. The only thing that will keep pretenders like Chicago or Miami from making trades is the Summer of 2010 which has free agents galore and that could preclude these teams from making long-term commitments on players via trade. But here's an easy prediction, the Memphis Grizzlies will be involved in a trade making sure salaries between two other clubs match up, while getting some money for their trouble (best example is the Rafer Alston trade). Everything here is laying out for a new collective-bargaining agreement in 2011, which the NBA will have a lockout to get things to change to benefit owners and the players stand no chance because they won't be able to lose a year of salaries like the NHL did. The interesting thing is the NFL seems all but certain to have a lockout as well in 2011 and we as sports fans are looking at 1994 once again for sports fans, and to be honest, it will be worse because of the habit of Sundays in the fall will be broken.


4. Quick preview of the Eastern Conference (aside from more in depth previews for the top three), Milwaukee will be among the worst in the league and hoping to get the top pick next season. You can add the Nets, Knicks for missing the playoffs and Charlotte won't be there too as they are the worst team in an surprisingly tough Southeast division, plus the Bobcats will regret not signing Allen Iverson, the only place in the league he would have fit. Indiana, despite an improving Danny Granger, is still a lottery team, while the Pistons will join them as they completely botched last season's cap space. There was no need for the Pistons to squander that money on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon when they could wait a year for better free agents. The last team to miss the playoffs will be the Raptors, where I have a feeling they trade Chris Bosh in February in order to avoid losing him for nothing.


Though Gilbert Arenas is vastly overrated, a healthy Agent Zero along with Mike Miller and Randy Foye joining this team would help the Wizards return to the playoffs and a likely rematch with the Cavs. The Sixers will be back in the playoffs, and if they can get anything productive from Elton Brand, even better. However, this team is going to be stuck in that no-man's land of a middling East team which is akin to being a middle team in the Premier League. Atlanta, Miami and Chicago are the best of the second tier in the East, with each team having a size disadvantage. At least the Heat and the Bulls have a franchise player in Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, respectively; but the Hawks best player (Joe Johnson) isn't in that class yet and probably never will.


5. Now the West, where I expect Memphis to once again be one of the cellar-dwellers in the conference, since you have a team with Allen Iverson, Zack Randolph, O.J. Mayo and one basketball. As I mentioned before, someone should try to pry Rudy Gay away who could get lost in the shuffle. Minnesota had a chance to be a sleeper, especially after the Ricky Rubio pick. Unfortunately, they followed that with Jonny Flynn and ruined this season in the process, especially with a weakness in outside shooting following the Miller/Foye-Flynn trade. Sacramento still has no frontcourt, despite the pickup of Tyreke Evans and Golden State has no clue what they're doing (another team that perhaps can trade players fifty cents on the dollar, yes, I mean Stephen Jackson). Houston won't be awful without Yao Ming as I expect Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry to be leaders; however, without even a legit second banana, the Rockets can't make the playoffs. The Clippers I wrote would miss the playoffs because I can't trust the Clippers Curse won't strike again and the last team joining them in the lottery is the Phoenix Suns, who play out Amare Stoudamire's final year there quietly.


Which means the Durants will make the playoffs. I'm expecting a huge season from Oklahoma City as Kevin Durant enters Year Three and like LeBron's Year Three, Durant will taste playoff action with a very impressive cast of characters, including Russell Westbrook and newcomer James Harden. Utah will make the playoffs again despite uncertainty surrounding Carlos Boozer because Deron Williams is too good to keep out of the playoffs as well as Jerry Sloan. New Orleans is in the same group with Chris Paul and David West and they could be among the best if they get anything close to a full year from Emeka Okafor.


Denver I think takes a step back, as Chauncey Billups is a year older; though the only way they don't go back is if Carmelo Anthony can get better (and based on his first few games, he could very well be better, maybe MVP-level). The main thing to consider, which I credit Bill Simmons for pointing out in his NBA preview, is that George Karl coached teams always have a pronounced drop following a season which they go to a conference finals and I would be surprised at all if that's the case. Dallas is always intriguing mainly because I believe Dirk Nowitzki is passed the dip in his career from 2007-08. Remember that Dirk was at his absolute peak during the 2006 Playoffs, then started declining in the Finals and continued it into the 2007 Playoffs (fooling people by becoming MVP though) and into the 2007-08 season. Well, I thought he was pretty good last year and now enters his contract year, thus I expect a good year from him. The team is okay around him, hopefully they can get one more year from Jason Kidd and a stress-less season from Josh Howard. Finally, I'm a big believer in the Blazers to be that third team in the West which is closer to four than two. I know Portland hasn't been able to get the guys they really want in the past few years (Andre Miller was their last choice in free agency) and are pretty weak up front (no way should they have given jump shooter LaMarcus Aldridge $65 million). However, they have the franchise guy in Brandon Roy and very few teams can say that. Roy alone with a talent roster surrounding him should guarantee 50 wins this season, a number that won't be a question mark on the playoffs this year for once out West.


6. The biggest question that in the first two games has started to manifest itself into a panic for everyone who's lives depend on this: Are the Cleveland Cavaliers a legitimate title contender? I still think they are because of LeBron James alone, but the way this team playing against good teams, something must change in order for them to maintain big 5 status. There's no offense in Cleveland as many people, particularly Charles Barkley, point out that LeBron goes 1 on 5 against good teams and the other four just stand around. This isn't 2001 when Iverson and Tracy McGrady could go iso on other teams, the zone defense prevents that, particularly good ones. Another problem with the 1 on 5 offense, the acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal hurts the offense since he can't play in the perimeter, thus clogging the lane for LeBron. Not having "Gunslinger" Delonte West forces LeBron to bring the ball up, rather than playing away and setting up shot opportunities.


The biggest issue is Mike Brown. His offense is failing against good defensive teams because, well, there is no offense. Brown is following the epic playbook that the coach in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air used: Just pass it to LeBron. At least the Cavs don't have a Carlton Banks who will steal the ball from LeBron to take the last shot, but the Cavs aren't facing a bunch of white prep school teams; you need a real offense. Thus, the Mike Brown Watch is underway and if you remember the Braylon Edwards trade, the city of Cleveland will do ANYTHING to keep LeBron.


7. The defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic in my mind have the highest ceiling and the lowest basement of the five contenders. Their big question is: Does Vince Carter over Hedo Turkoglu make them better or worse. On the one hand, Carter is a natural two-guard who you can use to hit any shot you need. On the other, Carter being a natural two-guard turns this team more conventional which may hurt because having Rashard Lewis and Turkoglu would have defenses wondering how to handle two 6'10" guys who can shoot from anywhere and deal with Jameer Nelson at point guard and Dwight Howard. The only way Carter makes them better is if he plays this year like he gives a crap. Ever since he missed the shot in Game 7 of the Raptors/Sixers series, Vince only seems to care when he shows up in Toronto to stick it to the fans and team that he screwed over. In New Jersey, Vince was known to forget when his teammates were playing in games. He's the biggest question because the Orlando Magic have put themselves in a situation where they can't erase it if it doesn't work out because of contracts to Marcin Gortat and Howard's eventual max contract extension the Magic will have to get signed.


8. The Boston Celtics on paper have the best team in basketball...if this season was 2001-02. Of course it doesn't mean that the C's can't win this year, however, depending on four thirty-somethings doesn't guarantee anything. One of them, newly signed Rasheed Wallace, shouldn't have to do too much, which is a good thing for everyone involved and I think Wallace knows that. Ray Allen is in a contract year and a good season would lead to his last big payday, while Rajon Rondo just signed a 5-year, $55 million deal and I expect him to keep getting better, especially when he can develop an outside game. I think we all know that the Celtics will go as far as Kevin Garnett's knee can take them. If he is there all year, with Big Baby Davis coming back from injury later this year and Wallace is in the supporting role that will showcase his strengths, then the Celtics will be back in the NBA Finals in 2010. If not, they could lose in the first round. I think Garnett stays healthy and the Celtics make back to the NBA Finals, if for no other reason, but the fact that the way the team is currently constructed doesn't have that many more opportunities to win.


9. There is one team coming in this year that has the best chance to dethrone the Lakers in the West and that is the San Antonio Spurs. Here's is the Western version of the Celtics in regards to their dependence on older players to play well. Unlike last year, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are both healthy again, at least for the time being. Particularly Manu, who didn't have to play for the Argentinian national team this summer. Along with those two and Tony Parker, the Spurs have added Richard Jefferson (the first athletic swingman they've had in a long time), Antonio McDyess (who can do for the Spurs what Rasheed is doing in Boston, lessen Duncan's workload) and DeJuan Blair (the sleeper of the 2009 Draft who should have never fallen to the second round despite his knee surgeries). Make no mistake, the Spurs are back this year after last year's early exit because the window is closing for Duncan and Ginobili and Parker will be due for a new contract and if Eva Longoria is tired of San Antonio, Parker would leave.


(Sidebar: Here we have the potential of Duncan, Shaq and Kobe deciding once and for all who was the more dominant player of the first post-MJ era. Each guy has four titles with Kobe and Shaq going to six finals. Each guy has at least 11 All-Star Games, with Shaq at 16 and Kobe at 12. Now clearly if Shaq wins another title, he will be as a supporting role behind LeBron, whereas Kobe and Duncan can still be the best player on their respective teams. Honestly, I would give it to Duncan as the better player because he was always the best player on any Spurs championships, while Kobe was secondary to Shaq in his first three. Doesn't discredit Kobe in general, but I can't have him better than Duncan as long as the titles are even; though I do give Kobe an edge over Shaq because he's been traded a few too many times and the greatest players should be traded. But enough of my soapbox...)


10. The defending champs are still the prohibitive favorites to repeat. The Lakers still have Kobe and Gasol once he returns from an injury soon and they resigned Lamar Odom, which keeps this team balanced and deep; plus with his stories about candy, the NBA trophy replica made from candy and his marriage to Khloe Kardashian, the comedy of this team is still strong. Some more comedy, Sasha Vujacic is going out with Maria Sharapova (wait, that's not comedy, that's a tragedy, unless Vujacic acts like this around her). Just when you think this Lakers team is already comedic gold, the Lakers add Ron Artest, who is legitimately crazy, not crazy in a Dennis Rodman, this is all for attention-type crazy. The only thing missing from Artest is a Tyson-like "I guess I'm gonna fade into Bolivian" quote, but I'm sure it's coming.


Enough humor, the key questions for the Lakers this year: 1) Can Artest avoid screwing this up? 2) Is Andrew Bynum at all ready to take the next step? 3) Is Kobe getting too old to dominate games the way he has in the past? Well you never know with the first because you can predict crazy. Bynum improving would be the best thing to happen for this team, not for nothing, so the Lakers don't need to depend on Kobe and Gasol to do the heavy lifting of this team and make the third question moot. I think Kobe is showing some age, but he's smart enough to pick his spots on when to dominate and play above the rim. Remember, Kobe now is very reliant on his jumper now, just like Jordan after his return from baseball. There is one final question, what does Kobe think of legacy? Does he have a sense of accomplishment with finally winning a title as the best player on his team? Does he realistically think he can prove greater than Jordan? The answer to the second one better be no because he's too much in the Jordan mold to be better than him. Only LeBron has that ceiling of being better because of his all-around game and this is slowly closing. What Kobe does have in front of him was explained earlier, a chance to be the best player of the post-MJ era (1999-) with a fifth title. I'm sure he wants it, but will he be as dependent on teammates like he was last year.


I think Kobe will be willing to trust his teammates again, the problem is, in reality, the Lakers aren't as good as last year. I do believe that Artest replacing Trevor Ariza is a mistake because the Lakers didn't need to disrupt chemistry for an unknown. Ariza was tremendous on defense and began to hit the long range jumpers that his opponents gave him. Somehow, Artest's play has declined in recent years, as typified by the way Kobe had abused Artest last year. Now, the Lakers are better than the Cavs because Shaq can't handle Gasol anymore and if Kobe can lockdown on LeBron, with some help from Artest, they have no offense. They are better than the Magic, who with Vince Carter, make it easier to beat because he won't stop Kobe and Kobe will handle him pretty good. I think it's 50-50 that they beat the Spurs, but the Celtics are one team that can handle the Lakers. Garnett can cover Gasol, while Wallace will pull Gasol or Odom away from the rim, Rondo will be a better player this year and will eat Derek Fisher or Shannon Brown alive. Paul Pierce if guarded by Kobe will match him and I think is too quick for Artest, while Ray Allen will get himself open shots. The Celtics have an answer for the Lakers and they have the experience of beating them before and that why I think they win the 2010 NBA Championship over the Lakers in six games again.

The Month of the Star

With the first round of the U.S. Open suspended due to rain, and no golfers getting through the round, this is the perfect opportunity to talk about how Tiger Woods could make this a perfect month for the preeminent stars winning championships. It's been a particularly successful month for the faces of basketball, hockey and tennis. Kobe Bryant finally won a championship as the top player after years of answering questions about his inability to win without Shaq. Sidney Crosby avoids a second consecutive loss in the Stanley Cup Finals, as the Penguins won Game 7 on the road in Detroit; now he's the youngest captain to lead his team to a Cup at age 21. Meanwhile, Tiger's buddy Roger Federer finally one the French Open a couple weeks ago to complete the career Grand Slam and tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles.


As for Tiger, he has a chance to join the three of them by winning consecutive U.S. Open's and his 15th major, closing in on Jack Nicklaus' 18 majors. Here at Bethpage Black in Long Island, it seems like his biggest competition, aside from the weather, is once again Phil Mickelson. Mickelson is always the people's choice, especially in New York, but with his wife's breast cancer fight, he's also the sentimental favorite to win as well. If he plays as well as he did ten years ago, when he finished second losing on a birdie from Payne Stewart as Amy Mickelson was due to deliver his child. However, Tiger just won the Memorial after hitting 49 of 56 fairways and completed a great comeback in the final round. The fact is, either man winning would be the story NBC wants in terms of ratings. Tiger winning, however, would have him in the company of the best in the world of sports, which he is an annual member.

Randomness While The Pirates Are As Close to a Title As They'll Ever Be.

First things first, congratulations are in order for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the L.A. Lakers for win their championships over the weekend. In the Penguins case, the real winner was America; as for the Lakers, the real loser was America. The Penguins championship capped off the most successful NHL season and playoff since 1994 both in style of play and in TV ratings. The Lakers win seemed too anti-climatic and the Magic threw away this series in Game 4 and once again, you can't go through an NBA season without officiating becoming a talking point. Also, anytime a series goes less than six games, it can't be good, unless each game had a game-winning shot.


On the plus side, the NBA playoffs did give us a chance to watch the Leroy Smith commercials, for once, a commercial that you can laugh at for comedic, not unintentional comedic reasons. (Hint, hint Nike, Vitamin Water)


It's about time DirecTV has put NBA TV on the same level on programming as NFL Network, MLB Network and NHL Network. Coming up on the network is years of NBA Draft, giving me a chance to look back on the best and worst of Draft fashion and to follow past Bill Simmons Draft Diaries. I reek of anticipation.


Be lucky I spared you from today's title Luis Castillo; it seemed funnier to see championship and Pittsburgh Pirates in one picture. However, here's some headlines that didn't work: Randomness while Luis Castillo Watches Tom Emanski's Defensive Drills Video, Randomness while A-Rod Thanks Luis Castillo for Sparing Him Further Yankee Fan Outrage.


Looks like Josh McDaniels has been taught well by Bill Belichick. First, he alienates his incumbent quarterback Jay Cutler; then he trades him. Now, Brandon Marshall is looking to get traded and the Broncos fan base already wants him fired. Sounds like Belichick's years with Cleveland. Meaning, Denver fans can anticipate the Broncos moving to L.A. in five years, followed by McDaniels becoming the coach of the Bengals turning them into the preeminent dynasty after years of losing.


These playoffs I've been a little too nice to Sidney Crosby, and I'm unfortunately taking his side in the handshake flap. It was his first Cup and it's not like he was actively trying to avoid shaking Red Wings hands. Yes, he missed Lidstrom and Draper, but give him a break, it was his first Cup. Now if he wins another Cup and does this again, then he deserves to be killed for this.


Real quote from Evan in RW/RR Challenge when he first started in the "Fresh Meat" season, "It was going to be the best experience of his life because he was competing 'with his idols.'" Also congrats should go to Evan for winning this season in New Zealand, as well as Rachael, but just like in the Stanley Cup, the real winner, America. This season had castmates complain about needing money and not finding work; perhaps because they always stop what they're doing to do this show. To top it off, the spelling bee was the greatest reality show moment in history. We get great words like "thron", "frate"and "mellinum".


Finally, it's time I give Kobe Bryant credit after winning this championship. I still say that LeBron is the better player because his size and skill set has never been seen before and that the Lakers won because they had the best supporting cast with Gasol, Odom, Ariza, etc. However, Kobe has solidified himself as a top-10 all-time player with the title and the pass he made to Derek Fisher for three in the OT of Game 4 that gave the Lakers the lead reminded me of Jordan's passing to Jim Paxson when he won his first title. I still can't get over how the Magic blew this series and making my preview column look foolish, but the Lakers deserved to win and I can't wait until next season. How will the Cavs get better? (Shaq?) Will KG be healthy next year? How do the Lakers respond after winning? Does Phil Jackson retire? All unanswered questions that will be rehashed in October.

Where We Stand in the NBA Finals

Tonight will be Game 4 of the NBA Finals and since this is the most pivotal game in any NBA Finals, due to the 2-3-2 format, I figured this is the perfect time to write an NBA Finals review. This series has given us a little bit of everything thus far, including a scowl that can wreck a screen in HD, and no I'm not talking about Hedo Turkoglu.

It looks like we can say Game 1 was a throwaway game in accessing the series. Of course, my overreaction made me claim my Finals preview article was a fake column. However, how can you win when you shoot 28% when you're chances of winning depend on you shooting well, and that above all else? Game 3, it was the opposite for Orlando as they shot a Finals-record 63% from the field. The Lakers were close because of the hot start by Kobe who seemed to make every shot in the 1st quarter. Unfortunately for the Lakers, he tired down the stretch for the second game in a row as he couldn't make the shots you expect him to make. It didn't help that the Lakers played poor defense in allowing a record shooting performance.

Game 2 could prove to be the difference in the series as that was the game the Lakers begged to lose. Unfortunately, the Magic wanted the loss more, but it wasn't just them. Watching it live, I thought the calls the Magic were getting called were iffy; watching on NBA TV and following along Bill Simmons retro-diary, they were downright atrocious. Every call went against Orlando, as Dwight Howard got called with a couple weak loose-ball fouls, Turkoglu was being mauled by Trevor Ariza whenever he had the ball, the last two Mickael Pietrus fouls on Kobe and the Derek Fisher travel where he took FIVE steps before passing to Lamar Odom when he made the final free throws.

Despite that, the Magic had their chance to win, but lost for a few reasons: 1) Too much J.J. Redick. He shouldn't even be playing, let alone having him play crunchtime minutes in the 4th and OT. He apparently forgot how to shoot once he left Duke, which is pretty common for Duke grads. 2) Dwight Howard, though better than Game 1, still had trouble with the defense the Lakers were showing him and was again ineffective. And 3) Lamar Odom was great that night, all over the court, making plays on offense and letting Jeff Van Gundy suggest it's better to get Andrew Bynum fouled out, which is true when Odom is on. Still, the Magic came one difficult Courtney Lee layup away from stealing the game, which shouldn't be pinned on him, anyone who plays basketball knows that a layup right under the rim is very difficult.

The player I barely touched on in Game 2 was Kobe since I thought he was ordinary and in Game 3 he finished poorly going 4-15 from the field after the 1st quarter and was 5-10 from the FT line. He was a detriment to their game Tuesday night and the Lakers paid in the loss. Plus, his new scowl is fooling no one and should get rid of it.

So now we head to Game 4, a game the Magic absolutely must-win because they won't win three in a row. The fact that the last two are on the road hurt more than if Game 5 was in L.A., since if that game is stolen, Game 6 is home and Game 7 could go either way. Since the 2-3-2 format came out, the series that most often is the case is the home team wins 1 and 2, take one on the road (usually Game 4), and wins Game 6 at home. Now the Magic have finally started to shoot well and both Pietrus and Rafer Alston regained their confidence that was lost in the first two games. Meanwhile, Kobe looks tired and his play has dropped since Game 1, and the one day off won't help much. The Lakers need to treat this game as a must-win as well because this is their second chance to put the series out of reach, if they don't then you can argue that they should be down 3-1 and it's a best-of-3.

NBA Finals Preview: Life after the Puppets

Funny thing that happened on the way to the "inevitable" showdown between the Lakers and Cavs, a party crasher led by Dwight Howard muscled his way through, ruining ABC's and David Stern's collective wet dream, Kobe's excuse for losing and LeBron's reputation (maybe a little overboard compared to other instances of poor sportsmanship). Now we have a matchup between the Lakers and the Orlando Magic that if asked back when the playoffs began, would be the last one involving the top 5 in the league that would have been guessed.

Now we are set up with a very interesting series where we have a lot of people with something to prove. I decided against the matchup approach like I did in the Stanley Cup Finals because it's more interesting to use a cast of characters that this series will have because this is precisely what this series has.


The College Stars-turned-Club Trillionaires

Back in 2006, the top two college players based on the Player of the Year award voting were J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison. Now, thankfully these two great rivals will face off against each other in a battle on who can do the better job jumping up and down, high-fiving and all-in-all encouraging teammates. Redick actually received significant playing time during the Celtics series but was so awful when on the floor that I don't remember him playing since Game 5 of that series (in a related story, the Magic have played infinitely better since then). Morrison's already been successful because of his role as the second man in the Vlad Radmanovic-Shannon Brown trade. Now if we only can have a scene like this in the finals.


The Frenchman

The NBA Finals usually have someone from France playing a key role. Playing the part this year is Mickael Pietrus, as well as the role of Kobe-stopper. Now there is no such thing as a real Kobe-stopper, but Pietrus will have to do his best to make Kobe work as hard as LeBron did last series. To do that, Pietrus has a secret weapon, the ditching of his Kobe shoes.


The Floor General(s)

The Lakers have an obvious issue at PG as Derek Fisher has looked old this postseason and Jordan Farmar has been very ordinary. That leaves Shannon Brown who came to LA as a piece that was needed to get rid of Vlad-Rad's salary, but has turned into an effective backup to Fisher who can provide energy off the bench (as evident in Game 5 against Denver). As for Orlando, it is Rafer Alston's job, but now Jameer Nelson has a chance to play, a proposition that the Magic players are fully behind. Nelson would take minutes away from Anthony Johnson, who somehow is still in the league. He was the difference making in the two Magic victories in the regular season, but since Nelson can't possibly match that success, Alston must win the PG matchup and win it convincingly if Orlando's going to win.


The Bigamist

Tiger Woods grew up in California as a Laker fan. He currently represents Orlando's lone celebrity fan, going to games since he lives nearby. He has wrote in his monthly newsletter that he's "torn" about who to root for. Unlike Bill Cowher, who flagrantly abandoned the team he rooted for in the most public and gimmicky of ways, Tiger is straddling the fences and both fan bases will be angered, especially Laker fans since they take everything personal.


The No-Show

You'd think Lamar Odom lands here, but I saved this one for Andrew Bynum for his role on the Lakers playoff run. That role has been the hole in the middle, as he has done nothing in these playoffs. This is a guy who's absence in last year's Finals was considered the main reason that the Lakers didn't beat the Celtics. Now, his role is reduced to trying to divert the attention of Dwight Howard and to use up his six fouls on him. Basically, Bynum must go from no-show to part-time-show.


The Masters

Both Phil Jackson and Stan Van Gundy have been considered masters at some point. Everyone refers to Phil as a Master of Zen, while Shaq has refered to Van Gundy as a Master of Panic. Until Game 6 of the Celtics series, that was true (who else would give J.J Redick 4th quarter minutes). Then, all of a sudden, he found the right matchups, played Pietrus and kept playing him and now Dwight Howard has been rendered silent and a season that was about to be washed up and a job that could have been hot next year is alive and Van Gundy has play a major reason why. Now, Phil Jackson is still Phil Jackson, but he isn't the Phil from 92 or 98 or even 03. Doc Rivers outcoached him last year and Van Gundy is no worse than Doc. This is surprisingly even.


The Money Men

This is the role for Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu not only because of their ability to make clutch shots as they have done in the first three rounds. They get this role also for their respective contracts. Lewis is in the second year of a six-year, $110 million deal that has been deemed as one of the worst contracts in NBA history. This playoff run, however, has now made Lewis at the very least slightly overpaid, not extremely overpaid and unmovable. As for Turkoglu, he is a free agent after the series and is trying to put the finishing touches to one of the better contract playoff runs in history, along with Tyronn Lue and Jerome James, though he actually plays well. Both men will have to maintain their performance in this series if the Magic are to win.


The Former Player

In November 2007, Trevor Ariza was traded by the Magic to the Lakers for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. Both men have did nothing for the Magic (though Cook was moved for Skip to my Lou) while Ariza has become a starter for the Lakers (and reaching the potential he should have reached with the Knicks and yes I'm bitter enough to use parenthesis twice in a sentence). For awhile, Ariza was more energy guy, but this postseason, he started hitting the open 3's that are left for everyone because of Kobe. He needs to be able to keep the Magic honest when they guard him and to maintain the defensive intensity that a couple certain stars have.


The Men of the Middle

Both Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are going to get their stats. Howard will score 20 points and get 10-15 rebounds a game. Gasol will scored at least 17 a game with at least 8 rebounds. Gasol won't be responsible for Howard because Howard would dominate on offense, but I think we will see Howard defend Gasol whenever possible and that will prove to be the second most important scenario when the Lakers have the ball. If Gasol can be frustrated in anyway, this will make this guy's just a lot harder.


The Legacy

This series means everything to Kobe Bryant. His place in history is on the line and it can go two different ways. Win this series and dominate, Kobe can make a claim as a top-5 all-time player, though I would still have Jordan, Magic, Russell, Bird, Kareem and Shaq ahead, with Wilt, West, Baylor, Oscar, Duncan and Olajuwon along side him. If the Lakers lose this series, then Kobe will remain behind all the players I mentioned because he would have lost three NBA Finals as the best player in the series, something that's out of the ordinary in the NBA. Add that the three titles he won were during Shaq's years as the alpha dog and Kobe was the second banana and Kobe has plenty of incentive to win. As far as his play will go, Kobe will do everything in his power to win the title. However, Kobe isn't the difference maker in determining a Laker victory; that honor goes to...


The Candyman

Lamar Odom. He is the one that will be the difference between a Laker championship and a Laker choke job. He will have to give up the sweets for a couple weeks in order to avoid having any kind of down games. And seriously, how can you let candy and stuff like that affect how you play, according to this doctor. Odom, like Turkoglu, is in a contract year; unlike Hedo, he hasn't played for his next contract. He even hurt himself on the open market by stating he only wants to play where there's a beach, leaving the Clippers, Heat and Lakers. When Odom is on his game, he causes all sorts of matchup problems for Orlando. He can guard Lewis and leave Gasol on Howard (where Gasol has a better chance than on Lewis), he's too big for anyone except Howard (which wouldn't matter if Pau's on the floor), he has a natural ability to rebound that when he plays well, you can see. Odom can't afford to take games off if the Lakers are to win this series, especially Games 3-5 in Orlando.


The Prediction

Both teams can win this series; it's not lopsided at all so the Lakers won't be winning in 4 or 5. The gameplan for the Magic is simple: Have Pietrus try to make Kobe earn his 30 a game, Alston must win the matchup against Fisher, the three's must keep falling and Howard must stay out of foul trouble and make life difficult for Pau. The Lakers have more to worry about than the gameplan; this is the stated goal and everyone must play hard and they can't afford to take a chance and give up one of these home games. Odom must show up nightly and perform and cause headaches for the Magic, not the Lakers. If the Lakers are hitting open 3's, they will win, but I can't count on that. Everyone's picking the Lakers and once again, no one's picking the Magic. However, I am. Magic in 6.

Randomness while laughing at James Harrison's reasoning for not seeing Obama

- I could write a whole column based on this story basically going over things that you can say "as far as I'm concerned" and say facts like James Harrison did. His full quote is here. I could say: As far as I'm concerned, the Magic played better than the Celtics last night. Or as far as I'm concerned, a player should be credited with a home run if they hit in fair out the the field of play.

- Does anyone else change the channel when ESPN has a "story" about Brett Favre, or is it just me. Fortunately, there is good news; ESPN will for a few days follow around the release of Michael Vick and make that the biggest news in the history of sports and give us a break from Favre.

- As I write this, 24 is recording on my DVR and I won't find out until about midnight, but it seems to me based on last week's episode and the "next week on 24" scenes, there is some sort of cliffhanger ending that might go right into Season 8. However, after watching Bill Buchanan die this season, I still haven't gotten over the fact Jack Bauer was exposed to a pathogen that will kill him. Or will it? Remember Jack Bauer is in the same league as Chuck Norris, Joel Quennville's mustache and Bill Cowher's chin; no longer mere mortal, but in fact larger than life in a Paul Bunyan sense.

- Speaking of Cowher, Pittsburgh fans should immediately disown him if he chooses the Hurricanes over the Penguins. If he only coached the Steelers, then I wouldn't mind if he roots for Carolina, but he's born and raised in Western Pennsylvania and despite living in NC, he should be rooting for the Pens. So, Bill, you can no longer "sound the warning siren" at least for this series or you can no longer show up in the city that made you famous, or at least get cheered. Besides, Mike Tomlin's a better coach anyway.

- I am tired of these former players who are analysts continuously say that a team is never better without a star player. The obvious example is whenever I hear someone say that the Rockets aren't a better team without Tracy McGrady, even though they performed better this year then any other year they had T-Mac. I won't say that the Rockets are better without Yao Ming, some matchups are better than others. But Tracy McGrady has been the most overrated NBA player this decade. His value was higher back in the early 00s when the iso offense's was everywhere, but his skills have decreased along with his durability. Add all his postseason failures, the success the Rockets had this season and the fact that the he still gets treated as if he's one of the ten best players in the league, which he never was during his career, and you have the most overrated player in the NBA.

- It might sound blasphemous, but I'm tired about hearing baseball talk in April and May. Everyone overrates everything in baseball during the first two months, especially when you live in a baseball-centric city like New York. That's the real tragedy of the Knicks terrible decade and the Rangers free-spending lunacy, that us New Yorkers are forced to follow baseball or do what I do and actually still follow the sports that my teams fail at when they get eliminated. I never remember baseball being as front-and-center back in the 90s because the Knicks always played well into May, either ending around this date in May or a few weeks later and the same for the Rangers during the first Messier era.

- I must give credit to Brett Gardner though, for his inside-the-park home run after visiting a sick girl, putting himself in the elite company of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Paul O'Neill. Well, almost.

- I just watched the end of the 1993 Cowboys-Giants game on NFL Network made famous by Emmitt Smith playing through a separated shoulder to win in OT. As a staunch Giant fan and thus Cowboy-hater, I must say, that was the most impressive, gutsy and clutch performance I ever saw in my life watching football.

- I haven't weighed in on the Phoenix Coyotes situation and I actually plan on devoting a full blog post on items like the NHL in the Sun Belt once all the playoffs end, but I happen to agree with Gary Bettman on one thing, if the Yotes move, they should go to Winnipeg and go back to being the Jets. I disagree with him about trying to keep the team in Phoenix or that Jim Balsallie shouldn't own a team in Hamilton. Once again, I will elaborate more about it once sports settles down.

- Now that I wined and dined you with the randomness, it's time that I give out my Conference Finals predictions. Now the NHL CF's have already started and I used The Cycle's Twitter page to make my picks. I have the Red Wings over the Blackhawks in six games and the Penguins winning in five. My reasons: unfortunately, I have to use the experience argument against the Hawks, which I hate and I generally believe is overrated. But the Wings are too good to just show up in your first playoff appearance in 5 years and beat them. They make you play their game. If the Hawks could possibly force the RedWings to play Chicago hockey, then they have a shot, but I think it's Detroit to win. As for the Penguins, I think Crosby is on a role and now they play Game 1 and the Hurricanes played a much more competitive game than they did in the previous series. That I think will benefit Pittsburgh, because they might not take them for granted. Add the fact that Marc-Andre Fleury is as good as Cam Ward, and you have a series the Penguins should win.

- Which leaves me with my NBA picks. Starting with Cleveland-Orlando, I don't see how the Magic win the series. They have no answer for LeBron and they have no go-to-guy at the end of games. Now they will have some success in this series as they beat the Cavs twice in Orlando and when they are hitting their three's, just like in Boston Sunday night, they are tough to beat. My pick is the Cavs in six games that will be a little tougher than most people I assume believe.

- As for the West, the Nuggets-Lakers series will be a very good one, depending on how the Lakers play. They should have never gone seven with the Rockets and if they played every night, it's over in five. The Nuggets have played the best of every team in the playoffs, including the LeBrons mainly because we expected the Cavs to get to the East Finals rather easy, while some people, including me, picked the Hornets to beat Denver. As for the matchup, Derek Fisher won't have to worry about running around like he did against Aaron Brooks, but Chauncey Billups will go more physical with him. The key to this series though is that the bigs on Denver (Nene, K-Mart) are tougher than the ones on the Lakers (Pau, Bynum) and the Denver bench is better. So while, the NBA, Nike and Vitamin Water are clamoring for Kobe vs LeBron (and if the refs get in the way, then this pick is moot), I believe it will be the Nuggets winning in six games and we get LeBron vs Melo, which if you remember back in 2003, that was the matchup that the NBA envisioned would occur to be like Magic vs Bird.

Randomness while being thankful I never played basketball at Queensbridge

- Ron Artest has proven to be the most interesting player during the playoffs. Whether it's calling Brandon Roy the best player he guarded (aside from someone who's in jail), claiming Charles Barkley was overrated, sitting in the stands and joking about it, giving Yao Ming some personality, bringing back the Anthony Mason hair cut with a mohawk, getting into it with Kobe or talking about a friend of his who died on the court in QB; Artest is appointment TV whenever the press talks to him.

- As for the Lakers-Rockets series, it looks like the Lakers have things back in control. Especially with Yao out for the playoffs. And if Artest keeps getting himself ejected from games. But, this has been a good series, very 80s or early 90s like with the physical play.

- Once again Dallas Mavericks fans, I feel your pain. Bennett Salvadore's crew strikes again just like it did in the 2006 NBA Finals as there wasn't a foul called before Carmelo Anthony's Larry Johnsonesque three-pointer to win Game 3. The Mavs had a foul to give and if called, the Nuggets have about 3 seconds to inbound and shoot. Denver was going to win the series anyway, but now there's no doubt.

- Not much to say about the Cavs since they are still on track. As for Orlando-Boston, the Magic need to win tomorrow night, if they lose, they won't win in Boston. Both series aren't worth watching, as the Cavs are MUCH better than Atlanta, its like fishing with dynamite. And the Magic-Celtics series is just like the Heat-Hawks last round, no close games.

- On the other hand, it's nice to know Rafer Alston reads this blog as he knows it was okay to slap Eddie House.

- Alright I'll say, can we get rid of the hype man at NBA arenas. And that is one of about 467 ways that I would make the NBA better if I was the commissioner.

- On to hockey, where the Pens have rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the series over the Caps. Crosby and Ovechkin have been huge, but Malkin scoring the big goal is finally playing better. By the way, Alex Semin, where are you? You're as missing right now as Andrew Bynum. Ovie can't do it all, though he comes close to doing it.

- Eric Staal has taken over his series against the Bruins as Carolina can win the series tomorrow night. Cam Ward has played well and Jussi Jokinen is this year's Johan Franzen. Of course, Carolina is in the process of ruining the NHL's wet dream of a season. Ratings are up, Chicago and Boston are back and vibrant, but if Carolina goes to the Finals, it would kill the momentum the league is having.

- The Anaheim Ducks would do the same thing and God forbid it's Ducks-Canes in the Finals. Ratings would plummet back to 06-07 numbers. The good news, the Wings look like they finally got to Jonas Hiller. If they win in Detroit tomorrow, they should take the series.

- Continuing on the ruining the playoffs department, I would like to thank the Vancouver Canucks for playing the games in Chicago with the trap. When we are watching a new, exciting NHL games that are bring fans back, they have to come out with the defensive system responsible for turning fans away in the first place, along with overexpansion and the 94-95 lockout.

- In classic A-Rod fashion, he returns with a home run on his first pitch of the season. The reason it's classic A-Rod fashion is because it's his way of teasing us. Of course, the Yankees need every bit of it. Plus more games like CC Sabathia pitched last night. What they can't have is starts like Phil Hughes tonight, and homestands where the Red Sox and Rays sweep because of no timely hitting and a bad bullpen. A more pertanent question, are this year's Yankees last year's Mets? We'll find out if there's a collapse in the forecast.

- Speaking of the Mets, they seem to finally have some rhythm as they have started to hit in the clutch, and their starters are pitching better. In a related story, Ollie Perez is no longer in the rotation.

- Many thanks to Zack Greinke for his blistering start, making the Royals and My Cousin Yuri in the fantasy world look good and better than they could be, respectively. Even though he looks like he's going to lose his game 1-0 (this is being written Saturday night).

- Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will have their fight in November, assume Juan Manuel Marquez does right and loses in July. It could also be in October or December. Regardless, I will do everything in my power to watch that fight.

-The final word goes back to the NBA. LeBron James has clearly passed Kobe as the best player in the league. Kobe has shown some age and now relies on his jumper while less and less drives to the basket. Don't view this as a knock on Kobe and he's still an assassin and when the game's on the line, he's still my first pick to take that shot. But LeBron continues to perfect his game and the Olympic experience has matured his game; made him more focused and grounded. LeBron is rightfully the best player in the game and the rightful MVP, so Laker fans, you can stop chanting M-V-P for Kobe.

The ultimate appitizer to the main course playoffs.

There is a feeling that this year's NBA playoffs are particularly anti-climatic, now that Kevin Garnett looks to be done for the year. The two players above are almost locks to make the NBA Finals. So does that make the NBA Playoffs a complete waste? As a basketball fan, I say no because in the 1st round, we have six series that are going to be interesting to watch and you can even see what to expect from the Cavs when they play Detroit. So lets start with them in the East.

#1 Cleveland vs #8 Detroit- If the Cavs are serious about winning, they will destroy the floundering Pistons. If the Pistons take this series to a sixth game, the Cavs failed and only make the road to the Finals tougher. This isn't like Boston last year who were thrown together and needed to learn to go through adversity, the Cavs have been able to roar through the 1st round before. I don't see any way LeBron let's them lose and the Cavs sweep.

#2 Boston vs #7 Chicago- So you have the KG-less Celtics taking on the 10th straight edition of the Baby Bulls. The Bulls had a golden opportunity to avoid this matchup on Wednesday and face the shaky Magic, but they embarassed themselves against the Raptors. Now, they get the champs who are much discussed without Kevin Garnett (as well as GM Danny Ainge, who had a heart attack). The Bulls will push the C's with ROY Derrick Rose, but the championship experience of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will lead the Celtics in 6.

#3 Orlando vs #6 Philadelphia- Once again, the Magic are this year's honorary NBA TV series as they take on a Sixers team that stopped playing until the Cavs sat out their stars and beat them in Cleveland. Orlando has a great draw now that it's Philly and not Chicago. The best case for the Sixers is they have a third game at home. Unfortunately, the Sixers aren't important in Philly anymore so the Magic ride D-Ho and will win easily. And yes, I meant to write D-Ho for Dwight Howard. Magic in 5.

#4 Atlanta vs #5 Miami- The best series in the East features Dwyane Wade against the lovable Hawks who pushed the Celtics to 7 last spring. Atlanta has plenty of things you like: young, Joe Johnson is a legit go-to-guy at the end of games. If all things are equal, Atlanta beats Miami. Unfortunately for them, when Dwyane Wade is healthy and dominant, things aren't equal. He is the best player in the series and you don't go against the best player without a REALLY, good reason. Add the fact that Wade draws fouls when he's breathed on wrong, I see Heat in 7.

Western 1st Round

#1 L.A. Lakers vs #8 Utah- The only series in the West that you're pretty sure of the result. The Jazz are however, the last team the Lakers should be playing in the 1st round. The concede the PG advantage to Deron Williams, the coaching matchup is a push and the Jazz have a bench. Plus, they have a better home-court than either NO or Dal. If the Lakers had played Dallas or New Orleans, they beat them in at most five games. I think the Lakers win in 6 as Utah will steal a couple in Salt Lake City.

#2 Denver vs #7 New Orleans- Where I don't see the Hornets able to beat the Lakers in the 1st round, I certain think they will be in this series against the Nuggets. The good thing for the Hornets is that Tyson Chandler is starting to get healthier and might be a factor in this series. Of course, they have Chris Paul and they have an underrated roster, with James Posey, David West, etc. As for Denver, they rode their way to the 2nd seed behind Chauncey Billups stabilizing this team and giving Carmelo Anthony a legit chance to exit the 1st round. They also have many people who think they aren't a real contender in the West. If Chandler isn't healthy in this series, Denver will win. I think Chandler will be effective enough and last year's playoff run helps CP3 and the Hornets win in 6.

#3 San Antonio vs #6 Dallas- All year, the Mavs have been in my eyes the only one and done team in the West playoffs. All of a sudden they get the 6th seed and will get to play a Manu-less San Antonio team. The Spurs were on my short list back on April Fools Day, but the loss of Ginobili knocks them out of any title hunt. As for this series, the Spurs you would think should have no trouble with the Mavs, but remember, Dallas is playing their best basketball right now, they split the series with the Spurs and beat them in a Game 7 in San Antonio back in 2006, when Dirk Nowitzki had his greatest game. Unless Tim Duncan averages 25-15 in this series, Tony Parker could average 30 and the Mavs still win in 7.

#4 Portland vs #5 Houston- As good as the Mavs finished, the Rockets gave up home-court in that final game loss to them and now have to go on the road to take on a very good Trail Blazers team. The Blazers when they had the chance to win home-court crushed the Nuggets and are everyone's sleeper. What's not to love, Brandon Roy is going to be the next superstar in this league, they have depth everywhere and are young to boot. They will be fighting the Lakers every year pretty soon. As for the Rockets, they are in the same boat as Denver, needing to win a series. Houston can get a game early using the experience they have, but in the end, Roy's the best player and the Blazers win in 7.


Based on these picks, you would have Cavs-Heat, which would be interesting to see how many games Wade can take; Celts-Magic, where we find out if the Magic are for real and if the Pierce and Allen can carry the C's. The West would have Hornets-Mavs, where we find out if the Mavs can handle Paul or if the Hornets blow them out again and Lakers-Blazers, which could be the Lakers toughest series. Eventually, it will be Lakers-Cavs in the NBA Finals and I think the Cavs win in 6 and King James gets his crown.

NBA Power Poll

Two weeks from today will be the last day of the NBA season. It appears that 1 or 2 teams currently out of the playoffs have a chance to pass one of the bottom teams for a playoff spot; the rest are in the Blake Griffin sweepstakes. As for the playoff seeds, the East looks close to being set, while the West is completely insane. So I figured it's time to rank the order of NBA teams from 30-1 with the top team most likely to win the title. Without further adieu:

THE BLAKE GRIFFIN CONTESTANTS

30. Sacramento- Could makes its return to Kansas City hand in hand with the NHL's worst team, the Islanders.

29. LA Clippers- Worst owner in the NBA, worst GM/Coach in the league, constant ridicule by their most famous season ticket holder (sorry Billy Crystal) and the cure for this is to hire Isiah Thomas, (insert joke here)

28. Washington- The bad news, Gilbert Arenas still has 5 years left on his deal. The good news, you can watch Ovie and the Caps in its place.

27. Memphis- It's going to be tough to stay competitive now that Calipari left for Kentucky...oh wait a minute, wrong Memphis.

26. Minnesota- All I know about the Timberwolves is that Kevin McHale is now coaching the team to the ground. Let's move on.

25. Oklahoma- The former Sonics actually have some pieces to be a good team next year. In a related story, there still is no NBA team in Seattle.

24. Golden St.- The glow from the successes of 2007 are fading and Nellie wants to go. This is the perfect time to salute the best home-court in the league with this.

23. Toronto- The Au Revoir Canada season is coming up for the almost departed Chris Bosh.

22. New York- 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010

21. New Jersey- Looks like the Nets have taken the example of their fearless leader VC and are mailing in the season.

20. Indiana- Take solace in the fact that the whole world knows that Danny Granger is a superstar.

19. Milwaukee-Unlike the Bucks,ho have none, sorry Michael Redd.

OUT OR 1 AND DONE

18. Detroit- They turn out to be the odd team out in the East. Just thank Joe Dumars for the Pistons failures this year and for finally seeing the effects of taking Darko over Melo.

17. Charlotte- Congratulations Bobcats, you get to play LeBron for 4 games before joining MJ on the golf course.

16. Chicago- Imagine if Mikey D chose the Bulls over the Knicks. Derrick Rose could of been an All-Star this year.

15. Phoenix- Amare Stoudamire ain't walking thru that door, Joe Johnson ain't walking thru that door and Mike D'Antoni ain't walking thru that door.

14. Dallas- read Charlotte, replace Lebron with Kobe and MJ with Cuban.

KINDA FRISKY (EASTERN CONFERENCE)

13. Philly- In the words of Gus Johnson " It's about to get serious." The Sixers have played much better since Brand's injury. They must get in the 4-5 matchup to have any chance to win a playoff series, but don't completely sleep on them.

12. Atlanta- The Hawks should have home-court in the 1st round and last year proved that they can play well at home. Unfortunately, they won't beat the Cavs in a 7-game series, only hope to scare them.

KINDA FRISKY (WESTERN CONFERENCE)

11. Utah- This team is very simple to understand, they win at home, struggle on the road. In the group of 6 who can finish somewhere between 2nd and 7th so obviously could win a round like they did the past two years. They could be in the West final if they get the right matchup.

10. Portland- I love this team, they are very young and will be a factor in the West for many years. Unfortunately, this year won't be it. But Brandon Roy can now get national recognition as one of the best players in the league.

9. New Orleans- Another team like Utah who can reach a West final with the right matchup, and has a better chance with CP3 on their side. I wouldn't be surprised if they played the Spurs and beat them.

NO MAN'S LAND (BETTER THAN FRISKY, WORSE THAN CONTENDER)

8. Miami- Whenever Dwyane Wade is on you're team, anything can happen. They should beat Cleveland, Orlando or Boston, but he could score 40, he can hit the final shot, he can get Bennett Salvadore as an official, we don't know. Just don't say they (he) can't.

7. Denver- Everyone is down on Denver, but I happen to think they will win a series. This is the year Carmelo proves to be on the level of Lebron and Wade. Billups brings the championship experience and could finally be in a series which they are the better team.

6. Houston- Just when Tracy McGrady decides to get surgery and miss the playoffs, the Rockets look good enough to finally get out of the first round. The team is better without him, Yao has stayed healthy and Artest is playing for a contract. Of course, the West changes too frequently that you can't be certain what matchups will occur.

THE CONTENDERS

5. Orlando- This team is good enough to win, they have Howard, the modern day Bill Russell (needs championships to maintain the comparison), they have Turkoglu and Lewis who can extend defenses with their 3's, Alston has replaced Nelson at PG and they haven't lost a step and could have home court against the Celtics. That being said, they are the sleeper of the contenders and I don't think they can crash the East finals if the Celtics are healthy.

4. San Antonio- I thought about putting the Celtics here, but I'm a little worried about the Spurs. Ginobili hasn't been healthy for a long period of time and they could very well end up 4th in the West. You can never count out the Spurs, Popovich is the best coach in the league, Duncan and Parker will always show up and a healthy Manu is the X-factor who could win a title. Plus the supporting cast is younger with guys like Roger Mason.

3. Boston- The defending champs are in real trouble if Garnett can't get healthy. They look like they will be 3rd in the East, behind Orlando and would need to win a series in Orlando. W/o Garnett, they lose in the 2nd round because they can't contain D-Ho with the backups. So, why are they 3rd? Because I think Garnett will be there for the playoffs and I think they are the only Eastern team capable of winning a game in Cleveland.

2. L.A. Lakers- This season, the goal was to win a championship. To get back respect after the Celtics took their heart in Game 6 last year. Kobe has been good this year and has picked his spots. Trevor Ariza has stepped up and is a capable 6th man. I think Andrew Bynum will be back, especially after what we saw yesterday. They have all the tools to win a championship, and I don't see why they will lose.

1. Cleveland- Except for the LeBrons. The Cavs are closing in on home-court throughout the playoffs. They have lost once at home all year, ONCE. Only the 86 Celtics have done that. Mo Williams proved to be the biggest acquisition of the season and this team has the supporting cast to win it all. They have the player to win it all, who clearly has improved this season. LeBron now plays with more of a chip on his shoulder and tries to outdo guys like Kobe and Wade. I think they have to be the favorites.