Villain? Really? Isn’t that a little harsh for an athlete that simply left a team to further his career and pursue championships? Yes, villain is harsh and unwarranted. LeBron did what hundreds of athletes do every year; leave a team for more money or a better opportunity. LeBron saw what was in store for him in Cleveland – a mediocre team with little opportunity to compete for a title in the near future. LeBron has stated over and over again that he wants to win. Thus, he left the Cavaliers to compete for titles as a member of the Miami Heat. I have absolutely no issue with LeBron leaving. I would leave too. Leaving Cleveland didn’t make LeBron a villain; it made him a professional athlete.

It’s the way LeBron left Cleveland that made him a villain, an ego-centered imbecile, and a heartless diva. Donating $2.5 million to a national charity won’t forgive the shamelessness of LeBron’s self-serving telecast. He might as well have sat there with both middle fingers extended for the full hour. He screwed Cleveland, he screwed the NBA, he screwed his legacy, and he unknowingly screwed himself. The king looked more like court jester on Thursday night.

If it’s true that LeBron knew he was headed to Miami since his season ended, then he truly is a dog. You have some serious vanity issues if you allow five other franchises to court you and tell you how great you are while all along knowing you’d be heading elsewhere. No person with an ounce of humility would concoct such a situation, and only a person with no awareness would allow it to play out to completion.

There’s no defending LeBron on this. I agree he doesn’t owe Cleveland anything, but they certainly don’t owe him anything either. He came to Cleveland a high school kid with no titles. He left Cleveland an NBA superstar with no titles. To recap; in terms of winning, LeBron accomplished nothing. He left a loser.

When he referred to himself in the third person on his hour long telecast (that was as awkward and painful as a colonoscopy), it became painfully clear that this guy is out of control. He’s been babied, spoiled, and gone undisciplined for his entire career. So naturally, when it came to choosing a destination, he chose where he thought he could win titles the easiest. Maybe the great LeBron James isn’t as confident in his abilities as he would like us all to believe.

What LeBron doesn’t understand is that winning titles isn’t easy. It wasn’t easy for Jordan, Bird, Magic, Isiah, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, or anyone else. Jordan didn’t flee Chicago after struggling to reach the Finals in the early stages of his career, nor did Tim Duncan join forces with Grant Hill in Orlando as age began to creep up on the 2000 San Antonio Spurs. Both managed to capture multiple titles because they overcame. They were true champions. Running to a stacked team doesn’t guarantee championships either. Just ask Karl Malone or Gary Payton.

If it truly was LeBron’s desire to focus on winning and become one of the all time greats, Miami won’t help him. He’ll probably win a few titles, but he’ll undoubtedly hear whispers for the rest of his life about how he needed Wade to capture those titles. His legacy as a player will always have a “needed Dwyane Wade to win title” asterisk beside it, and now his legacy as an individual will always include, “stabbed home city in the back by spurning them for Miami on national TV” – on a telecast HE created nonetheless.

To become legendary, Chicago or New Jersey was the right destination. In either city he would play with young talent and they could all grow into a championship team…HIS team. As Kobe will attest, winning NBA titles as a sidekick doesn’t do much for your “one of the all time greats” resume until you begin adding your own titles on top. So, instead of pursuing his own legacy, LeBron will be riding Wade’s curtails for the foreseeable future. Only time will tell if he ever finds his mojo as the alpha dog on a championship team.

Until then, LeBron James will champion the position of sports greatest villain. And that is no one’s fault but his own.

Has there ever been a more ridiculous circus surrounding one player in the history of sports? Originally, I was entertained by the suspense of where LeBron James would end up. Now I’m appalled at how far these desperate franchises have taken their courting of LeBron. For starters, the guy hasn’t won anything. Not a darn thing. Two MVP awards certainly look nice on his fireplace mantel, but that doesn’t mean anything to the Cavaliers, or to the next generation of fans who may look back on LeBron as one of the most disappointing players in history. After all, MVP trophies aren’t hung from the rafters.

This situation exemplifies everything wrong with sports today. LeBron shouldn’t have ESPN at his disposal to schedule his own destination X press conference. While he’s a freakish athlete and a superior individual talent, LeBron hasn’t steamrolled through the NBA as expected. In fact, his only accomplishment as a member of an NBA team is an Eastern Conference title won when the conference was at its absolute weakest. On the court, he’s Donovan McNabb minus three conference titles. Off the court, he’s more obsessed with his brand and image than winning basketball games. Why couldn’t he approach this process the same way any other free agent would; fly to meet with potential suitors, make a decision, appear at a introductory press conference a day or two later? Is he above it all, or is standard operating procedure too mundane for “King James”?

What an unfitting name. I always laugh when I hear it. I laughed harder when LeBron’s first tweet from his new Twitter account referred to himself as “the King.” To this point of his career, he hasn’t performed like a king…or at least a very good one.

From a historical standpoint, great kings were courageous warriors who conquered adversaries. No-showing games 5 and 6 of the Boston series in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals wasn’t exactly warrior-like. Staring blankly at teammates and moping around the court as a veteran team kicked his tail didn’t qualify as courageous either. The list of those he’s conquered? Um, it’s empty. No, LeBron is not a king.

In fact, “King James” reminds me more of Commadus from Gladiator. Like Commadus, LeBron is a little immature and needs attention. He needs to believe the whole world will be waiting on Thursday night as he proclaims where the next chapter of his career will begin. (His camp says the decision is being made live on ESPN because of “unprecedented attention.” Translation: “I’m a big deal. I want everyone to watch me decide.” Whatever.) Unfortunately, one team will hand over their franchise to him and he’ll undoubtedly hold the team, front office, and its fans hostage for the next decade. Has any player, in any sport ever been given so much after accomplishing so little? LeBron obviously didn’t attend college (where upper classman would have reigned in his ego), wasn’t disciplined by coaches in high school, and was never told, “This is the way things are going to be. Deal with it.” Winning happens between the lines, in sweaty gyms, and when the cameras aren’t rolling. Staging a spectacle to announce his destination only proves that LeBron is more in love with being a global icon than earning a legacy that comes with being an NBA champion.

If I’m a GM with money available, I’m throwing everything at Dwyane Wade, not LeBron. Wade has proven he has the competitive fire that Kobe has and Jordan patented. Wade single handedly brought his city a title by attacking the rim with reckless abandon for four straight games even as all five opponents geared to stop him. Sure, he may struggle with injuries over the course of his career, but you can’t teach what Wade has. He isn’t looking to become the next international idol or to be a billionaire businessman. Wade is sick of losing. He wants to win and he knows what it takes to do so. LeBron clearly doesn’t understand winning on that level, nor does he care as much. If he did, he would drop the global brand crap and concentrate on basketball.

Don’t get me wrong, LeBron is one of the best players in the league. Although, I hope for the sake of those young kids who will undoubtedly watch on Thursday night that LeBron never sniffs an NBA title. He’s been given too much by a league that he has yet to champion. He’s been handed endorsements about winning when he really can only endorse charisma and physical superiority. The man isn’t a winner, and yet NBA front offices are creating cartoon sitcoms and international branding campaigns for this guy? Somewhere along the way we as sports fans have lost our edge. Never before have we embraced someone with such unabashed adoration who hasn’t won.

My favorite part about this whole scenario is that 15 years from now history will show that LeBron never lived up to the hype. He never actually earned the adulation that was blindly given to him. LeBron only has 5-7 prime basketball years left. It doesn’t appear that he’ll team with Wade or Bosh, so there are no guarantees that he’ll win even one title. On top of that, there are veteran teams like the Lakers and Celtics still hanging around as well as young up-and-coming teams that will challenge for titles.

One of those up-and-coming teams is led by Kevin Durant, a pure scorer and more capable leader. While LeBron has been prancing around fancy hotels being courted by billionaires, Durant quietly signed a multi-year extension while sitting on the bench supporting the Thunder’s summer league team. Does Durant have to be at summer league? Not at all, but he’s there because he understands winning requires more than just his own efforts. Winning requires a team, a culture, an idea that revolves around a leader more similar to Maximus than Commadus. Maximus shied from glory and conquered with strength and will. Commadus always wanted more, wanted to be the center of everyone’s attention even though he’d never done a single thing to earn it. LeBron falls in line with one of these characters. Unfortunately for whoever signs LeBron, they’ll learn he’s more similar to the one that accomplished nothing, asked for more, and ultimately cared only about his status.

LeBron’s a public figure, a business mogul wannabe. He’s not an NBA legend. He’s not even an NBA champion.

July 1, 2010 marks the beginning of the biggest free agent bonanza the NBA (or any professional league for that matter) has ever seen. I’m a Sixers fan, so regardless of who goes where, my team will still suck. Nevertheless, I can’t wait for the final destinations to be determined.

Let’s be real though, this free agent period is all about two players; Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Yes, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Dirk Nowitzki are all impact players, but Bosh will follow either D-Wade or LeBron (most likely LeBron), Pierce and Dirk are beyond their primes, and Amare and Joe Johnson are amazing NBA talents with no defensive genes. So really, Wade and James are the big rocks thrown in the jar first and everyone else is one of the smaller rocks dropped around them.

From where we stand right now (36 hours until 7/1), the Bulls and Heat are the frontrunners to land the most prized talent in this free agent pool. The most prevalent rumor is that all three max contract players – Wade, LeBron, Bosh – will be joining forces in Miami. The common response is “game over,” as in, “no one else will sniff an NBA title for the next five to eight years.”

If all three unite in Miami they will undoubtedly become the most talented team in the league. Having two of the top five players in the league would also make them extremely difficult to eliminate in a seven game series come playoff time. The only real detriment here is the depth. Many have already noted that the Heat would have a tough time rounding out their roster with anything more than NBA journeyman or undrafted rookies. Others have argued that solid NBA role players will gladly take pay reductions to play with LeBron and Wade. I tend to agree with the latter for two reasons. First, who wouldn’t want to join that team? Neither player is a notorious jerk or lousy teammate, Miami is a nice place, and there’s no personal income tax (so I hear). Secondly, a perceived lack of depth wouldn’t matter too much. Bosh, LeBron and Wade are all in their physical primes. They can put up big minutes all season long; although I highly doubt that will be the case. With as bad as the Eastern Conference is, claiming home court throughout the playoffs won’t be too difficult.

With that said, there is one issue. As great a team as Bosh, James, and Wade would make, how long could they sustain that greatest? I would argue not long. Sure, they’ll probably win a title, maybe even two, but superstars don’t normally last together. Both Wade and LeBron want to be the go-to-guy. As ESPN’s Bill Simmons argues, there can only be one alpha dog on any basketball team. Who will claim that role for the Heat? Will it be Wade because he’s been in Miami his entire career? Or will it be James because he’s the “Chosen One”? What happens if Wade thinks it’s his team and LeBron tries to pry it away or vice versa? Those who argue against these possibilities because the two played together harmoniously in the 2008 Summer Olympics are ignorant. Both players were there for one common goal and more importantly, for a definite length of time. Coming off the bench for a month to help his team win a gold medal was an easy decision for Wade. Deferring to another superstar for 9 months a year for the next half decade is a completely different story. Thus, I’m not convinced they can make it beyond a title or two. After one title egos will start to grow, the desire to be great subsides and selfishness kicks in. Selfishness leads to disruption and disruption leads to confrontation about team leadership and before you know it, you’re the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers.

So where do I want LeBron and Wade to end up? So glad you asked. Here are the top 3 scenarios of how I would like to see the 2010 free agent market – as it pertains to LeBron and Wade – play out (in reverse order):

Scenario 3
LeBron James goes to New York and makes basketball in the Big Apple relevant again for the first time since Patrick Ewing’s flat top. I’m not a Knicks fan. In fact, I hate them, but sports are always more exciting when there’s a big market team that we all love to root against. I can’t root against the Knicks right now. Doing so would be like hoping a second grader gets beat up at recess. If LeBron goes to New York and brings one of the other elite free agents with him, the Knicks immediately become contenders in the Eastern Conference and I can once again root against New York with all the disdain I once held for Ewing and John Starks. As a Sixers fan, what more could one ask? (Well, in addition to my team making some sort of progress after a half decade of stagnancy/regression.)

All three (Bosh, LeBron, Wade) ending up in Miami could also qualify here. It wouldn’t necessarily make the Eastern Conference very competitive, but it would be fascinating to see how LeBron and Wade progress or digress together over the years.

Scenario 2
LeBron James goes to Chicago along with elite free agent forward X and Chris Bosh and “pretty stinkin’ good” free agent X join Dwyane Wade in Miami. As previously mentioned, it’s likely that Bosh will follow LeBron. However, Bosh is the best power forward available and the Heat need front court talent. For my own enjoyment, I want Bosh with Wade in Miami. I love this scenario because LeBron joins a very young team in Chicago with an already talented nucleus and the free agent additions in Miami would hopefully provide Wade with an equally talented group. This would make the Eastern Conference Finals one of the most exciting series in all of sports for the next handful of years. Raise your hand if you wouldn’t want to see LeBron James and Dwyane Wade go head to head in a seven game series once a year for the right to advance to the NBA Finals. Anyone? Anyone? I didn’t think so. (I also secretly love this scenario because I personally think Wade is the better player and I’d get a kick out of seeing him outduel LeBron in a seven game series on an annual basis. By the way, I just added “LeBron” and “Dwyane” to my Microsoft Word dictionary. THAT’S how big of a deal they are.)

Scenario 1
This is by far my favorite scenario and unfortunately, also the most unrealistic. Ok, it’s virtually impossible. Imagine this: LeBron, Bosh, and Wade all have a gentlemen’s agreement to take less money and join forces in Miami. However, right before it all becomes official, LeBron begins to have doubts about sharing the spotlight with Wade and secretly considers going to Chicago. Wade finds out and makes a preemptive strike and signs with the Bulls. (Very, very, very unlikely because Wade publicly insulted the Bulls front office, but allow me to continue.) LeBron is obviously furious and signs with the next best thing; a young and talented nucleus in New Jersey. Because neither the Bulls nor the Nets can sign two max contract players, Bosh is left out in the cold and signs with team X (back to obscurity, Mr. Bosh). Wade returns to his hometown of Chicago. LeBron ultimately ends up in Brooklyn. The NBA has two of its most marketable players in two of its biggest markets. Even better, LeBron finally starts taking the game more seriously simply to beat Wade, and Wade is always locked in knowing LeBron is gunning for him. (How motivated would LeBron be? Imagine him going toe to toe with Delonte West – who allegedly slept with LeBron’s mom – for a seven game series every year, only Wade doesn’t suck and doesn’t have West’s creepy facial hair.) What’s more (and this is my favorite part), the NBA has two super-duper stars that no longer like each other. No more friendly handshakes before big games. No more kissy face quotes about one another to the media. No sir. I’m all for peace and friendship but I think we need a little animosity in the NBA. Due to their feud, the Nets and Bulls evolve as the most heated rivalry in the league, and LeBron and Wade fuel the fires. Every spring we’re treated to an Eastern Conference Final between two amazing players that don’t get along. Dual triple doubles, insults through the media, and legendary performances as LeBron and Wade go title for title over the next half decade? Yes please! Will it happen? No, but tell me that wouldn’t be the most amazing outcome of NBA Free Agent Bonanza 2010? You can’t.

The Magic need a backbone. When the toughest, grittiest, most competitive players on your squad are Matt Barnes and JJ Redick, you’re going to struggle in tightly contested playoff contests. I’m not sure who’s responsible for building a championship contender around key players without that intangible fire, but he/she should take a loooonngg look at previous NBA champions.

2009: Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant is the league’s fiercest competitor.
2008: Boston Celtics – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen all were proven competitors and elevated their games at different times throughout the playoffs to bring home the title.
2007: San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan epitomizes a competitor. Manu Ginobili is a cold-blooded assassin that thrives in the 4^th quarter of tight games.

The list goes on and on. Without that burning desire to win, the Magic look lost. Not quite as lost as the moron on The Bachelorette who thought it’d be a good idea to share that his nickname, “Shooter” was the result of premature reaction to a sexual encounter, but they’re pretty close. The point is, the Magic lack that competitive edge-both as individuals and as a team. While Redick and Barnes bring that competitiveness, it just isn’t enough if it’s not coming from one of your team’s premier players.

To be blunt; it has to be Dwight Howard. Unfortunately, he has yet to demonstrate that competitive grit and toughness. Yes, he gets mugged and abused more than any other player, but he also whines more than almost any other player too. I’m not talking about physical toughness though, that’s easy. Mental fortitude is what makes a champion. Howard needs to accept his fate as the paint’s punching bag and simply overpower and outhustle his opponents. He’s big enough, strong enough, and absolutely athletic enough to do so.

Take the 3^rd quarter from Monday night’s game as an example. Garnett pushed Howard after a basket and looked to get in Howard’s face. Howard backed off, started clapping and coolly watched as Garnett received a technical. It was a savvy move by Howard not to retaliate, but he needs to establish himself there and send a message. Get in Garnett’s mug. Tell him his time has come and gone. If the TD Garden court were an African jungle, Garnett would have essentially been peeing all over Howard’s paint… and Howard allowed it to happen. Unacceptable. Howard should own that area of the court. No exceptions. If he wants to become a great player, he needs to change his mind set. Putting Garnett on his rear and getting in his face to remind about it would be a great start.

I really like Matt Barnes and …(big breath)… JJ Redick. In fact, they’re my favorite players on the Magic. Barnes is a little bit of a loose cannon who can get out of control on the offensive end, but he competes. Jeff Van Gundy said it best when he offered that Barnes is the only player on Orlando’s roster that he trusts as a true competitor. To fight their way back into this series, Orlando needs Barnes to continue to frustrate Boston with his length and feistiness while also setting the competitive tone for his team.

As for Redick, who knew a Duke alumni would develop into such a hard-nosed player? Of all ten players on the court, Redick fights the hardest to get through screens, lays out for more loose balls, and makes the most of his normally limited minutes. He’s not the greatest defender but he tries, and he will hit some huge threes as he did on Monday evening. On two specific occasions Boston rallied to either tie or move within one point. Redick responded with a three both times and deflated Boston’s run. Because he’s phenomenal from the charity stripe, Redick will be on the floor in crunch time too. This is a good thing. If you need a loose ball, maximum effort on defense, and a dead-eye shooter, Redick is your man.

I’m about to jump off the Celtics Bandwagon. After game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Cleveland, I hitched my wagon to Boston’s. I loved their intensity. You can say a lot of negative things about the Celtics, but no one matches their collective will to win. However, I’ve had all I can handle of Kendrick Perkins’, “I should be getting Hakeem Olajuwon treatment from the officials” routine, Rajon Rondo’s inability to hit any shot outside of three feet, and Kevin Garnett’s “soccer flop” in the 4^th quarter of game four.

Seriously though, is there anyone in the entire universe other Kendrick Perkins’ mom that really believes he’s any good? Perkins struts around the court like he’s the re-incarnation of Bill Russell. It kills me. I want nothing more than for Dwight Howard to thoroughly abuse him for 48 minutes.

I know Rondo has been a stud this postseason. I won’t deny that or his rise into the league’s top five point guards. However, it’s a struggle to truly appreciate his talents when the defense dares him to knock down 12 footers. In game four Orlando was finally able to clog the lane and limit Rondo’s effectiveness. If Rondo can’t knock down some of those open looks, he will continue to struggle as he did on Monday night. I like his style and enjoy watching him play, but it’s tough to see a guard shoot that poorly.

As annoying and theatrical as Garnett is, I never would have expected him to embellish an unintentional elbow, especially during the playoffs. Flailing isn’t normally part of Garnett’s repertoire. This was just one of the reasons I thought game four was peculiar. Despite having a 3-0 lead in the series, the Celtics played like the team under pressure. They looked tight and out of sync. Garnett especially looked flustered by the physical contact on numerous occasions. I know it’s not his style to back down, but he appeared more concerned with starting a melee than closing out the series

The Magic still have a long way to go to make this a real series. Obviously, winning game four was a step in the right direction. Dragging themselves off the mat and delivering a blow to Boston has earned Orlando some much needed momentum. To maintain that momentum they’ll need toughness, leadership, and a competitive edge. In other words, it’s time for Dwight Howard to start doing some hypothetical peeing of his own.

The NBA Conference Finals are usually a good time. Two expected heavyweights and two surprises in the NBA’s final four should continue that trend. Even better, without the Cleveland LeBronaliers, we’ll be treated to four complete teams that don’t run a “stand around and watch that guy” offense. Ok, maybe 3 ½ depending on how Kobe is feeling. Let’s take a look…

Eastern Conference (4) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Orlando Magic

Favorite Player: Jameer Nelson. He’s a Philly boy and I still haven’t gotten over how amazing he was for St. Josephs in 2004. More importantly, it’s been nice to see him redeem himself for his disastrous performance in last year’s NBA Finals. Nelson was hurt and shouldn’t have played anyway, but when he did he was hard to watch. He won’t be the best point guard in the series, but unlike his counterpart, Nelson can hit an open jump shot.

Rooting For: I honestly haven’t decided yet. Heading into the Eastern Conference playoffs I was rooting for Dwayne Wade as long as he was around (only 5 games) and then I expected to swing my allegiance to the Magic. However, the second game of the Boston/Cleveland series changed my plan. In the second half of that game I tweeted: “On the verge of jumping on Celtics’ bandwagon for this series. Cavs are whiners, Ray Allen & Rondo are nasty, and KG’s faces are priceless.” At this point I’m 50/50 and could easily root for either team. It will probably come down to one team or one player doing something I don’t like and pushing my support the other way. Until then, I’m rooting for Tiger Woods to show up to a game in Orlando and Glen “Big Baby” Davis trampling him like he did that kid in last year’s conference semi. (Relive it here.)

What/who will be the Difference: Orlando is much deeper than Boston, and Boston can’t really match up with Dwight Howard (who can?). Although, if they can get Howard in foul trouble (somewhat easy to do) that will certainly limit the advantage he provides. Additionally, the Celtics will need another monster series from Rajon Rondo and will need much, much more from Paul Pierce than they got in the semis against Cleveland. Another important note is that the Magic hasn’t lost in the 2010 playoffs yet. I believe this has more to do with their opponents, but either way, it will be interesting to see how they respond when they are really tested for the first time in the playoffs. Regardless, it’s Orlando’s series to lose. I’m just thankful that Anderson Varejo doesn’t have to miss anymore runners and Mo Williams doesn’t have to go M.I.A. in the second half anymore.

Notables: The ESPN crew of Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen are terrific. You may argue they’re annoying, but I love them. As a group, they’re highly entertaining, exciting, and brutally honest. *The point guard matchup will be fun too. As I mentioned, I love Jameer Nelson, but Rajon Rondo is a real treat to watch. His quickness is virtually un-guardable and his game IQ translates to success. However, I still laugh when the defense gives Rondo open 15 footers knowing he won’t take them because he’s a subpar shooter. If Rondo ever gets a consistent jump shot, look out. *The battle at center will also be a close one…although not in a basketball sense. Both Dwight Howard of the Magic and Kendrick Perkins of the Celtics are two of the biggest whiners you’ll find in the NBA. Thankfully, there’ll be a box of tissues courtside just in case either player loses control. *And finally, Kevin Garnett’s faces. Many people hate them and think he’s obnoxious. Garnett is obnoxious, but I love his “I’m clinically insane” faces and the intensity he brings to the game. Trash talking, gusto, leadership; Garnett brings it all. What’s not to like?

Prediction: Magic in 6. Why? I don’t know.

Western Conference (3) Phoenix Suns vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers

Favorite Player: Adam Morrison. Morrison is the most underrated player in the league. He’s the purest shooter, grittiest defender, and has the heart of a champion. If I were to pick one pla… just kidding. That was fun though, no? I really don’t have a favorite player in this series. If I had to choose, I would go with Nash because of his toughness. He’s also a phenomenal (and underrated) shooter, great leader, and an amazing point guard. I would probably like him more if he didn’t send the Spurs home.  By the way, if Nash offered to shake my hand as he exited the court after a game, I would respectfully decline. How many times does he have his hands on the ball, another player, the floor, or his hair before he elegantly licks his fingers prior to a free-throw? There’s no way I’m touching his hands. No way.

Rooting For: I’m more likely to root for a sequel to Doubt than either of these teams. I despise the Lakers for three reasons. 1. Phil Jackson-can’t stand him. 2. Pau Gasol-can’t stand him. 3. Phil Jackson-I REALLY can’t stand him. I guess with that said, I will be rooting for the Phoenix Suns. While rooting for Phoenix won’t be enjoyable, it would be nice for Grant Hill and Nash to reach the finals. Although seeing Amare Stoudemire and Jared Dudley (whom I’ve disliked since his Boston College days) along for the ride will be tough to swallow. I’ll also spend a little energy rooting for Kobe. He’s a class one a-hole but so was Jordan, and it’s hard not to admire his will to win. If LeBron had half of Kobe’s will, the Cavs would still be around.

What/who will be the Difference: Andrew Bynum and Gasol will make life very difficult for the Suns. Their size and power down low should control the tempo of the game and limit the Suns’ fast break opportunities. If Bynum and Gasol are effective, Phoenix will need to shoot a high percentage and limit their turnovers just to hang around. While the Spurs lacked a superior defender, the Lakers have Ron Artest and if need be, Kobe. Furthermore, Phoenix won’t get as many second opportunities as they did in their prior series because of LA’s size, so again, it’s important they’re shooting above 50%. Similar to the eastern final, this series is the Lakers’ to lose. To advance, Phoenix must find a way to goat Kobe into taking too many shots and ignoring LA’s obvious advantage down low.

Notables: TNT’s pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage is infinitely better than ESPN’s because Charles, Kenny, and CWebb make you feel like you’re hanging out with your friends. Listening to Doug Collins during the game is fun too. It’s like when your dad speaks at the dinner table-everyone stops to listen. I love Doug Collins. I secretly wish he were my second grandfather. *To protect my TV and yours as well, I’ve already written the NBA requesting they limit airtime given Adam Morrison’s mustache. I’m not sure what look he’s going for, but “creepy pedophile guy” is the one that comes to mind. Or the Sydney Crosby look, whichever you prefer. *Channing Frye will undoubtedly shoot less than 30% from beyond the arc this series for two reasons. 1. He shot 54% to knock out the Spurs. And 2. I picked him for our playoff competition. *Last but not least, good old Jack Nicholson. I don’t understand why referees take grief from him. There must an agreement with the league or something. If he were any other fan, he would’ve been ejected a zillion times by now. I’m a devoted Sixers fan with a crush on the Spurs, but I will blindly follow any coach that draws up an inbound play right in front of Jack where the ball is inbounded and then immediately chucked back to the inbounder, only the inbounder ducks and the ball sails into Jack’s face. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Prediction: Lakers in 7. While the Suns have an aura about them, I don’t think it’ll be enough, so picking LA in 7 makes me appear like I know what I’m talking about.

LeBron James

As we all know, LeBron once again made an early exit from the postseason a la Alexander Ovechkin. Most of the writers I’ve read have covered all the significant points of LeBron’s latest failure. I agree with just about all of them too, especially the ones that detailed LeBron’s nonchalant demeanor as his season and tenure in Cleveland went down in flames. Since I have no original thoughts on the matter, I thought I would gloat and share this little piece I wrote up in March for a gentleman that wanted my opinion on LeBron James’ chances at a 2010 title. I missed on the Celtics part, but I think I was right on about the Cavaliers…

“Though we continue to ignore the truth, the seventh year of the LeBron James experience will end in similar fashion to its predecessors. It’s hard to argue otherwise too. Yes, LeBron James is the most gifted player in the NBA. Unfortunately, he’s also the only premiere player on his roster. We’ve seen this screenplay before: Incredibly talented superstar surrounded by average contributors. While it may make for an enjoyable regular season, the ending is anticlimactic, predictable, and downright lame.

While a repeat ending is imminent, mainstream media will undoubtedly spend the next few weeks convincing you and I that James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have enough to claim the title. Don’t listen. As good as he is, James doesn’t have the firepower to overcome the depth of his competitors. Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been relevant in four years. Antawn Jamison came to town a year too late. Even Mo Williams and Delonte West are struggling. Just to get out of the East, the Cavs will need to get by the Orlando Magic and maybe even the Boston Celtics. James can handle the decrepit Celtics, but Orlando’s depth may derail Cleveland’s championship train. Furthermore, even advancing past the conference finals would match James against one of the heavy hitters from the Western Conference. Checkmate. There are just too many obstacles to overcome. LeBron’s teammates won’t be up to the challenge.

Great players lead teams to championships, but rarely carry them entirely. Kobe Bryant had Pau Gasol. Paul Pierce had Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Even the great Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen. LeBron’s alone. That isn’t going to change, at least not in time for the 2010 playoffs. ”

Allow me to explain why with a few examples from the 2010 NBA and NHL Playoffs.

Obviously (as noted in my Alexander the Goat article a few weeks back), I believed the Washington Capitals deserved to be serenaded with boos. I would have even tolerated litter on the ice. Yes, throwing trash onto the ice is childish, illegal, and dangerous, but all three adjectives describe how most professional athletes behave in society anyway, so have at it. (Just kidding…about tolerating things being thrown onto the ice, not how athletes behave.) The Capitals deserved their fans’ disgust. Instead, they received a round of applause. Shame on you, Capital fans.

Yes, losing happens; it’s a part of sports. However, losing isn’t what requires booing, it’s the frequency and severity of losing that makes booing necessary. The Capitals have shriveled up and died in the playoffs for three straight years. When that happens, you boo…loudly, and you don’t stop until you’ve chased them off the ice. I even booed the Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin from my couch…and I’m a Flyers fan. The same formula should be applied to the New Jersey Devils. Another example of a regular season bully that goes M.I.A. come playoff time.

In the NBA playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks come to mind. No one expected the Hawks to beat the Orlando Magic in round two. However, Atlanta fans (and all basketball fans) were appalled at the lack of effort and intensity demonstrated by the Hawks. After being blown out by more than 40 points in the series opener, Atlanta responded by getting trounced in their next three outings and was swept from the playoffs. Sweeps happen. Getting beaten by a better team happens. Even getting blown out by a superior opponent is understandable, but to exert no effort and zero intensity is unacceptable, especially in the playoffs. The Hawks don’t really have a fan base, but the few fans they do have should still be booing.

As for the Cavaliers being booed by their own fans in what could have been LeBron’s final home game? I loved it. LeBron has held those fans hostage for the last two years. They’re scared to death about whether he’ll leave or stay. On Tuesday night, LeBron and the Cavaliers were so putrid that Cleveland fans finally stood up and said, ENOUGH! Even great players need to be told they stink from time to time. By booing LeBron, Cleveland may have pushed him away for good. If that’s the case, good for them. Any player that can’t take some boos, especially after a lousy game like that, doesn’t deserve the blind devotion that Cleveland has given to LeBron. Given is the key word. LeBron is a fantastic player, but he hasn’t earned anything yet. He has one NBA Finals appearance, no wins and zero championships. At this point, he owes Cleveland more than they owe him. Booing his lackadaisical effort on Tuesday night was the right call-we obviously want you to stay, but this is unacceptable. Cleveland’s season isn’t over, but sometimes a single game deserves a chorus of boos. Cleveland fans hit all the right notes on Tuesday night.

Let’s break it down in real world terms. If I have a great year at work, everyone loves me, and then I go on a two week stretch where I’m as worthless as Sammy Sosa without ‘roids, you better believe someone is going to say something. Why are fans supposed to ignore a sloppy two week stretch (at the most important time of the year nonetheless)? Because the team gave us an enjoyable regular season? No thank you. The greatest thing about “sports” is its simplicity. Only one thing matters; championships. Fans aren’t rooting for a rosy regular season. We want titles. Obviously, the season(s) building up to that title are appreciated and celebrated, but once a team gets stagnant in that pursuit (Capitals, Atlanta Hawks), fans get fed up.

The Philadelphia Eagles epitomize stagnant. Philly fans loved the early 2000’s as Donovan McNabb and the birds rose to prominence. We didn’t boo when the Giants beat us in the Divisional Round or when St. Louis squeaked out a win in the Conference Championship. Losing is an integral part of winning. However, once the Eagles dropped three consecutive NFC Championships (two to lesser opponents), the natives got restless. A half-decade later, we’re still restless. The Eagles have been running in place since the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXIX.

To further prove that losing doesn’t always deserve booing, let’s look at the Philadelphia Flyers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Flyers were down 0-3 in a seven game series to the Boston Bruins. They’ve since battled back to tie the series at three. Let’s pretend the Flyers were swept by the Bruins in four games, the final loss coming at the Wachovia Center. I’m almost certain the Philadelphia crowd would have applauded the Flyers. They were overmatched, shorthanded, and battling injuries that plagued them all year. A sweep would have been disheartening, but no one could question the Flyers effort.

The same is true for the Thunder. In their first playoff appearance, the young Thunder went head to head to with the powerful Lakers and extended the series to six games. The Thunder played hard and attacked the favored Lakers, but still fell in defeat. Losing in the 2010 playoffs was an early step in building a successful team that should compete for the NBA title for years to come. Did the players want to lose? Of course not. Kevin Durant shrugged off talk of moral victories immediately after the series ended. When asked how he felt, he responded, “Like I just lost a playoff series.” I’m sure Durant understands getting postseason experience (even losing) is part of the process, but no player with aspirations for greatness would accept that as an excuse for defeat. The Thunder faithful clearly understood the situation. After game six the Thunder were treated to a rousing and well-deserved ovation from their crowd. The fans appreciated the team’s development over the past year and thanked them for their efforts and success. Now, if OKC is still getting bumped in the first round two years from now, you better believe those fans will start booing, and so they should.

Too conclude, I don’t have a problem with fans not booing. To boo or not to boo is a choice that every fan can make. However, if a multi-millionaire athlete isn’t giving his best effort in the playoffs; you better believe I’m going to let him hear about it. After all, I get scolded at work if I misread a zip code.

DISCLAIMER: I’ve loved the San Antonio Spurs since David Robinson burst onto the scene in the early ‘90’s. I’ll do my best to not let my affection for the Spurs influence this analysis. (And by the way, yes, I’m still a diehard Sixers fan. Unfortunately, being a diehard Sixer fan over recent years is more equivalent to dying. Having an adopted team eases the pain.)

It’s Thursday afternoon and the Spurs dropped Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals to the Phoenix Suns about 18 hours ago. San Antonio now trails two games to none as the series shifts to Texas. Everything I’ve watched, read, and heard since game two has in some way shape or form insinuated that the Suns finally overcame their playoff struggles against the Spurs. Either those folks forgot this is a best of seven series, or they’re getting ahead of themselves.

Let’s be the clear, the Suns have been fantastic in the first two games. They’ve outworked and outhustled San Antonio in nearly every facet of the game, most notably on the offensive glass. Additionally, whether open or contested, Phoenix’s shooters have buried several big shots. Steve Nash has the offense executing flawlessly (with the exception of the first half of game two), and the Phoenix bench has severely outplayed San Antonio’s. The Suns are certainly in control of the series and look poised to move onto the Conference Finals. These are all facts. There’s no point in arguing them.

Here’s one more fact: Four victories are needed to advance to the next round, not two. As teams move deeper into the playoffs, wins three and four to clinch a series become increasingly more difficult. On top of that, the Suns need to snatch those last two wins from a battled tested, dogged, four-time champion. Forgive me, but I think it might be a little early to write off the Spurs.

It would be easy to remind everyone of the 2008 playoffs where a New Orleans Hornets pick-and-roll offense decimated the Spurs in games one and two, but ultimately fell to San Antonio in seven. Gregg Popovich essentially laughed off any comparison to that series, so I will too. The Hornets were a young, unproven playoff team. The Suns boast veterans with playoff experience and have more depth than the 2008 Hornets.

So why shouldn’t we write off the Spurs? Well, because they’re the Spurs. Popovich is a 200 pound lighter version of Andy Reid. (Actually Reid is a 200 pound heavier version of Pop because Reid has no championships, but I digress.) You won’t see Popovich overly excited about wins, nor will you see him down over losses. His “never let them see you sweat” demeanor has rubbed off on his players, especially Tim Duncan. The Spurs don’t panic. If they’re down late in a game, they’re down late in a game. If they’re going home to San Antonio down 2-0 in a seven game series, guess what? They’re going home down 2-0. It is what it is. This is what makes the Spurs dangerous. Teams that don’t panic are tough to dismiss from the playoffs because you can’t rattle them, you have to beat them. San Antonio has been in this situation before. They understand what it takes to battle back.

The Suns on the other hand have a decade of devastating losses and unlucky events hanging over their heads (Horry body-check, Duncan’s unlikely three, etc…). Victories in the first two games shifted those memories from focus, but they’re still there, waiting to creep back in. If the Spurs take games three and four, you can bet the Suns will start to hear the whispers of previous playoff collapses against San Antonio. Unlike the Spurs, the Suns can be rattled (in my opinion). They lack that championship pedigree. Steve Nash is a fantastic player but has never played in an NBA Finals. We could argue all day about whether he’s to blame for that or not, but in the end, his playoff failures can’t be ignored. If the Spurs make a run in this series, who will the Suns turn to for direction and leadership? No one on the Phoenix roster has even appeared in an NBA Finals. No one.

I’m not arguing that the Spurs are the better team or that they’ll definitely come back to win the series. Unfortunately for San Antonio, there isn’t just one thing they need to fix in order to climb back into the series. What I am saying is that the Spurs and Gregg Popovich aren’t the type of team you discard after a 2-0 lead. Popovich is arguably the best coach in the league and a defensive mastermind too. He’ll find a way to limit the Suns’ offensive strengths and give his players an opportunity to win. On the floor, the Spurs have two NBA Finals MVPs in Tony Parker and Duncan, a proven “assassin” in Manu Ginobili, and the overall experience to outlast the Suns in a long, brutal series.

The Spurs could recover and return to Phoenix locked in a 2-2 tie, or continue to struggle and be eliminated in a short series. Both are very real possibilities. For now, I think it’s a little premature to credit the Suns for “finally” overcoming their previous playoff failures against the Spurs. Playoff demons don’t just disappear…they must be overcome. The Suns need two more wins to finally put their past to rest. Those last two wins won’t come easy.

LeBron James is the most talked about player in the National Basketball Association. He’s the most gifted player, the most marketable individual, and the most celebrated superstar. Currently, he has the eyes of the sports world upon him as he pursues that elusive first championship. There’s the obvious question that we’ve all by now debated, “Will he get it this year?” I won’t bore you with those details. Instead, I’m going to ask a different question, “Do I want him to get it this year?”

Simply put, no.

Do I hate LeBron James? Absolutely not. While he’s not one of my favorite players in the league, I don’t have any reason to dislike him. My Sixers are too incapable and confused for LeBron to fall under the “hated rival” category, so there’s no disdain there. He appears to be an excellent teammate and ambassador for the league. Both are positive traits. To top it off, he provides amazing, jaw-dropping displays of athleticism that I’ve only seen once before in my life and that was on NBA Jam. So yeah, I don’t hate LeBron. I have no reason to.

With that said, I don’t want him to win the title this year. Here’s why.

First of all, I can’t stand the Cleveland Cavaliers. Top to bottom, they repulse me. Their uniforms are lousy, they’re a 7^th or 8^th seed (at best) without LeBron, and the team is flat out annoying. We get it. You all love playing on the same team. You’re real heroes. I’m pretty sure if you collected 11 basketball players from anywhere in the world and teamed them with LeBron they’d be tickled pink too. Instead of taking fake pictures of each other and kissing up the LeBron, perhaps you could help carry the load? How many times is Mo Williams going to disappear in a critical playoff series before LeBron drop kicks him off the floor?

This is exactly why I can’t root for LeBron to win a title this year. It would prove that a single player, surrounded by average talent, could swipe a championship. Jordan never did it. Kobe tried and failed. Iverson made a valiant effort but also fell short. This golden rule must not be broken. Even NBA superstars need a second (and possibly third) fiddle.

This year, LeBron is again flanked by a group of out-of-tune Chelos that he’ll need to drag along in order to advance deep into the postseason-something he’s been doing every postseason dating back to 2006. Cleveland’s front office has yet to give him a legitimate team to win with. That’s on them. If LeBron is title-less come July, there’s a real possibility he’s going to look at Cleveland’s roster and say goodbye. No one could blame him either. Year after year he’s been sent to war with water pistols and a few paintball guns while Kobe and Paul Pierce have been wielding automatic rifles and missiles. The Cavaliers as a team don’t deserve a title. It’s not LeBron’s fault, but I can’t support his efforts to hand a championship to a group that’s watched him do all the grunt work for the past four years.

The second reason I don’t want LeBron to win this year is because of the media’s biased coverage of the one they call “King James.” Again, this isn’t entirely LeBron’s fault, but it’s painful nonetheless. Everything LeBron does is glorified at another level. There are no metaphors too strong for journalists and no hyperbole too extreme for broadcasters. On Monday night in game two against the Celtics, LeBron played a subpar game (for his standards). TNT’s broadcast duo of Marv Albert and Reggie Miller never offered that LeBron was having an off night. Instead, it was his elbow this, his elbow that. Every mistake he made was due to his elbow. If he threw the ball away, it was the elbow. If he missed badly on an open shot, it was the elbow. I understand LeBron’s hurt and the elbow is an issue, but in the first quarter Miller declared that “elbow-gate” was put to rest and LeBron was fine. Then LeBron starts making poor decisions and all of a sudden his elbow is the problem again. Huh?

Yes, he’s LeBron James, and yes, he’s amazingly talented. He is human though. If you cut him, I’m confident he’d bleed. It’s also probable he’ll have a bad game from time to time. Everyone does. I only wish the media would tell it like it is. Not everything has to be so complicated. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid. Please?

And finally, I love the other remaining teams more. If you haven’t noticed, there’s a trend here. None of my reasons for not wanting LeBron to win are his fault (and yes, I just used a double negative). I know that sounds unfair, but life sucks sometimes. I’m sure LeBron will survive. Seriously though, you can’t expect me to get behind a team like Cleveland when there are so many better “teams” out there, can you?

Take the Boston Celtics for instance. People love to hate the Celtics. They’re cocky, rugged, and show no fear in mixing it up on the court. Guess what? I love their style. Do you think they care that LeBron is the league’s best player? Not a chance. Here’s how I’d break it down: Boston is a group of feisty sharks. Off in the distance there’s a giant whale that no single shark could ever conquer. Only, that whale is surrounded by guppies. Where one shark may fail, a group may succeed. LeBron’s that whale among guppies. The Celtics have already intimidated the guppies enough to isolate the whale. Now it’s only a matter of time before the whale can’t survive alone. It may not be the sharks from Boston that finish the job, but it will undoubtedly get done prior to a Cleveland title.

Remember, I like LeBron James, and I want him to win an NBA title. I just don’t want it to be this year.

_{(Photo by Tony Dejak)}

The NBA Playoffs start today. Normally, I would dive into a full-fledged preview. Maybe later. Instead, I’m going to introduce a little competition that will add to the playoff excitement and hopefully make the playoffs interesting for long time NBA haters like my Pops. To be fair, I can’t really blame him for his opinion because the NBA did go through some rough years. However, the NBA is back and you won’t want to miss this year’s postseason (or where the league is headed in general). So here’s your invitation to come back and join the fun with a few of your friends. Yes, the regular season is over. No, it’s not too late to jump on the 2010 NBA bandwagon. After all, the real season starts today.

NBA Playoff Competition
As you can tell, I didn’t think about naming the competition. I’ll have to work on that.

Background
Essentially, I wanted to add another level of excitement to the NBA Playoffs. My Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been relevant in the postseason since Allen Iverson made Tyronn Lue “Kiss the Baby.” That was nine years ago. Even as Tyrone Hill, Glen Robinson, Chris Webber, and Elton Brand floundered around like fish out of water, I still found a way to enjoy the Playoffs. (I can pretty much enjoy any sporting event I want. Last weekend I enjoyed the Masters by thoroughly watching the galleries and laughing at the 40 year olds who clap for a professional golfer as if that golfer was Batman saving someone from a burning car. It’s pathetic, but highly entertaining. I digress.)

With my Sixers having little playoff relevance over the past years, I usually picked a team to support throughout the playoffs (most often the Spurs). Even if/when my chosen team tanked early, I still watched through the Finals because I love playoff basketball. However, I wanted to add some more excitement to help carry those down years like the 2009 playoffs. A little competition could create interest for less passionate fans as well.

So here we are. To finalize my competition, I decided to convene with my brother and our friend Jordan for the inaugural event.

How it Works
First, you draft (snake-style) the teams you want on your squad. Obviously, the teams that have a real shot at winning the title are preferred choices because the longer a team sticks around, the more points you’ll receive. As the draft continues into the 3^rd or 4^th round you get to the fringe teams that are capable of an upset and crashing the Conference Finals, or better yet, the NBA Finals. The trick is to pick the best fringe team while also avoiding teams that match up with your higher picks in the early rounds because an upset there doesn’t do you much good. This was a little difficult for our competition because we met last Saturday (4/10) to conduct our draft. Therefore, we had no clue who would match up where, except in the East. Such is life. Here’s how the draft played out…

1. Derek: Orland Magic – Big D likes Orlando’s depth and balance. More importantly, he doesn’t believe in LeBron James’ supporting cast.
2. Ryan: Cleveland Cavaliers – I’m also inclined to question LeBron’s cronies, especially the guy that ate Shaquille O’Neal. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to draft the team with the best player in the world. That would be like going to Burger King and not getting the Whopper.
3. Jordan: Los Angeles Lakers – Jordan wasn’t real vocal, so I tried to read his thoughts; “I’m picking the Lakers because I wish Phil Jackson was one of my professors. Being a Zen Master must be awesome.”
4. Jordan: Denver Nuggets – Actually explanation from Jordan: “I didn’t want to pick Dallas.” Good enough.
5. Ryan: Utah Jazz – I love Deron Williams and I love Salt Lake City …and I didn’t want to pick Dallas either. Betting on Dirk to come through in the playoffs is equivalent to betting on Colin Farrell to nab an Oscar. Never gonna happen.
6. Derek: Atlanta Hawks – Derek thinks the Celtics are closer to joining the AARP than competing for another title. Also, he has a man crush on Al Horford.
7. Derek: Phoenix Suns – D Nizzle can’t get enough of the Nash/Amare Pick-n-Roll. Brings us all back to the Stockton/Malone days, only without the Daisy Duke Shorts and illegitimate offspring.
8. Ryan: Dallas Mavericks – Oh c’mon. You would pick them here too. If it makes you feel better, I immediately threw up after this pick.
9. Jordan: Boston Celtics – My interpretation of Jordan’s body language; “The Celtics are old. The best wine is often old. I like the Celtics. I really like wine. Yep, this is going to work.”
10. Jordan: Portland Trail Blazers – We all agreed this WAS a great pick here. “Was” is the key word because at the time the Blazers were playing the best defense in the West and Brandon Roy hadn’t torn up his knee yet. Too Bad.
11. Ryan: San Antonio Spurs – Did it take all my brain power NOT to pick them with my first pick? Absolutely. They’re old, tired, and slow, but I can’t walk them out back and go all “Old Yeller” on them. Not yet at least.
12. Derek: Oklahoma City Thunder – Unfortunately for D Man, the Thunder fell to 8^th this week. Hopefully Kevin Durant can steal a game or two, or three or four.

As you can see, we only selected 12 of the 16 playoff competitors. Surprise, surprise; none of the East’s bottom four seeds were selected.

Here’s the scoring system for winning a series in the four rounds of the playoffs. As you can see, the points awarded vary by draft pick and playoff round. A lower draft pick winning a later playoff round is unlikely, but also has a greater payoff. A sweep in any round is also worth an additional 2 points.

In addition to selecting teams, we also selected two “Ollie MacFarlane Superstars”-essentially a surprise breakout player.  We argued about who qualifies as a breakout player for a while. We eventually settled on “not already a superstar” and must be unanimously approved by all other contestants. Essentially, it is someone who may win a game or a series for a team even though he wouldn’t normally be thought of or expected to perform in that capacity. We then chose two of these players, one from each conference. One of our selections was also designated as a full playoff commitment while the other may be changed from round to round.

To award “Ollie MacFarlane” points we created a simple statistical formula; [Points + Rebounds + Assists + Blocks + Steals - Turnovers] / Minutes Played. That number is then multiplied by 1.X. X is the number of the dice roll that was designated for each “Ollie MacFarlane Superstar” multiplied by two. For example, If I chose Kevin Ollie as my “Ollie MacFarlane Superstar” (hey, it could happen), I would roll a dice to determine his multiplier. That number is then multiplied by two. If I rolled a 4, his game formula would then be multiplied by 1.8. Kapish? Here’s how that draft unfolded. (“L” is the locked player. The number following the player was the dice roll.)…

1. Derek: Jamal Crawford [3 L] – Heated debate on this one. Jordan and I eventually buckled because Derek’s favorite football player is WR Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers. (We all know what he does when upset.)
2. Jordan: Caron Butler [5 L] – Rule number 286 of playoff basketball: Anyone who drank 11 cans of Mountain Dew per day for several years can’t be reliable. Being alive is even pushing it.
3. Ryan: Rudy Fernandez [4] – Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! What’s not to like?
4. Ryan: J.J. Reddick [6 L] – That’s right. My “Ollie MacFarlane Superstar” roster is made up entirely of white boys. I’m pretty sure Steve Kerr was the last white dude to make a meaningful shot in the NBA playoffs. I think white guys are due.
5. Jordan: Michael Beasley [3] – Jordan confused this pick with his pick from the “top draft pick most likely to be out of the league, dead broke, and strung out on drugs in five years” competition.
6. Derek: Lamar Odom [2] – Rumor has it: If the Lakers repeat, Odom has tentatively signed an agreement with E! to alter his last name to Odom-Kardashian and join “Keeping up with the Kardashians” on a full time basis. This could be huge for my little sister.

I think that covers it all. Oh yeh, prizes. I almost forgot. The winner of the competition gets a substantial prize. I can’t disclose it here because we can’t have people knowing we’re all THAT rich. It would just be unsafe.

Now take some time, understand the competition, and find some friends to join you. Then email me in May to tell me how much you enjoyed the NBA playoffs as a result. You won’t even have to thank me.

(By the way, I’ve never done this before. If my system completely fails-which it very well may-please don’t send me hate emails. It wasn’t my fault. Ben Roethlisberger made me do it.)

The playoffs don’t officially start for another week, but the remaining slate of regular season basketball will rival playoff intensity, especially in the Western Conference where seeds 2 through 8 are separated by just three games.

This tightly contested battle for playoff positioning will be vital for contenders. What’s more, these western conference foes are set to battle head-to-head as the season comes to a close. The NBA playoffs are, for all intent and purposes, already in full swing.

While there’s a number of playoff seeds yet to be determined, the race I’m most interested in is the race for the 6^th seed in the Western Conference, better known as the “race to avoid the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.” Let’s break it down.

To begin, it’s highly unlikely that any of these three teams will move up past the 6^th seed, so I felt comfortable leaving the other conference foes out. This three team logjam contains an interesting assortment of teams though.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are young, supremely athletic, and heading into their first postseason. The Portland Trailblazers battled devastating injuries to return to the playoffs thanks in large part to their stingy defense. The San Antonio Spurs are a unique combination of wily veterans with championship pedigree and an influx of young, raw talent. Three capable teams. Three different makeups. One common goal: Avoid the Los Angeles Lakers in round one (oh, and win a title too).

So here’s how the last week of the regular season looks for the aforementioned teams battling to avoid the eighth seed. For each team (POR, SAS, OKC) I’ve included their last four opponents, current record, and projected record at the end of the season. As you can see, I projected them all to finish the season 3-1 in their final games. It probably won’t happen this way but I wanted a three way tie because I love tiebreakers. Sorry

The Blazers are probably the least likely to finish 3-1 as their remaining schedule is the toughest. They’ve owned the Mavericks this year (3-0), but have to travel to LA to face the Lakers and then return home to face the Thunder with huge playoff implications at stake. Portland leads the season series with OKC 2-1. Assuming the Blazers can sneak a win from Dallas or LA and top the lowly Warriors, a third victory over the Thunder would clinch the division tiebreaker and all but guarantee them the 6^th seed (unless the Spurs finish 4-0). Conversely, losing two of their final four games could and probably would drop Portland to the 8^th seed. The Blazers have the luxury of controlling their own destiny. The Spurs and Thunder aren’t so fortunate.

Home games against Memphis and Minnesota should result in victories for San Antonio, but a road contest in Denver and then closing the season in Dallas will certainly test the Spurs. They trail in both season series’ (1-2) and will probably need at least one victory in those two games to stay out of the eighth spot. (Again, assuming they beat Memphis and Minny.) The Spurs must also be kicking themselves for dropping a game to the lowly Nets last month in the midst of a playoff race. It’s very possible that that loss will ultimately put them toe to toe with Kobe in round one. And they say every game doesn’t matter.

Like the Blazers and Spurs, the Thunder also face a difficult schedule. Memphis and Golden State should be wins. However, this is the first stretch of playoff intensity basketball that the young Thunder have tasted. How they respond over the next week may forecast their success, or lack thereof, in the playoffs. Oklahoma City’s contest against the Suns-arguably the hottest team in the league-will be crucial. I have the Thunder finishing 3-1 to accommodate my tiebreaking fetish, but that includes a tough victory over Phoenix. In reality, a win over Portland would do more for the Thunder’s playoff seeding. I just don’t see it happening.

So here we are. Three teams at 51-31. If this unlikely scenario plays out, here’s how they’ll be seeded. Assuming Portland defeats Oklahoma City, the Trailblazers would finish 6^th. They would own the season series over both the Spurs (3-0) and Thunder (3-1). The Spurs would then get the 7^th seed over the Thunder with a 3-1 advantage in their season series. Oklahoma City would then draw the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now let’s pretend they don’t all finish 51-31. I think the Blazers will have a tough time closing the season 3-1 and could therefore fall into the eighth seed. If they can defeat Oklahoma City on 4/12 and finish with a better or even identical record as the Thunder, they can still avoid the Lakers.

In order to avoid the Lakers, the Thunder will need to do one of the following. If they lose to Portland on 4/12, OKC will have to finish with a better record than the Spurs AND Blazers.  If they knock off Portland on 4/12, they only need to finish ahead of the Spurs OR tie the Blazers (tiebreaker in division games).

Despite an ugly loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night, the Spurs still control whether or not they’ll end up in LA when the playoffs start. All San Antonio needs to do is finish ahead of or tied with the Thunder to avoid the eighth seed. In order to attain the 6^th spot, the Spurs will also need to finish ahead of Portland in the standings.