So Kobe gets fined $100K for using a gay slur against referee Bennie Adams. Then Joakim Noah gets fined just $50K for using the same slur against a fan.

What?

Shouldn't Noah be punished more severely than Kobe or at least the same amount?

Here's why he should:

He used a gay slur towards a fan. Aren't the fans the most important people in sports?

He did it during the Eastern Conference Finals, a heavily watched event. More so than a regular season game between the Lakers and Spurs.

He took time to turn around and shout slurs at the fan. If you watch it, Noah was going at the fan prior to the gay slur.

And I realize the NBA is trying to protect its refs, but shouldn't they be subject to criticism before a fan? No one should be addressed in that way, but Noah did it to someone who paid to watch the game. Kobe did it to a guy that's at least getting paid.

And lastly, Noah did this after Kobe's incident. Shouldn't he have taken note of this? 

By the way. TNT is really good at capturing players at their lowest moments.

There is no doubt that Mitch Kupchak is one of the best GM's in all of basketball, perhaps professional sports as a whole. Sure he imploded the Lakers when he traded away Shaq, but his overall work has been impressive to say the least. He acquired superstars such as Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and Pau Gasol. Mitch has also brought over a few mid-level players such Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest, both of which proved to be key pieces to the back-to-back titles. And even his in-decisions have paid off since keeping Andrew Bynum over trading him for Jason Kidd looks a hell of a lot smarter now.  

And I'm sure every Laker fan has the utmost confidence in the moves he ultimately decides to make this offseason. But after this lost season, there are a few matters that need addressing and here is my take on what Kupchak and the Buss family should do:

1. Make Brian Shaw the new head coach

It might not be as sexy, instating Brian Shaw as head coach makes the most sense. For one, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers are on extremely good terms with Shaw. He's been on the staff for some time and has played with or against some of the guys on the team. In order for a team to be successful, they need to trust their head coach and Brian Shaw is very credible.

Secondly and most importantly, he will continue to implement the Triangle. All Laker fans have heard this year is "The Lakers are old" and "Kobe isn't young anymore". (By the way, I wasn't aware 32 was old. I'm 18 so I guess I have to start my bucket list.) Yes, they aren't getting any younger and are one of the oldest teams in the league. So why, after winning two titles in the past three seasons, bring in a new coach with a new philosophy. Introducing the team to a new system would make zero sense since they are already built to win another ring.

2. Don't trade for Dwight too early

Dwight Howard is the NBA's best big man and best defensive player. As a matter of fact, he could become the league's most dominant player on both sides of the court if he continues to improve his offense. But was Dwight Howard a Laker during the two title runs? No.

So the Lakers don't need him quite yet. When playing at full force, the Bynum-Gasol duo is simply unstoppable. We know they have what it takes to win because we have seen it twice. With Bynum and Gasol, the Lakers are still the best team in the NBA even though their postseason performance did not translate it. (It was more of a will problem than a skill problem.)

What I'm saying here is stick with what works. Pau and Bynum have worked for two championships and can still work for more. But if Bynum continues to become a health concern and/or Pau continues his hot and cold play, then we might be looking at pulling a Shaquille O'Neal and acquiring the Orlando big man. 

3. Dump Luke Walton off somewhere

Although it would be sad not to hear "Luuuuuuuuuuuuuke" at Staples anymore, Luke has been as relevant as Nas since Illmatic. He's hauling in over five million a year and is owed over 11 million in the next two just to ride the bench. And Luke isn't even fun on the bench. At least AMMO's awkwardness on the pine was worth the hefty contract.

Just try to dump Luke off to a sucker for a second round pick even though he isn't worth it. Just as they did with Farmar and Sasha, I'm sure the Nets wouldn't mind taking on another Laker in Luke. 

4. Sign Tayshaun Prince and trade Matt Barnes

No wonder why Matt Barnes has played for eight, count 'em eight, teams already. He sucks! He is extremely disappointing. He was supposed to provide tough defense and maybe a spark of offense here and there. All he supplied was the assault of a Dallas assistant coach and the personification of the Beverly Hills Chihuahua. 

Barnes has a player option and has no reason not to pick it up. If the Lakers are fortunate, he will decline it. But he won't cause no one will play him what he'll get from the Lakers next year. So what to do? Easy, ship him off to a contender. Many teams seem to think they NEED a guy like Barnes to compete, so just follow the illusion and give him away. 

Tayshaun Prince, a well-respected vet, is a free agent his offseason. If the Lakers can dump Barnes or Walton and clear up some cap, Prince would be an incredible pickup. Just think of Matt Barnes, but three times better. He is a lockdown defender and can provide the bench with a much needed kick. A serious problem for the Lakers in that Dallas series was the lack of production by the bench. Adding Prince would improve the pine on offense and defense.

5. Pick up Ebanks and Caracter and let Ratliff and Smith walk.

Just some sensible moves here. Ebanks and Caracter show some promise, so stick to them. And just let Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith walk for obvious reasons. There's plenty of big men who can ride the bench that aren't 50 years old. 

So there it is. Nothing too drastic has to be done. The Lakers are still built to be the league's champs.

Stick to the guns that got you there, make a few minor improvements, and we'll see yet another banner being raised to the rafters of Staples.

It's time to play that yearly game........Free Agency!

So who should the Panthers keep and who should they dump?

Here's my take:

RB DeAngelo Williams: KEEP. There is no reason not to. I shouln't even have to explain this...With J-Stew and D-Will the Panthers have, without a doubt, the best rushing attack in the NFL. They take the pressure off the QB situation and give the Panthers at least one side of a good offense. Give the man his money.

C Ryan Kalil: KEEP. Again, no reason to really explain his one. Pro-Bowler, one of the best centers in the league, and one of only two viable players on the O-Line.

LB Thomas Davis: KEEP. Yes he has been injured, but with Davis, the D is that much better. Plus, I can't see another team really jumping on him.

LB James Anderson: KEEP. With Beason, Davis, and Anderson, the D has a really solid, perhaps very good, linebacking core. All are great tacklers and each brings a different element to the group.

CB Richard Marshall: DUMP. I remember seeing a stat that he has most catches allowed last season. And the  needs some sort of a lift in the secondary and his act is getting tired.

QB Matt Moore: KEEP. Give Moore one more. I think he should start next season, not Clausen. He knows how to get the ball to Smitty and has more experience than Jimmy. I know last year wasn't exactly great but he can win 3 games before Clausen can get one. Until we get a sure-fire stud at QB, let Moore lead the offense.

DT Nick Hayden: DUMP. No one on that line, except Charles Johnson, should be in the NFL.

DT Ed Johnson: DUMP. See Hayden, Nick.

TE Jeff King: KEEP. Use as a second option and sign/draft/trade for a better TE. Always finds himself open in the endzone.

TE Dante Rosario: DUMP. Eh

I really hope Rivera and his staff are smart enough to draft AJ Green instead of Nick Fairley. I know Fairley is explosive and fills a need but AJ Green can do so much more. For one, he can completely open up the offense. He can give Jimmy a huge target to hit and take extra defenders up in coverage to free up Smitty. He can also make the offense more balanced, so the Panthers can return to that dominant run game with J-Stew and hopefully D-Will if he re-signs. By making the offense better and way more legit, the defense can obtain much needed rest. it wasn't that the defense was that bad this season, it was just that the offense couldn't stay on the field for more than a minute. You can't keep throwing your guys on the field after countless three-and-outs. Aj green is a sure-fire superstar, somewhere in the likes of Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson. He has the size, speed, hands, and talent.

Fairley is still a bit questionable for me at this point and his dirty play is a big reason why. He could turn out to be a little Albert Haynesworth. Talented, but basically worthless due to attitude. If picked first, Fairley will think he's king since he's #1 and just came off a National Title win. This franchise has always steered clear from these type of players and they should do so here.

Green is a freak of a player and deserves the first selection. He can make Clausen's, Smitty's, Stew's, and DeAngelo's job a lot easier and turn a completely stagnant offense into a more than legit threat.

Really, LeBron? Race is a factor in your coverage? Race is a factor in so many fans turning against you?

Ok, you're right. Just like you always think you are. People hate you because you're black. People don't hate you for anything else.

People don't hate you for:

- Running a narcissistic hour-long program just to announce your signing.

- Stating “I’m bringing my talents to South Beach”

- Making your former team spend all their time trying to woo you back, leaving them with no time to sign another big free agent.

- Trying to make light of your ‘Decision” by giving the proceeds to children.

- Being commercial during your hour-long program by having a Vitamin Water machine in the background.

- Surrounding yourself with children to make it look like you care.

- Taking the cheap way out and joining two other superstars in order to win.

- Giving up on your team in the middle of a playoff series.

- Deserting your Cleveland fans who have done nothing but put you on a pedestal your whole career.

- Not living up to your stern promises of brining Cleveland a title.

- Engaging in excessive showboating during games.

- Dancing on the sideline during a game.

- Calling a travel a “crabwalk”.

- Filing paperwork to switch your number from 23 to 6 even though you knew you were switching teams and that whole process was unnecessary.

So yes, you're completely right. We live in a discriminatory society where everyone hates blacks just because their black. I wonder how Barack Obama was elected as the Leader of the Free World. 

Besides, people hated you because you were black before you went to Miami. Fans only bought your merchandise and praised your play just for shits and giggles while you were in Cleveland. I wasn't aware that you just turned black. Because that explains why you are one of the most disliked athletes in the country.  

You may have heard, but the Miami Heat signed three of the biggest free agents on the market during the summer of 2010. (Yes, that was sarcasm.) LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are all taking their talents down to South Beach! Now basketball geniuses such as Jeff Van Gundy are predicting outrageous win totals for the newly equipped squad. (And yes, that was also sarcasm. Everyone knows Jeff Van Gundy is an idiot, otherwise he would be on the sidelines with a job instead of bickering with fellow commentator Mark Jackson.)

But a lot of those experts have failed to mention how much the Lakers have bulked up this summer. With the additions of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Devin Ebanks, Derrick Caracter, and Theo Ratliff-- you can pretty say that the Bench Mob is back. These minor to mid-level signings have added up to the one thing the Lakers were lacking the previous season, a reliable bench. They just won the NBA Title for the second consecutive year without a legitimate bench to go to. Can you imagine how much better they'll be now?

Here's the projected supporting cast for Phil Jackson:

G Steve Blake, G Shannon Brown, G Sasha Vujacic, F Lamar Odom, F Matt Barnes, C Theo Ratliff, and a vacant spot to be filled by either rookie foward-- Devin Ebanks or Derrick Caracter. 

 Bewteen these guys, you may be able to construct a starting five that can run the floor with the lower half of the league. Not saying they'll win, but at least keep close. And how many other benches in the league can you say that for? Few to none. (Miami's bench not included.)

Now here's the mess Miami has to deal with:

G Mario Chalmers, G Carlos Arroyo, G Eddie House, G Mike Miller, F James Jones, F Udonis Haslem, C Joel Anthony. And there may be competition for those spots between Dexter Pittman, Da'Sean Butler, Jamal Magloire, Shavlik Randolph, and Juwan Howard.

Everyone metioned besides Chalmers and Miller is either a rookie, a lower-level player, or an antique. Sure Miami will always have at least one of the Three Stooges during some point in a game, but there's not much to be giddy about besides that. The only way that they can beat the Lakers, Orlando, Boston, and Dallas in a series is if all three are in at all times. And that may be very difficult to maintain considering a higher risk of injury and fatigue for extended playing time. Furthermore, they will be playing a much improved Eastern Conference with the additions of Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire, and possibly Carmelo Anthony.

Because statistics are pretty much worthless in this argument, (plus, I don't feel like looking them up) let's look at it as if both teams were an Easter Egg treat.

The Lakers are the Divine Milk Chocolate Egg. They are wrapped in gold, come in a beautiful box, and have a nice illustration on the egg itself. The egg tastes and looks great on the outside and contains smaller and delicious eggs in its interior. It is the best treat out.

The Miami Heat are more like that egg you buy at the local grocery store. Sure it looks great on the outside, but when you take a chomp out of it, there's nothing on the inside. No cream, no prize, no little eggs, no anything.

So in short, the Heat lack depth. And the Lakers have more than enough of it. That's why they'll finish with more wins and with another banner hanging from the rafters at the Staples Center.

1. The Saints will not repeat

Last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls? The New England Dynasty that spanned from 2001-2005. And unfortunately for the Saints, they do not have the talent, coaching, or video taping equipment of that great Patriots squad. Sure they have guys like Brees, Colston, Thomas, and Sharper, but they are no where near as balanced as the Pats' dynasty. I'm not saying that a team has to be better or exceed them (Patriots), but it is much tougher to pull off repeats now-a-days. Let's face it, the New Orleans defense will not chalk up as many turnovers as they did last year. Even if they do, you still have a defense that ranked 25th in yards allowed and finished in the lower of the league in poins allowed. Sure they one of the best, if the not best, offenses in the league--but you're going to have to stop teams such as the Vikings, Cowboys, Bengals, Ravens,Cardinals, Falcons (twice), and Panthers (twice). All of which have more than legitimate offenses. They will end up winning the division, but they will falter against a high-profile offense on their path back to the Super Bowl.

2. Only one team in the NFC East will make the playoffs

Sorry, but the NFC East is no longer "the division in football". Besides Dallas, I cannot see any other team having much success this season. Let's start with Philadelphia. They are losing Donovan McNabb, ho led the team to five NFC title games and a lone Super Bowl appearance. Although the Eagles did not pick up the Lombardi Trophy during his reign, McNabb's ability and leadership was the key to Philly's success in the past decade. Now they will have to wait for key players such as Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy to develop into superstars and revive their now diminished offense.

Now for the team that has McNabb, the Washington Redskins. Some fans and even analysts have said this team could grab a WIldcard spot, however, I just don't see it. Even with the addition of Mr. Campbell's Chunky Soup, I do not see their offense doing much of anything. Almost every key player on offense is can easily be lost due to their injury history. McNabb, Portis, Parker, and Johnson have all missed significant time over recent seasons due to nagging injuries. Shanahan can count on his defense to keep his team in games, but the offense is very questionable in a number of ways.

And then come the New York Football Giants. My apologies to my fellow New Yorkers, but there is nothing appealing about this team. In fact, they will finish last in the division this year winning anywhere from five to seven games. Their defense, which was their identity from the 2008 team, is not even close to what it was. I was pretty convinced this team would hit a snag in the road after their embarassing home loss to Carolina last season. (Embarassing is a bit kind) Even though it was their last game at Giants Stadium, they came out flat and remained flat as J-Stew and the Panthers rolled to a 41-9 romping. It was a team with no pride or no care in what was supposed to be a celebratory day. In short, the running game is medicore, the defense is almost passable, and it may be time for a coaching change.

3. The AFC South becomes the new NFC East

The South is going to be more than interesting this season. You already know the Colts pretty well, so let me introduce you to the rest of the pack. 

Tennessee Titans- How good is this team? Very good. They are 31-17 over the past three seasons and were nearly unbeatable at 8-2 afer Vince Young took over at QB. They are well-balanced on both sides of the ball with Chris Johnson, last year's leading rusher, heading the offense and Cortland Finnegan leading an always intimidating defense.

Houston Texans- It's like watching Jiffy-Pop. The popcorn is trying so hard to burst through the top but seems to fail most of the time. Well, that top may very well pop this season. How can you not look at this team without being impressed? Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, just to name a few. That's pure talent. And with the potential of runningback Arian Foster and wideout Jacoby Jones possibly breaking through this season, the NFL fans may be looking at one of the league's deadliest offenses. This Texans squad is sniffing for postseason, they just need to taste it.

Jacksonville Jaguars (stop laughing)- How would you feel if your parents did not show up for your talent show? You worked so hard to make up your routine, and although it was not the best act, you know you put in effort. You go out to perform and there is no one watching. Would be mad? The Jaguars certainly are. Last year, the Jags received close to no support during last year's home games despite having a decent roster. I feel this team is more than motivated to prove to their fans and to the rest of the NFL that they do exsist and they are legit. Expect big seasons from he multi-talented Maurice Jones-Drew and wideout Mike Sims-Walker. (By the way, what's up with the double names?)

4. More Albert Haynesworth problems

You know it's going to happen. So it's not even worth explaining.

5. Steve Smith (CAR) will be the NFL's top wideout

The only thing I'm more sick of than Brett Favre is having to refer to Steve Smith as Carolina's Steve Smith. Someone tell that other Steve Smith to change his name to Steven because Smitty was here first. Anyway, back to my point. The Real Steve Smitty will stand up. Does anyone remember 2005? When Smitty caught 103 balls, scored 12 times, and racked up 1563 yards while grabbing the NFL's Wideout version of the triple crown. I believe this Steve Smith is still there and perhaps more determined than ever. (Even though it's hard to be more determined than Steve Smith already.) He has something to prove. His numbers have taken a dip in recent seasons and has been getting crap for breaking his arm while playing football, both actual and flag. All the elements are there. For one, Matt Moore is Smitty's best friend. In four games with Moore last season, Smith averaged 94.5 yards per game and reached the endzone three times. With Moose gone from Carolina, Smith and Moore will be the team's second most important tandem next to D-Will and J-Stew.

6. The Jets will put their money where their mouths are (in the regular season)

Wish I could predict otherwise but the Jets will be very good this regular season. How can you not expect a team stacked with so much talent from end to end not to chalk at least 11 wins? Yes, they talk a big game and yes, they have a second year coach and QB, but this team has attitude. This may very well be the toughest team in the NFL. In 2009, they were a solid team and ended up suprising many fans during their shocking postseason run. In 2010, they have a much more talented roster only losing Thomas Jones to Kansas City and Darelle Revis to a temporary contract dispute. They should and will be a better team. But that's where its stops. The Jets will not go very far in the postseason. Mark Sanchez, their most important player, is not ready for the Super Bowl quite yet as he displayed more of his rookie side than his talented side in 2009. Besides Trent Diler with the Ravens, every Super Bowl team has had a top QB and the Sanchize is not there yet. I mean if you tell me a team added LaDanian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and Antonio Cromartie, I would be amazed. If it was three years ago. But regardless, the Jets will back up their talk to a certain extent and will once again begin their journey for a title in 2011-2012.

7. Brett Favre will be on Sportscenter more than any other single athlete

Duh. (You didn't think a post about the NFL would go without Brett Favre?)

8. Baltimore will win the AFC

I have no idea why they have not been covered so much on ESPN and other sports networks. This team is flat-out scary. Let's start with what they're known for, defense. Just as it has always been, Baltimore's defense is one of the league's best. Last season, the defense ranked third in the league in fewest yards allowed and have maintained top five status in that statistic since 2005. Terrell Suggs is a force, Haloti Ngata is unbreakable, Ray Lewis still has some left in the tank, and Ed Reed, one of the greatest to ever lace them up, will return much sonner than expected. Simply put, watch out as always.

With the addition of Anquan Boldin, Baltimore's offense has become quite appealing. Their offensive game now becomes even more dimensional. Quarterback Joe Flacco now has the option to either hand it off to emerging star back Ray Rice, pass it to Boldin, pass it to Derrick Mason, or pass it off to Todd Heap. Options galore for Joe Flacco, who I project will be one of the league's premier quarterbacks by year's end.

9. Green Bay will win the NFC

I'll be a bit straight foward on this one. The Green Bay Packers have the most talented team in the NFL. Why do I say that so boldly? Well for starters, they have Aaron Rodgers taking snaps. Rodgers, who threw for 30 TD's while only giving up seven picks last season, is the defintion of a young stud. Next, there's Ryan Grant. With his three seasons with the Pack, the runningback has averaged 1137.3 rushing yards per season while hitting the endzone 23 times. Then to round out the offense is Rodger's fantastic group of weapons which features Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Donald Lee, and Jermichael Finley.

Now to the other side of the ball, defense. Green Bay is putting out a stingy team out on defense. In 2009, the team allowed the fewest yards on the ground, the fifth fewest through the air, and the second fewest overall. They have the best linebacking core in the NFL with Clay Matthews, AJ Hawk, and Nick Bartnett and are led by last year's Denfensive Player of the Year in Charles Woodson. A top five offense plus a top five defense equals great success. So this is it Green Bay. This will be the greatest season in franchise history. I say that because............................

10. The Packers will defeat the Ravens in Super Bowl XLV

Under the gigantic screen of Cowboys Stadium, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will hoist up the Lombardi Trophy. This will be a low scoring, but thrilling Super Bowl as the Packers will edge out Baltimore by the tune of 17-13. Rodgers will supply a game winning drive with under two minutes left in the game and will take home the MVP honors. And best of all, the Packers, the fans, and the rest of Green Bay will get to stick it to Brett Favre.

Standings and Awards

AFC EAST-
1. NYJ
2. NE (WILDCARD)
3. MIA
4. BUF

AFC SOUTH-
1. IND
2. TEN (WILDCARD)
3. HOU
4. JAX

AFC NORTH-
1. BAL
2. PIT
3. CIN
4. CLE

AFC WEST-
1. SD
2. OAK
3. DEN
4. KC

NFC EAST-
1. DAL
2. PHI
3. WAS
4. NYG

NFC SOUTH-
1. NO
2. CAR (WILDCARD)
3. ATL
4. TB

NFC NORTH-
1. GB
2. MIN (WILDCARD)
3. CHI
4. DET

NFC WEST-
1. SF
2. SEA
3. ARI
4. STL


MVP- Aaron Rodgers
OFF- Chris Johnson
DEF- DeMarcus Ware
Off ROY- CJ Spiller
Def ROY- Gerald McCoy
Coach- John Fox

1. The Miami Heat will become the league's most hated franchise.

What is more annoying than LeBron coverage in Cleveland? LeBron coverage in Miami. Now that the biggest ego in the league has landed in Miami with two other stars, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, we will never hear the end of it from sports broadcasting companies. (Cough, cough, ESPN) Sports fans have been dragged through this ridiculous free agent process for two months and were subject to watching LeBron's half-witted plan unveiled in an hour show. (By the way, he said he would reveal his decision within the first ten minutes. It took him about 26 minutes) Now that's two and a half uncontainable egos in one locker room. (Wade [1], LeBron [1.5], Bosh [Yet to be determined; you can't hear egos in Canada]) This means NBA fans will have to hear about this threesome (chuckle) every single night. They will undeservingly receive more prime time games than any other team and people will get just plain tired of it. And when they fail to reach the Finals, we will just have to hear about went what wrong and will once again see Pat Riley rear-end his coach and take his spot.

2. Blake Griffin wins Rookie of the Year.

The John Wall sensation is the second biggest story of the summer, but let's not forget about last year's #1, Blake Griffin. I must admit, Wall is a unique talent and will thrive in the league. However, Griffin is in a much better spot because of one simple word, teammates. His teammates are better than Wall's. Griffin will play along side All-Stars Baron Davis and Chris Kaman and other budding talents such as Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon. Griffin will be playing for a possible playoff contender and will get more notoriety for it. Besides, Griffin's life expectancy is much higher since there are no secret agent teammates pulling out guns on his squad. But there is good news for John Wall..............

3. Gilbert Arenas will be traded to the Nets.

A lot of cap space. No big players landed in the 2010 free agent frenzy. And still not enough people in the seats. So why not? Washington is sick of Arenas and his antics, plus they want to give Wall as much playing time as possible. And the Nets can take on that fat ol' contract with their virtually unused cap space. Before they become totally irrelevant, the Nets will land this "superstar" to stay afloat. 

4. Lakers-Heat will be the Christmas game of the year.

For obvious reasons.

5. Kevin Durant wins MVP in a landslide. 

Now that LeBron is apart of the "Miami Thrice" he will not be considered as valuable. Same with Kobe. He's on a team of unmatchable talent so he doesn't have to be the league's most valuable guy. So who does that leave? The Durantrula. This guy is a bit overhyped right now but will the league's most valuable player next year and perhaps for even more years to come. OKC will be a legitimate team, perhaps even more than last year, and will credit most of its success to the face of their franchise. He'll average 30.1 PPG and pull down 7.8 REB in an impressive campaign. 

6. LeBron will put up a Triple-Double in his return turned hate-fest in Cleveland.

What does LeBron like to do best? I was going to say show-off but now I'm going to say sticking it to Cleveland harder than anyone since Art Modell's fiasco. Cavs fans (or whatever is left of them) will boo LeBron and break the sound barrier for sports fans once he is introduced. Every time he touches the ball, scores, and rips down a board, the fans at the Q will jump all over him. In his egotistical nature, LeBron will try his hardest to drain every shot, grab every rebound, and dish out every dime to fill up the stat sheet and beat out the Cavs faithful for the subject of Sportscenter. In addition, Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert will make a feeble attempt in making nice with LeBron after his epic letter posted the night of LeBron's move. (That was the best piece of literature ever written by an owner of a franchise, just edging out Al Davis' speech on firing Lane Kiffin.)

7. Shannon Brown will win the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest.

The question on everyone's mind after the 2010 contest? "What the hell was that? And can I get my money back even though I didn't pay for anything?" Brown's disgraceful display in the contest was the most embarrassing moment moment for Laker fans around the world since the 2008 Finals. But this time, LA holds All-Star weekend. Why not but Shannon in? He will not be as nervous and he will fulfill his plans of dunking over DJ Mbenga whether the King of the Congo is a Laker or not.

8. An NBA player will get into trouble with the law. 

It's the newest craze for professional athletes. Forget performance enhancers, forget flashy endorsement deals. Getting into legal trouble is what athletes love to do. A new face will join Gilbert Arenas and half of the NFL in court. 

9. The Boston Celtics will not win 50 games, but will go to the Finals.

If it was one thing I learned this past season it was that the 82 games preceding the Playoffs do not matter. Boston went 27-27 down the stretch and looked absolutely dead in the water. But this team rose to the challenge as soon as the 2010 postseason began falling just short of their second title in three years. Well Allen is back, Pierce is back, and Rondo will prove his value even more so next year. Despite the numerous injuries they may and probably will face due to their roster of older guys, expect them to be ready for another impressive postseason run. But..........

10. The Los Angeles Lakers will win the 2011 NBA Finals en route to Jax's fourth 3-Peat.

Yeah, it's gonna happen again. And why not? Phil Jackson is quite of a history buff. His team never loses when winning Game 1 of a series, he has only 1 series loss when his team has any advantage, and he likes to win in threes. That's why the Zen Master came back for this, his final year. He knows this team has something special brewing and simply cannot leave it behind for retirement in Montana. Kobe will once again prove that he is the world's best player. (NOT LeBron. It's always been Kobe) Pau will show that he has transformed into the league's best big man. Derek Fisher will drain huge 3 pointers in tight playoff games. And Ron Artest will remain on his best behavior as he gives various shout-outs to his family and of course, Queensbridge. The Lakers will defeat the Boston Celtics once again as Kobe drains a buzzer beater in double overtime of Game 6 to win 113-111. 

****My apologies to Gilbert Arenas. I don't know why I completely bashed him in this post.