New York Giants at Green Bay Packers Preview

The Packers didn’t go undefeated, but one of the 15 games they did win a Week 13 game at the New Meadowlands, a 38-35 win thanks in part to a 31-yard field goal by Mason Crosby as time expired.

Mason Crosby's could prove to be important for the Packers, much like in week 13.

Since that point, each team has lost just one game, but the prevailing public opinion is that the Giants are playing their best football of the season and have as good a chance as anyone to knock off the top-seeded Packers this season.

While that is certainly a possibility, New York will have to play extremely well in a number of facets of the game.

If the Giants are going to have success this weekend, they are going to need to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers. They can’t just blitz the house, because Rodgers will prey on the single coverage in the secondary and light up the scoreboard. New York needs to rely on Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Chris Canty up front to not only apply pressure, but also keep Rodgers in the pocket so he can’t makes plays on the run.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have to prevent turnovers at all costs. The Packers have a penchant for capitalizing on turnovers, but taking care of the ball on offense keeps the ball out of Rodgers’ hands. New York cannot waste possessions, as Green Bay can put up 40 on even the best defenses, and the Giants will need every possible chance to score.

The Giants could have a great day on offense, but there’s a strong likelihood that the Packers will have an even better one. This game should hit over 52.5, but I don’t think Green Bay will cover. It could be a backdoor cover, but 7.5 is just a bit too much.

Prediction: Packers 35 | Giants 30

What do you think?

Green Bay Packers-New York Giants NFC Divisional Game Info

• Packers-Giants Date: Sunday, January 15th
• Packers-Giants Time: 4:30 ET
• Packers-Giants TV: FOX
• Packers-Giants Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
• Packers-Giants Point Spread: Packers -7.5
• Packers-Giants Over-Under: 52.5

Coming back from such a deficit in a 7-game series is a feat that has not once been accomplished during the NBA’s existence, and it rarely happens in sports. The only examples are a handful in the NHL and the legendary ’04 Boston Red Sox, who came back from 0-3 against the Yankees.

To make things even worse for Knicks fans, there was a trending topic on Twitter that practically put a dagger in the back of each Knicks fan. It read “Massacre Square Garden”; enough said. Then this morning, I had to wake up to tweets about how Knicks fans are complaining about the calls and how it’s not fair that Chauncey and Amar’e are injured, and everything in between.

While I can agree that New York should have won at least ONE game thus far in the series, and should be putting up more of a challenge in a series we deemed the best in the first round, Knicks fans are forgetting to look at the big picture.

So for all of my followers, and for those Knicks fans who are disgusted with what is going on, let this article serve a positive note. Here is why even though your team is falling hard, and falling hard right now, there are still plenty of reasons for you to be happy and optimistic.

While it was clear that last night’s game was essentially a series finisher, and it was an embarrassing loss for the team’s first home-playoff game in about 10 years, New York should not hang their heads completely.

This current series against Boston was never going to be easy. No one predicted it would be. I at least gave the Knicks two Ws coming into the series, but as of now it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. But there are reasons as to why this series has gone the way it has up to this point, a couple of uncontrollable factors that have dipped their noses into this Atlantic Division rivalry.

One, obviously, is that this Knicks squad is not at full health.

It’s simply a fact that when your team isn’t 100% healthy, it’s going to be tough to do much against good competition. And not only is the health of this team hindered, but it probably happened to the two most crucial players for the Knicks: Chauncey Billups, and Amar’e Stoudemire. Not that I don’t think Carmelo is crucial, but I do think If I had a choice, I’d rather lose Carmelo than lose Amar’e simply due to the fact that New York’s gaping holes on both ends are clearly down-low.

Boston has both of the positions vacated by the absences of Chauncey and Amar’e, point guard and power forward, occupied by two of the game’s best in Rondo and KG. So obviously not having Billups for two games, and having a hindered Amar’e for another, is going to cause a big disadvantage for New York.

And if you’ve never experienced back-spasms before, which Stoudemire is suffering from, they are disgustingly painful. I give huge props to Amar’e for playing last night!

As for Chauncey, his loss is probably the biggest factor. While he can give you 20 points and 10 assists on a given night, he is also the most experienced player on the roster and the team’s engine. To lose his playoff experience is huge for New York. Enough said.

Then there is the matter of Boston’s surprising surge.

Watching the Celtics during the tail-end of the 82-game regular season, they looked the opposite of invincible. They were vincible. It seemed that ever since the trade of Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green that Boston’s mean, green, and tough attitude had disappeared. They had losing streaks all over the schedule, and were falling to opponents that held records below .500.

Coming into this series, I thought that there was a possible chance that the Knicks could upset the defending Eastern Conference champs. Everyone did. Little did we know that in a span of a couple days, this Celtics team would come together and start playing the type of defense that we had seen since ’08. It shocked me, and shocked everyone else that I knew.

Even with all that said, remember this Knicks fans: excluding last night’s game, the Knicks lost games 1 and 2 by a total of five points. Let me repeat that. The Knicks lost games 1 and 2, by a mere 5 points, or if you want to get even more literal, the Knicks lost games 1 and 2 by a three-pointer and a layup.

So again, even though New York is down 0-3  in this series, I want to know why all the Spike Lees out there are going crazy.

Game 1 was basically won by the Knicks…if you exclude the last 11.6 seconds of the fourth quarter. The Knicks led by one point going into the game’s final 20 seconds, but everyone knew that Jesus Shuttelsworth was going to get the ball. So, Ray Allen curled off of a screen, a screen that might have been an offensive foul on Garnett, and hit a three like he always does. Game 1 was over when I saw Carmelo pull up from super-deep, as he clanked the ball off the rim.

As for Game 2, it was lost by a horrible pass from Jared Jeffries in the paint. Watching the game live, I saw the play and noticed Jeffries could’ve either pump-faked and gotten the layup, or he could’ve thrown himself at KG and gotten the call. I mean, the refs do like to exaggerate the “any contact is a foul” rule, so I’m sure Jeffries would’ve gotten the call in this one.

So again, if the refs call KG for an obvious moving screen (or Carmelo at least glances at D’Antoni for the play-call), or if Jeffries (a veteran) doesn’t make a rookie decision, then we could easily be talking a 2-1 series with the Knicks in the lead!

But here’s the beautiful thing my Knicks fans: yes, NY is seemingly done this post-season; but that is not what you should be looking at. Instead, gain some refreshing perspective by taking a look back at the Isiah years. Take a look back at when Jamal Crawford was your team’s best scorer. Take a look back at when Eddy Curry was the best big man available.

There is more than one reason to be happy if you’re a Knicks fan.

This past offseason was dream-like for the Knicks. Sure, you didn’t get LeBron or any of the other talents down there in South Beach, but you did get the game’s best power-forward right now. Amar’e came into New York with all smiles. The spotlight was on him, and he gladly accepted the offer and the challenge. He came into the season putting up 30 points on consecutive nights, rallying the young guys around him, and giving New York-basketball a positive atmosphere that had not been seen in years.

Months later, the Carmelo-drama began to unfold. Ultimately, multiple players were sent packing to Denver in exchange for one of the league’s premier scorers in Carmelo Anthony, a former NBA Finals MVP in Chauncey, and two solid role players in Renaldo Balkman and vet Anthony Carter.

So as a Knicks fan, can you really be upset right now?

New York’s dog days are over guys. The Knicks are back!

Knickerbocker basketball is back, and the resurgence is being led by two of the game’s better stars in Carmelo and Amar’e.

I mean, let’s be real here: nobody with a high NBA IQ expected the Knicks to be in the Finals this year, even after the deal for Carmelo; and most didn’t even expect them to reach the East Finals.

But let me tell you something Knicks fans: you should still feel like champions.

The first set of short-term goals were accomplished on July 8th and February 21st. These are the dates Amar’e and Carmelo came to New York and finally brought hope back to those who had none.  All it is going to take is some time together, the addition of a role player or two, and the Knicks shall soon be right up there with the beasts of the East.

Who knows…I’ve heard rumors of other All-Stars joining forces in the Big Apple; but that discussion is for another time.

What I do know is that the Knicks have completed their first set of goals, and that was to bring the Knicks back to the playoffs with renewed star power.

With the first goal complete, you can bet that the next one is on its way: winning an NBA Championship.

So don’t you want to catch it all?

Well, I’ve got you covered NBA fans!

Check out the full TV schedule for the first round of the NBA Playoffs, with games scheduled to be televised on TNT, ABC, and ESPN.

And if you need a little opinion, here are my Eastern Conference and Western Conference Playoffs previews!

Also don’t forget to get at me on Twitter, as I’ll have continuous playoff updates to keep you satisfied!

Enjoy my fellow NBA fans!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Indiana at Chicago, 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN3D
Game 2 - Mon April 18, Indiana at Chicago, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21, Chicago at Indiana, 7:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Game 4 - Sat April 23, Chicago at Indiana, 2:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26, Indiana at Chicago, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, Chicago at Indiana, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, Indiana at Chicago, TBD, TNT

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Philadelphia at Miami, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/R
Game 2 - Mon April 18, Philadelphia at Miami, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21, Miami at Philadelphia, 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 - Sun April 24, Miami at Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5 * Wed April 27, Philadelphia at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Miami at Philadelphia, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, Philadelphia at Miami, TBD, TBD

Game 1 - Sun April 17, New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Tue April 19, New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 22, Boston at New York, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 24, Boston at New York, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/R
Game 5 * Tue April 26, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Atlanta at Orlando, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 19, Atlanta at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Game 3 - Fri April 22, Orlando at Atlanta, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN3D
Game 4 - Sun April 24, Orlando at Atlanta, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26, Atlanta at Orlando, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, Orlando at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, Atlanta at Orlando, TBD, TNT

___________________________________________________________________

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1 - Sun April 17, Memphis at San Antonio, 1:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 20, Memphis at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Game 3 - Sat April 23, San Antonio at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Mon April 25, San Antonio at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 5 * Wed April 27, Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, San Antonio at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TBD

Game 1 - Sun April 17, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/R
Game 2 - Wed April 20, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 22, L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 24, L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TNT

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Portland at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 19, Portland at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21, Dallas at Portland, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 - Sat April 23, Dallas at Portland, 5:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Mon April 25, Portland at Dallas, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, Dallas at Portland, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, Portland at Dallas, TBD, TNT

Game 1 - Sun April 17, Denver at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 20, Denver at Oklahoma City, 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 23, Oklahoma City at Denver, 10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/R
Game 4 - Mon April 25, Oklahoma City at Denver, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Wed April 27, Denver at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Oklahoma City at Denver, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, Denver at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD

Additional scheduling information will be furnished as soon as possible consistent with the need to fulfill league obligations.

If first-round series are completed in six games or less, the conference semifinals may move up to begin on either Saturday, April 30 or Sunday, May 1.

All games, except those televised on ABC, are available to be televised locally.

*If necessary
TBD – To Be Determined
R – ESPN Radio
ESPN3D – ESPN 3D

Schedules, and additional info accredited to NBA.com

The NBA playoffs are about to begin, and surely this is one of the most exciting playoffs I have seen in recent years. With new-look teams like Miami and New York on the prowl, we are sure to be in for a treat almost every night.

Then there are the young rising talents such as Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant, guys who are ready to prove to the NBA world that they are ready for the big show!

And let’s not forget the usual contenders like Los Angeles, San Antonio, Boston and the many other powerful teams seeking a ring!

Yes, the time has come!

And what better way to start my favorite time of year than to write and analyze each series’ matchups, advantages, disadvantages, and who I think will ultimately take it to the next round. And don’t forget, to get my real-time updates as the playoffs progress, you can get at me on Twitter as well!

Update: Click here to view the complete first round TV schedule.

Update: 2011 Western Conference Playoff preview!

Without further ado, I present to you my 2011 NBA Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference Edition.

(1) Bulls vs (8) Pacers

Season Series: Chicago won 3-1

You don’t just get a 60+ win season for no reason. It requires hard work, dedication, a great coaching effort, and you almost always need that star. And boy, the Bulls don’t just have a star, but also this season’s soon-to-be-named Most Valuable Player. Enough cannot be said of what Derrick Rose has become in the past couple of seasons. The Bulls know it, Chicago knows it, and the NBA knows it.

But it wasn’t just D.Rose who helped this Bulls squad reach seed No.1. Boozer, Noah, Thibodeau, Deng and the rest of Chicago’s defensive-minded squad had a lot to do with it as well.

On the other end, the Indiana Pacers come into this series with not that big of a chance. Coming into the playoffs with a losing record is never something to be proud of, but hey, you made it and the other 7 teams didn’t. So you must have had done something right, right?

And to be honest, this Pacers team doesn’t look too bad on paper.

If you are going to match up against one of the league’s speediest teams, why not have speed against speed, right? Well the Pacers might have a decent shot at keeping up with Rose, as their extremely quick point-guard Darren Collison will take the job against the league’s MVP. I’m not saying that Collison is going to stop Rose, but when you’ve played under guys like Chris Paul in New Orleans, it’s got to help, right?

Then there’s the Pacers leader: Danny Granger. The kid can score, attack the rim, shoot, and he has decent length on the perimeter. Averaging 20 points a game, Granger has proven that he will draw some defensive attention. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Luol Deng will match up against the still-rising-star.

Then there are the role players like Paul George, Brandon Rush, and Roy Hibbert. Solid contributors, but nothing that the league’s best defense can’t handle.

In the end, I can’t see Indiana winning more than a game. With guys like Boozer and Noah in the paint, it is going to be tough for slashers like TJ Ford, Darren Collison, and Paul George to attack the paint with any ease.

Let me also remind you again: the Bulls have the league’s MVP.

Chicago Bulls-Indiana Pacers Prediction: Bulls beat Pacers in 5

———-

(2) Heat vs (7) Sixers

Season series: Miami won 3-0

The time has come Heat fans. The Miami Heat are now in the NBA playoffs, and after a very up-and-down season, Miami has made it to the second starting line with a strong finish that has awarded them the East’s 2nd seed in the playoffs.

The trio of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh did what we all thought they would: finish as the best statistical trio in the NBA. LeBron’s scoring did go down, as did his steal and block numbers, but he finished with a career-high in FG percentage and averaged nearly the same amounts of assists and rebounds per game.

As for Wade, he also had a career high in FG percentage. He lost a point in scoring averages, and a couple in the assists department, but he did jump up his rebounding average by almost two rebounds a game.

If anyone’s numbers dropped, it was Bosh. All across the board, he his averages went down. At the end of the day, he ended up on a better team, and upped the most important statistic: the chance at winning a title.

Now, some might argue that the talents in South Beach were destined to destroy everything in their path, beat down opponents by 20 points a game, and finish with a record of 82-0. But let’s be real here: they are not unstoppable.

Miami comes into this series having swept the Sixers in three games. But don’t let that statistic fool you one bit my friends.

Led by the great coaching ability of ex-TNT analyst and Bulls coach Doug Collins, the Sixers seem to come into each night with the chip-on-the-shoulder attitude we like to see. Many folks didn’t see the 76ers making the playoffs this season. I mean, you have a really young roster, you have a huge contract in a never-100-percent-healthy Elton Brand, and you have to adjust to the style of a new coach. Let’s not forget the whole Allen Iverson departure.

But the point is this: the 76ers should not be slept on!

With a solid defensive system and a core of athletic freaks, Philadelphia is the type of team that can surprise anyone. On the court, the are led by the explosive Andre Iguodala, who might not have turned out into the player we had hoped for, but he sure is one hell of an athlete. Surrounded by a nice core of run-and-gun players like Thadeus Young, Louis Williams, Jodie Meeks and a few others, Philadelphia can tire you out in a hurry. As for the elder of the team, Elton Brand brings an inside presence, and great experience value to this young team. Think of what Kendrick Perkins did for OKC, but in a much lesser form.

I believe Philadelphia gives Miami a run for their money in about a game or two, but Miami comes out on top in each game as the Heat’s big three just proves way too much for the young Philadelphia squad. But much props goes to Doug Collins for a great coaching season! A definite top three, in my “Coach of the Year” race.

Miami Heat-Philadelphia 76ers Prediction: Heat beat Sixers in 4

———-

(3) Celtics vs (6) Knicks

Season series: Boston won 3-0

This is without a doubt the highlight of the Easter Conference first round! I mean, why would I put a picture of KG and Amar’e as my article thumbnail? It could’ve easily been LeBron or D.Rose, but I couldn’t do that!

This is easily the most interesting first-round matchup I have seen in recent years. Could this be a possible rivalry waiting to happen? I mean, the Red Sox and Yankees go way back, so why not a little Boston and New York rivalry NBA-style?

This series features two teams coming head-to-head that are seemingly going in two exact opposite directions.

Boston finished the season much bumpier than it had started, and much of it was due to injuries. Whether it was Shaq, ex-Celtic Perkins, Rondo, or anyone else, this Boston squad always seems to catch the eye of the injury-bug. But it wasn’t just injuries that plagued the C’s.

The trade that sent Perkins and Nate Robinson to OKC in exchange for Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic seems to have affected the team in a negative way. Whenever you watch them, you can sense something is missing, both mentally and physically. This will happen anytime a piece of your team’s core has departed, and well, the Celtics are experiencing it. It showed when they lost the heated match against Miami and the shocker out in DC.

But either way, Boston is the Eastern Conference’s defending champion, and there is no reason to believe they will not fight hard to defend their title. Doc Rivers is still pushing the strong defensive agenda of his team, and for the 3rd straight year his team has finished in the top five of the NBA’s defensive elite And to no surprise, while this team’s defensive mindset is set by Doc, it is led on the court by Rajon Rondo, who I believe will one day earn a Defensive Player of the Year honor. Need more defense? The C’s added two more guys this offseason in Shaquille O’neal and Delonte West to help on that end. Enough said!

Not only can this team defend, but they have an arsenal of scorers on their team. Whether it is the C’s sniper Ray Allen, or the team captain Paul Pierce, or even from guys off the bench like Delonte or Glen Davis, the Celtics can fill it up after they stop you.

Yes, the Celtics have shown signs of slowing down, but we can never underestimate the experience and approach of a former champion.

On the opposite end is a team that has nearly opposite features, but the same goal in mind: an NBA championship.

Yes, the New York Knicks await Boston in this enticing first-round series.

While New York was still adjusting to the recent acquisition of Amar’e, they later obtained yet another superstar in Carmelo Anthony. The idea of this tandem was a daydream for many, and people all over the NBA spectrum were pulling for this one to happen. It eventually would, as the Knicks would receive Carmelo along with his sideman in Denver Chauncey Billups. The trade significantly changed the look of the Knicks and Nuggets rosters, and most were surprised when the Nuggets began stacking on more W’s while the Knicks were piling on more L’s after the trade. Things seemed to be caving inward in New York, but luckily for them, things eventually settled down.

New York’s season ended with a 6-game win streak recently snapped, but things still have started to look upwards. Carmelo and Amar’e are beginning to understand how to play off eachother, while the other key players like Chauncey, Fields, Douglas, and Turiaf are learning how to play alongside the two mega-stars. Basically, as the Celtics began crashing downwards, the Knicks began to get into the groove of things – though Boston did beat New York to end the regular season.

So what can we expect from this Boston, and New York series?

Well for starters, I expect this one to be a very physical series. Both teams are stacked with brutes. Whether I’m talking about Shaq, KG, Amar’e, Turiaf, Pierce, or Carmelo, these guys like the physical side of the game. They like the banging, they like the hard drives to the rim, and they love the contact.

Most of the contact is going to come from the Garnett-Stoudemire matchup! I can picture it already: KG attempting to get into Amar’e's head; Stoudemire trying to jam one over KG; then KG going for the swats, getting the elbows involved, and making his presence felt with his strong interior play. This is probably the most enticing matchup in my opinion. But can KG’s knees keep up with Amar’e? We’ll have to see.

And we can’t forget Carmelo and Pierce, can we?

The two have nearly the same game. Both like to attack the basket off the dribble, but both also like to take the mid-range jumper in your face when their path to lane is closed off, and both even have a sweet post-game. This matchup will be great to watch for all NBA fans. If you don’t believe me, watch the matchup between Pierce and LeBron back in the ’08 conference semis. That was one hell of a matchup. But like KG, Paul Pierce has shown his age every now and then recently. Will Carmelo get this one?

Another huge matchup is going to be between the two floor generals: Chauncey and Rondo, two polar opposites who both have the same role. Chauncey is the guard that will elevate your team’s play to another level, while not being afraid to sink the dagger right in your face (See: Mr.Big Shot). And he has terrific vision out there on the court. As for Rondo, the kid still has yet to reach his prime (scary), and he plays with toughness whether it’s attacking the rim, using his quick hands for the robbery, or taking a body-blow for the charge.

Yes, these two are going to be great to watch. Both have the ability to dish the ball out and score in their own ways. Which will take it? Experience, or youth? We’re going to have to find out.

The reality is this: the New York Knicks are not a complete roster yet. They are still lacking a key role player or two, the chemistry they have is nowhere near what the C’s is, and they still have yet to fully understand how to play with one another.

So in the end, I’m going to take Boston in this one. The Knicks do fight this one out and hand the C’s a couple losses, but Boston is way too deep, too good, and too experienced to lose in round one. But expect a classic my friends!

Boston Celtics-New York Knicks Prediction: Celtics beat Knicks in 6.

———-

(4) Magic vs (5) Hawks

Season series: Atlanta won 3-1

Probably the closest series in the first-round, in my opinion. It doesn’t get much more typical than this. These two teams have played each other in the playoffs for the past few seasons. Each time, the Magic and Hawks were always solid teams. Is there a possible upset in the making here folks? Let’s examine.

The Orlando Magic began the season with a strange start. From the beginning, rumors were surfacing that Dwight would leave the team in 2012 and head for the gold in LA. So what did Otis Smith and the rest of Orlando’s front-office do? First, they traded Rashard Lewis’ huge contract to Washington in exchange for the recently suspended Gilbert Arenas. Then, they would trade away Marcin Gortat, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, and a pick to the Suns in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, and Earl Clark. All of this hoopla was to make the Orlando Magic a better, and more fit team to reach the NBA Finals…and to make the soon-to-be-named Defensive Player of the Year happier. This trade did give Orlando a great offensive look, but it hindered their defense a little. With the loss of Gortat, the Magic only had Dwight and Bass as their true big men.

Though it did take time, the Magic began to get the hang of things, and began pulling together strings of W’s. But like seemingly every other team this season, the Magic also had an up and down year, as the L’s shortly began to follow any time it looked like they had things figured out.

As for the Hawks, they were involved in trades as well. They were in search of a defensive-minded guard on the perimeter, and that is exactly what they got when they sent Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, and Mo Evans, along with their 2011 1st-round pick, to Washington in exchange for Kirk Hinrich and big man Hilton Armstrong. A bit too much if you ask me, but the Hawks got what they wanted.

So by the end of All-Star break, both teams were different. One had offense in mind, while the other had defense.

How will this whole thing go down?

Well for the Hawks, they simply schooled the Magic in the season series, taking them three games to none. However, no game was won by more than 10 points; so let’s not overreact here.

Looking back at the tape, the Hawks do not fear any of the Magic’s perimeter plays at all. Most of what I’ve seen was Joe Johnson slashing to the rim, kicking it out to Teague for the three or to Smith for the mid-range jumper. While Dwight did hold his own against Horford in the paint, the Hawks have been exposing the Magic’s wings.

As for Josh Smith, he seems to do a decent job at handling Howard during double-teams, but don’t expect too much of that in the playoffs, as the Magic do have the snipers set up from deep.

But the main battle isn’t going to come on the court, but off the bench. And no, I’m not talking players, but I’m talking coaches. Yes, Stan Van Gundy vs Larry Drew.

While the Magic have the inside game advantage almost each night, against any opponent, the Hawks seem to have an advantage on the wings against Orlando. So it’s is going to come down to which coach can get his team to execute the offense better and which coach can expose the matchups.

If that’s the case, I don’t see how Stan Van Gundy can lose this one.

He’s easily one of the smarter coaches in the NBA. You can put him up there with Phil and the other greats if you want in terms of knowing the game. In a series as closely talented as this one, it’s going to come down to X’s and O’s.

I see this series going six, maybe seven games. But I’m going to take my gut and go six. Al Horford does a good job of containing Howard, but the wear and tear in a seven game series against that guy will hurt you. This will force the extra big-men have to help, which will leave Turkoglu, Arenas, or Richardson open for the three, and that will be the storyline of this series.

Orlando Magic-Atlanta Hawks Prediction: Magic beat Hawks in 6

Thanks for reading NBA fans!

Since it’s almost that time, you know what that means, right? My NBA nuts sure do! It means that the NBA is about to dish out another magnificent NBA schedule, just for us on the magical December 25th.

So what’s in store?

Well, courtesy of the fellas at ABC and ESPN, we can watch each and every single game on national television. So don’t worry, while you’ll be enjoying the amazing cranberry sauce, tweeting your butt off, cleaning up the wrappings, or ripping them apart, you’ll be able to have the TV on in the background and enjoy some great NBA action!

Here’s the lineup:

Game 1 (Noon ET/ESPN)

Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks

Final Score:

Chicago Bulls – 95

New York Knicks – 103

What’s better than having a Christmas in New York? Really, what is? You have Radio City, you have the snow, you have the parades, and everything else that comes with an NY Christmas. But this year there’s one more thing to pay attention to: the New York Knicks.

With the Knicks having been on a win streak of 9 games, they are everything different from previous Knicks teams. They are actually a playoff contending team, and can do some damage come April. Most of the credit can go to MY current MVP, Amar’e Stoudemire, the more improved play of Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler. Props to rookie Landry Fields as well, whose been making a nice little run for ROY as well.

But with the Bulls, one of the East’s more improved teams coming in, the Knicks aren’t going to have a walk in the park. Derrick Rose continues to amaze me, season after season. He’s without a doubt, in the conversation of the A’s best point guards. Then when you have Joakim Noah, and the newly acquired Carlos Boozer on the block, your life is that much easier.

Look for fast-paced, physical play, and a great way to start your NBA Christmas!

Game 2 (2:30 PM ET/ABC)

Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic

Final Score:

Boston Celtics – 78

Orlando Magic – 86

Ah, yes. We’ve been accustomed to these two Eastern elites meeting up a few times a year. One being Christmas, a couple times in late March, and the rest in May.

Yes, the Celtics and Magic never cease to impress. The Magic might be struggling a bit at the moment, but without a doubt they are still a championship contending squad. It’s hard not to be, when you have the best big man in the game, a great head coach, and snipers all over the wing. And now they have made significant trades in hopes of bolstering their playoff chances. Could this be in time for Christmas? The Magic sure hope so.

As for the Celtics, they have the best record in the East, and continue to show us that they know where Ponce De Leon’s Fountain of Youth is hiding. Seriously, Ray Allen, KG, Paul Pierce, Shaq, and Jermaine O’neal? All these guys were MVP contenders from 2003-2006, and now they are playing on the same squad. What has that given us? Continued success, and hopes for a second NBA championship in 4 seasons.

I encourage you to watch this one, NBA nuts. No matter what you say, these two teams are almost bound to meet sometime in the playoffs.

Game 3 (5:00 PM ET/ABC)

Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers

Final Score:

Miami Heat – 96

Los Angeles Lakers – 80

The main event my friends. The big show, the one we’ve all been waiting forever. The red-hot, new-look Heat bring their talents to Los Angeles, and see for the first time ever what Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the rest of the defending champion Lakers are made of.

This is what we’ve been waiting for people. More star-studded than last years Cavaliers, and Lakers matchup, and you can assume that this one will be much flashier.

The Miami Heat had started the season very rusty, and were questioned up to their necks, but they sure have silenced the haters as of late, no? They are defending better than most teams in this league, and it shows. The Heat rarely give up anything over 100 ppg for the opposing team, which allows their offense to come even easier to them, if that is even humanly possible.

The trio of Wade, LeBron and Bosh is what I call the “pick-your-poison” offense, because either way you’re going to lose, so you might as well choose which way it will be dealt to you. As for the rest of the Heat, they have been playing their roles to a perfect T! Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo, James Jones, Erik Dampier..psh, perfect! There’s also a good chance that Heat sniper, Mike Miller, might be back by Christmas as well.

But hold up, don’t let anything I said fool you. The scorching Heat have been heating up, but the Lakers are still the defending champions, and with much reason. They are simply good!

Kobe Bryant is continuing to have another MVP-like season, and the same goes for Pau Gasol. It’s crazy when I think about it, but Kobe and Pau are both top ten, in this year’s MVP race. I don’t think many of you can argue that. Then there’s the rest of this Lakers squad. Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Matt Barnes each present trouble on the wing for any team. The Heat do have Wade and Bron, but it won’t be easy for either. Stick Ron and Barnes on both, and they will feel the pressure. Then there’s the return of Bynum, which could prove to be huge for the Lakers in this game. Will he expose to Heat in the center, or will Erik Dampier prove enough?

All something to watch NBA fans. Without a doubt, the NBA’s main course of action!

Game 4 (8:00 PM ET/ESPN)

Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder

Final Score:

Denver Nuggets – 106

Oklahoma City Thunder – 114

Congratulations to the Thunder! First ever NBA Christmas game in OKC, and with much reason! First, there’s Kevin Durant. No matter what, dude’s a monster. He has started the season in somewhat slow fashion, but don’t let that fool you, KD can play ball. Then, there’s the OKC fans! Are you kidding? These guys go bananas every time I watch the Thunder play, and just seem to be one of the better fan bases in the entire A.

The Nuggets and Thunder don’t seem to be favorites of anything at the moment, but that isn’t the point. This game is all about the marquee matchup at the small forward position. Melo, on Durant, Durant on Melo. Two of the league’s premier forwards, and two of the league’s best scorers. You can pretty much call this one a  shootout from a mile away. With each averaging over 24 ppg, it will be an “anything you can do, I can do better” type of battle.

Let’s not forget the current cloud surrounding Carmelo. It’s been looming ever since the talents were taken to South Beach, and it seems like it will never have an end. Will Carmelo even be around for this game? Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I’d give it up until the All-Star break, so no worries Nuggets fans.

In summation, this game will be for those of you who like the individualistic performances. It should be a great one, at that!

Game 5 (10:30 PM ET/ESPN)

Golden State Warriors at Portland Trailblazers

Well, I’m not going to lie. You look at this matchup, and you can’t help but laugh somewhat. Neither team is going to do a lot of damage in the postseason, and neither team is a lock for the postseason. So you might ask, what is there to look forward to? Well, that’s why I’m here!

The Warriors have to be one of the more electric teams in the NBA. When your backcourt consists of Monta Ellis, and Stephen Curry, there is basketball to watch at all times. Monta Ellis, in my mind, is making a nice run for MVP as well. Though he won’t get the award, he will have some really nice numbers at season’s end. The And 1 poster child, can almost do anything with a basketball.

Then there’s Curry. This kid is going to be special in a couple years. You can see it in him, almost like you can see it in Blake Griffin. The drive to get better continues to glow in the eyes of both. The difference is, Curry has one heck of a role model in Ellis.

As for the Blazers, they seem to be having one rough season, eh? First Oden is gone for the rest of the year, then Brandon Roy continues to get hammered? Not good, but things are beginning to progressively improve in Portland. Brandon Roy will most likely be available for this game, and the matchup of Roy and Ellis will be nothing short of exciting!

It should be nice watching the young guys like Aldridge, Fernandez, Batum, Curry, Roy and Ellis perform on the 25th.

If that’s not enough to keep you happy this Christmas season, I don’t know what is folks!

But honestly, Christmas is a little more than basketball, so make sure while you’re enjoying LeBron throw one down, or watching Kevin Durant net one at the buzzer, make sure you’re with your loved ones, and just enjoy the company.

From me to you, have a happy and safe holidays sports fans!

Enjoy!

I agree: of all the Empire State of Mind parodies, this is clearly the best one…and the choruses are cleverly hilarious.

So yeah, LeBron, as you’re deciding where to go this month just remember that if you go to the Nets, despite how well done the song is from a production standpoint, this is New Jersey’s capital.

I know Cleveland and Akron aren’t exactly the lost cities of Atlantis, but would this really be much of an upgrade? (Not to mention, the team won 12 games all year!!!)

And before anyone says, “Well that’s just Newark, the team is moving to Brooklyn soon anyway.” Yes, that’s true, but not right away.

And for others who will say, “Well forget about the Nets! He’s coming to the Knicks anyway.” Oh yeah? You sure about that?

I find it a little hard to believe that LeBron would want to associate himself with this kind of “winning” history:

Before too long, even the great LeBron would probably start playing like this once the debilitating osmosis of the Knicks uniform took over:

Anyway, just a couple of random thoughts for LeBron to keep in mind while he watches Game 7 tonight and dreams of someday winning one of them.

This whole post was probably pointless though…you know, since he’s just going to end up in Chicago anyway.

As you know, I have not been a big fan of ESPN’s pretty obvious agenda to get LeBron James to go to New York. Sometimes I feel like ESPN New York should be rebranded as ESPN Go To New York LeBron.

Here is the most current example, by none other than Ian O’Connor, who has never met a moment that couldn’t be seized upon to pontificate about the inevitability of LeBron going to NY:

Across the way, LeBron was sitting in a chair at his locker, soaking his feet in a tub of ice. He eventually showered, threw on a black-and-white sweatsuit and headed for a postgame podium to praise the Celtics, acknowledge that his elbow “limited me some” and declare he’s “going to approach this summer with the right mindset.”

The mindset of a great entertainer who looked and sounded like he’s on his way to Broadway.

Unfortunately for O’Conner, and in ESPN’s defense, this viewpoint was not shared by all at the WWL last night.

Chris Broussard, when pressed for an answer, rightfully said that he had no idea but that gun-to-head he’d pick LeBron to end up Chicago. And at the True Hoop blog, Chad Ford published a quick blog post stating that three NBA GMs he talked to identified Chicago as the current leader for LeBron.

Obviously no one has any idea, and it’s all speculation meant to rile up rabid, insatiable sports fans like myself, but one thing is certain: the general assumption is that Chicago is a real player in LeBron Sweepstakes.

So, based on Ian O’Conner’s inexplicable conclusion that LeBron was “on his way to Broadway”, you’d think that his counterparts at ESPN Chicago would be ready to sieze on the Windy City’s LeBron momentum, right?

Wrong.

Back on Wednesday, before we knew the outcome of Game 6, Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago actually pulled his head out of his city’s rear end and placed any Chitown narcissism he may have aside long enough to write something that – unlike anything I’ve ever read from O’Connor – was actually objective. (Full disclosure: I haven’t read much from O’Connor, just his stuff about LeBron to New York. Please correct if I’m wrong in labeling him a completely subjective shill for NYC.)

From Greenberg’s article, entitled “Bolts from Cavs? That’s unreal, LeBron“:

I guess I’m rooting for Cleveland, although I find no small sense of schadenfreude with another Cleveland meltdown. Like David Stern, I’m hoping James stays in Cleveland, and not just for the long-suffering galoots who buy Brady Quinn jerseys and hang Fathead stickers of Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the walls of their suburban basements.

Pairing Chris Bosh with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah would make the Bulls title contenders, too.
No, I think if James leaves, he’s giving away the only part of him that is truly real, his attachment to his Rust Belt upbringing. In New York, he’ll be another star, the biggest sports star to be sure, but he won’t be a hero.

…

I know it’s heretical to say as a Chicago sportswriter, but I really hope it’s with Cleveland.

Greenberg does state – accurately – that Chicago would be a better destination for LeBron than New York if his true goal is to win; but what I respect is that he doesn’t just dismiss Cleveland as some second rate podunk town that somehow isn’t deserving of LeBron.

(Memo to New York: The Akron/Cleveland area raised LeBron. Who was the last super-duper star to come from the vaunted streets of New York City? Sebastian Telfair? Get over yourselves.)

I haven’t read what’s been written elsewhere by Chicago writers to know if Greenberg’s opinion is a prevailing one, but I do know that the humility of his opinions is indicative of the Midwestern disposition I admire, was raised with, and try to adhere to, whereas O’Connor represents the arrogance and dismissiveness that East Coasters – especially New Yorkers – have towards other parts of the country.

Am I generalizing? You’re damn right I am. But you might want to think twice before arguing with that last paragraph. I don’t think you’ll have much ground to stand on.

Anyway, there really is no greater point to this post than to simply point out the dichotomy in the mindsets of these two cities when it comes to LeBron. What truly disappoints me though, far more than anything O’Connor or any other NY writer has written, is that the last few days have forced me to remove the rose-colored glasses with which I’ve always viewed LeBron…and I haven’t really liked what I’ve seen.

Sadly, for those of us who want to see him stay in Cleveland and truly believe it’s the best thing for him long-term, I’ve sensed far more NYC arrogance than Midwestern humility in James’ recent body language, actions, and words.

In conclusion, it’s probably best to let a writer without a Chicago or New York or even Cleveland viewpoint provide the closing thoughts to this post. Adrian Wojnarowski, who nailed it after Game 5, what say you now?

Winning is nice and all, and James will eventually get himself a title or two. He’s too talented. At the end of his seventh NBA season, James lost one more chance at it Thursday, and it hardly felt like the end of the world for him. He’ll get over it fast because that enormous ego will be nourished with the courtship of his lifetime, his free agency, and perhaps the hardest part will come sometime in July when James has to make a choice, pick a team and play there. Only then, the wooing of LeBron James will be complete and you have to wonder: How will King James ever live without that?

And now we wait, with the vacuum of time between now and July sure to be filled by more Ian O’Connors and more Jon Greenbergs and everything in between.

I’m exhausted by it already.

**********

* – LeBron James photo credit: AP Photo/Elise Amendola via ESPN.com

Both teams won last week’s season opener, but the Cowboys were gashed by Tampa Bay on the ground for 174 yards in the 34-21 victory. Carnell “Cadillac” Williams picked up 97 yards on only 13 carries while Derrick Ward gained another 62 yards on 12 attempts. Each back found the end zone once.

If New York gets that kind of productivity, and the defense plays as it did against Washington, we could see an upset in Big D.

The G-Men have history against them, however. Dallas has won four of the last five meetings, and three of the last four in Dallas.

Here is all of the viewing information for this weekend’s game:

New York Giants (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

• Giants-Cowboys Date: Sunday, September 20
• Giants-Cowboys Time: 8:20
• Giants-Cowboys TV Network: NBC
• Giants-Cowboys Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
• Giants-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -2.5
• Giants-Cowboys Over-Under: 44
• Giants-Cowboys Preview — (Dallas Sports Fans)
• StubHub: Giants-Cowboys tickets as low as $40!

In last December’s game at Texas Stadium, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was sacked eight times, picked off twice, and did not throw a touchdown pass in the 20-8 Dallas victory. This is another reason why New York running game is so vital. Jacobs ran for 117 yards in last season’s Giants victory in New York, but the big bruiser missed the blowout loss in Dallas.

If the Giants are unable to get anything going on the ground, DeMarcus Ware and Co. will be able to pin their ears back and head right for Manning. Surprisingly, Dallas was unable to register a sack last week in Tampa after Ware led the NFL with 20 sacks a season ago. Tampa quarterback Byron Leftwich completed 61 percent of his passes and threw for 276 yards as the Buccaneers totaled 450 yards of offense.

For Dallas, the recipe for success is eerily similar.

The Cowboys have their own 1-2 punch in the backfield. Establishing Marion Barber and Felix Jones on the ground will open things up for Tony Romo. Dallas rushed for 118 yards against the Bucs, led by Barber, who had 79 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Romo enjoyed a superb opener, throwing for 353 yards and three touchdowns, including seven passes to Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams for a combined 221 yards. It’s clear that the Cowboys don’t miss Terrell Owens. Romo’s efforts this past Sunday made up for the lackluster defensive performance in the Sunshine State.

While Dallas’ defense was underwhelming in victory, New York’s unit overwhelmed Jason Campbell and the Redskins. They held the Redskins to 272 yards – 85 rushing – and forced two turnovers with three sacks, including 1 1/2 by NFC defensive player of the week Justin Tuck. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora, back after missing last year with a knee injury added a sack and a forced fumble of Campbell. He then returned the fumble 37 yards for a score in the 23-17 win.

Manning was not spectacular against Washington, but was efficient, going 20 of 29 for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception, completing passes to seven receivers.

That kind of efficiency begins with pass protection and a solid running game. Both teams have basically the same strengths. It’s just a matter of which squad can establish the ground game early, pressure the quarterback, and create a turnover – something Dallas has struggled to do the last few years.

The clubs have already begun the war of words, with Jacobs and Ware both saying they “hate” the other team. It would seem the passion on the field in this storied NFC East rivalry has finally caught up to the passion in the stands.

The passionate ones in the seats could be the difference in this game, if Dallas can feed off its crowd in the home opener. The Giants will do all they can to silence the expected sell-out crowd. That could be easier to do with their 260-pound tailback on the field.

With Jacobs in the lineup, this is a completely different Giants team, and New York just might be leaving Big D with a big W.

**********

* – Eli Manning – Dallas photo credit: New York Daily News

(Photo Art by Midwest Sports Fans. Click on image for full-size view.)

The biggest story in the 2008-09 NBA season has had nothing to do with the actual play on the floor. Sure, the 21-2 start by the Boston Celtics as they defend their title has been nice. Derrick Rose has given Chicago Bulls fans legitimate hope for the future of the franchise. And Mo Williams has provided a tremendous boost to the Cleveland Cavaliers offense in the Cavs’ impressive start to the season.

But the biggest story so far this year has been about 2010, and specifically the amazingly loaded free agent class that is anticipated to hit the market at that time. The headliner of the 2010 free agent class is, of course, LeBron James. And if you need a reminder of LeBron’s greatness, let’s take a quick trip back down memory lane to my favorite LeBron memory: his ridiculous playoff performance against Detroit in which he led the Cavaliers to a Gave 5 playoff win by scoring 29 of the team’s last 30 points:

Already this season, the New York Knicks have traded away players to improve their salary cap situation for 2010 while decreasing their chances of winning now, in 2008. New head coach Mike D’Anmustache basically admitted that the Knicks were looking towards the future with their moves. Other teams have followed similar tacts, making moves that are more about payroll and salary cap than improving a franchise’s immediate chances of winning.

Sure, some owners may be using the guise of positioning themselves for 2010 to save money now in response to the economic downturn in America — but no one is doubting that the primary goal of franchises like the Knicks, the Pistons, and the Nets, among others, is to have the necessary cap space to make a strong run at King James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and the other superstars who will be free agents in 2010.

A few weeks ago, when the Cavaliers visited New York, much was made in the media about the potential for a 2010 marriage between LeBron James and the Knicks. LeBron has not been bashful about proclaiming his goal of being a “global icon” and has certainly not gone out of his way to put the kibosh on the rumors of his interest in being in a bigger market like New York. Here is video of the controversial interview that LeBron James gave to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN back on November 25th:

LeBron took some heat from the likes of Charles Barkley for this interview, but since that little blurb of controversy the Cavaliers have been on a roll.

Since their November 25th meeting in New York with the Knicks, the Cavaliers have won 10 straight games — and done so in dominating fashion, winning by an average of 20.2 points. For all of those who criticized LeBron for not putting his current team first, and being too focused on the future, he has allowed his play on the court and the success of team to do the talking. This easily looks like the best team that LeBron has played with since he entered the NBA, and the Cavs and Celtics appear to be on a collision course towards the Eastern Conference Finals for a likely meeting against the Lakers in the Finals.

But how small is the window of opportunity for the Cavaliers to win an NBA title with LeBron James? Many people think it’s a done deal that he will bolt Cleveland after next season. Cleveland fans, conditioned to expect heartbreak from the Cavaliers (Jordan over Ehlo), Indians (Edgar Renteria off Jose Mesa), and Browns (too many examples to list), are already stricken with anxiety over losing the most sensational athlete to play in Cleveland since Jim Brown. And what makes LeBron James even more special and beloved is that he is a hometown kid, growing up in nearby Akron.

While Cleveland fans may be pessimistic by nature, and understandably so given their star-cross sports history, they are also fiercely loyal and passionate — and you can expect a full court press of love for their King over the next two years in an effort to convince him to stay.

One example is LeBron2010.com, where they are currently accepting donations for a billboard to be placed in Cleveland that will implore LeBron to stay home. The “Our Plea” page on LeBron2010.com includes a sobering reminder for all Cleveland sports fans:

Albert Belle: Left Cleveland.
Manny Ramirez: Left Cleveland.
Jim Thome: Left Cleveland.
The Cleveland freaking Browns: Left Cleveland.
LeBron James: ??

Another such example is a new website that just went up from the same Cleveland zealots who gave us www.cowher09.com. The site is called SaveLeBron.com, and only has 311 views as of this posting, but has not even really been officially launched. You can, however, go to Save LeBron right now and sign the petition they have started to show LeBron James how many people hope he stays in Cleveland. The picture at the top of this post was inspired by my first visit to Save LeBron, and by reading the site’s tagline: Why be an icon, when you can be a savior?

That line changed my thinking about LeBron James’ future.

I am not from Cleveland, nor am I a die-hard Cavaliers fan. I root for them peripherally, because I am more a fan of players in the NBA than any individual team and have always loved LeBron James. While I’ve always wanted to see him stay in Cleveland to fulfill the fairy tale of the local kid who leads the hometown team to great success, I’ve been of the opinion that LeBron should take his talents to a bigger market to maximize his exposure potential and fulfill his own goal of becoming a global icon.

I’m not so sure that this will actually serve his best interests anymore.

New York, LA, and Chicago are all bigger media markets than Cleveland and, on the surface, seem like they would allow LeBron James to further his personal interests much moreso than Cleveland. But what these markets do not offer is the one thing that Cleveland does: unconditional love and respect from his hometown fans that he will never be able to duplicate anywhere else, and the potential to single-handedly lift an entire city that he has called home for his entire life.

The narrative of LeBron James’ historic career will be infinitely more compelling if he stays in Cleveland and, undoubtedly, delivers multiple championships to his hometown. Should be jump for a city like New York, the narrative may get more immediate exposure — but it will be far less compelling and heart-working, and exceedingly more complicated. New York may offer more money at the end of the day, but that money comes with increased pressure and the “support” of fans who will turn their back on you in an instant if you don’t deliver multiple championships.

LeBron should ask Alex Rodriguez about playing in New York. ARod is one of the most talented and productive players in the history of baseball, but he gets no love or respect in New York. Sure, he brings it on himself somewhat by making poor PR decisions and struggling in the clutch — but I have to think that part of his struggles are created by trying to live up to the pressure created by the New York media and the mindset of the fans. It is like a vicious cycle that has chewed up and spit out many great players before, and will continue to do so in the future.

Cleveland will never treat LeBron this way, assuming he remains the upstanding, hard-working, and team-first individual he has been throughout his career. Fans in Cleveland may get frustrated at losses, but they appreciate hard work and honest effort. The expectations in New York are win at all costs; the expectations in Cleveland are play hard, give us everything you’ve got, and do everything to win — but we’ll support you as long as you show us the respect of leaving it all on the floor.

Who wouldn’t rather play in that type of environment, for their hometown fans, than being a hired gun in a cutthroat city like New York that only “loves” you if you win all the time?

Plus, the contract money will be equivalent. The NBA has a salary cap, unlike baseball, so the Knicks can’t just pony up $300 million for LeBron and blow Cleveland out of the water. Cleveland will do whatever it has to do to keep LeBron and pay him as much or more than any other team. The difference in money could ostensibly be from endorsements and exposure, and for many players I can see this being a valid argument. Johan Santana will have a lot more opportunities to make money outside of his baseball contract in New York than he did in Minnesota; but Johan Santana does not transcend baseball, he does not transcend sports.

LeBron James does. And he has the Nike machine behind. He could get infinite exposure and endorsement opportunities playing in Alaska. He may go down as one of the five best athletes in American sports history by the time his career is done. A lesser star may need the media spotlight of New York to become a global icon. All LeBron James needs to do is bring titles home to Cleveland, which he will do if he stays — and possibly begin doing even before 2010. As long as he wins and maintains his clean-cut image of success, LeBron James will remain the most popular and exposed American athlete regardless of if he’s in New York.

I have also heard rumors that LeBron has some type of ridiculous escalator clause in his contract with Nike should he end up in New York. I can see the logic on Nike’s part — but I disagree with it. LeBron can become an icon of the fickle love of New York — whose loyalty is to championships, not to LeBron — or he can lift an entire city that loves him unconditionally by staying in Cleveland. If LeBron goes to New York, he becomes one of many who stands out slightly because of his prodigious talents. But he would be just another who followed the money to New York. If he stays in Cleveland, LeBron James further separates himself from so many who came before him by choosing loyalty and home over being a mercenary for money. Global icons are created by doing things differently, by breaking new ground — not by following the formula that so many other before have followed.

Case in point, Tiger Woods has become a global icon not because he bases himself out of New York, but because he has broken new ground in his sport and won consistently. He transcends media markets and he has broken through the ceiling of exposure that was supposed to be possible for a golfer. Well, most people seem to think that there is a cap on “how big” someone can get playing in a second-tier media market like Cleveland. For most people that is probably true. Like Tiger Woods, LeBron James transcends not only his own sport but all sports; and he also transcends the purported ceiling of exposure available to himself in Cleveland.

Icons are a dime a dozen, but the opportunity to truly be a savior is rare. LeBron James is a uniquely gifted basketball player and personality who has a legitimate opportunity to be the savior of sports in his hometown. That is transcendent — and global icons are defined by the magnitude of their transcendence.

LeBron James will succeed no matter where we he plays. He will ultimately win championships no matter what city he is in. And he will continue to transcend his sport and develop a resume of accomplishments that will eventually place him among the most successful athletes of all-time. But to reach the rarified air of global icon that he aspires to, LeBron James needs to be different and do something different than those before him. Michael Jordan already paved the way for becoming a superstar and a global icon by winning in a top-level media market. If LeBron James goes to New York, all he can be is the next Michael Jordan.

If LeBron James stays in Cleveland, and undoubtedly becomes the savior of sports in his hometown, he will be breaking new ground and paving a new path. That is what a global icon does: something different than has been done before.

Tiger Woods is a global icon because he won consistently and was the savior of an entire sport. Michael Jordan is a global icon because he won consistently and was the savior of the NBA after the tumult of the 1970s and 1980s. Have we ever seen an athlete become a global icon because they literally became the singular savior of sports for an entire city?

Not that I can think of, and it is the reason why LeBron James should stay in Cleveland: not just because it is in the best interests of his hometown, but because it is in his own personal best interests as well.

What do you think?

After you go and sign the petition at SaveLeBron.com and donate for the billboard at LeBron2010.com, use the comments section to give your reasons for why LeBron James should stay in Cleveland. And if you disagree, voice that opinion too. No single decision will define the future landscape of the NBA like where LeBron plays after 2010. Let’s debate it here and try to gauge what Midwest sports fans think about this issue in general.

What was the best city to be a sports fan in 2008?

What was the worst city to be a sports fan in 2008?

I think the best city argument can come down to a few different cities.

1. Boston

Positive: Super Bowl runner up, Return to NBA dominance with their first championship since the 80′s, and another post season run in baseball.

Negatives: The Tom Brady injury, Tom Brady went to Michigan, lost the super bowl in which they were heavily favored and ruined their historical season.

2. New York

Positive: Their improbable super bowl win puts them in contention for the year.

Negative: the Yankees didn’t make the playoffs this year for the first time since the early 90′s, Brett Favre moved there.

3. Philadelphia

Positive: First World Series win in over 20 years.

Negative: Franchise QB doesn’t know the rules of football.

4. Detroit – Positive: NHL championship…which is pretty neat…I guess; finally got rid of Matt Millen; Pistons made another post season run.

Negative: Detroit Lions still winless after 10 games, the Detroit Tigers in general, and it’s in Michigan.

I don’t think you can argue that Seattle was the worst city in which to be a sports fan this year…maybe worst of all time.

Postives: ………coffee?

Negatives: Lost NBA team to Oklahoma City, Kept WNBA team, Mariners were basement dwellers, the Seahawks are horrible and apparently the Space Needle doesn’t actually go to outer space.

What city do you think was the best?

Worst?

Leave your comments below so we can debate them.