Not only will we get to see the many stars the league has to feature, but it’s going to be the first time in a long while. You can bet that the players are just as excited as the fans, and it’s time to get back to the sport we all know and love.

Photo source: Bull City State of Mind

So while you’re enjoying the turkey, cranberry sauce, or even fruitcake (for those of you with horrible taste), don’t forget to have the tele on to witness ‘Bron throwing one down or to watch CP3 make his season debut in Lob City. And just to make sure you don’t miss a beat, below I have the complete TV schedule alongside my preview for each of the games!

Also be sure to follow me on twitter for the latest in all things NBA!

Without further ado, here is my official analysis & TV schedule for your NBA Christmas!

NBA Christmas Day TV Schedule:

Christmas Day Games: Previews & Analysis

Game 1: Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks

Once again the matchup of Boston v New York comes to life in the world of sports, and once again on an NBA Christmas!

What makes it so much different this time around? Two teams going in opposite directions.

The Boston Celtics come into this game with a lot of negatives in their path, one being the loss of one of their younger players in Jeff Green for the entire season and another being the clear fact that this is the last shot that Boston’s trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have at a title. While Rajon Rondo will still be the same great point guard we know and love, and Boston will continue to display great team defense, does the ‘Big Three’ have enough in the tank to play 66 games in 123 days?

It’ll certainly show against the Knicks, who have three of their best players in the prime of their career: Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler.

The Knicks are coming into this game with something to prove to the world: we are ready to compete for an NBA Championship. Heck, even head coach Mike D’Antoni believes it. So who’s to say they can’t?

The scoring is always going to be there from Melo & Amar’e, and now with solid defenders like newly acquired Chandler and rookie Iman Shumpert, the Knicks’ chances are better than ever.

A defensive appetizer for your Christmas day!

Game 2: Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks

Every premier event has it’s main event. Well ladies and gentlemen, main events don’t get any bigger than this, especially on Christmas day!

A rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals on the first day of the 11-12 regular season, what more is there to say?

Image source: AP via SI.com

For the Heat, this game means everything. It’s a chance to prove to the world that they yet again have the will to fight against adversity; it’s a chance at redemption against a Dallas team that took them out in 6; and it’s a chance to begin a season many are calling historic with a victory.

The Heat are back at their title chasing, and this time they have a very strong season under their belt. The signing of Shane Battier gives LeBron & Wade some extra help on the wing and a great presence in the locker room. Chris Bosh is back with some added weight, and the rest of the Heat roster is ready to rally around the ‘Big Three’ once again. Is this the year we finally witness this Heat team win a ring?

They hope so.

For the Dallas Mavericks this is all about proving to the world that the Heat didn’t lose the NBA Championship, but rather that Dallas won it on the back of all-time great Dirk Nowitzki and the great supporting cast. The only difference now is Dallas has a new look. Losing Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler, and JJ Barea is going to hurt this team, but by adding Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, and Delonte West, Dallas now seems to have a much stronger hold out on the wing, especially defensively.

For both teams this will be a statement game, and the start at another run for a title. Let the festivities begin.

Game 3: Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers

Two teams that have much to prove to the world, the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers, both faced ugly playoff exits last year after very strong seasons. So can they begin their campaigns for title chases this year with a victory?

For the Bulls, it’s very evident that they still have the bad taste in their mouth from the Eastern Conference Finals loss against Miami. So now it’s up to D.Rose and company to come back hitting the ground running, and it should be much easier this time around as they finally got what they were looking for in Richard Hamilton: a seasoned 2-guard, capable of creating his own shot, spacing the floor, and helping Rose out on the wing. Not only did they acquire a solid addition, but they’re coming back with a healthier Carlos Boozer, an improved Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, and now have the hurt of a big ECF loss to drive them.

This might be enough to propel them into another Eastern Conference Finals.

But standing in their way on Christmas are the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now, much negativity can be said about this Lakers team; they’re all dazed from the way things went this past off-season, they won’t be able to adapt to Mike Brown’s new system, or Kobe Bryant isn’t healthy enough. While all of these can be factors throughout the season, let me remind you that this roster is still very good. Kobe Bryant will always bring 25-7-7. I don’t care what bone in his body is broken, this man can hoop. Pau Gasol is still one of the top power forwards in the league, and I expect Andrew Bynum to come out very strong. He’s gained weight, worked at the post-game this past off-season, and is straight up sick of hearing the ‘injury-gossip.’ What a treat for Kobe & co. to have the opportunity to shut the haters up on Christmas.

So expect a great matchup between two championship contenders.

Game 4: Orlando Magic @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Another great treat from the wonderful David Stern (cough). Two of the league’s most exciting, and talented stars go head to head. Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant are always must-watch-TV, especially at the start of a season. But unfortunately both stars don’t have teams playing at the same level.

For the Orlando Magic, this past off-season has been disrupted by numerous trade rumors for their big man, Dwight, and the rumors will continue until No.12 is eventually traded. While Dwight continues to say how much he loves the city and community of Orlando, it’s becoming quite evident that the players he is surrounded by won’t give him another chance at a championship anytime soon.

So enjoy Dwight in a Magic uni while you can, because it won’t last much longer.

As for the Thunder, expect them to come out surging against a morale-low Magic squad. Kevin Durant continues to get better, scary I know, and is accompanied with one of the more ‘together’ rosters in the league. Russell Westbrook has been working on his outside game this off-season, as has James Harden, while Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka have worked on their post-game. Let’s not also forget that this is a Thunder team that fought all of the way to a Western Conference Final, and the fact that they are coming back even better?

Scary. NBA Finals scary if you ask me.

Game 5: Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors

To end your NBA Christmas, Stern and his little Elves dished out a game that they thought would be a bit more low-key than the rest. Little did they know that after they had made this schedule, the league’s best point guard in the league would team up with Blake Griffin and the Clippers.

Image credit: Mel Blackmon/CBS via CBSLocal.com

The Clippers literally went from a potential lottery team to a possible NBA title contender. Now don’t have a heart attack, the key word here is possible.

The trade that shipped off Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and numerous draft pick  landed the Clips CP3. In separate signings, LA was able to acquire swingman Caron Butler and ‘Mr.Big Shot’ Chauncey Billups to accompany Chris Paul at the 2-guard. On paper this Clippers team looks solid: the league’s best point guard, and I believe the the best power forward in Blake Griffin, and a solid supporting cast consisting of DeAndre Jordon, Chauncey, Caron, Eric Bledsode, etc.

But as we’ve seen in the past, on paper doesn’t always turn into rings.

On the other side of this game are the Golden State Warriors. While they now have newly appointed head coach Mark Jackson, they still have more work to do. Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis should put in some good work against CP3, but the main issue lies down on the block and on the bench. Golden State attempted to land Nene, Tyson Chandler, and even Marc Gasol. But to come up empty-handed, leaves the Warriors with nearly the same roster as last season.

Expect the Clippers to start the season having a field day in Golden State.

Thanks for reading, and happy holidays NBA nerds!

His team is getting a divorce and so is his wife. The mighty Los Angeles Lakers are in transition and so is Kobe Bryant’s personal life. A change of scenery and sidekick could be just what he needs.

The Lakers could be supplanted by the Los Angeles Clippers this season for best team in Hollywood. Out of every possible insult for the Lakers, this one would hurt the most.

The Lakers’ owner is in failing health and it looks like his sons and daughter are most interested in balancing the family’s books. So, what’s the solution for the rebuilding Lakers?

Give Kobe his out, then play out the season and plan for next year.

The Lakers admitted they can’t make a profit this season when they tried to trade away Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom and then ended up giving away Odom to the Mavs for draft picks.

It’s a sin to give away a player as good as Odom.

He was Robin to Kobe’s Batman. He did everything, from Sixth Man of the Year to enforcer and clutch shooter to beautiful left-handed moves and drives to the bucket.

Odom was always the Lakers’ insurance. Every time Andrew Bynum went down with an injury, it was always Odom that was there to make things right.

Bynum will be hurt again and the Lakers are getting old.

This year, in more than it’s been in a long while, the West in the NBA is wide open. The winner of the Western Conference will more than likely be a new version NBA Finalist, a team on the rise with both youth and experience, like Oklahoma City.

Kobe’s legendary status as a player has limited years left, maybe 2 to 3 more seasons, tops. He’s not able to turn the switch on and off like he used to. He can still win titles, but he needs more help than he ever needed before.

Who does Kobe need most to win another championship? Easy answer, the same answer any other player would say: Superman.

Kobe won before with Superman, starring Shaquille O’Neal. Once again, Kobe can win with Superman, but this time, Superman is Dwight Howard.

Doesn’t matter if this tandem hooks up in L.A. or Orlando, but the league needs it to happen. These two were meant for each other at these stages of their careers.

Kobe and Dwight together easily trumps LeBron-DWade and Bosh.

If it can’t happen in Los Angeles, than make it happen in Orlando. Maybe this is meant to be a one-time, one-year run for them. Maybe Orlando goes for it this year to win a championship and lets Howard go to free-agency for next year.

If the vision was to have Chris Paul, Kobe, and Dwight together and the money wasn’t going to be right, then surely Jameer Nelson can do his best Paul impersonation and make it work.

Kobe could be traded the following year, too. Heck, in the wheeling-dealing NBA, anything can get done, if the players put up enough of a stink. Nobody wants whiny players.

If Kobe’s gonna whine, let him go. If Dwight wants Kobe, let him have him…at least for one year.

Can anyone say Kobe for Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu?

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Howard Alperin is Managing Editor of AmericanizeSoccer.com.

Just as long as there isn’t another lockout anytime soon people.

We can all agree that the NBA lockout was a time of confusion, anger, and uncertainty for the league we all know and love, but thankfully David Stern and Co. have found a way to get this season underway with a 66-game schedule; which is better than nothing, right?

With the season beginning on Christmas Day, there is a short time for training camps, free agency, and for teams to tune up their rosters to their liking; and as always, there are rumors flying around all over the place. I’ve heard some pathetic ones, but I’ve also heard a few legit ones. Care to know what is true and what is not? I’ve got you covered!

Also be sure to follow me on twitter to keep updated!

Image credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images via Bleacher Report

Dwight Howard Rumors

The big fella has been on everyone’s radar since the beginning of the 2010 NBA season. As unfair as it has been for the Orlando Magic to endure all of the media scrutiny regarding where No. 12 will end up, it now seems that Dwight will actually be leaving his Orlando castle.

But to where?

It’s become evident that every team would love to get their hands on the big-man, but when it comes down to it there are only two teams that have a shot at for him: the New Jersey (Brooklyn) Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Both teams have the trade assets and enticing pieces to put around Howard to make a run come playoff time.

Dwight Howard to the Lakers

For the Lakers, the talks have been mainly about creating a package that would center around Andrew Bynum and possibly Lamar Odom.

Enticing to Orlando? Maybe, and it just might be the most intriguing, as they can easily fill the loss of Dwight with whom I believe to be the next best big-man in the game in Bynum.

Dwight Howard to the Nets

As for the Nets, the most realistic package would revolve around Brook Lopez, draft picks, and a couple of other pieces.

While New Jersey clearly can’t match any offer the Lakers throw out talent-wise, they can give the Magic better draft-picks and the ability to clear up more cap space.

While there have been reports of other teams, I’d advise you not to take them seriously. It will come down to these two teams.

Chris Paul Rumors

On the other end of rumors we have Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the game. Years of weak runs with New Orleans have fueled rumors of CP3 leaving the NBA-owned Hornets, and if there ever is a time that the guard is to be headed out, it’s now!

In the past Paul has been involved in rumors almost regularly, but what makes this time different is that he himself has stated that he wants out. To be even more specific, his agent has stated that Paul wants to play with the Knicks.

Chris Paul to the Knicks

Is that possible? Let’s examine.

Obviously the Knicks would love to get CP3; I mean who wouldn’t? But due to the fact that there is a monster-of-a-team down in South Beach to compete against in the East, it’s evident New York recognizes they’ll need a bit more star power to contend.

While that is all fine and dandy, there is only one issue: the Knicks don’t have any enticing pieces to offer.

Just take a look at their roster if you don’t believe me. All of the potential pieces New York once had ended up departing in order to obtain Carmelo, and surely the Hornets don’t want to give up their franchise player for a few draft picks and a sub-part talent.

It’s fair to say that if the Knicks want the superstar talent of Chris Paul, they’ll need to work magic in a 3-team trade, or wait till the summer of 2012 to sign him.

Chris Paul to the Lakers

And once again we have the Lakers trying to get their hands on another star, and why not? They certainly have talent on their roster, so it could just be a matter of who and when.

Reports recently surfaced that the Lakers not only want to acquire Dwight Howard, but they are seriously considering obtaining Chris Paul as well.

Yep, you heard it right.

The reported plan is to package a trade to New Orleans centered around big-man Pau Gasol, assuming that Andrew Bynum would be shipped to Orlando for a Dwight Howard deal. Both trades could very well happen simply because the Lakers have a lot of enticing pieces to ship off and one-year contract players on their roster.

While it’s certain the Lakers are shopping both stars, word has it that everyone on the team other than Mr. Bryant is available.

Other teams reportedly trying to obtain Paul are the Celtics and Clippers. While both have reportedly shopped, I wouldn’t expect anything from either.

Other NBA Rumors

• The Miami Heat have reportedly been in talks with FA Greg Oden, but the Blazers seem to be aggressive in re-signing the big-man.
• The Houston Rockets have been in talks with FAs Tyson Chandler, and Nene.
• Ex-Nuggets players JR Smith and Wilson Chandler are attempting to return to the States after signing in the Chinese Basketball Association; chances are slim.
• The Dallas Mavericks are trying to create cap-room if Deron Williams decides to become a FA after this season; Williams has stated that he wants to re-sign with the Nets.
• The Lakers are close to signing sharpshooter Jason Kapono.
• Possible third team involved with Lakers, Hornets talks could be the Utah Jazz, whom are reportedly shopping around Al Jefferson.
• The Clippers have reportedly offered DeAndre Jordan a contract for 5 years, $40 million.

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Rumor sources used for this article: RealGM, Hoopshype, ESPN

The mood in Philadelphia changed from sunny to rather murky in around 6.6 seconds when, following a go-ahead Andre Iguodala running layup, Rajon Rondo zipped a perfect inbound lob to Kevin Garnett, who banked home the winning bucket with about a second left to play. The real surprising part to me is that there wasn’t more yelling after all of this.

Careful, Nate-Rob, his screams will pierce your eardrums!

Boston won, 102-101; the Celts, who were without Shaq-A-Claus on this night, have won nine straight. Briefly-former Milwaukee Buck Jodie Meeks led the Sixers in scoring with 19 points. He was 4-for-4 from three-point range.

– 11 in a row for the Dallas Mavericks after dispatching the New Jersey Nets, 102-89, and old friends Devin Harris and Avery Johnson; also, to a lesser friendship extent, Kris Humphries and Quinton Ross. The only question to ask of Humphries is this: Has he met Lamar Odom yet? ‘Cause if he hasn’t, it ain’t that serious.

Dirk: 21 points (8-for-10 shooting) and 10 boards. It doesn’t get old.

– Out in Portland, Dwight Howard (39 points, 13-for-20 from the floor, 15 boards, 3 blocks) got off to a roaring start, but a few-too-many face-up jumpers from him and general lack of creativity from the Magic (which really doesn’t seem to fit with the team nickname) as a whole in the second half opened the door for the Blazers to plod right on by and get the 97-83 win.

Andre Miller, fresh off tempting fate against Blake Griffin, ran shit all night for Portland, finishing with 22 points (9-15 shooting), seven rebounds and eight assists. Wesley Matthews had 20 points and three steals, and it’s been awesome to watch him take off this season.

– And now, quickly, here are a few thoughts on last night’s hour-long Christmas episode of “The Office.”

If the picture doesn’t give anything away, possible spoiler alerts, I suppose.

– Kevin’s initial look and subsequent fury over Holly eating some of the maple candies (or whatever they were) she meant to bring as a present for the office were freaking hilarious.

– Well, for Holly and Michael — assuming Holly goes through with her ultimatum for A.J. — we now seemingly have a deadline. And boy, they were as ridiculous together last night as ever.

– I’m not sure Dwight has had this much of an upper-hand over Jim in the show’s history. Awesome Dwight episode, using the creepy and calculated mind games that only he could pull off. And now I’m probably afraid of snowmen. Great.

**KG photo courtesy of the AP.
**”Office” photo courtesy of http://www.daemonstv.com/2010/12/08/the-office-classy-christmas-photo-with-amy-ryan/.

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– Things got out of hand rather quickly in Indiana as the Pacers dropped an asteroid on the Raptors, 124-100. There should be a way to work an “extinction of the dinosaurs” comment into every Raptor loss.

– NBA to New Orleans: “All your Hornets are belong to us.”

– “It was a bad basketball game and we just played worse than they did,” Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy said of his team’s 80-74 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Now, an optimist would have said something like, “it was a good basketball game and we just played a little less good than they did.” If this game proved anything, it’s that optimism is for the birds, er, Hawks maybe? Sorry.

– The Milwaukee Bucks continue to have the offensive flow of a sink after Joaquin Phoenix shaves his beard in it. The Heat won their fifth straight behind Dwyane Wade’s 25 points and bushel of offensive rebounds. LeBron made some reference to the Packers and Brett Favre. Does that make J.J. Hickson Cleveland’s Aaron Rodgers?

– The New York Knickerbockers have also won five games in a row, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have won five games, 121-114.

– The Bulls got a big night from kinda-new-guy Carlos Boozer (29 points, 12 boards) and aside from the Durant/Westbrook tandem, Oklahoma City got a big night from Nenad Krstic (18 points, 6 rebounds), which clearly isn’t a part of the winning formula. Chicago won, 99-90.

– It is a fact of life that jazz music, the really smooth stuff, can put a grizzly bear to sleep in about 48 minutes. This remained true in Utah, as the Grizzlies went down 94-85.

– Eric Gordon continued with his role as the quiet scoring machine (29 points on 17 shots) and Blake Griffin did Blake Griffin-y things (highlights are a must at this point) as the Clips beat the Kings, 98-91.

**Phoenix photo courtesy of http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/01/18/joaquin_phoenix_makes_his_hip_hop_debut_
**Base image courtesy of http://jodyporter.wordpress.com/.

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Email: griffingotta@gmail.com

– Ugh. What a brutal first game of the TNT doubleheader between the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic. This one was never, ever, ever close. Like, not even for a solid minute. Steve Nash didn’t play, and it turns out the Suns didn’t fare too well on their little road trip through Florida. The Magic looked good in pretty much all phases, but it’s somewhat hard to gauge since it came against Phoenix. I mean, even Chris Bosh can score on them.

– Portland scored a hard-fought win in the present, while their future outlook continues to deliver them sad, sad news. It’s beginning to look like we may never see this current Blazer team at full strength, and that sucks. Bittersweet night in Portland to say the least. And off the top of my head, it seems that in terms of superstar players, Carmelo Anthony fouls out way too much.

– The other game of the night — rightfully not anywhere close to national television — went exactly as you would think a game featuring the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back in Midwest America would go: a 107-80 drubbing at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

Yup. As was noted on “Inside the NBA,” no one in the Clips starting lineup was over the age of 22. This could explain a mistake-filled game, but such a lifeless effort? It’s a shame to see a team with some real talent (Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon for starters) sitting at 1-12, with seemingly no intention on turning things around.

Enjoy the weekend.

**Photo courtesy of the AP.

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Email: griffingotta@gmail.com

– If you take one thing away from the Utah Jazz winning back-to-back games in Miami and Orlando, it’s that the Jazz just kept plugging away and seeing what happened. They nailed big shots – last night was a bit more conventional with Deron Williams throwing daggers as opposed to Tuesday night’s three-point barrage put on by Paul Millsap – and owned the inside.

Millsap, Al Jefferson, even Kyrylo Fesenko in very limited minutes (which is the only way this would work) worked Orlando in the paint, putting Dwight Howard down for a nap in the fourth quarter – he attempted zero field goals in the fourth – while the Jazz trio of bigs went 7-for-9 in the final frame.

– The Warriors went into Madison Square Garden and extended the Knick’s losing streak to three with a 122-117 win. Every starter in this game scored in double figures. This is the kind of game that makes me long for my NBA League Pass Broadband account, but when one’s computer often sounds like speedboat revving up, it’s best not to tempt fate.

– Michael Beasley dropped 42 points and nine rebounds on the Kings, and if Minnesota couldn’t win a game with all of that happening, they should have started looking for a Serbian league to join. Kevin Love (eight points, nine boards, one foul) played 28 minutes in this one, proving that even in victory, the Timberwolves don’t make much sense.

– John Wall had his first triple-double in the Wizard’s 98-91 win over the Houston Rockets. 19 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, 6 steals, 1 turnover. John Wall is going to take over the world.

– I’m no hunter, but I’m told this is the time of year when bucks start looking for does and go batshit crazy in the process, or the rut, as it’s called. Anyway, the Milwaukee Bucks, fresh off roasting the Knicks in Milwaukee, overcame a slow start to thrash the Atlanta Hawks, 108-91. I’m thinking we have the rut to thank. The Bucks shot 51 percent while the Hawks had that sleepy-eyed look of indifference.

**Millsap photo courtesy of the AP.

– In what could be construed as some sort of labor versus management uprising for the supernatural world, the Magic rose up and overtook the Wizards in pretty overwhelming fashion. In the NBA world this makes a lot more sense, because the Orlando Magic love beating the hell out of lesser opponents, especially when opening a new arena against a rookie point guard, like they did Washington, 112-83.

Said rookie John Wall played 35 minutes, shooting 6-for-19 for 14 points, with 9 assists, 3 turnovers and 3 steals. Help wasn’t coming in any big way from anyone else for Washington, who shot 37 percent as a team from the floor.

Orlando, on the other hand, shot 55 percent and never looked very bothered. This game was the opposite of everything that magic and wizards and the like stand for.

Tonight, Orlando heads to Miami in what is another chance for an established Eastern Conference team to remind the Heat of how unestablished they are right now. Get those hands ready, Dwight Howard. What a great way to start the weekend.

– The Phoenix Suns scored an impressive victory in Utah over the Jazz, 110-94. Phoenix just looked like the more assertive team all night. The game felt at their pace most of the night and Utah shot too many jumpers.

Deron Williams should probably be going to the line more than seven times when he’s guarded in stretches by Steve Nash. No one on Utah had a positive plus/minus except Ronnie Price at +4, who played just under three minutes. So there you go.

The Suns hit 10 three’s to Utah’s three, and the Jazz bench was outscored by Phoenix’s 50 to 16. There were also some nice screen-and-rolls featuring Hakim Warrick that won’t remind Suns fans of anyone at all.

Phoenix is a funky team to be sure, but you get the sense that they know who they are, or at least who they need to be as presently constructed. Utah, at 0-2, doesn’t look as sure of themselves.

**Carter photo courtesy of the AP.

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If you didn’t throw up last season, prepare to completely hurl your breakfast, lunch, and dinner this year, because if this season’s Cavs and Lakers aren’t as stacked as heck, then I don’t know what team is.

While there is much belief this Finals dream will become reality, there is always the alternate side of the story. Maybe a Denver-Cleveland Finals? Dallas-Orlando? (God no!) Los Angeles-Boston?

You never know, but here are a couple reasons, from a Cavs perspective, why a Cavs-Lakers Finals just might be interrupted by a couple other great teams.

The Cavs are sure to make it to the Finals…Right?

Bird’s Eye

I know you NBA nuts are realizing the Hawks are getting better and better. The scary thing is, they’re getting better and better the closer we approach the playoffs. This leaves the Cavs, Magic and ESPECIALLY the Celtics in “Caution” mode.

A team as young, athletic, and quick as Atlanta should make any team, in either conference, nervous.

The Cavs have already faced the Hawks twice thus far this season, and will face them tommorrow night as well. In those two previous games, Cleveland won (both games were played on exact back to back dates, one in ATL, the other in CLE). The game in Atlanta was won by 11 points, but the Hawks came to Cleveland with a different mindset, but it still was not enough as they picked up the L, in a 106-101 loss. Should we base everything off of these last two games.

Heck no.

The Hawks have shown as of late, that they are not scared to take anyone down, as they showed us on Wednesday by taking out the defending champion Lakers in great fashion with a 17 point victory. The Hawks have beaten Denver, Orlando, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Boston all at least once (might I add they swept Boston[3 games]).

Folks, the Hawks are probably the “scariest” team to face come playoff time. You just don’t know which will show up, either it’s the “Celtic-killer” Hawks, or the “We are too inexperienced” Hawks. One thing is for sure, these Hawks should not be taken lightly.

Luck of the Irish?

I’m not going to lie to you people. These Celtics are showing us that their gears need to be oiled. And badly.

Ray Allen seems to have lost his miraculous “Reggie Miller-touch”, Kevin Garnett seems to be getting closer to his mid-age crisis, cursing out Michael Jordan’s name at press conferences, and what not. Point is, we are not seeing the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, we are seeing the steady decline of KG, Pierce, and Allen, and the rise of Rondo and Perkins. Now that they are heading into the playoffs, are the Celtics’ late-season struggles going to be brought into the morning of the playoffs, or will things change?

At their best, the Celtics have it in them to take down anyone, and I repeat ANYONE in the National Basketball Associaton. The question is, will they change their ways, or will this be the final chapter in the Celtics’ Boston Three-Party? It all lies on the shoulders of Doc Rivers. He can’t urge his team to get the third spot back from ATL anymore, he just needs to get the green/white focused on playoff basketball.

If you look at Boston’s early season games, they were dominating, and seemed as fluid as anyone. What happened? No one knows. But Rasheed Wallace needs to step it up, KG needs to get back to his beast-like form, Allen needs to get more shots up, Pierce needs to attack the rim more often, and the C’s need to incorporate Finley, Robinson and their bench a bit more.

All of this, and a little luck, the Celtics FOR SURE, can turn the tides, and take out anyone in the Eastern Conference. You can quote that.

Do you believe in Magic? (Again)

This series last year had so much emotion packed into it. So many side-stories, and so many stakes (at the time). This series brought the Orlando Magic “officially” into the elite status, it showed us how many flaws Cleveland actually had, and how Dwight Howard was a force (and still is) to be reckoned with!

But this year’s Magic team, is a little different. With the loss of Hedo, Alston, and a couple others, many people began questioning if the Magic had it in them to go back to the promised land. Would the absence of Hedo form a stake to the heart of the Magic? Would Alston’s absence diminish the strength of Orlando’s backcourt? How will Vince hold up? Well folks, the answer is yes. The Magic have it in them to make a run for the ’10 Finals, but hold up! Let’s not forget there might be a King waiting on the other end.

The trade deadline worked wonders for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It brought them one of the most versatile players we have in the A today, Antawn Jamison, whom was brought in to defend the likes of Rashard Lewis, Lamar Odom, Turkoglu, Troy Murphy.etc. This not only gave the Cavs a third, 30-point scorer, but it allowed them to tinker with their (already) deep roster and rotation a bit more. This setup Cleveland in a great situation, if an Orlando-Cleveland series were to occur once again. Does this mean the Cavs are a shoe-in to beat Orlando? Not by a long-shot.

The Magic have one of the best (if not the best) benches in the NBA. That, and an amazingly versatile and talented starting five, starring the one and only Dwight Howard. Will I say the true Superman? No. But he’s another Superman indeed!

Back to the point, the Magic are the biggest threat to Cleveland, not only because of the skill-level they bring to the table, but due to the versatility, coaching and three-point shooting Orlando also brings. Last time these two met, Orlando began showing us examples of why they took out Cleveland last time around, in a 101-95 victory over Cleveland. How’d they show us? Well Orlando is one of the best teams in crunch time, simply because they have numerous players who can hit the “big shot”. We saw this by two players in the last matchup. First the recent surge by Jameer Nelson, who hit a few difficult threes, and then by the athletic Carter, who showed us why he’s one of the game’s greatest at slashing.

Yes, Orlando is simply tough to beat, especially with Dwight in the paint, who is without a doubt the best paint-player in the league. How will Shaq contain him once he returns from injury? That we will have to see. But it will be must-watch TV.

It all depends on what the x-factor, LeBron James, will do. Will he begin to attack, drop 40 points, and take ill-advised 3′s, or will we see the King get Mo, Jamison, Parker and the others involved? We will have to see, but one thing that I can guarantee, is that ifsuch a series were to go down again, you’d better have your popcorn ready, people!

Thanks for reading Part 2, people! Care to read Part-1? Click here!

This was brought to you by Nikelebron.net, and the Nike LeBron VII “Cleveland Browns” Low

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Photo credits:

• LeBron: Fernando Medina/Getty Images
• Hawks: Slam Magazine/Lang Whitaker
• Garnett: Elsa/Getty Images
• Magic: Fernando Medina/Getty Images

Mo Williams, who previously struggled in the Conference Finals, found his shots this time around. He scored 22 points (9-9) in the first half of the game, and added 4 assists. Williams finished the game with 28 total points, 6 assists, and 1 rebound. Also, an aggressive LeBron James scored a season high 36 points, with 4 assists, and 8 rebounds.

In the much anticipated Showdown between the NBA’s two self-proclaimed “Supermen,” Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard–Howard (11 points, 7 rebounds) outscored and out rebounded O’Neal (10 points, 4 rebounds). And, at the Free Throw Line O’Neal went 2 of 4, and Howard was 5 of 12.

Getting his second start in place of Anderson Varejao, JJ Hickson had his best game of the season—scoring 9 points, with 6 rebounds. And although he traveled with the team, Delonte West didn’t sit on the bench with his teammates. He was declared inactive just before the start of the game, due to “internal matters.”

I hope all of you enjoyed the NBA’s opening week, I sure did. Some great teams were on display, with some poor starts and some surprising starts as well. These rankings are based on the team’s performance from the previous week. Don’t like my rankings? Love them? Be sure to comment, as I accept all forms of criticism. I have also shown how far the teams have jumped or dropped, with a plus or minus.

With all of this commotion going on, let me dissect the NBA’s opening week for all of you. I present to you, Devon’s Weekly NBA Power Rankings (Week 1)

Biggest Jump: Milwaukee (+8)

Biggest Drop: Detroit (-6)

The Starting 5

1. Boston Celtics (4-0)(+2)

The Celtics are really showing us how and why they won the 2008 NBA Finals. They are running circles around everyone they have played, especially in their second game, which was against the Charlotte Bobcats. This was a game in which the Celtics gave up a total of 59 points. Then, they spoil King James’ season/home opener. An incredible display of defense, teamwork, and communication early in the season for the C’s. For all you Bostonians, just hope health and age don’t slow down any of the vets, because if this holds up,  you may have reason to celebrate in June.

2. Orlando Magic (3-0)(+2)

The Magic are playing very fluid ball. But, they should. They’ve played the 76ers, Nets, then the Raptors being the most difficult team thus far. I love how Ryan Andersen is playing, as he is averaging 16 ppg. Where did this guy come from? Really? Oh yeah, they also have guys like Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis.etc. The Magic might not have had any real challenges yet, but I believe when they do, we will truly see how good this Magic team is.

3.Los Angeles Lakers (2-1)(-2)

Everyone was wrong. Everyone expected to see this Lakers team come out and run the tables on every team they played. Don’t get me wrong, LA is definitely a top contender, but let’s be realistic, they have weaknesses. It showed when the Lakers played Dallas, the game that resulted in DAL spanking LA. I believe I have found the weakness in this Lakers team: they do not have a true, solid backup power forward. So Dirk took advantage of Pau Gasol being out with injury, and played wonderfully (as usual). This resulted in the rest of the team doing the same, and in the end the Mavericks beat the Lakers in LA. The Lakers will be higher though when Pau’s back, don’t worry knuckleheads.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2)(-2)

The Cavs didn’t start the season the way they wanted to. A loss to the Celtics is understandable (even at home). I mean, it’ll take a couple of regular season games to incorporate a guy like Shaq into any team’s lineup. But then a loss to Toronto? C’mon Cleveland, I know you guys are better than that. After those first two losses, I began to see more of what I saw from last year’s 66-16 team, which was defense, good ball-movement, and more defense, as they shut the door on both Charlotte and Minnesota. But in this upcoming week, I’m expecting to see three straight W’s against a good Washington team, Chicago and New York. Let’s get a streak going Cleveland!

5. Denver Nuggets (3-0)(+1)

I’m very excited for all of you in Denver! This Nuggets team is looking good early! I know it’s only been two games, but from a team that hasn’t really done too much to improve in the off-season, they are showing loads of confidence. Carmelo Anthony is literally chasing the first Player of the Month award. He is averaging 35 ppg, and 7 rpg. Again, I know it’s early, but you can’t help but just love this team. Nice job beating two playoff contending teams (Utah and Portland) as well, that’s why I had to put you in my Starting 5.

The Bench

6. San Antonio Spurs (2-1)(-1)

The Spurs  got dropped to 6th man for a reason. They lost to Chicago? C’mon. A championship contending team needs to show more than that. They lost to a team led by a second year point guard. I’m sure Tony Parker has the veteranship and talent to stop Derrick Rose, but he didn’t.

But other than that, the Spurs are showing us more than last year. Much more. Richard Jefferson seems like a great fit, and McDyess is a great add as well. Let’s hope that San Antonio can keep a good mixture of their young guns and vets on the floor. Let’s also hope that Timmy and Antonio can both keep healthy.

7. Dallas Mavericks (2-1)(0)

Sean Marion seems like a good it in Dallas. He looked great in LA when Dallas beat up on the “Pau-less” Lakers. Dirk Nowitzki is playing MVP caliber ball, and I expect to see that for the rest of the year. There’s also been talk that Dirk has developed some kind of hook shot as well that is supposedly “unstoppable”. I’m looking forward to seeing that.

But back to the point, Dallas is playing good ball despite the loss to a good Washington team. Maybe they can make a move or two later on in the season to bring in that “X” factor that I believe will take Dallas from the Nuggets, Spurs conversation, to the Lakers, Celtics conversation. Ok, maybe overdoing it, but something to get them past San Antonio and possibly Denver. Maybe a Carlos Boozer? Stephen Jackson?

8. Washington Wizards (2-1)(+1)

People are not talking enough about the Wizards. They are a good-looking team. Gilbert is healthy again, and everyone forgets what he used to do when healthy. Remember the buzzer-beaters? The 40 point nights? No? Well I’m sure he’ll remind soon.

They also have the additions of Randy Foye, who replaced Caron Butler and gave Washington a good 14 points and 8 assists against New Jersey. They also have the versatile Antawn Jamison who can play the 3 or the 4 spot. They picked up a nice victory over Dallas, I’m looking forward to see them later on in the year, and how they will play against the Easts best, such as Cleveland on Tuesday. Great to see Washington turning things around.

9. Portland Trailblazers (2-2)(-1)

Even though Portland has lost two, you’d be crazy not to have them in the top 10. Have some respect, they lost to a very good Denver team, in a game where Carmelo poured 41 points all over them. But I do not accept a loss to the      ”Yao-less” Rockets.

The Blazers need to give much credit to Brandon Roy (who I expect to be in the middle of the MVP hunt) who sizzled with 42 against the Rockets. But besides the record, Portland should remain healthy all year, as they are one of the youngest overall teams in NBA, and have a talented roster which should continue improving. Should be fun to watch how Roy leads the Blazers at home against San Antonio on Friday.

10. Atlanta Hawks (2-1)(+1)

Yes, Atlanta is in the top 10. Why not? They started 2-1, they beat a good-looking Wizards squad, and their only loss is to the defending champs. Not bad. They also have an excellent front-court game. Josh Smith, Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia, and Marvin Williams are all good, long, and can hit shots from 10-15 feet. I’d say Atlanta has the best front-court in the whole league.

But what about their back-court? Well Bibby is a great PG, but his age should begin to show later in the year. This will affect the Hawks, but maybe Acie Law can come in and show us something. Then there’s Jamal Crawford who was a good pick up, I mean he can shoot 3′s, drive, play D here and there, what’s not to like?

Atlanta’s a good squad, but who will be their one guy to hit the game winner? Most will say Joe Johnson, but honestly, he isn’t a LeBron nor a Kobe.

11. Utah Jazz (1-1)(-1)

For these next three teams, the order really doesn’t make a difference. Mediocre starts, mediocre records. Nothing special. The one loss Utah has is against Nuggets. Then their one win is against the Clippers. Woo-hoo. Nothing special, but Deron Williams continues to show night in and night out that he is committed to this Utah Jazz team, even though others (Carlos Boozer) may not be as committed. Why not pull the trigger on Boozer? I mean, you’re not exactly a title contender, so why not?

12. Toronto Raptors (1-2)(+1)

Nice job guys! Beating Cleveland will look good on your record. But will it matter? Not really. It’ll matter more on Cleveland’s record more than yours. Then you lose to Memphis? C’mon. Then the loss to Orlando is understandable. Bosh is playing pretty well, while Hedo is holding his own (Still looked better in Orlando). Nothing much else to say about Toronto.

13. New Orleans Hornets (1-2)(-1)

Poor Chris Paul. He is going to be like last year’s Dwyane Wade…or worse. A great young talent, great vision, mentality, great everything! The one thing lacking, is the team.

Losing Tyson Chandler does the Hornets more worse than good. Emeka Okafor is not as mobile as Tyson (which will be key in pick & rolls), and Emeka is very susceptible to injuries. A loss to San Antonio, and Boston is understandable, and a win against Sacramento is no big deal. One thing Hornets fans can look at for a positive light is Fantasy Basketball! CP3 should be having a great, if not the best individual year!

14.Miami Heat (3-0)(+3)

The Heat are undefeated! Wow. I feel weird saying that. But yes, they are. Don’t be too shocked, as those victories came against the Knicks, Pacers and Bulls. They should have a loss or two by the next Power Rankings, as they head into the next week playing Denver once (which sounds like a good game, D-Wade vs Melo) and playing the Wizards twice. They just might lose each of those games, but don’t count on it as the “Mini-MJ” (Dwyane Wade) probably won’t let that happen. Another Fantasy Basketballer’s dream is in Dwyane Wade this year.

15. Phoenix Suns (3-0)(0)

The Suns are having a good start as they are undefeated. They haven’t faced any serious teams yet (played Clippers, T-Wolves, and Warriors), but they blew out the Clips by 20+ which is not bad at all. Leandro Barbosa is looking great, and Steve Nash isn’t really letting his age show either. Amar’e Stoudamire and his new specs don’t look bad either.

Could I have been wrong? Will Phoenix make a playoff surge? Will they pass Utah and Portland? OH NO!? Wait…I think I’m right, they probably won’t get past those two, but could possibly have a playoff spot in their future.

16.Houston Rockets (2-1)(+3)

Houston we have lift off. Well not really, but the victory against Portland might help. They may have let Brandon Roy drop 42 on them, but they contained him enough to get the W. If there is any team in the league that I am interested in seeing later, it’s Houston. I’m trying to figure out where they will end up, because nothing about them sticks out, but nothing is too bad either. We might even see Ariza possibly blossom into a star…maybe.

17. Philadelphia 76ers (2-1)(+1)

I dubbed them the most basic team in the A. I still stand by that. I mean, look at their lineup. Anyways, pretty fair start. A loss to Orlando is understandable, and nice job on picking up a victory against Milwaukee, and then heading out to Madison Square and taking out the Knicks as Al Harrington dropped 42 points. I can see something for this team in the future, but not now.

18. Chicago Bulls (1-2)(-4)

The Bulls aren’t doing that bad, they beat the Spurs which is an incredible feat for being the young team they are. Then they get mauled by the Celtics, which is acceptable, and then lose to Miami. The Miami loss in my mind is key because of the fact that those two just might end up fighting over a possible playoff start in the end. Might.

19. Oklahoma City Thunder (2-1)(+3)

The Thunder are doing well also. They beat up on the Kings for their season opener, then beat a new-look Pistons squad. Kevin Durant is still trying to lead his team to a playoff spot, while learning a thing or two himself. James Harden is trying to fit in with his new NBA team (which he will do perfectly fine), and the Thunder’s mascot is still awesome! Keep it rolling Thunder!

20. Milwaukee Bucks (1-1)(+8)

I’m really liking Brandon Jennings. He’s showing me that he can be a real “freak” on offense, and I mean that in the best way possible! The Bucks aren’t going anywhere this year, but I just can’t help but talk about Jennings. He will definitely be a good player in the near future. Oh, and the Bucks beat Detroit, but lost to the 76ers. Whatever.

The Reserves

21. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-2)(+3)

The T-Wolves aren’t doing too bad, I just expected to see a little more (like win against Phoenix). But they still are progressing. I really am looking forward to watching them in the future, especially when Ricky Rubio is there. Oops…I got too ahead of myself.

22. Detroit Pistons (1-2)(-6)

Not only is Motown’s economy suffering, but the basketball team is as well. Not that I expected the additions of Charlie and Ben to do a whole lot, but the Pistons are losing to some pretty bad teams. Their first win was at Memphis  (Woo-hoo!), and then they lost at home against the rising Thunder and the Brandon Jennings-led Bucks. Hopefully Rip Hamilton becomes fully healthy, so things will turn around for Detroit, but if not..it could get ugly…er. (Want more Detroit Basketball? Take a look at Boris’ first article: Detroit Pistons Weekly Watch)

23. Charlotte Bobcats (1-2)(-2)

Disgusting. That’s all I have to say..about the game against Boston. You know, the one where they put up a total of 59 points? Anyways, a loss to Boston and Cleveland I can understand. Then a victory against New York is solid. A positive to look at is that they still have Tyson Chandler, whom they stole from New Orleans.

24. Indiana Pacers (0-2)(-4)

The Pacers are a work in progress, it’s as simple as that. Danny Granger will most likely make the All-Star team, Tyler Hansborough has a shot at 2nd Team All-Rookie, and that’s that. They reasonably lost to Atlanta, and lost to the Heat (which they possibly could’ve won). Probably going to get spanked when they play Denver on Wednesday.

25. Los Angeles Clippers (0-4)(-2)

Poor Clips. Actually poor Blake Griffin. He was injured like, the day before his debut. Sucks man. The Clips lost to the Lakers, (ok), Phoenix (ok), Utah (ok), Dallas (ok). Damn David Stern, give these guys a break. Should have a shot at winning against the T-Wolves.

26. Memphis Grizzlies (1-2)(-1)

Lost to Detroit (could’ve won), and lost to Denver (had little chance). But they beat Toronto at least, good going Memphis. A.I. gets his debut on Monday (11/22) supposedly, looking forward to it. But not expecting a playoff spot. Sorry Thabeet and Mayo.

27. New Jersey Nets (0-3)(-1)

Sorry Jay-Z. Actually, I’m sorry for the whole New York/New Jersey area. Nothing really going on over there. The Nets lost to Minnesota, Orlando, and Washington. Two out those three they were unavoidable, but they had a shot at Minnesota. But hey, chant what I told the Knicks fans to chant, “2010, 2010, 2010!”

28. Golden State Warriors (0-2)(-1)

The Warriors are a confusing bunch. Does Stephen Jackson want to stay, or not? Is Monta Ellis really happy playing with Stephen Curry? What is Don Nelson doing over there still? Anyways, they lost to Houston, and Phoenix. This year should be a good year for Curry to get the basics down…if he’s not traded. Who isn’t on the trade block in Golden State?

29. New York Knicks (0-3)(0)

They lost to Miami, Charlotte and Philadelphia. Who cares anyways, the Knicks aren’t planning on anything this year anyways.

“2010, 2010 2010!”

30. Sacramento Kings (0-3)(0)

Congrats, if this were a draft, you’d get the first pick. But it’s not, so forget about it. Kevin Martin is pulling the load, while Tyreke Evans is barely off of it. I’m just waiting for Evans to hop off of the load, and show us something. The Kings lost to the Thunder by 23, then the Hornets by 5, and the Spurs by 9. Sacramento should use this season to let Evans familiarize himself with the NBA, other than that. Adios!

Liked the rankings? Yes? No? Let me know…comments below.

Tune in next Monday for my next NBA Power Rankings (Week 2)

Contact Devon:

-Devonnba4193@aol.com

-Twitter.com/devonmsf

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* – Photo Credit: AP Photos/ Charles Krupa

Hey YOU!

I know the NBA Finals odds aren’t your dream Kobe-LeBron matchup; you’re probably pissed that you don’t get Federer-Nadal in the French Open odds too, right? But seriously, put down the box of tissue. You’re getting Superman vs Kobe, for cryin’ out loud, It’s not like we’re watching Spurs-Pistons here!

The Lakers vs Magic odds, even without King James and the Cavs, still pit two of the hugest stars in the sport against one another. It’s the best big man in the business, Dwight Howard, versus the best scoring machine this side of LeBron, Kobe Bryant. Interestingly enough, though, the series will be decided by the supporting cast, not the stars.

Lakers-Magic odds: Game 1 Thursday, June 4 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Lakers NBA Finals odds: -280
Magic NBA Finals odds: +230

Follow the link to view the complete 2009 NBA Finals TV Schedule.

Many offshore sportsbook bettors are plenty excited about the NBA Finals odds, as they feel the Magic offer nice value and have a real chance to upset L.A. After all, few pundits expected them to get past the Celtics and, especially, the Cavaliers, so isn’t it time to give them respect? They also swept the Lakers 2-0 in the season series, winning a game at Staples Center. So why can’t they beat the Lakers now?

I’ll tell you why.

First off, home-court advantage will play a role in this series. Yes, the Magic won in L.A. during the regular season and, yes, they won a Game 7 on the road against the Celtics, and those are impressive accomplishments. However, no team in NBA history has won two road Game 7s in one playoffs, so the hoops betting odds are stacked against the Magic. The Lakers have had their hiccups here and there but they’re still dominant at Staples Center. Should the series go to a Game 7, they’d have a decided advantage.

Some basketball betting fans feel we can’t dismiss the Magic’s great regular-season play against the Lakers, especially with Jameer Nelson possibly returning for the series. However, the playoffs are a different beast and the Lakers are much more seasoned in that regard, as Kobe and Derek Fisher’s ring collections suggest. As for Nelson, he may not be 100 per cent if he plays and there’s no telling what could happen to the team chemistry upon his return. Can you say Ewing Theory?

The most important misconception among NBA Championship odds bettors is that the Magic have the advantage in the paint because of Dwight Howard. He is undoubtedly Planet Earth’s undisputed king of the paint, but he’s just one man. After him, the Magic seriously lack toughness and scoring depth inside; that’s a major problem considering how often Howard gets into foul trouble. He had 32 fouls in the Cavaliers series. The Lakers have Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. How can Howard stop all three?

The Magic’s outside shooting has been amazing, with Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and even Rafer Alston draining three-balls like crazy. But outside shooting can go cold; inside scoring is much more consistent, so the scoring edge has to go to the Lakers.

THE VERDICT

The Magic are a cohesive team that spreads the ball around well, so they won’t go quietly against the Lakers. Two or three wins are entirely possible. However, the Lakers have what Cleveland had – an All-World scorer in Kobe Bryant – plus much more depth, especially inside. They’ll be too much for the Magic to handle, as they can beat them in so many ways.

Best sportsbook pick: Lakers in six

Follow the link to join BetOnline and get in on the betting action for the 2009 NBA Finals and receive a $125 initial deposite bonus.

What is your prediction for the NBA FInals?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

But it didn’t happen, and the Magic are a very deserving team. Dwight Howard is becoming a dominant force, and the white-guy-from-Indiana in me can’t help but love seeing how deadly the Magic are from beyond the arc. There is something special about watching LeBron try to do everything on his own, but the Magic obviously play a much crisper brand of team basketball and are entertaining in their own right. I give a lot of the credit for that to Stan Van Gundy, the Magic’s underrated coach.

Can they beat the Lakers though? That will be tough. No one can beat the Lakers when they come ready to play and function as a cohesive unit. I think they’ll do that in four of the games and come away with another championship, but after watching Orlando play against Cleveland I certainly would be surprised if the series went the other way.

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Click Here for Deals on Lakers-Magic Tickets for the 2009 NBA Finals

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Anyway, you’re here for information, and information you shall receive. The 2009 NBA FInals Lakers-Magic TV Schedule is below, with the complete TV listings (all games on ABC) including dates and times. Plus, I’ll hop on here regularly to update the point spread info and results of each game. Here ya go:

Check back throughout the week as, in addition to the Lakers-Magic NBA Finals TV Schedule, we’ll also be bringing you historical information about the NBA Playoffs, the Magic and Lakers, and betting tips if gambling is your thing.

It should be a great finals, but the best player usually comes out on top; which gives the Lakers a huge edge I think. What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers come into this series on different ends of the spectrum. The Nuggets are winners of 22 of their last 28 games dating back to the regular season and are hot right now. Meanwhile, the Lakers stumble into this series after a careless seven-game series against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers won’t take the Nuggets as lightly as they did the Rockets but more importantly, after facing such a good defensive team in Houston, playing against Denver’s weak defense should simple.

The Nuggets are a high-scoring but they simply won’t outscore the Lakers, who averaged more points per game in the regular season than the Nuggets. Unless Denver finds a way to slow down the Lakers, which is what the Rockets did, then this series could be a quick one.

The Lakers are 7-0 in the playoffs when scoring 100 points or more and are just 1-4 when failing to hit the 100-point mark.

Online sports bets pick: Lakers in five

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Eastern Conference Finals Series Odds and Prediction: Orlando Magic v Cleveland Cavaliers
Magic vs Cavaliers odds: Cavaliers -850

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a huge favorite to win the Eastern Conference Finals but they have a tough foe in front of them: the Orlando Magic.

The Magic won two of three regular season meetings and gave the Cavaliers all they could handle. The playoffs should be a little different because firstly, the Cavaliers should be fresh. The Magic played six games against the 76ers and seven against the Celtics. That’s a total of 13 games while the Cavs have only played eight in that span.

This series figures to be a long one so the Cavaliers should have the edge as the series progresses.

Furthermore, home court advantage should be key as the Cavaliers have an extra game at home. They only lost one game at home this season without LeBron James so if they can protect their court, they’ll advance.

Lastly, the Cavs play better overall defense. The Magic play good defense is spurts but they are as consistent as the Cavs. Those three factors should lead the Cavs to a series win.

Online sports bets pick: Cavaliers in six