THE PREDICTIONS ARE IN!

Another NBA Season is amongst us, and the anticipation is almost over. So many great story lines this year and maybe none better than "The Return" of Derrick Rose. While Rose is returning there are some players waiting to make their return to the hardwood as well. Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo & Russell Westbrook are all out to start the season, but will return at some point. With all the coaching changes, player additions and subtractions that occurred in the off season this year is shaping up to be one of the best we've seen in recent years. With that being said here are my predictions for the upcoming season.

Rookie of the Year

Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic

Defensive Player of the Year

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

Coach of the Year

Kevin McHale, Houston Rockets

6th Man of the Year

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Most Improved Player

Javale McGee, Denver Nuggets

Executive of the Year

Billy King, Brooklyn Nets

MVP

LeBron James, Miami Heat

ALL NBA FIRST TEAM

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

Eastern Conference 

1. Miami Heat

2. Brooklyn Nets

3. Chicago Bulls

4. Indiana Pacers

5. New York Knicks

6. Toronto Raptors

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

8. Washington Wizards

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

Heat vs. Pacers

Nets vs. Bulls

Eastern Conference Finals

Heat vs. Bulls

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Clippers

2. San Antonio Spurs 

3. Houston Rockets

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Golden State Warriors

6. Denver Nuggets

7. Memphis Grizzlies

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

Western Conference Semi-Finals

Clippers vs. Thunder

Spurs vs. Rockets

Western Conference Finals

Clippers vs. Rockets

NBA Finals

Heat vs. Clippers - Heat 3-peat and LeBron James is named NBA Finals MVP

My predictions are in and I'm ready for the opening tip-off. Plenty of exciting basketball to be played throughout this season with great story lines that need an ending. Only about a handful of teams have been able to 3-peat, and I believe that we will see it happen again with the Miami Heat. Call it what you want, but I just don't believe there's a team out there that can beat them four times in a series. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right but come June there can only be one champion. Who will rise to the top? Only time will tell.

WHO'S IN YOUR TOP 10?

I know I'm not the only one outraged with the ESPN player rankings that have been released. For most of us it probably all started when the Black Mamba himself was ranked 25th. Are you kidding me??? You mean to tell me there are 24 other players in the NBA better than Kobe? I think not! Injury or not Kobe is still a top 5 player in the game today. Now a days people are so caught up in the moment that they tend to overlook and over hype certain players. Don't get me wrong though, I respect those that were allowed the opportunity to participate in the player rankings, but the list was far from accurate in my book. I'm just going to give my top 10 in the league, and maybe this may make some of the basketball heads out there feel a little better.

1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Derrick Rose
4. Chris Paul
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Carmelo Anthony
7. Dwight Howard
8. Russell Westbrook
9. Dwayne Wade
10. James Harden

The ESPN list included Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, and Marc Gasol in the top 10 while leaving Wade, Bryant, and Anthony out. That couldn't be far from the truth! While Curry and Irving had breakout seasons that doesn't equal top 10. Doing it on a consistent basis is what separates the good from the great in the NBA. Also, Gasol is a great center in this league, but just like he didn't deserve to win Defensive Player of the Year he doesn't deserve to be a in the top 10 as well. Meanwhile, Kobe just had one of his best statistical seasons before suffering a season ending injury. Not to mention Carmelo won his first scoring title leading the Knicks to an Atlantic Division title, and Wade shot a career high from the field (52%) helping lead the Heat to another championship. These stats alone won't allow me to put these elite players outside the top 10 in the NBA. Whether you agree or disagree with my top 10 it's safe to say it looks much more respectable than that of ESPN.

The Conspiracy Report

Tonight the NBA will crown a champion in the pivotal Game 7 between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, but after a classic Game 6 I couldn't help but to notice many people talking about the NBA being "rigged." I've seen just about every excuse as to why the people believe the NBA wants Miami to win another championship, and to be quite honest none of the reasons seem legit. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and there's nothing wrong with that, but why disregard logic and the reality of the situation, that's my issue.

For crying out loud the Spurs had Game 6, and a 5th title wrapped up with less than a minute to go in the game. Ginobili stepped up to the foul line and split a pair of free throws increasing the lead to 5. Let's fast forward to 20 seconds left in the ball game with Kawhi Leonard at the free throw line. All he has to do is make both foul shots and the Spurs are up two possessions and likely to wrap up another championship. Leonard missed the first and made the second, then Ray Allen makes an incredible baseline three pointer sending the game into overtime. I would love for the "conspiracy" people out there to let me know how a game could be "rigged" when the Spurs were in control of their own destiny! Is it that you think Leonard and Ginobili missed these free throws on purpose? Because if that's the case you can spare me trying to explain why. The trophy had been brought out and the celebration was ready to take place in South Beach. The Spurs lack of execution and poise led to them blowing Game 6, but I know some of you don't want to hear the truth.

This years NBA Finals is one of the most entertaining I've ever seen. From the extreme game to game swings, and big shot after big shot being made how can you not LOVE it? So for those out there that think there's a conspiracy going on I tend to question your passion for the game of basketball. I know for myself if I believe something to be flawed I wouldn't even waste my time with it. To be truthful some of you don't deserve to watch the game of basketball if all you're going to do is complain about some silly conspiracy, and constantly blaming the referees. I'll never understand the fun in doing that, but hey whatever floats your boat, right? 

I actually think it's pretty pathetic to dismiss the competitive nature of the game by claiming the NBA has a winner already in mind. I believe some of you are taking away from what great basketball is being played between these two teams. Neither team is backing down, and they are fighting until the final seconds. No matter what team wins Game 7 this has been a phenomenal series. The better team will come out victorious and I guarantee you it won't be because of some "conspiracy." 

Legacy On The Line

This time last year we all saw LeBron James completely dominate Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It only took 5 games for the proclaimed King to win his 1st ring and Finals MVP. The thought around the basketball world was that LeBron's mental state finally caught up with his physical talent. In my eyes the monkey had been lifted of LeBron's back by winning his 1st title, but to leave your imprint in the NBA multiple rings have to be won. Look at all the greats such as Jordan, Kobe, Russell, Shaq, Bird, and Magic just to name a few. After their 1st championship more rings came to follow and in a hurry. LeBron has not been shy in letting us know that he wants to go down as one of, if not the greatest player of all time. James already has a NBA Finals record of 1-2, and if he doesn't get his act together in the 2013 Finals his legacy will definitely take a turn for the worse.

Let me start off by giving you the bad in what LeBron James legacy can be if he falls short to the San Antonio Spurs in this years NBA Finals. Not only will losing to the Spurs drop LeBron to 1-3 all time in the Finals, but all 3 losses will have come in an embarrassing fashion. I'm a LeBron fan, but even the biggest of King James fans know that some of his lowest moments in his career have come during the biggest stage. Flashback to the 2011 Finals match up versus the Mavericks, James averaged 17.8ppg while playing like a scared puppy in the process. Now let us fast forward to this year and you won't see much of a difference. James is averaging 16.6ppg. That's around a ten point differential than what he has averaged so far in the Playoffs. I'm here to tell you that it's not up to Wade or Bosh to lift the Heat. It's going to have to be MVP  LeBron James, and right now he's reverting back to old habits we saw in 2007 and 2011. I've never seen the likes of a Jordan, Kobe, Duncan, Shaq, or Magic to save their worst performances for the NBA Finals. If James falls short this year, you can forget even throwing his name in the same paragraph as a Michael Jordan, and maybe not even in the same sentence as Kobe Bryant. Failing to produce when the lights shine the brightest won't have LeBron in the greatest of all time conversation at all.

Here's the positive side of LeBron's legacy if he can bounce back and lead this Heat team to back-to-back championships. James will have joined the likes of Jordan, Magic, Russell, Kobe, Hakeem, and Shaq in winning back-to-back championships. That would make LeBron 2-2 in NBA Finals appearances, which is much more respectable than 1-3 if he loses. With a Heat title it's more than likely that James would capture his 2nd Finals MVP as well. He will then embark upon a journey that not many players have had the privilege of doing, and that's going for a 3 peat. His name will continue to be mentioned with the greats as longs as he gets the job done during the biggest stage. We are kidding ourselves if we think LeBron's legacy isn't on the line here, and it all starts with Game 4 tonight in San Antonio.

The legacy of LeBron James is unwritten as of now, but a lot will be revealed within the next week. Will King James still wear the crown? Stay tuned.

LeBron vs. Duncan

2007 NBA FINALS

This time seven years ago a 22 year-old LeBron James surprised everyone by leading a less than talented Cleveland Cavaliers team to the NBA Finals. The only thing that stood in King James way was arguably the best Power Forward ever in Tim Duncan, and the San Antonio Spurs. As much as people wanted to witness King James win his 1st ring it was obvious that LeBron, and his Cavaliers were no match versus the Spurs. The Cavs were swept 4-0 and LeBron struggled tremendously averaging 22ppg shooting 35% from the field. This looked to be the first in what many thought would be multiple trips to the NBA Finals for LBJ and the Cavs.

Now let me fast forward to 2013. LeBron never reached the Finals again in a Cavs uniform. Lack of help to go along with a small market that couldn't surround the right pieces with LBJ, he decided to take his talents to South Beach in 2010. Since then LeBron has been back to the promise land three years in a row including this 2013 NBA Finals.

After the 2007 NBA Finals Duncan expressed to LeBron, "This gonna be your league in a little while, but uh...I appreciate you giving us this year." Now these two superstars meet up again, Duncan still with the Spurs and James now with the Heat. What a difference six years make! James now undeniably the best player on this planet Earth, and with one championship under his belt King James now looks to seek revenge against a well coached and dangerous Spurs team. At the age of 37, Duncan is playing five years younger, Tony Parker looks as good as he's ever looked, and not to mention one of the greatest coaches of all time in Greg Popovich.

This years NBA Finals has the makings to be a great one, but contrary to many experts and analysts I don't believe that this series will go as long as many predict. The areas that kill the Heat don't favor the Spurs too well. As we all saw in the Heat/Pacers series Miami struggles with bigger teams, and rebounding has proven to be their biggest achilles heel. The Heat have played many teams with great point guards like a Tony Parker, but that isn't what is going to beat them in a seven game series. You need the advantage down low, and to my knowledge the Spurs tallest player is Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter standing at 6'10. With that being around the same height range as Bosh (6'11) and Birdman (6'10), there's no real dominant advantage to exploit Miami's front line.

The Spurs are a similar to the Heat in the way they like to push the tempo and score in transition. With both teams not being extremely tall, you can expect a lot of small ball to be played in this series and that advantage goes to Miami. Also, the Spurs have a smaller backcourt than the Pacers so expect for Wade to be much more aggressive in posting up and getting to the paint. Oh yea, not to forgot Wade won't have to guard a Paul George type player this series as he did for six games in the ECF. The Spurs "Big 3" will all need to be clicking in a major way if the Spurs want to hoist the Larry O' Brien trophy at the end of this series. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I just believe the Pacers may have presented the biggest challenge that the Heat will see in this years Playoffs.

The X-factors in this series will be the play of Manu Ginobili for the Spurs, and Dwyane Wade for the Heat. Ginobili is going to have to be effective on the offensive end for the Spurs to have a shot at winning this series, while Wade needs to get back to that aggressive play he showed in Game 7 of the ECF. Both of these guys are game changers, and I believe that they will have a huge impact on which team will win it all.

My NBA Finals prediction goes as follows, Miami's "Big 3" will get back on the same page with King James leading the way at both ends of the court. Heat finish the Spurs off 4-1 winning back-to-back titles with LeBron winning his 2nd NBA Finals MVP averaging 29ppg, 9rpg, & 7apg.