NBA Preseason awards!

Sorry for the delay on the posts! (though it's likely that only my mother and Chris Wagner care anyway.) I was dealing with too much nonsense in school. In other words I locked myself in my room in a depressed hibernation associated with the NBA lockout. BUT WE'RE BACK! And in a big way. So without further ado, my preseason predictions for the NBA hardware handed out at the end of the season not named after Good Ole Larry O'Brien!

Sixth Man

Tyler Hansbrough (IND) - the only reason I'm not going with my man James Harden here is I think Thabo Sefolosha will stink it up so bad that the Thunder feel they have to start the game with The Beard instead. New Pacers acquisition David West and backup Hansbrough will bring different strengths to the power forward position for their team this year. West will slowly develop his moves in the post and work with Darren Collison on the pick-and-pop (West's bread and butter). Hansbrough will sub in to provide energy, hustle, rebounding, and even nagging defense that will yield productive minutes on most nights, especially in a compact season where we will see old legs (such as West's) wear out in the course of a game.
(runners-up: Jamal Crawford (POR) and James Harden (OKC))

Rookie

Derrick Williams (MIN) - for most people choosing this award it's between Williams and Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving to take home the trophy from this mediocre draft class. And I like Williams to win, but more for worry about Irving than my fondness of Williams' skill set. I believe Irving will struggle out the gate. He is not not super-athletic like Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose, he is not strong like Deron Williams, and he does not appear to have the vision of Chris Paul or even Rajon Rondo. This year I expect to see Irving have a pre-Cav Mo Williams type of season, with more scoring than setting the table for his teammates. As for Williams, he has fallen into an interesting situation. Minnesota has more young talent than in the last few years and will be a tough game every night, though will not make the playoffs. He gets to play along side guys like Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Wes Johnson, and Ricky Rubio, who if nothing else will play an entertaining game and provide Williams with immediate success, at least from a statistical standpoint.
(runners-up Kemba Walker (CHA) and Kyrie Irving (CLE)

Defensive Player

LeBron James (MIA) - get the boos out now. I think Dwight Howard, the unquestioned biggest defensive difference maker and most dominant player on that side of the floor, will take himself out of the running with his future uncertain and the likelihood of checking out of games due to indifference on any given night. On the other hand, Miami, last years best defensive team, will likely come back better this season, adding defensive specialist veteran Shane Battier to scrappy players like Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony. LeVron will be the anchor of this defense. Charged with locking down Chicago's most dominant scorer Derrick Rose in last season's Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron bothered and disrupted the explosive point guard. LeBron can guard positions 1-4, and will return to shut down opposing defenses for the NBA's villain Heat.
(runners-up DeAndre Jordan (LAC) And Joakim Noah (CHI))

MVP

Kevin Durant (OKC) - Yes, I acknowledge that I am a fan of the team that KD plays for. But some often forget that Durant was many NBA writers' favorite to take home the award before last season. What hurt him last year was the emergence of Russell Westbrook as a bonafide star. The Mavericks and the Lakers have lost key contributors from their recent title teams and the Clippers and Grizzlies have some questions to answer. The West is Oklahoma City's conference to lose this year. Durant and Westbrook, in their 5th and 4th years in the league, respectively, will play to compliment each other's strength instead of ignore them, and quiet the questions about their youth and inexperience hindering a deep playoff run or spurts of league domination. Durant, one of the games best scorers, and maybe more importantly, teammates, will help but the Thunder in the driver's seat to go past the Western Conference Finals, where their season ended a year ago. With many of the "super-teams" lacking a clear number one guy, Durant will emerge to win this years Most Valuble Player.
(runners-up Chris Paul (LAC) and Rose (CHI))

First Team All-NBA
G Derrick Rose - CHI
G Dwyane Wade - MIA
F Kevin Durant - OKC
F LeBron James - MIA
C Dwight Howard - ORL/LAL?/NJ?/DAL?

Second Team All-NBA
G Kobe Bryant - LAL
G Chris Paul - LAC
F Carmelo Anthony - NYK
F Blake Griffin - LAC
C LaMarcus Aldridge - POR

Third Team All-NBA
G Russell Westbrook - OKC
G Deron Williams - NJN
F Kevin Love - MIN
F Zach Randolph - MEM
C Tyson Chandler - NYK

The Picks Are In!! (NFC West)

NFC West:

1. St. Louis Rams

The question becomes whether this year’s NFC West leader can enter the playoffs at 6-10 this year. It’s honestly a pathetic division and it didn’t seem to get better from last season, even with all the money the Seahawks spent. But whatever. Here we go. Sam Bradford has a great offensive coordinator this year in Josh McDaniels (as well as a great mentor to quarterbacks.) The team lost OJ Atogwe but they replaced him with Quintin Mikell, a more than able safety who can fit in with the team philosophy.  Add Mike Sims-Walker to Sam Bradford’s weapons and they become closer to complete as an offense with star running back Steven Jackson. But this team is the least inept in a division of ineptitude, if you catch my drift.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Well Kevin Kolb is about 80 steps up from the likes of Derek Anderson, John Skelton, and Max Hall. But I don’t know if he transforms this team to contender as his contract may suggest. If Andre Johnson is the number 1 receiver in the league, Larry Fitzgerald is 1a. It’s hard to find great talent beyond that, especially with the trading of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. But in the end, second place in this division is surely just first place for losers.

3. San Francisco 49ers

For these next two teams, I’ll explain the positive things about each team and then the negatives. I’m getting lazy.

Pros: Patrick Willis (absolute star), Michael Crabtree, Braylon Edwards’ hands (just kidding again), Mike Iupati, chance for Andrew Luck

Cons: Alex Smith, Braylon Edwards’ hands, Alex Smith, first year coach from college, Alex Smith, defensive line, Alex Smith, Frank Gore’s health, Alex Smith

4. Seattle Seahawks

Pros: Brandon Mebane, Aaron Curry’s potential, Russell Okung (if healthy), Marshawn Lynch (if sane)

Cons: Pete Carroll’s honey-moon period history, Russell Okung’s health, Sidney Rice’s contract, Tarvaris Jackson (worse than Alex Smith), departure of Hasselbeck, Marshawn Lynch (if insane)

Wild Card:

(3) Green Bay def. (6) Tampa Bay

(5) Atlanta def. (4) St. Louis

Divisional:

(1) Philadelphia def. (5) Atlanta

(2) New Orleans def. (3) Green Bay

NFC Championship:

(2) New Orleans def. (1) Philadelphia

Super Bowl:

New England def. New Orleans

The Picks Are In!! (NFC South)

NFC South:

1. New Orleans Saints

The Saints had one of the best offseasons in the league this time around. They landed one of most valuable guys on the market in DT Aubrayo Franklin, formerly of the 49ers. Franklin clogs holes and makes it easier for quick linebackers to make plays, as Patrick Willis so often did and Jonathan Vilma and company will have a chance to do this season. The Saints also got a bargain with running back Darren Sproles, paying less than Reggie Bush for a rich man’s Reggie Bush (only in professional sports does stuff like this happen). Add rookie Mark Ingram into the mix, and the Saints have a ton of depth and talent on the offense, including receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem (an underrated but excellent touchdown threat), and Brees is going to go to sleep easy every night even if the team suffers an injury here or there. The Saints seem like they are in contention for another Super Bowl run. (And don’t forget about coach Sean Payton, possibly the second best coach in the league after the Hoodie. You can never count a dominant coach out.)

2. Atlanta Falcons (wild card)

I feel like Julio Jones is a deciding factor for where the Falcons end up. The offense is already very good, but Julio Jones being as breath-taking as Tony Gonzalez is leading us to believe than this offense could be unstoppable. Obviously the defense is a concern, leaning on the age of DE John Abraham and no other dominant starter (Ray Edwards is a good pickup but a product of the system in Minnesota, Brent Grimes is a good ballhawk but not very physical), but if the Falcons score as much as they have the potential to, the play of the defense will matter less. We’ll see if the conservative head coach Mike Smith allows Matt Ryan to let the ball fly more this season.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (wild card)

My man Josh Freeman looks to put up another impressive season in his second year as the unquestioned started and leader of this team. It is difficult to point to one specific player on this team as a dominant guy, they just play well as a team and the players on the field complement each other very smoothly. LaGarrette Blount was a phenomenal downhill runner in college, so I wasn’t surprised to see him post big numbers in his rookie season after being undrafted. I was surprised to see the number of teams that passed on him or didn’t keep him around. If Aqib Talib can get his act together off the field, he can get back to giving the opposing quarterbacks fits. Raheem Morris keeps this group focused and motivated.

4. Carolina Panthers

The bad news is they will likely finish last in their division for the second straight season. The good news is they will likely finish better than 2-14! The record is not the important thing for this franchise going forward. Obviously it is the development of rookie quarterback Cam Newton. I don’t really understand why the Panthers shelled out so much guaranteed money to the oft-injured DeAngelo Williams or the unproven Charles Johnson, players who were part of that 2-14 season, but I still have high hopes that the season won’t be as disastrous as last year. Lock them up for 4-12.

The Picks Are In!! (NFC North)

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers

I can't leave the defending champs out of a division title this year. They return every major player in that super bowl run besides Cullen Jenkins; they even brought James Jones back. Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley are back from their season-ending injuries last year. Aaron Rodgers is the future of the NFL at this position. He just flat out puts the ball in the right spots, but it doesn't hurt to have Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson. Even James Jones and his slick gloves are back. Rodgers is also the best quarterback at extending a play after Vick and Roethlisberger. Clay Matthews just bull-rushes the opposing tackles and punishes the quarterback. Tramon Williams was a breakout star last year at corner and is also a speedy return-man. Nick Collins, Sam Shields and Charles Woodson round out a solid secondary. The biggest worry for this team is the age of players such as Driver and Woodson (especially with Woodson’s injury-ridden past), but we've seen Ted Thompson’s knack for drafting guys to fill those positions.

2. Detroit Lions

This team is most analysts' darling and playoff sleeper this year. I'm not ready to give them a playoff spot, but this is for sure an up and coming team with loads of talent. The season really depends on Matthew Stafford's health. But if he does keep it going, he's got Calvin Johnson and Jahvid Best, two electrifying players that make big plays and keep defenses on their toes. People are really talking about their defense, however. Nick Fairley joins a defensive line that includes breakout star Ndamakong Suh and veteran workhorse Kyle Vanden-Bosch. This could, if not the best, one of the better D-lines in the league and put less pressure on defensive-minded coach Jim Schwartz to send extra guys at the quarterback. It already looks like when its all said and done, Suh could be one of the best to ever play his position.

3. Minnesota Vikings

It was hard for me to decide whether the Vikings would fall at the bottom at the North this year. But there are still some bright spots to this team. Donovan McNabb has a huge step up from Washington in terms of running back, clearly, in Adrian Peterson, who still has at least two or three years in him as the best back in the league. The defense still has some of the pieces that made it such a terrifying unit two years ago: the bullish defensive end Jared Allen, the always-underrated and never under-performing cornerback Antoine Winfield, and the brick wall linebacker Chad Greenway. I’m obviously not saying this is a playoff team, but I would not be surprised to see 8-8 or 9-7 for a team led by a smart guy in coach Leslie Frasier and a once-elite and now with something to prove quarterback in McNabb.

4. Chicago Bears

The defense is getting older and the offense didn't get any better, unless you put a lot of stock in the additions of Roy Williams and Marion Barber. I don't even know if I can get deeper than that. I just don't like the feel of this team. But here’s the list of issues: Cutler has his leadership problems (maybe it’s because he’s always on his back), Mike Martz’s honeymoons with teams as offensive coordinator never seem to last long, the middle of the offensive line is hurt with the departure of Olin Kreutz (from an already sack-friendly O-line), the team doesn’t have an elite threat at wide receiver (Johnny Knox and Devin Hester are just deep threats, not every down guys, although Earl Bennett is improving as a position receiver), and Matt Forte is unhappy with his salary, which more often than not can hurt a season (see Jackson, Vincent).

The Picks Are In!! (NFC East)

NFC EAST:

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are poised to win their division again with new pieces that should fit in well. They landed the biggest free agent and the only true guaranteed difference maker on the market in Nnamdi Asomugha. Nnamdi's stats may not wow you given his lack of interceptions, but they are not high because quarterbacks don't throw the ball is way. In the NFL Revis and Asomugha are in a class by themselves in shutting down receivers and forcing the QB to look elsewhere on the field, as well as increasing the effectiveness of the pass rush. Also, they potentially traded a clipboard (Kevin Kolb) for an electric, ball-hawking cornerback in Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick. Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie's styles on the field complement each other perfectly. Michael Vick, should he stay healthy (REVERSE JINX!), will likely once again be an MVP candidate. He's got all his weapons from last year back (DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy Brent Celek) and the Eagles brought in Ronnie Brown on a one-year deal, who, like McCoy, is incredible catching passes out of the backfield. I hate this team, but there might not be a better team on paper this year.

2. Dallas Cowboys

Romo should be healthy this season. Dez Bryant is one of the NFL stars of tomorrow and with Miles Austin and Jason Witten will give Romo plenty of options. I don't love Felix Jones but he should have a decent season. But on to the defense. This unit has immeasurable talent that was not on display last season mainly due to bad coaching and bad field position. But Rob Ryan is here. Ryan improved a Cleveland unit last year that pounded New England to become one of only two teams that defeated the Patriots this past season. DeMarcus Ware has the best pass rushing moves in the league, and many tackles are too slow to keep him out of the backfield. Dallas has some young talent in the defense backfield that at times got torched last season but should improve. I don't think Dallas will dominate this season, but they have a good chance to get back to 10 wins and not a laughingstock of the league.

3. New York Giants

I know there were some good reasons for letting Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert go, but I hated that for the team. For the past 5 years the offensive line of the Giants was the most consistent thing going for them. I hated almost everything about the Giants offseason. I understand retaining Ahmad Bradshaw what somewhat of a necessity, but they overpaid for someone with a serious problem holding onto the ball and injury concerns. Steve Smith, should he resign, has a serious injury that may be career threatening. Nicks and Manningham are both big play threats, but losing Kevin Boss to Oakland creates a big hole in the middle of the field. On the other side of the ball there are a lot of concerns. I still don't trust a single linebacker and I don't see how they haven't made serious attempts to improve this unit. Antrel Rolle is one of the most overrated players in the league and I'm confused as to how he made the Top 100 NFL Players list. He's simply a "right place at the right time" guy. Prince Amukamura was positioned to improve a weak defensive backfield, but a foot injury will keep him sidelined until at least October. I do, however, have a million good things to say about Justin Tuck. Tuck is the ultimate team player and will line up wherever he is told if it is for the better of the team. He is too strong and physical for most lineman and can dominate the run and pass game in a single game. Unfortunately, the guy lining up opposite him, Osi Umenyiora, is unhappy and will likely bring the energy and attitude of his teammates down with him. I think the Giants are going to disappoint this season.

4. Washington Redskins

Even better than the Chad Henne/Matt Moore show is the John Beck/Rex Grossman show! The difference is they don't even have someone nearly as talented as Brandon Marshall (Santana Moss is over the hill; his numbers are inflated because there is no one else) to sadly watch a ball sail over his head. Fortunately for the Redskins, they're the favorites for the Andrew Luck sweepstakes! There is something to look forward to during an otherwise bleak season. The offense, even beyond the quarterback, is punchless, from an oft-injured Clinton Portis to the 500 receivers they have over the age of 46. Ryan Torain is a nice running back though. The defense, which got absolutely torched last season, has a nice safety combination with Laron Landry and OJ Atogwe and a great blitzing linebacker in Brian Orakpo but plenty of holes in the defensive line. The defense will be able to make some stops but Beck/Grossman might not be able to cross the 50 even if they started at the 49.

The Picks Are In!! (AFC West)

AFC West:

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Maybe boring to have the same winner come out of this division as last year, but they did all of that with some players simply touching the surface of what they can do. Matt Cassel has another year leading the charge at quarterback under his belt. Fresh off a spectacular season, the speedy and elusive back Jamaal Charles has a chance to create more magic with likely more touches. Dwayne Bowe actually has some talent lining up for wideout, with the signing of Steve Breaston and the drafting of Jonathan Baldwin. Tamba Hali, probably the best standing DE after DeMarcus Ware and Clay Matthews, sheds blockers and speeds through to the quarterback better than most. Although Eric Berry struggled at the beginning of his rookie year, his play picked up, and he may start drawing comparisons to the top safeties in the league, especially alongside strong cover-corner Brandon Flowers. This Chiefs team certainly doesn’t blow you away. But I like them better than the other teams in the worst division in the AFC.

2. San Diego Chargers

It might be the end of the line for head coach Norv Turner if the Bolts don’t see the playoffs for the second season in a row. Philip Rivers is a top tier talent at quarterback, and his long ball connection to Vincent Jackson may be one of the most flawless plays in football. Antonio Gates remains the most athletically gifted tight end in the league. But Ryan Mathews may prove to be a disappointment at running back, struggling to find holes in his line, and Mike Tolbert can never be a number one option back because of his limitations in the open field at his size. Malcolm Floyd is fortunately back, but he’s not a top-notch threat. The defense is going to struggle stopping offenses, and they lack a marquee show-stopped on this side of the ball. Eric Weddle is a very good safety, but he’s not in the class of Polamalu, Reed, Berry, and Adrian Wilson. Could be another up-and-down season for the usual AFC West favorites.

3. Denver Broncos

I understand the quarterback situation is messy, but I think Orton will get the job and hold onto it this season. First of all, it’s obvious to the Broncos he’s a better quarterback than Tim Tebow. It’s also obvious to Kyle Orton, anyone who’s following football right now, Tim Tebow, and my grandmother. Kyle Orton gets the job done, and while he’s nowhere near the top tier of quarterbacks with Brady, Manning, Brees, Rivers, Vick and Big Ben, he’s certainly better than many others who have starting jobs in the league (I’m talking to you, Tarvaris Jackson). Add that to an improving Knowshon Moreno, the veteran Willis McGahee, and last year’s leading receiver Brandon Lloyd, they may not dominate, but they will compete. 2009 All-Pro standing DE Elvis Dumervil is back from his season-ending injury last season, and he’ll improve a defense that got absolutely torched last season. But let’s be honest, they have better prospects than this next team…

4. Oakland Raiders

They lost their best player and Jason Campbell is there quarterback. They lost their best player and Jason Campbell is there quarterback. They lost their best player and Jason Campbell is there quarterback. They lost their best player and Jason Campbell is there quarterback. They lost their best player and Jason Campbell is there quarterback. Need I say more?

AFC Playoffs:

Wild Card:

(3) Houston def. (6) NY Jets

(5) Pittsburgh def. (4) Kansas City

Divisional:

(1) New England def. (5) Pittsburgh

(3) Houston def. (2) Baltimore

AFC Championship:

(1) New England def. (3) Houston

The Picks Are In!! (AFC South)

AFC South:

1. Houston Texans

I know, they’ve become everyone’s sleeper playoff pick for the last few years and they’ve never come through. Personally, I have no idea how Gary Kubiak is still coach. But the team got better this offseason. To me, the best acquisition for them was actually Wade Philips. Wade Philips cannot control a team as head coach, but he’s had success as a defensive coordinator in the past, and at one point he made that Dallas team feared on defense and opened up packages to aid DeMarcus Ware in becoming the player he is now. The defense will play a lot better, with DeMeco Ryans back, Brian Cushing playing the entire season, and the additions of Jonathan Joseph and Danieal Manning to a historically bad defensive backfield from last season. I don’t love Mario Williams moving to a standing defensive end position, but I do trust Wade Philips’ judgment defensively. Also, Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the league, Arian Foster broke out last season as one of the best runningbacks, and Matt Schaub can deliver the ball where he wants to most of the time. I think this is the year this franchise makes it to the postseason for the first time, but they need to avoid getting down early in games.

2. Indianapolis Colts

Last year saw a lot of scares if you were a Colts fan. If not for Peyton Manning, they don’t make the playoffs. Not only that, Jacksonville, Houston, and Tennessee all played poorly in the second half of last season after good starts, handing the division to the Colts when they did not necessarily deserve it. Don’t get me wrong, I am not nervous about Peyton Manning missing time following the neck surgery. He won’t have his best year, but we’ll still see him out there on the field. I don’t get a great feeling about the rest of the players outside Reggie Wayne, especially health-wise. The other receivers always seem to miss time, Dallas Clark went down last season, and Robert Mathis seems to always be listed as Questionable or Doubtful on the pre-game injury report. Even Dwight Freeney battles injuries (although he usually plays through them). I also still don’t know what to make of Jim Caldwell as a coach. Manning seems to have bailed him out at many different times the past few seasons when Caldwell may have let the game get out of hand. Overall, I just feel that despite one of the best quarterbacks in the league’s history, the Texans talent top to bottom trumps that of the Colts handily.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Well they definitely aren’t the worst team in the division. But how far can David Garrard or an inexperienced (and unproven) Blaine Gabbert take you? My thought is not too far. Yeah, Garrard’s one very good (not great) year was cute, but he doesn’t make enough plays to contend with Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub in this division. And I hate to say this with the giant load that the minute Maurice Jones-Drew carries for this team. The 5-foot-7 back never stops pushing for this team, and he always gives them a chance. But this offense needs more spark than that to get past Houston and Indianapolis. I do like what they did in the offseason on defense, however, adding linebackers Paul Posluszny and Clint Session to nice players like Rashean Mathis and last year’s first round DL Tyson Alualu. So as I said, nice players, but nothing to transcend. Listen Jacksonville, fire Jack Del Rio and give the franchise a fresh start. It’s probably the best thing to do at this point.

4. Tennessee Titans

This hurts. But the division got better and the Titans seemed to run in place. Actually, Matt Hasselbeck is the only reason I’m not fearful of an 0-16 season from my squad in Nashville. Jake Locker trading snaps with Rusty Smith is a recurring nightmare I’ve had since Kerry Collins retired. But I do like the hiring of Mike Munchak, a guy who has the support and backing of his players. The Chris Johnson holdout situation is messy, but he deserves the money and I think the short-armed, deep-pocketed Bud Adams will shell out the money to the only reason Tennessee folks have gone to the stadium and tuned into the games. The worst part going into this season is the departure of defensive line coach Jim Washburn to the Eagles. It might sound surprising to hear one say a position coach is the worst loss for a team, but Washburn has brought the best out of Jevon Kearse, Albert Haynesworth, Kevin Carter, Tony Brown, Jason Babin, Dave Ball, Jason Jones and Jacob Ford. After Kearse, Haynesworth, and Carter departed their careers declined. Before Babin and Ball came to town they were castoffs from other teams. Tony Brown was released following Washburn’s departure. Babin and Ford have since been overpaid after playing under Washburn. It would have been great to see last year’s first round pick Derrick Morgan develop under the eye of Washburn. The Titans do have bright spots, however. With Michael Roos and David Stewart, the Titans are one of the strongest teams at the tackle positions in the league. Michael Griffin and Cortland Finnegan are tough defensive backs who have a tendency of frustrating their opponents., especially Finnegan, as displayed last year in his fight with Andre Johnson. Barrett Ruud is a great addition at linebacker and one of the best at his position in pass coverage and defending receiving tight ends. As a Titans fan I feel I have little reason for hope this season, but I will continue to find the positives, most specifically the development and learning for Jake Locker, watching Hasselbeck’s poise and leadership from the sidelines.

The Picks Are In!! (AFC North)

AFC North:

1. Baltimore Ravens

This is another hard division to pick, and it's not much of a difference going either way with the teams who have more or less dominated the division of late. So I'll pick the Ravens to get over the hump and take the AFC North crown from the Steelers. My biggest reason for doing so: I believe the Ravens have the best defensive player in the league. No I'm not talking about Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, or Terrell "Sack-Master" Suggs. I'm talking about Haloti Ngata. Ngata at times could single-handedly dismantle offensive lines last season, in the pass and the rush game, doing his best Albert Haynesworth pre-record-breaking salary impression. With all the pressure he creates, he allows Suggs to get to the quarterback faster, Lewis to the the holes harder, and Reed to pick the best spots to make a play on the ball. Offensively, while I'm not in love with Flacco's accuracy and failure to spread the ball around, the Ravens have enough weapons to get down the field and put enough points on the board to let their defense win the games.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (wild card)

Ben Roethlisberger has been to three Super Bowls and has two rings. But that was the single, womanizing Ben! Now he is happily married! While I'm kidding and don't actually think that will affect the results of the team, I just am wary to put the Steelers ahead of the Ravens this season. There are plenty of positives to start, however. Mike Wallace broke out last season as the best big play receiver not named DeSean Jackson or Calvin Johnson last year. Rashard Mendenhall dances around defenders and can break for big runs. And Ben can extend the play better than anyone, even speedy quarterbacks Michael Vick and Aaron Rodgers. His size and awareness help him keep the play going when most count the team out from the get-go. But James Harrison's no-show in the Super Bowl worries me (not his hatred of Roger Goodell, he can play through that). Troy Polamalu's health is a real concern, especially as he gets older and starts to slow down. Hines Ward is really getting up their in age and his play-making and run-blocking will begin to decline. Their offensive line is still shaky, even with the best center Maurkice Pouncey. But things in the NFL always change and fluctuate from year to year, so this year the AFC North, I believe, belongs to the Baltimore Ravens.

3. Cleveland Browns

They finish third ONLY because of the futility of the Cincinnati Bengals. I never though Eric Mangini was a great head coach, but really Mike Holmgren? You're gonna higher the offensive coordinator of a 7-9 team as your head coach? Pat Shurmur has his work cut out, but he does have a breakout, bull-dozing running back in Peyton Hillis, the best offensive tackle in the game in Joe Thomas, and a wealth of developing young talent. Colt McCoy is showing flashes of the leadership he exhibited at Texas en route to becoming the winningest quarterback in college football history, and while he may not be Pro Bowl material, he will lead a team to the playoffs in his career. Joe Haden showed flashes of his great potential in his rookie season, making six interceptions on the season. Mohamed Massaquoi is a good possession receiver and security blanket for McCoy. However I think the defense will take a step back with the departure of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to Dallas. This looks to be a team that doesn't make the playoffs, but they don't go out with a fight for the teams in their path.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

I don't really feel like doing this one. But I'll try to look hard and find the positives. Leon Hall is a great cornerback and held down the secondary with Jonathan Joseph last season, who fled for greener pastures in Houston. AJ Green is a great talent with potential to be one of the league's top wideouts, but it won't happen this year. Okay I'm done with the positives. Their defense has several holes, and opposing offenses are going to love when Cincy comes to town. At least they have Bruce Gradkowski under center. No I'm kidding. Carson Palmer, please come out of retirement and give some life to this team and be a red-headed influence to guide a promising young red-head like yourself, Andy Dalton. Love, the city of Cincinnati.

The Picks Are In!! (AFC East)

Football is back! It feels so good, especially since we're likely to see much or all of my beloved NBA lost in the upcoming season. So get your living room ready, start your fantasy drafts and prepare to disgust your wives and girlfriends by how little you do from ESPN's NFL Countdown all the way til the final play of Monday Night Football!

This summer saw quite possibly the craziest free agency period in NFL (and maybe even sports in general) history, and through a draft class on the weaker side (yeah I know Nnamdi was a big deal, but there are too many "If You Give That Guy Too Much Money and Too Many Years He's Probably Going to Underperform" guys that were signed), the landscape of the NFL has changed. Although it may not be a seismic change, it will still effect which teams we're going to bet on, root for, and berate in utter disgust in January. So without further ado, Steadward's NFL Division Standings for the 2011-2012 season! (You may not be as excited as I am, I have bad luck with these things.)

AFC East:

1. New England Patriots

I did this alphabetically, which stinks because this is one of the hardest divisions to guess which of the two powerhouses will end up with the division title. But I'm going with New England (I'm not happy about it either, Jets fans), and the first two reasons I decided this are the same two reasons many will pick New England to win this division: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Belichick was turning heads again this offseason. In the transition period seeing many players head to new cities, Belichick traded for WR Chad Ochocinco and DT Albert Haynesworth. This would usually make football fans shake their heads, if say, Dallas acquired these players, but when The Hoodie makes these moves, people just say "Oh man, Belichick's at it again!" Ochocinco, what some people may not understand (who obviously don't know much about about football), does not have a bad attitude, and his outlandishness, though it may not subside completely, will not come before this team and what its aims are for the season. Ochocinco has lost a step, of course, at 33 years old, but he may have the best hands in the league outside of Larry Fitzgerald and Braylon Edwards (just kidding about the second one). Haynesworth is playing for more. The Patriots can let him go whenever they want. Although he may not have completely let go of the Krispy Kreme diet, can you imagine how offenses feel when they look over and Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork are looking at you like your their dinner? I think both signings aid the Patriots in the regular season. Tom Brady is as competitive as quarterbacks get and will never let his team lose sight of their short term and long terms goals. The third reason relates very directly to the first two: Teams with continuity and strong veteran leadership fare better in seasons following a lockout. With teams missing workouts this summer due to work stoppage, teams with a strong nucleus such as the New England Patriots, guided by their scheming coach and fearless quarterback.

2. New York Jets (wild card)

Though we likely know what head coach Rex Ryan will guarantee this preaseason: a Super Bowl Championship in February. I feel the same way about the Jets as I did last year, so I feel they will once again finish behind Tom Brady and the Pats. They still have the leagues best cornerback, someone who, needless to say, can shut any receiver and make him a non-factor in the game, and someone who is also a weak pass rush's best friend, such as the Jets. With Darrelle Revis and Linebacker David Harris, Rex Ryan can fill in almost anyone outside of my tiny frame into his defensive schemes and produce results, shutting down opposing offenses. So they'll win a good amount of games only scoring points in single digits or slightly beyond. But I still don't trust Mark Sanchez and his issues with accuracy, and I think a newly signed Santonio Holmes (they had to spend the money, but it is still too much), Plaxico Burress (2 years removed from competitive football) and the addition of an aging Derrick Mason are a downgrade from Holmes playing with something to prove, Braylon Edwards (despite my jokes at his expense), and Jerricho Cotchery. LaDanian Tolmlinson was great as a backup last season, but we all know the self life of halfbacks. Shonn Greene will have a nice season, but they need more than just his downhill running. The Jets also will have to throw in younger players on the offensive line, although Nick Mangold may be the best center in the league outside of Maurkice Pouncey. Yes, this Jets team looks ready for another postseason berth, but I don't see anything I didn't see from last season that will suggest they pass the Patriots in the regular season. And I know its boring to start with two picks identical from last season, but I hope you're ready for a curveball...

3. Buffalo Bills

I know, third in a division doesn't guarantee immortality on NFL Films, but if you're a Bills fan try to tell me you would not be happy with a 3rd place finish with the top 2 spots so locked up. Ryan Fitzpatrick may not be the guy you want under center, but he is a gamer. The team fell in a lot of close games with Fitzpatrick leading the charges, tossing to one of the NFL's breakout stars of last season, Stevie Johnson. Maybe this season, Stevie won't have to publicly question his faith on Twitter and will make a few more big plays. I love Fred Jackson and I have a feeling CJ Spiller will bounce back from a dismal rookie season at running back. Still, I don't like the defense and their stuck with Chan Gailey as their head coach (if you recall, they really had no choice but to bring this ineffective coach in). With that said, I like their chances to finish third better than the next team.

4. Miami Dolphins

Welcome to the Chad Henne/Matt Moore show! Brandon Marshall, you thought you saw over/underthrown balls last season? Well don't worry, Miami brought in Matt Moore, who lost his starting job to Jimmy Clausen! It's hard for Miami fans to be excited when you have this circus at quarterback and Reggie Bush as the new feature back (That is, if there are real Miami fans. I think there are Dolphins fans. But Heat and Marlins games show a pretty seemingly indifferent group of people). Reggie is a great threat and asset to an offense, but he works better as a second or third option, not the focal point of a backfield. Daniel Thomas is a nice player, but he landed in a bad situation this year. Unfortunately for defensive stars Cameron Wake and Karlos Dansby, they could be headed for the bottom of the barrel of the AFC East.

State of the AL East

It is a weird feeling being a Yankee fan this time of year. Going into the season, especially with the new rotation (We'll dominate the league in 2002!), I expected this to be a rebuilding year, getting younger players better and ready to take over some of the positions that the fading stars will soon give up. Even though it is only mid-June, the Yankees are in the thick of things at the top of the American League East. While worry will always exist for me this season (1-8 to Boston? Really?), I suppose having a season with this kind of start is a little better than wondering about the improvements of the top young prospects (Catchers Jesus Montero, Gary Sanchez, and Austin Bromine as well as pitchers Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances).

I will admit, I am on hold in regards to my Yankee and Major League Baseball fanhood until the NBA season ends, but the Finals are over (sadly) so it is now time for my Yankee faithfulness to come into full effect.

As it stands now, the Yankees are 1.5 games back in the AL East to the Offensive Juggernauts, also referred to as the Boston Red Sox. In a way, this is still promising, because I still do not think that the best Yankees are playing to their full potential. I expected a bigger season from 3B Alex Rodriguez this season, but A-Rod still has yet to have a real hot streak this season. 2B Robinson Cano has had some great weeks, but he is not hitting like 2010 Robbie Cano. CC Sabathia has been solid, but he hasn't given me the confidence I expect from him when I watch his starts. A lot of his wins have been shaky at best, and he has had a tendency thusfar in 2011 to get himself into trouble early in an inning. Swisher is still taking pitches as he always does (one of the best in the league at extending the plate appearance), but he has hit terribly this season and does not look completely comfortable at the plate. On the other hand, some Yankees are surprising me with the starts that they have accumulated. Curtis Granderson has obviously worked on his swing in this past offseason. His 21 homers are tied for tops in the league with slugger Jose Bautista, and wouldn't you know Mark Teixeira! Granderson has shown a lot more patience at the plate and waits for his pitches, instead of the attempts to crank every ball out of the park that we saw in large doses last season. Teixeira is also surprisingly off to a much better start then the ones he has posted in the last few seasons. He seems much more comfortable under the spotlight of New York City media than the past putrid Aprils and Mays we have seen from him. An uplifting surprise for the 2011 Yankees has also come from the bullpen. I have never been entirely confident in the Yankee bullpen leading up to the 9th inning, but Dave Robertson has done his job to create sighs of relief for the team and fans of the Bombers. Although he will offer a share of hits at times, Robertson strikes opposing batters out in bunches. His 1.23 ERA reflects a big increase in confidence from his nervousness last year.

Still, a trade for a starting pitcher seems necessary to keep the Yankees fight with the Red Sox alive. The aforementioned abundance of catchers in the farm system seem to show promise that this could happen. Montero is viewed by many as the best prospect in the league. He is one of the more skilled hitters to play within the Yankees system in the last 15 years. His problem is that he doesn't really have a position: he cannot play catcher very well. This prospect is one that the Yankees will likely keep. The other two are the Yankees more likely options as trade bait. Gary Sanchez is a promising hitter that many other teams have shown interest in. Austin Bromine does not have the skills at the plate that the other do, but plays the position of catcher to perfection.

There are other things to look forward to with this Yankees team this year. I was at Yankee Stadium when Derek Jeter left with the tweak in his calf last week (yes, you can blame me for that, I only bring bad luck when I go to see my teams play).When he does come back, and is able to continue his quest for 3000 hits, it will bring a lot returns to the team for a lot of reason. The pride of the Yankee Faithful will pick up and they will be right behind Jeter in every at-bat he has leading up to it. When the Yankee fans are behind the team, they always play better (as opposed to when the Yankee fans turn against their team, sending them into a gloomy whirlwind). Jeter will have a new sense of confidence and understand his worth to the team even with the regress in his ability and the drop in his step with the added years on the field. Jeter's value this year to the Yankees is much more as a leader and the captain of the team. He needs to get to a place where he is inspiring his teammates and instilling more confidence into their bats and gloves. Jeter's temporary absence also helps Eduardo Nunez's confidence. Playing every day and getting into the grove of hitting and fielding the demanding shortstop position will improve his worth as one of the most important backup position players the Yankees have.

In the northeast, a frightening semblance of players exists to haunt every win and step forward that the Yankees make. The Boston Red Sox are rolling right now and the offense seems to put on a clinic every time they step into a ballpark. With apologies to NESN, this Red Sox offense is not the 1927 Yankees, but it still gives pitchers nightmares and has the potential to put up 10+ runs every game. Adrian Gonzalez has taken over this offense. He does not seem to have a weak spot in the zone and continues to drive ball after ball into the outfield or over the stands. David Ortiz is feeling strong currently, reverting back to the mid-2000s David Ortiz, sending out momentum-building home runs that the rest of the team feeds off. For me, Kevin Youkilis is still the most terrifying Red Sox hitter. Better than Swisher at taking pitchers far into an at-bat, he extends innings and keeps pitchers on their toes while sending them into a psychological frenzy as to what kind of pitch they should throw and where to put it. Josh Beckett is playing the way his contract almost mandates he plays, contrary to his dismal 2010 season. Every time he gets on the mound I feel like he will play as shakily as last year, but he continues to impress me the way he did in 2007.

Injuries, again, are a concern for this team going forward. Jed Lowrie, although his play has declined, has fit in well in the lineup and fielded the shortstop position excellently. Hopefully for Beantown, his stint on the Disabled List will hamper his flow into the game and the improvement he has shown this season. Clay Buchholz, who seems primed to become one of the most effective pitchers from the league, will have to work to get back into form and make this rotation as effective as its been this year. Dustin Pedroia in seasons of late has consistently shown concerns of being able to stay of the field. Pedroia, along with Youkilis and Ortiz, is the glue of the team and crucial to maintaining momentum for this team.

Despite the play of the Tampa Bay Rays to this point in the season, I believe this division is a two-horse race. We will continue to monitor the positions of these two teams and their place in the league for the rest of the season. We also will not be so naive to doubt that injuries, surges, and swoons can have a lot to say to shake things up in this sport.

Top 10 Questions for the 2011-12 NBA Season (if there is one)

The most exciting NBA season in recent memory has come to an abrupt end. The city of Dallas and their beloved Mavericks have some time to celebrate, but then its back to work. Unofficial work for the time being, however, as the players union and the NBA and its owners try to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. Fans of the NBA would love for a full season to keep the momentum going for a sport that saw its best ratings and highest following in some time. For those of us nerds who never stop talking about the NBA, hears some questions to ponder:

10. Can the Grizzlies continue to play as well with Rudy Gay?

One year ago, this would have seemed like a funny question. Rudy Gay was regarded as the leader and best player on the playoff-fringe Grizzlies before his season-ending shoulder injury. But as the rest of the season played on and the Grizzlies clinched their first playoff berth in 5 years, it was not clear who the leader was. You could make arguments for Zach Randolph, who focused and became an ultra-effective (and largely un-stoppable) post-presence and rebounding machine, or Tony Allen, who's pedigree and superior defense inspired the rest of the team. Regardless of what your opinion is, these Grizzlies could ball, and they were not afraid of anyone. Drawing the-top seeded Spurs in the first round who boasted the west's best record, the Grizzlies refused to back down, putting the Spurs' backs against the wall and ultimately knocking them out in the first round. In the second round, this old-school, wear-'em-down Grizzlies team went back and forth with the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder, before falling short in 7 games of an absolutely thrilling series. AND THIS WAS ALL WITHOUT RUDY GAY! Their 80 million dollar player. Point Mike Conley played like the seemingly fat contract he was given the year before, Randolph continued to dominate and Allen continued to inspire, Marc Gasol helped Randolph crashed the boards and added offense (and stayed in the playoffs longer than his brother Pau), and 2-guard OJ Mayo played strong defense and drained momentum-building threes. (I guess I should mention Greivis Vazquez poured his heart into the playoffs, which surprised even Terps fans.) They played so cohesively as a unit and brought out the true meaning of team. Following the team's elimination, Grizz owner Michael Heisley made public comments stating that the team has no intention of trading Gay and that Gay's future is in Memphis. And I say good decision by Michael. The Grizzlies got smacked in Game 7 against the Thunder. What was missing was another threat. Conley can drive and shoot, but those skills are not superior and they are not always on. Randolph may be the best offensive power forward in the league, but he needs a sidekick, and someone who can slash while Randolph draws the double team. Gasol has a little finesse down-low, but he is young and has some raw talent. OJ Mayo may not be back next season, but his shooting lends a big hand to the Memphis offense. Gay is that missing offensive piece. He is near the top of the league and creating his own shot, and he has some pop from the outside. Look for the Grizzlies to move higher into the conversation of contenders next year (if Randolph doesn't party too much).

9. What will happen with Deron Williams and Chris Paul?

The words and actions of this pair and Dwight Howard are so puzzling that many questions will just have to be answered at next year's February trade deadline or at the season's end. Deron Williams is the league's most powerful and strong  point guard. Also, with the game on the line, any coach would trust the ball in Deron Williams hands to get a good shot. Chris Paul, despite some lost speed and strength from his knee issues, still has the quickest eyes and hands and can run an offense to perfection. Deron has said that he is happy in New Jersey after his half season there after Utah surprisingly shipped him for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and draft picks. However, he will not stay there without help. The Dwight Howard drama will have coverage as intense as the LeBron and Carmelo situations, but Deron's future could be largely decided by the conclusion to that. New Jersey has lost valuable assets in acquiring Dwight and that hurts the likelihood for Mikhail Prokhorov and the Nets management to land a mid-season trade. Chris Paul has said that he would like to leave New Orleans but later retracted that, signing a short extension and stating his loyalty to the city of New Orleans and its Hornets. But the media will never believe that, or does not want to believe that, and have made huge deals out of small things such as Chris Paul wearing a Yankee hat in public. The truth is, you couldn't blame CP3 for salivating at the thought of being able to set up offensive forces such as Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire for the New York Knicks. Paul's future could also hinge on Dwight Howard's future, which will be discussed later.

8. Are the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs done?

Charles Barkley, controversial but insightful NBA analyst, has said that the signs of Kevin Garnett's age and miles are starting to show, citing his 1-10 from the floor in Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals after a strong 28 points and 18 rebounds in Game 3 of that series. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have defied age in the length of their astounding careers in the ways Pierce still gets to the foul line and Ray still continues to drain 3-pointer after 3-pointer. But all good things come to an end. Rajon Rondo, tough and bruised and arguably the team's best player, provides the youth for the team's young stars. But are they buried by the starpower of the Heat and the physicality of the Chicago Bulls? With Doc Rivers' surprising extension to stay with the team for a few more years and the grit of the players, you can never count the Celtics out. But the likely answer is yes, they are done. The prospect for Dwight Howard is still on the table, which would answer the glaring hole the Perkins trade and the Shaquille O'Neal retirement have left in the middle of the Boston lineup, but that prospect is still dim. The likelihood of the old C's getting passed especially the youth and energy of the Heat is also dim.

The Spurs' glory years seem to be over. Tim Duncan's glorious career and ascent to the top 10 basketball players of all-time is dwindling after four rings and 13 all-star seasons. He cannot hold his ground on the defensive post against quicker players (showcased in Round One of the playoffs against Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies) and he no longer draws double teams. Manu Ginobili continues to fear opposing teams as he drains increasingly difficult shots, displays pretty spin moves down the lane, and executes the infamous Manu flops to draw offensive fouls, but he has trouble staying on the floor with injuries. Tony Parker is now being outplayed by the part of the game that he dominated, getting to the rim faster than the eyes can believe, by Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook; and he gets bullied by stronger point guards such as Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo. The youth of the team, DeJaun Blair, George Hill, and James Anderson, are talented but do not look quite good enough to continue the legacy that Duncan, Ginobili and Parker will leave from their time in San Antonio. This team is not strong enough to contend with Oklahoma City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Memphis, and even the athleticism of Denver out in the West.

7. Do the New York Knicks have more to bring to their starving fans?

This question is tough to answer. While I believe Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire will learn to gel together more in their offense and they will certainly make the playoffs barring injury (like Amar'e's uninsured knees) this is an organization with a lot of questions. The departure of Donnie Walsh is frightening (Isaiah's return notwithstanding). Walsh brought the Knicks out of the depths of hell that Isaiah Thomas's tenure. He got rid of all the bad contracts and made New York a desirable situation for Amar'e, and, in effect and in addition to the lights and draw of the city, led Carmelo to state this as his destination. But he's gone now, and so doubt creeps in that the organization can bring in more chips to put together more of a monster. The most positive thing that exists with this team, however, and something that gives any team a chance no matter what, is Carmelo Anthony's ability to score any time. He gets to the line and besides Dirk, is the guy I want with the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, D'Antoni is not a good fit for this team. The fact that in his defense sets he could have all players walk off the floor and be just as ineffective is not the issue. He got far in a loaded West in the playoffs with his Suns teams. The problem is that he cannot create an offense that helps Carmelo and Amar'e coexist. Carmelo is a ball-stopper and is more effective in a slow-down game. The ideal offense is the triangle offense, but any other offense would help this team more. Brian Shaw and Rick Adelman are better fits for this team. Let me put it this way, if D'Antoni is gone (and the Walsh departure helps that because of their close relationship), I feel a lot better of the Knicks prospects in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.

6. Can the Thunder fix their chemistry problems and harness their potential to control the West?

Questions came from every media angle concerning the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook dynamic and chemistry offensively for the Thunder after their trouncing in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of the eventual championship Dallas Mavericks team. Is Durant getting irked by the number of shots Russell takes? Does Durant have command of his offense? Can Scott Brooks coach these two together? Here is my answer to all of that. SHUT UP! This is another instance of the media blowing a situation out of proportion. Let me give you the ages of the Thunder's most important players going forward. Durant, 22. Westbrook, 22. James Harden, 21. Serge Ibaka, 21. This was each of these players second ever playoffs and fourth ever playoff series. They made the Western Conference Finals at these young ages. The defending champs, the Lakers, didn't make it that far, nor did the defending Eastern Conference champs, the Celtics. This young team dominated the athletic and dynamic Denver Nuggets, and ended up on top in a 7-game war with the Grizzlies, one of the best series of the playoffs. They imploded, but this team still hasn't come close to reaching their ceiling. James Harden was let free by the Jeff Green trade. He increased his stock heavily after these playoffs. He got to the foul line, made game-changing threes, played great defense, and faked some hits to give his team calls (that's not as important, but he's approaching the Manu/JJ Barea threshold of expert flopping). Serge Ibaka will only get better. He will almost certainly become the league's best shot-blocker and continue frighten opposing players going to the rim while he plays free safety. Add to that his electrifying dunks and the still-improving 18-foot jumper. Eric Maynor may be the best backup point guard in the league, and could start for many other teams (the Heat and the Lakers would drool if he was on their squads). Kendrick Perkins, much maligned by much of the media for his playoff performance, is still so valuable for the little things he can bring for his team, including his championship pedigree, pushing opposing players slightly off the block to get them out of position in the post, and that blood-curdling scowl that keeps officials up at night. Nick Collison was an underrated re-signing. Collison played the best defense Zach Randolph and Dirk Nowitzki saw throughout the playoffs. He brings an energy and veteran presence unseen through the rest of the team. Durant and Westbrook will play better together. Westbrook is still learning to play the point guard position and as he grows older will learn the spots his teammates need to be in to have the best opportunity to score. Durant is already a two-time scoring champ and will always find ways to score, getting to the rim on back-door cuts, drawing the foul (he rarely misses free-throws, running out on the fast-break, and the three-pointer can still see improvement. The Westbrook/Durant pick-and-roll is so effective, baffling defenders on whether to switch or whether to fight through the screen. Thabo Sefalosha probably needs to be dealt, as his role (perimeter defense) was not seen in the later rounds of the Thunder's playoff runs. But with all the pieces in place, put your money on the Thunder to win the West a bunch of times in the next decade. They will get their chance to fight for the Larry O'Brien trophy.

5. What to the Chicago Bulls need to do to get to the next level?

This answer is a little more simple. The Bulls need desperately a 2-guard to go to war with at both ends. Kyle Korver can find nylon on an off-ball screen three point shot, but he couldn't defend Erik Spoelstra if he was on the floor. Keith Bogans' confidence is higher than his ability, and is certainly expendable. Ronnie Brewer can play defense but struggles to find his shot. If the Bulls could have made a play at OJ Mayo at the trading deadline, the team much more complete from top to bottom. Hopefully for Chicago fans the organization can fill that void. Rose will get better, Noah is the second-best defensive center in the league, Deng is a great second scorer, and Taj Gibson provides a ton of energy and length off the bench. Boozer will play better. He had trouble getting into the groove of the season after his energy and filling in comfortably with his new team. He is less of a worry than one may think. But back to the topic of age, Rose, their unquestioned leader and best player, is only 22. The Bulls have a high ceiling as well.

4. Can the Lakers situation be fixed?

The Lakers showed that they have more problems than meets the eye. If you were to tell me that they would be swept in the second round of the playoffs during their incredible run after all-star break, I would have told you you were crazy. But their flaws manifested themselves while they fell to the Mavericks. While Kobe is old, he is still Kobe Bryant. He just needs more help. Lamar Odom is still the NBA's best sixth man and will still help this team, but if I were Lakers management I would be happier if he spent less time on the Entertainment Network and more time shooting jump shots. But what happened to Pau Gasol, the artist formerly known as the Savant of the Offensive Post? He played scared and made costly turnovers and put up bad shots. He looked lost on the floor. As already mentioned, he was severely outplayed by his brother Marc in the playoffs. Maybe it was the personal problems off the court and the story of his girlfriend allegedly sleeping with a teammate (Shannon Brown?). But Pau needs to be Pau. And the Lakers will surely benefit from that. Derek Fisher is obviously old and, through his playoff heroics, needs to have a better replacement that can stay in front of opposing guards. In that respect, I do not know who is on the table for the Laker's to acquire (is Roddy Beaubois still untouchable? Wait, do we even know if he's any good?). Ron Arest (or what's left of Ron Artest) should not be an issue, because the new CBA may allow the Lakers to dump his contract. Corey Brewer may be able to fill that void should he be available. Andrew Bynum needs to grow up. Although hard fouls can be good for a team defensively if opposing teams believe they can drive to the rim at will, his late season fouls were unnecessary and dangerous. Do the Lakers trade Bynum and other assets for Dwight Howard? It is certainly a possibility. Dwight needs a new cast if he can enhance his legacy, and he would love to play with Kobe. Obviously, so much of what is going to happen next year in the NBA depends on where Dwight Howard is going to end up. The Lakers situation is another example of that. The Lakers, as presently constructed, are growing old and the youth of other teams in the West are catching up, namely the Oklahoma City Thunder. The dominance of the conference throughout the last decade will not come nearly as easily as it has in years past.

3. Can the Mavericks repeat?

Nothing is sure with the competitiveness of the league right now for what the outcome will be. But with Dirk Nowitzki at the helm of this ship, anything is possible. Dirk is part of the new generation of stars that even when you think their skills will decline, they continue to get better at different parts of the game. He will still make eye-opening shots fading away on one foot. He will still be practically flawless from the three point line, and he will still find all his spots. Jason Terry, in his role, can still play until his late thirties. A jumper like that is valuable to any NBA team, and is perfect for this contender. Jason Kidd may only have a little time in his career, but he's found out how to play the point guard position as effectively as possible, as shown in my last post. Chandler, also mentioned in my last post, does so many things so effectively, but his contract has to be worked out for the Mavericks to keep him. For many of the reasons mentioned in my last post, this team can win an NBA championship, but they have a great number of teams only getting better that lay in their way.

2. Where the hell is Dwight Howard going to be?

Carmelo and LeBron all over again. The media loves this sort of situation and it feeds off of it. Dwight, like Deron Williams and Chris Paul, have confused people who have tried to understand what he wants. At the base of this problem, one of his desires is outwardly clear: he needs better teammates to compete. And not what Otis Smith supplied him with in those trades early last season. Hedo Turkoglu, although not the Hedo on the 2009 Eastern Conference Champion Magic team, provided some energy and effective pick-and-rolls with Dwight. And Jason Richardson was a great piece from those trades. But Gilbert Arenas turned out to be a failure. Whatever Gilbert did well in his best days in Washington he could not carry over into Orlando, and the "Gilbert off the bench" project did not return dividends for the Magic. That huge contract is an ugly thing for Orlando management to look at as they look towards the future. This newly constructed team could not get passed the first round of the playoffs, despite Dwight's monster numbers, and it was easy to see how frustrated he was throughout it. In recent comments, Dwight said that he wanted to start his own path and not leave town for other stars (while taking a shot at Shaq). However, the max contract is on the table, so it is clear that Dwight is staying he definitely wants to stay in Orlando. It would be more accurate to say he wants to try to get CP3 or Deron or another star to come play for the Magic on his side. This problem will not be settled for Dwight unless he plays with someone he believes can help him win a championship. My hope is that he would be traded to New Jersey to play with D-Will, but it is not safe to say that will happen. This is one of the bigger mysteries going into the new season.

1. Can LeBron James get it together and win?

LeBron is going to win the championship in the next few years, and maybe he will win more than that. But needless to say, he has work to do. This year it was his to win. With Dwyane Wade putting together an unbelievable series, Chris Bosh having a few great games himself, Udonis Haslem battling Dirk, and Mario Chalmers showing he was not afraid of the moment (for better or for worse, but in this series, better), LeBron just needed to score and get to the rim more for his team to have a better chance. But he was afraid of the moment and uncomfortable in the fourth quarter especially. Late in games, he continually deferred to his teammates when he had open looks. He was tentative to exploit glaring defensive mismatches, like when Berea was caught in a switch, or when Terry or Kidd guarded him. LeBron could not get it together. He needs to focus more on his game getting better and less on shooting commercials and increasing his brand awareness. LeBron, you have the highest selling jersey of the 2010-2011 season. You are showcased on billboards and advertisements throughout the country. We have all seen your bad acting in State Farm commercials. Now please get in the gym and develop a go-to move. LeBron is the most talented athlete I have ever seen in my life. He has the size (6 feet 8 inches, 275 pounds). He has the speed and quickness. Now please put that all together so I don't have to see that talent wasted. If he had a go-to, greatly effective post move, that would elevate his game to where it matters more than just putting points on the board. It establishes an intangible that makes him a better player whether he has the ball or not. It puts fear in the defenders' minds. Fear is what has made so many players and teams better through the years. Michael Jordan's opponents feared his driving and his low-post moves, so he pulled up and hit the mid-range shot. Opponents fear Kobe's mid-range shot, so he drove around the defender if he got too close. Hakeem Olajuwon made opponents respect him in the paint, so he kicked it out to his perimeter players when he got open. Every time an opponent adjusts to their fears defensively, it opens another hole for the offensive player to exploit. LeBron needs that. But he also needs to do what he does best and what Wade did throughout the Finals, and that is drive to the basket and take contact. Getting to the line is critical for LeBron's success. No matter that he doesn't shoot from the line as well as Steve Nash or Durant or Dirk. The number of times he gets there outweighs the misses when he is on his game. He needs to get back to that when it matters. That will be the difference between hoisting the trophy and having a parade throughout the streets of Miami, and walking into the tunnel without shaking the opponents hands. So please LeBron. We are all waiting.

2011 NBA Finals: Series of Destiny

It was Dallas's year.

Destiny seemed to be on the sides of the 2010-2011 Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Ultimately, and in many ways surprisingly, the Dallas Mavericks got to this point very convincingly. Through so many people involved in the organization, a fan of the game can easily say, "It was just [insert Dallas Maverick]'s time."

Jason Kidd has been as close as many players can get to taking it all home at the end of the season. He was the unquestioned leader of unquestioned contenders in the start of the millennium, bringing the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals in consecutive years, before losing convincingly to both Shaq and Kobe's Lakers team in 2002 (Phil Jackson's third and last three-peat) and Tim Duncan's Spurs team in 2003. After that New Jersey team started to fade, many would say the road ahead looked bleak for one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. Mark Cuban, Mavs' owner, desperate for a championship of his own, traded for Kidd a few years later. As Kidd grew older, nature called, and his athleticism began to wither. That athleticism had an inverse relationship with many of his intangibles, as well as his jump shot. To get to that coveted goal, he had to execute those facets of his game to perfection. He had to continue to make those perfect passes, will his team with his toughness late in games, and hit the open threes. The things that Kidd brought to that team proved to be more valuable then the explosiveness and scoring abilities that Devin Harris possessed.
With the championship won, there has to be a different historical perspective on Kidd. Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and Oscar Robertson are the best point guards in NBA history, but Kidd's championship shakes up the rankings after that. He passes Steve Nash and John Stockton because of the ring, and now, in my opinion, has passed Cousy on the list. Cousy was never the best player on his team, and the competitiveness and amount of contending teams is greater now than it was in the 1960s. To add to that, this has been one of the most competitive playoffs in the history of the game, ranking with 1993 and the great playoffs in the mid to late 1980s. Kidd has improved his legacy mightily with this championship.

Jason Terry has been viewed widely as a one-dimensional player for his entire career, starting with his days on bad Atlanta teams and through his time as Dirk's sidekick. Opposing defenders played him close, not fearing the dribble drive, and athletic (and even semi-athletic) wing-players and point guards blew passed him to the rim. Terry, however, developed an excellent pick-and-roll chemistry with Dirk through the years that made Dallas difficult to impossible to defend late in games. Jason Terry has climbed historically to the Mount Rushmore of irrational confidence players, a concept developed by Bill Simmons, among the ranks of Vernon Maxwell and Robert Horry. He knew he could make his shot, and never backed down in taking it. That was manifested in his shot over LeBron James down the stretch in game 5, a dagger that proved its worth in the series and the season.

Shawn Marion was seen as washed up and overpaid from his days thriving in the run and gun offense in Phoenix. Many thought, after Marion's flameouts in Miami and Toronto, that Steve Nash had created the all-star and great player that he was able to become for the Suns. However, Marion became a role-player on this Dallas team, and what a pivotal role he played. Marion concentrated on the things he did best, defense and second-chance opportunites on offense for his team. Marion played suffocating late game defense on the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. How's that for a playoff run? He may not be a perennial all-star and scorer that he was able to become in Phoenix, but he played a role to perfection on a great team and gave a superb supporting performance in this year's playoffs.

Dominant force in the center position, but never putting it together to make a difference on his team. Not meeting his full potential and allowing himself to become the player that he can beThat is exactly what executives in Chicago, New Orleans, and Chicago thought about Tyson Chandler, leaving them to abandon the tough 7-footer. After all these stops, Chandler ended up on a playoff team with a lethal superstar in Dirk Nowitzki. He found his own. Throughout these playoffs, Chandler made players such as Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade think twice about driving to the rim as many of them were so accustomed to doing with ease. He stood toe-to-toe with Lamarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Chris Bosh and kept them from giving their teams a better chance to win. He scrapped after lose balls and offensive rebounds again and again and again, keeping possessions alive and swinging momentum with these bursts energy and toughness. And to think, if he passed a physical he could have been playing for Oklahoma City. I will go bang my head on a wall for a bit.

Rick Carlisle has always been a coach on competitive playoff teams. He is, if not the best play-caller, one of the best play-callers the league has in having his team run effective plays that always end up in points. An extremely smart and methodical man, some analysts say Carlisle is too smart for his players. He set up and developed a great Detroit team, and then lost to that Detroit team as the coach of the Indiana Pacers in the 2004 Eastern Conference finals. Now with the Dallas Mavericks, Carlisle has his team executing in perfection all the way to the promised land of the NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki has solidified his legacy in the game. Continually haunted by the 2006 Finals after the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead to the Heat, Dirk continued to work on his game and specifically his difficult circus shots with his longtime personal shooting coach. In the last three years, Dirk has proved himself to be the best one-man closer in the game, better than Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant in creating his own shot and making tough ones towards the end of close games. When you watch him play, his approach to offense is so meticulous, but he continues to do things that completely amaze those who watch him. He gets to his spot on the left side of the key or the foul line and faces up against his defenders, holding the ball high and over his 7-foot body, and hurls up his shot, one-foot, fading away, the defender's (or defenders') hands all over him. It doesn't matter. It gets to a point when you are surprised if it doesn't go in. Yet he goes back down the floor the same way, lifting up the left side of his jersey as if its too big on him, bearing his big German teeth with some sort of a menacing and maniacal grin. For every minute of every game, Dirk is focused on his team and the game. After the game ends, he is focused on winning the next one. Now he has won the championship. Although in post-game interviews and his press conference he looked like he needed a long night's sleep, he still seemed focused on winning the next game he plays, whenever the 2011-2012 season begins. Congratulations to Dirk. One of the most fun players to watch and a player, if you are a Dallas fan, that you could never lose faith in.

The Miami Heat probably will not win not 4, not 5, not 6, or whatever LeBron said in their famed pre-championship celebration last July, but they will likely get there. Not this year. This year is Dallas' year. This team got it all together at the right time and got their complicated cast of characters to rise up and bring the Larry O'Brien home to Dallas. It was all amazing to watch.