NBA Finals Preview

From 30 teams, only two are standing: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. This match-up brings back the two teams that have dominated the NBA over the past decades. Boston has 16 banners hanging while L.A. has 14, the two teams that have reached the lofty plateau the most. This is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, with a plethora of star-power that includes the likes of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. These are the two best teams in the League. I will be surprised if this series does not go six or seven games.

The best player who will step on the court will always be Kobe Bryant, barring any injuries or an act of God. The way he has played in the playoffs has been so surreal. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Kobe Bryant scored 17 points in the fourth quarter -- taking the entire team on his shoulders and winning. There is no reason why Bryant should not be able to do score 30 points night-in and night-out against the Boston Celtics.

An advantage that goes to the Lakers is Bryant's prowess defensively. Bryant can have the ability to guard Ray Allen or Paul Pierce and still go crazy on the offensive end of the court.
That is not the case vice-versa. Therefore, expect to see a lot of playing time given to James Posey, the former champion with Miami whose defense and rebounding was useful against Detroit.

Kevin Garnett holds the edge over Pau Gasol. Both are good players, but I have to give the slight advantage to the person who is more versatile and athletic. It should be a nice battle down low for rebounds, which are a key indicator as to who will win the game. I expect Garnett to take Pau Gasol out to the perimeter and take him off the dribble; even occasionally running him off screens to create mis-matches.

Some important factors for the Lakers are Lamar Odom and their bench. Derek Fisher holds the experience over Rajon Rondo. Vlad Radmonovic will not stand a chance against Paul Pierce. However, Lamar Odom could be an x-factor. KG will probably take turns guarding Gasol and Odom. A plus for the Lakers will be in the open court. Lamar Odom has the uncanny ability to rebound the ball and instantly start a fast-break. He is a point-forward. You will see Phil Jackson utilizing that frequently.

The Lakers have one of the most underrated benches in the entire League. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic have been nice, young players for Los Angeles. Ronny Turiaf's enthusiasm and athleticism is something not seen too often. With Boston, it's Sam Cassell, PJ Brown, and James Posey. All three are above 30, and two are older than 37. I expect the young legs to out-duel to the old bones.

With several players either trying to get their first ring or add another ring to their respective collections, the battle between the coaches will be crucial. Phil Jackson holds the advantage here. He has nine rings. He has been there, done that. Doc Rivers is an excellent young coach who has played for the Lakers, but the advantage has to go with Phil Jackson because of his experience.

In a hard-fought series, I expect the Los Angeles Lakers to hoist it up in seven games.

Hold the Mayo -- Heat Looking at OJ?

There is much debate afloat as to who Chicago will pick -- Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. Many predict the Heat will take whoever is available after the first pick. However, Chad Ford recently reported that a source familiar with Miami said that Pat Riley is interested in taking OJ Mayo, the 6'4" combo-guard out of Southern Cal.

Sources say that Miami would prefer Derrick Rose. However, if the Bulls were to select the Chicago native, the Heat may consider taking OJ Mayo. I simply do not understand this. If the Heat aren't sold on Michael Beasley at the forward position, I don't know who else will sell it coming out of the Draft. Beasley is a clear upgrade over Udonis Haslem. With the selection of Beasley, it could leave Haslem as a trade bait. There are plenty of teams that could use a hard-nosed player like Haslem. Miami could draft Beasley and trade Haslem for a point guard. I do not see the same amount of flexibility occurring with a selection of OJ Mayo.

The Heat already have a 6'4", athletic guard -- and that's Dwyane Wade. Many view Mayo as somewhat of a tweener, that he has not shown the ability to become a complete point guard. While Mayo has more of a three-point shot -- something Derrick Rose lacks -- he can tend to become too enamored with the three. Miami's best bet at this point would be to select Derrick Rose. If Chicago selects him, I would draft Beasley and swing a deal involving Haslem to get a solid point guard.

As I have said before, it is hard to envision Chicago selecting Rose. Although this was a down year for him (and perhaps everyone wearing a Bulls uniform), Kirk Hinrich has been a steady point guard for John Paxson. He has averaged 15-17 points the past three seasons, and lead them back to playoff contention. His contract also keeps him locked up for the next four seasons. The Bulls have planned to keep Hinrich in Chicago long-term.

With their only low-post scorer being Drew Gooden (and he's more of a pick-and-pop guy, anyway), Michael Beasley appears to be a better fit for the Bulls. In addition to his low-post prowess, Beasley was also a strong rebounder with Kansas State, which satisfies another need for Chicago. This will be a hard pick for John Paxson, but I expect them to select Beasley.

Pat Riley would be stupid to come out of the Draft and not acquire one of the two best players in this Draft, Beasley or Rose. These are two players who have the potential to become All-Stars in the immediate future. To get anything less would be, arguably, the dumbest thing Riles has done in his career.

With Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, and Udonis Haslem, the Heat are a big man away from having a bright future. OJ Mayo is not a pure point guard. I know that Wade handles the ball a lot, but someone like Derrick Rose would be the best thing for Wade. Competing vigorously this off-season, it is imperative for the Heat not to put too much weight on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. Having him focused completely on scoring will make things better for Wade and the Miami Heat.

Michael Beasley could help bring a lot of scoring and rebounding to the team. But if the Heat select him, it is virtually a sure-fire bet that Udonis Haslem will not be in a Heat uniform next season. He may be packaged to obtain another first round pick. The Heat could come up lucky and get a DJ Augustin, who has mock drafts putting him all over the first round. A more realistic choice is Ty Lawson, whose cat quickness and strength made a name for himself at UNC.

The 2008 NBA Draft has quality options at each position. With the second pick, it should be easy to come away a step closer to returning to contention. The question is how far Pat Riley will go to give Erik Spoelstra a foundation to return to the playoffs.

Second to One

The Miami Heat came up fortunate in the Draft Lottery last night. Chicago, with a 1.7% chance of obtaining the first pick, had the basketball gods on their side last night.

It is evident that the top two picks in the Draft are Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. Rose, who hails from Chi-town, could be an intriguing match with the Bulls. There have been rumors circulating that Chicago is looking to deal Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich is Chicago's current starting point guard and is under contract for the next four seasons. Although Rose with the Bulls is certainly marketable, I can hardly see Chicago picking him up.

The Bulls are a very small team. Names in their roster include Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Larry Hughes, Andres Nocioni, and Tyrus Thomas. Among big men, the Bulls have Drew Gooden and Joakim Noah. Their only seven-footer is Aaron Gray, who averaged four points last season. Above all else, the Bulls need a post presence. Gooden and Noah are not post presences, despite their height. I would not be surprised to see Chicago trade the pick to go down to say, four, and pick up Brook Lopez or DeAndre Jordan.

If the Bulls draft either Rose or Michael Beasley, then they are looking to trade some of their pieces. Drafting Beasley would almost certainly wave goodbye to Tyrus Thomas or another forward. Chicago has struggled this year, but they are just one season removed from the Conference Semifinals. If they can just shore up their front-line, the ball is in their court for a winning season.

Pat Riley has compared the second pick to what Boston did last season, trading the fifth pick for Ray Allen. Riles also indicated that this pick has a lot of leverage. It does not take a brain surgeon to realize that Riles hinted at trading the pick. If you ask me, it looks like Riles is about to make a mistake. The Heat desperately need a point guard, and he's staring them right in the face. The Bulls may be leaning in the direction of Rose, but that is likely to change several times over the weeks.

Pat Riley's comparison to Boston is nonsense; and would not work with Miami anyway. Ray Allen has a lot of mileage on him. Beasley and Rose are 19. They've got decades of seasons left in their tank, barring an improbable event. The last thing this team needs are players who are in their mid-30's. And besides, I would not be bragging about how much leverage this pick has.

Should the Bulls select Beasley, the answer is Rose. Should the Bulls select Rose, I would not immediately pull the trigger on Beasley. Brook Lopez could fill their need of a post presence. They may select Beasley and trade him for another lottery pick. Packaging Udonis Haslem with something else for a second first-round pick could also be an option. A lot of teams could use a hard-nosed player like Haslem. Picking up a DJ Augustin could be an option for Miami.

Predicting a draft pick is very difficult because there are teams that could whip out a shocker or a trade at any point and time. And seeing as how a team with less than a two-percent chance to obtain the first pick got the first selection, conventional wisdom may not serve well this time around.

Draft Lottery: What Does Miami Need?

The random-but-weighted Draft Lottery will air at 8:00 ET tonight on ESPN. The Miami Heat, the League's worst team, will have the best chance to obtain the top pick. Out of the 1,000 ping-pong balls in the lottery, 250 will have the Miami Heat logo on it. Dwyane Wade will be representing the Heat tonight, as they hope to get a third star to accompany Wade and Shawn Marion next season.

Miami has a 46.5 percent at one of the top two picks. The Heat are also guaranteed to fall no lower than selecting fourth this June. However, most Heat fans are pinning their hopes on getting either the first or the second pick.

Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose have dominated the talk within the mock drafts on the Internet. A case can be made for either one of them. Beasley offers a complete package of an NBA player that this League does not see often. Rose, on the other hand, could offer stability and athleticism at the point guard position. With Jason Williams an impending free agent, signing a point guard should be a top priority this season.

General Manager Randy Pfund has said that should the Heat land the third or fourth pick, it is not necessarily bad news. Certainly, there are options, such as Jerryd Bayless, O.J. Mayo, and Brook Lopez, who could have a profound impact to this team. Make no mistake, however, everyone involved with the Miami Heat wants one of the top two picks.

Some have compared Derrick Rose to Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, and Chris Paul. We have certainly seen Williams and Paul take their teams from the bottom of the League to playoff contenders in a matter of seasons. Moreover, Rose will also have Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion by his side. The only hole in Miami's starting lineup would be their center if Miami would obtain Rose.

Michael Beasley is widely regarded as the most complete player available in the Draft, drawing comparisons to Wade's 2003 Draft buddies, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. His strong numbers on offense and rebounding have put him in a League of his own at the collegiate level. However, he will probably be forced to play the power forward position with Miami, since they do intend on keeping Shawn Marion. Despite his talent, it may be challenging for Beasley to guard the NBA's most difficult position.

Nonetheless, either person could lift the spirits of Heat fans before the season even starts. And either person has the ability to be an All-Star. If Miami doesn't end up victorious tonight, it will be a disappointment. The Miami Heat had a terrible season, and seemingly the only cure for that would be a top choice in the NBA Draft, which is just 37 days away.

If Miami doesn't end up with a top two pick, a trade to move up in the Draft is certainly an option. It would provide a solid building block for the future of this franchise as it seeks to move forward. No matter how they get it, David Stern should be saying, "With the first/second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat select..." in 37 days.

Is It Over?

You have probably heard it by now. Senator Barack Obama won North Carolina, which allocated 115 delegates, by 14 points. He was edged out by Senator Hillary Clinton in Indiana. However, many voices in the media and the Democratic Party are calling on Sen. Clinton to drop out.

Should she drop out? Does she still have a chance? Hillary Clinton should drop out and she does not stand a chance. There are six contests remaining. Kentucky, Oregon, and Puerto Rico are the biggest primaries left, each allocating over 50 delegates. There are a total of 217 pledged delegates left available. Barack Obama stands 160 pledged delegates away from hitting the milestone of 2,025 delegates needed to obtain the nomination. Hillary Clinton needs over 300 pledged delegates needed for the nomination.

Barring a monumental collapse of the Obama Campaign or an act of God, this race is over. Even if Michigan and Florida are counted, Clinton would have a net gain of 50 delegates total. She would need 76% of the remaining elected delegates to overtake Obama. In 48 contests, neither of the candidates has done that. If Florida and Michigan are not counted, she would need 88% of those elected delegates. It is just not doable with this math.

The bottom line is that Hillary Clinton is essentially the bad actor who refuses to leave the stage.
It is time for the hook to put her behind the curtains. Several superdelegates have been moving to Obama since his win on Tuesday. Former Presidential candidate John Edwards (D-NC) said that Sen. Obama is the probable nominee this morning. I would not be surprised if an Al Gore or a John Edwards threw their support to Obama in the coming days.

There are some who argue that Clinton has a broader base to build a winning coalition. If that is the case, then why is she losing in pledged delegates and popular vote? If she truly is more electable than Obama, then she should be leading right now. She does have the support of women and the white working-class. And that should be talked about just as much as how Clinton simply cannot obtain the African-American vote. Blacks are the most reliable constituency of the Democratic Party. If they don't win them, they have no shot at winning.

The Democratic Party needs June, July, August, and the eight weeks prior to the November elections to build a winning coalition. I am going to be honest. The Democratic Party is divided. A lot of work has to be done to unite the party. Hillary Clinton staying in the race will only contribute to the wounds of the Democrats. Barack Obama is the nominee and Clinton ought to be supporting Obama right now to focus on John McCain.

Dems Battle for Indiana, N.C.

Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been campaigning tirelessly for the past few weeks in Indiana and North Carolina, where 187 pledged delegates will be up for grabs.

Obama is favored in North Carolina, with a high African-American population in the Raleigh-Durham area. Clinton aides have been downplaying results there. North Carolina does have over 100 delegates, but most eyes will be watching Indiana tomorrow. The polls have reported a tight race in Indiana all along. For Obama, a substantial win in North Carolina and another victory in Indiana could raise the rhetoric of people asking Clinton to step aside for the winner. For Clinton, a victory in Indiana and a single-digit loss in North Carolina could have superdelegates questioning if Sen. Obama can beat John McCain in the fall if he has had several chances to deliver the knockout blow.

The fact of the matter is that Obama has been leading in every measurable statistic with the exception of superdelegates, a contest he has cut to 14 in recent weeks. He leads in pledged delegates, popular vote, and the number of states won. If the roles were reversed, Clinton would already be the nominee. It's because the front-runner is an African-American and the challenger is Caucasian that this race has gone on for so long.

Sen. Obama is just 273 delegates away from the nomination. Although delegates in the Democratic party are awarded proportionally, two wins tomorrow night would provide a huge psychological boost for Obama. He won't get to the magic number of 2,024 needed to clinch the nomination. However, a win could encourage the all-important superdelegates to line up behind their front-runner with polls showing Senator John McCain having a legitimate shot to win the White House in 2008 and polls also showing voters are growing more distasteful of both Clinton and Obama.

The most recent issue the candidates have brought up to use their differences for political advantages is the gas tax. Clinton has proposed a three-month suspension of the gas tax. Disregarding the fact that the gas tax will not be suspended this summer (George W. Bush has to sign off on it) and Congress will have to approve of such a thing, most economists say that this is a bad idea. Obama has called it a classic Washington gimmick that refuses the address the long-term issue of the energy crisis this nation is facing with dependence of foreign oil. If we want to lower the gas prices, then invest in alternate energy sources.

Many political pundits have predicted this race could go on until June or possibly longer. Believe it or not, a seismic change could be made tomorrow if Obama comes away with two victories. The media doesn't want this to be over, which is why they keep on hyping and sensationalizing what is really going on. Stay tuned.