INNOCENT THOUGHTS OF A GUILTY MAN

There are so many classic moments to pick from when trying to decide what my favorite Kobe moment is....The man has built a career by devastating his opponents, and providing clutch performances in the playoffs and on the brightest of stages. But for me, it will always be his three three pointers to help the Lakers win a regular season game vs. the Toronto Raptors. Even now I think Kobe has some sort of hatred towards Canada, because of all the teams in the league, he tortures none like he does the Raptors. I mean he gave them 81 points. I remember a co-worker and I decided to go to the bar for happy hour to watch the game. Working in downtown Los Angeles any time the Lakers were on the bar was packed with with an array of fans either decked in Laker jerseys and hats to those in business suits or high heels. During the game we were all the same, we were all family. Laker gang. The Lakers were down 5 points in the fourth when Dwight Howard, who I would be remiss if not to m...

Here is my take on the playoffs for each conference and the finals....this is tough. The Cavs claim home court throughout and they don't meet a real threat until the ECF where they face Miami. A lot of emotion in this series with LeBron returning to Miami.....but it's a place he is all too familiar with and he shines in those games. Very similar teams and playing styles, but in the end talent wins out and LeBron reaches the finals a record 6th time straight. The Bull vs. Heat series will be the second best series to watch in the east, but I believe the Heat's championship pedigree and know how will lead to them outplaying and outcoaching a new bulls coach and a bit shifted bulls team. This conference could really go any way and I respect any argument for changes as I may change my postion on this weekly during the season. But here is why I put down what I put down. Warriors over Pelicans because they are simply a better team. Spurs over Rockets becaus...

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE I expect the Eastern Conference to be more competitive this year, although there is still no denying who the front runner is…..the Cleveland Cavaliers. But there are a few intriguing teams that could challenge the Cav’s for the Conference title. Pat Riley has managed to quickly build a contender again and Chris Bosh is back healthy, this provides the most intriguing foe for LeBron James and if they heat in the playoffs there is plenty of back-story to provide motive. So let’s look at the east. 15 th Philadelphia 76ers 18-64 Nobody knows what Philly is doing accept Philly, and maybe they don’t even know. But it looks like they will continue to stack draft picks in hopes for the elusive big deal that will supposedly one day come. They have no marquee players besides two very young centers that have yet to prove anything. It’ll be another disaster year in Philadelphia. 14 th Brooklyn Nets 20-62 The Nets are financially handicap due to their GM’s...

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE The Western Conference remains the star-studded dominate monster that it is becoming even more difficult to survive with the Spurs addition of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Clippers additions of Paul Pierce and Josh Smith, and even the Mavericks additions of Wesley Matthews and Derrick Williams. Either you make moves to get better in the west or find yourself circling the bottom of the conference. Being a west coast resident has never been better for NBA fans with every game sure to be exciting and meaningful. Here are my predictions for the Western Conference teams. 15 th : DENVER NUGGETS 15-67                 The loss of Ty Lawson to the Houston Rockets will hurt the Nuggets in the short run, but a team this bad isn’t playing the short game, their looking years down the road and seem committed to an all-out rebuilding. In a star studded conference they have no star. A beat up Danill...