UFC 146 Preview

                                         THE HEAVYWEIGHTS


Dana White is thrilled that UFC 146 is just hours away. This has been a tough stretch leading up to this card. Alistair Overeem had to withdraw from the card after he failed a pre-fight drug test that has him suspended until late December. Mark Hunt and Gabriel Gonzaga suffered injuries forcing them off the card. Light Heavyweight champ, Jon Jones, was arrested for a DUI earlier this week. He is the only fighter who is sponsored by the UFC. It has been a nightmare for the UFC leading up to this card. Luckily, they can take a deep breath because once      6:45 PM (ET) rolls around on Saturday it is time for some action. 

This is the first time in UFC history that all five fights on the main card will feature Heavyweights. Finally, Heavyweight champ, Junior dos Santos, will defend his belt for the first time against one of the best UFC Heavyweights of all-time. Also on the card, former Heavyweight champ, Cain Velasquez, welcomes Antonio "Big Foot" Silva to the Octagon. Roy "Big Country" Nelson is squaring off against a very underrated Dave "Pee-wee" Herman. Stipe Miocic and Shane del Rosario will meet in the center of the Octagon to try and get a big win to catapult into the top-10 Heavyweight rankings. The fifth Heavyweight fight features the tallest man in the UFC, 6'11", Stefan Struve, against the heavy-handed Lavar Johnson. Despite all the craziness leading up to UFC 146, it is still a very stacked card that should provide some exciting fights. There are some very entertaining fights on the prelim card that I will give a quick break down of after the main card. Let's jump right in and break down the five fights on the pay-per-view card.




HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT: JUNIOR DOS SANTOS vs. FRANK MIR


Junior dos Santos has dominated all eight of his opponents inside the Octagon. There has never been a moment where it looked like dos Santos was going to lose. On November 12th, 2011, dos Santos knocked out the Heavyweight champ, Cain Velasquez, to win the belt. This was the biggest night for the UFC as they made their network debut on Fox. Junior dos Santos definitely stole the show, and did it in just 64-seconds. He has compiled a 14-1 career MMA record with 10 (T)KO's and two submission victories. He is a perfect 8-0 since making his Octagon debut in October 2008. He has beaten the likes of Cain Velasquez, Shane Carwin, Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga, Gilbert Yvel, Mirko Cro-Cop, Stefan Struve, and Fabricio Werdum. He is the best boxer in the Heavyweight division, and no one is even close to his level. He averages over two knockdowns per 15-minutes, which is second best in UFC history. Just ask Shane Carwin who thought he had the edge standing up. By the third round Carwin was trying to secure a takedown because dos Santos was toying with him on the feet. However, Frank Mir is a different type of animal than any of the other eight opponents dos Santos has faced in the UFC.


In Frank Mir's last fight he snapped Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira's arm in half. Big Nog is Junior dos Santos' mentor, so this definitely adds some spice to the fight. Frank Mir is 2-0 against Big Nog, being the only man to ever submit him, and the first to ever knock him out. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is one of the best Heavyweights in MMA history, and Frank Mir made him look like an amateur. Mir has the most wins in the history of the Heavyweight division with 14. He is tied with Anderson Silva with the 7th most wins inside the Octagon. His eight career submission victories are tied with Nate Diaz and Kenny Florian for most in UFC history. He is a two-time Heavyweight champion. You want to talk about battling adversity, Frank Mir can make the claim no one has had to go through the road he has. After breaking Tim Sylvia's arm and winning the UFC Heavyweight belt in the summer of 2004, he was on top of the world. It did not last too long. Mir crashed his motorcycle five months after winning the belt and was seriously injured. His MMA career took years to get back on track. Battles with alcohol and drugs during this time almost cost Mir a chance at returning. When Mir returned to the Octagon 17-months after the motorcycle accident, it was evident he was not the same. He lost two of his first three fights. He thought about leaving the sport, but thank his wife, Jennifer Mir, for not allowing that to be an option. She challenged him to get back to the level he was once at, and get even better. Frank is a smart man, he listened. He's won seven of his last nine fights inside the Octagon. Mir has beaten the likes of Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira (2x), Roy Nelson, Mirko Cro-Cop, Cheick Kongo, Brock Lesnar, Antoni Hardonk, Tim Sylvia, and Tank Abbott. If Mir can add dos Santos to the list, he will become a three-time Heavyweight champion. There will be no question on who is the best Heavyweight to ever step inside the UFC Octagon if Mir can pull off the upset. 


PREDICTION
I keep going back and forth on this one. I feel Frank Mir has a better chance than most people are giving him. Dos Santos is currently a 4:1 favorite in Vegas. I understand that dos Santos has made it look easy inside the Octagon, but he is going up against the guy who is 2-0 against "Big Nog", the guy who mentored dos Santos. This fight is pretty simple to break down. Mir needs to get it to the ground and dos Santos needs to keep the fight standing up. In dos Santos' only career loss, he lost via armbar. I really do not think that plays any role in this because it was nearly five years ago. In all five of Mir's losses, he has been TKO'ed. I think this will end up being a tough fight for Mir. Junior dos Santos is outstanding at takedown defense. He has only been taken down two times in his eight fights inside the Octagon. The guy knows how to sprawl. The only way I see Mir getting it to the ground is by pulling guard or landing a reversal on dos Santos if he gets on top of Mir. I do not see either of those situations going down. I think this is going to end up being a quick and devastating knockout. Junior dos Santos will defend his belt successfully and earn his ninth straight victory inside the Octagon. 


                               JUNIOR DOS SANTOS - 1ST RD. TKO

CO-MAIN EVENT: CAIN VELASQUEZ vs. ANTONIO SILVA


Cain Velasquez has not fought since losing his belt last November to Junior dos Santos. He is ready to get back in the Octagon and start another winning streak. He wants another crack at dos Santos, but he will have to get through a tough challenger tomorrow night first. I really think Cain Velasquez is still the best Heavyweight in the UFC. He was battling through some injuries that affected him tremendously against Junior dos Santos. Velasquez is the most well-rounded fighter in the Heavyweight division. He has the best wrestling in the division. He has some very good hands, which he keeps improving on. He trains at the American Kickboxing Academy, which is one of the top gyms in the world. He is going to keep getting better. I feel the setback he suffered in his last fight will soon be forgotten. He was coming off surgery on his shoulder and hurt his knee while training for dos Santos. Before Velasquez lost his belt he was dominating his opponents. He was a perfect 9-0 in his MMA career, and 7-0 inside the Octagon. Eight of nine victories were knock out wins. He has beaten the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira, Ben Rothwell, and Cheick Kongo. I honestly feel he would of had a good chance at being 10-0 if he was not banged up for the dos Santos fight. However, injuries happen, and as a result, the former Arizona State wrestling star is 9-1. 

Antonio "Big Foot" Silva is a monster. Big Foot is the perfect nickname for Silva because he is a huge dude. Silva is not as popular as a lot of the fighters on this card because he spent the last five years fighting for Strikeforce and EliteXC. He had a lot of success in Strikeforce and the EliteXC posting a 7-2 record. He is 16-3 overall and only two of his wins have gone the distance. He has 11 career (T)KO's and 3 submission victories. However, Strikeforce and the EliteXC do not provide the same talent level as the UFC. Silva has beaten the likes of Fedor Emelienko, Mike Kyle, Andrei Arlovski, Justin Eilers, and Ricco Rodriguez. Let's not get carried away though. He beat Fedor when Fedor was washed up. Mike Kyle is not that great. Arlovski was clearly over the hill. Justin Eilers and Ricco Rodriguez were both washed up and out of shape when Big Foot beat them. This is a huge step up for Antonio Silva. This will be the toughest fight  for Antonio Silva and he better be prepared for the best Cain Velasquez. 


PREDICTION
This is an easy fight to predict. Cain Velasquez has the edge in just about every category except for size. Velasquez's speed will be too much for Silva to handle. I see this fight playing out just like Antonio Silva's last fight. Silva got knocked out in the first round by Daniel Cormier, a training partner at AKA with Velasquez, and I see Velasquez coming out with the same game plan. The only difference I see in this fight, is I do not think it will take Velasquez 3:56 seconds to knock him out. I see this being an early TKO win for Velasquez. Ground and pound gets the former champ back near the top to challenge for the Heavyweight belt. Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II could be in the near future. 


                                     CAIN VELASQUEZ - 1ST RD. TKO

ROY "BIG COUNTRY" NELSON vs. DAVE "PEE-WEE" HERMAN


This is going to be a very ENTERTAINING fight, if both guys come in prepared. This has been an issue for both of these fighters. Dave Herman looked great in the first round against Stefan Struve in his last fight. Then, the second round came, and he gassed out, which resulted in a 2nd-rd. TKO loss. Big Country has lost three of four and needs a win badly. Roy Nelson could be a really good fighter if he would take his job a little more serious. He comes in with a respectable 16-7 MMA record. However, he has always come up short against the top-tier fighters. He has beaten the likes of Mirko Cro-Cop, Brenden Schuab, and Stefan Struve, but has fallen short against the likes of Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum, and Junior dos Santos. He has never taken advantage of winning the one fight that will put him among the top Heavyweights. He will always be a mid-tier fighter unless he gets in better shape. He was originally slated to take on Gabriel Gonzaga, but Gonzaga had to withdraw with an injury. I feel this is going to be a tougher fight for Nelson facing Dave Herman.

Pee-Wee is one of the most underrated fighters in MMA. Largely because he has been fighting for Sengoku, Bellator, and other MMA promotions that are not as well-known as the UFC. Also, Herman has not faced the toughest competition during his MMA career. He has a very impressive record of 21-3, with 15 (T)KO's and five submission victories, but he has not fought the cream of the crop. This is his perfect opportunity for him to make a name for himself in the UFC. Herman is 1-1 inside the Octagon. He won fight of the night honors in his 2nd-rd. TKO victory against John Olav Einemo. However, he could not build any momentum after that win, and lost his next fight in the UFC. He looked good in the first round against Stefan Struve, but gassed in the second, making it an easy ground and pound victory for Struve. This will be the main vocal point for Herman in this fight. If he comes in great shape he should present a tough challenge for Nelson. We will see how the training camp has gone for Herman, because he took this fight on short notice in late April, so fatigue could be an issue once again for Pee-Wee. 


PREDICTION
This has a really good chance to be the most exciting fight of the night. However, it will depend heavily on these guys coming into this fight in shape. Also, Roy Nelson was originally slated to face Antonio Silva, then Gabriel Gonzaga, and now Dave Herman. (Thank Alistair Overeem for all the confusion leading up to this card.) This could play a role in this fight as Nelson was originally training for "Big Foot" Silva and now gets a totally different fighter in Dave Herman. Herman took this fight on short notice so this could play a factor in this fight. Herman gassed in both his previous fights in the Octagon, and taking this fight on short notice, could very well result in the same outcome. This is a very tough fight to predict. Roy Nelson is a badass who can probably take more damage than any other fighter in the UFC. Dave Herman, if in shape, is one of the most talented fighters in the world. I am taking Roy Nelson via decision. I think Herman will come out strong in the opening frame but will gas in the 2nd and 3rd round. Nelson takes advantage of his granite chin and withstands the damage in the first round. He will outwork Herman in the last two rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. Roy Nelson will fight the winner of the Shane del Rosario/Stipe Miocic after this win in my opinion.


                             ROY NELSON - UNANIMOUS DECISION

BATTLE OF THE FUTURE: SHANE DEL ROSARIO vs. STIPE MIOCIC


Get your popcorn ready for this fight. This fight features two of the top prospects in the UFC's Heavyweight division. Shane del Rosario went through a very similar predicament as Frank Mir. Just over a year ago, a drunk driver ran into del Rosario's car while he was stopped at a red light. His MMA career was close to being over. He was close to losing his life. Luckily, for del Rosario, he is a very strong individual and battled back relentlessly to get back to this point. He was originally slated to face off against Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce to show who was the best young Heavyweight in Strikeforce. Unfortunately, the car accident occurred before this fight took place. Cormier went on to secure the Strikefoce Heavyweight Grand Prix title last Saturday against Josh Barnett. Shane del Rosario gets a chance to prove himself in the UFC. He comes in with a perfect 11-0 MMA record. Del Rosario has finished all 11 of his opponents, and only one has made it through the first round. He is making his Octagon debut in a matter of hours. Del Rosario proved himself in Strikeforce to make a name for himself. He showed how good of a fighter he is in his last fight against Lavar Johnson. He withstood Johnson's power shots in the early part of the opening frame and submitted Johnson late in round one with an armbar. This was del Rosario's last fight before the car accident took place. He is hoping the 17-month layoff won't affect him on Saturday night. 

Stipe Miocic is an absolute monster and should make every Heavyweight in the UFC nervous. This up-and-coming fighter brings a lot to the table. Like del Rosario, Miocic has not tasted defeat yet. He is 8-0 in his MMA career with 6 (T)KO's and one submission victory. He is a perfect 2-0 in the UFC. He beat a very tough Joey Beltran easily in his Octagon debut and then knocked out a previously undefeated Phillip De Fries in :43 seconds. Stipe Miocic could very well end up being the Jon Jones of the Heavyweight division. The potential is through the roof for the 29-year old Heavyweight. The former baseball and wrestling star from Cleveland State is a very athletic Heavyweight. If he wanted to pursue a baseball career he could very well be playing in the majors right now. Not only is he an absolute athlete, he is also very intelligent. He is a former Golden Gloves champ too. This is going to be a very tough fight for both of these young prospects. The winner of this fight will be on the right path at earning a title shot in the next couple of years. 


PREDICTION
This is definitely a pick em' fight. Both these guys are young studs who have the potential to be the Heavyweight champ down the road. Shane del Rosario showed his toughness when he submitted Lavar Johnson. When Johnson hits you, you usually go down, (just ask Joey Beltran or Pat Barry) but not Shane del Rosario. I think this is going to be a very close and competitive fight. Stipe Miocic is taking this fight on short notice so that could be a factor in the fight. However, del Rosario is coming off a 17-month layoff and is fighting for the first time since his car accident. Also, it will be his Octagon debut so there could be some jitters for Shane del Rosario. I give the slight edge to Miocic in this fight. as I see him earning a split-decision victory. Miocic is a very well-rounded fighter who is comfortable in all areas and I think he will be able to control the pace of the fight. I definitely think this fight could capture fight of the night honors. 


                                     STIPE MIOCIC - SPLIT DECISION

BONES vs. MUSCLE: STEFAN STRUVE vs. LAVAR JOHNSON




Stefan Struve was originally slated to take on Mark Hunt. Hunt was rapidly rising up on the Heavyweight charts after running through Cheick Kongo with ease. With a win against Struve it would have guaranteed him his 4th straight win and a top-5 Heavyweight in his next fight. Unfortunately, Hunt had to pull out with an injury. Up next for Struve is the hard-hitting Lavar Johnson. Not many people took notice of Johnson when he came to the UFC from Strikeforce. There really wasn't reason to. He dropped his final two fights in Strikeforce. Wow, how things have changed quickly for Johnson. He has been wrecking havoc since making his Octagon debut against Joey Beltran in January. He knocked Beltran out in the first round, a guy who was known for having a granite chin. He made his next fight in the UFC look pretty easy too. He knocked out Pat Barry in the first round. Just like that Lavar Johnson is making noise in the Octagon. Lavar Johnson stepped up to the plate when Dana White called him asking if he would step in to face Struve. He fought 20 days ago when he knocked out Pat Barry, so he is making a quick turnaround accepting this fight on short notice. (Chris Leben isn't the only guy who will take a fight with less than three weeks to train.) Lavar Johnson brings a 17-5 MMA record into the Octagon and has knocked out 15 of his 17 opponents in his victories. I think it is safe to say this dude comes to throw down. Also, let's not forget he trains with the American Kickboxing Academy so he is getting some of the best training in the world. 


Stefan Struve is no joke. This kid is as tough as they come. He can take some shots. Every Stefan Struve fight I have watched goes like this: he gets his ass whooped in the first round then becomes a new fighter in the second round and finds a way to either get the TKO or the submission victory. Struve would be smart to try and get this fight to the ground because you do not want to get in a slug fest with Lavar Johnson. If Struve goes that route he could be asleep very early on Saturday night. Struve has compiled a 23-5 professional MMA record with 15 wins coming via submission and six (T)KO victories. He has become a young UFC veteran. He will be making his 11th appearance in the Octagon tomorrow night and has won seven of his 10 fights in the UFC. The Skyscraper comes in at 6'11" making him the tallest fighter to ever step foot in the Octagon. Even though he has already had 10 fights inside the Octagon, he is still very young at the age of 24. The sky is limit for this kid and if he continues to tighten up his game he could become a top-ten Heavyweight in the near future. 


PREDICTION
The winner of this fight will be the guy who can dictate where the fight goes. If it stays standing up it will be Lavar Johnson's fight to win. If Struve can get it to the ground, it gives him a great opportunity to win this one. Struve has only lost five times, but in four of those five losses he was knocked out. Lavar Johnson is hoping to be the fifth guy to knock out the Skyscraper. Johnson has only lost five times, but in four of those five losses he was submitted. Stefan Struve is hoping to be lucky number five in that department. I think Struve is still a young fighter, and will go away from the game plan and get in a slug fest with Lavar Johnson. This will be a horrible decision for Struve as Johnson knocks the Skyscraper out in the first frame. Johnson wins his 3rd fight in a row, and 2nd in three weeks. I see a fight with him and Mark Hunt coming up after Hunt heals up from his injury. 


                                    LAVAR JOHNSON - 1ST RD. TKO

                 




                   PRELIMINARY BOUT PREDICTIONS


           Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2)

Diego Brandao armbar (Dennis Bermudez)

Diego Brandao is not getting anything handed to him in his first fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter season 14 finale. Darren Elkins is making his 5th appearance inside the Octagon and has a 3-1 record in the UFC. Brandao busted out a sick armbar on Dennis Bermudez to capture the six-figure UFC contract. I expect Brandao to be challenged in this fight, but I see him pulling out with a knockout victory over a very game opponent in Elkins.


PREDICTION: DIEGO BRANDAO - 2ND RD. TKO




                  Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Jamie Varner (19-6-1)

Edson Barboza (left)       Jamie Varner (right)

Edson Barboza is the best fighter that no one knows about. Only MMA junkies know how skilled this young Brazilian is. In his last fight he busted out a spinning wheel kick that knocked Terry Etim out cold. It could very well win knockout of the year. (Barboza sick KO) Barboza has a well-rounded attack and has some nasty leg kicks. He is very reminiscent of Jose Aldo. Jamie Varner comes into this fight in a win-win situation. Varner is the former Lightweight champion of the WEC. A few years ago he was one of the top 155-pounders in the world. Things have changed over the last couple of years. He went 1-4-1 before recently going on a two-fight win streak. He was battling through some problems mentally, but it seems like he has got things under control. He took this fight on short notice after Evan Dunham had to pull out with an injury. Varner was not even under contract with the UFC before he accepted this fight. This will be his first fight inside the Octagon since he submitted Jason Gilliam in March 2007 at UFC 68. If he can put on a good performance, he has a good chance to earn some more paychecks from Zuffa. However, I see Barboza dominating this fight. His leg kicks will slow Varner down and I expect him to get the TKO victory later in the fight. 


PREDICTION: EDSON BARBOZA - 3RD RD. TKO




    C.B. Dolloway (11-4) vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller (23-8)

Jason Miller (left)             C.B. Dolloway (right)

C.B. Dolloway finally looked like he found his groove inside the Octagon reeling off three straight wins. That quickly evaporated as he comes into this fight a loser of two in a row. The former Ultimate Fighter runner-up can't find any consistency inside the Octagon. Mayhem Miller on the other hand, blew a golden opportunity after being the coach on last season's Ultimate Fighter. He showed up to his fight against Michael Bisping out of shape. He gassed before the opening bell even sounded. It was pathetic. Both of these fighters are fighting to just stay in the UFC. The loser of this fight will more than likely receive a pink slip. Jason Miller has the edge in experience as he has fought all over the world during his MMA career. C.B. Dolloway has had glimpses were he looks like he can be a really good fighter, but then has phases were he simply looks lost. I think this is going to be a close fight as both try and get back on the winning side. This has the potential to be like a chess match, which usually means one thing: it won't be too exciting. 


PREDICTION: JASON "MAYHEM" MILLER - SPLIT DECISION




                   Dan Hardy (23-10) vs. Duane Ludwig (21-12)

Duane Ludwig

Dan Hardy

This is going to be a stand up war. Both these guys love to stand and trade blows. I do not see either one of these guys backing down from one another and it should live up to the hype. This could very well steal fight of the night if neither fighter gets knocked out early. Things have changed for Dan Hardy since he was fighting for the Welterweight belt in March 2010. He has dropped his last four fights and has shown no improvement at being able to stuff a takedown. He recently took some time off, and focused on refining his game training in Las Vegas with the likes of Frank Mir, Big Country Nelson, and others, to improve on his weak ground game. Luckily for him he should not need it in this fight. Duane "Bang" Ludwig comes to throw down. His nickname says it all. This should be a stand up war and both guys will look to land the big KO punch. I think it is about time for Dan Hardy to get back on the winning track. His chin is a lot stronger than Ludwig's. Ludwig has been knocked out five times. Hardy has only been knocked out once, and that was to the Interim Welterweight Champ, Carlos Condit. 


PREDICTION: DAN HARDY - 1ST RD. KO





               Glover Teixeira (17-2) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (11-3)

Glover Teixeira 

If Edson Barboza is the best fighter no one has ever heard about, Glover Teixeira is the second best. This 205-pounder is an absolute beast. He has not lost in over six years and has won 15-fights in a row. He has not fight the top competition but he ran through everyone they put in front of him. Teixeira has worked with John Hackleman's camp and has worked on his stand up with Chuck Liddell. However,
Kyle Kingsbury is no joke. He trains with the American Kickboxing Academy and is training with one of the best camps in the world. Kingsbury was riding a four-fight win streak until he ran into Stephan Bonnar in his last fight. Kingsbury is 4-2 in his UFC career and his Octagon experience could play a role in spoiling Teixeira's UFC debut. However, I do not see it playing out like that. I see Teixeira dominating the fight wherever it ends up. 


PREDICTION: GLOVER TEIXEIRA - UNANIMOUS DECISION




            Paul Sass (12-0) vs. Jacob Volkmann (14-2)

Jacob Volkmann (left)                                  Paul Sass (right)

This is a huge fight for both of these guys. They are on the cusp of being considered legitimate contenders in the Lightweight division. They are trying to earn the right to start getting those tough fights that will be shown on the main card. Sass is 2-0 in his UFC career and his heel hook victory over Michael Johnson is looking more and more impressive. Johnson has been on a tear since that defeat and beat Shane Roller and Tony Ferguson (TUF season 13 winner). The 23-year old, from Liverpool, England, submitted Johnson in the opening frame and made it look easy. If he can get through a tough Volkmann it will put him on the map. Jacob Volkmann is no joke. Volkmann started off his UFC career on the wrong side. He dropped back-to-back losses to Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. Volkmann was smart, after those two fights, he dropped down a weight class to 155 lbs. Since then, he is 5-0 inside the Octagon. This is going to be a very strategic fight for both guys. All five of Volkmann's UFC victories have been via decision. If Volkmann can control the fight and take Sass down he could very well win his 6th straight inside the Octagon. It is obvious what Sass wants to do: get the submission victory. 11 of his 12 wins have come via submission.


PREDICTION: PAUL SASS - TRIANGLE CHOKE RD. 2




            Mike Thomas Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

Mike Brown against Faber

Daniel Pineda

Mike Thomas Brown use to be known as the guy who was running the 145 lb. division. Funny how things change when a guy named Jose Aldo comes around. Since Aldo took Brown's Featherweight belt in the WEC. he has gone 3-3 in his last six fights. He beat a tough Nam Phan is his last fight, but Phan is nothing to get excited about. The road is coming to an end for Mike Brown. He will still be remembered for the guy who finally knocked off Urijah Faber in the WEC. Not too shabby to be remembered for. This is a golden opportunity for Daniel Pineda to add a recognizable name to his list of wins. Pineda is 2-0 in the UFC, and is currently riding a 7-fight winning streak. This is Pineda's shot to earn some respect in the Featherweight division. Mike Brown is going to give Pineda the toughest fight of his life. It'll be crucial to see how Pineda handles Brown to determine if he is a guy to potentially watch out for in the 145 lb. division. I think Pineda is going to shine against the former WEC Featherweight champion and pull out the submission victory.


PREDICTION: DANIEL PINEDA - REAR NAKED CHOKE RD. 1






PREDICTION RECAP


JUNIOR DOS SANTOS over FRANK MIR (1ST RD. TKO)


CAIN VELASQUEZ over ANTONIO SILVA (1ST RD. TKO)


ROY NELSON over DAVE HERMAN (UNANIMOUS DECISION)


STIPE MIOCIC over SHANE DEL ROSARIO (SPLIT DECISION)


LAVAR JOHNSON over STEFAN STRUVE (1ST RD. TKO)


DIEGO BRANDAO over DARREN ELKINS (2ND RD. TKO)


EDSON BARBOZA over JAMIE VARNER (3RD RD. TKO)


JASON MILLER over C.B. DOLLOWAY (SPLIT DECISION)


DAN HARDY over DUANE LUDWIG (1ST RD. KO)


GLOVER TEIXEIRA over KYLE KINGSBURY (UNANIMOUS DECISION)


PAUL SASS over JACOB VOLKMANN (2ND RD. TRIANGLE CHOKE)


DANIEL PINEDA over MIKE THOMAS BROWN (1ST RD. REAR NAKED CHOKE)






                

Preview of Western Conference Finals

BATTLE IN THE MIDWEST

The two best teams in the Western Conference made it look pretty easy to get to this point. The Spurs and Thunder were a combined 16-1 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. San Antonio cruised through Utah and Los Angeles (Clippers) winning three out of four by double-digits in each series. The Thunder have shown they can win games at the end with their young stars. Kevin Durant has already made three game-winning shots in the playoffs. Russell Westbrook and James Harden have shown they can be trusted down the stretch.  Everyone figured it would be these two teams hooking up in the Western Conference Finals and we all got our wish. There are going to be some exciting match-ups to pay attention to that will decide who moves on to the NBA Finals. 

                                       

POINT GUARD 

MATCH-UP

          

This is going to be a match-up that plays a huge role in deciding this series. Tony Parker is having his best year as a pro. Russell Westbrook has emerged as a top-five point guard in the game. Westbrook has matured dramatically since last season. Last year, during the playoffs, Westbrook struggled. This year has been a different story for the fourth-year veteran. Westbrook is shooting nearly 50% from the field in the playoffs, compared to 39% last year. This is a very intriguing match-up that is going to play a significant role in who moves on. 

Tony Parker was one of the top players in the NBA this year and was the main reason why the Spurs finished with the best record in the West. Parker finished fifth in the MVP voting this year, averaging 18 PPG and over 7 APG. This was the first time in Parker's 11-year career that he averaged at least seven dimes a game. He has been the main cog in the Spurs recent 18-game winning streak. Only nine other teams have ever won 18-games in a row in NBA history. Six of the nine won it all. (14 of 18 games during win streak have been double-digit wins.) During the regular season match-ups between these two teams, Parker made a huge difference. San Antonio won two out of three against Oklahoma City and Parker averaged 33.5 PPG and 8 APG in the two wins. However, in the one loss Parker only put up 4 points. If the Spurs want to beat the Thunder, Parker will need to average close to 20 and 8. He needs to make sure and force Westbrook to burn a lot of energy on the defensive end. Parker told the media earlier this week that he is going to attack Westbrook and go right at him. He said Westbrook had it easy going against Dallas and the Lakers. The Spurs have one thing on their mind, and that is to win their fifth NBA Championship, but it will not happen if Tony Parker does not lead the way for the Spurs.

Russell Westbrook has shown tremendous improvement in his decision making this season. Last year, during the playoffs, he forced up a lot of bad shots that cost his team a chance at competing in the Finals. He looked lost most of the time during the playoffs in 2011. Wow, how things have changed for the former UCLA star. This season, he has matured into a point guard that knows when to take over and when to get guys involved. A lot of critics say he shoots too much for a point guard. The Thunder need Westbrook to be aggressive, because outside of Durant and James Harden, he is the only other guy that can create his own shot. The Thunder would of not had a chance to steal game four in Staples Center if Westbrook did not force the tempo in the fourth quarter. During an important stretch in the 4th, Westbrook scored nine straight for Oklahoma City, which allowed Durant the opportunity at the end. Westbrook finished fifth in the NBA in scoring this year averaging 23.6 PPG. Westbrook also put up over 5 APG and nealry 5 RPG this season. He is a point guard that can do it all. The one issue with Westbrook this year has been turnovers. He averaged nearly 4 turnovers per game this year. (3.6 turnovers/per game, 6th most in the NBA.) During the playoffs he has improved tremendously averaging under 2 per/game. If Westbrook can cut down on the turnovers, this gives Oklahoma City a huge chance at knocking off the best team in the West. If Westbrook can average close to 25, 5, and 7 the Thunder could very well be hosting the NBA Finals. Most importantly, Westbrook needs to continue at his rate of less than two turnovers during this series.  

KEVIN DURANT VS. THE POP

Gregg Popovich showed just how great of a coach he is against the Los Angeles Clippers. Kevin Durant showed how deadly he can be at the end of games against the Los Angeles Lakers. Popovich showed how to shut down a top point guard in the game. Chris Paul averaged 12.7 PPG, 4.5 turnovers/game, and shot under 50% from the field in the second round of the playoffs. Yes, Chris Paul was banged up, but Popovich definitely played a role in shutting down one of the best players in the game. Their defense was stellar on stopping the Clippers pick and roll. They will see a lot more pick and rolls against the Thunder. Things will be different this time around for Pop though. He did not have to deal with the likes of shutting down the back-to-back-to-back scoring champion of the NBA. Kevin Durant is one of the top 3 players in the game right now. It is going to be crucial for Kevin Durant to be highly involved down the stretch and Popovich is going to try and make the other guys beat him in crunch time. This is going to be a crucial factor in the series. Durant has shown he is absolute money down the stretch in these playoffs. He has knocked in three game-winners and all of them have come in crucial games. Dallas was trying to steal game one in the first round, but Durant was having none of it. He hit a 20-foot floater, with under two-seconds remaining, to give OKC a 99-98 victory. In the second round, the Lakers were trying to steal game two, up by one with under :30 seconds, then Durant hit a 7-footer from the baseline over Gasol and Bynum with :18 seconds left. That gave OKC a 76-75 lead as they held on for a 77-75 victory. Durant scored eight of the final 12 points for the Thunder down the stretch to ensure a 2-0 lead. Mr. Clutch struck again in game four. With the game tied 98-98, the Lakers trying to tie the series at two apeice to steal momentum, Durant pulls up from 25-feet, straight away, nothin' but net. Game! There went the Lakers chances at a 17th NBA Title. Kobe Bryant, the game's best closer, five-time champion, out done at his own game by a 23-year old NBA star. This is the guy that Gregg Popovich is going to have to frustrate. It is near impossible to stop Durant, but if Pop can frustrate the MVP runner-up, the Spurs will have a good chance at moving on. It will not be an easy task as two of the games best defensive coaches, Rick Carlisle and Mike Brown, did not have any success at frustrating Mr. Durant. The five-year superstar from Texas is averaging 27 PPG during the playoffs and has been at his best in the fourth quarter. Durant is averaging 8 PPG in the 4th quarter during the postseason. If Popovich can't come up with a scheme to force the ball out of Durant's hands in the 4th, the Spurs could be in trouble. 

It will be interesting to see how the Spurs attack the leagues scoring champion. Kawhi Leonard will be first up in attempting to stop Mr. Durant. The 6'7" rookie, from San Diego State, will have his hands full trying to shut down Durant. In the Spurs two wins against Oklahoma this season, they held Durant to under 50% shooting, and held him to 2-10 from deep. In the lone Thunder win against the Spurs, Durant shot 5-9 from the floor, and went 10-10 from the free-throw line. It will be crucial for Popovich and the Spurs to force Durant into a jump shooter and keep him off the charity stripe. The Spurs will need to limit Durant's free-throw attempts in this series and make him earn every single one of his points. It is a tough task at hand because of Durant's size. The kid is nearly 7' feet tall and can handle the rock like a point guard. It is very easy for Durant to get whatever shot he wants. It will be important for the Spurs to try and confuse Durant and hope he turns the ball over. Kevin Durant averaged a career high in turnovers this year (3.8 per game) and it was the 3rd highest in the NBA. Unlike his teammate Westbrook, Durant has not cut down on the turnovers in the playoffs. His 3.2 turnovers/per game are the ninth most in the playoffs. The Spurs will need to find a way to force one of the league's most dynamic duos into turnovers, if Popovich wants a chance at winning his fifth ring. 

 SIXTH MAN vs. SIXTH MAN

Manu Ginobili and James Harden will both play a crucial role off the bench in this series. It is almost remarkable how similar these two guy's games are. They both are lefties. They both slither through defenders at ease. They can run the point. They are both versatile players who can do just about anything the coach asks. Manu Ginobili has the experience edge against the third-year pro from Arizona State. Ginobili is a three-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA All-star, and won the 

NBA sixth-man of the year in 2008. James Harden can only say he is one of those things. The beard was awarded the NBA's sixth-man of the year this season. Harden got huge playoff minutes last season during the Thunder's run to the Western Conference Finals. The Jeff Green trade during last years trade deadline was huge for Oklahoma. This allowed for a savvy veteran in Kendrick Perkins to come in, but more importantly, it opened up more minutes for James Harden. He surely has not disappointed. He has played huge for the Thunder in this years playoffs. 

James Harden is putting up 17 PPG, 5 RPG, and 3 APG in the playoffs. He is also averaging two steals/game. James Harden is the Thunder's most versatile player. The kid can do it all. You need him to rebound: check. You need him to run the point: check. You need him to be a scorer: check. You want him to defend the opponent's best perimeter player: check. He is a perfect tool in Head Coach Scott Brook's toolbox. In game four against the Dallas Mavericks, the beard showed how dynamic he can be. In the series clinching game against the reigning champs, Harden went for 29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and one block. In the fourth quarter of that game he took over. He scored 15 points and dished out 3 dimes as OKC sent Dallas fishing. If James Harden can be the force he has throughout the season, and the playoffs, the Thunder could be playing for an NBA Championship. 

Manu Ginobili has not been the force he usually is in these playoffs. He is only shooting 40% from the floor, 25% from deep, and averaging only 11 points/game. However, the Spurs are such a deep team that it has not cost San Antonio during Ginobili's mediocre play. This has to change in this series though. The Spurs are going up against a young up-and-coming team in OKC. They are a different animal than the Jazz and Clippers. Now they are going up against the Bull and have to deal with the horns. Ginobili is having his worst statistical output in the playoffs since his rookie season. Ginobili is going to have to match the play of Harden in this series if the Spurs want to move on to the NBA Finals. This match-up of the bat killer (click link to see Manu Ginobili vs. bat) vs. the beard will play dividends in determining who comes out of the Western Conference. 

DEPTH vs. BIG 3

This series will be over if Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden don't all play great basketball. San Antonio is too good of a team to lose to a two-man show. There is a reason why this team is one of ten teams in NBA history to win at least 18-games in a row. They are loaded with the perfect amount of veterans and youngsters. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, and Stephen Jackson are a nice mix of veterans. Kawhi Leonard, Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, 

Danny Green, and DeJuan Blair add some youth to make this a very dangerous San Antonio Spurs team. During the regular season, 11 Spurs averaged more than 6 points/game. During this postseason, nine Spurs are putting up better than 5 points/game. This is a huge stat because we all know how teams cut down their bench during the playoffs. The Spurs can trust a boat load of different guys to score and it is making defense's looked confused when matching up against the Spurs. You double team Duncan on the block he'll kick it out for a wide open three. If Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili penetrate, forcing a double team, it leads to either a wide open layup or an open three. The Spurs were the best three-point shooting team in the NBA during the regular season. They shot 39% from deep this year and five different Spurs shot better than 40% from long range. During the playoffs, they have been the top 3-point shooting team through two-rounds. They are shooting a remarkable 42% from beyond the arc. Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, Stephen Jackson, and Boris Diaw are all shooting over 40% from deep during the playoffs. If all of the Spurs role players can step up and do their job they have a really good chance to make it to the NBA Finals. If these guys keep knocking down their 3's they are near impossible to beat. 

We all know what the Thunder's game plan is. Get the ball to one of their three-headed monsters. During the playoffs, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are scoring 67 of the 100 points/game. They have all scored in double-figures in all nine playoff games. If they don't all score in double-figures in this series, they will have no chance. Even if all three of these guys have great games, the Spurs are so deep they can still withstand it. Russell Westbrook and James Harden are both really important players for the Thunder, but Kevin Durant is the guy who carries the weight on his shoulders. If the Thunder want to beat the Spurs, a team with a core group of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili who have accumulated for10 rings, Kevin Durant will have to lead the way. Durant has emerged into a star during the last couple of years, but this series will be crucial into determining if he is the guy in the NBA. The spot that Kobe Bryant has earned. The spot Dirk Nowitzki earned during last years improbable postseason run. Durant has already gone through both of these former champs in the first two-rounds. Now he will have a chance at dethroning another team that provides championship credentials. Kevin Durant is only 23-years old, but his legacy could start five years earlier than Michael Jordan's did, if, and I mean if, he can lead the Thunder to an NBA Championship. Durant is going to have to do what he did in the first two rounds by showing he is not scared of the moment. Durant wanted to be the guy to knock down the crunch buckets down the stretch, and he is going to have to do this against the best team in the NBA, if he wants to keep his playoff dreams alive.

X-FACTOR

Serge Ibaka and Kawhi Leonard both will have important roles if their teams want to move on. The Thunder need Ibaka to defend the paint. The Spurs thrive when Tony Parker can get in the paint. Ibaka will need to be the enforcer on making Parker think twice about coming to the cup. Serge Ibaka led the NBA in block shots averaging nearly 4 blocks/game. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team earlier this week, and his defense has not stopped in these playoffs. His 3.6 blocks/game are tops in the postseason. Kendrick Perkins has been a huge asset to this team because it allows Serge Ibaka to roam the paint and block shots at will. San Antonio was fourth in the NBA this year at scoring in the paint. Oklahoma will have to cut this down if they want to move on. When the Spurs can get easy buckets it opens up the entire floor for the Spurs to be deadly in all phases. Serge Ibaka will be the key in making the Spurs earn every bucket. If he steps up and has a big series on the defensive end it could be the deciding factor. Also, let's not forget this guy can score some points if you need him to. He can knock down the wide open 15-footer and gives his team a lot of second chance opportunities. If Ibaka can be a force on the defensive end, and get close to 10 points/game, it gives the Thunder a really good chance at moving on in these playoffs. 

Kawhi Leonard is such an important player for the Spurs in this series. Gregg Popovich says Leonard reminds him of Bruce Bowen. The rookie will get a chance to prove his coach right in this series, as he will be asked to defend the reigning three-time scoring champ. Leonard is a very athletic 6'7" forward with a 7'3" wingspan. His body frame and athletic ability give him the perfect chance at frustrating Kevin Durant. If Leonard can affect Durant into playing out of his whelm in four, of the potential seven games, it gives the Spurs a golden opportunity at winning their fifth championship in franchise history. Also, Leonard can get it done on the offensive side too. During the regular season Leonard averaged 8 points/game and 5 rebs./game on a very deep San Antonio team. He is putting up the same numbers in the first two-rounds of the playoffs, but his three-point shooting has been huge. He is shooting 45% from deep in the playoffs, and if he keeps up his hot-shooting against OKC, it will be a huge asset. Leonard's main focus in this series is making Durant earn every bucket. If he can frustrate Durant and bring out his inner Bruce Bowen, it will give the Spurs a great shot at representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. 

PREDICTION

This is going to be a hard fought series between two of the best teams in the NBA. Turnovers could very well be the deciding factor. During the regular season the Spurs were third best in the NBA averaging only 13.6 turnovers/game. The Thunder were the worst in the NBA averaging 16.3 turnovers/game. However, things have changed during the playoffs. The Thunder have the fewest turnovers among all playoff teams averaging 10.7/game. The Spurs rank fifth averaging 13 turnovers/game. Once again, this is where Russell Westbrook has shown his maturity as one of the league's top point guards in the game. Turnovers will be a huge factor in this series and I think Oklahoma will continue with their recent success in the playoffs keeping good care of the rock. 

Kevin Durant will be too much for San Antonio to handle. Russell Westbrook will be too fast and powerful for the Spurs to contain. James Harden will be too versatile for the Spurs to bottle up. These three guys will be too much for San Antonio. Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins will do a good job bottling up Duncan in the post and containing the Spurs points in the paint. If you can shut down the Spurs scoring in the paint it affects the rest of their game. If Tony Parker penetrates to the lane expect Ibaka or Perkins to let their presences be felt. A lot of people say the Spurs experience will be the deciding factor. I disagree. Oklahoma has guys that have gone through some tough games in the past two postseasons. Also, the addition of Derek Fisher, makes a huge impact on this young team. The five-time champion knows what it takes to win it all and he has been a huge leader for this team since his arrival. His stats might not show it, but that is not the reason why Oklahoma brought D-Fish in. Furthermore, the acquisition of Kendrick Perkins right before the trade deadline last season, gives this team another guy who has been through it all. 

I am not going with the majority in picking the Thunder. The Spurs have been the best team in the NBA since the All-star break. They have won 29 out of 31 games. They are currently riding an 18-game winning streak. They do not make mistakes. They always make the extra pass. They all know their roles. They have home-court in this series. I know I am a little bit crazy not going with the Spurs in this series. I just think Kevin Durant is going to show why he is the best player in the NBA right now. The guy wants the ball at the end so he is responsible for his team either winning or losing. Russell Westbrook and James Harden will present too many problems for San Antonio to handle. I think this series is going to be a very competitive match-up. There are going to be some very close games that come down to the wire in this series. This is where I give the edge to Oklahoma City who has the most clutch player on their team. Kevin Durant's legacy has already started, but after this series, it will be that much more solidified. The Thunder youth movement will be too much for the San Antonio Spurs to handle. 

OKLAHOMA CITY IN 7

-Eastern Conference Finals preview upcoming next week after the Boston/Philly series is over

NBA Season Preview 2011-12

      LeBron James said it best, "I feel like my kids on Christmas Day! So juiced!!!" Of course, he was referring to the feeling he felt when the NBA lockout officially ended. There was a sense, that this lockout really could have lasted the entire 2011-12 campaign, but luckily, after 160 days of the NBA lockout, the new CBA was finally ratified. Now the best athletes in the World get to do what they do best: play some ball. We are only five days away until the season begins, and this is going to be a great Christmas present in itself. All five games on Christmas are all great match-ups. The last five NBA MVP's will be playing (Dirk, Kobe, LeBron(2x), and D-Rose). Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups both make their debut with the Clippers. Mike Brown makes his debut as the new Head Coach for the Lake show. We get an NBA Finals re-match as Miami travels to American Airlines Arena to play the Dallas Mavericks. And, sorry LeBron your NBA Championships still remain at not 5, not 6, not 7, it is still 0. Tyson Chandler and Lamar Odom both debut for their new squads. Also, we get to see the two-time defending scoring champion, Kevin Durant, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, take on the three-time defending Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, and the Orlando Magic.

  
      Christmas Day will serve as an appetizer of what to expect from the NBA this season. The regular 82-game season is now dwindled down to a 66-game season. This could very well affect some of the older teams in the NBA, because there will be a lot more back-to-backs, and also some back-to-back-to-backs. The Celtics and Spurs better get their wheel chairs and walkers ready. There are so many question marks around so many different teams this year, and luckily, we will soon find out some answers. Will Dwight Howard get traded to Los Angeles? Or, will he be partying with Snookie and Paulie D on the Jersey Shore? Can Dallas repeat after losing their defensive leader: Tyson Chandler. Will the Los Angeles Clippers finally become a team to wrecking with? Is this the year Miami's dynasty starts? How will the Lakers bounce back after getting swept by Dallas in the playoffs last year? Luckily, all the answers are right here, as I break down what to expect from the 2011-12 NBA season. I will go division by division and break down all 30 NBA teams. So lets get this party started and start with the Eastern Conference.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

      It has been awhile since the division has been competitive, and I think we can finally say this conference is back to those days. The New York Knicks might have lost Chauncey Billups, but the acquisition of Tyson Chandler was probably the second biggest move in the off-season. Tyson Chandler showed how important of a player he can be, as he led the way defensively for the Dallas Mavericks. The New York Knicks have always had problems defensively since Mike D'Antoni took over in 2008. This is D'Antoni's final season under contract, so it will be important for him to get this team on the right track if he wants to keep his job in the Big Apple. The Knicks should be the front runner in the Atlantic Division because they have two of the most talented players in the league: Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Carmelo Anthony is one of the best scorers in the NBA, and he has averaged at least 20 points per game in every season during his eight-year career. Amare Stoudemire was an absolute beast last year, and he has quickly become a top-three power forward currently in the NBA. The Knicks success will be on the shoulders of two young guys who they will need to step up if they want to win the Atlantic Division. Third-year combo guard, Toney Douglas, will probably be seeing a lot of time at point guard this year. He showed glimpses of stellar play last year and he is very capable to be a good young player in this league. Also, Landry Fields showed how good of a player he can be. He played lights out during the first half of the season, but after the All-star break, and the acquisition of Melo, he seemed lost on the floor. Expect him to be back in his form that got him named to the All-Rookie first team. Furthermore, the Knicks signed two veteran point guards in Mike Bibby and Baron Davis. But, in all honesty don't expect much from them. Bibby is old. Davis is out for 8-10 weeks with a herniated disc.

      Moving on to the team who has dominated the Atlantic Division: The Boston Celtics. Since the acquisition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, Boston has won the Atlantic Division every year. It might be hard to make it five straight years this season though. The worst thing that happened to the Celtics this year is plain and simple: they are all one year older. Kevin Garnett's knees are running out of gas, as we saw last year whenever the Celtics had a back-to-back, KG was a no show. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen should be fine this year, but I don't think that will be enough firepower to win the Atlantic Division. Rajon Rondo has quickly become a top point guard in the NBA, but he needs to show he can knock down some 18-footers. And, he needs to knock down his free-throws so he is not hesitant to take it to the cup, because that is when Boston is at its best. Rondo sets the tone for the entire team, and it will be important for him to stay aggressive all season long. The Celtics were dealt with some horrible news that is a real sad story. Jeff Green, will miss the entire 2011-12 season because of an aortic aneurysm, and he has to get heart surgery. Also, the Celtics thought they had David West signed, but he ended up signing with the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics will depend on newly acquired Brandon Bass from Orlando to step in and play a huge role off the bench. Also, Marquise Daniels will be a vital asset to the Celtics bench. They are banking on Avery Bradley, a second year player out of Texas, to step up this year after a disappointing rookie campaign. Also, the Celtics are hoping that the two rookies they took out of Purdue, E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, will be able to play sparingly off the bench to allow those old guys to get some rest.

      The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the best teams in the NBA last year after the All-star break. Head Coach Doug Collins is the perfect fit for a young and gifted Sixers team. Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, and Andre Igoudala form a dangerous core. All of these guys should be even better coming into this year. Expect the 76ers to make a playoff run once again, and get one of the bottom seeds in the Eastern Conference. Especially, if Elton Brand can get back to his 20 and 10 days, this team can be a scary team in the East. Brand, played well last year, averaging 15 and 8.

      The New Jersey Nets are quietly getting better. But, they still need to make a big splash and get their hands on Dwight Howard. Superman and D-Will would be better than Batman and Robin for sure. The Nets have no chance at making the playoffs unless they acquire Howard. Their roster is not deep at all. Deron Williams and Brook Lopez are the only two things to get happy about when talking about the Nets. If Jay-Z can work his (blue) magic and get Dwight Howard, then the Nets quickly jump into the discussion when talking about playoff teams in the East, but until then, they will be towards the bottom of the pact in the NBA.

     The Toronto Raptors have a long way to go before they get back to the days when they had Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. They have a ton of young guys capable of being good in the NBA, but none of them have proven anything yet, outside of Andrea Bargnani. DeMar DeRozan showed he can be a vital player in this league averaging 17 points per game in his second year. Furthermore, after the All-star break DeRozan was putting in 20 points a night, so expect a good year from DeRozan. Also, former first overall pick, in 2006, Andrea Bargnani, is coming off a career year. He averaged 21 points per game last season. Bargnani and DeRozan form a nice combo. But, that might be the only thing to be happy about if you are a Raptor's fan. They are hoping Dwane Casey can get Toronto on the right track as he makes his debut as the Raptor's Head Coach. Casey was an Assistant Coach, under Rick Carlisle, and the World Champion, Dallas Mavericks. He was Carlisle's right hand man for the Mavericks last year, and that should earn him some credibility right off the bat from his players in Toronto.

ATLANTIC DIVISION PREDICTIONS

1. NEW YORK KNICKS
2. BOSTON CELTICS
3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
4. NEW JERSEY NETS

5. TORONTO RAPTORS

CENTRAL DIVISION

       This division could easily be the worst division in the NBA. It is the Chicago Bulls and everybody else. The Pacers and Bucks have the potential to be dangerous in the East, but we will have to see it first. The Chicago Bulls have the reigning MVP, Derrick Rose, who was clearly the best player in the NBA last year. Luol Deng finally showed he can be a consistent player last year, and was arguably one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. The Bulls size inside is a huge strength. Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, and Omer Asik are all beasts on the boards. The one thing the Bulls were missing from last years team was a two-guard. They signed Richard Hamilton this off-season, and they hope he can get back to his old form when he actually enjoyed playing for the Pistons. Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, and C.J. Watson are all good guards to have come off the bench to provide a very deep Bulls' squad. Also, remember this name: Jimmy Butler. This kid is going to be a stud, he will end up being just like his former teammate at Marquette, Wesley Mathews. The Bulls will win the Central Division by at least 10 games.

      The Indiana Pacers have the potential to be a very dangerous team in the East. Especially, since landing David West. West has been one of the most underrated power forwards in the game. He is entering his ninth-season, and his career average is 16 points and 7 rebounds a game. The Pacers are loaded with young talent to go around West. Darren Collison, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough, George Hill, and A.J. Price are all very talented young guys with a ton of potential. Also, Danny Granger is a very dangerous threat offensively for the Pacers. Granger has averaged 20 points a game every season over the last four years. This kid knows how to put the rock in the bucket. I really like the addition of George Hill who is a very talented, young, combo guard. Also, watch out for Paul George, I think he is going to have a break out season in his sophomore season. The Pacers should be battling for a five or six seed in the East.

     The Milwaukee Bucks were expected to have a good season last year, but that was not the case. Brandon Jennings struggled in his second year, as he battled injuries all season long. Andrew Bogut also struggled last year. The Bucks are hoping the acquisition of Stephen Jackson will help them out offensively, were they struggled last year. Also, they hope Mike Dunleavy Jr. can step up and help the Bucks off the bench, as he did with the Pacers last season. The Bucks have two young studs down in the box in Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Larry Sanders. Mbah a Moute is a coaches dream. He does everything. He will out work anybody, and his motor is always turned on full blast. If Sanders can step up and have a good sophomore season, the Bucks could very well be battling for a playoff spot. This kids potential is through the roof. Also, remember the name Tobias Harris, a rookie out of Tennessee.

     There is one thing for certain in the Central Division: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons will be battling for the number five spot in the division. Both these teams have a long way to go. The future is looking way brighter for the Cavs as they are in rebuild mode. Detroit on the other hand, I don't know what they are thinking re-signing Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey, and Jonas Jerebko. I thought it was pretty obvious they need change, and yet they continue to waste all their money on players that have already proven they can not get it done together. The one bright side for Detroit is Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight, but with no cap space in sight, the future is not looking that good in Motown. The Cavs at least have two top five picks from this years draft to build on. Kyrie Irving is going to be a stud. We will see about Tristan Thompson, but he has all the tools to become a good low-post player in this league. With Cleveland most likely getting a top five pick in next years draft, watch out for this team in a few years. Especially, if they can land Anthony Davis or Harrison Barnes in next years draft.

CENTRAL DIVISION PREDICTIONS

1. CHICAGO BULLS
2. INDIANA PACERS
3. MILWAUKEE BUCKS

4. DETROIT PISTONS

5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

       This division is Miami's to lose. I think they will win this division pretty easily, especially with all the trade talks going on with Dwight Howard in Orlando. The Atlanta Hawks lost one of their best scorers, and added Tracy McGrady to replace Jamaal Crawford. Adding T-Mac to your team, is like getting a CD Walkman for Christmas. The Miami Heat made a HUGE pick up during the off-season adding Shane Battier. Battier will fit in perfectly with the Heat. I guess those three guys named James, Wade, and Bosh aren't that bad either. They finally got on the same page after the All-star break, and showed the World, these are three bad men on the court at the same time. It is Championship or bust with this team. They were so close last year, but LeBron struggled in the Finals, and mainly just the 4th quarter. This is the time were we will find out if LeBron will be considered with Magic, Bird, MJ, Kobe, and many other greats. Or, we will find out if he will be considered with Barkley, Ewing, Reggie Miller, and many other guys who simply could not win the big one. Also, a guy to watch out for is rookie Norris Cole, out of Cleveland State. This kid was an outstanding point guard at Cleveland State, he had one game were he dropped in 41 points, 20 rebounds, and 9 dimes. He averaged 21, 5, and 5 last year as a Senior, and also averaged over 2 steals per game. Championship or bust for Miami.

        The Orlando Magic have a ton of questions around them this year, and I think it will hurt them tremendously. I think Dwight Howard will be gone by the trade deadline because Orlando will try and get something for Howard, instead of letting him walk for nothing after this season. If it was not for all the trade rumors, the Magic would be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. If they can hold onto Dwight Howard for the entire season, they could definitely do some damage. However, there is a good chance Howard will get dealt before the deadline and it will be time to rebuild in Orlando. They have some good pieces with Jameer Nelson, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, Glen Davis, Ryan Anderson, J.J. Redick, and Earl Clark. But, if Howard isn't their, this team will do nothing in the playoffs. Their season hangs on the shoulders of Dwight Howard.

        The Atlanta Hawks have some very talented players. Joe Johnson and Al Horford are arguably in the top 10 at their respected positions. Josh Smith is one of the most athletic and versatile players in the NBA. They are hoping Marvin Williams keeps progressing into becoming a big contributor for the Hawks. Also, their most important player could very well be Jeff Teague. He showed how good he can be in the Semi-finals against the Chicago Bulls. Teague put up 15 points a game after he was installed into the starting lineup when Kirk Hinrich went down with an injury. If Teague plays up to his expectations in his third year, watch out for the Hawks to fly past the Magic as the second best team in the Southwest Division.

       The Charlotte Bobcats have a very young team, and a playoff run would be a stretch for this team. They are going to need a big year from Gerald Henderson, who showed he can become a leader on this team as he averaged nearly 14 points a game during his last 30 games of the season. Also, the Bobcats are hoping Kemba Walker can do the same thing that he did for the Connecticut Huskies in route to the 2011 NCAA Championship. This kid was absolute money last year in clutch situations. If you watched any of the Big East Tournament, or the NCAA Tournament, you know what I am talking about. The NBA is a different animal, so we will see if the small 6'1" shooting guard can hang in the NBA. The Bobcats also got a very explosive Bismack Biyombo with one of their first round selections in the draft. The Bobcats heard great news this week too, Biyombo agreed to a buyout with his Spanish club team, Fuenlabrada, and he just signed a contract with Charlotte and should be ready to roll when the season starts. It might take this guy one or two years to get use to the NBA, but watch out for this kid in the future. The Bobcats are hoping that Corey Maggette, D.J. Augustin, and Boris Diaw can provide the leadership this team needs. However, don't expect much from the Bobcats this year, but the future is looking good for this team.

      The Washington Wizards are loaded with a ton of young talent as they are still in rebuild mode from their Gilbert Arenas days. John Wall would have won Rookie of the Year last year, if it wasn't for some guy dunking on everybody last year. Nick Young showed he can be a perennial scorer in this league last year, averaging 17 points a game. The Wizards had an outstanding draft this year, picking up Jan Vessely, Chris Singleton, and Shelvin Mack. All three of these guys have potential to be good in the NBA. Jan Vessely is known as being the European version of Blake Griffin. Chris Singleton was the best defender in College Basketball at Florida State during his career. Shelvin Mack led Butler to the NCAA Championship game two years in a row at Butler, a mid-major school. Also, the Wizards have two young studs who should continue to get better in JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche. I think the one guy to pay attention to this year for the Wiz is Jordan Crawford. This kid can score from anywhere. We all member him from having that dunk on LeBron James at James camp, and then the tape was destroyed. He won't be remembered for that anymore because he is going to be an absolute stud down the road, and it could very well start this year.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION PREDICTIONS

1. MIAMI HEAT
2. ATLANTA HAWKS
3. ORLANDO MAGIC
4. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS


WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTHWEST DIVISION

         Oklahoma City is the favorite in this division for sure. Especially with Brandon Roy announcing his retirement from the NBA. And, with J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler, and Kenyon Martin being stuck out in China until their seasons are over, the Nuggets will be affected for sure. This season is tailor made for the Thunder to make some noise and contend for the number one seed in the Western Conference. Kevin Durant has won back-to-back scoring titles, and very well could win his third in a row this year. However, the most important area for the Thunder is Russell Westbrook to become more of a point guard. Once he realizes that Kevin Durant is their best scoring option, this will be a scary team. Westbrook took way too many shots during the Western Conference Finals against Dallas, and that played a significant role in the Thunder getting bounced in five games. Also, James Harden is due for a breakout season. Once Jeff Green was traded, and Harden became the third option, he played the best ball of his life. Harden averaged 17 points a game after the All-star break, and that is saying a lot when Durant and Westbrook averaged 37 field goal attempts per game last season. Kendrick Perkins looks like he is ready to roll this year, after he struggled getting on the same page with his new team after getting dealt to the Thunder right before the trade deadline. Perkins is in the best shape of his life as he trimmed down and lost 35 pounds. Serge Ibaka is an absolute freak when it comes to athleticism. Last year, Ibaka averaged 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Expect those numbers to increase this year as he is starting to develop a decent offensive game. Ibaka is already one of the best defenders in the NBA. The Thunder also have a nice group of role players with Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, Daequan Cook, Eric Maynor, and expect Cole Aldrich to get into the mix this year. This division is the Thunder's to win. I see Oklahoma City winning this division by at least five games.

       Despite the retirement of Brandon Roy, the Trail Blazers have a chance at battling the Thunder for the Northwest Division. LaMarcus Aldridge has quietly become one of the top power forwards in the game, and yet he gets overlooked. This guy is the most underrated player in the NBA. Last season he averaged nearly 22 points and 9 rebounds a game last year. And, Portland dealt with so many injuries last season, but Aldridge put the Blazers on his back and led Portland to a playoff berth. Aldridge is dealing with a heart condition, but all signs point that he will be close to 100% by the time the season starts, which is great news for Portland fans. Look for Aldridge to find a way to make the All-star team in the West this year, after he got snubbed last year. With Roy announcing his retirement, the Blazers knew they needed to add someone. Jamal Crawford was their guy. Crawford has been one of the top sixth men in the NBA the last five years. He can light it up quick, but inconsistency has been an issue with him in the past. Also, Raymond Felton was a nice pick up by Portland. Felton was traded for Andre Miller, which was a nice move to get younger at point guard. Portland is hoping this will be the year Greg Oden can stay healthy, but it is not looking that will be the case. Luckily, the Blazers have the Candy Man, Marcus Camby, who has been a very solid center during his 15 year NBA career. They signed Kurt Thomas, who is a savvy vet, to back up Camby at center this year. The Blazers have three solid wing players in Wesley Mathews, Gerald Wallace, and Nicolas Batum to provide plenty of depth. Also, watch out for Nolan Smith, the reigning ACC Player of the Year at Duke, to try and find a way to get into the rotation. Portland will probably have the best chance to battle Oklahoma City for the Northwest Division, but I do not see them winning it. They will still find a way into the postseason and most likely get a 5 or 6 seed in the West.

        The Denver Nuggets really put the meaning in team basketball. They do not have that star player, but they have a ton of good role players. J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, and Wilson Chandler all decided to sign overseas in China instead of waiting out the NBA lockout, so the Nuggets had to find other guys to fill their void. They acquired Rudy Fernandez and Andre Miller, and re-signed Nene and Arron Afflalo. Ty Lawson is due for a break out year. The Nuggets traded Felton to allow Lawson to take control of this offense. Last year in 31 starts, Lawson averaged 15 points, 7 assists, and nearly 2 steals per game. I would not be surprised to see Lawson take home the Most Improved Player award this year in his third season. The Nuggets could very well be the deepest team in the NBA going two-deep at every position. Arron Afflalo is going to be a huge player for Denver this year because he will be the guy the Nuggets will depend on for big buckets in clutch situations. Also, expect Danilo Gallinari to have a good year in his first full season with the Nuggets. The Nuggets had a good draft this year too. They drafted Kenneth Faried, from Morehead State, who is an absolute beast. Expect him to make his presence felt defensively right from the start. Last year, he averaged 15 rebounds (led the Nation in rebounding), 2.3 blocks, and 2 steals per game. They also drafted Jordan Hamilton, out of Texas, and this kid knows how to score the rock. Expect both of these guys to see some playing time in their rookie campaigns. Al Harrington, Chris Anderson, Corey Brewer, Timofey Mozgov, and DeMarre Carroll will also be contributors off the bench for the Nuggets. Expect Denver to get one of the eight playoff spots in the West.

       Things are finally looking good for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but unfortunately, they are still a couple years away from contending in the West. The era of Ricky Rubio finally begins. Kevin Love proved to be a double-double machine last year, ending the season with 64. He had a streak of 53 straight double-doubles, which was the longest streak since the ABA/NBA merger in 1976. Also, Love had a 30/30 game, when he recorded 31 points and 31 rebounds against the Knicks. He was the first player to record a 30/30 game since Moses Malone in 1982. Love averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, and shot a ridiculous 41 % from 3. His 15.2 rebounds per game were tops in the NBA last season. The Timberwolves are stacked with a ton of young talent. Minnesota was ecstatic when they landed the number two pick in the draft, because that meant one thing: Derrick Williams. As a sophomore at Arizona last season, he averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds, shot 60 % from the floor, and an insane 56 % from 3. He led Arizona all the way to the Elite 8 and we all remember the Blake Griffin type of dunks he threw down on Duke, as they dominated Duke in the Sweet 16. Derrick Williams game is very similar to Blake Griffin, but he has excellent range, which is the big difference between the two. Things are looking good for the future of Minnesota basketball, something they have not even been close to since trading away Kevin Garnett. Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Malcolm Lee, Wayne Ellington, Darko Milicic, Anthony Randolph, Martell Webster, and Luke Ridnour make up a nice mix of mostly young players and a few veterans. Minnesota has the potential to be a decent team towards the end of the 2011-12 campaign to build towards a good 2012-13 season.

       The Utah Jazz announced they were rebuilding once Jerry Sloan resigned and then traded Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets last year. This will be a tough year for the Jazz. I really think the Jazz will trade Paul Millsap before the season is over as they try and get Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors to be their two big guys inside for the future. Expect Enes Kanter, who was the third overall pick in the draft, to play sparingly in the first half of the season. He was ruled ineligible at Kentucky last year, so he did not get any playing time at Kentucky. So expect the Jazz to depend heavily on Al Jefferson inside. Alec Burks, their first round pick, out of Colorado, could become a very good wing player in the NBA. Also, Gordon Hayward got things on track during the last month of the season as a rookie. He averaged 17 points a game during this period. Devin Harris has proven himself in this league as being a legitimate point guard. The Jazz will most likely find themselves having a tough 2011-12 campaign, but things are heading in the right direction if they can develop Hayward, Favors, Burks, and Kanter to form a nice core group down the road. The Jazz should be one of the worst teams in the Western Conference.

NORTHWEST DIVISION PREDICTIONS

1. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
2. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
3. DENVER NUGGETS
4. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
5. UTAH JAZZ

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

       The Dallas Mavericks were the best team in the NBA last season, but the departures of both J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler will hurt this team tremendously this year. I do not see how this team can win the NBA Championship again this year without these two guys. Barea was a spark plug off the bench last year in the playoffs and Chandler was the main cog on the defensive end. Watch out for Memphis to make a jump in the Western Conference standings this year. Also, you can never count out the Spurs with Greg Poppovich in charge in San Antonio. However, I still see the Dallas Mavericks as the favorites to win the Southwest Division. This will be the closest race in all of the divisions. Dirk Nowitzki finally got that monkey off of his back. He was known for not being clutch, soft, and overrated. All of that erased last June because he put his team on his back and showed the will of a Champion. Nowitzki's playoffs stats were remarkable. 27.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 49 % from the floor, 46 % from 3, 94 % from the FT line, and 3 assists per game. The Mavericks have a ton of talent despite the departures of Chandler, Barea, Butler, and Stojakovic. The addition of Lamar Odom was a huge pick up. Lamar Odom and Dirk will be a great combo on the floor together. Jason Kidd returns, in which will probably be his last season. Shawn Marion, Vince Carter, Jason Terry, and Delonte West will form a nice core to go along with Dirk and Odom. Brenden Haywood is not Tyson Chandler, but he still can be a force defensively and on the glass. Expect Rodrigue Beaubois and Jeremy Randle to fill the void of the loss of J.J. Barea. Dallas should find a way to get a top 3 seed in the Western Conference.

      The Memphis Grizzlies became the third 8-seed to knock off a 1-seed in the playoffs last year, when they knocked off the San Antonio Spurs in 6 games. We will find out if this was a fluke last year, or if Memphis is for real in the West. Zach Randolph was an absolute beast last year. Randolph averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds last year. Also, with a healthy Rudy Gay coming back, this makes Memphis a very dangerous team in the West. The emergence of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol made Memphis one of the best teams after the All-star break last year. Also, if the Grizzlies hang on to O.J. Mayo, this is a very good starting five. Memphis has a deep team. Tony Allen, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young, Greivis Vasquez, Xavier Henry, and Josh Selby provide the Grizzlies with one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Expect Memphis to give Dallas all they can handle in the Southwest Division.

      The San Antonio Spurs are in the same boat as the Boston Celtics, this could very well be their last run at a title. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobli still present a dangerous threat to the rest of the NBA. The Spurs acquired a very talented Kawhi Leonard, out of San Diego State, when they traded George Hill for him on draft day. Also, the emergence of Gary Neal last year was huge for the Spurs. If Tiago Splitter can emerge this year off the bench, that will be huge for the Spurs. Dejuan Blair has been a beast in his short career so far, and expect his numbers to be even better, with Antonio McDyess announcing his retirement after the Spurs declined to pick up his option. The Spurs are always in good hands with Greg Poppovich in charge, so expect the Spurs to be right there with Memphis and Dallas this year battling for the Southwest Division.

     Kevin McHale is new the man in charge of Houston, and expect it to be a struggle for McHale and the Rockets this season. They thought they had Pau Gasol, but David Stern voided the three-team trade involving Houston, New Orleans, and the Los Angeles Lakers. This hurt Houston tremendously, because they were going to sign Nene after this trade, because they shaved some cap space getting rid of Luis Scola and Kevin Martin. Scola and Martin are the two leaders on this team, and that is not good if you are a Rockets fan. Both of these guys are good players, but there are better as third options. Marcus Morris, their first round pick out of Kansas, could end up becoming a good player, but it might take a couple years for his game to develop. Kyle Lowry, Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill, Courtney Lee, Terrance Williams, Goran Dragic, and Jonny Flynn fill out the rest of the roster. Expect Houston to finish ninth or tenth in the Western Conference missing the playoffs for the second straight year.

    The New Orleans Hornets are in rebuild mode after sending Chris Paul to the Clippers. They made an excellent trade in rebuilding for the future. They acquired a very gifted scorer in Eric Gordon, who averaged 23 points per game last year with the Clippers. Al-Farouq Aminu was also included in the trade, and he could end up being a solid player down the road. But, the biggest piece of the trade was acquiring Minnesota's first round pick, which could end up being Anthony Davis, Harrison Barnes, or Austin Rivers. Next years draft class will be stacked. However, do not expect the Hornets to do anything this year. Which means they will probably have two top-ten picks in next Summers draft. Things are looking bright for New Orleans in the future. David Stern made the right call on voided the first trade because that would have meant the Hornets would have taken back a ton of salary cap and not get any younger. Expect New Orleans to be a scary team in a few years if they have a good draft next Summer.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION PREDICTIONS

1. DALLAS MAVERICKS

2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

3. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
4. HOUSTON ROCKETS
5. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

PACIFIC DIVISION

       This division will come down to two teams who play in the same arena. The city of Los Angeles has been waiting for this for decades and decades. The Los Angeles Clippers are finally relevant and will give the Lakers a big challenge at winning the Pacific Division. Lob city officially begins in Los Angeles with the acquisition of Chris Paul. The Los Angeles Clippers made the biggest move of the offseason in a blockbuster deal to land Chris Paul. Also, the Clippers were busy signing Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler during the offseason. Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan present one of the best starting fives in the NBA. Chris Paul is going to have the time of his life playing with Griffin and Jordan. This is by far the most exciting team in the NBA, sorry Miami. Chris Paul is the only player in the history of the NBA to average 18 points, 9 assists, and 2 steals for his career. Blake Griffin is licking his chops to get a chance to play with CP3. Blake Griffin had one of the best rookie campaigns in NBA history. He averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds a game. Now he gets the best point guard in the game to make his job that much easier. If he can develop that 12-15 footer he will be one of the top power forwards in the game. The Clippers are one of the deepest teams in the NBA with Randy Foye, Eric Bledsoe, Mo Williams, Ryan Gomes, Brian Cook, Travis Leslie, and Trey Thompkins on their bench. They still need to sign a back up center, and then they will be set for the 2011-12 season. Watch out for Thompkins, their second round pick out of Georgia, to get some playing time this year and be a contributor off the bench. The Clippers will win the Pacific Division if the Lakers do not acquire Steve Nash or Dwight Howard. The one thing the Clippers were weak in last year, was experience, and with the additions of CP3, Mr. Big Shot, and Caron Butler, they filled this area. Chris Paul has had knee injuiries in the past so it will be huge for the Clippers for him to stay healthy. However, if he did get hurt, Chauncey Billups can just move over and play the point and they could put Randy Foye or Eric Bledsoe starting at the two-guard. The Billups signing was one of the most underrated moves of the off-season.

       The Los Angeles Lakers are still a top team in the Western Conference, but with Mike Brown, the new Head Coach in Laker town, it will take some time for the Lakers to adjust to a totally different scheme. The lockout hurt the Lakers tremendously because they could not get comfortable learning a new system. Also, with the loss of Lamar Odom, it will hurt the Lakers. Still, the Lakers are not done, they are still trying to get their hands on Dwight Howard. If they find a way to land the second edition of Superman, things change in Los Angeles. The Lake show are always going to be one of the top teams in the NBA with Kobe Bryant in charge. There is not a player in the NBA that is more determined than Kobe. He has that Michael Jordan determination, and there is not anyone in the NBA who hates losing more than Bryant. A lot of people are quick to write off Pau Gasol, which is a huge mistake. He is still a top 5 power forward in the NBA. Remember after the 2008 Finals against Boston, when everyone said Gasol was soft, then he came back and shut all of those critics up. The same thing will happen again this year. The Lakers will need Andrew Bynum to stay healthy this year if they want to win the Pacific Division. This is were the departure of Odom kills the Lakers. When Bynum was out, Odom could step in and start at power forward and move Gasol to center. They do not have this option anymore. Bynum has never played more than 65 games in a season, so him staying healthy all season, is highly unlikely. Metta World Peace needs to find his confidence. Ok, it feels crazy saying that name, Ron Artest is very capable of being a force, he just needs to stop thinking so much and just do what he loves: play ball. The Lakers still have a deep squad with Matt Barnes, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake, Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy, Devin Ebanks, Jason Kapono, and Darius Morris. Morris, a second round pick out of Michigan, is young and raw, but if he can get some confidence this year, watch out for this guy.

     The Sacramento Kings have a ton of young talent, but they are still a couple of years away from contending in the Western Conference. The biggest question about the Kings is will they stay in Sacramento after this year or will they be moving down to Anaheim. They have a very entertaining back-court with Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette. Jimmer Nation was one of the biggest stories in all of sports last season, and expect their to be a lot of hype behind him in his rookie campaign. We will soon find out if he is ready to shine in the NBA. I really think he is going to end up having a good NBA career, and I think he will be one of the more entertaining rookies to watch this year. The addition of J.J. Hickson was a nice pick up for the Kings. DeMarcus Cousins could end up being a good power forward, but he needs to get his head on straight because the talent is there. Marcus Thorton, Francisco Garcia, Tyler Honeycutt, Jason Thompson, and Travis Outlaw are all nice pieces for this Kings team, but don't expect much from Sacramento this year. Jimmer and Tyreke will be fun to watch, but the playoffs are way out of the picture for this squad.

    Mama there goes that man. Mark Jackson is now the new Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors. I like this hire, but the Warriors do not have a ton of talent, so it will take a couple of years before the Warrior fans are rocking the "We Believe" shirts again. Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis provide one of the most dangerous back-courts in the NBA. However, they can score with anybody, but when it comes to defense they are both liabilities. Curry sprained his ankle in the Warriors final preseason game against Sacramento, which is not a good way to start the year for Golden State. Curry has had ankle problems the last couple of years. The Warriors are hoping their first round pick, Klay Thompson, out of Washington State, can come in and be a big contributor off the bench. The only move the Warriors made this offseason was giving Kwame Brown 7-million for a one-year contract. The Warriors are hoping Ekpe Udoh will have stellar sophomore campaign. He showed signs last year that he can be a good player in this league. Also, the Warriors are hopeful that David Lee will get back to his double-double days from when he played in New York. Dorell Wright was a bright spot for Golden State last year as he was one of the best long range shooters in the NBA. The Warriors will hang around the bottom of the playoff race, but I expect the Warriors to finish ninth or tenth in the West this year.

      The Phoenix Suns are on the cusp of starting to rebuild. I expect Steve Nash to get traded before the trade deadline this season. However, if the Suns come out strong, they will definitely hang onto Nash. Steve Nash has been one of the best point guards in the NBA over the last decade. Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Robin Lopez, Mickeal Pietrus, Markieff Morris, Grant Hill, Hakim Warrick, Marcian Gortat, and Shannon Brown fill out the rest of the roster for the Suns. There just is not enough firepower in this team to hang with the two L.A. teams. I expect the Suns to make some trades at the trade deadline as they head towards rebuilding for the future.

PACIFIC DIVISION PREDICTIONS

1. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

3. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

4. PHOENIX SUNS
5. SACRAMENTO KINGS

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. MIAMI HEAT
2. CHICAGO BULLS
3. NEW YORK KNICKS
4. BOSTON CELTICS
5. ATLANTA HAWKS

6. ORLANDO MAGIC

7. INDIANA PACERS

8. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
2. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
3. DALLAS MAVERICKS
4. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
5. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
6. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
7. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
8. DENVER NUGGETS

NBA FINALS PREDICTION

MIAMI HEAT vs. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT (6 GAMES)
 

A Legacy Now Tarnished

           A legacy, which seemed untouchable, has now took a 180-degree turn. Joe Paterno has been well known for being one of the best coaches College Football has ever seen. A man, who has had one of the highest graduation rates among former and active college football coaches, will not be remember as that. Joe Paterno never broke any major NCAA-violations during his 46-year tenure as the Penn State Head Coach. Which, has been rare in the last quarter-century, when we have seen USC, Miami, Ohio State, and many other top programs break numerous NCAA-violations. He has donated millions and millions of dollars to the University of Penn State to help hundreds of thousands of young adults to get the best education possible. He has more wins than any other Head Coach in the history of Division-1 Football. Yet, he will simply be remembered as not going to authorities to report an incident that occurred with former Defensive Coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, and an innocent, young boy. He did what he was suppose to do when he heard about these incidents, he told the people above him at Penn State. Shockingly, Tim Curley, the Athletic Director, and Gary Schultz, the school Vice President, did not do anything when Joe Paterno told them what Mike McQueary had told Paterno in 2002. However, Joe Paterno is the man to blame in many peoples' eyes. I understand Joe Paterno is Penn State football, and he could have made a moral decision to go to authorities. However, he was unsure of exactly what went down, and he told the people above him at the University that are responsible to act on these allegations. If these reports could have been false, then Joe Paterno could have been in trouble with the law with reporting false information. He did what he was suppose to do and told the Athletic Director and the Senior Vice President of Penn State University. Yet, they put what Joe Paterno told them under the rug, and were more concerned about the name of the University, and not these innocent children. The three people that should take blame in the most severe scandal in the history of sports are: Jerry Sandusky, Tim Curley, and Gary Schultz. But, the two men that could have ended this before this 2002 incident were Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricer and Detective Ronald Schreffler.

           In 1998, campus police and local law enforcement authorities investigated an allegation that Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky, had engaged in inappropriate and perhaps sexual conduct with two boys in the football facility's showers. A lengthy police report was filed, the two boys were interviewed along with their parents, and even Jerry Sandusky admitted to showering with these boys. Yet, District Attorney, Ray Gricer, did not prosecute Sandusky. Ronald Schreffler, the lead detective in this case, did not do what he should have done in this case. He should have done a better job of making sure Jerry Sandusky was charged, and yet all Schreffler told Sandusky was to not shower with boys anymore. The only thing that resulted in this case was what Schreffler told Sandusky and he was forced to resign as the Defensive Coordinator at Penn State. This is when this could have ended. There could have been a countless number of young boys saved from this horrific act by a sick old man. Nobody is talking about this issue, and yet, Joe Paterno is the man to blame in peoples' eyes. We are talking about people that work for our law enforcement that knew Sandusky was showering with young boys, and yet all they did was tell him not to shower with young boys. Are you kidding me! You should never even have to say this to anybody, and it was treated like this was something that was normal in society. Jerry Sandusky should have been behind bars at this point. If this would have been a regular guy he would have been prosecuted hands down! Yet, Jerry Sandusky was a well-known figure in Pennsylvania, regarded as being one of the top Defensive Coordinators in the nation, and this played a huge roll. DA Ray Gricer made the worst decision possible. He put football above children, which is NOT ACCEPTABLE!! He did not want to be the guy who prosecuted a well-known figure, and allowed this sick old man to keep preying on young, innocent boys. This should have been over with in 1998, and who knows how many boys would have been saved from Jerry Sandusky.

          Yet, people are still putting all the blame on Joe Paterno. No one is saying anything about current Penn State Wide-Receivers Coach, Mike McQueary. He was the guy who actually saw Jerry Sandusky with his own eyes in the shower with a young boy, and he turned around and walked out. Put yourself in this situation, how could someone make a moral decision to turn around and leave. This is where he should have went into the shower and beat Jerry Sandusky's ass and then dragged him to the police. Yet, all he did was go tell Joe Paterno that he saw some inappropriate behavior with Jerry Sandusky and a young boy in the shower. Nobody knows exactly what McQueary actually told Joe Paterno. Yet, we are all jumping to conclusion that Joe Paterno knew everything that went on in the shower, when in reality we have no clue what he was told. Still, Joe Paterno did what he should have done. He told the two people above him about what he heard from McQueary, and yet the AD, Tim Curley, and the School VP, Gary Schultz, did absolutely nothing. These two men, should be held just as responsible as Jerry Sandusky, because they could have stopped any other potential young boys from getting sexually abused after 2002. All they had to do was report these incidents to authorities and let authorities take it from there. A few days after McQueary told Joe Paterno about the incident, McQueary told both the AD, and the Senior VP, what he told Joe Paterno, and yet they still did nothing. I understand Joe Paterno could have done more and call authorities, but his job is to coach Penn State. He did what he should have by telling both the AD, and the Senior VP, it was their job to tell authorities. They are responsible for dealing with off the field situations that involve anyone involved with the athletics of Penn State, and they put this information in their back pocket. This is a horrific tragedy that could have been over in 1998 and in 2002, and it continued well beyond after that because the people who could have ended this, did not act appropriately.

         On Wednesday night, Joe Paterno received a call from one of the members of the Board of Trustee and was told he was fired. Joe Paterno, a coaching legend, was fired over the phone. That is 100 times worse then getting dumped over the phone. Show the guy some class and have the dignity to do it in person, and don't be a coward and do it over the telephone. Yet, Wide-Receivers Coach, Mike McQueary, will still be out coaching on Saturday afternoon. He should be held with the same standards that Joe Paterno was. Joe Paterno will now be remembered with this scandal involving Jerry Sandusky. The University of Penn State is trying to pin this all on Joe Paterno and have him be looked at as the scapegoat, when it should be the University that should be taking the criticism. When in reality, he should always be remember as one of the best College Football coaches in the history of Division-1 Football. This guy made Penn State football, but more importantly, he has made the biggest influence on the University. Kids want to go to Penn State simply because of Joe Paterno. He has made this University one of the top Universities in the Nation. College football players from Penn State have always been in the top ten when it comes to graduation rates per year since Joe Paterno has been in charge. Find me another coach who cares more about their kids future than Joe Paterno. In all honesty, I do not think he knew exactly what was going on with Jerry Sandusky. People do not realize how much work coaches put in and I really do not think he knew Jerry Sandusky was doing these types of acts. When he heard about it in 2002, he did what any other Coach would have done. He told the people above him, and they were the ones who chose not to act on this situation, not Joe Paterno. This case could have been solved in 1998, yet the DA, Ray Gricer, did not act responsibly. Joe Paterno is the main target to blame, when in reality he should be the last. I admit, he could have done more, but he still told the AD, and the Senior VP, and they made the decision to not say anything. They were the ones who put the school's brand name ahead of poor, innocent, young boys. Paterno won two-National Championships, three-Big Ten Championships, 409 games, and yet he will be remembered for none of this. He will simply be remembered for not calling authorities, when in reality he made the correct decision by telling the two men who handle these type of issues. In my eyes, Joe Paterno's legacy will be remembered for everything else, but I am one of the few that will remember Joe Paterno for everything he did for the University of Penn State. His legacy is tarnished now, but for me, Joe Paterno will be remembered for everything he did for the University, the football program, and the community of Happy Valley.