I got a few topics in the stash and we'll get to those very quickly in the coming days. But right now, my mind is on the official kickoff to basketball season. Yall know me, so you already know whats gonna be on my tv, phone, twitter, fb, and now this blog. So indulge a Laker fan from Boston as wait on this 3 peat to come true in June.

Laker fan from Boston? Yeah that's right, a Laker fan from Boston. That's like me saying I'm a Yankee fan from Boston, but nah, that's not me, that would be my moms lol. But the Lakers are obviously the favorite, #1 because they have best player in the world still. They also have one the top 3 and by far the most skilled big in all the league. And the Lakers are led by 11 time champion  Phil Jackson. While the rest of the league was trying to stock pile super teams, with multiple all-stars, and maximum $ deals, the champs made two solid moves this off season. They singed a steady low maintenance NBA starter in Steve Blake and athletic jump shooter Matt Barnes, a journeyman his first few seasons who has in the last few seasons become a solid contributor in the rotation of 3 playoff teams. Assuming these two new additions get comfortable quickly, (there is no reason to assume otherwise) I'm expecting about 55-60 wins and the top seed in the West.

Upon first examination, the West should be won by late March early April. The only team who proved they could be on the same court as the Lakers in the West was OKC. I said they would be the toughest series the Lakers would be in until the Finals, and that proved to be true. KD will be the next to be crowned as NBA King in a year or so when age starts to do what no defense could do to Kobe Bryant and that's slow him down. They have a top 5 point guard in Russ Westbrook (my own opinion, but try and argue), and the perfect cast of roll players to compliment they're two young super stars. Portland is probably the best team to compete with the Lakers on paper, unfortunately that's how fragile the Blazers are. Injuries killed them last year, and unfortunately probably will do so again. Greg Oden is still hurt, B. Roy is an excellent talent, but battled injuries last year, and wont have a full cast of characters to help him this season. Denver would be an option if Melo was still there, he is physically now, but mentally Melo is already checked out, and will not finish the season in Denver. Houston has Yao back, and Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks in the back court, they're just not good enough. Phoenix enters the Post Amare era without a young healthy Boris Diaw this time and San Antonio is finally too old.

So this cake walk to the finals wont be to taxing which is a good thing because Derek Fisher is a year older, and Kobe is coming of surgery. So the Lakers can heal while the East beats the dog shit out of each other. As we all know Miami is gonna be doing most of the beating during the regular season. Be clear, its still D-Wade's team. He'll take the last shot, he'll be the man because #1 they're in his town. #2 LeBron doesn't wanna be the man and Bosh just isn't good enough to be the man, he was for 7 years Toronto couldn't build a contender. So they'll lead the league in points, probably win about 66 games and lose to the Celtics when they the tow meet in the playoffs. Speaking of the Celtics, they have been an example of "defense wins championships" mantra everyone likes to allude to. Even though it only won them 1 championship, that was the last time they were competing with a healthy full roster. The Magic haven't gotten any better to me, so they'll be right behind the Celts and Heat. ATL was the team who was most fun to watch until Miami changed they're look, but again, I'm not sure how much they have improved. To me in the East the two teams to watch are the Bulls and the Wizards. The Bulls have a great point guard who is among the best in the league. They acquired Boozer who is a double double machine still, and Joakim Noah has arrived as a force in the middle. Add Celtics defensive mastermind and former local coach Tom Thibodeau to the mix could make them a viable contender. Loyalty will not allow me to count out the Wizards, during a 2007 debate i said at the time I would of taken Gilbert Arenas Over D-Wade. From strictly a talent basketball stand point, I stand by my statement. The fact that Gilbert is a lil thrown off and has had some major knee injuries I think have people forgetting exactly how good he is. A roster with talented young athletic bigs and wings could be the recipe Gil needs to get back to his world class level of play and get the Wizards back in the playoffs. Not to mention they drafted the very talented, very skilled, very much over hyped, and over promoted John Wall. He'll probably win Rookie of the Year and play very well, and he's on an exclusive list of clients that ESPN gives free publicity for on a regular basis. That list is only about 3 people long, but that's a different blog for a different time. SO in short, Lakers over Celtics again in 7. Actually, I could of cut this whole thing short with one stat, Phil Jackson's coaching championships come 3s, Chicago 1990-93; 1995-98. Los Angeles 1999-03; and now 2008-10.