THROWING KNIVES: SORRY I DON'T

by BD, Staff Writer

A friend of mine had the gall to ask me if I "believed" last night after Boston blew a game in Cleveland. My response was a clear-cut "no," but it's far more complicated than that. It's as if I don't think LeBron James is one of the two best players in the league. Hell, I'm even willing to admit he's the best at this point. But despite what the Cavs (or Lebron rather) accomplished last season I just don't think it's happening again. I'm not so incongruous that I think the Cavs will miss the playoffs or anything, but they're not a title contender. So I'd appreciate it if all of LeBron's jock jockeys would quit berating me with questions about it. The fact is simple: The King needs more than peasants for wingmen before he'll be raising the Larry O'Brien at the end of the season. It's just a fact of life.

With the above in mind I'd like to make clear that the Cavs knocking off the Celtics is not breaking news. It's not. The C's weren't going to finish 81-1. They're bound to drop a few games to the top tier East squads. Hell, they might even lose to the lower end of the East. The West teams are doing it and no one's questioning them. And anyone can win on any given night in the NBA. It's the nature of the sport, but the seven game series' come playoff time are what separates the contenders from the Cavaliers.

My annoyance with the LeBron lovefest though got me thinking about my initial Eastern conference predictions versus what I'm thinking now. Thus, I've decided to re-shuffle my Eastern conference playoff picture...

1. Boston - Will Paul Pierce cost them a title?
2. Orlando - Dwight Howard is the league MVP to this point and Rashard Lewis is fitting in nicely.
3. Detroit - Injury concerns will be hanging over this team all year. It's time to let Amir Johnson and the other youngsters to play crucial minutes on a consistent basis.
4. Cleveland - LeBron alone will keep them in the top 4 unless Chicago catches fire.
5. Toronto - If they're hitting from outside they're nearly unbeatable.
6. Chicago - Could miss the playoff if they keep digging the massive hole they've already put themselves in.
7. Milwaukee - I'm not sure they'll keep it up, but as they're playing now they can certainly sneak into the playoffs.
8. Miami - Wade is back and he's already starting to get it together. I'm sure Boston will be thrilled to see him in Round 1.

I considered tossing in a couple of other teams at the bottom (Atlanta and Indiana), but I don't either team will be able to play consistently enough to reach the playoffs. Atlanta especially. As far as New Jersey goes? I've officially given up on what they should be and recognize what they are: a trio of good to great players that still can't get on the same page.

Yesterday In Sports....

That's More Like It
Miami gets their revenge on Charlotte 110-90.

Tough Break
Denver losses (112-110 to Indiana) as J.R. Smith misses the third of three free throws with under 3 seconds left that would have tied it.

They're Back...
Unfortunately, it looks like Duke's two season swoon is over as they throttled Wisconsin 82-58.

Red Flag
Clemson looking fraudulent again as they struggle to put away Purdue 61-58.