Game 7: One Game to Rule Them All

Would we want it any other way?  Boston vs. Miami in Game 7 for the Eastern Conference crown, one game to decide it all.  The Celtics are trying to prove that they are just young enough to pull off a championship run while the Heat are realizing that it really is easier said then done.

Last year, the Heat got somewhat of a pass after losing in the Finals to Dallas.  They needed to have a year to gel together.  Well now they have had the better part of 2 years and those same questions from last June are still unanswered.  Taking LeBron's Game 6 heroics out of the argument, the Heat haven't looked any different then the Heat of last season.  Still too many mental mistakes and no depth on the bench.  Yeah sure, Chalmers or Haslim may play well for a game, maybe two at most.  No one else on the bench is scaring any one in the league.  The Heat go as DWade and LeBron go and lately, neither of them seem to have that killer instinct that all champions have.  That's why Dallas won the title.  The Heat looked like they had learned their lessons after taking a 2-0 lead in the series but it was something about Rondo's 44 points in Game 2 that gave the Celtics a ray of hope going into Game 3.  Boston would win the next 3 games and continued questions regarding LeBron not being a closer and DWade not showing up at all resurfaced.  Try as they might, no one can blame Chris Bosh at all.  It's Game 7, so Bosh needs to play 30+ minutes and the Big 3 in Miami need to stop looking for excuses and execute down the stretch.  In some ways, the Heat look like a younger version of the Celtics, without the rings of course.  Yeah I know DWade has one but Shaq isn't walking through the door.  DWade needs to be himself by moving without the ball.  This will make it hard for the Celtics to throw double and triple teams at LeBron.  Create havoc for Boston and allow LeBron to do his thing.  Most importantly, DWade should focus on Rondo on the defensive end.  From a simple perspective, LeBron played a great Game 6 and that's it.  No one else in a Heat uniform showed up.  I was impressed but at the same time, we all have seen LeBron go off like that before.  He still hasn't been that go to guy late in the 4th like he needs to be.  Its do or die for LeBron.  Regardless of what DWade does, LeBron has to play just as menacing in Game 7 that he did in Game 6.  I'm not saying he has to score 45 points, but he needs to have a solid triple double, something like 30, 15 and 10.  LeBron has done half the job and now he needs to complete the task.  He gave the Heat a chance to return to the NBA Finals, but its Game 7.  Anything can happen in Game 7.

Boston is the NBA version of the "little engine" that thinks they can.  No one outside of Boston thought the Celtics would even get to the ECF.  As far as I'm concerned, they wouldn't be if Derrick Rose doesn't get injured.  Yeah, I said it!  The Celtics are old but you never underestimate the heart of a champion, as Rudy T once said.  Boston has proven that they can win in Miami.  The Celtics core players have played in 7 game 7s. This isn't their first rodeo.  KG, Pierce, Ray Allen and Rondo need to reach back to 2008 one more time if they want to move on to the Finals.  Ray has slowly started to find his shooting touch and the Celtics will need it.  The Celtics will need their full arsenal in order to beat the Heat.  I expect the Celtics to come out with the fire and intensity that they should have came out with in Game 6.  Don't be surprised if Rondo has another 40+ point game.  Paul Pierce will not have as bad a game as he did in Game 6.  This is for everything.  The entire season and probably direction of both teams hang on this game.  Anything can happen in a Game 7.

Whether you are a fan of the Heat or Celtics doesn't matter.  As basketball fans, we all have seen a great series.  The only thing left is to watch and enjoy a great Game 7.  Once Game 7 is over, the only question that will remain is if either of these teams can beat the OKC Thunder.  I don't think either of them can but that's why they play the game.

D!

What I saw in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals

No one thought the Celtics would be up in this series let alone have a close-out opportunity at home.  That is the reality of these playoffs.  Boston needs to come out and play with  high intensity.  They need to end this game early and close this series out.  You can't allow the Heat to hang around.  Don't turn the ball over and take smart shots.  This is the blueprint the Celtics should use tonight.  The Heat need to forget all of the failures and go out and play basketball.  Stop worrying what analysts are saying.  LeBron and DWade should play their game and let the chips fall where they fall.  Bosh, when in, needs to keep building on the 14 minutes and 9 points he had in Game 5.  Work back in and not do too much.  Bosh doesn't have a feel for the series just yet.  He should be ready should there be a Game 7.

I'm actually typing this as I watch the game.  At the 4 minute mark in the 1st quarter, I asked myself when Boston is playing with any sense of urgency?  Its like there was no killer instinct at all.  Wasn't so bad at first because the Heat weren't doing anything either and DWade seems like he's a no-show tonight.  Well except for LeBron.  I guess LeBron was the only one to get the memo that this is a elimination game.  No fire from anyone not named LeBron.  Rondo is showing signs but nothing consistent.

But wait, isn't Boston supposed to be the experienced team?  The team that has been there, done that all the way to a 3-2 series lead in the ECF?  This isn't teaching an old dog new tricks.  The old dogs need to do what they already know how to do.  What they have already done.  The Celtics should have come out with a high level of emotion and take it to the Heat.  Get them back on there heels and set the tempo of the game.  Instead, Boston decided to watch LeBron take control.  Only two missed shots for LeBron and a 30 point first half.  That's 30 points on 14 shots.  But, we've seen things like this before.  Its not the first 3 quarters of a game that we wonder about LeBron.  Its that all important 4th!  Pierce in foul trouble and on the bench.  The Celtics can't win with Pierce on the bench.

Now will we see a Paul Pierce sighting in the 2nd half or will the "truth" be on the bench in foul trouble?  Even as the 3rd quarter begins, still no urgency.  Forget the Spurs, I'm bored by both teams right now. Neither seems to be playing like this isn't a big game and slowly this game is getting out of hand because the Heat are actually making some shots and nothing is falling for the Celtics.  17 point lead at the 10 minute mark.  Really? KG gets a technical for that?  So laughable!  Its not like this is the Pacers and Pistons playing.  Well at least the officiating is consistent at being terrible. I'm wanting Rondo to keep going like he was to end the half.  Just take over and take shots.  I want Rondo to go for 40+.  Especially how LeBron is playing.  Not like I care who wins this game.  I'm a Bulls fan.  I want an epic game.  A game where greatness was played and fans are left speechless.

It took Boston 9 minutes but they finally woke up and started playing.  The cut the lead to 10 then LeBron hits a 3.  He now has 39 and the Heat back up by 10 and it looks like they've are trying to set the cruise control button.  Ray Allen answers with a 2 but I think Boston is gaining momentum, down eleven.  Besides, outside of LeBron, the Heat haven't shown up.  No DWade at all.  Is this an illusion?  Is DWade gonna ride LeBron for 3 quarters then, like a good tag team, take over in the 4th?  Or will the Celtics realize that they are playing a one-trick pony right now?  The Celtics end the 3rd quarter with three bad possessions.  They didn't run any sort of offensive set and come away with no points.  Heat really on the boards and not allowing 2nd shots.  The Celtics have no body language.  The Heat are little more active but only LeBron is fully checked in.  LeBron with 41 & 10 after three quarters.

This game is over.  Can I have the last 3 hours back?  It was nice to see LeBron go off but the question of him showing up in the 4th quarter still is unanswered.  To his credit, he did make sure this  wasn't a game at any time in the 4th so that counts, doesn't it?  45 points, 15 board and 5 assists, what more did LeBron need to do?  Remember, DWade didn't show up.  Never mind the 17 & 8 he put up.  LeBron outscored the Big 3 of Boston 45-42.  LeBron let DWade save himself for Game 7.  One could argue that this is another way for LeBron to run from being held completely accountable for the failures and letdowns of the Heat for the past 2 years.  Yeah, I know that's a bit of a stretch.  What can I say, I don't like all the attention LeBron gets for having won nothing but I digress.  LeBron is a baller though.

Boston just missed shots.  They shot 42% from the field.  KG, Rondo and Pierce combined to shoot 39% from the field.  Most of the missed shots were from right at the rim.  I could understand if they were missed jumpers but you got to make those point blank shots.  That's like missing a dunk.  You just can't do that.  Its not like Miami was playing great defense.  For the most part, Boston got the shots they wanted, they just didn't hit them.  I'm not convinced the Celtics have packed it in.  The Heat must have stayed back in MIA.  No one saw LeBron playing like this tonight and no one thought the Celtics would play this bad. I believe this will go down as a bad game at the wrong time for the Celtics.  I don't expect LeBron to go for 45 & 15 either.  I do expect DWade to play better and wouldn't be surprised if Bosh has a huge game.  For this to be a great Game 7, the Big 3 of Boston need to show up.  Pierce has to be an impact player in Game 7.  Rondo needs to keep doing what he is doing and so does KG.  Limit the turnovers and attack the rim.  Play with a passion and with heart.  Regardless of who wins Game 7, it will be alot closer then Game 6 as long as both teams show up and play.  Remember, anything can happen in a Game 7.

D!

Society and Sports....

Right or wrong, race has always been an issue in sports.  There are more white people who play baseball and hockey and we accept this.  Most of that athletes in football and basketball are black and we accept that.  It is just a reality of our society.  It does seem that society is very fickle and hypocritical about this.

NBA fans have looked at Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as this eras "Jordan" but when Kobe had his legal issues, he was torn down.  Kobe was looked at as black guy who committed a crime.  When the LeBron James "decision" went down, LeBron was looked at as an over-privileged black guy being selfish and attention grabbing moron.  Why were neither of them looked at as men who made mistakes?  Ryan Braun, who recently became the first baseball player to win an appeal of a 50 game suspension for a positive test for PEDs.  He was looked at as a man who possibly cheated and not a white man who possibly cheated.  This is the issue at hand in sports.

At first, I thought this was a case of over sensitivity in society.  If you really look at it, this is really a case of "all eyes on me" and an abuse of 1st amendment.  Jeremy Lin is doing something unexpected and its is great for the NBA and all of sports.  This young man has taken the opportunity of playing for the Knicks and made the best of it.  Isn't that what all athletes aspire to do?  As Americans, aren't we allowed to give our opinions without the threat of reprisals or retributions.  Isn't this country founded on the right for each citizen to express his or her thoughts on a matter?

Before anyone knew who Jeremey Lin was, the phrase "chink in the armor" was used to describe a weakness in something that is considered strong and unbreakable.  Until all of the blow back by so called "offended" Asians and Asian-Americans, this phrase was never looked at as offensive.  Enter Jeremy Lin and all of a sudden the Asian community is upset and calling for the head of those who used this phrase.  So I can't think or feel how I want to for fear of offending people.  No matter what anyone says, there will always be someone who will say they are offended.  In reality, these people are in disagreement with what has been said and nothing more.  Had Jeremy Lin not come along, would anyone think different about this "armor" phrase?  The answer is NO!

I can see how this phrase could be offensive but in reading the story, there was no malice intended at all.  This is not a case of a sports anchor using his platform to offend a race of people so don't treat it as such.  We need to stop looking at people and trying to characterize them and just take them as they are.  Jeremy Lin, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are professional basketball players in the NBA.  That is the extent of my characterizing them.  I don't see race, just the jersey of the team they play for.  I don't like Kobe Bryant as a player because he doesn't play for the Bulls.  I do give Kobe his props on what he has accomplished in his career.  He is a great player and a future Hall of Famer.  I'm a fan and I'm allowed to like or not like whoever I want just like everyone else.

Let's all of us calm down and take a breath.  Keep sports in its correct perspective.  Sports is entertainment.  Sports is a nice break from our lives at 2-3 hours at a time.  When I was deployed in Iraq, most of the soldiers with me, lived for Sundays during football season as a way to not think about where we were or what we were doing.  I can't make this any more clearer.  This world is filled with many different races and ethnicities so get over it and move forward.  What bothers me the most is here in 2012, there are still too many people who let other think for them.  There are too many people who take what they hear as fact and not research for yourself.  We all have brains, USE IT!  Here's some homework for you all: Actively seek out COMMON SENSE!  I promise that if you do this, your life will make a change for the better.  Yeah, I Said It!

D!

Ok, NBA, What You Got?

As the Giants are accepting their keys to the city and celebrating their Super Bowl win, the attention in the sports world turns to basketball.  For the next seven weeks, the NBA will be center stage and right out of the gate, there are games that are must watch.  Well, as much watch as can be for mid-February anyway.

The Lakers visit Boston (Feb 9) and New York (Feb 10).  Chicago at Boston on February 12th and the Clippers at Dallas on February 13th.  All of this, in the first week after the NFL season ends?  How did we get so lucky?  I know that the play hasn't been what we are used to but this season has been as entertaining as ever so far.  Kevin Durant hit a couple of game winners, because Durant hits game winners.  Derrick Rose, the reigning MVP, picked up right where he left off and Kobe Bryant is still Kobe Bryant.  You're welcome!

Slowly creeping up on the mid-point of the season, there have been some familiar faces atop the league but also some surprises.  Obviously, the Clippers are the biggest surprise.  If the season started today, the Clippers would be the 2nd seed in the West and would play the Rockets in the first round.  Yeah, I said it.  The Clippers have a better record then the Lakers.  Right now, the Lakers would be one loss from being out of the playoffs altogether being tied with Portland, Dallas and Houston at 14-11.  Four teams can not occupy 3 spots.  I'm not saying its time to panic.  It is, after all, only mid-February.  I am saying that teams can not afford to waste time watching and waiting.  With this compacted 66-game season, teams need to strike now to set their teams up for a playoff run.  Remember when the Spurs got hot and won the championship in 1999, another lockout shortened season.  They went on to win 3 more titles and challenge the Lakers for team of that decade.  Denver is still playing well having gotten the better of the Melo trade and Minnesota is starting to put a nice team around Kevin Love.  Can Rubio be the answer for Minnesota?  That all depends on if he can adjust his game for the NBA.  They aren't championship level but the Wolves are no longer an easy win out west.  Houston should be thanking the NBA for vetoing the trade that would have sent CP3 to the Lakers.   Samuel Dalembert would not have signed in Houston had that trade happened.  There is no way the Rockets would be above .500 with just Pau Gasol and a bunch of "whoevers". Only the teams from Golden State, New Orleans and Sacramento are not in the playoff chase out west, at the moment.

In the East, there have been surprises as well.  The 76ers, Pacers and the Knicks are making a case for themselves.  New York looks good on paper but the product so far this season has been lacking to say the least.  The PG is the least of the Knicks issues right now.  Amare and Melo still have not found a way to co-exist and Tyson Chandler's arrival doesn't seem to make it better.  Harvard grad Jeremy Lin has provided a boost for the Knicks, who have won 2 straight with Lin leading them from the PG position.  It is way too early to anoint Lin with the "PG of the Future" tag but he has been more effective then anyone else on that team.  As for Baron Davis, his resume got him in the door but he will find out quickly that New York doesn't appreciate poor play any better then Los Angeles does.  If he makes it back, then he will have to produce or he will find himself in a worse place than Cleveland.  The Pacers and 76ers are looking for respect.  Both teams feel they are better then they are.  These teams are much improved but still not quite ready to go deep in the playoffs.  Yes the 76ers have beaten the Bulls but does that mean they are championship ready?  The Heat have lost twice to the Bucks, does that mean the Heat are done?  The answer to both is no.  The Pacers have 10 left over 15 days before the All-Star break but the first 5 games are against teams that are over .500 while the last 5 include two against the Bobcats. Its gut check time for the Pacers.  Its fine to say your a contender but only the winners have shown it.

This season will be and has been filled with "head scratching" moments and great plays.  Remember LeBron jumping over John Lucas III and Blake Griffen posterizing Kendrick Perkins?  We will see losses that don't make sense and wins that are unexplainable.  Teams have and will play multiple back-to-back games and all teams have or will play three games in three nights.  As long as the injury bug stays away, the Heat and Bulls will finish at the top of the eastern conference, without a doubt.  For every other team, their place is yet to be determined.  There are still so many questions left that will be answered and it all will start with what Orlando does.  This decision could possibly affect both the East and the West, depending on where Dwight Howard ends up.  Sometime over the next 5 weeks, the shape of the 2012 Playoffs will begin to take shape.  All I can say is enjoy the ride!!

D!

Super Bowl XLVI: Sequel Just As Good As Original

The build up to Super Bowl XLVI was reminiscent of Super Bowl XLII and so was the game.  Once again, Eli Manning put on a show on the NFL's biggest stage, against one of the best QBs in Tom Brady.  Much like 4 years ago, Eli outplayed Brady.  I already here the excuses of dropped passes but like all of us know, if the ball hits your hands, then you are supposed to catch it.  Wes Welker's drop in the 4th quarter wasn't the only reason that Patriots lost.  The Patriots forced 2 fumbles that were recovered by the Giants.  Brady cost his team 2 points by throwing the ball to no one in the middle of the field for a safety and under through a deep pass that was intercepted.  The Patriots cost themselves by having 12 men on the field when they did recover a fumble.  The Patriots looked more like the Raiders by shooting themselves in the foot than the Patriots who are always favored to win.  The Giants made plays when they needed to and the Patriots didn't.

The Giants and Patriots had their own mindset throughout the game.  The Giants played like they wanted to win and it seemed the Patriots played to not lose and hope the Giants would hurt themselves.  Basically, the Patriots tried to play "not to lose" instead of playing to win.  Even win the Patriots had the momentum at the end of the first half and into the 3rd quarter, the Giants never panicked.  The tightened up and went back to playing Giants football.  Whether a run play was called or a pass play, the Giants seemed to want to prove they were the best on every play. The Patriots seemed to be waiting for the Giants to make a mistake that never came. There was no "killer instinct" shown for anyone in a Patriot uniform. The Giants kept the Patriots within striking distance and took advantage.  The Patriots didn't score in the 4th quarter but Eli, once again, led the Giants to another 4th quarter comeback win.  How anyone can fix their mouth to say Eli Manning isn't an elite QB still blows my mind.  Eli has quietly been a top 5 QB in the NFL at the very least.  Eli now has 2 rings.  That's more then Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Payton Manning.  It ties him with Ben Rothlesburger and leaves Eli one short of Tom Brady.  How is that not elite?  The answer is: Eli is very elite and deserves his due.

We didn't get to see a miracle helmet catch this time but Mario Manningham did make a game changing catch to start the drive that ultimately won the game for the Giants.  A beautifully thrown ball from Eli, and Manningham made an over the shoulder grab and got both feet down.  Manningham made a big time catch on the NFL's biggest stage.  You got the feeling at that point that the Giants were going to win.  The Giants showed how to go and win a championship and not sit back and wait for it to come to them.  Very good teams make the playoffs, good teams that get "hot" win championships.  The Giants got hot, just like in 2007, and won the Super Bowl, just like in 2007.  The Giants showed that if it aint broke, don't fix it.

You can talk about dropped passes and missed opportunities but the Giants went into Lucas Oil Stadium and played their game.  Effectively saying that they were not there by accident and here's why.  The Giants played like they were 13-3 and not the 9-7 team they were at the end of the regular season.  The Giants won their way to the NFC East title.  They beat on the Falcons in a very convincing win where Eli out played Matt Ryan.  They beat the defending champion Packers in Green Bay, where Eli outplayed Aaron Rodgers.   The Giants then won a "dog fight" in San Francisco.  When their backs were against the wall, the New York Giants proved, once again, that determination and execution wins championships.  Congrats to the New York Giants!  Champions of the NFL for the 2nd time in four years!  Congrats to Eli Manning for saying he was elite before the season and making everyone else realize they he is, at the end of the season.

D!

Amnesty Clause: Who Said the Players Didn't Win?

The NBA season has been back for a month already and it seems the lockout is an after-thought.  Well, almost but when you really look at it, the players gave the owners one last "middle finger": The Amnesty Clause.  This clause, that owners saw as a "get out of jail free" card actually is for the players benefit.  Yet another example of how the owners lockout backfiring.  Free agents still will go to the big cities and collect big paychecks.  Players will take $80 million to play in Chicago, LA and New York over $85 million to play in Cleveland, Memphis and Milwaukee.  The amnesty clause is only allowed to be used on players with signed contracts under to previous CBA.  Teams that pick up amnestied players will pay a portion of that players salary.  The Clippers will pay about $2 million of the $10 million he is owed for this season.  Players like Gilbert Arenas, who will still get his $19 million salary for this shortened season.  If a team should sign Arenas, the Knicks will still have to pay out the remainder of his contract for a total of $62.4 million over 3 years.

I can see folks rolling their eyes when I mentioned Arenas but had stupidity and injury not intervened, Arenas would be playing right now.  Arenas wasn't a player who would lead your team to a championship but he could sell tickets.  Arenas was fun to watch but knee injuries and being a poor team mate changed all that.  Arenas had the potential to be mentioned in the same sentences as Kobe and LeBron but he allowed his own stupidity to get in the way.  The amount of money owed to Arenas and his diminished skills are the reasons he still isn't with a team. So I would tell Arenas to be happy and don't spend it all in one place.  Let's see if in 5 or 6 years, if he will be filing for bankruptcy.  I hope not but stupid is as stupid does.

In looking at what the Knicks look like right now, I have only one question: If Baron Davis is the answer to the Knicks problems, then why did you amnesty Chauncey Billups?  Even if you didn't like Billups, he was better then Toney Douglas.  Health wise, Billups is better the Baron Davis too.  Just ask the Clippers how good Billups still is.  PG is a problem for the Knicks but actually playing defense is the main problem.  So the Knicks amnesty Billups at $10 million this season and will wait to see if Baron Davis, owed $29 million over the next two season, will return to his Golden State days.  The good thing for the Knicks is they will pay Davis only $1.3 million and the Cavs are responsible for the rest.  I guess numbers and common sense do work at the same time in New York or maybe just not at Madison Square Garden.  The Knicks are proclaiming that they are threats to come out of the east.  Good luck with that New York.

The bottom line here is amnestied players still have to be paid.  While Orlando using the clause on Arenas was a good move, they did nothing with the $19 million they saved against the salary cap.  No wonder Dwight Howard wants out.  What the Knicks are doing, or not doing, is mind blowing.  There was no reason to get rid of Billups, none.  Regardless of whatever "reason" the Knicks front office may give, CP3 wasn't walking through that door.  There were no other PGs available except for New Jersey's Williams but the Nets don't  want who the Knicks could send them for Deron Williams.  If the Nets want to make a splash when the team moves to Brooklyn next season, then anything less then Carmelo Anthony is a waste of time.  It seems New York forgot its a big market team or they must enjoy being the doormat to the East Champions.

D!

Now What Orlando?

What a difference a week makes.  Last week I wrote a entry on why I thought Dwight Howard would stay in Orlando.  That's what I get for not letting the trade deadline get closer before I opened my mouth.  My bad!  I should have know better because Stan Van Gundy doesn't know how to use the talent he has.  They don't have a reliable PG or a consistent second scoring threat.  Yes Ryan Anderson has played well and Hedo Turkoglu has shown some signs of his old self but the Magic have been knocked around the court this past week.

The Magic are 1-3 this week, beating the Pacers.  They were blown out by 30 twice and blew a 20+ point lead against the Celtics.  Dwight Howard told his teammates after Friday nights blowout loss to the Hornets 'to stay in the locker room if they aren't going to show up' and has taken "media fire" from it.  Check out the video from SportsCenter. Bruce Bowen needs to be an analyst and not just a former player.  You shouldn't have to pull a NBA player aside and tell him to show up.  He's getting paid to play basketball, so go out there and earn your money.   I agree with Howard.  He is averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds through 19 games so far.  Even if one would say he's preforming for a long term contract, which he is, Howard is still showing up to play every night.  The same can't be said for the rest of the Magic players.  Howard has five 20/20 games already.  That's one less then he had all last season.  Howard has been leading by example on the court.  Howard asking for a trade isn't the distraction some say it is.  Players still have to show up and play.  If a guy wants out but still shows up and plays then how can that be a distraction?  The answer is its not.  Regardless of the mistakes Howard has made by speaking to the media about his pending free-agency, he has remained professional and showed up for his team mates.  The numbers don't lie.  The January 23rd beat down the Magic took at the hands of the Celtics shows this.  Howard was the only Magic player to play more then 30 minutes.  He was the only Magic player in double figures (18 pts, 14 rbs) and Boston was without Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.  There is no way blame can be placed on Howard.  What more does he have to do?

Now, the blame lies with the coaching staff.  The Magic were in the NBA Finals in 2009.  The first mistake they made was to not keep Rafer Alston.  When Jameer Nelson went down and Alston was brought in, and Alston played very well.  But in the Finals, Jameer was put back in the lineup over Alson and the Magic lost to the Lakers in 5 games.  I don't know what Nelson had over the Magic ownership but Van Gundy, as the coach, should have not let that happen.  It seems no one in the Magic front office knows anything about basketball.  The Magic have never surrounded the great players they have had with other great players or very good players at the least and now it seems we are all going to witness another 1996 here in 2012.  Maybe the Mayans were really talking about the Magic in their prophesies.

When I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong.  The Magic don't deserve Howard and unless they move him before the trade deadline or bring a few people in, Howard will be in another uniform next year.  Yeah, I said it.  Not that the Magic need any more thrown on them, Howard could sign with the Bulls in the off-season.  They could afford him and are a team playing just at the championship level.  Adding a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year to one of the best defenses in the NBA, if not the best.  How good would the Heat look then?  I could make an argument for the Lakers or the Knicks but those teams have way more holes then the Bulls do plus the Bulls have more money and flexibility.  Either way, Howard is gone.  So Orlando, enjoy having Howard give your fans one last season to cheer and enjoy all the multi-millions you will bring in from the All-Star Weekend and Game.  It will be the only celebrating the city will see.

D!