The game starts in about 12 minutes. If the Cavs win this series, don’t be surprised. The refs have done everything in their power to give this one to LeBron, and the Magic have survived (and last night, it was evident these same refs are trying their hardest to get Kobe there, as well).

LeBron has had a great series. He’s averaging 42 ppg, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Great numbers. And while I’ll never blame the guy for his team being in a 3-1 hole, I will say this: Suddenly everyone is saying that Cleveland doesn’t have a team. For the better part of this season, with the Cavs dominating the NBA both on the road and especially at home, all everyone could talk about was what LeBron was capable of doing now that he has a team around him. With the addition of Mo Williams, this team was for real, and LeBron didn’t have to carry them all the time. Delonte West plays lock down D. Ben Wallace can defend the middle. The list went on and on.

It even continued into the post-season. After mauling the Pistons in Hawks in eight total games (sweeping both), it was stamped that the Cavs were going to the Finals, and now the only question was who they’d be facing.

Now they’re down 3-1. They’re strugging. They’re being outplayed by the Magic on offense and defense. This thing should be over, but a miracle last second shot has extended the season. And all of a sudden, the only talk is that LeBron has no team around him. That nobody can step up. That he has to have someone else, because these guys don’t cut it.

Again: I’m not blaming LeBron. But I do find it funny that all season long we’re finally able to see what the Cavs are capable of now that there’s a team around him, and then when the third series of the playoffs comes around he suddenly doesn’t have anybody. If LeBron is the “Next Jordan,” as I’ve heard some of his fans say (me, personally, I think his jump shot is too hit or miss, and I don’t think his career will be nearly as long — he relies on his 260 pound frame for a lot of his points, and that will fade as his career goes on), then I think the guy needs to be able to win against mediocre teams, whether he has a team around him or not. MJ won with John Paxson, BJ Armstrong, Luc Longley, Will Perdue, Steve Kerr, and a gang of other no-name guys that he made names. He had Scottie Pippen, sure, but we all saw what Scottie Pippen was post-Jordan, both during his time with the Bulls when Jordan had his brief hiatus, and also during his time with the Rockets and Trail Blazers towards the end of his career.

Where’s this rant going? Not sure. I just thought it was funny to hear about a great “team” all year long, and now all of a sudden LeBron has to have help, because these guys stink.

It’ll be an interesting game tonight. I say the Cavs win by 15. And as much as I want the Magic, I think the refs give them a game in Orlando, and Cleveland some how manages to come back from 3-1 and win the series, to meet Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. From there, maybe the refs can call the games as they see them, and not how the TV ratings want them to be.

If you ever wanted proof that an ugly man can buy the love of a beautiful woman, look no further than this beautiful woman with this hideous man (also known as Joakim Noah). It’s hard to imagine this girl has a great time when the lights go off. Sure, she doesn’t have to look at that awful facial hair anymore, but if his moves in bed are like his moves after winning an SEC Title, it might be a little awkward.

[The Big Lead]

If you go to the replay at the 0:27 mark, you can see it pretty clearly. I know it wasn’t a hard foul… but does it really look like Rajon was going for the ball, or trying his best to foul a guy that had a clear path to the basket in teh final seconds of a game? Either way, according to ESPN, he won’t be suspended, and will be playing in Game 6.

[Youtube]
[ESPN]

Make sure you watch until the end. Ben Gordon let all of Boston viewers at home know exactly what he thought of that shot. Suck it, bitches.

Sorry for the lack of NBA Playoffs postings. My computer went down on Thursday, and I haven’t had it since today (thank you, Comcast). So I wasn’t able to post about the 76′ers coming from 18 down — or, better put, the Magic completely choking a game away — or the Hawks’ dismantling performance against the Heat, or the Nuggets’ thumping of the Hornets, or the Rockets spanking the Trail Blazers, or the Lakers slamming the Jazz, or the Mavericks upsetting the Spurs (I’m running out of adjectives and, thankfully, running out of games) or the Bulls shocking the Celtics.

There. That’s your update.

And tonight? Game 2 of the Boston Celtics/Chicago Bulls series, which is suddenly looking like a pretty good one, thanks in part to D-Rose’s 36 point effort in Game 1 that has the Bulls snatching home court advantage right from the pesky hands of the Celtics. Call it a hunch, but Doc Rivers getting defensive and saying KG won’t be back…. I think that might come to an end should Boston lose this one.

One game isn’t much. And I don’t want to get my hopes up early. But if Boston looks as bad on the road as they did in last year’s playoffs, this might have just been a nail in the coffin.

He’s 50 years old. He still wants to play. And he apparently isn’t all that happy about being in the Hall of Fame. I guess, though, when you’re kind of a unanymous selection, there isn’t much to wonder about.

[Youtube]

I know that Kobe or LeBron have seemingly wrapped up the MVP for this year. When will we start talking about D-Wade? This is one of the sicker game winning moments we’ve seen.

This happened a few months ago, but it was headlining Youtube’s main page, so I put it up.

The latest Power Rankings are out, and since I’m too lazy to do one myself, I’ll just link you to theirs. A couple of notes:

• The Celtics are back to No. 1. Yay. I just love the Celtics, with overglorified players like KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Please, LA or Cleveland, please beat them in the playoffs.
• The Nuggets are No. 6. How is it that one good point guard can change a team around so much? No AI, insert Chauncey, and this team is rolling.
• At 23-19, the Heat are No. 10. I know they’ve been surging, but c’mon. No. 10?
• In the same conference and same division, and three games up on the Heat, the Hawks are No. 11. This is the power Dwyane Wade has on a team.
• Beware the 76′ers, who sit at No. 12. After their terrible start, they’ve come on strong and are looking like the playoff threat they were last year.
• At No. 30, is there really any hope for the Kings? They don’t have the worst record, at least, which belongs to No. 26, the 9-35 Thunder.

Last night the draft took place, and outside of the Grizzlies getting OJ Mayo, who was originally drafted by the T’Wolves, for Kevin Love, there wasn’t a whole ton of surprise. Here’s a recap of the Top 10.

1.) Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose: This thing was done the moment they landed the No. 1 pick. It’s his hometown, he was the best player in March, and it all made sense. What happens to Kirk Heinrich is up in the air, but this guy will be a star in this league for a long, long time.

2.) Miami Heat, Michael Beasley: Beasley with Marion and D’Wade? Not bad. Not bad at all.

3.) Minnesota T’Wolves, OJ Mayo: He was traded for Kevin Love.

4.) Seattle Supersonics Russell Westbrook: This is the guy I felt would be the steal of the draft, but at the No. 4 spot, is he still a steal? Regardless, he’s going to play lockdown D on anyone that’s got a ball in front of him. Great pick.

5.) Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Love: Traded for OJ.

6.) New York Knicks, Danilo Gallinari: He’s an Italian guy, one I don’t know much about, but those European players are either great or they bust. The bad news? There’s not many people coming from Europe that play defense, something the Knicks really, really lack.

7.) LA Clippers, Eric Gordon: The one-year Indiana star. We’ll see how he does with the big boys.

8.) Milwaukee Bucks, Joe Alexander: He’s 6′8″, 220 pounds, and they just acquired Richard Jefferson. Where does that put Alexander on the roster?

9.) Charlotte Bobcats, DJ Augustin: Say goodbye to Raymond Felton.

10.) New Jersey Nets, Brook Lopez: Ric Smits, maybe?