Not because we’ll finally know where LeBron is going.

Not because Knicks fans will find out what was true all along - that Santa Clause isn’t coming to town.

And DEFINITELY not because it is barbecue day at work.

Because at last, the most self-appreciative athlete in the history of American professional sports will stop his love fest with himself.

And ESPN.

(First, credit to Drew Magary at Deadspin, for writing this expletive-laden article. If you’re not easily offended, it’s worth a read. It will also carry a similar tone to what I lay out below - absolute disdain for the best player in the league. He touched on many of the points I’ll touch on, perhaps in a more insulting manner, but he got to writing his point of view before I got to writing mine.)

Up until May 14, 2010, my most hated professional athlete was Brett Favre.

Not because of what he did for the Jets. That season was a lost season in my book - the transition period from old Jets football (Parcells, Mangini, and everyone in between) to new Jets football (Sexy Rexy and the Sanchize).

And althought I HATED him while he was on the Packers - primarily because I didn’t like his gunslinger style, and thought his records were as much accumulation as they were skill - it had nothing to do with my ultimate hatred.

It was the retiring, then unretiring. Always conveniently getting his name on the ESPN ticker just when previous news was getting stale. Getting Chris Mortensen to follow him around like a lost puppy. Running the NFL show on ESPN into the ground, because of constant speculation over someone who, at this point, is merely a top-10 NFL quarterback.

The NFL had become the Brett Favre Show featuring the NFL in the offseason, and when it came to ESPN’s and ABC’s coverage, during the season as well.

On May 14, that began to change. Not overnight. It wasn’t as if LeBron’s postgame press conference turned the tide for me, and that I hated the guy. I still really liked James. I didn’t want to see him in New York, primarily because it reminded me of the New York Yankees mentality - buy championships, not that there’s anything wrong with that - except with a salary cap.

I wanted to see LBJ go to the Clippers or the Nets. Knowing that wouldn’t happen, I just wanted to see him stay out of New York. I figured that he’d cast a slight shadow over the NBA Finals, and that shortly after July 1st, he’d be headed to whatever town - I assumed Chicago - that the world’s most overrated man, Chris Bosh, headed to.

Boy, oh boy, was I wrong.

Keep in mind that today is July 8. Only seven days removed from the day free agency officially began this offseason. Has it not felt like a year?

And in those seven days, similar to how God created the Earth, LeBron James went from being the most beloved figure in the NBA - save your normal haters - to creating the most repulsive sports figure in the country.

Why? Two reasons. Two very big reasons.

First, he made the biggest mistake an athlete can make. He chose himself, over his fans.

No, I’m not saying the dude shouldn’t watch out for himself. I honor, believe in, and think he should exercise his right to make the best decision for he and his family, whether it be stay in Cleveland, go to Chicago or Miami, or - as much as I loathe this thought - come to New York.

But in the midst of all this, he manipulated fans, had his posse trigger faux headlines, strung along general managers, gave people false hope, and made the decision all about him.

It isn’t any longer the “Big 3,” or the exciting “Summer of 2010.” It’s the LBJ show. In fact, we might as well call the NBA the LBJ.

Remember, Dwyane Wade, a dude that’s a better scorer than LeBron, arguably as talented, who has played with a far worse supporting cast the few years, and has A RING, made his decision yesterday. Yea, it got airtime, and yea, it created excitement. But it was still about ‘Bron.

I know James’ decision comes with a lot more luster, more allure, and more excitement, but Wade made his decision, did the typical cocky athlete dance - Miami-Wade County - and turned the attention right back to LBJ.

Why? Because just prior, James had scheduled a televised special - HIS OWN TELEVISED SPECIAL - with ESPN - I’ll get to them in a second - to announce, essentially, to five cities:

“F*CK YOU.”

From Worldwide Wes, to all of James’ business managers, to his friends, to leaked reports by Chris Broussard, to Twitter postings … James has, behind the scenes, orchestrated one HELL of a puppet show. Suggesting the Knicks were the city he’d be headed to prior to the offseason, then making it seem like he’d re-energize the city of Chicago and bring it back to the days of MJ, then meeting with Nets - NETS! - brass, then suggesting it was Cleveland all along, now making it seem like it’s Miami …

Does the dude realize he has set himself up to turn this self-serving, egotistical one-hour special into the greatest back-stabbing in the history of sports?

(And no, it’s not Brett Favre to the Vikings. The Pack did kick him to the curb. Cleveland would collectively die for James.)

What he essentially did over the past couple of weeks, specifically the last week, is ally himself with one of the most corrupt facets of sports in America.

ESPN, the second reason James has gone, as Magary put it, from hero to villain.

Growing up, I was in love with ESPN. I, like many 10-year-olds, would watch back-to-back-to-back episodes of Sportscenter. Looking back, I don’t know if I was being manipulated then. Or in junior high. Or in high school. Maybe it took my defiant, “question authority” years in college to finally get through the red tape, or maybe ESPN just made a transition.

But ESPN isn’t as much a sports and news organization anymore, as it is a reality show.

As a reference point, I point to the Ben Roethlisberger sagas of the past few years. The guy has been accused of sexual assault on a couple of occasions. The first time, it barely made ESPN headlines, it got a mention on Sportscenter, and that was it.

Why? ESPN was allied with Roethlisberger. Instead of objective reporting, they chose to keep their interests first and foremost, instead of minding the interest of their readers and viewers - a very basic ethics code in journalism.

The second time, when Roethlisberger’s mis-step at a college bar broke in the Associated Press’ wire, again, at first, Roethlisberger avoided headlines. It was only when the allegations became serious that ESPN lent ample time to coverage. In essence, when Roethlisberger became a sexually-fueled villain to fans, ESPN realized an alliance wasn’t necessary.

Same thing happened with Kobe, when he, at the time, allegedly raped a woman in Colorado. ESPN waved it’s finger - no, not it’s middle finger, as it has with the coverage of James - let the issue get to bed, and now celebrates Kobe as a champion.

I’m not saying Bryant doesn’t deserve a second change. He made a mistake, he paid for it, he moved on. But ESPN postures as a public relations organization would posture, over and over again.

Fast forward to the summer of LeBron. Watch Chris Broussard’s reports. I’d love nothing more than for somebody to pull his analysis segments since July 1, and make a montage. He’s gone from suggesting Cleveland was in front, to Miami, to Chicago, to the Knicks being in the hunt, in a never-ending circle.

Instead of real journalism, Broussard concerned himself with ratings. And who else cared about “ratings,” albeit more in a marketability, fame standpoint than viewership?

LeBron.

That’s why the one-hour special was a match made in heaven. James approached ESPN, said you’ll put me on at 9 p.m. on Thursday and I’ll make your network the most watched channel in America for 15 minutes, no doubt. We’ll donate money to charity to make us each look like heroes, and for another hour, I’ll be the most talked-about man in America.

He wouldn’t just tweet it. Or tell a reporter. Or post it on his website. Or - heaven forbid - tell the TEAM he was signing with.

He instead manufactured a signing day of sorts, with ESPN, to make both brands the most-talked about entities in sports - and, arguably, America in general - for another few days.

James proved he didn’t care about his fans - he wanted to join ESPN to become ultra-famous - when both parties are, already, ultra-famous.

And ESPN didn’t care about journalism. As I tweeted yesterday, there is a very real chance that if Ric Bucher or Chris Broussard know where James is going, they aren’t going to report it.

Why? Again, two reasons.

First, ESPN can score some of the most eye-popping ratings in the history of television. In the sports world, it’ll be similar to a moon landing. And it will transcend sports. It’ll lead CNN, and the Times, and the AP wire, everywhere.

Second, ESPN doesn’t have to worry about being scooped. Do you think James’ posse is going to leak surefire information to a Newsday reporter? Hell no! That would mean not EVERYBODY would tune in to watch the self-anointed “King” break the hearts of millions of fans, and win over others.

After this saga ends, James will become one of the most-hated figures in basketball.

He’ll be the Knicks’ new Reggie Miller.

The Bulls’ new Karl Malone.

The Cavs’ new Michael Jordan.

And for those that understand what James did, and the ramifications of how he decided he was first, ESPN was second, and fans were 51st, they’ll end the LeBron-mania.

Sure, James’ jersey - wherever he goes, whether it be the recent reports of Miami, back to Cleveland, with Rose in Chicago, or somehow in New York - will be the best-selling. There are LeBron lovers that won’t waver, whether it be because they want to love the best player in the NBA, or because they won’t understand they were played.

And sure, James might win a title. Albeit not like MJ won his, or Kobe won his, or even Wade won his original title - with a team built around them, and with a hint of dignity.

But he won’t be looked back as the man that brought basketball to the forefront. He’ll be looked at as a self-serving, greedy baller that was more brand than basketball.

And didn’t care if he made the NBA more brand than basketball.

Here goes nothing …

Chris Bosh: Chicago Bulls
Bosh starts the free agent fiasco off by committing to Chicago

Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat
As expected, Wade re-ups in Miami.

Joe Johnson: New Jersey Nets
Following in the lead of the Heat and the Bulls, the Nets add their ‘Bron piece

Amar’e Stoudemire: New York Knicks
With free agent pieces falling, Walsh lures Stoudemire to play in the SSOL again with D’Antoni

Ray Allen: Chicago Bulls
Allen shocks pundits, signing in Chicago, fueling speculation that LBJ could be next.

Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks
Nowtizki re-signs max contract with Dallas, leaving LBJ and Amar’e as the big available commodities.

LeBron James: Chicago Bulls
Ending the chase of LBJ, James signs with the Bulls. Seeing Deng, Rose, Bosh, Allen and Noah on the roster, he can’t turn it down. Bulls now East favorites. Time for the other chips to fall.

Let’s have some fun now …

David Lee: New Orleans Hornets
Chris Paul: New York Knicks
Knicks pull off a sign and trade, sending David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, a 2011 2nd rounder and a 2012 first rounder to the Hornets for Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor and a 2012 second rounder.

Paul Pierce: Boston Celtics
Despite speculation, Pierce refuses to head to New Jersey, signs final extension with Celtics

Carlos Boozer: Miami Heat
After losing out on LBJ, Pat Riley settles for Boozer, Haywood and Reddick, aiming to create a hybrid of the NBA-champion Heat (big body underneath) and the now-successful Magic (outside sharpshooters). Heat fans not too happy. What else is new.

Rudy Gay: Los Angeles Clippers
Clippers lone splash is Gay, but the team still looks like a real contender

Carmelo Anthony: New Jersey Nets
Devin Harris: Los Angeles Clippers
Make the second offseason blockbuster, sending Devin Harris, a 2011 first round pick, and a 2013 first round pick to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. Nets replace Harris by signing Felton.

Starting five of the five biggest movers:

Miami Heat

PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF JJ Redick
PF Carlos Boozer
C Brendan Haywood

Chicago Bulls

PG Derek Rose
SG Ray Allen
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Joakim Noah

New York Knicks

PG Chris Paul
SG Bill Walker
SF Danilo Gallinari
PF Amar’e Stoudemire
C Emeka Okafor

New Jersey Nets

PG Raymond Felton
SG Joe Johnson
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Derrick Favors
C Brook Lopez

Los Angeles Clippers

PG Baron Davis
SG Eric Gordon
SF Rudy Gay
PF Blake Griffin
C Chris Kaman

Winners:

Chicago Bulls
Add the big prize, get arguably the third biggest prize, and tack on a sharpshooting Allen.

New Jersey Nets
Land the prize of 2011, have a starting five arguably as good as the Bulls.

Los Angeles Clippers
They only add Gay, but look an awful lot like the 2009-10 Thunder. Young, deep, and a great rookie (Aminu) off the bench.

Losers:

Miami Heat
They keep Wade, but adding an overrated Boozer won’t help. Haywood and Redick make the team a top five team in the East, but not a championship contender.

New York Knicks
The starting five is serviceable - a four-seed in the East behind the Nets, Bulls and Magic - but they are worlds behind the four teams above them, and fail on landing LeBron. Additionally, any shot at Anthony in 2011 is taken away by New Jersey.

Will any of this happen? I’m not counting on it. Still, the pieces fit, and best of all, it sets up a quiet 2011.

Now, more than ever, we’re looking at life after the National Basketball Association, and life with the National Benjamins Association.

Today’s report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard that Carmelo Anthony might be dealt from the Denver Nuggets in preparation for the summer of 2011 could signal the beginning of the end of the NBA as we like it.

Or, maybe, just the continuation of the end.

While dishing Knicks basketball with a buddy of mine over GChat the other day, the following roster came up as a possibility for opening night:

PG - Chris Paul

SG - Joe Johnson

SF - Bill Walker

PF - Amare Stoudemire

C - Emeka Okafor

This would take signing Johnson and Paul, and dealing Chandler, Gallinari, Curry and picks to the Hornets for Paul and Okafor.

Yes, that’s a starting five with just one 2009-10 Knick, and zero - that’s right, zero - opening night 2009 Knicks.

LeBron James might bounce from Cleveland, Bosh is leaving Toronto, Wade could leave Miami, Amare is headed out of Phoenix, Dirk may leave the Lone Star State, JJ is out of Atlanta, Boozer is leaving Utah …

Is this really a professional basketball league any more, or a real-life fantasy basketball league?

Listen, I’m all for the players exercising their rights. If I was an NBAer, I’d look to sign a contract at the spot that netted me the most cash, or the best chance to win a championship. There’s nothing wrong there.

The system as a whole, though, is crumbling at the seams.

Seven of the league’s 25 best players - and, maybe, five of the league’s 10 or 15 best players - could jump ship next year.

The Nets just dealt Yi for some guy that nobody has ever heard of to score $3M in cap space.

Draft night was equitable to a volatile night at the NYSE.

And not, ‘Melo, who isn’t going to be a free agent until next summer, might get dealt by the Nuggets in anticipation of his declaring to be a free agent.

I love the NBA, perhaps as much as I love the NFL. The pace of the games, the superstars, the slam dunks, the playoffs, the All Star game, the three point contest, (not the slam dunk contest), the Finals. But I HATE how much players move, and I don’t think I’m alone.

Look at the 90s. Stockton and Malone WERE Utah. Jordan and Pippen WERE Chicago. Ewing WAS New York. Reggie WAS Indiana. The Glove WAS Seattle. Not until late in their careers, when this new climate started to come about, did these aging stars venture to destinations unknown to pick up a few more paychecks.

Again, the capitalistic - albeit halted by a socialistic cap - nature of professional sports is in the best interest of the athletes. And for the NBA, up until a few years ago, it was enticing part of the game. And free agency hasn’t always left such a black mark on the league.

But I can’t be a fan of a sport where free agency is BIGGER than the sport. Where offseason excitement is BIGGER than postseason excitement. Where a team (the Knicks) punts THREE SEASONS in anticipation of having the chance to SIGN a few guys to BUY a championship.

I won’t stop watching. I won’t stop analyzing. I won’t temper my excitement if the Knicks win big tomorrow.

But if the NBA turns into a carousel of players trading jerseys every three or four years, I’ll look back at July 1, 2010, as the day that basketball died.

Team-by-team, why LeBron would fit, and why he wouldn’t fit. Ranked in reverse order from where he shouldn’t go to where he should go:

6. Cleveland Cavaliers

Why he should stay:

Cleveland, despite recent events, is still LeBron James’ town. He is the MJ of Cleveland, and if he stays, he’ll be able to continue to build his brand in what is essentially a brand-less city. He’d get more money, have a great deal of control, and could be granted some sort of controlling interest toward the end of his career if he remains loyal.

Why he shouldn’t:

The Cavs are tapped out. For some reason, his supporting cast this year was treated as if it were a Dream Team. When the second-best player on your team is Mo Williams, you’re far from that. Graced with the best player in the league, and in quite some time, the Cavs have failed for three consecutive years to deliver a championship. That’s a trend that will continue.

Plus, it’s Cleveland.

Why he won’t:

In addition to going down as the best player in history, James wants to go down as a legend. Right now, he’s scary-close to Patrick Ewing status - elite player that couldn’t get the big win. Granted, James is young, but plenty of people are turning on the already-annointed king. He’ll skip town looking to start fresh elsewhere, building a new dynasty.

5. Miami Heat

Why he should go:

Only two real reason James should go to Miami. First, it’s South Beach. Never been, but from what I’ve heard, namely from Will Smith, they party in the city when the heat is on, all night on the beach ‘til the break of dawn.

Second, it is the most likely spot James would be paired with his buddy, Dwyane Wade. The two of them could own the East year-in year-out.

Why he shouldn’t:

Outside of Wade, there is no supporting cast. Pat Riley can’t run a team. Michael Beasley is a bust. The head coaching situation is always a clusteryouknowwhat. And while Wade and James COULD own the East year-in year-out, James knows that with a limited supporting cast, you can’t beat the Magic.

Why he won’t:

Sure, the allure of South Beach is nice. But when you’re competing with NYC, LA, the town that MJ built and Jay-Z, South Beach doesn’t sound that nice.

4. New York Knicks

Why he should go:

Without a doubt, James would come to New York, lead the team to at least one championship, and go down as the biggest New York sports hero of all time - yes, moreso than Clyde or Willis or Patrick. Why? Because he’d be rescuing one of the worst-run franchises in sports history at the very Mecca of sports. James would get RICH in NYC, would expand his brand even more than it is now, and would rejuvenate MSG.

Why he shouldn’t:

Yea, I know it’s NYC. But remember, this is the Knicks. A franchise clinging to an overrated run in the 90s, and a couple of personalities in the 70s. Mike D’Antoni’s system is not a playoff-winner (see: his Phoenix resume), the front office of the Knicks isn’t exactly elite, and he’d have to deal with the New York media.

I know you scoffed at that last sentence. But look at the fiasco in Cleveland, with James getting attacked for shouldergate, and then effortgate. He looked like a deer in headlights a few times. He can’t handle that year-round.

Why he won’t:

James might love New York, but he’s smart enough to know he loves New York as an outsider. He likes hanging with Jay Z when he’s in town, going to Yankee games, and being a celebrity when he comes around. New York can continue to be LBJ’s second home - he should make his permanent residence elsewhere, though.

3. New Jersey Nets

Why he should go:

A better fit than the Knicks? Two words: Brook Lopez.

James knows he needs a big man to win the East, thanks to big bad Dwight Howard. Lopez, while not on the same level as Howard, can at least compete with the guy. Add in CDR, Devin Harris and John Wall, and James all of the sudden has a young supporting cast, molded similar to Orlando. The only difference? The Magic wouldn’t have LBJ, meaning the Nets would become the beasts of the East.

Plus, don’t forget the Jay-Z factor. Just like in Cleveland, James would have a shot at partial ownership in Jersey, largely aided by his bud.

Why he shouldn’t:

With all of the other attractive options out there, why would ‘Bron choose Jersey? Sure, they may be in Brooklyn in a few years, but under new ownership, hidden away in a state that everybody loves to poke fun at, with a team that just tested the limits of worst of all time. The risk factor is just way too high.

Why he won’t:

Plain and simple, James will realize that while the potential for greatness is sky high, the negatives simply outweigh the positives.

2. Chicago Bulls

Why he should go:

From what I’ve seen, it’s not LeBron’s goal to be the next Michael Jordan. He wants to be LeBron James. And James’ brand is built on being like 21st Century Mike. What other way better meet that then rejuvenating the city that No. 23 built in the 90s?

Chicago has major history. And while the comparisons to MJ would increase, so too would be the talk about LBJ being the best of all time. Imagine James walking out during player introductions in a Bulls jersey? All of America would get goosebumps. The intensity would be electrifying, the city would be on fire, and the Bulls would be back.

Not to mention the fact that James would be coming to a roster that already includes Derrick Rose, a top-three and soon to be top-one or -two point guard, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.

Why he shouldn’t:

The only negative I see is the pressure from Bulls fans. They’d want LBJ to be MJ right away. It’d mirror the pressure he felt in Cleveland - a city that fed off its basketball team.

Why he will:

Ladies and gentleman, James’ destination. And a pretty good choice, too … other than the team below, it’s his best possible stop. He’ll build a new dynasty, and while he won’t be as dominant as the MJ bulls, Chicago will be the best team in the East every year. Him and Rose would team up to form the most electrifying duo since Jordan and Pipper, and Chicago’s basketball tradition would continue to approach that of Boston and Los Angeles.

1. Los Angeles Clippers

Why he should go:

The one Western Conference team, and it’s his best spot.

Cleveland has run its course. Miami is too young to have a basketball tradition. The Knicks have Patrick, Willis and Clyde. The Nets have Dr. J. The Bulls have MJ. What do the Clippers have?

James would become the face of the Clippers’ franchise, with nobody in his rearview mirror. He’d forge the most electrifying NBA rivalry since Bird/Magic with Kobe. He’d team up with Blake Griffin to forge a ridiculous inside-out combination. He’d have LA playing LA for the West title every year.

And James, for turning around the Clippers’ franchise, would go down, after three NBA championships in the half-of-the-city that couldn’t win, as the best player in league history.

Why he shouldn’t:

Two reasons, both which are actually, in disguise, positives.

First, being overshadowed by Kobe Bryant. But wouldn’t a rivalry between the game’s two best be worth the initial risk of not owning the town?

Second, the Clippers’ pathetic history. But this would mean no measuring stick for LeBron, and that, as I said earlier, he’d be the bar-none face of an NBA franchise.

Why he won’t:

A few reasons. First, Chicago, in LeBron’s eyes, is probably just way, way too attractive. Second, there is NO basketball tradition for the Clippers. While James would single-handedly be building one, he’d be building on a weak foundation with a history of failure.

Finally, there is NO WAY the NBA would let this happen. Sure, they can’t overtly prevent James-to-L.A., but what would happen to the Eastern Conference? The Knicks would be retooled, the Bulls may have added Joe Johnson, and the Magic would be good, but almost ALL of the NBA’s talent would be out West. And with the media’s East Coast bias, basketball would be in trouble.

Wait, the semifinals have already wrapped up?

In rather anticlimactic fashion, three of the four NBA semifinal match-ups failed to get past the minimum four games. The fourth series, while given plenty of media attention considering the LeBron factor, was a pretty rotten series as well.

Even worse, the conference finals could produce a pair of duds as well. In the East, you have an athletic powerhouse in Orlando taking on a team that was the beneficiary of a pair of favorable match-ups in the Celtics.

Out west, while the series could go seven, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion we’re in for a letdown - not in the way that the universe is picking (Lakers easy), but via an easy win for Phoenix.

On to the Round 2 wrap up and conference finals preview:

Conference semis

EAST

No. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 4 Boston

The pick: Cleveland wins, 4-2

The result: Boston wins, 4-2

I prognosticated scared. And what do they always say? When you prognosticate scared, you get bit.

Okay, nobody says that. But the signs were out there. Shaq’s counterproductive presence on the court. LeBron’s elbow. Boston’s hot streak, led by Perkins, Allen and Pierce. The mere fact that Mo Williams - mediocre point guard Mo Williams - was the key for the Cavs.

I wasn’t at all surprised to see Boston here, and should have adjusted my prediction accordingly. Cleveland’s supporting case was WAY overrated coming into this one. The team is built for the regular season, much like the Suns have been in years past, and would have major trouble in the postseason.

Boston, meanwhile, didn’t have to do much. Nobody played exceptionally - everyone just maintained their roles. And with the defense figuring out ‘Bron ‘Bron, Cleveland never stood a chance.

No. 2 Orlando vs. No. 3 Atlanta

The pick: Orlando wins, 4-2

The result: Orlando wins, 4-0

Did you lay heavy money on the sweep as I suggested? No need to analyze here. This was a mismatch from the start.

WEST

No. 1 Los Angeles vs. No. 5 Utah

The pick: Los Angeles wins, 4-2

The result: Los Angeles wins, 4-0

One of those series where the result didn’t quite tell the tale of the series. While the Lakers were the better team all four games, Utah managed to keep it tight.

Of particular note in this series was the epic Game 3 … the best basketball I’ve watched this year. Neither team could miss a shot down the stretch … and it wasn’t because of freeway defense. Kyle Korver, Deron Williams (save the failed buzzer beater), Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, even Ron Artest where NBA Jam’ing. One of those games that had it not been on the West Coast, and had the sports media world not insisted on only covering LeBron James this postseason, it would have gotten a whole lot more due publicity.

No. 3 Phoenix vs. No. 7 San Antonio

The pick: Phoenix wins, 4-3

The result: Phoenix wins, 4-0

Where does ESPN get off saying the universe picked San Antonio to win when I PICKED THE SUNS.

Seriously, though, why doesn’t Phoenix get ANY respect. For the most part, they were picked to lose to a team that wasn’t supposed to have much of a shot of winning in the first round. Furthermore, this coming off a series that many picked Phoenix to lose to a Brandon Roy-less Portland Trail Blazers

The Suns are dangerous - very dangerous. Dangerous enough that they don’t need Robin Lopez to get to the promised land. And dangerous enough that if they do, they could cruise there.

Conference Finals

No. 2 Orlando vs. No. 4 Boston

The pick: Orlando tops Cleveland, 4-2

Will it happen: New team, same result.

The Magic won’t get the chance to oust the Cavs for the second-straight year, but they will dispose Boston easily in a series that will go six, but won’t be that close.

Orlando is too athletic, has the inside-out game down pat too much, and will be playing against a Celtics team that is too old to go this deep in the playoffs.

No. 1 Los Angeles vs. No. 3 Phoenix

The pick: Phoenix tops Los Angeles, 4-3

Will it happen: Sticking with the pre-postseason pick - logically, does that mean my season pick? I don’t know … - and taking the Suns in seven.

The argument will be how on EARTH do you combat Gasol and Bynum underneath, hold off Kobe, slow the bench, out-Zen the Zen Master, score on Artest, win at Staples, beat the Lakers in the postseason … the list goes on.

I don’t have an answer. But Alvin Gentry does. And from watching the Suns, from Nash to Richardson to Amare to DRAGIC for heaven’s sake, they are on a mission. This is their year. And they’ll win the West, with or without Robin Lopez.