Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers...Oh My! Who Will Be the Last Team Standing?

Their destiny was preordained by all the basketball experts, the Celtics like last year are not favored to win it all.  The media darlings of the  NBA, the Lakers as before are favored to win the '08-'09 championship.

And of course the wannabes, Cleveland and Orlando.  Cleveland is favored to win the East because as of this writing they have home court over the Celtics.

For this writing we will stick with the true heavy weight contenders, because Howard still has to learn how to demand the ball and lead his team.

The Lakers got their sixtieth win last night by beating the Rockets at home.  They are in second place with a record of 60-16 and Cleveland is 60-15.  Phil was going to rest his starters when they reached sixty wins.

Kobe was already balking at the idea; now with number one overall lined up in their sites, and them holding the tiebreaker over Cleveland there is no rest for the weary.

The Laker superstar, Kobe Bryant has had the shortest off season among the top three here.  His team played until mid-June and he went right to Olympic training camp.

Phil has found inventive ways to get him some in-game rest, but with season loses to the Charlotte Bobcats at home and away his fatigue has been evident.

Odom, has had a minor knee injury, but with Odoms, history that maybe worth watching. Gasol has griped a little about getting more touches, think the black mamba hasn't taken notice.  Bynum who is on rehab assignment temporarily changed locale and was photographed using a playboy bunny as his own personal dumbell. 

Ariza is the ex-factor, no one knows how he will react, because this is his first full run for the playoffs.  Fischer, Mr. Reliability, will have to gear himself up for the speedy eastern conference guards who will surely test his legs.

The Laker bench really has no offensive punch, that is why the Zen master had Odom coming off the bench.  Bynum's injury and his ability to be an asset during the playoffs, is in doubt.  Vujacic is to fragile to be trusted, he cried the other day because Chris Paul called him out during a Hornet victory.

Phil has to hope the Mamba has something left in his tank to take them over the top.  Kobe wants it, Phil wants it, but will the rest of the team want to do it with Kobe?

Clevelands hopes and dreams ride squarely on the shoulders of young LeBron James. If he goes down the team will revert back to being a .500 team at best.

The addition of Mo Williams has given them a solid rotation of guards who are a constant threat to penetrate and shoot the three point shot.

Williams made his first all-star team because he is on the same team as James and all he has to do is catch and shoot.  He cannot carry the team on his own.

Delonte West a tough gritty guard who plays the type of in your face basketball that complements James well.  He could carry the team in spurts but it wouldn't be enough.

Varajao a.k.a "the original sideshow Bob" (sorry Brook Lopez); limited but effective in what he does.  Booby, and Wally give you instant offense of the bench but are defensive liabilities. 

Big Z a terrific shooter with range, but for a seven-footer he does not play in the paint much.  Another complementary player who lacks the zest to carry on.

Pavlovic is on his way out and has become a marginal player at best.

Of, course Cleveland has the King; like Kobe he played deep into the off-season and he and the redeem team brought the gold home form China. He vowed to play extended minutes just so his Cavs could keep homecourt over the Celtics and possibly Lakers.

Me thinks it has caught up with the man who wears the crown; Cleveland is on a two game losing streak.  For the first time this season the Wizards had their starting lineup and Arenas and company ran them in the ground.

Orlando was up next and they did what they were known for with extreme prejudice.  The threes were dropping like dimes, and Dwight had free reign in the paint.  Lose number two.  This Sunday April 5, they play the Spurs at home on national television.

The Spurs now have their sixth man/starter back in Manu Ginobili, who is going to stop him?  James who is now the de facto defensive stopper as well as offensive facilitator may not have the energy to pull this one out.

Can you say three game losing streak and concede the best overall record to the Lakers?  Sunday will tell.

Ahh now the other dynasty whose superstar wants a legacy that includes more than one championship the Boston Celtics. They have their own troubles too.

KG has been out since February nineteenth, and when he did return  he played in only four more games before being shelved till they meet Cleveland in the final regular season meeting.

They have the advantage of having two other all-stars, but it will make it a little more difficult without the hyper-active Garnett to anchor the defense.

Pierce and Sugar-Ray have been logging a lot of minutes just to keep them afloat.  They are 14-6 without Garnett a decent record to say the least.

The Celtics have been counting heavily on the bench during and this time Powe and Big Baby have been handling the load together rather well.

Powe is now out with a knee injury and won't be back till the playoffs.

Perk, well what more can you say then "he is a true beast in the middle" last night against Atlanta he had seven blocks.  Rondo a pass first, second, and then shoot guard had 20 points and dropped six dimes to restore order.

I don't think the Celtics have anything to worry about if they meet them in the first round.

Marbury's shot is still MIA but he has a better grasp of the offensive and defensive schemes. Moore has a long way to go; the C's hope he gets it before they really need him. Tony Allen another defensive stopper has come back from injury in time for the playoffs.

For its worth its going to come down to the benches, the superstars will cancel each other out.  Because of the need to rely on the bench more this early, Boston's bench may have the edge.  They have championship experience, and they now have played extended regular season minutes that matter.

All three teams have a legitimate chance at the crown, but the Celtics have the edge because they won it last. Either way it is going to be a fantastic finals whichever one comes out on top. 

Of course I am rooting for Gang Green; everyone believes Cleveland or the Lakers will beat them, besides they do not welcome strangers to "da jungle!"