The Atlantic/Opening Night

Before we get into things dealing with everyone's favorite division, the Atlantic, and how the games went last night on opening night, we need to discuss the only NBA story that seems to be making airwaves in the last few days...consequently, taking away from the story of opening night itself. Know what I'm speaking of?

Here's the thing. I can honestly say that as a basketball player, I think Kobe Bryant is going to finish his career in the top 5 to ever play the game. He's going to end up breaking mostly every record in the league. However, Kobe as a person: Dick. Let's review a timeline very quickly, and then get into what's important. He's won three titles, got the 2nd best center to ever play the game traded, had the entire sports world stopped and focused on Colorado for a rape scandal, threatened to be traded, scored 50+ points in 4 straight games, threatened to be traded, accused his front office of surrounding him with crap talent, got on national radio and clearly asked to be traded, basically destroyed the world with the USA team, declined every trade option, and then...threatened to be traded for about the last week and a half.

"Even I think he's dramatic. What a distractive, whiny girl. Where'z my kids be"?

This week is supposed to be the happiest week of the year for professional basketball fans, and sadly, you can't turn on anything NBA related without hearing something about Kobe, Zenmaster, or the entire Buss family. Ridiculous. I have little to say that hasn't already been said, so here it goes. Everything in Los Angeles needs to change. Trade him. Right now. If you're reading this, and you work for Los Angeles, stop reading and trade him right now. You have really great young talent (Farmar, Walton, Bynum), and if you trade him to the Bulls like the entire world thinks, you're going to get Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and probably a few draft picks. You can have my first born child if you do it.

Okay...now, for other news, the 2007/2008 season is officially underway. (Finally.)

Last night, there were three games on the schedule to get the season started (Don't be discouraged by the solid Western Conference night that it was.):

Portland vs San Antonio (Spurs win 106-97)

Utah vs Golden State (Jazz take it 117-96)

Houston vs Aformentioned Lakers (Rockets 95-93...barely. I'll give it to Kobe. Even with his entire fan base on his ass and everything that surrounding him, 45 pts on opening night is impressive even for him.)

Quick note on a few opening night things:

Before their game, the Spurs had their ring ceremony. The Spurs are picked almost across the boards to repeat, which in the league these days is almost unheard of. However, it's almost impossible to pick against them. They have every single element in place (no team turmoil, the top-two defensive players in the league, Popovich), and they have arguably the overall best player in the entire league.

A four-time NBA champion, a three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player award, nine-time all-star, ten all-NBA teams, and ten all-defensive teams. You know why he doesn't get more respect? He doesn't punch fans in the face, he talks in a normal voice during interviews (usually regarding his team winning), and he doesn't make rap albums. What an awful world we live in.

ESPN.com has LaMarcus Aldridge as their prospected Most Improved Player for the season, and with good reasoning. It's a shame he had to sit so much last year so that Zach Randolph got playing time. He's going to show everyone that there are still reasons to watch Portland even though the human marketing machine is out for the season. 12 for 19, 27 points, and 3 blocks against the defending champs. Also, please someone pay attention to Steve Blake. He's quietly becoming one of the most dependable guards in the entire league.

As for the rest of the goings on, nothing too exciting. Your usual Western Conference action.

Now, for the Atlantic Conference preview: Abridged version.

How the experts are predicting things turn out:
1.) Boston
2.) New Jersey
3.) Toronto
4.) Philadelphia
5.) New York

They are experts for a reason, you know. I am going on record as saying I agree with how ESPN has their rankings set (aside from a possible Toronto/N.J. switch), but, in all honesty, things don't need to be looked at like a sure thing around here. Most people, aside from me, forget that this was the second-worst team in the NBA last year. There's bound to be problems.

Toronto is returning almost the same exact team from last year aside from the addition of Jason Kapono, who was in the top 5 in the league for 3-point shooting last season playing with the Wade's. Chris Bosh is slowly transforming into one of the league's foremost stars. He was a strong team leader heading into the playoffs on a team that had been looking for leadership since Vince and T-Mac were there planning dunk contest moves. Jorge Garbajosa, aside from having the world's biggest head, is a legitimate 3-point threat, and with the addition of some more power inside, could remain an Eastern Conference power for years to come.

New Jersey has a "Big Three" of their own in Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson, and depending on if all three of them stay healthy, which always seems to be their problem, they have a very good choice of winning the division.

Philadelphia hasn't had a prayer since Iverson left. More to say when the season starts and games are played. If they prove me wrong, I will eat every word. I promise.

The Knicks won't break 30 wins because they made the cardinal mistake of an offseason: they let one entity become larger than the greater of the team, and sadly, it was in the form of a sexual harassment suit against their coach. Isiah is a mess. That's how mutinies get started, and that's how you get fired 5 losses into a season. He's even getting C. Vivian Stringer on his bad side these days.

Remember him?

Isiah, don't offend coaches of teams that are better than yours.

Friday night will be here soon. The opening game of the season will be on ESPN live at 8 for those of you on the East Coast. Celts versus Wizards and "Agent Zero."

Check back Saturday for a review of the game. Let's go Beantown.

(Update: I'm watching ESPN waiting for Mavs/Cavs. Aside from the countless other writers and experts, the entire NBA Tonight panel, including Bill Walton who likes no one but his son, and Stephen A. Smith, who likes no one but himself, both picked Boston to "run away with it in the East. For fans of all sports: I hope you are prepared to see the biggest bandwagon jump in the entire world should this season play out the way it's predicted.)