Varsity Blues

"It's not how you start...it's how you finish..."

The playoffs are right around the corner and with some recent erratic play, a few Eastern Conference teams seem ill prepared for the championship hunt.

Green with Envy

The Celtics and Cavaliers played earlier, and while they didn't match up against one another...they both lost their respective contests. If the playoffs started today, the Eastern Conference favorites range from Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Orlando...however only one can win.

LeBron James has emerged to repeat as the league's MVP, but I am sure he would much rather have a championship trophy. With or without the Cavs' trade, it's in my opinion that they are a very tough club, and once the regular season is over...they will be a team that no one wants to play.

Boston on the other hand appeared to be a clear cut contender at the start, as they added Rasheed Wallace to an already proven winning roster, however I'm not sure that defensively they can hang with the likes of their post season nemesis Atlanta, not too mention the Chicago Bulls.

Atlanta has several weapons in Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Jamal Crawford off the bench. What is tricky about playing the Hawks is that they are youthful enough to run you out the building, and now they have enough experience to close out a series.

As for my sister's team...the Magic had what it takes last year...obviously as they won the east and played in their first NBA Finals. They did it with dominance from Dwight Howard in the front court, and finesse from Hedo Turkoglu at point forward, and Rashad Lewis on the perimeter. Their inability to resign Turkoglu may prove costly in the long run, but basketball is a business, and they must adapt to newcomers Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, and Jason Williams.

In the Western Conference I believe the last two teams standing will be the Nuggets and Lakers...and I don't want to go any further than that, but I do know that if and when these teams play, it's going to be nothing less than spectacular.

The questions will soon play into answers and then the focus will switch to the free agency class of 2010, and World Championship Games.

I love this game!

Photo: Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

In the beginning

Dedication

Determination

Leadership

Intelligence

Optimisim

"We ain't in the same league...you can lie to yourself, but can't lie to me..."

Jay-Z - Blow the Whistle

I write for several media outlets, including HOOP and SLAM magazines, so when my editor at HOOP asked for my 2008-09 NBA season preview, I jumped at the chance. I'd grown up reading what the "experts" thought about basketball, and now I am giving my "expert" opinion.

There was one catch...I only had 75 words to capture my view on the upcoming year. The following is what I submitted, and while I wish I had more to share, I'm confident in my picks from MVP, to playoff contender. At the end of the season we will revisit this post and see how right I was, LOL:

HOOP 2008-09 NBA Preview, Anthony Gilbert

The more things change, the more they stay the same. With that said, the Lakers and Celtics will vie for the Larry O’Brien trophy, Kobe wins the Maurice Podoloff, with Dwyane Wade as runner up. The East is stronger with the 76ers-revamped roster, Jermaine O’Neal in Toronto, a full-season of Bibby in Atlanta, and Detroit and its championship nucleus. The West ups the ante with New Orleans, the Texas triangle, and the Clippers.

It's going to be a great season.

Stay tuned!