It’s not a Kobe/Lebron matchup as many fans (and NBA commissioner David Stern) may have pined for, but tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic square off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While the Lakers may be the favorite to win the series, they did come up short against the Magic during the regular season–dropping both meetings. So who will get their first NBA title…Adam Morrison or J.J. Redick? Let’s find out as we preview the 2009 NBA Finals. (more…)

For a man who is obsessed with having the last word, there is no possible worst-case scenario for Shaquille O’Neal than watching either Kobe Bryant or Stan Van Gundy hoist up the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the champion of the 2008-09 season.

For years, Shaq has claimed that the only reason Kobe won three titles was because he had The Diesel stationed in the paint.  It looked like his sentiments were true when Shaq was traded to Miami, and wasted no time by bringing the first-ever championship to South Beach with the help of Dwyane Wade.  Since O’Neal’s departure from LA, Kobe was found middling in mediocrity until Pau Gasol was hijacked from Memphis – and The Big Fella couldn’t have been happier. (more…)

LeBron James vs. Carmelo Anthony. Bragging rights among the consensus top two picks in the historic 2003 NBA Draft. And yes, I realize that Detroit hilariously and mistakenly took Darko Milicic second overall instead of Melo.

LeBron was the mega-star coming out of St. Vincent’s St. Mary’s High School in Ohio. Melo was fresh off winning a national title at Syracuse. Who went with first overall pick? LeBron.

The two new franchise faces went head-to-head for the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Who won? LeBron.

Each guy puts winning as a team ahead of himself. But who was the first to take his team to the NBA Finals? LeBron in 2007. (more…)