I think the NBA wants, and is desperately trying to create, a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals.

It's an old rivalry, there are marquee players on both teams, they would make a ton of money off of it.

1. Kobe Bryant is named MVP- Kobe should get the MVP in 0 out of 4 of the categories that define an MVP: Making people around you better (Chris Paul), Pure statistics (Lebron James), a winning record (Kevin Garnett), and how good of players are around you (Lebron James/Chris Paul).

2. Kobe to the foul line- Bryant was not even allowed to be breathed on during their first round sweep of the Nuggets. I normally hate Iverson and Carmelo, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. They were obvious lambs sent to the slaughter. The refs allowed rape by Odom, Gasol, etc, but were quick to call anything on Camby and K-mart. And now in game one of the Lakers-Jazz series, this one statistic sums it up best. Jazz ENTIRE team= 22 foul shouts. Kobe Bryant= 23 foul shots... nuff said.

3. Betting Lines for the Celtics- Normally, when weird numbers come out for betting lines, something is awry. Normally, SOMEBODY knows SOMETHING. And the Celtics, fresh off of a 7 game series with the ATLANTA HAWKS, are actual FAVORITES to win the East. The Cleveland Cavs odds of winning in six? 16-1. In seven? 15-1. How about the Celtics... for the Celtics to win in it's like 4-1, 5-2... WTF? The Cavs just played very well, are on a hot streak, and the Celtics can barely bump off a pathetic Hawks team. I will be watching the refs as to how they call this game. If I see obvious double standards, It will re-enforce my theory that the Celtics are hand picked to get to the finals. We already know the Lakers are.

Whoa whoa whoa, please don't use the Nuggets/Lakers series as an example of bias...the Nuggets are a terrible team with fantastic talent. I feel that they are fundamentally flawed in the sense that they have two big time scorers and there are only so many points to go around. The Nuggets play no defense, and their offense isn't much better. They simply out skill their opponents and when they faced another skilled team, they got demolished. Also, the reason Kobe got 23 free throws is because the Jazz don't have anyone who can guard him. Deron isn't a good defender, Ronnie Brewer is too small, Kyle Korver is too white, and AK47 is too slow.

Kobe is my MVP because he led the Lakers to the top seed in the West while the team endured injuries. (Gasol was out for a bit...Bynum still isn't back) It's not so much of a knock on CP3 (whom I have a mancrush on, I fall in love with any skilled small player) it's just that the Hornets never had injuries to deal with and they still couldn't beat out the Lakers for the top seed. That has to mean something, right?