Prior to the start of the NBA Finals this past week, @NBA tweeted out this photo from the cover of The Oklahoman newspaper:

Undoubtedly, they chose their words correctly. Many predicted a Finals matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat in the preseason. Their star players, Kevin Durant and LeBron James, both led MVP-caliber campaigns and did not disappoint. The NBA Finals are, in fact, huge.

So why don’t I care?

The Thunder ran most of their opponents out of the building this year. As exciting as it is watching them play, it almost came to be expected. The Heat, on the other hand, are still battling some stigma of bleh stemming from their initial South Beach NWO formation and alliance. LeBron especially cannot shake the hatred from Joe Sports Fan after The Decision. I have even heard many Los Angeles Lakers fans actively cheering for the Boston Celtics just so they could see James and the Heat ousted. While I don’t necessarily agree with these individual power rankings, I certainly understand this “lesser of two evils” mentality.

So if you’re like me this postseason and just can’t get excited for the Finals, fear not. We can always log on to some sports betting sites and place a wager on Russell Westbrook‘s next post-game outfit.

For Laker fans everywhere, today was supposed to feel like Christmas. They were supposed to finally land Dwight Howard, a young PG and a Red Ryder BB Gun.

At first, everything seemed to be going well. The Lakers traded away Luke Walton and the contract from Hell to the Cavs along with a first pick for Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga. A great move, given that this gives the Lakers a point guard to effectively run their offense and shoot the ball for a few more years, instead of who they have starting there right now.

Who was that again?

Oh yeah, Derek Fisher.

Now here’s where the Lakers Christmas Story started to feel like they shot their eye out.

Why would the Lakers do this, they asked. What about loyalty, they cried. He can play on the bench, they pleaded.

Why did they do it? Derek Fisher is old and overpaid. He’s 37 going on 38 and he’s owed 3 million dollars next season guaranteed. He’s not going to start over Sessions and won’t play a back-up role on the bench behind Sessions and Steve Blake, who’s contract is up at the end of the season. Derek Fisher is too proud to take a behind the scenes role. The same thing happened in 2004 when Gary Payton and Karl Malone pushed Fisher to the bench. He got upset and signed with Golden State. When that didn’t work out he was moved to Utah and when the starting job on the Lakers opened back up, he signed with Los Angeles. So, it’s not highly likely that Fisher would have enjoyed sitting out the end of his career on the bench in Los Angeles. Especially when he seems to have more support amongst the players than Mike Brown, who has started to see results with the players in his system.

What do you do in a situation where you have something you have no use for and need to get rid of before it’s a problem?

You see what you can get for it. Luckily for the Lakers, they found a team stupid enough to take on an aging veteran with a big contract leaving a team that didn’t want him anymore. Worked for one of the other Dallas teams as well, if I remember correctly.

So they basically flipped Derek Fisher for a bench player and a first round pick in next year’s loaded draft while avoiding locker room turmoil? Seems like a good move.

As for the loyalty aspect? With an organization like the Lakers and a star player like Kobe Bryant, loyalty means nothing when it comes to winning.  Kobe has one thing like Jordan that I won’t ever argue with. Kobe would kill a guy to get a championship, even if it was his own teammate. Kobe doesn’t care who is on his team when he wins a championship, he just cares that he wins one.

Same with the Lakers and any professional sports franchise. It’s a business. When you become a liability, you’re dropped. Plain and simple. It’s not the way sports fans like to think about it, but it’s the truth. This isn’t an all-time great like Gretzky getting traded from Edmonton so the owner can get money. This is a player who the Lakers no longer have a use for and are moving on from.

Laker fans right now sound like the girlfriend who keeps getting back with her crappy boyfriend because “they have so many memories together.”

So many memories? Derek Fisher isn’t a Hall of Famer, not even close. He’s not even a shoe in to get his number retired. Look at who the Lakers have retired the numbers of. Magic, Kareem, Wilt, Elgin, West, and Goodrich. The only one who is questionable, would be Goodrich, until you realize he led the Lakers in scoring for 4 seasons.

Derek Fisher? He won 5 championships and played a “crucial” role on those teams. Really?

He was the 3rd best player behind Kobe and Shaq on the first three and the 4th best behind Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol on his last 2 championships.

The Lakers retire the numbers of All-Time greats. Players that transcended the franchise and were at the top of the league. All Fisher has going for him is 5 championships. Robert Horry has 7, and I don’t believe the Naismith Hall of Fame will be calling him any time soon.

Derek Fisher is a great leader and has a lot of knowledge about the sport. He’ll be a great coach someday, but he’s not going to be a great player right now, and that’s what the Lakers need at point guard.

This is a great move for the Lakers going forward. They are able to help build for the future, while trimming salary of a player they won’t use. Be thankful for the years you got with Fisher, Laker fans, and be even more thankful what he gave you on the way out. It could be a lot worse. You could be sitting here a year and a half from now with Kobe 2 years older, still with 5 rings and Derek Fisher retiring with you getting nothing for it except cap room.

Besides, this will all blow over once you start talking about getting Dwight Howard and Derron Williams next summer.

Apple changed the way phones are made. The Miami Heat are changing the way we make basketball teams.

Every year, Apple comes out with a new product, a new something. There’s certain factors associated with the event that occur without fail, every time. They’re as followed:

1) In the weeks, and sometimes months, leading up to the event, the 24 hour news cycle covers hundreds of stories covering every facet of the new product.

2) There’s a huge event held by Apple celebrating the greatness of their product.

3) There is the public outcry both in favor and against the product following it’s release.

These 3 steps have happened in the life cycle of every Apple product from the first iPod to the recently unveiled iPhone 4S. It will continue to happen, too.

Now, I want you to ask yourself. To which other event do this list sound familiar? I’ll give you a minute. Here’s some clues for those that still don’t get it.

1) http://voices.yahoo.com/where-will-lebron-james-go-2010-6058806.html

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTeCc8jy7FI & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmwJipHdqpA

3) http://ihatelebronjames.com/ & http://clublebron.com

It’s exactly what happened when Lebron James joined the Heat. From the moment Lebron signed his last contract in Cleveland, every news story about him in some way referenced his plans as a free agent in 2010. It’s the same way that as soon as the iPhone 4S was announced, you could read an article about the iPhone 5. The decision was held to gain widespread noticed and a pep rally to debut the new product (The Big Three) was held shortly after for even more coverage. Steve Jobs was known for his Apple Keynotes, and don’t think that because of his death that Apple will change their routine. They will continue to captivate the public every year with a presentation of their latest work. And finally, there have been countless reactions written about Lebron James and the Heat since. Just as you can find about the latest Apple offering on any news website.

Now, I understand that there are many people with very strong opinions on both sides of this argument. At one point, I remember I used to question the idea of Apple. I was happy using my Sony laptop and my Motorola flip phone. I couldn’t imagine needing an Apple product. However, as those products broke down, I eventually bought a Macbook and an iPhone. All I can say is this: I have never been happier with any other product as I have been with my products from Apple. I think Apple is head and shoulders above most other electronics companies. I’m sure many people can argue the other side and that there are other options, but they can’t argue this: Apple products work. We can point out the things that it cannot do, but as we’ve seen in the past, those problems often times go away. It was recently established that Adobe will no longer be developing flash for phones. The lack of using flash (the engine behind many internet videos and animations) was one of the biggest knocks against Apple’s iPhone and iPad. But eventually, Apple was proven right.

I bring this back to the Miami Heat. It may seem awkward to be writing a Lebron article more than a year after the fact, and I would agree with you until I saw this headline this morning: “Los Angeles Lakers looking to work out deals for both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.”

Now before you compare the merits of a trade to free agency, remember this: Dwight Howard has long been rumored to want to play in LA and Chris Paul’s agent has already requested a trade from the New Orleans Hornets. This is not teams trying to dump problem players. These are team with expiring superstar contracts trying to get something in return so they’re not left with nothing (example: the Magic after Shaq left). It’s smart business on the part of the owners, but by no means would they chose to trade either player under normal circumstances.

Understandably, Laker fans are ecstatic. Many are already declaring the Lakers as champions on the 2012 season.

But wait a second, to get players like Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, the Lakers are going to have to give up a lot of players. Essentially, almost their entire line-up with the exception of Kobe Bryant. I thought that a team of three superstars, in this case: Paul, Howard, and Kobe, couldn’t win a title. That was the rallying cry of angry NBA fans from everywhere outside of the 305 and 786 area codes. But guess what the Miami Heat proved this past season? It works.

The Miami Heat last season were able to make it to the Finals in their first year of playing with each other. Teams that didn’t make it? The Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Bulls, Thunder, and others. Teams where teamwork is stressed along with depth. Teams that have been playing with each other for years. Yes, the Heat lost the title to a great, deep team in the Mavericks, but to make the Finals in the first year of a generally new line-up? That, is success by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, the attitude among the Heat was that they were going to win a title, they even declared as much. But to be honest, if someone asked you if you’d win the championship in your respective sport, what would you say? If you say that you’re going to win, and you do anything but, you will hear nothing but how big of a failure your team was. But if you say you’ll lose, you’ll be called a quitter and non-competitive. It’s a lose-lose situation.The bar for the Heat was set higher than any other team in the league before their first practice together.

Do you think that Spurs fans would have taken an appearance in the Finals over their first round exit? Of course.

To say that making the NBA Finals and losing is a failure of a season is not only dishonest, but a understatement of the difficulty required to make it to that level. If this was the case, the lottery bound Sacramento Kings had just as successful of a season as the Miami Heat. Don’t be silly.

Look at the moves of the New York Knicks in acquiring both Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Look at their attempts at signing another player like Paul. You don’t think that they believe in the 3 superstar-system? Look at an iPhone side-by-side with every other smartphone released on the market. Look at the shape and the icons. You don’t think the other companies see the value in what Apple has done?

You can complain about the price of Apple products. You can complain about the Decision. You can celebrate every shortcoming, despite how impossibly high the bar is set. But you can’t argue with how the product works. You may have your phone and be happy with it. You may also be constantly complaining about the latest offering from Apple and the people celebrating its release who are seemingly able to throw mountains of money away, but you can’t argue with a fact we’ve known all along:

If you were in the same position they were, you’d do it too.

Does  the name LeBron James on a Miami Heat jersey look odd? Would anyone ever actually buy a Chicago Bulls jersey featuring Carlos Boozer? Not sure which new NBA jersey to buy now that the big flurry of superstar movement has ended?

Well, if you just became a Cleveland Cavaliers fan thanks to owner Dan GIlbert, look no further than this:

The only thing topping the power of the letter was the font used: none other than comic sans. Apparently so versatile it can be used for all letter-writing occasions, from chain to angry.

For the uninitiated, the Los Angeles Lakers have a promotion where if they win the game and score over 100 points, everyone in attendance gets a coupon for 2 free Jack in the Box tacos.

On the surface, they’re really nothing special. Just 2 greasy, meat imitation tacos stuffed with a slice of cheese and hot sauce. Retail value: 99 cents.

As the Lakers inch closer to a victory, the Staples Center crowd erupts in a “WE WANT TACOS” chant. To a casual observer, this may seem unnecessary, extravagant, and pointless. Who the hell in their right mind would care this much about tacos? Isn’t there an actual NBA game happening on the court? Leave it to idiot Laker fans to care more about a free giveaway than an actual game of basketball!

Of those same people I ask, have you ever actually had said tacos? Or have you regularly watched Lakers home games?

The tacos are merely passable and pricey ticket holders have infinitely better things to do than drool over discount fast food. It is a matter of pride, people. Not only are the tacos here to stay, but they are our rally cry.

As Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals was winding down a Laker victory, the crowd erupted in their customary chant. Sure, the same practice seems innocent enough during a regular season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but this is the FINALS. The Boston Celtics came in, got their asses handed to them, and were subsequently being brushed aside by the rallying cries for soy filler.

We don’t care about no tacos. This is the Land of Showtime. And we’re showing you up.

As the Los Angeles Lakers visited the White House yesterday, a press conference was also held to announce the acquisition of President Barack Obama for Jordan Farmar and Adam Morrison‘s expiring contact (we are in a recession, after all).

Kobe Bryant was ecstatic about the backcourt help acquired for him. Said Bryant, “President Obama has the potential to play a bigger role than Bill Clinton did with Tom Gugliotta in NBA Jam.”

In other news, Jordan Farmar has appointed Luke Walton his Secretary of Chillaxing.

Hi! Billy Mays Sports Tsar here with a product that’s going to change your life!

Do you like the Los Angeles Lakers? Better yet, do you just hate the Boston Celtics? The answer to the latter should be a resounding YES! Everybody from outside New England rightfully despises anything inside, on account of the wicked hard douche factor. Why not combat the douchebaggery by beaming a PG-13 rated quip from your chest? BUCK FOSTON!

The Laker-inspired purple and gold will be sure to tell everyone which side of the rivalry you’re on.

The green on white Celtics colorway is the sneaky one here. Right as you infiltrate the Bostonian masses, they will glance at your shirt, assume you are one of them, and accept you. Little do they know, you are faux cursing the very fabric of their existence! However, you might want to start running if you happen upon a literate Boston fan who deciphers the hidden meaning on your shirt.

These are ready and available for order at Buck Foston Shirt for a measly $15! Head over, buy early, buy often. We have a limited first run, so get them while they last! Orders are ready to be shipped as of 1/22/2010.

From the makers of the timeless 2001: A James Odyssey comes an epic sequel the likes of which the NBA offseason has never seen – LeBron 2010: The Year We Make Contract.

Seven years after appeasing his native state, LeBron James may aim to take his mission of winning an NBA championship becoming obscenely wealthy to another far off planet. Will it be the New York Knicks who provide LeBron with a suitable dock in Madison Square Garden? Or could it be the New Jersey Nets, perpetually orbiting Brooklyn under the navigation of Jay-Z, who will finally land in their new destination with their new star?

Oh how it pained me to sell this shirt. Don’t know why I put it up on eBay in the first place. I even had someone bid to win for me so I wouldn’t have to sell it. But alas, someone else stepped in and recognized the power of this shirt and made it their own. It will just have to live on in my heart and in this blog post.

Just take that in for a second.

A young Charles Barkley as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. With a ripped off basketball hoop. In an N.W.A hat. If this isn’t high fashion, I don’t know what is. As if the Round Mound of Rebound wasn’t amazing enough, someone had to go and immortalize him like this.

That someone, of course, is none other than Undefeated. If you’ve never been a sneakerhead, you probably don’t know what this means. Undefeated is one of the most well-known shoe boutiques in the world. Kicks aside though, they do put out fresh designs to boot.

Swingman Trevor Ariza jumped ship from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Houston Rockets. What do you think is running through his head in this picture?

1. I am Trevor Fierce! Growl! Gonna posterize Artest next year
2. What do you MEAN there’s no In-N-Out burger here?!
3. Flight from LA to HOU was harsh. Got bad travel bowels
4. Yao better recover quick or I’m screwed
5. I’m firing my agent right after this photoshoot

Also, is it just me or does that Rockets uniform completely change the look of any player? Trevor looked quite regal in Laker gold, but now he just looks like an unassuming, bumbling 12th man. Ahh the Houston mystique.