NBA All-Star 2012 Weekend

This was a fun weekend that ended on Sunday, February 26. I enjoyed the All-Star game between the West All-Stars and the East All-Stars. In the end, Kevin Durant was the game MVP because he had the most points, 36 in total. He also had 8 rebounds. Kobe Bryant surpassed Michael Jordan as the second-leading NBA All-star in scoring. I think Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is first. I'm not sure. Nothing much stood out about the Slam Dunk contest. It was a dud. I think the Slam Dunk contest is dead. Kyrie Irving ruled the Rookie Challenge, with his 8-for-8 three-pointers from long range. Kevin Love beat out Kevin Durant for the Three-Point Shooting Contest. That was pretty close. I thought Durant was going to get it. Looking forward to the winding down of the NBA season now. Hoping to see if the Miami Heat really do have a chance to get better and win the NBA title, after last year's chance failed at the hands of the eventual NBA champs, Dallas Mavericks. I hope to like to see the Oklahoma City Thunder get a chance to compete in the NBA Finals. That would be a treat for Durant and Russell Westbrook to learn. It will be a valuable learning experience for them.

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder

This season, Kevin Durant looks unbeatable. Led by OKC coach Scott Brooks, I think the Oklahoma City Thunder will challenge the Dallas Mavericks for the 2012 NBA title. Their win-or-die mentality has led them to beating the L.A. Lakers 100-85 last night. They have injuries too to Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha and Eric Maynor. Look, have no worries. Daequan Cook, the Thunder's backup shooting guard and small forward has stepped in and made some good contributions to the team. Don't worry too much about Cole Aldrich and Reggie Jackson either. They have stepped in also and made some good contributions also. They may not get much playing time, but they have stepped up when their number is called and they put in the time to make help for their team. If anything, I think Russell Westbrook is determined to have his team face the Dallas Mavericks and dethrone them for the 2012 NBA crown. Be prepared, Dallas. Your number is called and the Oklahoma City Thunder want what is yours and they'll make it theirs.

Miami Heat: Will the Heat win this year's NBA Title?

The Heat look really good this season. They have added Shane Battier in the off-season. Getting a caliber like Shane Battier makes Miami a wonderful team to compete with. They have combo-guard Norris Cole off the bench as well as veteran Udonis Haslem. The Heat also have swingmen and shooters in James Jones and Mike Miller, providing some needed offense and defense. Their bench this year is a lot better than last year's bench. They had Erick Dampier last year. They had one of the worst benches in the NBA last year. Adding Mike Bibby in the acquisition-trade last mid-season was one of the worst pick-ups ever. Bibby did nothing to help Miami try to contend with Dallas for the 2011 NBA title. I like seeing Miami getting a better chance at getting the NBA title this year. It all depends on the health of Dwyane Wade and Lebron James and Chris Bosh. The road to the NBA title goes through Dallas. The road to the NBA title will eventually go through Wade, James, and Bosh.

Jeremy Lin

This guy I have never heard of plays in the NBA and for the New York Knicks continues to astound me. I have heard of lots of former NBA players who play like Jeremy Lin, a la Anthony Mason and John Starks and Shawn Kemp, to name a few. This is one of those moments that basketball fans like to cheer for, because Lin is one of those basketball players who will live for the moment, because his time is now. It won't come later, but will arrive at a time when people will start to notice who Jeremy Lin is.

John Wall and the Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are having a terrible season. I wonder how John Wall can elevate his team and move them to the next level. With a Wizards squad that has Nick Young, Chris Singleton, Trevor Booker, Andray Blatche, and Javale McGee, how can this team win with players that have no team concept of winning with talent? The coach of the Wizards, Flip Saunders was recently fired and is now replaced by Randy Wittman. If I expect the Wizards to improve, insert Rashard Lewis into the starting small forward spot instead of having Chris Singleton. The Wizards need a mentor and a veteran leader to help the Washington Wizards get back into the playoffs. Someone like Rashard Lewis.

Indiana Pacers 2012

I like the Indiana Pacers' chances of winning this season. Not only are they tough as nails, but they really have a chance to do excel at beating some of the elite NBA teams. A lineup of Darren Collison, Paul George, Danny Granger, David West, and Roy Hibbert is a must-have for a starting lineup. Collison is a point guard who can score in bunches and can create opportunities for easy baskets in transition for his teammates. George is an excellent perimeter defender who can finish at the rim. George can defend with the likes of the best perimeter scorers in the game. Granger's game is uncanny, because no opponent can match his parallelism and athletic ability on the floor. David West has adapted his game to Indiana's pace where they like to see him perform. Hibbert has been a steady rock in the middle, whose presence and influence makes Indiana invulnerable to easy layups for their opponents. With a bench like Indiana that has Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones, and Louis Amundson, you can't go wrong with where they can have reserves coming in for the Pacers and performing at a high level.