Luka’s Corner

Coming up on the All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona, it is time for me to make my early predictions for both the NBA champion and MVP:

NBA Champion:

As of now, barring any major changes to lineups or injuries, I believe that LA will be the NBA champion come June. After beating Boston once again on Thursday night, the Lakers snapped the Cavaliers’ home winning streak (23-0 at home) behind a monster game from Lamar Odom. Odom had 27 points and 18 rebounds and the Lakers slowed LeBron James down throughout the game, as James finished with only 16 points off 5-20 shooting. It just seems that Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are clicking even more this season and the necessary desire for redemption after last season’s failure is there.

NBA MVP

Although Kobe and the Lakers got the better of LeBron and the Cavs on Sunday, it is still clear that James has just enough to surpass Bryant in MVP voting. Averaging a league-best 28.4 PPG before today’s game, LBJ has the stats to pass KB24 and his team’s winning percentage is entirely adequate as well. At 39-10, the Cleveland Cavaliers are first in the Eastern Conference and second in the NBA.

The Boston Celtics followed up their emotional home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night with another defeat in Boston at the hands of the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Sunday afternoon. San Antonio never allowed Boston to have a double-digit lead and hit big shots down the stretch to pull out a 105-99 win. With two home losses in a row, the Celtics once again look like they need help at certain positions.

In my opinion, in order for the C’s to reach the Finals, let alone win an 18th championship, they need to acquire another player who can score. A player like Joe Smith of the Oklahoma City Thunder is a prime example of someone who can shot the midrange jumper, play tenacious defense, and rebound. Also, at 6-10, Smith could give the Celtics size off the bench. Size is something they continually lack in games after Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins go to the bench, especially if the other team has a scoring big man (like Pau Gasol on Thursday night). Glen "Big Baby" Davis simply cannot guard somebody who has three or four inches on him.

Boston certainly has some pieces for a potential trade. Players like Patrick O’Bryant, who has exceptional length and touch for a big man, and Gabe Pruitt, who has deep range on his jumper, are two that could be on the trading block quite soon. O’Bryant especially has not worked out for the Celtics as a backup center and could bring interest simply for the fact that true big men are scarce in the NBA.

To me, the Celtics made a major mistake on draft day during the summer when they selected J.R. Giddens from New Mexico with the last pick in the first round. Mario Chalmers, the former Kansas PG, was still available (he was taken with the 34th pick) and he is now the Miami Heat’s starting point guard. Averaging 10 PPG and 1.9 SPG, Chalmers would have brought scoring and defense as a backup to Rajon Rondo. Instead, the Boston management now has to continue searching for a one more piece to the puzzle before the trade deadline.