| Here are your big stories for the upcoming new | | | | when either Kobe or Shaq would go down with an |
| season: | | | | "injury", the Lakers won more with Kobe OUT of the |
| ·Kobe Bryant found guilty of rape. Lakers are | | | | line-up, then when Shaq was out of the lineup. Much |
| forced to "bend over" for Kobe's manhood and finish | | | | more, as this chart from will illustrate |
| with their worst record in 10 years | | | | Plus/Minus splits for Shaq-Kobe |
| ·Mark Cuban shocks the world as he gives away | | | | PlayerSituation+/-Off48Def48Net48WLW% |
| the Dallas Mavericks on his show, The Benefactor! | | | | Shaqwith Kobe+379 104.0 93.5 +10.5 45 10 81% |
| Although the show was cancelled before this episode | | | | Shaqw/out Kobe+57 95.0 91.2 +3.8 34 29 54% |
| was aired, the transfer of ownership is legal and | | | | Kobewith Shaq+379 104.0 93.5 +10.5 45 10 81% |
| binding. | | | | Kobew/out Shaq-67 94.7 99.3 -4.6 22 36 38% |
| ·Vince Carter traded to Knicks! Unfortunately, | | | | Looking forward though, none of that matters as |
| trade had to be annulled after Vince fails medical. | | | | both players go into this season surround by a new |
| After years of speculation, doctors confirm that | | | | starting 4. |
| Carter indeed has no heart. | | | | Shaquille and Miami aside, the next biggest story will |
| Ok, so those may not actually pan out, but here are | | | | be how 5 of the 8 playoff teams from the East may |
| some that we think will: | | | | be below .500. We expect quality basketball to be |
| ·SHAQ catches latino Heat in Miami as the city | | | | hard to come by in the East. Your two other top |
| gets playoff fever | | | | teams will be Detroit and Indiana. We expect Isiah |
| ·James may be King, but it's Carmelo that finds | | | | Thomas to make things interesting in New York, |
| playoff gold for the 2nd year in a row | | | | Lebron James to make highlight reels in Cleveland, |
| ·Vince Carter traded Knicks! Team then goes on | | | | and Toronto to be Charlotte's 2nd rival (after New |
| to loss 15 straight and fall out of playoff contention | | | | Orleans) as they will be battling to stay out of the |
| as Vince's heart is called into question. | | | | cellar. |
| The focus of this year will not be on the top two | | | | The Sun may set in the West, but we feel that this |
| draft picks, but on (arguably) the top 2 players in the | | | | team is on the rise, and ready to take the next step |
| league. Expect Kobe and Shaq to dominate national | | | | forward. The Kings, Timberwolves, Lakers and Spurs |
| headlines as each will set out to prove that they | | | | will be hard pressed to keep them out of the top 4 |
| were not the cause of the Lakers collapse in the | | | | this year. With the possible exception of Seattle, |
| Final's against the Nets. It is a matter of public record | | | | every team should be fun to watch this year. |
| that during stretches of the last 2 seasons, that | | | | |