It looks like the crusade has found its first victim. Yes, it is still the preseason, but really, L.O. is getting called out because he has been in the league too long to still be underachieving in this manner. It seems like he is starting off this year where he left off in the Finals. That should be beyond scary to Jack Nicholson and the rest of the Lakers fans/groupies.

Last night, in 20 minutes of play, he had three points, five rebounds and three assists–all running the point. Did I mention that he also had five fouls? And you know the Zenmaster Phil Jackson is not one to mince words. His response? “I just got through telling him that this is really basketball now,” Jackson said Wednesday. “He looks like he’s either curling or doing some other kind of sport. He’s not playing basketball.

Ouch.

Odom tried to downplay all the hate by saying it’s just the first game in preseason. I am almost willing to put a dub sack on it that Odom won’t be in Lakerland come the playoffs. Kobe just ain’t having it this year. Man up.

(33-49) Chicago received the ultimate gift and curse when they locked down the number one pick in the NBA Draft this year. After much debate about Michael Beasley, the team chose to ride with prodigal son Derrick Rose. Pooh will generate some excitement in a town that desperately wants a return to respectability, while getting to play with cool hand Luol Deng. Our favorite ponytail Joakim Noah should have a strong sophomore season, and Ben Gordon will be gunning for his life after holding out so long when his contract negotiations failed to go the way he wanted. The real problem this team faces is that it carries way too many guards. Trying to find enough playing time for them all will be like too many heads trying to smoke one little doobie. It’s just not enough hits to go around. The Bulls will battle for a playoff spot this year but there simply are no guarantees at press time

(59-23) The Detroit Pistons are like Buddy Revell in one of my old school favorites, Three O’Clock High. They clearly are the class bully in the East every year but once they got their bell rang by LeBron for 48 points in 2007, the nerds just aren’t scared of them anymore. Rasheed, Chauncey and Rip remain dangerous, but teams like the Cavs and Bulls know they can beat them on any given night. And the Pistons don’t have enough to punk Boston’s Big Three ensemble even though Jason Maxiel will be in beast mode this year. New coach Michael Curry will put the fire back in the Pistons game but I am not convinced it will be enough to detour a second round playoff exit. And that is not acceptable with all the talent in the Motor City.

(45-37) Everyone keeps talking about if LeBron will play in New York when he becomes a free agent in 2010. I guess those same people have forgotten that is two season’s away? And really, the time is now in Cleveland. With Bron Bron going for gold this summer and building on his desire to be a global icon, the addition of point guard Mo Williams kind of flew under the radar. Trust me, teams will be feeling the impact real hard in late April. The Cavs are one of the top-shelf teams in the East. They are potent enough to be in the Eastern Conference Finals.

(36-46) President Larry Bird is not playing with these Pacers and is doing everything possible to clean up the team’s image to media and fans in Indianapolis. The additions of rookie Roy Hibbert should help down low while T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack should certainly provide a better look offensively than simply relying on former Warriors Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy–that’s just ridiculous. The franchise’s overhaul will be complete once Bird finally deals with the hangover known as Jamaal Tinsley. Overall, don’t see much progress in their record this year. But there is promise in Indy’s future.

(26-56) The little tyrant Scott Skiles will actually be a good fit with this team and I think his blue-collar philosophy will score big and actually surprise many this season. Finally pairing Michael Redd with some talent will certainly liven things up in otherwise mundane Milwaukee. Plus, Richard Jefferson is probably happy to be away from the loafing ways of Vince Carter. I look for him to put up All-Star like numbers early in the season and the Bucks are actually penciled in on my list for the playoffs.

(Last year’s record)

(48-34) When things go bad, they sure do fall apart quickly. First, the Warriors win 48 games but still miss the playoffs. Then the front office fronted on its offer to Baron Davis, resulting in Boom Dizzle going Hollywood, albeit to the Clippers. Then there’s Monta. So truthfully, I don’t know what to make of the messy Golden State affairs. I don’t even think newcomer Coery Maggette and Captain Jack will be able to S.O.S. this thing before it capsizes. I hate to say it but I think the Warriors can RSVP right now for the 2009 Draft Lottery.

(23-59) It sure must feel good to be back at home for Baron Davis. He has gotten on the Boom Dizzle diet plan courtesy of Jenny Craig and is having a grand ol’ time chilling with Cash W. and Jessica Alba and all his other celebrity cronies. Even without Elton Brand, who surprisingly dipped to Philly, things still look promising for LA’s stepchild team. With the addition of Marcus Camby, I really think the Clips can have about 40-44 wins, which might even leave enough in the tank to trump whoever is hanging on for that final playoff spot.

(57-25) There are no excuses for the purple and gold. It truly is put up or STFU time for Kobe and company. Andrew Bynum is 100% healthy now so we will finally experience the Kobe-Bynum-Gasol Effect unleashed. But really there are more pressing issues facing the team I affectionately dubbed the “Fakers.” Has Lamar Odom returned from his disappearing act? He wasn’t alone either; Pau and others were also looking like shook ones at critical points throughout the Finals. I personally think the cutie Trevor Ariza will take L.O.’s starting job before too long. And the most pressing question, at least in my mind, remains: Did the pesky Sasha Vujacic get a hair cut or are we forced to endure another season of the constant hair-tucking under that black scrunchie-band thing? The Lakers will certainly make the playoffs, but I actually foresee them getting shutdown in the Western Conference finals.

(55-27) People are curious to see what happens in the desert with Mike D’Antoni’s departure. One thing people need to know is that new coach Terry Porter ain’t no punk! He will manage Amare fine and I actually like some of their offseason moves, particularly picking up Matt Barnes who got dissed by Golden State for whatever reason. Then there’s Shaq. I find myself chanting “Tell me how my ass tastes,” at the mere mention of his name. The Suns did themselves good in the draft by picking up Robin Lopez, even if he did look all kinds of ridiculous trying to wear his new Suns cap over that mop top. He will definitely be essential because the wheels on the Diesel have very limited miles left.

(38-44) It seems like NBA players love playing for the Maloof brothers, but sadly, it has more to do with securing the player treatment at the Palms in Las Vegas as opposed to actually winning in Sacramento. Head Coach Reggie Theus survived his first season in Sactown and found out that the distance away from Baldwin Hills is further than he ever could have imagined. Ron Artest is gone now and fan favorite Bobby Jackson is back. Kevin Martin is clearly the man and former Cal player Shareef Abdur-Rahim’s knees forced him to call it quits after 12 years on the league. One thing I know for fact is that Shelden Williams needs to do something this year other than just being Candace Parker’s fiancee. In the words of my man Kirby Dominant, stop the piggyback pimping, Shelden, and put up some numbers! I imagine that the Kings will be heading to Secaucus, NJ, again this year for the Draft Lottery. Hopefully they send another fan to represent because I sure did enjoy seeing contest winner Margie Parilo being genuinely giddy while seated next to Jay-Z.

Today we look at teams in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic division. (Last year’s record)

(66-16). Never say never. I never in 1,000 years could have imagined myself rooting for the Boston Celtics. But this past spring, if loving them was wrong, I sure as hell wanted to be charged with the crime. I have a love for KG and won’t take the space to go on about the glory of the 2008 NBA FInals. Going into this season it’s the champs who hold the top spot (even without my guy James Posey) until a team is bold enough to beat them down and take it. That is no easy task, so as of right now, I have the Celtics in the Finals until further notice. My Finals pick will be posted on Opening Night of the NBA season.

(34-48) The Nets drew the line in the sand this summer and traded Richard Jefferson. In exchange, they got Yi Jianlian, who will undoubtedly expand the team’s marketing reach in China, but will not have that same impact where it counts–on the court. I do believe that the Nets scored a keeper in Chris Douglas-Roberts, though, who will be playing with a certified chip on his shoulder after being dissed in this year’s draft. CDR and Devin Harris should really push the rock once they get in sync but it’s truly shit or get off the pot time for Vince Carter in New Jersey as far as I’m concerned. Overall, the Nets aren’t making any noise this year.

(23-59) We always hear so much about the New York Knicks. And all eyes will again be on the Knicks as the curtains go up on the Donnie Walsh-Mike D’Antoni era at Madison Square Garden. So many unanswered questions with the state of affairs in NY, but one answer remains consistent: they will be the same underachieving, overpaid Knicks, with or without Marbury. But I am really looking forward to seeing Patrick Ewing, Jr. play for the Knicks. Talk about a kid’s dream come true. But, when late April gets here, I am certain that the Knicks season will be over.

(40-42) The Philadelphia 76ers had the best off season in my eyes. They might be the Omar Little of the NBA because they straight jacked Elton Brand like the Co-Op’s shipment. They pulled together an impressive showing in the playoffs and now have a deadly starting five anchored by Brand. They pose the biggest threat to challenge for the East. If the Celtics are the Barksdales, then the 76ers might be like Marlo’s crew in Season 3 of The Wire. Paul P, there’s a new crew trying to open up shop. You better watch your block. The Sixers will definitely win 55+ games.

(41-41) A change of scenery can work wonders on a player’s productivity. Jermaine O’Neal better have a monster season; I mean, he was only out of the lineup in Indiana for what seemed like forever. But will his knees hold up for the haul of a season? If yes, bringing him in at center, along with finally settling on Jose Calderon as the team’s point guard, should be the missing parts that solve the enable Bosh and the Raptors to pose a genuine threat deep in the playoffs. The only thing is that just like the Raps got better, the Atlantic division got that much deeper this summer.