Oh crap, the NBA season started already

So I'm just going to throw out some predictions one game into the season.

I know I'm a day late (and since I don't get paid 'til Friday, I'm also a dollar short) but here go my 10 fearless predictions.

1. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics will reunite in the NBA Finals. The Lakers have the league's best player (Kobe), supporting cast (Bynum, Gasol, Odom) and one of the best coaches in league history (Phil) so there's no reason for them not to take the West. The C's have an easy run through the East, on paper. I guess that's why they'll play the games on the court, huh.
2. The Lakers will win the NBA title, Shaq won't be pleased. Did I mention that the Lakers have the best individual player, best supporting cast and best coach. Sounds like the recipe for a title. Meanwhile, Shaq remixes one of the greatest freestyles ever.
   
3. The NBA's worst team will be the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former SuperSonics will feel my wrath throughout the season. I hope they finish dead last and then don't get the No. 1 overall pick and get stuck with the worst possible lottery pick - which will be forfeited.
4. LeBron James will win the league's MVP. Kobe's the best player in the world, but LBJ will put up superior numbers. My guess: 30 points 8 rebounds 8 assists as the Cavs will finish THIRD in th NBA East's Central Division.
5. Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose will share Rookie of the Year honors. Sounds like a cop-out, but isn't. Beasley will average 20-and-10, but Rose will be a media darling as he leads his hometown Bulls back into the playoffs.
6. SURPRISE: The New Jersey Nets will make the playoffs behind the efforts of Devin Harris and Vince Carter, they'll knock the Atlanta Hawks out of the eight seed. The Los Angeles Clippers will be in the playoffs, too in the eighth spot. They'll earn the right to get smoked by Kobe & The Lake Show.
7. The Houston Rockets will miss the playoffs. Ron Artest will get suspended. Tracy McGrady will be injured. And Yao Ming will turn into Kosuke Fukudome.
8. The San Antonio Spurs won't make it out of the first round. They're old. They'll be crabby. They won't want to miss any more Matlock than they have to.
9. 1,634. Headlines that will be used that have to do with Derrick Rose and blooming/growing/thorns.
10. Countless. Number of jokes people will have for head coach Vinny Del Negro because his name loosely translates into Vinny of the Negroes.