According to our AccuScore win forecasts and playoff projections, we already have our first three playoff “locks.”  Boston, Cleveland, and the Lakers now appear in the projected standings as having a 100 percent chance to reach the playoffs.  That of course is not a stretch considering the three teams are a combined 36-6 and have separated themselves as the three elite teams in the NBA so far.

Five other

New York President Donnie Walsh has somehow managed to undo much of the damage Isaiah Thomas inflicted on the once proud franchise by pulling off two quality cost-cutting deals on the same day.

Here is the sum total of the moves made the Knicks on Friday:

Out:
F  Zach Randolph (LAC)
G Mardy Collins (LAC)
G Jamal Crawford (GS)
3 years

According to the Washington Post, Gilbert Arenas will miss all of training camp and the first month of the upcoming NBA season. 

Gilbert Arenas confirmed Wednesday that he underwent a surgical procedure this morning that "cleaned out some debris" in his left knee and won't be ready to play for the Wizards until early December. Arenas, who has undergone two surgeries to repair the left knee in the last two seasons, has been limited during the rehab process

Baron Davis will not, in all likelihood, be taking his hometown team to the playoffs anytime soon.  It was assumed he was signing with the Clippers with the tacit assumption that Elton Brand would be there too.  Together they were supposed to form a new L.A. inside-outside power duo.  Instead, whether it was the lure of the East, a rising team, the money, or his agent David Falk, Brand has signed with Philadelphia for a 5-year $82 million contract.

For this the presumed Brand-Davis plan to even work, the Clippers had to renounce the rights to Corey Maggette.  Now he

What a way to start the NBA free agency period.  Baron Davis unexpectedly opted out of his contract and quickly signed with the Clippers.  Elton Brand also surprised some by opting out, and now is mulling over whether to rejoin the Clips with Davis or travel up north to Golden State.  The offer from the Warriors is actually bigger than the Clippers one for Brand, but his original intention was to give L.A. more flexibility under the cap to go after another star player.  GM Elgin Baylor has done that

The NBA draft is on. Check back here throughout the day for updated commentary as the picks roll on in.

4:37: No surprise here as Chicago takes Derrick Rose to kick off the draft and my running diary. Welcome all. Rose was dominant towards the end of the NCAA season, and combines the size and athleticism rarely seen in a point guard. Don’t worry about a backcourt glut for the Bulls; Rose is way more talented than anybody on the roster.

4:43: Miami follows form and takes MichaelBeasley

The NBA draft is on. Check back here throughout the day for updated commentary as the picks roll on in.

4:37: No surprise here as Chicago takes Derrick Rose to kick off the draft and my running diary. Welcome all. Rose was dominant towards the end of the NCAA season, and combines the size and athleticism rarely seen in a point guard. Don’t worry about a backcourt glut for the Bulls; Rose is way more talented than anybody on the roster.

4:43: Miami follows form and takes Michael

We have our first big trade of the draft season.  The Pacers will send talented but oft-injured big man Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17^th pick in the draft.  Another veteran will be thrown in by Toronto to make the deal work (likely Maceo Baston).  The trade can’t be consummated until July 9 because of the NBA’s complicated salary cap rules so it is possible something could happen or the deal could expand, but that doesn

The Boston Celtics have their comeback. They likely will be headed to yet another championship, and the title cements the Hall of Fame credentials for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. With a 3-1 led in this year’s finals, all of that is a mere formality.

The real question is, what of these Lakers? Perhaps the only thing more amazing than their Game 4 collapse is that they even reached that point in the first place. Had L.A. won, it would have tied the

Chris Paul and company are the statistical favorites winning 66% of AccuScore simulations.  They have won their three home games this series by an average of 19.7 points.  Game Seven tonight is at home.  So would a win by the Spurs be an upset?

On paper, yes it would.  The Hornets had the better regular season record, and had the better MVP candidate in Paul.  This is however the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.  Everybody should be required to call them “defending champion” until they lose.  Nobody would