As the days are marching on toward the opening of another brutally long, however exciting NBA season, the NBA preview/prediction blogs are coming out of the woodwork.  That's great.  Everybody loves predictions, and the best thing about them are, when you're wrong, no one remembers except for you.  They are risk-free.  However, please spare us, the reading public, the same boring information time after time after time.  So, I've gone to not-so great lengths to come up with just a few sets of criteria for you before you post an NBA preview.

Rule 1 - Whatever you decide to list, make it original.  If you think the Heat, Mavericks, Spurs, or Suns are going to win the NBA title, save it!  We can read these previews on ESPN, Fox Sports, the Sporting News, or countless other media outlets that hire better writers than you to make better points than you that come to the same boring conclusion.

Rule 2 - Don't tell us how good LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are.  We already know.  You can't give us a stat we haven't already heard, and even if you can, it won't change our opinion.  If you want to slurp someone, pick Kobe, Tim Duncan, or better yet Elton Brand or some other fresh face.  Yes, we've heard Kobe and T.D. before too, but its certainly not as played out.  We all watched the playoffs last year.  Wade and LeBron are good.  Next!

Rule 3 - If you picked the Dolphins to go to the Super Bowl, then don't bother trying to convince me that the Bulls are going to the Finals.  While its better than picking the Heat, not much.  The sheik pick isn't much more appealing than the defending champs.  Heaven help us when we've come to the point that talking about the Pistons would be a refreshing change. 

Rule 4 - Don't pick on the Knicks.  I know.  I know.  It's your favorite, not-so-secret little dirty, but it's over.  The Knicks are a dead story (but please still read my Knicks preview coming soon :-).  Starbury and Franchise have enough to worry about without some other amateur ripping them for the 728,458th time.  Please, give it a rest!

Rule 5 - If you're going to "break-down" the conferences, then BREAK THEM DOWN!  I don't want to read two sentences about how I should watch out for the Middle American Hornets because Chris Paul is better than the sophomore jinx.  I'd rather read one analysis about one team that teaches me something than a blurb about every team with information I could get from clicking on NBA.com. 

Rule 6 - Finally, have the bias of a fan, unless you're not.  The thing that seperates amateur bloggers from professional sportswriters is our (amateurs) unwillingness to give in to what we're "supposed to say" and lay it on the line like, dare I say, a fan.  We're fans for P.J. Carlisimo's sake!!  We say what we want.  If you think Steve Nash sucks, then say it (please provide some data to back up your claim, but in this day and age you can make stats say whatever you want).  Don't be afraid.  So what's the worst that can happen?  Steve Nash will win a third MVP and you look like an idiot?  Relax and read my introduction.  Everyone will forget anyway. 

With that in mind, 

New York Knicks over the Memphis Grizzlies in 6 games!

MVP - One word. . . STARBURY