Free picks # 1

Best: Heat @ Lakers: Kobe / Shaq, you know the deal. Let me describe what will happen. Kobe and Shaq are meeting in half court … there they go. They are almost there. And … Oh, Shaq walks away from Kobe. Let’s go to instant replay. Dammit! That’s some serious cold shoulder action. I don’t believe what I just saw. And of course, the series of interviews the couple were asked to do is just as interesting. “Have you forgiven Kobe Bryant for what he did?” “Kobe, who is Kobe. I don’t know anyone with that name.” “Kobe Bryant, your old teammate with the Lakers?” “La-la-la-la doesn’t listen. La-la-la-la can’t hear you.” Predicted score: Miami wins 103-99

Free picks # 2

Runner-up: Pacers @ Nets: Vince Carter is becoming an All-Star again and it shows in the rankings. However, they’ve lost a few games to Indiana lately, mainly because the Pacers are more physical. How are they going to stop Jermaine O’Neal? With all the injuries Indiana has, this is very likely to turn into a possible playoff showdown. Predicted score: Indiana wins 98-93

Free picks # 3

Blast: Celtics @ Pistons: Boston is weak at the greats positions, and now they go to a depleted crowd in Detroit to face Ben and Rasheed Wallace. Al Jefferson looks great in bits and pieces, but overall he has done a poor job holding the PF position. Just a hunch, but I hope Boston uses all 12 players. Predicted score: Detroit win 94-77