Game 1 of the NBA Finals is only hours away so this blog is going to focus on the breakdown of the series.

Before I get started on that, I want to give my thoughts on the new steroid story. If you have not heard yet, the feds came to Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley about steroids and human growth hormones (HGH). The agents raided his house and got him to admit that he used HGH supplements in his career. The reason they came to Grimsley was that they were attempting to find more information about Barry Bonds and roids. Is the United States so perfect that they are spending time, money, agents and manpower on the everlasting issue of cheating in sports (especially baseball)? I understand that Bud Selig is as bad of a commissioner as Jessica Simpson is an actor, but you’re telling me that steroids and cheating has gotten so out of hand that the feds are doing more research than the MLB? With Grimsley admitting to using HGH in his career, this has the potential to become the biggest scandal in the “Steroid Era” of baseball. If the feds succeed in their goal, trying to prove that Bonds cheated, it will put a black eye on baseball like never before.

How about the kids? What the Grimsely story shows to kids is that it is okay to cheat in sports, life, school, etc. long as you have a good motive behind it. Barry Bonds allegedly cheated because he wanted to out shine Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. One can assume that Grimsely cheated because he was tried of being a mediocre pitcher that was not making enough money. No matter what the reasons were, he knowingly cheated because the MLB does not test for HGH. Some young high school player or minor leaguer will look at this case and say that it is okay to take steroids long as you no one catches you. What about in real life? Everyone wants to make more money. What if someone says they will give you $5 million for you business but you will be labeled as a cheater and a fake in the NATIONAL MEDIA. You will be bothered by the feds throughout your life and your family will obviously take some abuse from the incident. Would you take it?

NBA Finals

The finals start in few hours so I want to break down some match-ups and give you my predictions for the finals.

· Point Guard: Devin Harris vs. Jason Williams

o This is a toss up because both guards are as inconsistent as MLB on the steroids issue. Devin Harris did a good job against the Spurs and their slower players but had a hard time against the up and down Suns. Jason Williams’ role on the Heat is simple, get assists and keep your turnovers to a minimal. The Heat do not need Williams to score many points but rather run the offense. The Mavericks need Harris to cause havoc against defenses and that’s it. If he scores 30, great, and if he doesn’t, no problem. This is a hard match up to take but I have take Williams in this match up because of his role. Jason Williams is no longer the flashy guard who gets many turnovers and makes bad decisions. PICK: Jason Williams

· Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade vs. Jason Terry.

o Is there any reason to discuss this one? Jason Terry is a great player and all but this post season Wade has pushed himself into that elite “go to guy” class. Terry has stretches where he is unstoppable and gives opposing head coaches headaches. HOWEVER, Terry looked like a sub-par player who starred for the Hawks and could not get anything to go against the Suns in the first half. Dwayne Wade single handedly ended the era of the new bad boy Pistons. Wade showed the whole world that Billups and Hamilton really can’t shut down every player in the league. PICK: Wade

· Small Forward: James Posey/Antoine Walker vs. Josh Howard

o I feel that Riley will start Posey before this series is over so I’m putting him in the comparison spot. Walker is going to be a nice spark as a shooter and rebounder but he is not fast enough to stay with the Mavs’ players. For what it’s worth, Howard will be guarding Wade a lot more than Terry. Howard is the new era Scottie Pippen. He can do anything you want him to. Obviously, he will not be Pippen but he sure plays the same role as Pipp for the Mavericks. Howard can guard a point, shooting and small forward. James Posey has not been a pushover at all. I’m surprised he is doing so well with his reputation of being a stubborn player who did not get down and dirty. Posey will hit some big shots in this series but in this match up Howard wins. Pick: Howard

· Power Forward: Udonis Haslem vs. Dirk Nowitzki

o Plain and simple, Udonis is the better forward. Got yah, just checking to see who is still reading. Dirk is a better forward in this match up, series and the playoffs. Do not underestimate Haslem just yet. He is an athletic player who can focus all of his energy on guarding Dirk and not scoring. Dirk has to put up 25 or more for the Mavs to make this a good series. Pick: Dirk

· Centers: Shaq vs Eric Dampier/ DeSagana Diop

o I admit it; I was one of the many who said Shaq is done during the regular season. Boy was I wrong. Shaq saved himself for the playoffs and showed a lot. He had his problems against the Bulls until the figured out the tempo and the fact that he was bigger than their whole backcourt combined. Shaq has to dominate Dampier after all the WNBA talk he put towards Damp’s way. I am not going to waste time on talking about the Dallas’ centers. They are going to be in foul trouble faster than Paris Hilton catching an STD. Pick: Shaq

· Coaches: Pat Riley vs. Avery Johnson

o SHOCKER! I would take Riley in this category, if this were 19 years ago. Cut me some slack, Riley is not the better coach in this one. Avery out coached the best coach in the playoffs, Greg Popp. Pat Riley did coach the Heat to beat the Pistons but remember, Mike Brown (who? Cav’s coach) was one game away from eliminating the Pistons. Pick: Avery Johnson

· Bench: Heat vs. Mavericks

o Both benches are loaded. For the Heat you have Alonzo, Payton and Posey/Walker. For the Mavs you have Stackhouse, Marquies Daniels and Keith “pay me $15 million for five points a game” Van Horn. Look for Shandon Anderson to guard Dirk some. I like Mourning in this series a lot because this is his final chance to win a ring. He is going to play his heart off. For me the bench comes down to one player, Stackhouse. If Stack keeps nailing big time jumpers for the Mavs, the Heat are going to have a hard time winning the series. Pick: Push

As much as I hate Shaq (read earlier blogs), I’m taking the Heat to win this series in six games. Wade is going to be too much for the Mavs in addition to a RESTED Shaq. Obviously, my analysis is going to change from game to game but right now, I like the Heat to win it. Look for Mark Cuban to do something extremely stupid during the series that will once again take away attention away from his team. Step one, Cuban is updating his blog at halftime. I guess I’m in the minority of people who do not like the fact that he is doing all of this.

I’m writing this blog as the pre-game show is on. How sad is this? The Dallas Mavericks are in the NBA Finals and have a great player in Dirk but for some reason the last week has been about Mark Cuban and his childish ways. Cut the crap. Mark Cuban is a self-absorbed, arrogant owner who takes away attention from his great team with his outlandish ways. I respect the fact that he made the Mavericks a player’s team but come on, do you really need to say something stupid every time Dirk does not get a call? Mark Cuban, its time to step away and let your team get their much-deserved attention. Let’s look at some teams who won the NBA Title recently and if their owners demand as much attention as Cuban. Spurs, Pistons, Lakers, Bulls and the Rockets. Mark Cuban is a joke. Let it go Mark, you are not one of the players.