It appears that the match up that the whole world is waiting for will take place in a few weeks.  The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by NBA League MVP, LeBron James, have swept by both the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks into a semi-final series with the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  Out in the West, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers survived a scare from the Houston Rockets to cop a seven game series.  Their opponent, the Denver Nuggets, have had an easier way with their opponents, sweeping New Orleans before besting Dallas in five games.

So, the semis are set – Cleveland vs. Orlando in the East, and Los Angeles vs. Denver in the West.  If all goes true to form, we’ll see the Lakers against the Cavs in the NBA finals.  But, hold on a minute!  The Nuggets and the Magic will not make it easy on these teams.  Orlando is coming off an exciting seven game series win over the defending champs, the Boston Celtics, defeating them in game 7 in Boston , not an easy feat by any means.

In the West, the Nuggets, led by Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, have all the necessary ingredients to make this another long series for the Lakers who, despite having a talent-laden team don’t appear to have the killer instinct.  Kobe Bryant of the Lakers will be put to the test by a bevy of defensive stalwarts for Denver .  Figure this series to go the full seven games.

The online gambling sportsbook lines have now established the Cavs as even money to take the crown while the Lakers stand at 3:2 odds at this time.  Denver is moving up fast at 6:1, and the Magic can be had at 15:1 in the online sportsbook gambling casinosgambling casinos.  If you’re looking for a long shot, you won’t make any money on the NBA championship this year because the finals will be contested between Cleveland and Los Angeles , just as the Guru predicted in the pre-season.

Look for the NBA Championship round to be hotly contested, but the Lakers have the edge in too many head-to-head match ups to fail.  It’ll be Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers taking the NBA Championship in six games, and bringing home the title for L.A. one more time. 

In the Belmont Stakes, it’s Mine That Bird by three lengths, and you can take that to the bank!