2011-12 NBA Predictions: Quick—We can still get a season in!

I had been toying with what I would say when jumping straight to "Final Thoughts on" this basketball season, when lo and behold, the NBA lockout finally ended and now the season will tip off on Christmas Day. And a number of people are genuinely excited about it. One friend as well as one radio personality have already said the NBA should start on December 25 every, although considering the money issue we just came out of, it's probably not real wise to ask the players to get paid for 16 less games a year every season.

Still, this little mad rush to the playoffs should be interesting, and judging by preseason television ratings, the numbers should be astounding. And with the Chris Paul-to-the-Lakers deal killed by the commissioner in a somewhat disturbing display of power, it's now the other Los Angeles team that people are talking about.

There were a number of familiar faces being shuffled around just as soon as the moving could begin again, but yet we find ourselves once again asking that same eternal question: Will this be the year for LeBron?

A majority of the early predictions I've seen indicate it will, it's either the Heat or the Thunder. So who do I go with?

The Bears' Third Quarter: You can only be so lucky for so long

I suppose that if you're just looking at the graphic, then the improvement in the standings would lead you to believe that things are trending upward. Of course, I tried to wedge the assumed moments that injured two of the team's most valuable players. The Packers have already clinched the division and, hell, it probably won't be long before many of us start hoping they'll finally be able to send those miserable old '72 Dolphins to their graves having to know that they were not, as it turned out, the only team to have a perfect season.

Still, as unbelievably unfortunate as things have gone for the Bears in this last stretch, there remains a possibility of the playoffs. And maybe with Matt Forte and Jay Cutler back, it would be undeniably joyous if Chicago, lo and behold, were the team to end the Green Bay dreams of a flawless repeat.

How realistic are thoughts about the playoffs now? That's debatable. In all likelihood, it only seems destined to make the season a one-and-done year with an immediate exit. If the team can grab the fifth instead of the sixth spot, maybe they can hold their own against whomever comes out of the East. But the concern seems more about getting into the playoffs. It's hard to imagine much beyond that when lately, it just seems like things are not going to go your way.

The Blackhawks' First Quarter: Second to none (for now)

The Hawks reached the quarter mark in the season while I was in Chicago, actually. Still, much like I've done for the other 20 games this year, I listened on the radio to every awful goal of a 9-2 shellacking from the Oilers. I suppose I was once again in that bed in the basement, just like I was oh so often during that Stanley Cup season. And damned if this team didn't get off to an otherwise pretty damn good start to this year's run.

Whereas your author said something about how he'd "be surprised if they didn't have a little stumbling out of the gate," well ... color me surprised, I guess. I wouldn't rush to say that my pre-season pick of Detroit still taking the division should be dismissed just yet, but the team is still in a better spot than I had originally anticipated. But who really knew the Jackets would be that bad?

The schedule's going to start getting tougher and this is the portion of the year where you wince and hope whomever gets hurt isn't out for too long. I suppose I've had my complaints about some of the defense thus far this year, but overall the feeling is fairly optimistic.