NBA 2011-12: The Rich Get Richer

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe National Basketball Association, fresh off a lockout of its players that nearly canceled the season, returns Christmas Day with a 66-game schedule.  That means, in order to get to the playoffs in late April, teams must now play three games in a row several times during the season.  It's great for hoops junkies, but not so much for teams with aging legs who might not be able to take the grind.

One of the things the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was supposed to fix was the migration of star players from small market teams to bigger cities and warmer climates.  It hasn't happened yet.  Chris Paul is the most notable example.  He was supposed to go in a trade from the New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers, but NBA commissioner David Stern--whose league owns the Hornets after the previous owner turned in the keys--vetoed the deal, presumably for the good of the sport.  Eventually, Paul did go to L.A.--the Clippers, not the Lakers--leaving Kobe Bryant a bit upset.  Let's just say this was not Stern's finest moment.

The Lakers did send Lamar Odom to the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, which means wife Khloe Kardashian will have to make a few visits to Yee Haw, Texas.  Sister Kim's soon-to-be-ex Kris Humphries is still playing for the New Jersey Nets, and is apparently not well-liked by the rest of the league.  Ron Artest competed on "Dancing With The Stars", and has changed his name to Metta World Peace.  And Dwight Howard, who had been making noises about leaving Orlando, will play at least one more season for the Magic--unless he's traded by the time you see this.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, struggling to remain relevant after putting up the NBA's second-worst record last season, decided to make a few changes.  They said goodbye to coach Kurt Rambis (who landed in that ex-coaches rehab facility known as ESPN), and hello to Rick Adelman, who has had winning records with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.  They have added top draft pick Derrick Williams, J.J. Berea from the Mavericks (talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse), and Ricky Rubio to support its star Kevin Love.

All eyes are on Rubio, who had been playing in Europe the past two years since being drafted by the Wolves.  The transition to the NBA is not going to be easy, but if Rubio makes the grade, this will be general manager David Kahn's crowning moment.

The Wolves will not make the playoffs again this year, but they will be less awful than they have been, winning a few more games under Adelman.  Having swept the two-game preseason series with the Milwaukee Bucks, they seem to show a lot of promise.  Now let's see if they deliver.

Here's who we think will make the playoffs:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:  Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Bobcats.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:  Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns.