This guest post comes from Michael, a contributing editor of the Dough Roller, a personal finance and investing blog, and Credit Card Offers IQ, a credit card review site.

If you have been following the NBA season this year, you are well familiar with the futility of the NJ Nets.  Their current record of 1-19 has allowed them to set the NBA record for the worst start to a season and just last week they fired their arguably excellent coach in Lawrence Frank.  With the team spinning completely out of control, president Bruce Ratner has put together a plan of action to save the team, which includes a new arena in Brooklyn and a new owner in billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.  The problem was that there didn’t seem to be any available land in Brooklyn but not to worry, money moves mountains and in this case, families.

The decision was made to develop the new stadium, apartment complex and office towers within an area of land already inhabited by 150 residents of Brooklyn.  In order to remove these residents, the state of New York would have to exercise eminent domain, the law that allows for state and federal government to seize private property in order for the “greater good”.  Throughout American history, eminent domain has been used to build railroads, government buildings and other extremely necessary projects, however I would argue that a complex for a very terrible NBA franchise does not belong on the list.

However, the high courts of the state of New York disagreed with me and recently ruled that the private property could be seized, with appropriate restitution and development would begin on schedule, should a few criteria be met.  Whether I like it or not, families will be forced to leave their homes in a few months, even if they have not found new ones.   Why?  So the win-less Nets can build a new torture house where they never win and charge $250 for lower level seats. Comon.

I’m originally from New Jersey, attending many Nets games simply because I have a good friend that works for them.  I’ve seen the arena completely empty on almost every occasion and I know that if this act moves to Brooklyn, the same tragedy will occur.  Sure, we can expect the arena to sell out initially as the hype of a new professional sports team enters the area but after a few years of 30-52 seasons, the Nets will be no better off and the families that were displaced are certainly no better off.

So if you are outraged like I, leave a comment and let us know.  While eminent domain has been a valuable execution method in creating jobs and building our nations economy, sometimes it can simply be flat out wrong.  If the Nets want to move, let em move … but make it somewhere that allows families to keep their homes!

Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons to face Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Orlando is making their first trip this Century to the Eastern Conference Finals and was able to outlast the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics in their last series. Led by Dwight Howard, the Magic looked as if they were going to finish with the leagues best record, however they nestled into the 3^rd spot in the East. The Cavaliers finished with the East’s best record and an amazingly impressive 39-2 Home Regular Season Record. (It should be noted that they could have easily finished 40-1, however they rested nearly everyone in their last regular season game)

When you think Cleveland Cavaliers, only one name usually comes to mind, however this season, Cleveland seems to have two consistent performers in Lebron James and Mo Williams (Sorry Milwaukee … you messed up again). Both can drive it inside as well as provide pop from the perimeter and have been nearly impossible to shut down for one game, let alone a series. Getting quality minutes from bigs Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Andersen Varejao and Joe Smith has not been a problem for Cleveland but going up against the frontline of Orlando could prove to be an issue.

Speaking of the front line of Orlando, it begins and ends with Dwight Howard. Howard was a raw talent coming directly from High School and after a few years in the league is unarguably the most dominant big man in the NBA. Dwight should have little trouble averaging a heavy double double in the series but will need the help of his supporting cast to get by the best team in the East (Boston, when you lost Garnett and Powe, you moved to the 3 slot in my opinion). Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu will provide the perimeter play while Rafer Alston runs the point. Not much outside of those four for Orlando, (Sorry Courtney Lee, not yet) so these guys NEED to be on for the Magic to have a shot.

Cleveland’s defense has been the best all season and although Howard will cause a serious problem underneath, the depth and experience of Cleveland will prove to be far too much for the Magic to handle. Expect the games to be competitive, but for the series to be short.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers in Five games.

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The top two seeds in the Western Conference square off for what is sure to be a nail-biter right down to the end. Finishing with the best record in the West, the Lakers have backed their way into the conference finals for the 6th time this decade (‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘04, ‘08, ‘09) and for the 29th overall time in their History. Led by adulterer Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles barely squeaked by a much-depleted Houston Rockets squad. On the other side of the coin, you have the surging Nuggets of Denver who have dispatched of both the Hornets and Mavericks in 5 games. Led by Carmello Anthony, the Nuggets are looking as if their best basketball is yet to come.

Chauncey Billups leads the point for Denver, and was an early season acquisition that has surely paid off for the Nuggets. Denver fans were scratching their heads when Allen Iverson came over for then point guard Andre Miller, and only after ridding themselves of the wrong “Answer” have they finally made the Western Conference finals. With a supporting cast of Nene, Keynon Martin and sharpshooter J.R. Smith, the Nuggets have surprised most with their late season run.

Andrew Bynum’s much anticipated return has not provided the major boost that many thought it would. However, the Lakers have not had a shortage of big time role players this season. Trevor Ariza and Josh Powell have provided valuable minutes down the stretch, and with three tree trunks in the starting line-up (Bynum, Odom, Gasol), the Lakers will surely be the favorite going in.

That’s-All-Folks.com had an amazing record in the 2009 NCAA Tournament (14-1 from the Sweet 16 to the Championship Game) and we expect to continue on that mark with three correct predictions to close out the NBA season. I have not been impressed with the Lakers play this postseason and the Nuggets are peaking at just the right time.

Prediction: Denver Nuggets in Six games

* Game 4 of the Western Conference  Finals is up in the air right now as the Nuggets have rented out the Pepsi Center to WWE Raw. Vince McMahon refuses to re-schedule the event, as it has been booked since the summer of last year, and David Stern clearly stated, “The playoff dates will not be changed.” Let’s see which tough guy blinks first.

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