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I know I am late to this party and someone has already probably posted this exact thing, but I feel like a massive realignment is coming as the Big Ten expands. I think the result will be four “mega” conferences. This means that a national semifinal game becomes easy and we can have a four team playoff.

Here is how I envision the conferences look. The ACC may be called something else, but since most of the teams there came from the ACC I still called it that.

I felt like 16 teams in each conference makes sense. Then split each into two divisions. Each team could play 7 intradivision games and 5 interdivision games. No more D2 cupcakes. Four conference title games among division winners. Then the four conference winners would face each other in semifinal games. Seeding would go by regular season record so that there is extra reward for winning lots of games.

Two teams got dropped to make this work, Iowa St. and Rutgers. This is probably what makes my scenario unlikely. But I needed it to work out to a number divisible by 4. Better suggestions?

I really believe the four mega conference scenario is where we are going. It is going to be triggered by expansion and would then allow for an easy 4 team playoff.

The problem is that non-BCS schools are totally out of the picture. And the bowl games would need some tweaking. Some out of conference rivalries and teams that change conference rivalries get eliminated.

So this is probably mostly crazy talk. But it’s fun to speculate.

It’s interesting to me that Bosh would be so public about his desire to only play for five teams. It could limit his negotiating potential. I can’t see the Lakers picking him up with Gasol and Bynum in the fold. The only way he re-signs with Toronto is if no one else wants him (because they can offer him a max deal). I had him pegged for the Knicks and I still think that is where he ends up.

This is great. Byrnes had pretty much hit rock bottom this season and the Seattle Mariners cut him loose. Since he was still making $11 million he figured he would go play softball with his friends.

I think it would be awesome to watch this. I don’t know how competitive the league is, but I assure you that Byrnes could probably hit a home run just about every time up. If you have ever seen like the 12th man on an NBA team dominate at a local gym, you know what I mean.

It makes me so excited Kiffin is making so much money. It will be that much more glorious when he runs USC into the ground. Are we betting on some sort of scandal or just horrible coaching?

Bill Simmons wrote a great piece on LeBron James and who he is and what his decision might look like this summer. I think he is spot on. James showed us he is not the guy we thought he was by basically giving up and not making his team at least go the distance against the Celtics. And he again says that the Bulls are the best option. Let’s hope he is right.

This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. This Orlando Magic writer (tries) to justify his for Dwight Howard for MVP. I wish I could quote this entire article, but lets take it piece by piece.

As in the Howard, the wrecking ball of a center in the regular season and not the frustrated, foul-prone one in the first-round of the playoffs. The rest of my MVP ballot read like this: 2. James; 3. Kobe Bryant; 4. Kevin Durant; 5. Dwyane Wade.

So John Denton immediately acknowledges one problem, Howard’s inability to deliver in the playoffs. One of my problems with MVP voting is that it happens before the playoffs, which is when you truly found out who is valuable. Howard has yet to play 30 minutes in a playoff game this year.

While I admit that there is some conflict of interest there with my work as a writer for orlandomagic.com, I just don’t think it’s that egregious to think that Howard – and not James – could actually be the best player in the world.

This part is such lunacy that I don’t even know if I should bother talking about it. I highly doubt you will find any basketball fan outside of Orlando who would even give this argument any thought.

When you look at how the actual voting went – James, Durant, Bryant and then Howard – it’s easy to see that scoring is thought to be the most important category in the NBA. Defense might win championships, but it won’t win you a trophy case full of MVP trophies. Durant, James and Bryant finished first, second and fourth in the league in scoring this season.

I guess I am at least willing to concede that defense makes an impact on championships. Of the last 10 NBA champs, six finished in the top 10 in defensive points allowed, two finished #1. But 5 champs finished in the top 10 in offensive scoring. Only one (the ’99 Lakers) finished in the top 10 in both. So I think it’s safer to say that being one of the best in offense OR defense wins championships.

The NBA’s MVP is quickly becoming the Heisman Trophy of individual awards. In college football, quarterbacks and running backs are basically the only ones up for the award. And in the NBA, if you aren’t a high scoring wing player, you apparently have no shot at winning the top individual honor. Clearly, it’s defense by damned.

Easily the thinnest argument of the article. Your last 10 NBA MVPs: Lebron (twice), Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitski, Steve Nash (twice), Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan (twice) and Allen Iverson. Iverson is the only one on that list to lead the league in scoring. When Garnett won, he lead the league in rebounding. Kobe finished 5th in steals. Nash led the league in assists both years and has NEVER finished in the top 10 in scoring. And the two years Duncan won it, he was in the 5 in both rebounds and blocks both years.

And unlike James, who took six games off down the stretch, Howard played all 82 games for a fifth time in his six-year career. Night-in, night-out he was an anchor for a 59-win Magic team that lost Rashard Lewis to a 10-game suspension early in the season, was without Jameer Nelson because of knee surgery early on and had to endure a horrid January from Vince Carter.

Another rough argument. Yeah, James “took 6 games off” down the stretch because he led his team to the NBA’s best record by a mile. And the argument that Howard does it “night in, and night out” is funny because he averages 5 less minutes per game than James. Basketball Reference has a stat called USG%, that is basically “an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor.” James’ number was 33%, Howard’s was 23%. Essentially meaning that James is involved on 10% more of his team’s offensive plays. So I would say the demand for James is higher every night.

And I know the award is based on this past season alone, but I do think it’s worth noting that it was Howard’s Magic — and not James’ Cavs — who emerged from the Eastern Conference last spring. Not that you’d know that by listening to the talking heads on ABC or TNT.

So if the award is only based on this year AND you went out of your way to point out that we should ignore this year’s playoffs, how can you even make this reference? And I think most people would argue that Hedo Turkoglu was the biggest reason the Magic went far last year. He was their MVP last year during the playoffs.

Dwight Howard is a very good player. Maybe the best defensive player in the league. But Dikembe Mutombo finished in the top 10 in rebounds and blocks 11 times in his career. He only got MVP votes once.

Howard makes his team better, mostly because they are designed for either him to be isolated one on one or when he draws a double team, for him to kick it out and have his team shoot threes. But in the NBA, where there are only 5 guys on the floor, you have to extract a single player and look at what he would do on other teams. No team was taking Mutombo over Jordan because of his defense and down low presence. You are taking the guy who’s hands you put the ball in in the last minute. Not a guy who is foul trouble constantly. Outside of the Orlando Magic, there isn’t a single team that picks Howard over LeBron if they had their choice.

(via Bill Simmons)

I thought I would try my luck at predicting where the top 6 NBA free agents (I consider that to be the top tier) where end up.

First the guys who didn’t make the cut:

• Yao Ming: A top guy are marketing alone, but after missing the entire season it’s unlikely anyone maxes out on him unless it’s Houston. He stays put.
• Carlos Boozer: Injury problems, plus he is undersized. He will be a consolation prize to someone with cap room who loses out to the big names. I think he ends up in a sign and trade.
• Paul Pierce: The last of the current “stars” on the list. Almost a lock to resign with Boston unless he wants to take a big pay cut.

1. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers

I know it’s boring to start out with LeBron staying with his current team, but I think that’s what happens. Pretty much regardless of what happens to the Cavs I think they re-sign him. It’s questionable how long Jamison can be the #2, but Varejao and Mo Williams are solid role players.

Other Options: New York, Chicago, New Jersey. Most people think the Knicks is where he will go, but unless they get Wade or Bosh too that team is not going to be good enough for him to pick over his homestate Cavs. Chicago has Noah and Rose who are unselfish, “just want to win” guys. New Jersey has tons of cap space, Russian Mark Cuban and Jay Z.

2. Dwyane Wade – Chicago Bulls

When the Heat drafted Michael Beasley I would have bet the farm Wade would stay. But Beasley has been a train wreck. Bill Simmons’ has thrown the sign and trade out there for Amare to come to Phoenix for Beasley and others. Ultimately Wade is going to see Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in his hometown and make the move. Unless Wade can end up somewhere with LeBron (which I don’t think is possible) it’s Chicago or…

Other Option: Miami Heat. A city everyone wants to be in that loves him. Still the possibility that Beasley and Mario Chalmers become real players. Jermaine O’Neal’s contract freeing up money for a big name.

3. Chris Bosh – New York Knicks

I think the Knicks will lose out on LeBron and pick up Bosh and Joe Johnson instead. Bosh is a 100% lock to leave Toronto. I think that he ends up in New York regardless of what happens with anyone else, either with LeBron or Johnson.

Second choice: Miami Heat. New Jersey. I think if he doesn’t end up in NYC he ends up in Miami. Either alongside Wade or replacing him as the star. I think it would be hilarious to see him and Beasley run the Heat into the ground together. New Jersey for the same reasons as LeBron.

4. Dirk Nowitski – Dallas Mavericks

Dirk has to opt out but it seems like he is at least thinking about it. I think ultimately he doesn’t want to roll the dice with all the big names out there this year. Assuming everyone else on this list opts out, Dirk may only be behind Tony Parker and Carmelo Anthony (who has to opt out next year) on the pecking order. I think it seems more likely he waits until then.

Other option. Oklahoma City. Time to get crazy! Ponder this for a second. Dirk wants to win. He is going to see how good OKC is this year in the playoffs. He is going to realize that he could go there and share the spotlight with Durant and maybe end up the 2nd option where he could dominate. With his size and shooting ability he is going to let the Thunder spread the floor to the extreme.

5. Joe Johnson – New York Knicks

I think it’s going to be hilarious watching the Knicks try to sell fans on Johnson & Bosh instead of LeBron. Johnson is going to be the consolation prize to whoever misses out on Wade and LeBron. NY seems like the most logical choice, but it could be…

Other Options: Chicago Bulls. New Jersey. If the Bulls miss out on Wade and LeBron, Johnson makes sense on some levels. I think that they need a low-post scorer more than a swingman but who knows. NJ has tons of cap room so if he can’t get a max deal anywhere else, I think that’s the selling point.

6. Amare Stoudemire – Miami Heat

Assuming Wade leaves and Bosh ends up elsewhere, I think Amare is the kind of guy they go after. They will have to show they are trying and will make a mistake here (just like they would with Bosh). Amare will ultimately end up with the highest bidder.

Other Options: New Jersey Nets or the Highest Bidder. Heres the thing, if the new Nets owner is really “Russian Mark Cuban” he isn’t dumb enough to make this move. But the Nets have tons of cap space and the new owner may want to make a splash. Amare is the most likely guy to just take the money and run. If he wanted to win he would stay in Phoenix. I think he will go where he can.

They expanded the rosters and will always use the DH. Expanding the rosters is so idiotic. I know that this game “means something” so the teams play to win, but seriously, why is this necessary? The NBA finds a way to make it work, and the free substitution definitely helps, but seriously I would rather seem them just say “this guy plays first 4 innings, you play next 1/2, etc.” Then just save a couple of guys for injuries or whatever. If you have 20 position players and are obligated to play them all, it just get’s stupid.

There’s a strong possibility everyone has seen this by now, but it’s pretty awesome. During a rain delay in a college game, the two teams took turns entertaining the crowd with all kinds of skits and dances. It looks like there were only like 10 fans in the place so many they were mostly entertaining each other, but it’s pretty awesome anyway.

Last week White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski appeared to be hit by a pitch and hobbled to first base. The replays showed that A.J. clearly had not been hit by the ball and the fact that he was faking like his foot hurt was somewhat ridiculous. But to imply players should be punished for such things is somewhat ridiculous.

One, if Pierzynski wasn’t hit, it’s very clear that he did, indeed, lie. It’s not as if the pitch was close to his foot, the umpire told him to take his base and he sort of shrugged, “OK, if you say so.” He scampered out of the box, then hopped around like something was fractured.

And two, I wasn’t suggesting that Pierzynski should have been, or should be, punished. I’m arguing that there should be a mechanism to punish players for doing what Pierzynski did. It would be tough for the umpires on the field to levy this punishment, because a player probably wouldn’t lie unless he was 95-percent sure the umpires couldn’t catch him. What I’m suggesting is a post facto punishment, in the form of a suspension.

Players (in all sports) get the benefits of wrong or inaccurate calls ALL the time. How many times have we seen a replay where the official got the call wrong? I realize that most sports plays happen in just a few seconds, so sometimes a player probably does believe that he caught the ball or was safe or whatever, even though the replay will show he is wrong.

The biggest problem would be proving that the player was actually lying. In this case it seems pretty obvious that A.J. was lying. But it is possible that the ball grazed his foot and he just embellished it a bit. Is this any different than an NBA player making it look like he is hurt after flopping on a charge?

We have referees and umpires for a reason. If they aren’t smart enough to see things like this happen, either replace them, or accept it as part of the game.