One of my favorite shows is TNT’s Inside The NBA.

Host Ernie Johnson and NBA analysts Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Charles Barkley not only talk basketball, but the show is funny. Tonight was no execption.

They ended the show with having Kenny and Chuck guess the nicknames of the 16 D-League teams. Now they put some fake nicknames to throw Kenny and Charles off and it worked, but Charles won the competition with getting two of the eight nicknames right. Kenny was an unfortuante 0-for-8.

So you’re probably wondering if Charles got the Erie BayHawks right.

He didn’t.

Barkley thought they were the Erie Flash. It’s the Utah Flash, but at least he didn’t think they were the Erie Lobsters.

Good stuff. Here’s the video. Might have to search for it below the main screen, but it’s worth it.

Check out LeBron James’ new commercial by Nike.

Notice how he says “I am not a role model.” That’s a left hook aimed squarely at Charles Barkley, who said James can no longer be put in the “Michael Jordan conversation.”

Check out that Witness banner falling? Was that to the city of Cleveland, the Cavaliers or both? Or Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert?

Very interesting. Very.

Sometimes you need the entire team to guard Kobe Bryant.

In the aftermath of the report of Kobe Bryant saying he’d beat LeBron James in a game of 1-on-1, I figured I’d begin my NBA greatest of the greats list naming the 10 best 1-on-1 players in NBA history.

The video you’ll see by clicking on the link above dates his comments back to May 2, 2010 in London. So this is old news, but let’s get back to the list. I’m going to go from 10 to 1.

Just so it’s known right now, these 10 guys didn’t make the final cut: James, Dwyane Wade, George Gervin, Paul Pierce, Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

Had to cut somewhere.

Before revealing the list, I ask that you voice your opinions on the list by leaving comments. Tell me I suck. Tell me I hit the money. Tell me I look sharp of silly in my blog photo. Let’s get some chatter chatter going here.

Here we go.

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Charles Barkley played with an elbow injury in the 1993 NBA Finals against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

Seeing LeBron James play through a right elbow injury for the Cleveland Cavaliers reminds me of a former NBA superstar who tried to win a championship with a bum bow: Charles Barkley.

When he led the Phoenix Suns to the 1993 NBA Finals, Barkley played through a painfully inflammed right elbow against the then two-time defending champion Chicago Bulls lead by Michael Jordan.

Barkley had a great series, but looking back on it, he wore this bulky wrap, didn’t play as good as he could have and the Bulls won the series in six games by winning Game 6 in Phoenix.

Want to talk parallels between Barkley and James in this situation.

1). James will win his second league MVP award this season and Barkley was the NBA MVP in 1993.

 2). The Suns had home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and the Cavaliers have it in this season’s playoffs.

 3). That was Phoenix’s best chance to win a title with Barkley and this may be Cleveland’s last chance to win one if James decides to sign with another team after this season.

Charles Barkley's prediction came true.

Oh Chuck.

You were right.

Got to give the big Hall of Famer props for predicting the Orlando Magic would beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. I’ll admit I thought he was crazy at first.

Then once I took in what Charles Barkley said about Orlando having matchups in its favor, it made more sense, but I still thought Cleveland would win the series.

So kudos to Barkley.

Charles Barkley is at it again Cleveland fans.

Charles Barkley said it.

Right after the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics on Sunday to win the Eastern Conference semifinal series in seven games, the Hall of Famer said the Magic will beat the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, which begins Wednesday in Cleveland.

After getting ribbed by Kenny Smith and Chris Webber on the TNT set for making the prediction, Barkley said the only way Cleveland can win is if “LeBron James goes ballistic.”

Oh boy.

Oh Chuck.

Stephon Marbury looked like the Marbury of old in helping Boston win Game 5 Tuesday.

The defending world champions aren’t folding.

Not at all.

In a pivotal Game 5 Tuesday night in Boston, the Celtics came back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Orlando Magic, 92-88, to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Without Kevin Garnett, the Celtics are just winning these games on sheer guts.

Paul Pierce looks gassed most of the time. Ray Allen isn’t shooting consistently and their bench has been suspect, but the Celtics are finding ways to win.

On Tuesday night, they got a big game from Stephon Marbury, who scored all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter.

To put it bluntly, Doc Rivers is giving Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy a coaching lesson.

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According to news reports, LeBron James will claim his first NBA MVP award.

LeBron James will be named the 2009 NBA MVP later today, several news services have reported.

No surprise here. The NBA has announced a press conference for today at 4 p.m. at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio where James went to high school.

In a three-man race for the honor, James, who is in his sixth season, had a better year than Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade and the Cleveland Cavaliers finished the regular season with the NBA’s best record at 66-16.

James averaged 28.4 points, 7.6. rebounds and 7.2 assists. James also finished second behind Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard for league defensive player of the year honors this season.

Now can he finish this thing off and lead the Cavaliers to an NBA title this year?

Just remember this?

When Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and other guys won the MVP award, it inspired that guy named Michael Jordan. So when Jordan faced Barkley and Malone in the NBA Finals, he crushed them.

Don’t think Bryant wouldn’t relish in that same situation if he and James meet in the finals this year.

Just keep that in mind.