Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5 over NEW YORK KNICKS

LeBron’s arrival in New York tonight will spark a huge rally of reporters begging the question, “Are you signing in 2010 with the Knicks?!?!” That’s an unfair question to ask the world’s second-best player while he’s currently playing for his home-state team. Besides, he’s never voiced an opinion either way as to where he wants to go. The bright lights of the Big Apple are certainly enticing, but Detroit and New Jersey have also been on the map. Cleveland’s also in the mix, don’t forget!

While we’ll have tons of betting futures focused on the Summer of 2010 and the free-agent frenzy that is about to ensue, the more pertinent issue here is that of the once capable Knicks falling in to disarray after trading away Crawford and Zach Randolph. The Knicks, who lead the league in scoring with 105.2 points per game, are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games against the Cavs. But without Randolph spelling the Wallace-Big Z combination and no clear defender capable of containing an overzealous LeBron, the Knicks don’t stand a chance.

Then again, it is possible that LeBron might be fazed by the media onslaught. Or is it? The kid has been in the spotlight since he was a teenager. Do you really think a couple microphones and some naggy reports are going to topple the King as he visits New York tonight? Don’t bet on it.