The NBA Draft Lottery goes down tonight and the many hopes and dreams of NBA franchises will either be made or crushed! The top prize this coming NBA Draft is once again going to be a pair of top freshmen in Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. Which NBA team will get the top prize of the first overall pick? We'll find out tonight!

In the meantime, About Basketball's Southwest Division expert, Chip Crain, takes a funny and sarcastic look at why each of the NBA lottery teams should get the top pick below.

Everyone says the lottery is rigged. It couldn’t just be coincidence that LeBron James ended up in his hometown of Cleveland or Patrick Ewing ended up in New York after all. The problem is answering why the NBA would choose a particular team to win the lottery.

Here are my best reasons for allowing each of the lottery teams to win this year. Some arguments are stronger than others, but each could be a determining factor.

1) Miami Heat - Is the league going to let a player (Dwyane Wade) they spent so much money promoting last season not get a partner to make the investment pay off? I don't think so.

2) Seattle SuperSonics - Moving to Oklahoma City (?!?!) doesn't make a team deserving of the top pick. Screwing Seattle for not building a new arena and sending a message to the rest of the league that they better not cross the NBA is a good reason.

3) Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin McHale struck a deal with the league to reinvigorate the Boston Celtics with the Kevin Garnett trade in exchange for the #1 pick this year.

4) Memphis Grizzlies - Grizzlies' GM Chris Wallace one-ups McHale's attempt to earn the top pick by doing the only deal possible that would insure the Los Angeles Lakers represents the Western Conference. This sets up the perfect Boston-LA NBA Finals matchup and makes the championship series one of the highest rated in history. By making sure the San Antonio Spurs or New Orleans Hornets don't represent the West the Grizz have earned the top pick.

5) New York Knicks - Now that the great embarrassment with Isiah Thomas is over in NYC, NBA Commissioner David Stern insures his favorite team returns to the playoffs by giving the Knicks the top pick. That is the only explanation for Donnie Walsh taking over there.

6) Los Angeles Clippers - By giving the Clippers the top pick it frees the Clippers to draft their new PF in Beasley and allow Elton Brand to finally move to a team where he can make some real money and be a big-time star like New York for instance. Stern would like that.

7) Milwaukee Bucks - Last season Milwaukee played the good soldiers and took the heat in beating down the Chinese attempt at a power play with Yi Jianlian. This year they are rewarded for their efforts.

8) Charlotte Bobcats - Michael Jordan can't be made to look this dumb for long. He is the face of the NBA. Besides, he won't blow the top pick twice will he?

9) Chicago Bulls - The Bulls led the league in attendance and have terrible point guards. Derrick Rose just happens to be a native of Chicago - can anyone say LeBron James?

10) New Jersey Nets - The team could move to Brooklyn and build a new arena but needs some support from the boys at NBA headquarters to support them in this endeavor. A top pick would be a pretty good signal of support.

11) Indiana Pacers - Attendance is down in the basketball-mad state of Indiana. Something is needed to jump start the fans out of their lethargy.

12) Sacramento Kings - Vegas is calling and the Malouf brothers are listening. The only way to get the fans back and conveniently kill the rumors of the team moving is to give the fans something to get excited about and any improvement over Beno Udrih should do that.

13) Portland Trail Blazers - Stern allows Portland to win again to throw the conspiracy theorists off the track. The only group that honestly believes that the Blazers deserve the top pick IS the Atheists of America Organization who believe this would be the final proof that there is no God.

14) Golden State Warriors - The real city of 'brotherly' love, the Warriors need a Rose (as in Derrick) to be on top of the team.

Thanks, Chip!

Charlie Zegers over at About College Basketball talks about the NBA age limit and how it's affecting college hoops. Give it a read as it adds another element about the NBA Draft to consider. And while you're at it, check out the latest NBA Mock Draft done by Charlie and myself, which will be done over after the lottery is decided. You only have to hold your breath a little longer because we'll soon be finding out who gets the number one pick and makes either Beasley or Rose theirs.

Here at About.com, we'll be following each day of the 2008 NBA Playoffs - nothing too in-depth with these posts, but a bit of a recap that gives a couple of brief sentences or so, the final results, as well as links to the boxscore.

San Antonio Spurs 91, New Orleans Hornets 82 @ New Orleans / Box Score

I will keep this short. Do. Not. Underestimate. The. Spurs.

Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Here at About.com, we'll be following each day of the 2008 NBA Playoffs - nothing too in-depth with these posts, but a bit of a recap that gives a couple of brief sentences or so, the final results, as well as links to the boxscore.

Cleveland Cavaliers 92, Boston Celtics 97 @ Boston / Box Score

The Cavs' LeBron James seemingly did all that he could do, scoring 45 points on 14-for-29 shooting, but it wasn't enough because Paul Pierce put out just as much of an effort in accumulating his 41 points on 13-for-23 shooting from the floor. This epic game sends the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals to play against the Detroit Pistons. Game one starts on Tuesday, but for the Cavs, rebuilding a team that can get back to the NBA Finals starts now. Celtics win series 4-3.

Photo: Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Here at About.com, we'll be following each day of the 2008 NBA Playoffs - nothing too in-depth with these posts, but a bit of a recap that gives a couple of brief sentences or so, the final results, as well as links to the boxscore.

Los Angeles Lakers 108, Utah Jazz 105 @ Utah / Box Score

The Lakers are on their way to the Western Conference Finals, but it came close to not happening... at least last night. The Lakers held a 62-43 advantage going into halftime, but saw their big lead dwindle in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter when the Jazz outscored the Lakers 35-22. However, the Lakers were able to hold on for the victory, led by Kobe Bryant's 34 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Pau Gasol added 17 points, 13 boards, and four blocks. The Lakers will meet the winner of the San Antonio Spurs - New Orleans Hornets matchup, which concludes Monday. Lakers win series 4-2.

Boston Celtics 69, Cleveland Cavaliers 74 @ Cleveland / Box Score

It's going to Game Seven, folks. The Cavaliers held serve as every home team has done in this series and Game Seven happens on Sunday in Boston. LeBron James led the way for the Cavs with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Check out what About.com contributor Scott Sargent has to say about his beloved Cavs. Series tied 3-3.

Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images