John Kim 
It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that NBA fans were seriously worried about a complete cancellation of basketball this season, but a sudden and fortuitous turn of events resulted in a shortened 66-game season. Now, Nike’s signature and marquee athletes prepare to go for the Larry O’Brien gold as LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics navigate their respective teams – and right now it looks like these stars are headed for a crash collision. This Saturday marks the beginning of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, and you’ll see Kobe and LeBron wear their respective Elite gear, while Nike could have something special in store for Durant and Pierce. Your pre-Playoffs predictions for the Finals? Let us know in the comments below.
