Who in this bitch loves hoops (2002-2003)?

I have box seats to 13 Mavs home games this season W00T!! thanks to my mom being employed by billionaire oil tycoon.

But really I know little about the NBA. I hope your Lakers prediction is right, of course. And I know that for the past 3 years I've thought to myself 'Isn't Reggie Miller getting too old to be this good?'

I watched bits of the Lakers season-opener, where they stroked their championship dong to the tune of Enimen (sans lyrics), Jeffrey Osbourne (cooing the Nat'l Anthem), Queen (guess which track?), and, unfortunately, a sad-looking Randy Newman struggling to keep up with his own song (that being, of course, "I Love L.A."). AND never mind the vague nod to _Lord of the Rings_ (w/ cheesy CGI graphics and lots of highlights). Painful to watch. In a sense, endemic on my feelings regarding pro ball.

The only chance the Pacers have is if Isaiah Thomas disappears RIGHT NOW. I believe the hoohah regarding the Wizards being #2 in the East more than the Pacer love. How can ANYONE pick against the Nets? HOW?

According to an official EA season simulation, it'll be the Pistons, Nets, Kings, and Spurs, w / Joisy & Sactown in the finals, with the Kings winning. (I'm assuming this prediction hinges on Vlade's ability to learn that "defense" doesn't equal "falling on your ass when Shaq farts".)

Lakers will be champions again unless one of the stars is ACTUALLY brutally maimed and can't play during the playoffs. Barring that possibility (and it's of course very possible) I kind of wonder why the rest of the league even bothers to show up.

By the way, I am rooting against said Lakers BECAUSE of the horrid display witnessed last night. I didn't mind 'em so much before this, but, Christ, it was terrible.

Yeah, Isaiah sucks. No question. But I think Tinsley will be better, but the keys will be better post play from Jermaine and more solid defense from Artest. I think they will gel halfway through the year and get hot. They have a lot of talent.

I can pick against the Nets because no way will Kittles be injury-free two consecutive years. Also: Mutombo has seriously lost his step. I think the Wizards will be decent, but they've got nothing in the post. Probably the best size team in the East is the Pacers, with Miller and O'Neal. That's why I'm going with them.

The Pistons will blow. No offense at all. The Celtics will be fifth seed at best...

Fifth seed might be a stretch. I see the Celtics coming nowhere near the success they had last year - running the offense thru Antoine is just going to give him even more opportunity to bogart the ball, assuming the other team's sizable front court isn't already bogarting said ball. And the lead weight that is Vin Baker won't help the team's buoyancy - Christ, if he can't earn a spot in the starting five in this under-sized line-up, then why have his overpaid ass around?

I'm kinda looking forward to these struggles, though, because Tommy Heinson (the Celts' color commentator) is at his best in adverse situations (i.e. when the Celts get jobbed by the refs, i.e. every single game, if you believe him). Last year's shining moment involved him teeing off on a female ref because she "blew" a call - never fear, folks, misogyny lives!

The downfall of the Celtics will be: PG and their bench. Losing Kenny Anderson and Rodney Rogers is huge.

the only thing I can add to this discussion is I'm very glad the Cavaliers are changing their uniforms next year to the old wine and gold. do so many f*********** teams have to have black and some shade of teal as their colors? i'm an aesthetic supporter.

Aww, I thought you meant Hula Hoops (the crisps OR the wiggly ones).

The Kings should hire Rick Mahorn to come out of the stands and beat the shit out of Rick Fox the next time they play the Lakers.

I'd like to point out that thusfar my predictions have been OTM on two key subjects: The Lakers and the Pacers. Didn't foresee the Mavs explosion, howevah.

Celtics baby, Celtics. Vin Baker is the best player evah! Good god, what a sham job.

Is Zeke still coaching the Pacers? Cuz if so no way they come out of the East.

i'm a Knicks fan ... considering the way they're playing this year, i guess that means that i don't love "hoops" ('cause they sure aren't playing anything that resembles basketball as far as i can tell).

i hope patrick ewing is having himself a good laugh, at least