Wild Wild West (not starring Will Smith)

Yes, I'm fully aware at what's on the line this weekend. The Final Four head to San Antonio and battle it out to see who gets to play for the National Championship. I've posted before but I'll say it again, North Carolina Beats Kansas, UCLA beats Memphis (I had Texas but they didn't show up in their home state) and lo and behold, we've got a Hansborough vs. Love matchup that will be one for the books. I'm serious.

But that can wait. The NBA has been under a lot of scrutiny the last couple of years with fights, suspensions, double-technicals and referees betting on games. It has been said that because of the showing at this years All-Star game of "The Superman" it catapulted the NBA into a new era and limelight. But who said they needed it? If you follow the NBA you already know that the race to make the playoffs in the West is the closest it has been in the last 10 years. One or two great teams will not make the playoffs this year. I heard one of them is Seattle (funny but not really). The East is already locked up as usual (how about the Hawks getting in the 8 spot?), but 6 1/2 games is currently the differential for the West. There's 2 weeks left in the season. This will be the make or break 2 weeks for most teams.

How about Byron Scott leading the New Orleans Hornets to the top of the West? Of course it's led on the court by Chris Paul out of Wake Forest, and they are turning a lot of heads. Don't start reminiscing about the Grandma-ma Larry Johnson years just yet though. San Antonio is currently only 1/2 a game back, and the "The Lake Show" is only 1.5. It's who will get that 8 spot that's the question. Will the Bay Area get another thrill and see their Warriors head into the post-season? Or will Denver and Dallas keep winning so that they will have no chance? I put it to you. I'd like to see the beard of Baron Davis make another trip to the playoffs.


In case anyone even knew, Seattle has won 17 games this year and look like a team that should be in Oklahoma City. Breaking news is that the state House committee passed a tax incentive package that could get the Sonics to OK City sooner. This of course makes owner Clay Bennett very happy. Here's my advice for the sonics: Before Kevin Durant came along you had VERY good picks in the NBA Draft. What did you do? You went overseas and drafted some of the worst foreign players that couldn't hang in the NBA. It's not the location. It's the front office. Seattle wants to support a good team, you just won't give them one. And come on, they've got the best mascot in the game. Who doesn't think that the "wookie" look alike Squatch is awesome? Goodnight.