http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...dmoore/stories/032104dnsponbaranks.55d7a.html We lose to Phoenix at home, we stink it up at Golden State and we move up . David Moore's NBA page is always great, but this weekend he's inspired. They're are 3 good threads that could be started from this one page (I couldn't find the page on-line) alone. First, this week's hot NBA issue is: Has the West Gone to Pot? He discusses everyone's recent burps from 1-7 and surmises that no, the WC is too tough and everybody's beating up everbody. Also there's an article "Hollow Victory: Playoffs? You've got to be Kidding where he notes 11 teams in the playoffs have made the playoffs with sub .500 records and only 2 of those teams won 2 games in the first round - none won. This year there's going to be 3 possibly 4 in the LEast. He doesn't connect the dots, but I will. We knew the West was going to be hell this year, but few of us thought we'd be amongst the most-whipped. But it gave me a little perspective about teams like Phoenix and Golden State, yeah we should have beat both, but compared to the teams they play most we're not that big a deal. I know this is a borderline "should be moved" thread, but I think it's relevant to all Rox fans that are beating there heads against the wall right now (like me). The WC has never been as it is this season. In a fair world Portland & Utah (ugh) should be playoff teams. Forget their records, look at who they beat. If the NBA were like the NCAAs they'd beg those teams to participate even if they felt undeserving. So as we groan and mope the Rockets probably deserve more credit than I can give right now. Final thought, Moore almost surmises that the WC champ is going to be so beaten up, so smacked around that the NBA Finals will probably be pretty great this year. I'm paraphrasing wildly here but he hints that Detroit/Indiana/New Jersey will have an edge. Great read, lifted my spirits.
