I think the Heat might have someone else besides James guard Paul Pierce, because they won't risk MeBron getting into early foul trouble. But, on switchoffs and chaos, eventually James will have to chase Rondo and Pierce. MeBron foul trouble could be the key to the series.

Philadelphia does have a good young team. I particularly like Iguodala. On the other hand, Elton Brand, though a good player, has to be one of the biggest disappointments of the past decade. He could have been in the same group with Garnett, Webber and others.

Which Boston player will be the "designated thug", to swap shoves and elbows with Udam Haslett, so that Garnett doesn't have to do it and get into foul trouble?

I still say San Antonio will win it all.

Chicago thought it would bypass that, and rewarded Derrick Rose at 23 with a budget shattering contract. Now they have to face a season without him again.

I'm willing to bet that in a couple of years Brand will be shipped to a contending team, maybe during the season, which needs an inside guy, in exchange for young guys and good draft choices. Unless Philadelphia really becomes a title contender, that is.

I remember a series, about ten years, Shaquille Oneil and the Lakers v. the Spurs. Oneil was in good health, and unstoppable. It was as though Duncan wasn't even there. He just avoided contact, I guess to stay outof foul trouble, and Shaq ate him alive. It just hows really great great Oneil was, maybe even more dominant that Wilt Chamberlain.

That Duke team appeared to have several others with real NBA potential, but the only one who really came through was Shane Battier. Unless you want to count Corey Maggette.

In roundball, I remember seeing a news magazine special on Mike Kryczewski, when he was just a year or two into coaching Duke. He might have had Bobby Hurley and laetnner then. The team was doing well, and coach K's wife was remarking how when Mike K. had arrived, people were yelling "dumb Pollock" and stuff like that, in the Duke area. I don't think anyone there bad mouths him now. He could probably run for governor of the state.

Duke was pretty big-time before Kryczewski arrived (reached the NCAA final in 1964 and 1978), but he's had them at the top consistently.

It was bad luck but they did everything right. If you aren't going to pay Derrick Rose, you shouldn't own an NBA team.

The bigs they have are good defenders and rebounders, but they couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.

San Antonio looked brilliant last night, they'll be tough in the finals for Miami. And if it's against Boston, somehow, the Spurs will kill them.

They are simply too deep.

Miami v. the Spurs will be terrific. MeBron demanding "I get Mines", a ring, the Spurs ruthlessly exploiting the middle. still, Duncan looked old a couple of times last night. Had the ball stolen, that jumping jack center OK has blocked at least two of his shots. When Duncan sits, which is more so than in previous years, the Spurs inside bench doesn't really score well. This is when Miami will have to make their move. Wade and Bron will have to play big minutes, to exploit S.A. when they rest the older Gianobli and Duncan. Could easily be a seven game series.

In college Bill Walton scored a million times on alley-oops at UCLA when opponents tried to front him (21 for 22 in the 1973 NCAA final). Of course the dunk was outlawed then, so he caught the high pass and just banked it in.

I just can't believe the Spurs collapsed like that, after leading 2-0. Only a handful of NBA teams have won a playoff series in the past 60 years, after going down 2-0. I know the Portland Trailblazers did it in the late 70s, I think it was against Philadelphia. Bill Walton era.

Howard Schultz will stay out of the society pages this month.

But, didn't the people in Seattle refuse to pony up public money for a new arena, isn't that wat triggered the flight to Oklahoma?