I completely agree with you about the gag-orders and the Orlando series. And it can even be said that the Suns won their 2 games just so that there could be some excitement added to the fray as well, can it not? Isn’t it a coincidence that both those series ended 4-2? And this is after both the Lakers and Celtics appeared to be headed for sweeps!

For the LONGEST time, I tried to deny the theories that the NBA was rigged, but these last few years with the Donaghy thing and the way teams in the second round this year kept laying down, it really is testing what I believe.

NO Pro Sports League is without corruption, that’s for sure, but the NBA appears to be in a choke hold of crookedness right now.

I just can’t believe that the Lakers are able to get THAT good a team every single year without SOMETHING shady going on. And from the wink, wink trades to the fleecing of the have nots (Memphis/ ,Gasol?), it really makes me upset how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

I mean, How many times do we have to see LA in the Finals already? It’s like there’s a quota that they have to fill. And they can get Bill Walton, JVG and Marv Albert to keep kissing Bryant’s ass and telling me how he’s a great teammate and such a good leader, but his actions on the court during tough games towards the fans and his teammates tell me a completely different story. And I’ll be DAMNED if I’m gonna go by what a sports analyst tells me – word is bond!

One thing I can say for sure is that the playoffs this year are some of the WORST I have ever seen.

I’ll keep watching and rooting for the NBA, though. It’s a better alternative than the ABA, lol.

“Y’all gonna count ‘and’ as a word?!”

In Orlando, Turk had Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard to take attention away. In Toronto, Turk has Jose Calderon, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani to take that attention away.

In Orlando, Jameer brought the ball up consistently and got the Magic into their offence. In Toronto, Calderon will be doing exactly that as well.

Both teams have a forward/center who requires a double team and is an all-star level performer. And that frees up Hedo for the open look / slash to the basket. Plus the added rebounding and consistency that Evans and Nesterovic will bring to the table will only make the front court tougher to guard.

I don’t think teams will be able to double team Turk if both Bosh and Calderon are on.

And I think that he should have a great season, if things go as planned. Now, once they go to the bench … well …. all bets are off, then. Hopefully DeRozan and Weems can come in and be difference makers.