Can you imagine, here we are in y2k8 and it's the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers with home court advantage going into the conference championships.
Well, zip up all the pockets on my parachute pants and call me Shabadoo Quiñones.
Ahh, it is truly a chance for those of us who now cut loose the top button on our pants after we eat to revel in the glory days of Magic and Bird as folks are paying some attention to the NBA again. Much like Magic and Bird got 'em doing back in the 1980's after nobody was paying much attention in the 1970's.
There is nothing new under the sun, sayeth The Teacher -- including the Suns setting early on the NBA playoff horizon, as always eternal playoff disappointments.
Do you doubt? How about Mike D'Antoni following in the footsteps of John MacLeod?
Yikes.
You had to think the Lakers would get back sooner or later. For whatever reason, LA has never been without a superstar; it's just that these days the guy who wears that cape needed to realize that he doesn't fly alone.
It perhaps took a little...Magic, if you will, to help Kobe Bean to see the light. That, and realizing nobody else really wanted him and the half of his locker he'd already cleaned out in Los Angeles.
Suddenly, Showtime isn't just a cable channel anymore...or again.
Boston's road back was harder, but Celtics fans probably wouldn't have it any other way. These are people who can celebrate misery. Good reason to drink.
Now, with the addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to already-solid Paul Pierce, Boston is happy again. Good reason to drink.
The more things change, the more...you know.
If these two wind up in the NBA Finals, well, cue the Yello and call me Ferris Bueller. Even a Detroit-LA series would bring back bad boy 1980's memories. You know the NBA and Big TV are rooting for either of those scenarios.
Which is why I'm rooting for the New Orleans Hornets.
Chicka-Chickaaaaaaaaaaaaah.