Hitching a Ride...

I wouldn't be an Atlantan if I didn't jump on the bandwagon. Atlanta is home of the consumate fairweather fan, so it's my native predisposition.

Because, truthfully, I laughed when I got a solicitation for playoff tickets two weeks before the regular season ended. It seemed the Hawks could've just gone to a bank if they needed someone to float them money for a few days.

But those guys closed things out. I always liked ZaZa Pachulia and the Joshes, but I thought Coach Mike Woodson was dead weight. You see, the Hawks should've made the playoffs two years ago. But this Mike Bibby thing is apparently working out. And, miraculously, the Hawks have won two games over the anointed Boston Celtics. And - I fully support TNT's decision to dedicate a camera to the frustrated face of Doc Rivers.

And the Atlanta fans may be fairweather, but they are crunk. Undoubtedly, the enthusiasm of the fans is the elevating the play of the Hawks. We are surprised, but we are genuinely excited for the team.

So, I'm on the bandwagon too. Hell yeah, Kevin Garnett should be suspended and go Hawks!

Well, Wilbon Was Wrong

The picture is even more intimidating than the Vick indictment. Are you a fan of another Eastern Conference team? Well, you should be shook.

Michael Wilbon boldly predicted in early July that Kevin Garnett would not play in Boston, in part, because of Boston's divisive racial atmosphere. Wilbon was wrong. Obviously, Garnett has found motivation to overcome the situation.

And what's the explanation? Blood lust.

Humans have historically united for the purposes of warmongering and destruction. Wilbon was only wrong in that he failed to consider that thirsty, depraved blood lust would come into play. How was he to know that the evil triumvirate of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce was possible? None of us knew. This could be the most destructive development for humankind (or NBA fans) since the defrosting of Megatron.

The Celtics are an instant playoff team. A playoff lock even. Gilbert is going to be unconscious next season in a contract year. So the Wizards are locks. Miami has Flash and old ass Shaq. That was good enough for a ring before, so they're locks too. The Bulls are solid and improving with experience. They'll be there. Detroit lacked intensity in the playoffs, but I respect the ring. So I'll count them as locks. That's five playoff locks. That leaves Cleveland (yeah, I said it), New Jersey, Orlando, New York and whoever else is in the Eastern Conference fighting for scraps.

The carnage will be fun to watch. Maybe we can all sing "We Shall Overcome" or something to appease Wilbon.