Sports Watercooler

Basketball is a strange sport in this regard. There probably isn't a sport that more people play, more people watch at the college level and totally disregard the professional level. The NBA playoffs are amazing right now. These first round games have been wild. Remember when everyone thought that the Celtics would plow through the Hawks? Well that series is tied 2-2. And when people thought that the Suns and the Spurs would be a battle to the end? After an amazing Game 1, the Spurs buzzed through the Suns so fast that the Suns coach is now out of a job (D'Antoni's stint on the unemployment line will last what? a month?).

So even though I have much less knowledge about the NBA than Dr. J, I am far less busy, so lets get caught up to speed together.

Advancing to the second round: Welcome to the New Orleans Hornets, the San Antonio Spurs, the Orlando Magic, and the Las Angeles Lakers. While the Lakers beat Denver in a sweep (and thus starting 4 months of "Who Wants to Trade for Carmello?" sweepstakes), all the other series mentioned were over in 5 games.

Hanging around: This would be the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets, who are both on the brink of elimination 3 games to 2. The 76ers started out with a major upset win but then lost their mojo as Detroit didn't panic and played their game. Houston started out by losing both home games but then took 2 in Utah.

What the hell? As previously mentioned, the Atlanta Hawks (aka former punchline of the NBA) are tied in their series with Boston. And while I don't expect them to win another game this series, you have to be enjoying the ride. Atlanta won on sheer emotion Monday night, as Joe Johnson had 20 points in the 4th quarter. How can you not be cheering for the loveable losers to take down Goliath? And the single worst thing you can give an underdog opponent: confidence. They now have the swagger and they think they can actually win this thing.