| Admit it, the first thing you did when the | | | | didn't get a better offer from Cuban, though, |
| 2004-05 NBA schedule came out last week was | | | | when he sees his former owner giving a |
| check to see when Shaq and the Miami Heat | | | | million bucks away to a complete stranger |
| would visit Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. It | | | | sometime this fall on The Benefactor.December |
| probably didn't take long to find that game, | | | | 14, 2004 - Knicks at Nets before the New Year |
| though, as we all know the NBA marketing | | | | looks pretty innocent on paper, but chances |
| machine would slate it for big time ratings | | | | are Tim Thomas doesn't feel the same way. |
| on X-Mas day. Kobe and Shaq won't be the only | | | | Thomas is still bitter over a flagrant foul |
| hyped-up, intriguing match-up of the season, | | | | by New Jersey's Jason Collins in last year's |
| though, that's for sure. With such an active | | | | playoffs and has vowed revenge. Thomas never |
| off-season, the 2004-05 season is sure to be | | | | got a chance to deliver his payback in the |
| loaded with must-see games. Here are some of | | | | playoffs and who knows if he'll cool down by |
| the games I'm looking forward to...November | | | | the time this December meeting rolls |
| 2, 2004 - Opening night always brings some | | | | around.January 20, 2005 - Tracy McGrady heads |
| interesting games, but, with this year's | | | | back to Orlando to face his old team. If |
| season opening on the first Tuesday of | | | | you're playing fantasy basketball and you can |
| November in an election year, I'm sure a lot | | | | update your roster daily, I'd think about |
| of viewers are going to be watching something | | | | adding T-Mac right about this time of year. |
| else. That's too bad because they'll be | | | | It wouldn't surprise anyone if he drops 40 or |
| missing a solid lineup of 3 games to start | | | | even 50+ against his former team. We'll also |
| the season. The new-look Rockets, headlined | | | | get a look at how Francis, Mobley, Dwight |
| by Yao Ming (now in his third season) and | | | | Howard and the young Magic are |
| last year's scoring champ and newest Houston | | | | progressing.February 13, 2005 - Kenyon Martin |
| arrival, Tracy McGrady, will head to Detroit | | | | will lead the Nuggets against New Jersey. No |
| to take on Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, and the | | | | bad blood, here, but it's always interesting |
| defending champion Pistons, who will be | | | | to see a guy like K-Mart return to his old |
| receiving their rings. We'll also get to see | | | | city. You've got to wonder if Jason Kidd will |
| the Kings with-or-without Peja Stojakovic | | | | be still a New Jersey Net when this one rolls |
| take on the Nash-less Mavs. And, Kobe and the | | | | around.March 15, 2005 - It's too bad we have |
| new-look Lakers host Denver.November 4, 2004 | | | | to wait until the middle of March to see |
| - Francisco Elson apologized for making some | | | | Carlos Boozer return to Cleveland, but better |
| derogatory comments about Kevin Garnett | | | | late than never, right? The city of Cleveland |
| during the playoffs, but it's safe to say | | | | isn't going to forget. If Boozer were to wait |
| KG's probably got payback coming in the form | | | | five years before stepping foot in Gund Arena |
| of a huge game as his Wolves face off agains | | | | again, I'm willing to bet he'd get booed. |
| the Nuggets. Also, it's worth noting the | | | | It's going to be pretty ugly up there. Now, |
| Charlotte Bobcats tip off their franchise | | | | why isn't this game scheduled to be on |
| history against the Washington | | | | national TV? To add to the interest factor, |
| Wizards.November 16, 2004 - Just halfway into | | | | Lebron might be positioning the Cavs for a |
| the first month of the season and Steve Nash | | | | late-season playoff push.April 20, 2005 - |
| will head back to his old stomping grounds to | | | | It's impossible to know exactly what the |
| take on the Dallas Mavericks. The good money | | | | playoff situation is going to be late in the |
| says Mavs owner Mark Cuban and Nash won't be | | | | year, but Spurs at Wolves on the last day of |
| bickering by then, and Nash should be | | | | the season sure does look interesting. |
| well-received. Nash might wonder why he | | | | |