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