Re: ESPN Insider Eastern Conference predictions

[Kestutis.Kveraga@dartmouth.edu (Kestutis Kveraga)]

--- You wrote:
This is ESPN Insider's Eastern Conference predictions. I think they have
Atlanta too high and the Knicks and Heat a little low, but other than that,
it's hard to argue with their logic. Injuries, chemistry, trades and other
factors will determine things. Notice the disparity they see between the top
nine teams and the Celts (seven games). Seems like a lot
--- end of quote ---

Come on, Mark, you should know better. This is a typical preview, where some
loser looks at the lineups "on paper" and judges teams by how many names he can
recognize from SportsCenter highlights. It's completely vacuous, has no insight
whatsoever about how players and coaches might mesh in real life, which teams
are on the rise, how the new rules might affect particular teams, nothing. It's
a popularity contest with some nasty comments thrown in, WayRay style. I give
these ratings as much credence as I do Ray's trolling posts. 


Look at this:
--- You wrote:
10. Boston Celtics
Projected Record: 34-48
2001 Record: 36-46 (No. 9)It wasn't too long ago that Rick Pitino said that
neither Larry Bird, Kevin
McHale nor Bob Cousy
was going to come walking through that door in a Celtics uniform, all laced
up and ready to
play. But we're suppossed to believe that Red Aurebach reinstated as head
honcho is going to
make a difference this quick? This is still the same team that didn't make
the playoffs last
season or the year before or the year before and so on. I give 'till the
all-star break when
Beantowners start reminiscing about Len Bias.
--- end of quote ---

Any "review" that begins by quoting a rant by a former coach, and proceeds to
make some absurd comment about the effect of a ceremonial reinstatement of a
long-retired coach/executive on the team's play, should be dismissed a priori.
I mean, is there a single sentence  in the entire "review" that is germane to
what's allegedly being evaluated here?