By Ray Diaz

- Opening Tip: I now know that timing is everything. After I wrote the article last week about Laker deja vu, the Lakers lost two in a row to the Texas Terrors. Oh well. They helped prove my point against the Pistons and the Kings though.

- Some said that my article was too pro-Lakers, and after reading, it I had to agree. While the Spurs, Kings, Blazers, and Mavs are great teams, I still don't see that any of them, excluding the Spurs, know how to win in the playoffs. The Lakers do.

- Bill Walton knows basketball. He just seems so intent on making sure that everyone knows this that he just comes off as annoying.

- I believe A.I. will play if, as times goes on, the Sixers find they're in danger of losing their playoff spot. I think he would play even if he broke his arm, dislocated his shoulder, and had the chicken pox.

- On that, A.I. hoists too many shots. But that's better than having Mutombo, or anyone else on that team, to hoist up more.

- While the Hawks have been disappointing, the Raptors are more disappointing. Ditto on V.C. But his shoes are really cool, though.

- Speaking of shoes. The Kobe 2s are really stiff. It just doesn't seem like you should play ball in them. But they work on the court.

- I hope M.J. gets to the playoffs. The alternative is to accept that he's human after all, and that's just not what I want.

- Ben Wallace is a monster on the boards. Dennis Rodman without the wedding dress.

- Pat Riley is an amazing coach. Don't care what anyone said about him. While everyone else would have jumped ship, he stayed and righted it, knowing that if he failed, permanent doubt may have been cast upon him. Now that's a gamble.

- On the Heat, it's great to see Zo scowling and battling on the court, and not just off of it.

- Donald Sterling better not mess up the Kiddie Corps. If he does, L.A. fans will attempt to force him to sell. And everyone knows he won't. And that sucks, especially for Elgin Baylor.

- I can't tell if K-Mart is getting a bad rap or what. He plays hard and has no fear, but the refs definitely feel he overdoes it far too frequently.

- Kobe vs. T-Mac for best player? Kobe by two rings.

- Basketball mind I would love to meet in person? Tex Winter. If you ever read his book on the triangle offense, you wonder why more teams don't run it.

- Best fans in the NBA have to be those of the Sacramento Kings. They're downright crazy. I wish Laker fans were more like them. Excluding Finals games, Staples is too quiet.

- What happened to Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner?

- One thing I hope happens during the off-season: that the NBA front office changes the stupid policy about concealing the referees fines and punishment. We know they are human so we know they make mistakes. They should take responsibility for them. Why do they get a break?

- On that, referees have the toughest job in the game.

- I miss Jeff Hornacek. I miss the guy who can't dunk, but can still burn you every game.

- If Jerry West is serious about fulfilling his competitive urges, the Knicks, Warriors, and the Grizz better give him whatever he wants and whatever his children want to get him.

- What's Spud Webb doing now?

- One more month til the real season starts. And I can't wait.

- Buzzer Beater: I hope Yao Ming plays next year in the NBA. And, I hope he isn't another Shawn Bradley.