By Brian Johnson

The playoffs is the season to make grand sweeping statements about who's the best to ever play the game and who is the next superstar player to grasp the brass ring and take the step to immortality. The season to match the teams of yesteryear against their contemporaries in a fictional game for the championship of the universe: think Mikan vs. Shaq, Cousy vs. Kobe, Bird vs. Pierce, 86 Celtics vs. 96 Bulls and so on. However, as much as the playoffs are about the game, they are mostly about the language of the game: the ecstasy of victory, the agony of defeat the taste of redemption and the hope that one day you'll see something truly amazing. These are a few of my favorite things about my favorite season.

REDEMPTION

"Now is not the time to try and put this season into perspective, It's hard to look at a 100-game effort objectively when you just lost four straight games to end the season" - Rick Carlisle

They say revenge is a dish best served cold and it can be very cold in the playoffs. Ask Tim Duncan who may have gone home with the MVP trophy but it will be Shaq who goes to Sacramento. Or Corliss Williamson, who may have been the sixth man of the year but it will be Rodney Rogers who will be playing on NBC on Sunday. Jim O'Brien may have only received two votes for coach of the year but it only took his team five games to send Rick Carlisle golfing for the summer. Ben Wallace may have been the defensive player of the year but he will be spending the rest of his summer working on his hair. The lesson; awards, accolades and time on the highlight real are nice but this league is about one thing.

THE ECSTACY

"It's all fine and dandy, but you don't get a ring for a division title" - Derek Fisher

Winning, it's all about winning, there is not an athlete in the NBA who will tell you, to a man, that the old adage about it mattering how you played the game is complete bull. There isn't a player alive who doesn't live for the deafening cheer of a home crowd or the shocked silence of a hostile crowd as his arms are raised in victory. For all the money these ballplayers make victory is the only currency that walks and talks. And in this league of winners there can be only one big dog and every win takes you closer to that ring, anyone who says it's not about the ring, well, never won one.

AGONY

"We ended up losing to a team that I still think we're better than," - Chucky Atkins

One of the most compelling aspects of witnessing the playoffs is the knowledge that in one locker room the champagne pours and across the hall the tears of grown men stain cheeks. You want proof of the agony; witness Tim Duncan with his shirt pulled over his head at the end of game four knowing that while there may be another game there wont be another day. Allen Iverson's face as he watched the Celtics rain three pointers down on his dreams of another crack at the finals. Jerry Stackhouse's slumping body after Paul Pierce threw another fifteen-foot dagger into the hearts of the Pistons. Kevin Garnett watching all the incredible respect he built up being torn down like a house of cards because he once again couldn't get his team past the first round. ER may be good television but this is real drama and don't let anyone tell you differently. Losing in the playoffs can make a team and it can break a team, don't believe me? Just look at the 76ers, which reminds of my favorite quote of the post season.

TALK THE TALK

"If (the Lakers) don't have the home-court advantage this year, they're not going to win it." - Vlade Divac

"Lots of teams have said they have resolve, but the results are still the same." - Rick Fox

Familiarity breeds contempt and in the playoffs contempt breeds great games. Think about Kevin Mchale trying to rip off Kurt Rambis' head in 1984. Jeff Van Gundy riding Alonzo Mourning's legs for dear life. Dennis Rodman systematically getting in the heads of Shaq, Brikowski, Malone and many, many more. There is nothing more enticing then the idea of two division rivals squaring off for a chance at the biggest dance of them all. Think the thought of the best of seven with two teams that hate each other like the Lakers and Kings doesn't have heavyweight championship fight written all over it. I'm betting on at least one NBA fight: one chin to chin square off and a weak shove please, per game.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

''We've just got a lot a heart, man, sometimes heart outweighs experience.'' - Antoine Walker

While every expert says that the championship is actually happening this week, the NBA will tell you that the finals don't start for a couple weeks yet. The idea that of the Celtics and the Nets facing off in a series is just down right silly and at the same time quite beautiful. These are two teams that play extremely hard, have explosive offensive abilities, can play great defense, good role players and dynamic superstars capable of knocking you out of your seat. Think Paul Pierce dropping 46 in a half at Jersey this year, Jason Kidd and Antoine Walker both capable of triple doubles every game and you tell me that this is not fun basketball. The sizzle may be out west but that don't mean they don't serve any steak in the east. If there's one thing both teams share it's the idea that they do it together twelve men against the world, don't tell any of these guys they don't have a shot at the title. I don't care who comes out of the west, the games still have to be played if you don't believe me just ask the Yankees and the St. Louis Rams.

PREDICTIONS

Perhaps my least favorite part of the Playoffs is when sportswriters pick their playoff brackets and give you six hundred reasons why their pick will take it all. I guess the reason is that they usually pick against my team. Further their picks are always safe, thought out, reasonably intelligent and well, BORING. When picking a team you have to go with the heart, who has it, who doesn't and who has yours. For this writer only one team titillates in all of those senses and still no matter how many times I think of reasons I shouldn't pick them I keep coming back to them.

Talk back to Brian Johnson at B_johnson75@yahoo.com