Who Do We Root For?

There's something depressing in the fact that "Who Do We Root For" is becoming an annual tradition here at Trail Post. It's even more depressing that we have to choose from eight teams rather than four or two or one. The first round exit simply is not enough any more. Where last year it was depressing in a "the other shoe finally dropped" kind of way that we lost, this year it's simply painful sustained noise, like the sound a bus makes when backing up, except that it's forever.

With that, basketball still is not dead. Just because our guys are out shouldn't be the end of basketball for you. Also, the playoffs are much more exciting when you have a horse in the race. Well, it's time to pick a horse to ride all the way to the finals.

Eastern Conference

The Cleveland Cavaliers: You're so hurt by the Blazers loss that you want to choose a sure thing and you love speaking in the third person. The Cavaliers are your choice. Sure, you'll suffer the ignominy of being a front runner, but your team will win some games.

The Boston Celtics: You want to revert back to Jailblazer heyday. Rasheed Wallace comes off the bench for the Celtics and for the first time all season, finally has had something resembling production. Then again, Kevin Garnett's an a-hole, so maybe you just want to avoid this altogether.

The Orlando Magic: You may just get flashbacks watching the Magic as a freakish center is totally ignored by his guards. Still, they're a good choice if you like jump shooting, rebounds, and team names that belong in the WNBA.

The Atlanta Hawks: Screw 'em. They killed the Deer.

Western Conference

The Phoenix Suns: Yes, they eliminated us. We could jump on the bandwagon and hope the make it all the way so it reduces the sting. Last year with the Rockets, it worked until Yao went down, making that loss hurt less. Also, Channing Frye is still one of us, along with the fact that Steve Nash is disturbing.

The Utah Jazz: The Jazz are a great choice for the underdog in all of us. If only they had a chance in Hell.

The San Antonio Spurs: Don't you want to see these old men try for it one more time? Too bad the Suns' trainers are better than the Spurs' trainers. Also, this could be the last season of Tim Duncan relevancy (as I've said each year the last five years).

The Los Angeles Lakers: End yourself.