King Kaufman's Sports Daily

NBA preview: Let's talk in April, but for now, it's an even-numbered year so -- not the Spurs! Plus: Late-night World Series starts. Think of the children?

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Oct. 30, 2007 | This year's NBA preview is going to be shorter than usual because I don't want to insult your intelligence. I mean any more than I always do.

We've talked before about how interest in certain sports can wax and wane for some of us, and for whatever reason, I'm not even planning on pretending to be interested in the NBA this year until the swallows return to Capistrano. At least not in the supposed division races, which are meaningless, or in who'll make the playoffs.

Various games and issues and the National Weather Service Web site tracking Kobe Bryant's trade desires, sure. But the Clippers or New Orleans for that last spot in the West? Let me know how it comes out.

Of course I reserve the right to change my mind and become fascinated and bore you with NBA stuff at any time. And I am interested in how the off-season Tim Donaghy scandal, the official who got caught betting on the games he was officiating and then altering his calls to affect the outcome, is going to manifest itself as the season progresses.

I think that before that scandal hit, the seeming randomness of officials' calls, not the misbehavior or fashion choices of players, was the league's biggest public relations problem. I think the Donaghy scandal has made that worse, and it'll be interesting to hear the chatter after the first game-deciding call in an important game.

Of course, the next important game will be played after the swallows return to Capistrano, and anyway, predictions about fan responses to officiating do not a scintillating column make.

So here's the abbreviated set of predictions for 2007-08, and I hope I've convinced you by this point not to put any stock in them.

Western Conference finals: Phoenix Suns over San Antonio Spurs, because you know what they say about the Spurs in even-numbered years. The window is closing for the Suns, but I think they've got a Finals run in them.

Dallas is still relying on Dirk Nowitzki as the go-to guy, and I'm not buying the idea of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming both staying healthy all year. But if they do, make it Houston, with new power forward Luis Scola, over Phoenix.

Next page: The Eastern Conference tide is rising. Plus: Complaints about late World Series start times