Green Machine

The Celtics and Cavs kicked off the season for America's third best sports league last night, a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals that didn't wind up actually happening last year. The C's got a nice road win in Cleveland, an important positive sign for a team that was starting to look a bit washed-up last season. It was especially encouraging given today's negative press around Glen "Big, Huge Baby" Davis and his physical and emotional maladies.

Much-wondered-about forward Kevin Garnett turned in a solid performance, helping allay the fears of many fans, and the Celtics also got good nights from their other go-to players: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Rasheed Wallace. All of this is good news, but, truth be told, the main occasion for this post is to announce to the reading public the first-ever official You're Wrong About Everything sports bet: Danilo Gallinari's scoring average.

Your editors have discussed the matter and agreed on an over/under for the New York Knick superstar-in-waiting. So, here it is: if Gallinari scores more than 16 points per game this year, I lose the bet. If he scores less, I win. We'll keep you posted on how it's going.

Miles, anything to add here? It's just a $20 bet--until we got our sponsors lined up here, all stakes will remain modest--but it's about pride. What specifically I'm going to take pride in is TBD; but I'm sure we can argue enough that this will all feel important.

I might as well mention here that I chose this bet because the Knicks continue to be dramatically worse than the Celtics, and this seemed like a pretty decent way to level the playing field. Hey, I aim to please.

MILES:

Hell yes. Danilo Gallinari better produce, otherwise it's going to be another long, disappointing season for the Knickerbockers, their ninth consecutive craptastic season. This is a crucial year for the Knicks. Although their chances of making the playoffs are slim, the team's core players--Gallo, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas--need to prove to the rest of the league that they can play. If they don't, Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni are going to have one hell of time convincing LeBron or any other free agents to sign with them. Maybe Rajon Rondo will still be available. 

My guess is, before the end of the season, Walsh will trade Nate Robinson to a playoff-contending team in need of some scoring off the bench. Maybe the Suns or the Mavericks? That's the only way, at least as far as I can see, of getting back a draft pick, which Isiah very generously included in the misbegotten trade that brought Stephon Marbury home to the Garden.  

As for the Celtics, they looked good last night. But one question kept springing to mind: When did Rasheed Wallace start resembling Cornel West?  

MILES:

We'll, I guess we're off to a good start. The Rooster finished with 22 in last night's disheartening loss to the Miami Heat.