It would be one thing if these games were anomalies, random nights where they somehow became greater than the sum of their parts. But the Pistons keep beating the NBA’s best.

That things are looking up for the Grizzlies is a reminder that our hellish present will eventually become the past.

It’s hard to ward off the feeling that “white basketball” is the manifestation of the same racial categorizations that kept black players from playing quarterback in the NFL. 

For me, it was never about the Rockets winning it all.

The NBA returned earlier this week, and there is a whole lot to be excited about. But nothing is more exciting for me, personally, than the return of the best sports television show on the air: “Inside the NBA.”

Over half a decade ago, the Brooklyn Nets made what has been described as the “worst trade in sports history.” I believe that the trade was not only not as bad as recounted, but, dare I say, good.

For the first time since the 2004-2005 NBA season, LeBron James will not be in the playoffs. After joining the Los Angeles Lakers, a young team in a fiercely competitive conference, James will be at home with the rest of us this spring, sipping wine with his kids while other players compete for a championship. It’s almost impossible to imagine: playoff basketball without LeBron. While there are plenty of great players who will be competing this April and May, none of them are LeBron.

It’s been 115 days since LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers. While it seems as though the Cavs are off to a rocky start, I, as one of the few real fans left, still have hope. The 19-year old phenom that they just drafted with the eighth pick is the reason.

Despite Kevin Garnett’s best intentions, these are absolutes; not quite anything is possible. But despite the predetermined outcome, the Student Life sports staff is still looking forward to tipoff Tuesday night. Here’s what we’re looking forward to seeing.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most skilled, competitive and hardworking players the NBA has ever seen. Even after a series of debilitating injuries, he dropped 60 points in his last game ever against the Utah Jazz—quite the way to go out.