Sunday at 12:35 p.m. and the city was bereft of of traffic, a holiday of sorts. Christmastime is a terrific time to tour Los Angeles, an L.A. without traffic! Oh, a truly majestic place.    

Anyway, I was talking about.. um… oh, yeah: I was vaguely baked and trying to  buy a bottle of gin to take over to my man’s crib in Venice. It had to be the second quarter by now, and the town was stilled. Only those celebrating 420 near the boardwalk stirred.

The playoffs once you saw them were every bit as good as hyped. The only
team I’m led to think doesn’t belong in the process is Denver. But then,
I haven’t seen the Raptors play. And I don’t believe Detroit’s defeat
means much more than Rasheed and Co. haven’t rubbed the sleep out of their eyes from their late season slumber. They'll win in six.

Suns-Spurs looks to be the best first-round series, but I've got my eye on Washington-Cleveland, too. (Very charismatic series.) My Lakers look awesome, even if I'm among the very worried about trying to get much out of Bynum.

Monday night’s first-round match-ups are beastly. The Wizards visit the Cav and the Rockets host the Jazz. Again I have no idea who is going to win these games. It feels a new level of the sport is being born as this season goes on. Quite overwhelming.

I should have preditions again, soon as I get my bearings. But be patient; this is as high quality a sports season as I’ve ever experienced.

Donnell Alexander is the MOLI View's contributing editor for Sports & Fitness. He posts Mondays and Thursdays.