So the Rockets exited the playoffs last night. A little luck and a little more better execution and they could be 3-2 going into a home Game 6, but it's not to be. Yao Ming has said that just making the playoffs means they get a C for the season. That sounds about right.

I don't have any brilliant ideas about what they need to do for next year. I think rumored trade talk for Steve Francis is misguided, mostly because I don't think they'd be able to get equivalent value for him. I do think Francis can and will work better with Yao, and if I'm wrong they're all in a heap of trouble. One more year, and be prepared to burn it all down and start over with just Yao if there's no progress.

As for the rest of the playoffs, I don't really care who wins as long as it's not the Lakers. The only time in my life I can recall rooting for that team is when they were the lesser of two evils, which is to say only when they played the Celtics in the Finals back in the 80s. I'm not even sure I'd align myself the same way if that were to happen now (not this year, of course). I've tried to feel some warmth and fuzziness for the prospect of Karl Malone and Gary Payton finally winning a championship, but then I remember that I've hated their guts for more than a decade. If I'm going to root for any longtime deserving veteran player this year, it'll be Kevin Garnett. In short: go Spurs, go T-Wolves, go whoever's playing LA. And wait till next year, Rockets.