The last 24 hours have done considerable damage to our enthusiasm for the pro basketball championship tourney. Houston giant Yao Ming's bad left foot is acting up -- last night he was limping and hopping around as the Lakers got the upper hand in their series. Today Denver took Dallas out with a highly controversial noncall at the end of the game -- a Bennett Salvatore officiating crew characteristically made itself the story, rather than the players -- and now the Nuggets lead that series 3 to 0. Over in the east, the Lebron juggernaut continues. As we predicted here back in mid-April, Cleveland is making mincemeat of Atlanta.

All that's left to follow is the Celtics-Orlando series, which is interesting, at least for the moment. (Orlando's ahead 2 to 1.) But the other three matchups are making a perfect backdrop to good, long spring naps.

The script for the Kobe-Lebron showdown is being played out, but perhaps with a little too much precision. There's more drama going on in our flower beds at the moment.