John McGrath of the News Tribune asks, ?Would somebody please inform the New Jersey Nets that they just don't matter??

They are a nice team with Jason Kidd leading the show. Their transformation from perpetual lottery participants to NBA Finalists has been impressive. Take a bow, guys; smile one last time for the cameras. Now scram.

McGrath claims that the NBA season ended when the Lakers beat the Kings in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. After winning the NBA Championship eight times, the conference championship thophy is not such a big deal for Phil Jackson. "We appreciate this trophy," the characteristically stoic Jackson told breathless NBC interviewer Jim Gray. "But it's not the one we're going for. The big one is the one that counts."

All that's left now is a glorified practice session masked as a league championship, to be concluded by the presentation of the trophy Phil Jackson actually will deem worthy of holding.