Maybe NBA Writer Is Green With Envy

Evaluating an NBA team’s relative ranking is, of course, a subjective matter. However, Mark Heisler’s weekly ranking of the Boston Celtics is--certainly beyond debate--biased. This week two teams with worse records were rated higher. It matters not if the Celtics are in a slump, a winning streak, or, it seems, season sweeping his beloved Lakers.

Paranoia? No, not when combined with Heisler’s back-handed compliments if not outright hostility in his comments and coverage of the Celtics. (Memo to Heisler: Rick Pitino is no longer the coach; this isn’t last season’s team.) Are the Celtics a top-tier team? Not yet. But Heisler would serve his readers far better if he left his prejudice behind and evaluated the teams based on performance, not team rivalry.

Joe Stemme

Culver City