Thursday, April 7
NBA
Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls
The NBA is headed into its final weekend of play and the Chicago Bulls are on the doorstep of clinching home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. In late February, the Hat Trick projected the (then third place) Bulls as the top seed in the East if they remained healthy. A win by the Bulls in tonight’s matchup will all but slam the door on the Celtics clinching the top spot in the East and all but seal the Eastern Conference for the Bulls.
The Bulls are hot. Shaq is probably out. Chicago is at home.
Advantage: Bulls
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| It doesn't look like Shaq will be clogging up the lane tonight. Hey Bulls fans: CAN YOU DIG IT??? 1 |
Friday, April 8
MLB
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
Cliff Lee of the Phillies takes the mound against Tim Hudson of the Braves in the National League East rivalry. Since the Phillies have already been crowned champions of the NL East and just need to go through the drill of winning it on the field, the Braves have nothing more to play for than the National League Wild Card, and they are already behind in that race.
The Phillies’ pitching staff has been solid quality, yet still seems to just be warming up. Their position players are slapping the ball all over the field. The Braves pitching has been excellent and the bats have been present. Both Lee and Hudson had impressive, winning debut starts last week. On paper, I think the Phillies have a slight edge, but the Braves are at home in this three game, weekend series.
Advantages: Game – Push, Series - Phillies
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| The Phillies in the NL East race: "Let's hurry up and bang this out before lunch!" |
MLB
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Why not introduce this series with a movie quote?
Older brother, working at Yankee Stadium: “You looking for tickets, little bro? Dead tonight. Sorry about that.”
Younger brother’s friend: “Come on. We know you got tickets.”
Older brother: “I got four words for you: Boss Tunn Red Sox.”
- Finding Forrester (2000)
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| Rapper Busta Rhymes in Finding Forrester with four words of advice: "BOSS TUNN RED SOX!" |
Advantages: Game – Red Sox, Series – Red Sox
PGA
The Masters – Third Round
It’s a tradition unlike any other. Phil Mickelson defends his Masters title from 2010. Tiger Woods, who finished fourth in 2010, is seeking to regain his footing and ranking as the world’s best golfer. Another green jacket for Tiger would go a long way toward that goal. Woods, through the first seven holes of the first round, is tied for 12th place, one stroke under par.
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| Famous men and serial fornication: a tradition unlike any other. The clap is also a tradition unlike any other. Avoid! 3 |
Sunday, April 10
NBA
Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic
The Eastern Conference should be decided, once and for all, by the end of the day on Sunday. Orlando is locked into the fourth seed in the East and has every reason to rest anyone that could use a rest. The Bulls may still need a win for playoff seeding. I would not bet a nickel on this game, which may be meaningful or meaningless by Sunday, depending on what happens prior, but whatever edge I can see today would go to Chicago.
Advantage: Bulls
Boston Celtics at Miami Heat
This game absolutely will be meaningful as the Celtics will be fighting to either get a share of first place in the East, or the hang on to (or regain) second place. Boston is a half game ahead of Miami as of this morning, with the Celtics controlling their destiny for second place. Granted, the Heat, without Dwayne Wade (thigh injury), lost a head scratcher to the sub-.500 and playoff-eliminated Milwaukee Bucks. However, the Heat have, otherwise, been very hot of late.
Wade is currently listed as day-to-day. My gut feeling is that if the Heat stand to gain by winning, and I think they will, then Wade will play. Otherwise, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra would be feeding himself to the media wolves to play Wade. Without Wade, I think the Celtics have a chance to take one in Miami, otherwise, I think the Heat burn on.
Advantage: Heat
PGA
The Masters – Final Round
The Masters has never ceased to provide some level of drama in its final rounds in years past. Whether there is a sudden death playoff, an old veteran, approaching the age of 60, making one last stand, or maybe the world’s greatest player breaks out of a year and a half funk, brought on by a combination of personal turmoil, sensational reporting, and injury, I am quite confident the Masters coverage on Sunday will be worth watching.
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| Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy after Mickelson won the Masters in 2010. Tiger and his wife had a similar warm moment several years back. So did Al and Tipper. I wish the Mickelsons better fortunes! 4 |
MLB
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Two ace pitchers, C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees and Josh Beckett of the Red Sox, go head-to-head in the rubber match at Fenway. This series will go a long way in giving baseball fans a profile of what they can expect in pressure situations, early in the season, from this likely 1-2 race in the American League East this season. C.C. has no decisions in the 2011 campaign in spite of excellent pitching in his first two starts. I cannot say the same for Beckett, who struggled in his first start, a loss to Cleveland yesterday. I think the Yankees have a very slim edge in this game, in spite of being at Fenway, because Sabathia is on the mound.
Advantage: Yankees
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1) Image from letsgoteam.com
2) Image from thefancarpet.com
3) Image from celebritynewsbuzz.com
4) Image from espn.com
5) Image from whenwegetthere.com
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