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Pacers:
Forget the Nets (who open/close vs. the Heat); last night's biggest
winner was Indiana, who won to fend off Philly and nab the East 6th
seed (vs. BOS).
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
PLAYOFF. SEASON.
If you're just tuning in, the NBA is in a Renaissance,
where fast-breaking team play emerged as an equalizer to the
usual "star system."
With the playoff field now set, everyone keeps saying the Suns will
fold this spring to the Spurs, because of the bump-n-grind style of
"playoff basketball."
What a huge mistake it would be for the NBA to once again allow the
postseason's usual clamp-down ugliness to screw up what could be a
league-lifting title run for Phoenix.
Run, gun and fun: The Suns are telegenic. And the NBA needs
that, given LeBron, Kobe and KG's absence from the playoff
field.
Worst to first: They give fans hope; specifically, fans of
teams in the Lottery, wondering if they can get better, seemingly
overnight.
"Why Not Us?" Even though they are fans' 4th choice to win the
title (behind Heat, Spurs and Pistons), they can co-opt the trendy
slogan:
In the same way the Pistons imposed their "D-first" will on opponents
last spring, why can't the Suns do the same thing this year with
O?
The Suns may not win it all, but you should be rooting for them. They
would be the best champs to happen to the NBA since MJ's first
title.
LeBron's Lament
"Too Little, Too LeBron": Just a suggestion for the
Cavs' marketing slogan next season, based on this season's
collapse.
LeBron isn't going anywhere (yet), but just missing the
playoffs is even worse than being ousted earlier in the month (like,
say, Kobe).
First-Round Picks
It's all about the "Health Factor." (If not in Round
One, then the toll a first-round series takes heading into Round
Two.)
East:
Heat d. Nets in 6
Health factor: Shaq
Pistons d. Sixers in 5
Health factor: Webber
Pacers d. Celtics in 7
Health factor: 'Toine
Wizards d. Bulls in 7
Health factor: Jamison
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Nets: Vinsanity injection + Late-season surge = Playoffs
Reggie Miller: Gets city send-off in regular-season finale
David Wells: There's the old Boomer! (Blanks Baltimore.) |
| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Ben Sheets: Drops to 1-3 after "ill"-fated start vs. HOU
John Smoltz: Will he go 0-4? Faces surprising Nats today
FBL owners who dropped Zach Day: Wasn't he demoted to RP? |
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West:
Suns d. Grizzlies in 5
Health factor: Nash
Spurs d. Nuggets in 6
Health factor: Duncan
Sonics d. Kings in 6
Health factor: Peja/Miller
Mavs d. Rockets in 5
Health factor: Dampier
NFL Draft Watch
Unpredictability rules! As of Thursday, the player
order is as wide open as it's ever been, and all signs point to lots
of trading.
Raiders back in Round 1: Trade TE Jolley to Jets for 26th
overall pick. Along with bounty for Buchanon, they're an early-round
player.
Scouts Inc. final mock top 5: Smith, Brown, Edwards, Benson,
Cadillac. (See Insider for all 255 picks ... seriously, all
255.)
Hottest Names? See Big 5
The New Go-Go Sox
Break 'em up! Third win in a row makes
the ChiSox the AL's first team to reach 11 Ws AND
sparks their best 15-game start since 1981.
Ozzie Guillen's even talking smack: "[The Twins] don't have the same
team they had in the past. I'll take my chances. I like this
team."
Meanwhile, Jon Garland (3-0) is the early favorite for the "April Cy
Young" award, giving up only 1 R and 5 H in 8 IP.
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Are the Sox legit contenders? In the wide-open AL Central, why not?
But we've seen this before; fans probably waiting for usual September
swoon.
Dodgers hot, too: 8 straight!
More MLB Roids
"10-day suspension": Sports' reigning euphemism. MLB
doled out another, but once again, it goes to a player that no one has
ever heard of, foiling the critics pining for a "big name."
Agustin Montero? Who?! He's a Texas minor leaguer who happened to be
on the big-club roster in the spring when tests were given. Now he's
just the answer to a trivia question fans couldn't care less
about.
NHL Replacements?
Frankly, scabs are one of the only things that would
bring casual (a.k.a. "non") NHL fans back next season; talk about
novelty!
Gary Bettman said the season won't start with them, but didn't rule
them out as strike-busters. Does that make them the NHL's "nuclear
option?"
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Nomar Garciaparra:
Who had "April 20" in the office's Groin-Injury Pool? Things for
Chicago's North Siders not nearly as exciting as on the South
Side.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Quickie live! |
| MLB Rankings |
| NBA Pick 'Em |
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| Draft's Most Intriguing |  Mike Williams
| Finally gets his shot
|  Matt Jones
| Draft's physical freak
|  Aaron Rodgers
| How far will he fall?
|  Adrian McPherson
| Could be top talent in class
|  Maurice Clarett
| | Oh, you know why ... |
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Does "vindication" count as a Fantasy Baseball stat? Gary Sheffield
will NOT be punished by MLB for the flare-up at Fenway.
Like fathers, like sons: Patrick Ewing Jr. will join John Thompson
III's program at Georgetown, transferring from Indiana.
I'm never sure if a scoring title is something to actually brag about,
but AI won his 4th NBA points title (joining Wilt, MJ and
Iceman).
Must-track: UNC's trio of Marvelous Marvin, Sean May and Raymond
Felton will all likely announce their NBA intentions tomorrow.
NBA Lottery: The Bobcats have to be feeling good. They tied for the
second-worst record AND got the Cavs' pick after they missed the
playoffs.
Congrats to Johan, who became a dad yesterday AND extended his streak
of games started without a loss to 19. (Didn't get the W,
though.)
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