Spurs vs. Thunder Game 3 Live Blog

Game 3: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder  9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

Stanley Cup Finals Game 1/Celtics vs. Heat Game 2 Live Blog

Game 1: Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)

Game 2: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat 8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 1/NBA Draft Lottery/Celtics vs. Heat Game 2 Open Thread

Bad news, folks.  CoveritLive.com announced today they no longer have free alternatives to their software that are simply missing some rather useless features.  This is what we had been doing in the past.  However, today, they decided to put a charge on their software.  They do have a free trial option, but that trial is only good for 25 clicks, which for us, probably will not even get us to three live blogs before it flat out blocks readers from reading.  Their lowest price option is a healthy $9.99 a month, which totals $119.88 a year, which is absolutely ridiculous for a product that had been free for the past several years.  Oh, and if you go over 250 clicks a month with this plan you get charged 5 cents for every overage click.  I do not like asking for money.  I never got into this wanting to ask people for money.  However, having limited funds after graduating college and still in search of a job, the only way I can proceed with using CiL is if everyone chips in an equal share.  If that is what we agree to do, I will set up a PayPal account and we will go from there.

Scribble Live, CoveritLive's main competitor, has a 30-month free trial period completely free of obligations, however, once the 30 days expires, you will then be forced to subscribe.  I know not of other similar products, however, I do know some video chatting services with chat rooms (namely Vokle and Spreecast) are still free without subscription, although I am not sure if those chat rooms are any better than just going back to the old old days of the Blogger comment section.  If you know others, please name them in the comments section.

Use the Blogger comment thread below as your thread for today's sporting events and discussion of how to proceed from here.


Game 1: Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)

Game 2: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat 8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

Thunder vs. Spurs Game 2 Live Blog

Game 2: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

Celtics vs. Heat Game 1 Live Blog

Game 1: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat 8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

Thunder vs. Spurs Game 1 Live Blog

Game 1: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 8:30 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule

This should be fun.

Stanley Cup Finals

Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils
Game 1:  May 30:  Kings vs. Devils  8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)
Game 2:  June 2:  Kings vs. Devils  8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)
Game 3:  June 4:  Devils vs. Kings  8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)
Game 4:  June 6:  Devils vs. Kings  8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)
Game 5:  June 9:  Kings vs. Devils  8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)
Game 6:  June 11:  Devils vs. Kings  8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)
Game 7:  June 13:  Kings vs. Devils  8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake)

NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Schedule

While Celtics-Heat will get all the glamour and media attention, it is a series that I would be shocked if it went 6 games. The Celtics are atrocious on offense (their offensive efficiency this season was equivalent to that of the lowly Washington Wizards) and their best defender is out for the rest of the playoffs needing shoulder surgery. If you want good basketball, Thunder-Spurs should be a treat. Celtics-Heat could be painful.  Like Noam Schiller of Hardwood Paroxysm tweeted last night, "The Celtics were absolutely, positively, unequivocally the second worst team in the 2nd round. Just happened to meet the first."

Eastern Conference Finals

#4 Boston Celtics vs. #2 Miami Heat
Game 1:  May 28:  Celtics vs. Heat  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 2:  May 30:  Celtics vs. Heat  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 3:  June 1:  Heat vs. Celtics  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 4:  June 3:  Heat vs. Celtics  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 5:  June 5:  Celtics vs. Heat  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 6:  June 7:  Heat vs. Celtics  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 7:  June 9:  Celtics vs. Heat  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

Western Conference Finals

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #1 San Antonio Spurs
Game 1:  May 27:  Thunder vs. Spurs  8:30 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 2:  May 29:  Thunder vs. Spurs  9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 3:  May 31:  Spurs vs. Thunder  9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 4:  June 2:  Spurs vs. Thunder  8:30 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 5:  June 4:  Thunder vs. Spurs  9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 6:  June 6:  Spurs vs. Thunder  9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 7:  June 8:  Thunder vs. Spurs  9:00 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

76ers vs. Celtics Game 7 Live Blog

Game 7: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 8:00 (ABC - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

Rangers vs. Devils Game 6 Live Blog

Game 6: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Heat vs. Pacers Game 6 Live Blog

Game 6: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 8:00 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

May 23 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 6: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers 8:00 (ESPN - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Lisa Salters)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO LIVE BLOG!

May 22 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat 8:00 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Cheryl Miller)

Game 5: Los Angeles Kings vs. Phoenix Coyotes 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Darren Pang, ItG: Brian Engblom) (CBC - Bob Cole and Garry Galley, SR: Scott Oake)

May 21 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 7:00 (TNT - Dick Stockton and Chris Webber, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 4: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 5: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 9:30 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

May 20 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 4: Phoenix Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings 3:00 (NBC - Dave Strader and Darren Pang, ItG: Brian Engblom) (CBC - Bob Cole and Garry Galley, SR: Scott Oake)

Game 4: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 3:30 (ABC - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Heather Cox)

Game 4: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Marty Snider)

UEFA Champions League Final/May 19 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 3: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils 1:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

UEFA Champions League Final: Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea 2:45 (Fox - Martin Tyler and Gary Neville)

Game 3: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers 3:30 (ABC - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Lisa Salters)

Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10:30 (TNT - Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, and Steve Kerr, SR: Craig Sager)

May 18 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 4: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers 8:00 (ESPN - Dave Pasch and Doris Burke, SR: Holly Rowe)

Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Lisa Salters)

May 17 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 3: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 7:00 (ESPN - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Heather Cox)

Game 3: Phoenix Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Darren Pang, ItG: Brian Engblom) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro, SR: Ryan Rishaug)

Game 2: Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs 9:30 (ESPN - Dan Shulman and Chris Mullin, SR: Ric Bucher)

May 16 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 3: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers 7:00 (TNT - Dick Stockton and Chris Webber, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 2: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 2: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 9:30 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

May 15 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 2: Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat 7:00 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Cheryl Miller)

Game 2: Los Angeles Kings vs. Phoenix Coyotes 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Darren Pang, ItG: Brian Engblom) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro)

Game 1: Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs 9:30 (TNT - Matt Devlin and Mike Fratello, SR: Marty Snider)

Everything Changes While Remaining The Same

June 23, 2011, 3:21 PM:  Jeff Carter is traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

44 minutes later:  Mike Richards is traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

40 minutes later:  The Flyers sign Ilya Bryzgalov to a a 9-year, $51M contract.

In the span of less than two hours on June 23, 2011, the Flyers managed to blow up their core while simultaneously creating a new one.  In the span of two hours on June 23, 2011, the Philadelphia Flyers as we knew them no longer existed and out of the ashes, a team arose with new faces.

Out were Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.

In were Jakub Voracek, a 2011 1st round draft pick (Sean Couturier), a 2011 3rd round pick (Nick Cousins), Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, a 2012 2nd round draft pick (flipped to Dallas at the trade deadline for Nick Grossmann), and Ilya Bryzgalov.

Everything about that day is a blur now.  Having not been old enough to remember the Lindros trade, this was by far the most shocking blow-up of a team I had ever seen.  In a nutshell, it lowered the age of the team's forwards while simultaneously doing little to address the problems of an aging defense.  While no one could have foresaw the immense tragedy of Chris Pronger's injury, it absolutely should have been on the Front Office's mind that two 38-year old defensemen might have injury problems, as with age, comes an increased susceptibility to injuries.

The big problem the Flyers have right now* is by the time the Flyers forwards are old and talented enough to make a real run at the Cup, the core of the defense will be too injured (Pronger) or too retired (Timonen) to compete, thus depleting the depth of the defense outside of Ilya Bryzgalov, who can only be asked to do so much.  While Bryzgalov is one of the better goaltenders in the NHL even in spite of his off-year this year as can happen with any goalie, he as a mortal human being can only do so much.  If the defense is entirely dependent on the goalie, than the team is pretty much screwed.  You can get by in the NHL with a solid defense and mediocre goaltending. Just look at Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  In 2009-2010, a goalie almost everyone agrees is not that good, won the Stanley Cup with a .912 regular season save percentage and a .910 save percentage.  In 2008-2009, a goalie whom just about everyone overrates, the aforementioned Fleury, won the Stanley Cup with a .912 regular season save percentage and a .908 save percentage.

*Some will point out that the real problem with the Flyers is Peter Laviolette's system.  Broad Street Hockey's Geoff Detweiler takes a wonderfully detailed look at Lavi's system and concludes that in order to criticize the system, it is necessary to pinpoint the problem.  If you want a good Flyers coaching analysis with plenty of supplementary links elsewhere, this is where you want to go.

In other words, these goalies with rings, are not very good.  But the defenses they play behind are.

Re-building the defense for the Flyers will be critical.  The first positive step they can take is signing Ryan Suter, or retaining the same skill level and re-signing Matt Carle for what will probably be cheaper.  It's not like they are all that different from each other.

This season for the Flyers was in every sense of the word a transition year.  Out with the old, in with the new.  Jaromir Jagr's contributions were invaluable both on the ice and off the ice, even if he does not return next season as currently appears to be the case.  The future is bright with the emergence of Claude Giroux as a superstar, and the continually rising talents of the likes of Couturier, JVR, Voracek, Simmonds, and Schenn.  But as mentioned above, the key to the Flyers' future, should they not blow up this set of forwards any time soon, will be the defense.  If the Flyers defense can perform at a high level*, this is a team that will be contending for the Stanley Cup in due time.  Something else Paul Holmgren will need to do: learn how to do math.  In the next few years, Voracek, Giroux, Couturier, Simmonds, and others will all be due new contracts and pay raises.  As a team what is already up against the cap as it is, finding a way to maneuver about re-signing and replacing these players is a prospect that scares the poop out of me.  Every off-season I am too easily reminded why I am not a fan of Paul Holmgren, and I half-expect these upcoming years to be no different.

*As backwards as it may seem, trading Andrej Meszaros would be a great way to start.  His goal total and production is inflated because he is frequently sheltered in the offensive zone.  He is not as good as his contract or goal total makes him out to be.  In fact, saying "he is not good, period" is probably a factually accurate statement.  You can find better 5th defensemen for cheaper.

Last year, the Flyers finished the season with 106 points and lost in the 2nd round in 4 games.  This year, the Flyers finished the season with 103 points and lost in the 2nd round in 5 games.  The more things change.......

The Philadelphia Flyers are the only team in the NHL to advance to the second round of the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.  While some may look at this as somewhat of a disappointment, you have to take these eliminations with the knowledge that every other team in the NHL at one point or another finished worse than the 2nd round in the last three seasons.  With all of the changes that have been had over the past three seasons, to have this same kind of consistency is nothing short of remarkable.

We will have an interesting off-season for sure to see where the Flyers go from here.  Surprises will be had, trades will happen, free agents will sign, free agents will leave, it will all be exciting, but one thing that will be for certain is the 2012-2013 season will arrive* and the Philadelphia Flyers will be back.

*There is no way the NHL will lockout after the growth it has seen since the last lockout, where interest in the sport pretty much hit rock bottom.

Will next year be the year?  It is impossible to say right now.  But the Flyers ended last year as a contender for the Stanley Cup, got surprising production from rookies and made a legitimate push this year, and will with little doubt once again be in that very same conversation to qualify for the Stanley Cup.  Matt Read will either stay the same or improve.  Jakub Voracek will most likely improve.  Sean Couturier will most likely improve.  Brayden Schenn will most likely improve.  Wayne Simmonds will most likely improve.  Claude Giroux is only 24.  JVR will most likely improve.  Braydon Coburn will continue to be a steady rock on defense.  Max Talbot will not have a 16.5% shooting percentage again, but his defensive ability will still be there.  Everything changed on June 23, 2011, but nearly one year later, everything is still the exact same.

May 14 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 2: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 7:00 (TNT - Dick Stockton and Chris Webber, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 1: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 9:30 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

May 13 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 7: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies 1:00 (ABC - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

Game 1: Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat 3:30 (ABC - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Lisa Salters)

Game 1: Los Angeles Kings vs. Phoenix Coyotes 8:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Darren Pang, ItG: Brian Engblom) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro, SR: Sara Orlesky)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals Schedule/Results

Darren Pang has not worked a single playoff game with NBC this year.  Why start now?

Eastern Conference Finals

#6 New Jersey Devils vs. #1 New York Rangers
Game 1: May 14: Devils vs. Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)
Game 2: May 16: Devils vs. Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)
Game 3: May 19: Rangers vs. Devils 1:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)
Game 4: May 21: Rangers vs. Devils 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)
Game 5: May 23: Devils vs. Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)
Game 6: May 25: Rangers vs. Devils 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)
Game 7: May 27: Devils vs. Rangers 8:00 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC)

Western Conference Finals

#8 Los Angeles Kings vs. #3 Phoenix Coyotes
Game 1: May 13: Kings vs. Coyotes 8:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Darren Pang) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro)
Game 2: May 15: Kings vs. Coyotes 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Darren Pang) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro)
Game 3: May 17: Coyotes vs. Kings 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Darren Pang) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro)
Game 4: May 20: Coyotes vs. Kings 3:00 (NBC - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Darren Pang) (CBC)
Game 5: May 22: Kings vs. Coyotes 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Darren Pang) (CBC)
Game 6: May 24: Coyotes vs. Kings 9:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Darren Pang) (CBC)
Game 7: May 26: Kings vs. Coyotes 8:00 (TBD) (CBC)

May 12 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 7: Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers 7:30 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire)

Game 1: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 8:00 (TNT - Dick Stockton, Mike Fratello, and Chris Webber, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 7: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Craig Sager)

May 11 Playoffs Boosie Has Been Freed Live Blog

For years, Memphis center Marreese Speights has campaigned for the freedom of Lil Boosie. Today, Boosie was set free.  Tonight, we celebrate.

Game 6: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers 9:00 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

NBA Playoffs Conference Semifinals Schedule

Hard to believe it, the 2nd round of the playoffs are here and the Philadelphia 76ers are still playing.  They are playing a team they beat twice out of three times this season, but that was before the Celtics really turned it on and improved their play toward the end of the season.  The Sixers would have been much better off playing the Hawks, not to mention that the Hawks simply forcing a Game 7 would have bought the 76ers a few days of needed rest.  As it is, the series starts Saturday night, and the opponent is Boston.  There is a good chance the first team to 75 will win each of these 76ers-Celtics games.


Eastern Conference Semifinals

#8 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #4 Boston Celtics
Game 1:  May 12:  76ers vs. Celtics  7:00 (TNT - Dick Stockton, Chris Webber, and Mike Fratello, SR: David Aldrige)
Game 2:  May 14:  76ers vs. Celtics  7:00 (TNT - Dick Stockton, Chris Webber, and Mike Fratello, SR: David Aldridge)
Game 3:  May 16:  Celtics vs. 76ers  7:00 (TNT)
Game 4:  May 18:  Celtics vs. 76ers  8:00 (ESPN)
Game 5:  May 21:  76ers vs. Celtics  TBD (TNT)
Game 6:  May 23:  Celtics vs. 76ers  TBD (ESPN)
Game 7:  May 26:  76ers vs. Celtics  TBD (TBD)
Boston Celtics lead series 1-0

#3 Indiana Pacers vs. #2 Miami Heat
Game 1:  May 13:  Pacers vs. Heat  3:30 (ABC - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Lisa Salters)
Game 2:  May 15:  Pacers vs. Heat  7:00 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Cheryl Miller)
Game 3:  May 17:  Heat vs. Pacers  7:00 (ESPN)
Game 4:  May 20:  Heat vs. Pacers  3:30 (ABC)
Game 5:  May 22:  Pacers vs. Heat  TBD (TNT)
Game 6:  May 24:  Heat vs. Pacers  TBD (TBD)
Game 7:  May 26:  Pacers vs. Heat  TBD (TBD)

Western Conference Semifinals

#5 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #1 San Antonio Spurs
Game 1:  May 15:  Clippers vs. Spurs  9:30 (TNT - Matt Devlin and Mike Fratello, SR: Marty Snider)
Game 2:  May 17:  Clippers vs. Spurs  9:30 (ESPN)
Game 3:  May 19:  Spurs vs. Clippers  3:30 (ABC)
Game 4:  May 20:  Spurs vs. Clippers  10:30 (TNT)
Game 5:  May 22:  Clippers vs. Spurs  TBD (TNT)
Game 6:  May 25:  Spurs vs. Clippers  TBD (ESPN)
Game 7:  May 27:  Clippers vs. Spurs  TBD (TNT)

#3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #2 Oklahoma City Thunder
Game 1:  May 14:  Lakers vs. Thunder  9:30 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 2:  May 16:  Lakers vs. Thunder  9:30 (TNT)
Game 3:  May 18:  Thunder vs. Lakers  10:30 (ESPN)
Game 4:  May 19:  Thunder vs. Lakers  10:30 (TNT)
Game 5:  May 21:  Lakers vs. Thunder  TBD (TNT)
Game 6:  May 23:  Thunder vs. Lakers  TBD (ESPN)
Game 7:  May 27:  Lakers vs. Thunder  TBD (TNT)

76ers Win A Playoff Series For The First Time Since 2003

Click here to hear Ian Eagle's call of the finish.

May 10 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 6: Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers 7:00 (NBA TV - Ian Eagle and Greg Anthony, SR: Cheryl Miller)

Game 6: Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics 8:00 (TNT - Matt Devlin and Mike Fratello, SR: Tracy Wolfson)

Game 6: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets 10:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Craig Sager)

May 9 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat 7:00 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 6: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals 7:30 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire)

Game 5: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies 9:30 (TNT - Dick Stockton and Chris Webber, SR: Jamie Maggio)

May 8 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers 7:00 (NBA TV - Ian Eagle and Steve Smith, SR: Stephanie Ready)

Game 5: New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 (NBCSN - Kenny Albert, ItG: Pierre McGuire)

Game 5: Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks 8:00 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Tracy Wolfson)

Game 5: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls 9:30 (NBA TV - Kevin Calabro and Greg Anthony, SR: Cheryl Miller)

Game 5: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Craig Sager)

May 7 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers 7:30 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 4: San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz 8:00 (TNT - Matt Devlin and Mike Fratello, SR: Lewis Johnson)

Game 5: Nashville Predators vs. Phoenix Coyotes 10:00 (NBCSN - John Forslund, ItG: Joe Micheletti) (TSN - Gord Miller, ItG: Darren Pang, SR: Sara Orlesky)

Game 4: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 (TNT - Dick Stockton and Chris Webber, SR: Jamie Maggio)

May 6 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 4:  Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers  1:00 (ABC - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Heather Cox)

Game 4:  St. Louis Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings  3:00 (NBC - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Brian Hayward) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro)

Game 4:  Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks  3:30 (ABC - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Lisa Salters)

Game 4:  Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics  7:00 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Tracy Wolfson)

Game 4:  Philadelphia Flyers vs. New Jersey Devils  7:30 (NBCSN - Kenny Albert, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Bob Cole and Garry Galley, SR: Scott Oake)

Game 4:  Lakers vs. Nuggets  9:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Craig Sager)

May 5 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 4: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals 12:30 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 4: Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic 2:00 (ESPN - Mark Jones and Chris Mullin)

Game 3: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers 4:30 (ESPN - Dave Pasch and Jon Barry)

Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks 7:30 (TNT - Ian Eagle and Chris Webber, SR: Marty Snider)

Game 3: San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz 10:00 (TNT - Matt Devlin and Mike Fratello, SR: Lewis Johnson)

May 4 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 4: Phoenix Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators 7:30 (NBCSN - John Forslund, ItG: Joe Micheletti) (TSN - Gord Miller, ItG: Darren Pang, SR: Katherine Dolan)

Game 3: Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics 7:30 (ESPN - Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Lisa Salters)

Game 3: Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers 8:00 (ESPN2 - Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown, SR: Heather Cox)

Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets 10:30 (ESPN - Dan Shulman and Doris Burke, SR: Ric Bucher)

May 3 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 3: Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks 7:00 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 3: Philadelphia Flyers vs. New Jersey Devils 7:30 (NBCSN - Kenny Albert, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Bob Cole and Garry Galley, SR: Scott Oake)

Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks 9:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Marty Snider)

Game 3: St. Louis Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings 10:00 (NBCSN - Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, ItG: Brian Hayward) (TSN - Chris Cuthbert, ItG: Ray Ferraro)

May 2 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 2: Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs 7:00 (TNT - Matt Devlin and Mike Fratello, SR: Lewis Johnson)

Game 3: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals 7:30 (NBCSN - Mike Emrick an Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Elliotte Friedman)

Game 3: Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic 7:30 (NBA TV - Ian Eagle and Greg Anthony, SR: Stephanie Ready)

Game 3: Phoenix Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators 9:00 (CNBC - John Forslund, ItG: Joe Micheletti) (TSN - Gord Miller, ItG: Darren Pang, SR: Katherine Dolan)

Game 2: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies 9:30 (TNT - Dick Stockton and Chris Webber, SR: Craig Sager)

May 1 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 2: New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 (NBCSN - Kenny Albert, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Bob Cole and Garry Galley, SR: Scott Oake)

Game 2: Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks 7:30 (NBA TV - Kevin Calabro and Greg Anthony, SR: Tracy Wolfson)

Game 2: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls 8:00 (TNT - Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller, SR: Cheryl Miller)

Game 2: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10:30 (TNT - Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, SR: Jamie Maggio)