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The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks could all advance today with a win via first round sweep for each team.
I fully expect the Heat to send the Milwaukee Bucks to the golf course for the off season today. The Heat understand and value both the short series, as well as keeping pace with the other teams that may well sweep today as well. With all the injuries impacting the playoffs, nobody is taking time off for granted.
In their last outing against the Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers looked absolutely terrible. And it only got worse since then with Steve Nash, Metta World Peace, and Jodie Meeks all on the shelf for the game today. It's gotten so bad that Silver Screen & Roll already have a "moment of peace" post put up for today in regards to the Lakers season.
The other potential sweep today is the one I suspect might not happen - with the Boston Celtics possibly gutting out a win on pride and determination alone. But it is just a delay of the inevitable in my mind. Even the Celtics Blog isn't showing much hope at this point. While there has been no definitive statements made, this may well be the end of the road for Kevin Garnett and/or Paul Pierce. Two storied careers possibly ending with a whimper rather than a bang. Further off season questions revolve around Rajon Rondo's health, and whether the Celtics will keep him as the cornerstone of their future, or if he can be used to collect a couple of other pieces to speed up the rebuilding process.
The Knicks will have to win today without the services of J.R. Smith. Smith was suspended after elbowing Jason Terry, and subsequently being ejected from the game, in game 3 of this series.
The final game of the day pits the infinitely watchable duo of the Golden State Warrior verses the Denver Nuggets. If you have been asleep throughout these playoffs, let me invite you to tune this game in. The first 3 games have been as entertaining as NBA basketball gets. Golden State of Mind has a nice preview piece up covering game 4. The Warriors have stolen the home court advantage with a win in both games 2 and 3, and the Nuggets know they cannot afford to go down two games today. I expect this game to be a bit more physical with George Karl trying to get his team in the driver's seat of the tempo for the game.
If you only have time for one game today, make no mistake, tune in to Golden State vs. Denver. Get your beverages and snacks ready ahead of time because this one might just be full throttle from beginning to end. And don't blink if either Ty Lawson or Stephen Curry have the ball in their hands as you may miss something!
Away | Home | TV | Venue | |
1:00 PM ET | Knicks | Celtics | ABC | TD Garden |
3:30 PM ET | Heat | Bucks | ABC | BMO Harris Bradley Center |
7:00 PM ET | Spurs | Lakers | TNT | Staples Center |
9:30 PM ET | Nuggets | Warriors | TNT | ORACLE Arena |