First an apology: to any college football fans who read that and needed to go change pants - I’m very sorry. Unfortunately, it’s going to be many, many years (if ever) before your sports talk radio show host of choice gives you those three words.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
PISTONS vs CAVALIERS
1 - SAT 4/18 DET at CLE 3:00 ET ABC
2 - TUE 4/21 DET at CLE 8:00 ET TNT
3 - FRI 4/24 CLE at DET 7:00 ET ESPN
4 - SUN 4/26 CLE at DET 3:30 ET ABC
x 5 - WED 4/29 DET at CLE
x 6 - FRI 5/1 CLE at DET
x 7 - SUN 5/3 DET at CLE
x - If necessary

WESTERN CONFERENCE
JAZZ vs LAKERS
Complete Series Coverage
1 - SUN 4/19 UTA at LAL 3:00 ET ABC
2 - TUE 4/21 UTA at LAL 10:30 ET TNT
3 - THU 4/23 LAL at UTA 10:30 ET TNT
4 - SAT 4/25 LAL at UTA 9:00 ET ESPN
x 5 - MON 4/27 UTA at LAL
x 6 - THU 4/30 LAL at UTA
x 7 - SAT 5/2 UTA at LAL TNT
x - If necessary

HORNETS vs NUGGETS
Complete Series Coverage
1 - SUN 4/19 NOH at DEN 10:30 ET TNT
2 - WED 4/22 NOH at DEN 10:30 ET TNT
3 - SAT 4/25 DEN at NOH 1:00 ET ESPN
4 - MON 4/27 DEN at NOH
x 5 - WED 4/29 NOH at DEN
x 6 - FRI 5/1 DEN at NOH
x 7 - SUN 5/3 NOH at DEN
x - If necessary

MAVERICKS vs SPURS
Complete Series Coverage
1 - SAT 4/18 DAL at SAS 8:00 ET ESPN
2 - MON 4/20 DAL at SAS 9:30 ET TNT
3 - THU 4/23 SAS at DAL 8:30 ET NBA TV
4 - SAT 4/25 SAS at DAL 4:00 ET TNT
x 5 - TUE 4/28 DAL at SAS
x 6 - FRI 5/1 SAS at DAL
x 7 - SUN 5/3 DAL at SAS
x - If necessary

ROCKETS vs TRAIL BLAZERS
Complete Series Coverage
1 - SAT 4/18 HOU at POR 10:30 ET ESPN
2 - TUE 4/21 HOU at POR 10:00 ET NBA TV
3 - FRI 4/24 POR at HOU 9:30 ET ESPN
4 - SUN 4/26 POR at HOU 9:00 ET TNT
x 5 - TUE 4/28 HOU at POR
x 6 - THU 4/30 POR at HOU
x 7 - SAT 5/2 HOU at POR TNT
x - If necessary

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The big story of the playoffs at this point is, of course, Kevin “The Kid” Garnett potentially missing the playoffs due to a bum knee. (Link is a video, in case you’re at work.) If KG is out, the C’s will fall to Orlando in the second round - book it - because Glenn “Big Baby Davis” is a legitimate inside player, but he can’t handle Dwight Howard for a full four. KG was, without a doubt, the best inside the defender that Boston had - and without him Superman is going to be able to own the paint. Game over.

The Hornets and the Nuggets could very well turn into one of the best series of the first round. A very young and very hungry NOLA team is looking for revenge after being knocked out in a disappointing way by San Antonio last year - and dropping all the way to the seventh seed out of the west while struggling to a 1-4 record in their last five due to a series of unfortunate injuries - while a Denver team that has been quietly gaining momentum since receiving Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson in a trade earlier this year is out to prove they’re a legitimate squad. Keep an eye on this one.

The Utah Jazz (should’ve made them change their name when they left New Orleans. What a joke. I’ve been to Utah - there’s no jazz at all. No offense Utah fans. You stick to beating Alabama, we’ll stick to the music) are very upset minded coming into their game with the Lakers of Los Angeles. The unfortunate part, however, is that the Lakers are playing the best ball of the year, are 100% healthy with the return of Andrew Bynum, and have a mind to run through the west like it’s their job. And it is.

The Spurs have had issues with Tim Duncan being slowed down by his knees while Dallas has not been the most spectacular team in the playoffs over the last few years. But, it’s an in-state rivalry and could very well end up going seven.

More to come……

Rob Brown NBA