Spring Break
The Pro SIde: NBA playoffs highlight the weekend ahead
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN):
The NBA playoffs begin with the No. 2 seed Celtics hosting the No. 7 seed Bulls.
While most would give the Bulls an easy win in the series, the question lingers about Kevin Garnett. It was announced yesterday that he would miss at least the beginning of the playoffs, and possibly more.
Without the Big Ticket, the Celtics have played pretty well - and because it's a seven-game series, they should have little trouble dispatching Ben Gordon and the Bulls.
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks (Sunday, 8 p.m., TNT):
The Heat and Hawks begin their first-round series Sunday, which should be one of most competitive in the first round. Dwyane Wade takes his stellar regular season into the postseason, and it appears he is still in prime form, as he scored 55 points last week.
The two teams played each other Tuesday night - Atlanta won, 81-79 - but it was hardly a playoff preview, as both teams sat their starters.
Joe Johnson has a fair amount of star power as well, and it would not be surprising if this series goes seven games.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (Sunday, 8:05 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN is almost as good as Monday Night Football, and there are few better rivalries than the Cubs and Cardinals.
The division rivals are both off to good starts, with the Cardinals 8-2 and the Cubs at a decent 5-4.
Ted Lilly is on the mound for the Cubs coming off one of his best starts in a while - it's the final game of their four-game series and it should be a good one.
The NBA playoffs begin with the No. 2 seed Celtics hosting the No. 7 seed Bulls.
While most would give the Bulls an easy win in the series, the question lingers about Kevin Garnett. It was announced yesterday that he would miss at least the beginning of the playoffs, and possibly more.
Without the Big Ticket, the Celtics have played pretty well - and because it's a seven-game series, they should have little trouble dispatching Ben Gordon and the Bulls.
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks (Sunday, 8 p.m., TNT):
The Heat and Hawks begin their first-round series Sunday, which should be one of most competitive in the first round. Dwyane Wade takes his stellar regular season into the postseason, and it appears he is still in prime form, as he scored 55 points last week.
The two teams played each other Tuesday night - Atlanta won, 81-79 - but it was hardly a playoff preview, as both teams sat their starters.
Joe Johnson has a fair amount of star power as well, and it would not be surprising if this series goes seven games.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (Sunday, 8:05 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN is almost as good as Monday Night Football, and there are few better rivalries than the Cubs and Cardinals.
The division rivals are both off to good starts, with the Cardinals 8-2 and the Cubs at a decent 5-4.
Ted Lilly is on the mound for the Cubs coming off one of his best starts in a while - it's the final game of their four-game series and it should be a good one.
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