UMFan83

Blah, its very early but I haven't seen much I've liked from Garza in the spring or the first start. I'm sure he'll get it together eventually tho.

I just have this feeling the Stars are not going to win in regulation tomorrow. Just a gut feeling. Minnesota is much better than Colorado, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind knocking the former Northstars out of the playoffs (if they are still alive come Sunday night). I think the Blackhawks should be able to get tomorrow game to OT worst case. If the Hawks can get a 1-0 lead, I could easily see them holding back and trying to keep the Wings to one goal or less. Also, is Detroit fightining for 2nd seed still or are they playing for nothing? If the former, I could see the Wings and Hawks both playing very conservatively to pick up a point. It would never happen but it would be funny if the Hawks were like, lets take this to OT 0-0 and we'll let you score a goal when OT starts.

Sam Fuld just made one of the sickest catches I've ever seen in the White Sox - Rays game. It might have rivaled Reed Johnson's catch in Washington a few years back.

If H2H were the first tiebreaker, the Hawks would still be in the exact same position. Lose tiebreaker to DAL/ANA, win tiebreaker against PHX/NSH/LA. I realize that. I'm not trying to tailor the tiebreakers to fit whats best for the Hawks. I'm just saying that I like H2H and goal differential better as tiebreakers than ROWs

It sucks that the awful drubbing the Stars gave us is keeping us from clinching the playoffs already. In terms of H2H and obviously the 4 point swing. I don't like victories being the 1st tiebreaker TBH. I think H2H should be the first tiebreaker, and goal differential being the 2nd. The Hawks have the 2nd best goal differential in the conference and could miss the playoffs which seems odd.

Is the 7th seed the highest we can attain?

Sergio Mitre beat Roy Halladay once. Marquis beat Halladay once. The lesson here is that the Cubs have surprising success against Halladay.

The first tiebreaker is still ROW for 3 team ties. Since there would be two spots up for grabs, if two of the teams have more ROWs then they advance and the other is eliminated. If one team has more and the other 2 are tied, the other two teams go to H2H to determine a winner. If all 3 teams are tied in ROWs, it goes to h2H against the other two teams, an it's determined by highest percentage of points taken from the other two. So if one team is 4-3-1 against the other two and another is 4-4-0, the first team advances. If teams are still tied after H2H it goes to goal differential over the season. Hawks are 2nd to Vancouver in the conference in that so we'd win of it ever got to that point.

Alright. The only way the Hawks don't make it is if they lose in regulation and the stars win in regulation both games. Sucks the Stars play after us on Sunday. Either way fantastic game. Just an awesome effort. Got the road one at home. If we can earn a point at home were in

based on the numbers he produced, definitely. considering that he's been caught using PEDs twice now, it's pretty reasonable to think that he's been using throughout most of his major league career. so would he have been a HoF player without them? hard to say. but for most of his career they weren't banned by the league and everyone was playing under the same lack of rules, so based on that i'd vote for him. Hasn't he actually gotten caught 3 times now? He got caught from that 2003 anonymous testing that ended up not being so anonymous, then in 09 he got caught with the masking agent, and now. He would have only gotten punished for 2 of them but 3 different times over an 8 year period he was caught using PED's. I'd say its pretty likely he was using them his entire career, putting all of his numebrs in jeopardy. He's gonna have a hard time making the HOF. If a proven steroid user makes the HOF, that will open the floodgates and then he'll get in. But until that happens he'll be standing on the sidelines like McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro and the rest.

He was a good pitcher, but not a $16 m per year pitcher. He has a career 3.93 ERA. It was just a really confusing signing. Theo is supposed to be a "moneyball prodigy" that finds things that are undervalued and takes advantage. I know Theo's team has always had deep pockets so he's always been a hybrid. But the Lackey signing didn't make sense from day one and leaned completely the other way. He's a decent pitcher, but nothing about his career numbers screams "will ever be worth 16 million a year". Especially confusing is because that offseason they basically admitted to their fans it was going to be a down year when they let Bay go. It almost seems like they signed him so the fans wouldnt completely freaked out, not because he was some pitcher they absolutely HAD to have for whatever reason.

Id rather the Bulls face the Celtics than the Heat (but not by a lot), so lets hope we both get what we want.

wow

Resting? Your big 4 all played over 30 minutes, and that's with sitting most of the 4th quarter when the game was out of reach. You guys got worked, and it was never really ever in question. I hope we see you in the ECF. Likewise. I don't think we can stop Dwight Howard. Just put in your Omer Asik.....you have an Omer Asik right? Ugly foreign guy with terrible hands, yeah we got one of those. While true, I prefer to call him our "Dwight hinderer"

BTW Simmons posted Part 2 of his NBA rankings, had a long section on why Rose is his MVP, and picks the Bulls to lose in 6 to the Lakers in the Finals. Lots of high praise for the Bulls. I wonder how much of that he wrote after last night.

Resting up for the playoffs just like my boys. Resting? Your big 4 all played over 30 minutes, and that's with sitting most of the 4th quarter when the game was out of reach. You guys got worked, and it was never really ever in question. I hope we see you in the ECF. Likewise. I don't think we can stop Dwight Howard. Just put in your Omer Asik.....you have an Omer Asik right?

I'm no fan of Bogans, and I'm not saying you're wrong, but I do want to give him props for last night. He had an awesome game. He hit two of his three open three point shots and completely shut down Allen. Seven freaking points for Allen! He played 17 minutes to Allen's 38 Doesn't mean Bogans didn't shut him down when they were both in the game.

Baron Davis has been money for the Cavs. It's amazing how quickly he can flip a switch and care again.

Boston. no wrong Sox

No one else even deserves a vote, honestly. A decent chunk of the media still seems bent on Pops though. Honestly, I'd say Thibs is definitely more deserving of CoY than Rose is of MVP. Well yeah, because Thibs actually deserves his award. Just curious, but who's been more valuable to his team than Rose this year? Nooooo don't open up this can of worms again!! I'm going to fast forward through this argument..... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz inefficient zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 43% shooting zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz volume shooter zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz win with D first zzzzzzzzzzzz But Bulls have no other shot creators zzzzzzzzzzzzzz become a closer and team leader zzzzzzzzzzzzz Howard is only good defender on top 10 defensive team zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...ah yes here we are Flamez: I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree. SSR: [some sort of witty comment that allows the argument to die 4 pages after it started.] imb: *jerking it to a photo of Ron Adams while sobbing uncontrollably*

Ignoring Anaheim for now (they are a Dallas regulation loss from clinching), here are all the scenarios that can occur tonight, and what the Hawks need on Sunday if the scenario comes true. This is long and I tried to double check it but there still might be an error somewhere, but I think its all right. 1) Hawks win regulation/OT, Stars win in regulation/OT. What it means: Hawks remain 2 points up on Dallas and 1 up in ROWs. To clinch on Sunday: Win OR Lose in OT OR Dallas loss (reg/OT or SO) OR Dallas wins in SO To be eliminated on Sunday: 0 points AND Dallas win in regulation/OT 2) Hawks win in SO, Stars win in regulation/OT. What it means: Hawks remain 2 points up on Dallas and tied in ROWs. To clinch on Sunday: Win OR Lose in OT OR Dallas loss (reg/OT) To be eliminated on Sunday: Loss AND any Dallas win 3) Hawks win in regulation/OT, Stars win in SO. What it means: Hawks clinch ROW tiebreaker, thus clinch a playoff spot 4) Hawks win in SO, Stars win in SO. What it means: Hawks remain 2 points up on Dallas and up 1 in ROWs To clinch on Sunday: Win OR Lose in OT OR Dallas loss (regulation/OT or SO) OR Dallas wins in SO. To be eliminated on Sunday: Loss in regulation AND a Dallas regulation/OT win 5) Hawks win in regulation/OT, Stars lose in regulation What it means: Hawks clinch a playoff spot. 6) Hawks win in SO, Stars lose in regulation What it means: Hawks clinch a playoff spot. 7) Hawks win in regulation/OT, Stars lose in SO What it means: Hawks clinch a playoff spot 8) Hawks win in SO, Stars lose in SO What it means: Hawks clinch a playoff spot 9) Hawks lose regulation/OT, Stars win in regulation/OT. What it means: Hawks tied with Dallas and tied in tiebreaker. To clinch on Sunday: 1) Win (regulation/OT) AND any Dallas loss OR Dallas win in SO OR 2) Win in SO AND any Dallas loss OR 3) Loss in OT/SO AND Dallas loss in regulation. (Basically, earn more points than Dallas on sunday unless you win in regulation/OT and Dallas wins in SO) To be eliminated on Sunday: 1) Lose in regulation OR 2) Dallas win in regulation/OT OR 3) Lose in OT/SO AND Dallas loss in OT/SO OR Dallas win in regulation/OT or SO 10) Hawks lose in SO, Stars win in regulation/OT. What it means: Hawks now 1 point up on Dallas and tied in ROWs. To clinch on Sunday: 1) Win OR 2) Loss in regulation AND Dallas loss in regulation OR 3) Loss in OT/SO AND any Dallas loss To be eliminated on Sunday: 1) Loss in regulation and any Dallas point 2) Loss in OT and any Dallas win 11) Hawks lose in regulation/OT, Stars win in SO. What it means: Hawks now 1 point up on Dallas and 1 up on ROWs. To clinch on Sunday: Any win OR Loss in OT/SO AND Dallas win in SO OR Dallas loss To be eliminated on Sunday: 1) Loss in regulation AND any Stars win 2) Loss in OT/SO AND Stars win in regulation/OT 12) Hawks lose in OT/SO, Stars win in SO. What it means: Hawks now 1 points up on Dallas and up 1 in ROWs. To clinch on Sunday: 1) Win OR 2) Lose in OT AND any Dallas loss OR Dallas wins in SO. 3) Lose in regulation AND any Dallas loss To be eliminated on Sunday: 1) Lose in regulation AND any Dallas win 2) Lose in OT/SO AND a Dallas regulation/OT win 13) Hawks lose in regulation, Stars lose in regulation What it means: Hawks remain up by 2 points and up 1 in ROWs. To clinch on Sunday: Win OR Lose in OT/SO OR any Dallas loss OR Dallas wins in SO To be eliminated on Sunday: 0 points AND Dallas win in regulation/OT 14) Hawks lose in OT/SO, Stars lose in regulation What it means: Hawks clinch a playoff spot. 15) Hawks lose in regulation, Stars lose in SO What it means: Hawks now 1 point up and up 1 in ROW To clinch on Sunday: Any win OR Loss in OT/SO AND Dallas win in SO OR Dallas loss To be eliminated on Sunday: 1) Loss in regulation AND any Stars win 2) Loss in OT/SO AND Stars win in regulation/OT 16) Hawks lose in SO, Stars lose in SO What it means: Hawks remain 2 points up on Dallas and up 1 in ROWs To clinch on Sunday: Win OR Lose in OT/SO OR any Dallas loss OR Dallas wins in SO To be eliminated on Sunday: 0 points AND Dallas win in regulation/OT In 37.5% of the scenarios, the Hawks clinch tonight. In 0%, they are eliminated tonight.

I'm no fan of Bogans, and I'm not saying you're wrong, but I do want to give him props for last night. He had an awesome game. He hit two of his three open three point shots and completely shut down Allen. Seven freaking points for Allen! Based on the eye test and looking at no stats, it seems Bogans has turned into a serviceable player the last month or two. He seems to be knocking down some open threes and playing good defense. That's all we really need him to do. The threat of him hitting a three has spread the offense open in a way that someone like Brewer can't do, which helps Rose. Bogans has played a positive role on this team lately. At least in my mind. I'm sure an argument can be made against this. No, I think most people have noticed this. People wouldn't hesitate to replace him if they could but he's no longer a gaping hole of awfulness in an otherwise solid starting lineup. That's all we asked for him all year was to hit the open 3 and play good man to man defense and that's what he's been doing.

So Dallas of course won last night, pulling to within 2. I don't need to talk about how critical this game is. A win really puts the pressure on Dallas. A regulation loss takes away the Hawks ability to control their own destiny and gives it to Dallas.

SSR doesn't seem like the type of person that would hide away from the shame of his team losing badly.