UMFan83

You mean early season? I don't blame them for deciding that their core probably wasn't going to win a title and tried to shake things up. But it obviously left the team worse off. I wonder if they just assumed that Howard was going to stay when they made that trade, because whether or not it made them better now, it's not a deal that brings the kind of players you want to stick around for. I don't think Howard will be shipped off this offseason, but it's gonna be a big story and I think Orlando will listen to offers. If he goes to the Lakers, I'll die a little inside.

It's hard but I was able to watch a lot of the 2 games last night but only because they were game 7's. With the Hawks making it to the conference finals 2 years ago (I didnt watch much of that SCF except game 7) and the Hawks winning it all last year, it was the first time in 3 years I watched playoff hockey with the Hawks already out of it.

So we have 4 series left to be decided. All of them are 3-2 Atlanta/Orlando LA Lakers/New Orleans Memphis/San Antonio Dallas/Portland Rank the 4 in how likely the team that's down 2-3 will come back to win. I'm gonna say... Atlanta/Orlando - I think Orlando will come back and somehow find a way to beat Atlanta. Dallas/Portland - I think Dallas will win the series, but I think Portland has a great shot of winning game 6 so they are up here. Memphis/San Antonio - After last night, I definitely think San Antonio has a chance to ride that momentum to a series win. At the same time, Memphis has been in every single game and I just don't think we'll see San Antonio ever just take over the series. Although the hardest part is closing out the series, Memphis didn't exactly choke last night. It hit all its FTs in regulation and forced SA into really tough shots (Ginobili's almost 3, Neil's 3 from 3 feet behind the line). LA Lakers/New Orleans - I don't think NO will beat LA, but then again, NO has been surprising all series. I'll go out on a limb and say 2 of the series feature comebacks. Orlando and either Portland or San Antonio.

I gotcha now. My escapism is blaming Sharp for not finding some open space in the goal when he had a clean look on that PP. That and blaming Campbell for trying to walk to the net and gently place it in the goal instead of shooting it when he had a clear path. Reminded me of the BS Versteeg used to pull.

He's a point a game player, one of the top 5 passers in the league, who hasn't even entered his prime yet. People who are saying that just started watching the Hawks last year. Not saying that as a slam against them because I want the NHL to have as many fans as possible, but his skill-set is extraordinary and under no circumstances do you shop him. And some people were saying he disappears when the going gets tough. What the hell game have they been watching the past few years? He's got over a PPG in the playoffs and, oh yeah, scored the STANLEY CUP WINNING GOAL. People are dumb. You've gotta be [expletive] kidding. I hate people. That's insane. I think Kane will be even better than he has been when he matures a bit. I don't necessarily believe that his maturity is holding him back, but that there is another level he can reach. Trading Kane would be the biggest mistake this franchise has made in some time.

Wow. I know it's still only April, but those ERAs for our rotation look pathetic.

For some reason I've found myself cheering for TB the last couple of weeks. The two teams I am cheering for the rest of the playoffs are Nashville and Tampa Bay. I guess I want to kill hockey forever, but whatever.

Meh...could have gone either way. The puck was hidden for a quick second or two. and then it slid INTO the net. granted, I learned most of what I know about Hockey in the State of Minnesota, where I come from, we call that event a GOAL Not if the play is called dead beforehand. The play is dead when the ref can't see it. There have been so many times when the play is called dead and the puck isnt even being covered up by the goalie, it's pinned to the goal post or something, or in some cases still lose. The rule gives the ref full judgement to call the play dead if he can't see the puck for more than a second or so. Once the play is dead, it doesn't matter what else happens. I know you know that already, but I'm telling you why it was a reasonable call. I don't think Cancuks fans would be griping much if the play wasn't called dead, and likewise I don't have too much problem with it being called dead, other then me wishing it would have went the other way. f-that. this wasn't some ticky-tack foul, this was a GOAL. GOALS happen to be how you win and loose hockey games. It isn't/wasn't insignificant, they should have been able to review it. I mean, I'm not at all disappointed with the Blackhawks play in the series, I just really hate that missed call. It's not a missed call though, stop calling it that. You can argue that you don't like the rule and it should be changed, but way worse quick whistles have consistently been called this year.

Meh...could have gone either way. The puck was hidden for a quick second or two. and then it slid INTO the net. granted, I learned most of what I know about Hockey in the State of Minnesota, where I come from, we call that event a GOAL Not if the play is called dead beforehand. The play is dead when the ref can't see it. There have been so many times when the play is called dead and the puck isnt even being covered up by the goalie, it's pinned to the goal post or something, or in some cases still lose. The rule gives the ref full judgement to call the play dead if he can't see the puck for more than a second or so. Once the play is dead, it doesn't matter what else happens. I know you know that already, but I'm telling you why it was a reasonable call. I don't think Cancuks fans would be griping much if the play wasn't called dead, and likewise I don't have too much problem with it being called dead, other then me wishing it would have went the other way.

Well you could put Game 1 Monday 5/2 vs. Hawks/Magic. But then again, I'm guessing no one is relying on your thread title to determine when the next game is. It just looks nice and helps people skip through the thread to various games if we win a title and people want to look back on it.

Meh...could have gone either way. The puck was hidden for a quick second or two.

I'm mostly over it too, but the only thing that really stung for me was the fact that Vancouver won, not the Hawks losing. I can handle the Hawks not winning the Cup every year. I still got a DVD set proving they did last year that I will watch a ton now.

I can't see the Cubs joining that list anytime soon. The Dodgers and Mets both had random events happen that led to their financial problems, the Mets with Madoff and the Dodgers with McCourt's divorce.

I'm assuming you mean June 27th since the Cubs are playing a game in Milwaukee on July 27th, and the Rockies and Cubs both have off days on June 27th, with the Cubs playing at Wrigley the next day, and the Rockies playing at the Cell. Weird, a random period where Both Chicago teams are at home at the same time. The Sox are playing in Colorado. That almost looked too perfect.

I'm assuming you mean June 27th since the Cubs are playing a game in Milwaukee on July 27th, and the Rockies and Cubs both have off days on June 27th, with the Cubs playing at Wrigley the next day, and the Rockies playing at the Cell. Weird, a random period where Both Chicago teams are at home at the same time.

I am not sure if I am being insensitive here but, doesn't he have a cell phone? Why does he need to be down there to "make sure" his family is ok? Maybe someone is unaccounted for or there was extensive damages to a family members property. If so, I retract my statement and wish the Oswalt family all the best.

Pat Hughes mentioned that it's not raining at the moment, but they're not preparing to take up the tarp.... so apparently there is another wave of showers about to come through. Looks like more showers are coming through: http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/radar/ Are you saying its going to be rainy...in Chicago? I don't believe you.

I'd love this too. I already use it for realgm.

Any guesses as to why? Family reasons? Mental reasons? (Anxiety Disorder)

Yeah I dont know about that. The fouls were probably overblown a bit, and I'm sure he wasn't out there to hurt anyone, but he actually admitted he was the villian in the series. Physical hard fouls are ok. Knocking someone in the face while not even trying to put a play on the ball is a cheap shot. Much respect on the series though. It was such a tough and frustrating series to the point where I was actually shocked we were able to blow you out last night. Pacers definitely earned my respect.

The funny thing about that final goal is...if I remember correctly, he almost clanged it off the crossbar. If only he did.

http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/sound_sorting/initial_blends/sw/images/sweep.jpg

I cant see anyone willing to take on his deal. We had to offer more than anyone else was willing to pay to get him in the first place.

I think they were gassed, the long break is going to do them good. They were gassed, and I was thinking about that this morning. Last year guys like Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook played a ton more hockey. Regular season, Olympics and all the way through the playoffs. At any time during that series with Philly (or any time during the playoffs at all) was it as obvious that they were out of steam as it was last night? What's that go back to? Conditioning. And it reminds me of those really honest quotes Keith gave a few weeks ago about how he wasn't as focused last summer and during the season. Basically admitting to a Cup hangover. Did he not work as hard to prepare himself for the long season? It's easy for me to say from my couch, but I think it's a fair question. They were crazy gassed in OT of game 6 too. I think looking back on it next year its probably a good thing they got knocked out when they did. They will really benefit from this rest. I have no doubts several players suffered from a "cup hangover" this year. You would see spurts when the Hawks looked like the team they were last year and other times when they looked like they should be competing for last place with Edmonton. There is no way this team loses in regulation at home to Edmonton twice in a 2 week period if they are focused and flying on all cylanders.

Agreed. That's the game I lament in that series. Not as much game 7. Although it would have been nice to score more than 3 points over the last 10 minutes of the 2nd quarter. We had a ~12 point 4th quarter lead and blew it. Then Rondo "defending" by slapping Miller upside the head on an open layup attempt and him missing the front end. Ugh.