As we enter the final week and a half of the season, the playoff picture is becoming more and more clear. While some teams continue to jockey for position in the standings, others look to develop their younger talent heading into the post-season.
<table class="MsoTableGrid" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="530"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="64" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>DATE<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>VISITOR<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>HOME<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>TIME (ET)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Canadians in Play<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Tuesday </span><span>April 8<sup>th</sup> <span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Dallas Mavericks<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Utah Jazz<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>9:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Samuel Dalembert (Montreal, QC)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Tuesday April 8<sup>th</sup><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Houston Rockets<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>L.A. Lakers<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>10:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Robert Sacre (N. Vancouver, BC) </span><span>Steve Nash (Victoria, BC) <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 9<sup>th</sup><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Detroit Pistons<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Cleveland Cavaliers<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Tristan Thompson (Toronto, ON) Anthony Bennett (Toronto,ON) <span>(INJ)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 9<sup>th</sup><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Brooklyn Nets<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Orlando Magic<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 9<sup>th</sup><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Philadelphia 76ers<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Toronto Raptors<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 9<sup>th</sup><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Boston Celtics<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Atlanta Hawks<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, BC) </span><span>Joel Anthony (Montreal, QC)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Thursday April 10<sup>th</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>San Antonio Spurs<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Dallas Mavericks<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Cory Joseph (Toronto, ON) </span><span>Samuel Dalembert (Montreal, QC)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Friday <br> April 11<sup>th</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Washington Wizards<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Orlando Magic<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Friday </span><br> <span> April 11</span><sup>th</sup></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>New York Knicks<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Toronto Raptors<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> N/A</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Friday </span><br> <span> April 11</span><sup>th</sup></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Boston Celtics<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Charlotte Bobcats<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>10:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, BC) <o:p></o:p></span><span>Joel Anthony (Montreal, QC)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Friday </span><br> <span> April 11</span><sup>th</sup></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Cleveland Cavaliers<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Milwaukee Bucks<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Tristan Thompson (Toronto, ON) Anthony Bennett (Toronto, ON) <span>(INJ)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Friday </span><br> <span> April 11</span><sup>th</sup></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Phoenix Suns<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>San Antonio Spurs<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Cory Joseph (Toronto, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Friday </span><br> <span> April 11</span><sup>th</sup></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Golden State Warriors<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>L.A. Lakers<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Canadian Die-Hards Top 3
Wednesday, April 9th
Pistons at Cavs
Cleveland still has a chance to make the post-season. Despite losing Kyrie Irving for quite a stretch, Tristan Thompson and company have pulled out some impressive victories over some tough opposition. The Cavs will have to be pretty much perfect going forward, with some needed help from some other eastern conference teams looking to secure the 7th and 8th spots.
Thursday, April 10th
Spurs at Mavs
Two canucks will suit up to play each other on TNT Thursday night. Seeing as Spurs coach Popovich is infamous for sitting his starters prior to the post-season, look for Cory Joseph to get a chunk of the minutes, especially after a solid performance on Sunday night versus Memphis. For the Mavs, Samuel Dalembert will be playing his usual role of rim protector and rebounder. The Mavs are still battling for playoff seeding in the West, while the Spurs are pretty much secured to win the conference.
Friday, April 11th
Celtics at Bobcats
Now that the rebuilding process for Celtics enters the final week of the season, this gives coach Brad Stevens a chance to really know what he’s got with his young talent. Joel Anthony will be providing a supporting role off the bench, while Stevens should look to give Kelly Olynyk and some other promising rookies more meaningful minutes. The Bobcats remain in the playoffs picture and will be still be playing hard at this point, meaning it would a great test for some the Celts youngsters.