The last three days of the NBA regular season is upon us and playoff seeding is still shuffling around like a pack of cards. With every win and every loss, teams are switching spots in their respective conference. The young up and coming teams are also showing some great poise as they enter their final games.
<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> Monday </span><span>April 14 </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Boston Celtics</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Philadelphia 76ers</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, BC) </span><span>Joel Anthony (Montreal, QC)</span><span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Monday </span><span>April 14 </span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Milwaukee Bucks</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Toronto Raptors</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>7:00 pm</span><span><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> Monday </span><span>April 14 </span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Orlando Magic</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Chicago Bulls</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, ON)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Monday </span><span>April 14 </span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>San Antonio Spurs</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Houston Rockets</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Cory Joseph (Toronto, ON)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Monday </span><span>April 14 </span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>L.A. Lakers</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Utah Jazz</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>9:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Robert Sacre (North Vancouver, BC) Steve Nash (Victoria, BC)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 16</span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Dallas Mavericks</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Memphis Grizzlies</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Samuel Dalembert (Montreal, QC)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 16</span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>L.A. Lakers</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>San Antonio Spurs</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Robert Sacre (North Vancouver, BC) Steve Nash (Victoria, BC) </span><span>Cory Joseph (Toronto, ON)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 16</span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Washington Wizards</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Boston Celtics</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, BC) </span><span>Joel Anthony (Montreal, QC)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 16</span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Brooklyn Nets</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Cleveland Cavaliers</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Tristan Thompson (Toronto, ON) Anthony Bennett (Toronto, ON)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Wednesday April 16</span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Toronto Raptors</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>New York Knicks</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><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> Wednesday April 16</span></p> </td> <td width="112"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Indiana Pacers</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="128"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Orlando Magic</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>8:00 pm</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="177"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, ON)</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Canadian Die-Hards Top 3
Monday, April 14th
Celtics at Sixers
Coming into the year, the Boston Celtics knew it would one for rebuilding. The growth of rookie centre and Kamloops, BC native Kelly Olynyk has been evident over the course of the season, and it showed over the weekend when he tied his career-high in points and surpassed his career-high in rebounds. The veteran presence of Montreal, QC native Joel Anthony has surely influenced his fellow Canadian. Anthony is also coming off an impressive game achieving a new season-high in minutes, points and blocks against the Cavs on Saturday. Olynyk will look to come out even stronger versus the Sixers and earn his opportunity to be an even greater contributor for the Celtics in the 2014-15 season.
Wednesday April 16th
Mavs at Grizzlies
Although the Mavericks have clinched their playoff berth, this game still has so many playoff implications. The Grizzlies are just one win behind Dallas while the Phoenix Suns trail them by only a game themselves. With a win, the Mavs cold possibly inch close to the surpassing the Warriors who are ahead them by just one game as well. As Mavs, Grizzlies and Suns all play each in the final games of the season, watch for the playoff intensity to start a week early. Montreal, QC native Samuel Dalembert has continued to be the defensive anchor for this team and will be much needed throughout the post-season to contend with the big bodies in the Western Conference.
Wednesday April 16th
Raptors at Knicks
The Raptors will face the Knicks in their final game of the 2013-14 season. The Raps claim their second division title in franchise history, the first since 2006-07, and have matched their franchise record 47 wins on Sunday against the Pistons. Despite their great season, the last few games will determine their fate for the first round of the playoffs as they play seesaw with Chicago between the third and fourth spots in the Eastern Conference. Also, the Bulls will be playing the Bobcats at the same time on Wednesday night, so depending on how things go over the next couple of days; it might be a very meaningful last game for Canada’s sole NBA squad.