Macca

Terrible news re Derrick Rose . It's taken a lot of gloss out of these playoffs . Let's hope he makes a full recovery and gets back to his best . Basketball is a bit different with this type of injury . Fingers crossed . Watched a bit of the Mavs/Thunder game today . Mavs played well but just got pipped at the post . Miami won easily over the Knicks , Bulls beat the Sixers despite losing Rose and the Magic defeated the Pacers 81 - 77 . That NBA promo in China was certainly different ! I quite liked it .

L.A. defeated St Louis 3 - 1 . Looks like the jinx is on . Tomorrows games are Devils/Flyers (5am AEST) followed by Predators/Coyotes (on fox3 at 10am AEST) .

For what it's worth my tips for the 1st round of playoffs are ...................... Spurs , Oklahoma , Lakers , Clippers , Bulls , Heat , Pacers and the Celtics . A couple of upsets there but I reckon it's in some ways , wide open . And I do like to go for the underdogs ! I wouldn't be surprised if 1 or 2 big guns go out in the 1st or 2nd round .

Shows off your range Nascent Impressive stuff . Really good post .

Yeah , that hockey rivalry amongst Canadians fascinates me . I'm a little saddened that there aren't any Canadian teams in the last 8 . Such a religion over there yeah ? Travelled through the "Rockies" with a bit of a crew in the early 90's . Wow , did we have a great time . Vancouver , Kamloops , Jasper , Edmonton , Banff , Calgary . God's own Country .

Well it's Macca vs 'GTG' in the 1st series . Bring it on ! My mate who's a Penguins fan is on Nashville in the 2nd series (cos they never win anything , apart from Country music awards!) NY vs Washington should go to 7 . Rangers just . Devils to get thru ! It's on the "Cards" Not sure if Dappa Dan is all things Philadelphia . Cheers

Ottowa out ! You'll be hoppin' into the top shelf over that result Grimesy ! Toronto partying ? Devils win 3 - 2 and go through to the 2nd round . Wonder if "Puddy" was there with his mates . Oh , hang on , that's just in the tv show . Be funny if he actually was there all "painted up" . Anyways .......the one who started the comedy thread "Cards13" will be happy . Who matches up with who now ?

Great post JJ . Terrific reference point . Well done This is gonna be one hell of a playoff series . 'Prost'

Bruins out ! C'mon St Louis ! (Can't bring myself to say C'mon blues)

Well , now that Phoenix are out of the running I'm hoping for the Spurs to win the whole thing . I tipped Miami to win the Championship but I don't want them to win . I'd like 'em to go out in the 1st round to be perfectly honest!(apologies to any Heat fans) So it's Tim Duncan , Manu Ginobili , Tony Parker and of course our own Patty Mills to hopefully get over the line . Hope I haven't mozzed 'em as I'm not having a lot of luck with my other sporting teams of late !

Here's a funky little number from Paul Brown . Jazz guitarist . Macca 3.0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzuZFc-1VS4

I sometimes have a listen to the "Tony Kornheiser show" podcast . His 2 hour radio show is based out of Washington . They're all over the Capitals at the moment . How was that bar bill the Bruins ran up last year during their celebrations ? 156,000 grand !! Talk about too much expendable income ! Gosh , I just got my 1000th post up , not sure what to make of that !

Yep , no cigar for Chicago this year . We're not getting that many games over in Oz . No game today which is a pity . Would have been great to watch a game in the lead up to the traditional Anzac Day clash . Florida at New Jersey is the only game scheduled today . Florida lead 3 - 2 . Next game we can watch is on Thursday , Bruins vs Capitals (3-3) . On Fox1 at 9.30am .

Yeah , you'll be happy now 'GTG' ! Schadenfreude ! Got a team that you might follow from here on in ? Don't tell us you hate 'em all ! I've jumped on the Bruins but failing that , maybe St Louis .

3rd Test , Roseau , Dominica ( part of the Windward Islands ) Might be the 1st time the Aussies have played at this venue . Beer and Pattinson (inj) are out for Starc and Harris . Pup won the toss again and we're batting . Early wicket ! Cowan out lbw (leaving one) for 1 .

And he's a Victorian ! Caught Gotye on SNL last weekend . Got some talent . http://www.billboard...arts/rock-songs Macca 7.8

Canucks out ! C'mon Bruins !

I heard the other day that only 3 out of 116 teams have come back from 3 nil deficits and won a playoff series . Think it was Tony Kornheiser on PTI who said it . On one of those 3 occasions it was Toronto , your team "GTG" , who came from 3 nil down to win the Stanley Cup from Detroit in 1942 . Well , even though the odds aren't great , the Penguins have forced a game 6 and I'm not giving up on Vancouver yet . Ya just never know . Anything can happen in this wild and crazy sport ! Tough luck there 'pantaloons' with those Sharks . Barry Melrose has given St Louis a big rap . The Blues could go all-the-way ! Game 5 , Canucks / LA Kings , Fox 2 today 10am EST .

Fair enough GTG . I'm guilty of that in the AFL so I can hardly talk !! Schadenfreude alive and well . Go Cunucks !

Hell mate . you're quick to have a go at everybody else's team . Your own mob stink . Toronto are not even in the playoffs and haven't been for years . You're not exactly in a position of strength hey ? The Maple Leafs choke before they even get to the dance floor . Now that's what I call choking . Oh , and maybe if your team had somebody of Crosby's talent you might make it to the last 16 instead of being the "Also-rans" that your lot are ! Cheers

Yeah it's looking wide open for the playoffs . It's been a tightly packed regular season and some teams are feeling the pinch . My team the Phoenix Suns are making a late run for it but will need to win all their games to sneak in . Utah are currently 8th in the West . I still think Miami will win it but if they don't that will be the big story . All eyes are on King James , Wade and Bosh . Cheers

"South Street" by Brian Lenair . Another excellent saxophonist . Macca 2.9

Don't worry GTG , there's a lot of hate and grudges when it comes to Ice Hockey . Especially with all the goons and "legal" fights that go on . It never ceases to amaze me . Those Maple Leafs have got a rich history with Stanley Cup victories but they will need to start getting into the last 16 . Fans can get awfully impatient . My cousin reckons he can find a reason to hate every other team !! Might be the only sport in the world where this is the case . Apparently the ratings are up 50% in the States . This is probably due to the "Big City" teams being in it but there has to be a "Bit of biffo" factor yeah ? Did a little "look see" at the records of the 1 and 2 seeds for the last 10 completed years of the Stanley Cup . 21 of 40 teams didn't make it past the 2nd round ! Does that sound like I'm making an excuse for the Canucks ? You betcha ! Have to win tomorrow . Got a couple of mates who follow the Bruins and Penguins so there's other teams I've got an interest in . And those Sharks need a win pantaloons ! It's been great viewing so far - watched the Bruins win a beauty yesterday and game 4 of the LA / Canucks series is on Fox1 from midday tomorrow . C'mon Vancouver - do something !

Macca 7.7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8q8kB87APc

Clarke wins the toss and we're batting in the 2nd Test . Venue , Port of Spain , Trinidad . Harris and Siddle out for Pattinson and Beer . The last Test was a beauty with a terrific declaration by Pup . Nice to see 2 spinners operating in Test cricket though it's interesting that the Windies have only 1 in this Test . Shillingford the tallish right arm off break bowler coming in for Bishoo .