Back In Action in Atlanta...

April 2, 10:29 a.m. Raps-Hawks tonight at 7 p.m. on theScore. Atlanta attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Hawks feature the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month in Joe Johnson and the NBA Rookie of the Month in Al Horford. I can flat out tell you Atlanta's bringing it tonight so the Raps must match their intensity. The Raps at 38-36 are tied with Washington but the Wizards hold the tie breaker. The Raps lead Philly by one-half game after the Sixers beat the Nets but the Raps hold the advantage over Philly. Win #51 for the Hornets, an excellent road team as Peja knocked down a big time three leading New Orleans past Orlando. The Magic were out rebounded by the Hornets 50-31. You heard it here first. If the Raps play the Magic in the first round the Raps can win that series. Not that we're counting but the Knicks are 2-15 in their last 17 falling to the Bucks on the road. The party is over in Chicago. The Bulls lost at Boston. The Warriors have lost twenty straight at San Antonio. The Spurs won their eighth straight ripping GST. Loved the Nuggets-Suns game last night. Excellent choice by Indiana University hiring Tom Crean. Major loss for Marquette. Kevin O'Neill's second stint at Arizona was not a happy one. Lute Olson is back in the saddle and that was the end of the brief KO run. Candace Parker is a gamer. She played through a slight dislocated shoulder as the Lady Vols advance to the Final 4. Pedro Martinez suffered a slight hamstring injury last night in a starting assignment against the Marlins. Same old story. Love the Angels-Mariners rivalry in the AL West. Now if I could only get LA to switch back to the old school blue and red Nolan Ryan-Frank Tanana uniforms. Got a question/comment about the Raps/NBA? E-mail me at cswirsky@torontoraptors.com or call me at 416-815-6189. Always a pleasure