Built Ford Tough

Canucks wrap up the presidents trophy for the 2nd year in a row. Phoenix locks up the Pacific Division. LA is currently up 2-1 against SJ. Assuming that score holds up, the first round matchups will be: Nucks/Sharks Blues/Kings Yotes/Hawks Preds/Wings Jesus, the West is going to be a war this season.

Anybody who needs a stream: http://www.fibatv.com/live/id/718805 You have to register, but it is free.

Stamkos becomes the 20th player to score 60 in a season. Also, it is looking like the East playoff matches are set as Florida is up 3-0 against Carolina heading into the 3rd. Rangers/Sens Pens/Flyers Bruins/Caps Panthers/Devils

It looks unlikely since Phoenix is currently up 2-0 against Minny and I can't see them having a let down considering the Pacific Division is at stake, but should that happen, I'd go with Murray and I honestly wouldn't have to think about it that hard either. I like Dumba, don't get me wrong, but I think Murray will definitely be the better player. His hockey sense and savy for such a young player is just out of this world and I think he has some good offensive potential as well. Not as much as Dumba, but there is still potential there. Even then, Dumba's offensive potential doesn't make up for Murray's all-around game, which is top notch. I'd hope that Edmonton decides to go with a defenseman the most, though, which I could see happening. That would leave Grigorenko, which would be ideal. My board for Toronto would look like this: 1. Nail Yakupov 2. Mikhail Grigorenko 3. Ryan Murray 4. Alex Galchenyuk 5. Filip Forsberg 6. Matt Dumba 7. Morgan Rielly/Jacob Trouba (undecided for now) I'd also be fine with switching Forsberg with Galchenyuk, but I have Galy at 4 simply because of the desperate need for a center. A big, scoring winger is still a big need as well, and Forsberg could definitely fill that role as well.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing Dario Saric more than Noel. I think he is going to take the torch from Dirk and become the next all-time great European big man. I think he is going to be an absolute stud. In terms of who I am looking forward to seeing most, I'd rank them as: 1. Andrew Wiggins (haven't see him yet and the obvious Canadian factor) 2. Dario Saric 3. Nerlens Noel 4. Kaleb Tarczewski 5. Kyle Anderson 6. Shabazz Muhammad The last two are ranked there because I've already seen them play at least 3 times before. I've seen Saric in the summer during the U-19's but I haven't see him since then, which is why he is up that high. Either way, there are a lot of very good young players in this game. EDIT: This is assuming I can find a link, of course. The game isn't being broadcasted in Canada so I need to find a stream if I am to watch it.

Updated and also added Khris Middleton as a part of the "In" list.

After the stupid win the other night against Tampa, tonight's season finale is huge. A Leaf loss and they finish 5th last which gives them a chance of getting the first pick (only around 8% but still a chance). Even if they don't move up, I'd be happy with 5th since it would likely mean they would be in position to draft Alex Galchenyuk (I would imagine the top 4 would be Yakupov, Gigorenko, Murray/Dumba, Dumba/Murray) and that would be fantastic. I know he is a bit of a risk, but he would easily be the closest thing the Leafs have to a legitimate #1 center in the organization. They could also end up 4th last if they lose and the Islanders beat Columbus tonight, so hopefully that happens, although I doubt it. Should the Leafs win today, they could end up picking as high as 7th, depending on what Anaheim and Minnesota do. A Leaff win and both those teams lose they pick 7th, one team wins they pick 6th and if both win they pick 5th. So, basically, lose Leafs lose!

It is at 7PM Pacific (10PM EST) tonight in Portland. The rosters are: World select team http://i42.tinypic.com/5f0mww.jpg USA select team http://i39.tinypic.com/2a8ggwg.jpg For the world team, looking forward to seeing Andrew Wiggins most. Dario Saric is another exciting guy on the world team. For the USA team, obviously Noel and Muhammad are the standouts, but also looking forward to seeing Tarczewski. Anderson is always a treat to watch as well, even if he looks like he is moving in slow-motion all the time.

Young is staying as well. I know it isn't official or anything, but he said something about it before the tournament and again after Florida was knocked out. I know I am usually the "I'll believe it when I see it" type of guy in these situations, but I expect that to be the case (hence why I already have him listed as out) and many of the "experts" believe he will be back as well. I sure as hell hope Beal doesn't stay, though. I have him as my favourite prospect aside from Davis and absolutely love his game. Also, with Toronto getting a worse pick with seemingly each passing day, I want as many people to declare as possible so that they will at least be able to draft the left overs of the Davis, Beal, MKG, Robinson, Lamb, Barnes, Drummond grouping and not be forced to pick between Rivers, Lillard, Sullinger, PJ3, Zeller (Tyler, not Cody, I doubt Cody declares), Henson and Marshall (would love him with a 2nd pick, though) grouping.

I know you think that UCLA has an edge based on their location and the history of the program, but I honestly don't think any school has what it takes to out recruit Kentucky, UCLA or UNC included. Sure, there will be times when UK misses out on some of the marquee guys, such as Barnes or potentially Muhammad or Noel this year (I still think they get at least one of them) but on a whole I just don't see anybody being able to consistently out recruit or even compete with Cal and the might of Kentucky behind him. He is just simply on a different level when it comes to recruiting. I just think that Kentucky winning it all this year was the icing on the cake. By showing that a team full of one-and-dones and sophomores ready to make the jump to the NBA it gives him too much of an advantage over anybody else. I do hope I am wrong, though.

I actually didn't even notice him during the 2nd half of the game. I thought the Lakers did a great job of taking him out of his rhytym after doing a pretty poor job on him in the 1st half. The defensive adjustments that they made on him in the 2nd half really were huge since he was literally the only reason why the Clippers were in the game after the first 24 minutes.

Artest is pretty much a trainwreck offensively, but man, he is still a hell of a defender. His hands are so quick. Fun game but it really shouldn't have been that close. I thought the Lakers were clearly the better team for basically the entire game.

Lol. Jordan trying to guard Bynum is awesome. Guy is completely helpless.

Never. He'll be able to get away with it his whole career. Why do the Lakers keep on switching all these screens? I may be crazy, but you would think that you wouldn't want Bynum or Gasol guarding Paul on the perimeter.

Blake shoves Gasol from behind on the fast break dunk attempt. That matchup is getting heated as Gasol was not a fan of that play by Griffin, and I can't blame him.

Nasty slam by Griffin. Should've been an offensive foul, though, as he cleared out Gasol with a forearm shive to the face, lol.

Love the 1st half Kobe played. He really should spend the vast majority of the time in the post on offense. He is so effective there, even if he isn't scoring and just getting teammates looks. Tonight he is doing both very well with 18 points and 5 assists on 8-of-11 shooting. Butler is doing all he can to keep the Clippers in the game. If it wasn't for him having his best half in a long time, this game could easily be a 15+ point lead for the Lakers.

+1. What a joke.

So Philly really fell off a cliff. I honestly can't say I saw that coming. In a normal season I could but with the condensed schedule I thought their depth would help them avoid these kind of losing streaks.

Yay for meaningless winning streaks to ruin the chances at a great draft pick!

It isn't necessarily that teams don't want to recruit one-and-dones, its just they realize that they simply can't compete with Kentucky for those kind of players and they know it so they turn their attention elsewhere. Here is that story I was talking about: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/57448/kentuckys-recruiting-pitch-is-complete Anything you'd change other than the already mentioned 3/4/5 stories that I acknowledged could go in any order?

Calderon takes a shot in the face. Hopefully he has a concussion.

I have to imagine Kentucky gets 1 one of Muhammad and Noel with Noel being the more likely of the two. I also think they'll get Bennett as well, as much as I hate to say it. Also, both Noel and Muhammad are announcing their decisions on April 11th. Noel claims it is a coincidence and that he has no idea what Bazz is planning on doing, but there is speculation that both will end up in Kentucky. If I had my way, Bazz would end up with UCLA, Noel with G'Town and Bennett with Florida. I'd be willing to bet that at least two of them end up Kentucky, though. I wouldn't be surprised if they got all 3.

DeRozan really needs to bulk up in the summer. He is doing a much better job of getting into the paint and he has great body control to avoid contact. However, when he gets hit he struggles to be able to absorb the bump and finish through it. He had two examples of that in the 1st quarter. I like how his mid range jumper is starting to become that consistent weapon that it was last season.

Now that the Hornets have basically locked up a bottom 3 record, Eric Gordon will be returning to New Orleans lineup tonight.