The Sunday Rundown: 7 Things You Need To Watch For This Week

Looking to make this a regular addition to the blog. Hopefully I go about doing such.

Sunday: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers (3:30 PM ET, ABC) I always was a believer in Indiana and Philadelphia messing things up in the Eastern Conference, but I always felt it was hinted with a lot of sarcasm and part of me did not really believe it. Well as it turns out, Philadelphia eliminated the #1 seed Chicago Bulls and came back and won in thrilling fashion against the Boston Celtics to knot that series up at 2 apiece, and now the Indiana Pacers are a win away from taking a 3-1 lead against the preeminent NBA Championship favorites, the Miami Heat. Shrouded with controversy around them after the absolute beatdown that the Pacers put on them, the Heat will have their backs against the wall this afternoon and even though it has been said on numerous occasions, we’ll see what LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are really made of today and whether or not they can will the Heat to tie the series as it heads back to Miami.

Monday: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils (8:00 PM ET, NBC Sports Network) The New York Rangers have played only two great periods in this series, and yet they are up 2-1 in the series. That is what happens when you have an all-universe goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist and the Devils despite their 3-2 victory in Game 2 have still had difficulties in putting the puck behind him in the net. Game 4 of this Eastern Conference Finals is absolutely crucial because the Devils do not want to go back to Madison Square Garden down 3-1 in the series because surely The World’s Most Famous Arena will be rabid knowing that the Blueshirts have the chance to go to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1994. It’s about as must-win as must-win gets.

Tuesday: Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds (7:10 PM ET, MLB Network, FS Ohio, SportSouth) You can find this game on your local Atlanta affiliate or Cincinnati affiliate, but the rest of the country will be able to tune into the simulcast version of this contest on the MLB Network. This will pit the best offense in the National League in the Atlanta Braves in the run scoring department (214), and second in hits (386) and average (.270) against the Cincinnati Reds who have been surging as of late thanks to the 2010 National League MVP, Joey Votto. Votto over the last week has been phenomenal, hitting .360 with a 1.507 OPS (slugging 1.040), smacking five home runs in his 25 at bats. This will be a stellar contest indeed.

Wednesday: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers (TBD, ESPN) No matter who wins on Monday in Game 5, this will be the first opportunity for either of these teams to clinch a berth in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. After their astounding comeback on Friday night you had better believe that the 76ers will be scrapping to try and find ways to come back to Philadelphia to try and clinch their first Conference Finals appearance in over 10 years. The “old” Boston Celtics have flashed signs of looking anything but in this year’s playoffs, but it has been those times that they have looked old that the young and relentless Sixers have taken advantage. We’ll know what the Celtics have in them in Game 5, but we will see what kind of resolve the Celtics have if they have their backs against the wall in this game, should they be down in the series.

Thursday: Philadelphia Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals (8:15 PM ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest, CSN Philadelphia) Don’t look now but the Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the hottest teams in baseball. They have rattled off seven wins in their last ten games and are once again over the .500 mark despite sitting in last in the tight National League East. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the St. Louis Cardinals have been struggling as of late, losing seven of their last ten, including three in a row, four if they get swept by the Dodgers tonight on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN. Something has got to give in this clash of two of the premier teams in the National League. And if that’s not enough for your viewing pleasure, if you get MLB Network you get to hear the voices of two of the best in the business: the great Bob Costas, and former YES Network commentator, Jim Kaat.

Friday: Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves (7:35 PM ET, MASN, SportSouth) It is a shame that this game won’t be nationally broadcasted but you should keep an eye on it anyways. The Braves and Nationals are currently the 1-2 teams respectively in the National League and if the beginning of this season is any indication, they’ll be duking it out for all 162 as the season progresses. Young Ross Detwiler who has been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals gets the start, and he will take on seasoned veteran Tim Hudson who has come off of injury quite well thus far. Also two players to watch are two young phenoms in Jason Heyward who is still trying to find a way to get back to his 2010 form, and the enigmatic Bryce Harper.

Saturday: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (10:10 PM ET, FS Wisconsin, FS Arizona) Normally a game between two teams that have struggled out of the gates would not be one to watch for but the pitching matchup was too good to ignore. Zack Greinke, who is an upcoming free agent, takes the hill for the Brewers and thus far has been their best pitcher boasting a 2.88 ERA, 53 strikeouts and a 4-1 record. Wins and losses may not mean anything but he has done well for the Brewers in nearly all of his eight starts in 2012. Meanwhile for the Diamondbacks, an early National League Rookie of the Year candidate takes the hill in Wade Miley. Miley has been spectacular for the D’Backs, striking out 27 in his 39.1 IP, and boasting a 2.52 ERA allowing only 12 runs so far. This NLDS rematch is one to watch if not just for the pitching.