A Sports Filled Weekend Ahead

We’re getting to the best part of the NBA and NHL playoffs, the appetizers before the championship rounds. At last, the main course is nearly being served.

So plop your heiner in the recliner, drop your meat in your seat and enjoy your Weekend TV Six-Pack.

Let’s start the party on Friday night with Game 6 of the Miami Heat-Toronto Raptors series. The Raptors, who have never been to a conference final, can move on to play the Cleveland Cavaliers if they beat the Heat in Miami. The Raptors have shown some balance; the Heat have shown Dwyane Wade and not much else. This one is at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Hedging our bet a bit, we’re going to include Sunday’s possible Game 7 in Toronto. That’s at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, if necessary. If it’s not necessary, the Raptors likely will be playing the Cavs in this time slot to open the Eastern Conference finals.

The NHL’s Eastern Conference final begins on Friday night as well, with the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.

College lacrosse fans have a must-watch on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU, when top-seeded Maryland takes on Quinnipiac. Maryland is a perennial contender but hasn’t won the title since 1975.

The Players Championship at Amelia Island, Florida presents a picturesque golf course with an island hole. You don’t want to miss that (and neither do the golfers). Sunday’s final round is televised at 2 p.m. by NBC.

Sunday also gives us our dose of endless left turns and wrecks (preparing us, no doubt, for the Monday commute to the office). Dover, Delaware hosts NASCAR’s AAA 400 Drive For Autism. That’s on Fox at 1 p.m.

Enjoy the varied events. Root for your favorites. Enjoy the competition. And, as always, watch responsibly.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman