Vince Marriott: Even though there are plenty of real sporting events happening this week, I really can't see myself prioritizing any of them over the NFL Draft. Even though Andrew Luck is already guaranteed to go to the Indianapolis Colts, there will still be plenty of drama on the first two days to keep everything interesting. I can't stand the third day (I don't know or care about any of the players) or staring at Mel Kiper's hair for hours at a time, but the first few rounds provide better entertainment than any baseball, basketball or hockey game. Who will get drafted higher than expected? Who will drop? What trades will be made? All will be answered this Thursday and Friday. (NFL Network, Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively)
Jonathan Gault: Well, it's about two weeks later than usual, but the NBA playoffs are finally upon us. The regular season wraps up Thursday night, with the two-month odyssey that is the playoffs beginning Saturday. As always, compelling storylines abound. Tim Duncan will be going for his fifth ring with a veteran Spurs team while Kobe Bryant attempts to win his sixth despite battling a slew of injuries. Meanwhile, younger stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant will look to cement their legacies by winning their first championships with the Heat and Thunder, respectively. (Playoffs begin Saturday and run through June, with coverage on ESPN and TNT)
Dong Zhao: There is simply nothing more exciting in sports than game seven of a playoff series. All of the drama and intrigue that build up throughout the series culminate in this single do-or-die game as both teams push themselves to the limit in an attempt to extend their season. Fresh off their dramatic overtime victory in game six, the Boston Bruins will host the Washington Capitals on Wednesday in the first game seven of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last year, the Bruins won all three of their game sevens including against the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals en route to their victory parade around downtown Boston. The Bruins hope to continue their game seven magic, while the Capitals will look to finally shake off their reputation as perennial chokers. (NESN, Wednesday, TBD)
