Vince Marriott: Well, it seems as though Derrick Rose really did provide the spark that ignited the Chicago Bulls. Since his devastating departure in game one, Chicago has been hard pressed to live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied the team going into the playoffs. Even worse, the departure of Joakim Noah later in the series has only compounded the Bulls' problems. Meanwhile, the Sixers have been playing lights-out basketball thanks to the efforts of Spencer Hawes and Jrue Holiday, among others. With the Sixers up 3-1, this series seems to be reaching its conclusion, and it's looking like the Bulls are going to be going out with a whimper despite one hell of a regular season. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., NBATV)
Jonathan Gault: Entering the 2012 season, most analysts projected the race for the AL West to be among the tightest in baseball. The Texas Rangers came within a strike of winning the World Series last fall, while the Los Angeles Angels shelled out over $330 million for Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson in the offseason. The first-place Rangers have lived up to expectations; the last-place Angels have not, as Pujols, a career .326 hitter, has hit just .196 on the season. The two teams meet for a three-game series beginning Friday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas with the Angels, who currently sit 6.5 games back of the Rangers, looking to make up some of that deficit before it's too late. (Sunday, 8 p.m., ESPN)
Dong Zhao: The Washington Capitals made a powerful statement with a 3-2 victory in game four of its conference semifinal series against the New York Rangers to pull the series even at two games apiece. After suffering a spirit-breaking and physically exhausting 2-1 loss in the third overtime of game three, the Capitals could have reverted to their old ways as perennial chokers in the playoffs and admitted defeat to a superior team. This year's version of the Capitals, however, has the grit and mental toughness to complement the always-talented lineup. Judging from the intense series we have witnessed so far, game five will be nothing short of another war of attrition filled with plenty of fireworks. (Monday, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN)
