With the Eastern Conference championship series all set between the battle-weary Detroit Pistons and loungin’ for a week Miami Heat, the two combatants for the Western Conference championship will be determined today.  Considering both series have gone to Game Seven, you know that tonight’s games are going to be slobber-knockers!

*The first game of an NBA playoff doubleheader will be the Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs, who amazingly came back from a three games to one deficit to tie the series up at three apiece.  Tim Duncan and company come back home where they will look to stop Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavs to take another step towards repeating as World Champions.  Jason Terry, suspended for Game Six, looks to make a difference tonight in trying to shut down Tony Parker and bring some offensive punch (not real punches) for the Mavs.  But, let’s see if it’s, in fact, Michael Finley who can help knock out his former team.

*The Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers has been a great matchup between the power inside and the speed and accuracy from outside.  Elton Brand continues to bring some overdue respect towards his game, but so has everyone else in the Clip Joint.  It’ll be tough to slow down Steve Nash’s will to win and to get the best out of his teammates, let alone in Phoenix, but the Clips have shown to be more than worthy opponents.  It will be a reversal of fortune if it’s the Clippers, and not the Lakers, representing Los Angeles in the Western Conference championship round.  However, Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw, Raja Bell et al. may have something to say about that.

In MLB, Interleague play is over and done with, but will return in the middle of June.  In the meantime, now that things are back to normal, there are a couple of games to keep an eye on.

*A Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees contest is always a good thing to watch. There’s the potential for high drama every game.  Curt Schilling will host a hurt Yankees batting order with both Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield on the mend.  But, Schilling isn’t crying for anyone, having gone through his injury woes all of last season as he played hurt and was, for the most part, ineffective.

*The St. Louis Cardinals are on the road and take on the San Francisco Giants.  This game is somewhat symbolic in that a former N.L. MVP and owner of MLB’s single season homerun record, Barry Bonds, will “face” the current N.L. MVP and potential player to break that single season record this season, Albert Pujols.  Let’s see if the balls come flying off the bats of these great power hitters.  If Bonds does go yard - “Babe Ruth, how does third place feel?”

Let’s not forget about hockey.  The NHL isn’t as popular as the other sports (great, now I’m going to get tons of comments and/or e-mails from Canadians), but it deserves its due.

*The Eastern Conference round continues as the Buffalo Sabres, owner of a 1-0 lead, takes on the Carolina Hurricanes.  The last time, the Sabres beat the Hurricanes on their home ice, 3-2.  Look for another highly contested matchup.

Enjoy the games!