More photos » by Seth Wenig - AP

This one could have been ours.

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So ... how do people feel about the Minnesota trade now?

This is the first of two open threads for tonight's NBA Draft.  Feel free to comment here about anything you see.

When I get a chance, I'll flush out much more why I'm really mad that Orlando got Vince Carter and we didn't.  My justifications were pretty weak earlier because I was in a meeting and my attention was divided. 

Either way, comment away!  Happy draft night!

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

Please give us the number one pick. Pretty please, David!

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So today is the day we've all been waiting for.  The day when we find out whether we get a franchise power forward, an electrifying point guard who may not fit in perfectly, or someone else way less intriguing and significant.  

It's also a day I've had circled on my calendar for a different reason.  Last Sunday, I graduated from college, concluding my crazy workload of a semester spent running the campus newspaper.  A two-day car-ride later, and I'm finally home, back in DC, ready to return to the blog full-time.  And let me tell you, I plan on making up for time missed in the coming months.    

Anyway, here's your open thread for the draft lottery tonight.  We'll get started at 8:30 and hopefully share in jubilation.  

By the way, I'm reading all the talk about conspiracy theories, and I'm hardly surprised, considering this franchise has sat through this process so many times with just one success story (2001) that was promptly wasted (Kwame Brown).  But let's get real folks; if the NBA were to really fix the lottery, they would do it in our favor.  We all know how David Stern feels about Abe Pollin, and with him ill and with his team stuck between mediocrity and semi-contender status, what better way to send Abe a parting gift than to give him Blake Griffin?  So while I don't believe the conspiracy theories, if I did, I would believe we'd get the first pick.  With New York second.  

Anyway, this is an open thread, so comment away.

More photos » by Nathaniel S. Butler - NBAE/Getty Images

Amazing happened here.

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There have been better played series in NBA history, but you would be hard pressed to find a more dramatic series.

Tonight, we'll see this amazing series reach its final conclusion.  I can't shake the feeling that we'll see a final game that deserves to be played off by the keyboard cat rather than replayed on ESPN Classic, but only because I've been let down by too many games in the past that didn't live up to the hype.  As long as tonight's game is half as exciting as Game 6 was, I think we'll be in for a good one.

CelticsBlog and Blog-A-Bull have your team specific coverage for tonight's game, and if you would like to talk about tonight's game and what free agents from these two teams you'd like to pursue in the off-season (Gordon? Big Baby Davis? STARBURY???) here's the place to do it.

Is anyone else using these games to remind themselves what competitive basketball looks like?  That's what I thought.

(And just as an FYI, you can keep up with all the NBA Playoff relalted postings from all over SB Nation here.)

Starting this a little late, but here's a place to chat for all those who are watching today's playoff action.

I miss the playoffs.

The Essentials:
Wizards (19-62) at Celtics (61-20)
8:00 p.m.
TD Banknorth Garden
News Channel 8

This year:
December 11: Celtics 122, Wizards 88
January 2: Celtics 108, Wizards 83

Notable Celtics numbers this season:
2nd in expected winning percentage (.748)
18th in pace factor (90.4 possessions per game)
7th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (110.4)
1st in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (102.4)

Key Links: (drop any others in the comments)
CelticsBlog
Celtics 17
Celtics Hub
Loy's Place
Red's Army
Game Day Boston
The Other Side: Boston

This is an open thread, so if you're still getting used to the idea that this man will be one of the Wizards assistant coaches next year,

GO WIZARDS!

The Essentials:
Wizards (19-61) at Raptors (30-49)
7:00 p.m.
Verizon Centre
CSN

This year:
January 7: Raptors 99, Wizards 93
April 9: Wizards 100, Raptors 98

Notable Raptors numbers this season:
23rd in expected winning percentage (.393)
14th in pace factor (91.9 possessions per game)
22nd in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (106.8)
29th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (110.2)

Key Links: (drop any others in the comments)
RaptorBlog
Raptors HQ
Raptors Republic
Doug Smith
Game Day Raptors

This is an open thread, so if you feel free at last, celebrate here.

GO WIZARDS!