71.   On the Nets, a team no one expects to reach the playoffs, Ward would play tons of minutes and be given room to blossom.

72.   Only Carolina, which they play Sunday, reached the playoffs last year.

73.   PHOENIX - If the Diamondbacks are fortunate enough to reach the playoffs and advance to the World Series, perhaps no player will appreciate it more than Tony Womack.

74.   Pedro Martinez and Garciaparra are the two best players on a flawed team that reached the playoffs as the wild card.

75.   Phoenix reached the playoffs last season and lost in four games to the Sacramento Kings in the first round.

76.   Pete Carroll of the New England Patriots and Ray Rhodes of the Green Bay Packers were dismissed after their teams failed to reach the playoffs.

77.   Realistically speaking, the Mavericks are a quality center away from reaching the playoffs.

78.   Reaching the playoffs as a wild card is the objective, and nothing that took place during a successful spring on the field has tempered that goal.

79.   Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette declined to re-sign first baseman Mo Vaughn but said reaching the playoffs again does not mean vindication.

80.   Realistically, a select number of teams have a genuine chance to reach the playoffs.