The Indiana Pacers earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and theyll begin their crusade for an NBA title Saturday night when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Catch the game on TSN2 starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Pacers held the No. 1 spot in the East for much of the regular season, but the end of the campaign didnt go as planned. Indiana went 10-13 to finish the season, but got the top seed when the Miami Heat rested some starters late in the campaign. "I was excited that we got it. It was something we set out for," head coach Frank Vogel said prior to their season-finale. "It gives us the best chances going into the playoffs." The Pacers lost in seven games to the Heat in last years Eastern Conference Finals. They finished second in the NBA in opponents scoring and first in opponents field-goal percentage. They also finished with the best home record at 35-6. But the Pacers will need to improve significantly if they are going to advance in the postseason. All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert both regressed as did Lance Stephenson. But the team is built on defense and have had time to try and cure whats ailing them. "This is the best time of the year," said Stephenson. "Every game is on TV and every game is about business. Theres no joking around. Everybody is watching." The Hawks are in the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season and needed both late-season heroics and a collapse by the New York Knicks to punch a ticket. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Hawks managed to tread water in an otherwise dreadful Eastern Conference and hope to move past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11. The Hawks have been bounced in six games in each of the last two conference quarterfinals. They lost six in a row in late March and started to feel the heat. However, the Hawks won six of the next eight games to get back on track and a 98-85 win over the Heat on April 12 sealed the eighth spot. "Im happy for all the guys," Hawks guard Jeff Teague said. "We worked so hard all year. Injuries and everything that can happen to a team happened. We were able to still make it to the playoffs." The Hawks dealt with a major loss early on when All-Star center Al Horford went down with a right pectoral injury. But Teague and Paul Millsap picked up the slack and got Atlanta the eighth seed. Teague averaged 16.5 ppg and 6.7 apg and Vogel indicated that he was the key to stopping the Hawks. "The whole defensive game plan is keeping (Teague) out of the paint; its the toughest challenge were going to have," acknowledged Vogel. Indiana and Atlanta met in the 2012-13 playoffs and the Pacers disposed of the Hawks in six games. The Pacers and the Hawks will face each other in the postseason for a sixth time and the two sides split four regular-season meetings this season. The Hawks trounced the Pacers in Indiana on April 6, but Indiana is 10-5 in its last 15 as the host in this series. Atlanta has won 14 of its last 16 against the Pacers at Philips Arena. Wholesale Pirates Jerseys . In fact, with a few improvements, this could very well be a decent team over the next few seasons. I will go into more detail when digging into the Canucks Off-Season Game Plan, which will be coming earlier this year since they are part of the non-playoff contingent, there are some reasons to think this is a favourable situation for President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden and whomever he selects to be the new general manager. Pirates Jerseys China . A lawmaker is hoping the buzz from California Chromes run for the Triple Crown might build support for a bill that would place the U. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/.com) - The disappointing Ottawa Senators hope to record consecutive wins for the first time since early November, as they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home series. Pittsburgh Pirates Store . Johnny Manziel, college footballs most entertaining player with the reputation for pulling off magical plays, was selected with the No. Pittsburgh Pirates Gear . The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904.AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two. Such as the best way to get to the Augusta National media centre. Craig Stadler went through the main door for a joint news conference with his son Monday, which is actually the long way to go. Kevin, meanwhile, slipped in through a back entrance, like most players who turn up for interviews at the building alongside the first fairway. "Howd you come in?" Craig asked his son, looking a bit surprised when he turned to see Kevin standing behind him. "Through the door," Kevin replied dryly, very much the child poking fun at his dad. All kidding aside, the Stadlers are gearing up for a historic week at Augusta National. For the first time, a father and son will play in the same Masters -- Craig, who says hell probably be teeing it up for the 38th and final time, and Kevin, making his debut in the opening major of the season. "If and when I do ... bow out, I cant think of a better way to do it than playing with your son in the same tournament," the elder Stadler said. "Its awesome." Sixty-year-old Craig won the Masters in 1982, beating Dan Pohl in a playoff, and has been back every year since. Kevin, now 34, used to come each year as a child to cheer on his dad Now, hes got a spot of his own after winning at Phoenix two months ago for his first PGA Tour victory. "Its going to be really, really fun to be on the inside of the ropes," Kevin said. "I feel like I know this place pretty well but Ive never, ever played it. So its going to be a blast." Kevin, whose parents are divorced, has conceded the relationship with his father isnt as close as it once was, and there were times Monday when he seemed hesitant to turn this into a totally feel-good story. But the pair went out for a practice round -- which was cut short after only two holes when heavy rain brought a halt to play -- and theyre planning to play together again Tuesday, when the forecast called for much-improved conditions. And if theyre paired together in the first two rounds, that would be just fine with Kevin. "I wouldnt have any issues with that," he said, smiling. Besides, the younger Stadler is making a name for himself, after a lifetime of being compared with his father (right down to their matching physiques, wwith both listed as 5-foot-10, 250 pounds by the PGA Tour).dddddddddddd Kevin won four times on the second-tier Nationwide Tour and appears poised for a breakout at the highest level. He has made the cut in 10 of 11 events this year, is 14th in the FedEx Cup, and has already eclipsed his career high for earnings in a season with nearly $1.7 million. "Hes become just a wonderfully consistent player and has his own identity and everything else, which he should," Craig said. "Hes worked hard for it and hes earned it. Good for him, and Im just going to kind of stand on the sidelines and watch, which is all I want to do, and just be supportive and root him on and hope more Phoenixes happen in the future. A lot more." In fact, the proud father wouldnt be at all surprised if Kevin made a serious run at the green jacket on his very first try. The younger Stadler is quite accurate with his irons, which should come in handy with all the dips and bumps on those tricky Augusta greens. "Thats why I actually love his game for this golf course," Craig said. "You do have to hit the ball high with the irons a little bit. And as far as Im concerned, and he might disagree, but I think hes just a wonderful iron player. I think thats definitely the strength of his game, and having your iron game down here makes this course so much easier." Even after getting just a taste of their practice round, father and son managed to trade some good-natured jabs. "I bogeyed 1 and birdied 2 and he parred them both," Craig said. "I was tied after two, so I was happy." "That birdie I made on 2 doesnt count, huh?" Kevin countered. "You didnt make that putt," Craig said. "Did you?" "Of course I did," Kevin said, drawing laughter from the room. Craig, who hasnt made the cut at Augusta since 2007 or been a serious contender in more than two decades, is certainly appreciative of the chance to end his Masters career with his son at his side. "Thanks to Kev here, I got back to the press room for the first time in about 20 years," the elder Stadler quipped. "Im so proud of the way hes played the last three, four years. Hes been close a zillion times and finally got it done, so its a very special week." Already, it seems, the Masters is smoothing out some of the bumps in their relationship. ' ' '