Steve Smith and I discussed this a bit today during the BasketBlog Weekly Podcast, that the NBA had yet to rule on who would be eligible for Saturday's Hawks-Heat replay.

With four players traded away from the Hawks roster (and additions on both sides), we wondered if the Hawks would even have enough active, healthy bodies to field a team for the final 51.9.

Well, wonder no more. The NBA announced today the stipulations for Saturday night's replay, and to be honest, it's a bit difficult to read. It took me three or four passes to get through all of the finer points, but fortunately for you, I can summarize.

Here is what you need to know:

• Just to refresh everyone on the game situation, the Hawks lead 114-11 with 51.9 seconds remaining in overtime. Ball possession belongs to the Heat underneath their own basket.
• The NBA is insisting that each team get as close to 12 active roster spots as possible, and as such all newly-acquired players are eligible. Therefore, plan on seeing Mike Bibby and Shawn Marion on the court for the final minute of action. In addition, any players who were originally inactive on Dec. 19 are also available, which means that Josh Childress, who sat out the original game with a groin injury, is game as well. In fact, the only Hawks player precluded from participation is Josh Smith, who fouled out of the original game.
• The officials assigned to the regularly scheduled game for Mar. 8 will referee the restart, not the original game's officials. Any crossover between crews is coincidental, and the new crew will be briefed on the game summary (team fouls, timeouts, etc) beforehand.
• For those planning to attend the double-header, the restart will begin at 7:05 ET. Once it ends, there will be a 15-minute intermission for warm-ups and intros before the second game tips-off.

I know there will be some uproar about new players being allowed to participate, but quite frankly, I think it benefits us more than the Heat. Not only do we get Mike Bibby to control the ball and provide late-game offense if needed, but we also get Josh Childress as well, he of the 83% free throw shooting. Yes Shawn Marion is an All-Star caliber player and a much better option than the man he replaces, Shaquille O'Neal, but he isn't much of a shooter from distance and in the limited amount of time left on the clock I don't see him making the difference between winning and losing.

Let's be honest - we all know how this game will play out, regardless of the recasting of the episode. Dwyane Wade will get the ball and try to make something happen, and his ability to do so versus the Hawks' ability to defend it (plus their ability to make free throws) will determine whether or not the Hawks put the game to rest.

Any questions about the game? Let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to elaborate...