Friday, June 28, 2013

KG, Paul Pierce, and Terry to Brooklyn

Looks like the retirement community in Boston is moving to Brooklyn.

In a blockbuster deal, the Celtics have agreed to trade away Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets. The deal required KG to waive his no trade clause which he did. In return, Boston gets Kris Humphries who has an expiring contract, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks, and Keith Bogans on a sign and trade and that's just the players they get. The Celtics also get the Nets' first round draft picks for 2014, 2016, and 2018.

The deal though agreed upon cannot be executed until July 10th.

Man, I thought the slightly sub-par draft class was going to be the big news coming from last night.

Brooklyn is going all in seemingly cashing in every chip they can to try and make a championship run over the next couple of years. Despite their ages, Kevin Garnett (37) and Paul Pierce (35) can still be very effective. Terry, I guess, can be as well but he's not on the same level as Pierce or KG are.

The Nets now get these three veterans joining Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez. It seems like a great team but I wouldn't make them the favorite for making the Finals. They might be a contender but these three coming to Brooklyn are old and the Nets have a new coach that just retired from playing the game.

However, seeing this move happened combined with the fact that the Pacers pushed Miami to the brink in the Eastern Conference Finals and that Chicago will be getting Derrick Rose back after his bout with pussyitis, I can no longer say for sure that the Heat will make the NBA Finals next year. I am still leaning towards Miami but I can't guarantee it.

P.S. Unless they pull off a big off season move themselves, I can guarantee the other New York team won't make the Finals.

Monday, June 24, 2013

BLACKHAWKS COMEBACK TO WIN GAME SIX; CLAIM 2ND STANLEY CUP IN FOUR YEARS!!!

A lot can change in 17 seconds. We were looking at going onto to game 7 of the series to crowning a champion in that span of time.

Being down by one with less than a minute and half to go in game 6, the Blackhawks scored two goals to take the lead. Bryan Bickell would get a pass from captain Jonathan Toews and scored the tying goal with a shot from in front of the net. Then just 17 seconds later, Dave Bolland managed to score the go ahead goal with 59 seconds left.

The Blackhawks managed to kill off the remaining time and won by a final of 3-2. Chicago wins the series 4-2 and win their 2nd Stanley Cup title in four years.

A fantastic Stanley Cup Finals and a great come from behind victory for the Blackhawks in game 6. Sure, it wasn't do or die for Chicago but they know that anything can happen in game 7 and to not waste the opportunities to comeback in this one.

Patrick Kane wins the Conn Smythe Trophy being the MVP of this year's postseason. Kane scored 9 goals and had a total of 19 points in the playoffs. In the Stanley Cup Finals, Kane had 5 points with 3 of them being goals.

Still got to hand it to the Bruins for a great series and postseason run. Many thought they were destined for greatness this year seeing their comeback in game 7 of round one of the postseason against the Maple Leafs. It's ironic, really, that they fall in a comeback effort in the Stanley Cup Finals in the very same building.

It's the Blackhawks that win the President's Trophy in a shortened lockout season and then go on to win Lord Stanley's Cup. Congrats to them and the city of Chicago. Time to sing another verse of "Chelsea Dagger" by The Fratellis.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Heat Win Second Straight Title; LeBron Finals MVP

I guess nobody was leaving the AmericanAirlines Arena early tonight.

The Heat won game 7 of the NBA Finals by a final of 95-88. It was a close game throughout and it wasn't until the final minutes did Miami manage to separate themselves from San Antonio. A huge jumper made by James with 27 seconds left and costly turnovers by the Spurs sealed the win for the Heat as they claim their second title in a row.

LeBron James, NBA Finals MVP, had 37 points in the title clinching game along with 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Dwayne Wade had 23 points in the game, Shane Battier came alive with 18 himself, and Mario Chalmers had 14. Chris Bosh actually didn't score a point in game 5 but did have 7 boards, 2 assists, and 1 block.

It seemed like it was just Tim Duncan trying to keep the Spurs alive late in the 4th quarter. Duncan would have 24 points in the game along with 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. Tony Parker only had 10 points going 3-12 from the floor. Manu Ginoboli did have 18 points but committed 4 turnovers with one of those coming within the final half-minute of the game.

Many people say that the Heat should be better than this, that they should be able to win this series before the 7th game. I don't think so. I'm not bashing the Heat, they're a great team. But San Antonio is a great team as well that has been here before and quite frankly the kind of opponent you want to beat in the Finals. A team that has won titles and have claimed a dynasty in their own way.

This win OVER THE SPURS legitimizes this Heat team as an historic team. Maybe not the best in NBA history, you can't make that argument now and if you tried, most ex-players wouldn't hear you out. But they have done well enough to become memorable.

P.S. Again, not the best yet, but LeBron has earned memorable mention in NBA history as well.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Bruins Tie Cup Finals at 1-1

Looks like it will be a tight Stanley Cup Finals.

After the Blackhawks took game one in triple overtime, the Bruins comeback and get an overtime win themselves... though this one just in the 1st and only overtime. With the game tied at 1-1 and with it almost 14 minutes into the OT, the Blackhawks failed to clear the puck out of their zone and the Bruins made them pay. With assists from Tyler Seguin and Adam McQuaid, Daniel Paille scored the game winning goal past Chicago goalkeeper Corey Crawford for the game winner. Final was 2-1 Bruins.

A huge win for the Bruins evening the series at 1-1 as they go to Boston. This tired Bruins squad managed to overwhelm the Blackhawks in the overtime in game two and come away with the victory.

What is very impressive so far in this series is both goaltenders. Boston's Tuukka Rask and Chicago's Corey Crawford have been remarkable to watch, just great goal tending displays from both of them so far. It might be more about good defense than good goal tending in this series because both of these goaltenders are playing their best.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Jason Kidd Hired to be Coach of the Nets

Straight from a jersey on the floor to the sideline in a suit.

Jason Kidd, who last played for the Nets franchise in 2008, has been hired by the Brooklyn Nets to become the team's next head coach. P.J. Carlesimo was the team's last head coach and he was put into that spot on an interim basis after the Nets fired Avery Johnson last December. However, Carlesimo was fired after the Nets were booted from the NBA Playoffs in the first round losing to the Bulls in seven games.

As for Jason Kidd, he doesn't have any coaching experience and just retired after the Knicks were eliminated in the 2nd round of the playoffs. He does have a playoff ready team to lead with a star point guard in Deron Williams and that might help considering he knows a thing or two about the position (ha ha ha).

Still, the no coaching experience worries me. It might take Jason Kidd a while to get used to coaching in the NBA which means Brooklyn could be in for a wild ride next season.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Tim Tebow Going to the Pats

Just when you thought his career was dead, he's resurrected.

The favorite son of football, Tim Tebow, will sign with the New England Patriots. The current offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the Pats, Josh McDaniels, was the coach in Denver when the the team drafted him in 2010. McDaniels was fired later that season for a poor record and the Broncos would trade Tebow after the 2011 season out of spite.

These two now get reunited as Tebow now enters Belichick land, a land that is not favorable towards members of the media. It's where no one is above the team and something like Tebowmania will be squashed.

There is of course absolutely no chance for Tim Tebow in taking over the starting quarterback position from Tom Brady. So why is Tebow in New England and now? I say it's Gronk. Every now and then, there is an analyst that says that Tebow could play as a TE in the NFL. Maybe Belichick is taking that to heart. Since Gronkowski keeps getting hurt, Tebow might be useful as a backup TE... and QB if anything should happen to Brady. Though they'd probably just turn to Ryan Mallet in that scenario.

Anyway, at least Tebow will be able to work under Tom Brady and perhaps work on that nonexistent throwing motion. Then again, Tom has better things to do.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Nadal Wins 8th French Title; Serena Gets Her 2nd

Long live the King of Clay.

Rafael proved once again he rules Roland Garros by beating fellow Spanish countryman David Ferrer in three sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. This is Nadal's 8th French title making him the only player in Tennis history to have that many titles at one Grand Slam event. Overall, Nadal now has 12 Grand Slam titles.

As for the Women's side, Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. It's Serena's 16th overall Grand Slam title and her 2nd at the French. Her first French title was over ten years ago in 2002.

A good couple of weeks of tennis as Wimbledon is just around the corner. Time to shop for some boring white clothes.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Blackhawks Win in Double OT; Advance to Stanley Cup Finals

There will be no repeat Stanley Cup Champions.

The Chicago Blackhawks managed to survive a double overtime game against the Los Angeles Kings to win it 4-3 and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. It was Patrick Kane scoring the series clincher in the 2nd overtime thanks to a two on one counter attack lead by Jonathan Toews. It was Kane's third goal of the night.

Chicago takes the series 4-1 and eliminate the Kings.


Now it's on to the Stanley Cup Finals to face the Boston Bruins in an Original Six finals, first since 1979. It's a great match up between two teams who have been counted out of the postseason at one time or another. Chicago was down 3-1 in the series with the Red Wings in the conference semis to come back and win the series 4-3. And Boston was down by three goals in the third period of game 7 between them and Maple Leafs back in the Conference quarters.

Whatever might happen in the Stanley Cup Finals, don't count out either side.