Stanley Cup Finals

I was very wrong about game 7 of the NBA finals. Sorry. I clearly underplayed how much the end of game 6 would affect the Spurs, but they still hung on at the end. The Duncan miss down the stretch was the nail in the coffin, and Miami won it all. Congratulations to LeBron James and the Heat for their second straight title. Now it's time to turn my attention to the Stanley Cup Finals champion Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated the Boston Bruins in six games.

The end of game 6 might have been the most exciting hockey I have ever seen. Chicago aggressively fought for pucks, and they put the pressure on Boston. The Bruins seemingly tried to sit on their 2-1 lead, which clearly was the wrong decision. Chicago pulled their goalie to gain an extra attacker when Bryan Bickell scored the game-tying goal at the 18:44 mark. Chicago seized the momentum, and Dave Bolland scored the go-ahead goal only seventeen seconds later. Boston pulled their goalie for the last minute, but they could not tie the game. This series was extremely exciting from start to finish. Three of the first four games went to overtime, but Chicago was able to take advantage in critical moments. In game 5, Zdeno Chara made a couple of critical mistakes in key moments. He got a little sloppy in front of the net, and a blown defensive assignment led to one of Chicago's goals. He scored on a laser beam slapshot, but he needed to do more. He had been on the ice for 8 of the Blackhawks' 9 goals in the series going into game 6, which is unprecedented for a defenseman as astute as Chara. Boston had shown their resilience all playoffs. They absolutely handled the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins in the first two rounds, and they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Toronto in the first round. The bruins were extremely physical, which tends to bode well in a long series. Chicago took care of business throughout the playoffs, defeating the defending champ LA Kings in five games.

Both teams played cleanly and crisply on both ends in the beginning of game 6. Both offenses were playing fast and doing a good job of attacking, but the defenses were preventing clear offensive looks. Boston had the first real scoring opportunity at around the 13 minute mark, where they kept the puck in their attacking zone for 30 seconds a got 4 shots on about 6 looks. The play ended with Kelly trying to jam the puck in close, but Crawford sat on it and froze the puck. The Bruins could have easily scored on this drive if they had gotten a rebound. The Blackhawks squandered away the effort they used on the ensuing faceoff, when the bruins controlled possession and got a quick goal from none other than Kelly. Although he missed a golden opportunity only moments before, he gained confidence and got right into scoring position. This sequence shows the heart that Claude Julien's squad possesses, harkening back to the Toronto series. Chicago came out very aggressive on the next possession, and they seemed a little too hyped up. Boston would eventually get a couple of good shots, but they allowed a failed breakaway to Blackhawks forward Michael Frolik. The energy was high from both sides, but Chicago lost their composure for a bit. After some back and forth, the Bruins ended up getting a great shot from the point that led to a breathtaking save by Crawford, but also led to a Chicago penalty. The second period was evenly matched until Johnathan Toews scored the first goal for Chicago. Once again, it was due to an uncharacteristic mistake by Chara. Following a faceoff, Chara went for the loose puck against the boards. Toews got the puck, slipped past, and a clear lane opened up to the net. Chara did not cover his area on the ice, and it led to an easy goal. Boston’s second goal was scored by Milan Lucic, and it came at around the 12-minute mark of the third period. Boston looked likely to win game 6 until the fateful final two minutes. The Bruins had a lot of good scoring opportunities, but they were unable to get many shots on net. They still led 18-15 in shots in the first two periods, but the Chicago onslaught at the end led them getting 6 more shots total. The end was a result of the defense not being ready for the comeback Chicago mounted. They were getting prepared for game 7 mentally. Chicago simply wanted it more, and they did what the San Antonio Spurs could not do in their game 6. They just got it done. On a side note, Boston forward Patrice Bergeron has hospitalized following the game due to a punctured lung. He was hurt going into the game, but he decided to tough it out. I wish him the best, but congratulations to the Blackhawks.

NBA Finals

Courtesy of Inner-City Newspaper

Pt. 1

The 2013 NBA Playoffs are coming to a close after several weeks of exciting basketball. The finals are here. Miami had to scratch and claw to beat Indiana, while San Antonio took care of the Grizzlies pretty easily in four games. This is my preview of the NBA Finals, based on the information as of June 5, 2013.

The San Antonio Spurs are considered the underdog in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, but that does not mean they will not win. Miami should be the favorite, as they showed in their warlike battle against Indiana. LeBron James is a unstoppable force, and he appears hungrier than ever. The Spurs are the perfect balance of seasoned veterans and young studs, which puts pressure on the inconsistent role players on the Heat. Tim Duncan has a big advantage inside against the likes of Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen. The Spurs have won six straight, and are coming off an impressive sweep against Memphis. Despite looking spotty at times lately, the Heat can still dominate. The presence of a superstar like James cannot be questioned. He rarely folds under pressure, and he is ready to shoulder the burden of carrying his team. That does not mean he will be happy about it, and Miami will be in big trouble if they lose their composure. This series will come down to James. Period. The series against Indiana really highlighted James' importance due to the lack of production from the role players. Bosh did not look good. Miami looked very good defensively in their last two home games of last series, holding Indiana under 80 points in both. The Pacers, however, were turnover prone in those games. I do not expect to see the Spurs hindered by that same level of immaturity. On paper, the Spurs should win this series due to having more depth. Obviously Miami has the star power to overcome this, but San Antonio will give Miami more trouble than anyone else has. Tony Parker might be the catalyst that gives the Spurs an edge. Parker is averaging 23 points and 7.2 assists per game in the playoffs, which are remarkable numbers. Parker is a slashing point guard, which gives Miami trouble. It will be hard for Mario Chalmers to guard Parker, but expect to see LeBron guard him when necessary in this series. No one is more important to San Antonio than the ageless wonder Tim Duncan. At age 37, he continues to show why he is one of the greatest power forwards of all time. He is averaging 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in the playoffs, which are unbelievable numbers. He plays with a high level of calmness on both ends of the floor, which leads to easy baskets and key post play. Despite Duncan's prowess, the Spurs do not have a dominant second big man like Indiana did. Though the Spurs should not have too much trouble scoring inside, the will struggle defensively. James can get down the lane at will, and Duncan can only play so many minutes. Kawhi Leonard will have to chip away at James defensively on the perimeter, which may slow him down as the series progresses. Clearly the x-factor for this series is Dwyane Wade. He has looked very inconsistent as of late, and the need will need more from him. When he is good, he can look dominant. When he struggles, however, he cannot seem to find the rim. Clearly his knee is still a problem. Fortunately for him, Danny Green will likely be defending him most of the game. Green is a solid defender, but Wade will not have to worry about Leonard. James will play extremely well, but it may not be enough. Miami has not yet played a team in the playoffs as skilled and well coached as the Spurs. The perimeter shooters on Miami have to be sharp, and San Antonio will not make it easy. Erik Spoelstra will be tested in this series, because he is facing a coaching master in Gregg Popovich. I believe Popovich will be able to make better adjustments than Spoelstra, which will make the series that much more difficult for the Heat.

Despite the evident holes in their team, Miami still knows how to win. This will be the biggest challenge LeBron has had to face, however. The subpar big man depth for the Spurs will allow LeBron to take over offensively, but Tony Parker may do the same on the other end. Miami has a huge advantage in athleticism, so they will want to play a faster game than the Spurs. Role players are significant, and Wade will play well in enough games to give Miami the edge. I cannot conceive the series ending in less than seven though. Miami in 7.

Pt. 2

We have ourselves a roller coaster ride, huh? After the Spurs stole a highly competitive game 1 in Miami, each team won in a blowout the next two games. The series is far from over, but San Antonio took the momentum back in the series. This is my analysis of the series moving forward, based on the information available as of 6/13/2013.

Game 3 showed why San Antonio is built for the long run. They were embarrassed in Game 2, and the starters were pulled off the floor down the stretch. Coach Popovic realized that he could afford to lose a game because the series washout to go back to Texas. Miami showed what they can do on their best night in game 2, but it is unclear how often they can at top form. San Antonio's lockdown team defense on LeBron James took him out of the equation offensively in game 3. He shot 7 for 21 and did not take a free throw, which is not going to cut it. James struggled due to the defense of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Tiago Splitter. James is too good to let this happen often, but the Spurs have swung the momentum back in their favor. James attempted to facilitate on offense, but he should have attacked more once it was clear his team was not stepping up. I am changing my prediction of Miami in 7 to Spurs in 7, which I do not usually do. The main reason for my change of heart is the two-three-two format. This format heavily favors the lower seed if they can steal one of the first two on the road, which the Spurs have. Game 3 showed the Spurs' ability to score from long range. Danny Green hit seven threes, and Gary Neal added six. They shouldered the scoring load in the second half, since Tony Parker and Tim Duncan did not dominate offensively. Every player on the Spurs' roster plays his role extremely well, and their experience sets them apart. Miami has a vaunted perimeter defense, and they cannot allow San Antonio to stretch the floor with such ease. Danny Green has become one of the premier shooters in the league, but this has been ignored by the mainstream sports media. San Antonio quietly takes care of business, and no one has an ego under the watch of Popovic. Erik Spoelstra is a great coach, but I doubt he can keep up. LeBron must get to the hole more often in game 4. End of story. The fact that he did not get to the free throw line is more egregious than the poor shooting percentage. The team only shot seven free throws total. He needs to get better shots than the ones he settled for on Tuesday. The Spurs went underneath on their pick and rolls on James, which kept him out of the paint. He needs to be far more aggressive. He only took two shots in the first half. This might be the worst I've ever seen the LeBron era Heat play, so part of me believes it must be a throwaway game. They need to play better, because a game 4 loss in San Antonio could effectively end the series.

Considering all the momentum swings in this series, it is too soon to say the Heat will not come back. They are the defending champions, so it would be disrespectful to count them out. The Spurs, however, have taken care of business and control the series because of the format. The Spurs were unreal from the three point line, which will be hard to duplicate. One of their shooters should be able to step up, however. James and the Heat will respond in game 4, but Wade and Bosh must give help on offense. LeBron James neglected to step to the podium after the game, and he exhibited poor body language all game. He is still haunted by the 2007 Finals where he was swept by the Spurs. He is the unquestioned leader of this team, so he must get his emotions in check. Tony Parker got an MRI on his hamstring after potentially re-injuring it in game 3. This could derail the Spurs chances moving forward if the injury lingers. Miami need to pick up the tempo and try to outrun the Spurs. San Antonio has enough young talent to keep up, but Miami gives themselves an advantage if they can get out in transition. They also need more from their perimeter players on offense and defense. Spoelstra was severely out-coached by Popovic, and I do not expect that to change. James will have to take control and dominate the way he is capable of. This series will still be competitive to the end, but I think San Antonio wins the series. San Antonio in 7.

Pt. 3

I know that the series will be over by time this comes out, and I apologize for that. The series is currently tied at three each, and game seven is right around the corner. The Spurs almost won the series in game 6, but they were not able to get it done. Despite the disappointment they obviously are feeling, I fully expect them to respond in game 7. This is my assessment of where the series stands, based on the information available as of 6/19/2013.
Game 6 was enthralling from start to finish, and no moment was more exciting than the game tying 3-pointer Ray Allen hit with 5.2 seconds left. LeBron James missed a three which was rebounded by Chris Bosh, who kicked it out to Allen in the corner. He drained the clutch shot with Tony Parker in his face, and he showed why he is the best 3-point shooter of all time. The moment was fantastic, but it should not overshadow the fact that the Spurs blew this game. They led 75-65 going into the fourth quarter. On the possession before the Allen shot, Kawhi Leonard split free throws. Had he made both, it would have been a four point game and Allen's shot would not have tied it. The Spurs should have fouled on the possession as well, because it would not have allowed Miami to shoot the game tying three. On their second to last possession in overtime, Leonard got a rebound down by one. He passed it to Manu Ginobili who sprinted up the floor, and had the ball stripped away as he was going up. The Spurs did not call a timeout, and the play looked awkward. Also, Tony Parker was not on the floor, and the play looked like one he commonly runs. These were rare coaching mistakes by Gregg Popovic, who I consider to be the best coach in the league. Ginobili played too much in general. He played 35 minutes, and only scored nine points on 2-5 shooting. This was surprising considering that he scored 24 in game 5. Tim Duncan had an incredibly odd game. He scored a team high 30 points, but only five in the second half. He did have a good all-around game, adding 17 rebounds, but the team could have used more scoring from him down the stretch. He also was not on the floor at the end when Bosh got the rebound that led to the Allen shot, which was confusing. He would have likely grabbed that rebound, which would have sealed the win. Leonard and Parker were the only other Spurs in double digits. Danny Green and Gary Neal had horrendous games, scoring eight points combined. Despite all of this, San Antonio still came close to winning. I fully believe San Antonio will win game 7 if they play better.
Although the shot by Allen has the seminal moment of the game, the story is James. He had a very poor game five, and he needed to bounce back. He scored 32 in game 6, 18 of which came in the fourth quarter. Had he not dominated in the fourth and Miami lost, he would be blamed for it. He went from looking like a normal player to vintage LeBron in a blink of the eye, and it was clear that he was thinking about his legacy. Maybe he should permanently ditch his headband. There were still some stretches in the fourth where he struggled toward the end. Allen clearly bailed him out because Miami won, but LeBron did have two costly turnovers down the stretch. His struggles were usually due to him settling for jumpshots. When James is aggressive and driving to the hoop, he is unstoppable. In general, the Heat stepped up when they needed to. Their perimeter defense looked shoddy in their two previous losses, but they made some key defensive plays down the stretch. None was bigger than Bosh blocking what would have been a game tying three by Green at the end of the game. As much credit as the Heat deserve for making their comeback, the Spurs should have won. This loss will lead to one of two responses: either the Spurs learn from their mistakes and win game 7, or they allow the frustration of game six to weigh on them and they lose. I expect the former to happen, since the Spurs are experienced and well coached. I expect them to make threes like they were doing until game 6, which will give them an edge. Game seven will be exciting, and I still believe San Antonio will win. They are too good to collapse two games in a row.