MySportsSanctuary

With all the jabs between Lakers center Pau Gasol and All-World Kobe Bryant and his numerous injuries over this past season, the Lakers still stampeded to the best record in the Western Conference. He won his fourth ring and the first sans Shaq, and now Bryant is seeking a fifth which would put him higher on the legend’s list. The Lakers are stacked and it seems like their only roadblock to the Finals seems to be their focus. Once the playoffs start, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers (#1 seed) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (#8 seed)
Twelve years ago, an aging Michael Jordan was being challenged by a young kid named Kobe Bryant. Now Bryant, in his thirties, will see a young phenomenon come into his house with the intentions of making a big splash in his postseason debut. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, 21 years of age, is the youngest player to ever win a scoring title. However, as nice as this story can be, it won’t happen. Look for the Lake show to stay on the NBA playoff stage. Pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Dallas Mavericks (#2 seed) vs. San Antonio Spurs (#7 seed)
One of the teams that seem to be able to end another Lakers run is the Dallas Mavericks. However, the West, as usual, are stacked as all playoff teams have won at least 50 games. The Spurs, another aging team that has the championship pedigree are still a threat as long as they are healthy. That isn’t the case and it doesn’t seem like they can pull the upset. Pick: Dallas Mavericks

Phoenix Suns (#3 seed) vs. Portland Trailblazers (#6 seed)
The Phoenix Suns who have the best record post All-Star break (23-6) seems to be hitting on all cylinders. Look for Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Co. to make some noise during the playoffs and cruise past a young Trailblazers squad. Pick: Phoenix Suns

Denver Nuggets (#4 seed) vs. Utah Jazz (#5 seed)
Both teams are not coming in to the postseason on high notes. The Nuggets, who at one point was considered a threat to dethrone the Lakers, have fallen on hard times for a myriad of reasons with the loss of their coach George Karl who is battling cancer topping the list. The Jazz, who could have sealed at least the third seed if they would have won their season finale, was steamrolled at home by the Suns. Nuggets at home are very tough and this series may go seven games. Pick: Denver Nuggets

In his 7th year in the league, LeBron James has about done it all. He’s won an MVP award, scoring title and has led his Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2007. He still hasn’t won a ring, and on arguably the best team in the league this season, the expectations are at their highest peak. Anything but a puppet matchup with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will be a disaster for the NBA, but if it is because of the King for the second year in a row, then that is entirely different. It will fall on him.

Cleveland Cavaliers (#1 seed) vs. Chicago Bulls (#8 seed)
Although the Bulls took two of four against the Cavs this season, there is no way that the King is going down in the first round. It is more likely that Bulls GM Paxson connects with a right hook on head coach Vinny Del Negro. Just saying. Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers

Orlando Magic (#2 seed) vs. Charlotte Bobcats (#7 seed)
The Bobcats are making their first trip to the NBA playoffs and the Orlando Magic are aiming for a second straight trip to the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan isn’t used to being bounced in the first round but he may have to watch it happen this year. Pick: Orlando Magic

Atlanta Hawks (#3 seed) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (#6 seed)
The Atlanta Hawks aren’t coming into the postseason with the same buzz as last year but they have the tools to make it to the second round. Rookie sensation Brandon Jennings along with center Andrew Bogut will put the Hawks on upset alert. Pick: Atlanta Hawks

Boston Celtics (#4 seed) vs. Miami Heat (#5 seed)
Could this be the beginning of the end of the Big Three. The Celtics 50-32 record is their worst in three years and with injuries and age affecting play, is Miami and Dwyane Wade in prime position to pull the upset? Highly doubt it. Pick: Boston Celtics

I am one that wasn’t the biggest of Kobe fans. Not hating on his talent because that would be a waste of my time. He is a gifted scorer with a drive to win that parallels Jordan on so many levels. He now has four rings in six championship appearances. This kid straight out of Lower Marion is perhaps one of the greatest to play in the NBA. At one point in his career, it wasn’t looking so bright.

Everyone knows about the feud him and then fellow teammate Shaquille O’Neal had in the early decade. Shaq proclaimed Kobe as his ‘little brother’ but it was the younger of the two who won out in the end. Management thought Shaq was on the decline and decided to get rid of the big man and go with youth. It looked like a failed gamble as Kobe’s immaturity ruled the court, offending Lakers brass, teammates, and fans all over the globe. His scandal in Colorado in 2003 set the ball rolling as his star which was white hot fell into an ice cooler. Endorsements, his image, and most importantly the respect he had garnered were all gone. And to add insult to injury, Shaq won his fourth title with D. Wade on his new team.

Kobe was going through a tumultuous time in the years post-Shaq. He publicly demanded a trade and openly criticized Andrew Bynum before the 2008 season. Phil Jackson called him uncoachable and it seemed like Kobe would never reach the mountaintop again with all the skills in the world.

He finally realized what his idol Jordan had to go through to win. Jordan’s early years were all about him, winning scoring titles and trying to do it all on his own. Kobe demeanor is just like Jordan’s, and when Mike started to become a team player, six championships flowed through the city of Chicago. Kobe is now trusting his teammates, not scoring eighty one points with two assists. Even though he scored 61 at the Garden, it wasn’t achieved with the type of selfishness often displayed in years past.

So after his latest trek to the top without Shaq and proving he can win on his own, is it time to include Bryant as one of the greatest? His stats stack up with the best of them, and with the chance to win two or three more before his career ends, he certainly will have a shot. That is a long way from where he was in the summer of 2003.

No one had seen this coming. The beauty of sports was on display Saturday as the Pittsburgh Penguins exercised one of the hardest feats in sports by beating the Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup. In Game Seven. On the road.

Yes on the road where all the stats and history stood in front of them like the Green Wall. In 1971 the Montreal Canadiens were the last NHL franchise to win a game seven on the road for the title. The Pittsburgh Pirates, ironically, was the last major sports team to accomplish the feat. And to add to the moment, their best player wasn’t even on the ice when the pulled off the miracle. Yes, it is sweet. The Red Wings was arguably the best team in hockey, but if you weren’t into historical revelations of game sevens, you can go back in this postseason and see that these same Penguins beat the Washington Capitals in Game Seven. On the road.

So how does this hiccup in history translate into maybe an omen to the NBA’s Orlando Magic? Down three games to one, they know the only way to win the series and bring home the trophy is to not only beat the clutch Los Angeles Lakers three straight times, but the last game, Game Seven, will be on the road.

You watch this series, and you can see that the Magic has what it takes to win those games. In fact, you could argue that they literally threw two of these games and could be up three to one. However, the Lakers took advantage and now sit one win away from the crown.

No one gave the Pens a shot and now the Magic chances are looking pessimistic. One thing Saturday showed us is that is why they play the game.

The finals in the NHL and NBA are set, one is already underway, and the Williams sisters are at it again at the French Open. Sort of.

Its déjà vu all over again. The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings part deux. Sidney Crosby and his teammates didn’t learn their lesson last year so they returned again to master it. The Red Wings recent domination is well documented. This is their six appearance in the Finals since the ’94-95 season, winning four championships. They beat down the Pens last time, and figure to do so again. However, Sid is a little more seasoned, he has help, and the Pens are coming off a shellacking of the ‘Canes. This year might be the year for the Kid, but I wouldn’t bet on it. They are already down a game.

Back to the soap opera known as the NBA Playoffs starring Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and a special appearance by…Superman himself Dwight Howard! The show’s headliners for the next couple of episodes were changed at the last minute. See Superman was only supposed to push Mr. James to the limit. He was to help create drama, action and excitement but was to fall in the end. When Mr. Howard gave an Oscar-winning performance in Game 6, propelling the Magic past the Cavs to advance to the NBA Finals, the script was shredded and for great reason. As I was watching the series, you know a team isn’t going to win if you are hoping they make a shot or stop the other team, and when you pray the other team misses. The Magic dismantled the Cavs in every phase of the game. As the NBA does a retake, I wonder if Superman will get a puppet too. Probably not.

Why are the Williams sisters making headlines? Well one is out which isn’t breaking news. Venus Williams hasn’t played well at Roland Garros in her career. Her straight set loss in the 3rd Round is a microcosm of her struggles. She hasn’t advanced past the 3rd in a couple of years, no titles, and only one final’s appearance back in 2002. You can’t really called it an upset with her play here and the growing talent pool, but it does make you scratch your head. Serena Williams is still charging for the title, with a little flair for the dramatic. Her three set victory against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez was marred by a play in which Serena argued the ball struck Ms. Sanchez on the arm. According to tennis rules, if a ball strikes you, you lose a point. Maria disagreed, said it hit her racket. The network showed the replay, Serena called Maria a ‘cheat’, Maria declined comment and after all of that the Earth still spins on its axis. Thanks for playing.

Well, well, well, it’s time to put the puppets away. I guess more players than LeBron James and Kobe Bryant drunk their Vitamin Water. In a playoff season so stellar with twists and turns in every round, lurking in the back was almost a surefire thing. Almost.

After the Magic dispatched the Cavs in six games, one could only wonder how good are the Magic or how bad the Cavs played. I will not take credit away from the Magic, they played terrific. However, the Cavs had won 66 games and only lost two home games all year, and lost half that much in the playoffs, losing the opening game of this past series. The team from Cleveland steamrolled through the first two rounds, winning by double digits game in and game out, not even tested while on the road. The Magic stumbled through the Sixers and although they dethroned the Celtics as NBA champs, the jury was out on them to even make a dent in the Cleveland juggernaut.

That’s why they play the game. Someone famous said that and I have listened for all of my sporting life. Never was it more prominent when the Giants defeated the Pats last year, but that is another story. No one gave the Magic a chance. LeBron and Kobe were permanently penned in, not penciled, to the Finals. It was only two games left in the second round series and Dwight Howards was about to put Van Gundy in a headlock. Things like that overshadowed the Magic’s potential of crashing the superstar party.

What’s ironic is that the Magic may have been the best team of the final four, let alone the Eastern Conference. First off the Magic swept the Lakers, took two of three from the Cavs and split with the Nuggets. That 5-2 record is the best mark with the Lakers second at 5-3. Cavs, one of the best road teams this year, didn’t notch a single victory under their belt at Amway, losing all five games including all three this series. And even more frightening, the Magic was one miracle shot away from sweeping the series! Ouch! Talk about domination.

As all superheroes go, it seems like Superman still reigns supreme, and he proved it again in Game 6.

Last night, I was in a conversation with a bunch of people, some Cavs fans, many not, during the Magic-Cavs game. It became increasingly clear as the Magic was chomping away at the lead that many were decreasingly in favor of Mike Brown’s coaching ability.

Some say he is a decoy coach, that LeBron really runs the show. The choking of several big leads during this series was his fault. Yada yada yada. It’s funny how a player gets the most credit for turning around a team, and the coach gets blamed for the opposite. All the analysts that don’t analyze for a paycheck needs to see that it is more to it than the player(s) that wins and loses games and championships.

If coaching was everything, then they would be paid like the athletes, but they aren’t because sports are predicated on star power. No matter how good Pat Riley was, he didn’t fill stadiums to watch him coach. Doc Rivers was part of one of the worst teams in the NBA three seasons ago as the Celtics won only twenty four games. Danny Ainge, who was taking heat, traded what seemed like the whole team and whoever participated in the Tea Party for Kevin Garnett. Ray Allen signed on and voila, instant championship. Two 60-wiin seasons in a row, two division titles, but was it all about Rivers or the Big Three? The same scheme was used with the team from the 24 win club as well as the championship squad. Was it the players making the scheme work, or did the X’s and O’s bring a championship to three players who had never won one? Doc looks like a genius, Ainge a master, and the city of Boston is drunk with power.

Phil Jackson is considered a great coach. However, he had His Airness for six rings, and Shaq and Kobe for three. All three are surefire Hall of Famers, so was Phil’s Triangle offense the reason why they were so successful, or was the players he inherited the sole reason.

What I am trying to say is Mike Brown is a good coach and all great teams have either one or two superstars. The only team in recent memory that won a championship in the three power leagues without a significant superstar was the 2001 New England Patriots. Most teams that win it all have great teams and they are made up of superstar players. The coach should get credit for making it work, but in Brown’s case, it seems like it is up for debate. For what reason is beyond me.

It’s the middle of the night and David Stern is sitting on the side of his monstrous bed sweating. Tissues are being tossed on his floor and he staring at the moon in horror. He can’t believe his dream is turning into a nightmare. Could it really be happening: An NBA Finals without LeBron and Kobe?

He is too rich to ‘get away’ on Southwest Airlines, but he definitely wants to vamoose from this unlikely scenario unfolding. Sure he’s gonna say all the right things. He is a commissioner, and can’t be seen as biased. Everyone saw two trains steamrolling to the game’s ultimate stage. Two stars headline the two best teams in the league. Two stars who won the last two MVP awards. Too good to be true. Too bad that they must ‘play the game.’ Stan Van is not the Master of Panic in this series just yet, but it would have been sweet if Herm Edwards was the coach in this instance(Hellooo….you play to win the game!).

It is totally agreeable that the Nuggets and Magic feel disrespected before and during these conference finals. Commercials, analysts, and the media anointed the Cavs and the Lakers to battle for the title before they even stepped into these series, let alone the playoffs.

With the high flying Cavs grounded to one loss away from elimination, and the Nuggets squaring up the Lakers, that dream matchup isn’t looking like a sure shot anymore. LeBron is capable of creating a miracle, and Kobe is known to elevate his game just in time so these series are not over by a long shot. David Stern, the NBA, and fans for both squads hope the dream stays alive. The way things are going, he may need to stock up on some Kleenex.

As a sports fan, the week that past was a great one. The NBA is just soaking in the best start to both conference finals in recent memory. Interleague is back, and the NHL playoffs have been anything but dull so far.

The biggest story is the two tied NBA conference finals. The Nuggets manned up and canned the Lakers in Game 2, however Kobe Bryant has now mastered his Jordan acts, and took over in the 4th in Game 3 in Denver where the Nuggets haven’t lost since Jay Cutler left town. Okay not that far back, but it has been awhile. Travel to the Midwest and LeBron, wearing number 23, is improving his late game heroics like his idol and drilled a three at the buzzer to break the spell cast by the Magic. If they had gone down 0-2, I would have had a better chance at climbing Mt. Everest wearing pink biker shorts, a brown tank top and blue flip flops than they did at coming back and winning the series. I have to say that the games all have been competitive, dramatic, and best of all, entertaining.

With interleague opening its 2009 chapter, a couple of series catch my eye. The Philadelphia Phillies, going to homer happy Yankee Stadium, will face the ‘bombers’ in the truest sense of baseball. The Yanks are hot, the Phils are defending champs and no new steroid allegations of A-Rod yet. Randy Johnson going back to where he didn’t start his career, but where he made the name ‘The Unit’ part of everyday jargon to inch closer to that 300 victory plateau is very interesting. Angels and Dodgers, Red Sox and Mets are other series worth noting.

With the Pens and Sidney Crosby taking the Caps and Alex Ovechkin out, they look like a lock to steamroll the Hurricanes on their way to a second straight Stanley Cup appearance. That’s the good news. It looks like it will be against the team who beat them down the last time, the Detroit Red Wings, who are looking good as always in the playoffs. That’s the bad news. Can ‘The Kid’ get his team to the promise land? If the Red Wings are standing in the way, it will be tough sledding.

Amazingly the King is a footnote. This year’s NBA playoffs have been one to remember in recent memory. How many overtimes does it take to win a series? Hmm…depends but if you get swept and tossed to the wayside like the Pistons then that is something you wouldn’t have to worry about. Aside from the epic Celtics-Bulls series which astoundingly didn’t include Bird, McHale, Parrish, and Russell wearing green (Petino was right, they are NOT walking through that door) and on the other side Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kerr (don’t sleep, he got five rings) or Grant, the first round series were plagued by less spectacular storylines, except for:

The annihilation Chris Paul took at the hands of the powder blues. Was it just me or did the Nuggets treat the Hornets like you would your little brother. Or…

Can somebody refresh my memory? Did the Pistons play in this year’s playoffs? Hmm….Or…

The greatest story to hit the basketball world since Darko Milicic was traded to the Magic, the Houston Rockets tore King Kong off their multi-million dollar backs and advanced to the second round. In fact, without Tracy McGrady, they looked like a title contender with Yao Ming dominating the middle… Oops, he just got hurt. Oh well. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this…

The Spurs are old.

Enough of the first round which in the end turned out pretty entertaining. The second round was not as much, but here are some things to ponder

My memory is a little hazy. Can someone tell me if the Hawks participated in the second round? Or…

Are the Nuggets and their so called ‘thugs’ the NBA’s new Bad Boys. They just take the hearts out of teams and…

Is Dwight Howard gonna choke…never mind. They gave him the damn ball and…

The Celtics are old.

The Rockets, putting their best foot forward without breaking it pushed the heavily favored Lakers to seven games. Imagine if they had their two superstars, but then maybe they wouldn’t have gotten this far. See how unpredictable life can be? Luis Scola made more of a name for himself playing than people scouring the internet to find his hair stylist. He balled this series.

So we are down to the final four in a season that saw the rise of the Hawks, Heat and 76ers in the east as well as the demise of the Detroit Pistons. We see the Nuggets finally achieving their potential and maybe, just maybe, the Rockets are as good as we thought they were, or close to it. And to think, the King wasn’t mentioned at all. The NBA is back on track.