I will focus mainly on the NBA right now. I was 50% on my picks for the finals. I had the Lakers beating the Nuggets and the Cavs beating the Magic. Little did I know that the Magic would shoot an INCREDIBLE 48% from 3 for the series and that Lebron's teammates all decided to stop helping him and Mike Brown decided to not have any offensive plays and let Lebron go 1 on 5.
I have the Lakers winning the Finals in 6. I think that they will hold home court games 1 and 2 and take 1 of 3 in Orlando. They have the big bodies to throw at Dwight and I don't think that the incredible shooting the Magic have been displaying since game 7 against Boston will continue. Kobe will be ready and close out the Magic in game 6 at home.
Now, as far as what Lebron did in that series. What he did was amazing! He averaged 38, 7 and 7! He kept his team in every game (except game 6) and had little to no help the entire series. He had to do everything on both ends of the floor every possession. He just flat ran out of gas at the end. (But can you blame him? And by run out of gas I mean he "only" had 25, 7 and 8)
If the Cavs go out and get a younger post, or reliable wing (Richard Jefferson?) and unload some contracts, I think they'll get that ring next year.
My key to the finals though is....wait for it....drumroll....Lamar Odom! Yes, the man who on any given night can go for 20-10, or 8-2. You just never know with him. When he's on, the Lakers are almost impossible to beat.
If the Magic can keep their hot shooting going and Dwight continues to demand a double team (which I'm not sure he does. Think about it, the Magic single-covered Lebron, let him get his and shut down his teammates. Don't you think that Phil Jackson is smart enough to realize that they need to let Dwight get his and stick to their shooters?) they could pull off a huge upset.
I am looking forward to this series, not as much as Lakers/Cavs but still looking forward to it.
Just for the record, I am 100% convinced that if the Celtics had a healthy KG it would be a finals rematch from a year ago. 100% convinced. I would be writing about how the Celtics are going to win back-to-back titles and not about how this may be Kobe's last chance to win his 4th ring....wait, I would write about that too. Nevermind. anyway, point being that the Celtics are the best team when 100%.
Baseball news:
Josh Beckett pitched a gem tonight (although I jinxed him by verbalizing his no-hitter in the 7th...) and the AL East is once again tight. The Sox and Yankees are atop the standings, the Blue Jays are hanging around and the Rays are about to turn the corner and make a run.
I love baseball. I love summer. I love the beginning of June!
(Final thoughts: How dumb do Vitamin Water and Nike look now with those premature Kobe/Lebron ads? Also, Lebron not shaking hands and leaving the arena early and not talking to reporters? Loved it. Old school. Losing sucks, pissed him off, walked out. Good stuff. Him leaving made his teammates, for the first time all series, have to help him out by covering for him! ha!)
