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2005-2006 NBA Playoffs – Chicago Bulls (41-41) @ Miami Heat (52-30), Game One
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Editorial, NBA, Playoffs,
What the Bulls Need to Do to Win: Da Young Bulls team need to NOT be intimidated going into Miami because they are not as playoff hardened as the Heat. Keeping their composure and executing will be key. Tyson Chandler will need to rebound defensively, not allowing second chances down low for the Heat, as well as be an intimidator with his long arms, contesting shots. Of course, he’ll have to do all this while containing Shaquille O’Neal at the same time. Yeah, it’ll be an easy night for Chandler, right? Ben Gordon needs to take control of the game offensively like he has the potential to do at any point in a game and Kirk Hinrich needs to keep the team together, contributing in the many ways that he does. I’m not sure if the Bulls have anyone to stop Dwyane Wade, but really what NBA team does? They’ll have to do their best to not allow Wade to get into his rhythm or else he’ll have a big game.
What the Heat Need to Do to Win: The Heat cannot get overconfident playing against the inexperienced Bulls. However, considering the roster is made up mostly of cagey veterans, underestimating the Bulls shouldn’t happen. But, you never know considering it’s the first game of the playoffs, something this team was built for, and they’re at home. Regardless, the Heat will have to make sure Ben Gordon is shadowed, otherwise, he can go off on a very hot streak. O’Neal will probably get his spots to get some rest and if there is anyone on this team that can deflate the opponents’ hopes of winning, it’s a dominant Shaq. Antoine Walker will need to become a second threat when Shaq rests so that the Bulls defense does not totally hound Wade.
My Prediction: Heat 95, Bulls 92; Wade paces the Heat with 36 points and Ben Gordon misses the game-tying three with two seconds to go. Previous to that Gordon hit five in a row from the land of the trey. No worries, BG, there’s always the next day for your heroics.
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Tiger Woods made an announcement that he would be off the golf course til at least June, back in time for the US Open. Woods will spend time with his ailing father. People can now speculate and make fun of Tiger by claiming he is afraid of going head to head with the surging Phil Mickelson.
Read More 
| Washington Post
A basketball sneaker that knows when your jumping to block that shot and to support your ankles when you come back down from the air? Impossible? Not anymore - on May 17, 2006, Adidas will unveil it’s Adidas 1.1 B, the first basketball shoe with intelligent cushioning. This sneaker will actually have a microprocessor inside and runs on a light lithium battery. Adidas is banking this shoe will be as big of a hype as the Apple iPod has been. Being the first on the block with these will cost a sticker shock price of $250. This shoe has already made waves when it was originally announced, being mentioned in Popular Science and Time Magazine.
Read More | Michael McCarthy
Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee suffered a broken wrist by colliding with Los Angeles Dodger SS Rafael Furcal, as he was running down the first base-line. This move will take the punch out of the Chicago Cubs line-up. After watching the Red Sox and White Sox get over their respective championship drought “curses”, many Cubs fans thought 2006 was their turn but it doesn’t look like it is the Chicago Cubs’ year. Lee is expected to miss at least six weeks.
Read More | ESPN
Atlanta Braves Take Two of Three from the New York Mets
Posted by Jeff Chan Categories: Athletes, MLB, Scoreboard,
In a classic pitchers duel, Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine gave the fans a treat on a Wednesday afternoon game. The demise of the Atlanta Braves has been highly exaggerated, despite playing without Edgar Renteria, Chipper Jones and Marcus Giles. Hudson pitched a complete game, and the Braves won the rubber game of the three game series. The game was full of great defense on the Braves side, an outfield assist by LF Matt Diaz and a nifty web gem by SS Tony Pena Jr. (wow that makes me feel old). Andrew Jones homered again, his fourth in three games which broke the scoreless tie, who excels in picking up his game in Chipper Jones’ absence. An outstanding game and a treat for everyone playing hooky from work.
Reggie Bush Versus Domanick Davis
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, NFL,
Yes, Reggie Bush is nice. He’s athletic, a game breaker, and he has a sweet piece of tin called the Heisman. But, let’s be serious. The Texans don’t need a RB as they already have a very good one in Domanick Davis. Davis had over 1300 total yards and six total TD last season… in only 11 games! Okay, so Davis is diminutive and has all of the negative stuff associated with being small for a RB, but so is Bush. The difference to me, and it’s a big one, Davis is already proven in the NFL. Bush, obviously, has done diddly squat.
Did you watch the Rose Bowl? Was it me or did USC head coach Pete Carroll keep Bush out during critical downs and on short yardage situations? It was all LenDale White on those plays. Meanwhile, Davis for the past three years busted his butt for every single yard he rushed for, thanks to defenses loading the box because the secondary only had to focus on WR Andre Johnson and QB David Carr had as much protection as cake from a fat kid. Before last season, Davis rushed for over 1000 yards each of his previous two seasons. Last season Davis was only 24 yards away from achieving the 1000 yard benchmark again.
And, Davis has skills catching the ball out of the backfield. In 2004, Davis had 68 receptions, 588 receiving yards, and a score. Last season in 2005, Davis had 39 catches for 337 receiving yards, and four TD… need I remind you, in only 11 games. Okay, so Bush has the ability to take it to the house should he catch the ball anywhere on the field, at least from what we’ve seen in his college career. But, will that translate to the NFL where players are more experienced, have better technique, and are bigger and stronger? Maybe, but why chance it with the number one overall pick on a player that would basically be excess for the Texans? So that he can be a punt and kick returner? Don’t think so.
If I were the Texans and I could trade away the number one overall pick to the Tennessee Titans who pick third and pick up an extra pick, say the Titans 39th overall pick in the second round (okay, so it’s a pipe dream; I’d settle for the 103rd overall pick in the fourth round), I’d do it yesterday. There is a battle between the Titans and New York Jets in jockeying for position to take Matt Leinart and the Texans can play those teams against each other. So, let’s say this happens where Texas drops to third overall, whom do they pick?
Isn’t it obvious?
Carr has no protection and often finds himself eating grass for most of the game. So, it has to be OT standout D’Brickashaw Ferguson from Virginia to help Carr stay healthy and really give Carr a shot at being the QB he can be. The addition of WR Eric Moulds helps a lot as it will give Carr another target, but mostly to draw secondary attention away from WR Andre Johnson. This should make defenses play honest against the Texans and possibly open up more holes for Davis to take advantage of. But, most of all, in picking Ferguson, Carr will be better protected and will actually be able to sit in the pocket looking for an open man, instead of a way to escape oncoming defensive players. The whole offense will benefit.
The Texans’ most important need is at the O-Line, so I’d pass on Bush and take the Brick. Their running game is already solid in the hands of Davis.
The NBA Playoff Participants Are Set: Western Conference Quick Look
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Editorial, NBA, Playoffs,
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- San Antonio Spurs – The defending NBA Champs have it all as they can play tight defense, score inside and out, and most of all, they have done it before. Experience in the playoffs goes a long way. Tim Duncan is great and Tony Parker stepped up his game this season, but this is when Manu Ginobili shows that he’s one of the best players on the planet.
- Phoenix Suns – The injury and loss of Amare Stoudemire before the season was supposed to weaken the Suns in a big way, but they stuck together thanks to the reigning MVP, Steve Nash, the excellent play of Shawn Marion, and improved production from Boris Diaw and Raja Bell. They’ll be able to outrun any team in the league, but slow them down and it’ll be a different story as they do not have a legitimate low-post scorer, which is where they’ll miss Stoudemire.
- Denver Nuggets – A major key to their playoff success is having Marcus Camby stay healthy and for Carmelo Anthony to prove that he’s the superstar he believes he is. Andre Miller has the ability to take over a game, but seems disinterested a lot of the time. Head coach George Karl can only hope the Nuggets don’t rest on their laurels and get inflated heads because they’re a number three seed.
- Dallas Mavericks – Unfortunately they’re in the same division as the Spurs and gets a lower seed than the Suns and Nuggets despite having a better won-loss record than both. In any case, this season the Mavs put the “D” back in Dallas thanks to the gritty attitude head coach Avery Johnson instilled. Look for Dirk Nowitzki to elevate his MVP-type play from the regular season.
- Memphis Grizzlies – Their best player is Pau Gasol and to the casual NBA fan, reading that name would make them scratch their head. The Grizzlies are the epitome of team in the NBA as there is no superstar as opposed to five players on the court at any time working as one. Yes, that sounds corny, but it’s true and it may enable the Grizzlies to surprise in the playoffs.
- Los Angeles Clippers – Wait, is this the right Los Angeles team that performed at a suprisingly very good level and can legitimately put a championship team on the floor? Believe it or not, the Clip Joint has become a Clip Mansion. Thanks to the stellar play of Elton Brand, who deservedly makes his first NBA playoff appearance, the veteran leadership of Sam Cassell, and Chris Kaman elevating his game, the Clips can get out of the shadow of that “other” Los Angeles team.
- Los Angeles Lakers – Speaking of… the Lakers make the playoffs despite being a perceived one-man team. Kobe, Kobe, Kobe - the first, second, and third option on offense. Bryant is lucky that the other players pretty much have deferred to him. Bryant is even luckier that he’s performed as well as he’s ever had in his career. However, the playoffs are on a different level and playing one of the top teams in the first round will be tough for the Lakers as their opponents will surely have a game plan to contain Bryant. Can Lamar Odom, Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, et al. step up?
- Sacramento Kings – Ron Artest really is a difference-maker and arguably one of the ten best players in the NBA. Don’t think so? If it wasn’t for him, the Kings would probably be where they were before he joined the team after a trade with the Pacers that jettisoned Peja Stojakovic out of Sacremento, and that would be out of the playoffs. Mike Bibby continues to play at a high level, Kevin Martin was a revelation, Kenny Thomas had a revival, and if the Kings have a healthy Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, as well as solid bench play from guys such as Francisco Garcia, the Kings should do well.
Mets Take First Game And Pedro Martinez Gets Number 200
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB,
In the first game of a big series against division rival, Atlanta Braves, Pedro Martinez helped lead the New York Mets to a 4-3 win Monday night. It’s hard to determine which was sweeter for Martinez - winning number 200 for his career or defeating the Braves, winners of 14 consecutive division titles. The Braves are to the Mets what the Detroit Pistons were to the Chicago Bulls in the late 80’s/early 90’s - that “hump” team that they needed to get over to once and for all diminish any sort of cloud over them. Even in 2000 when the Mets made it to the World Series, their path didn’t go through the Braves, but the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Division Championships. Whether or not this win is indicative of the Mets finally “getting over” the Braves, Monday night was an important start to the process.
Martinez joins Greg Maddux (320), Tom Glavine (277), Randy Johnson (265), David Wells (227), Mike Mussina (225), and Jamie Moyer (205) as the only active pitchers with 200 or more wins. Martinez (70.4%) owns the highest career winning percentage with a minimum of 200 wins, followed by Whitey Ford (236-106; 69.0%), Lefty Grove (300-141; 68.0%), Christy Mathewson (373-188; 66.5%), Roger Clemens (341-172; 66.5%), and Randy Johnson (265-137; 65.9%).
Geoff Jenkins is starting to remind me of someone, but I couldn’t put my finger on it immediately. Now that the Brewers have been playing better this season, their best ball since the Ronald Reagan administration, the Brew Crew has something to be excited about. Jenkins is a player I’ll admit I haven’t given much attention to. He’s always been the decent slugger on a bad team, so I didn’t give a second look. Now that Jenkins is sporting the new facial beard, the lefty slugger is looking and hopefully will continue playing like another Jeff - Jeff Bagwell.
I didn’t want to touch this subject with a ten-foot pole, because I just didn’t know where to begin. So when writer Steve Adamek threw some good ideas around, I had to give him some props. Adamek formulates a plan to actually get both Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis out of town and Kevin Garnett will be wearing a Knicks uniform next season. When Knick fans read this, you’re going to hope that management follows suit with Steve’s plan. I am looking forward to Stephon Marbury going on the trading block this summer, like the old saying goes: Fool me once, shame on you Stephon, fool me twice, shame on me. Yeah, you got us Tri-State folks once with your tenure with the New Jersey Nets, not anymore Steph, pack your bags and don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
Read More | North Jersey Media Group
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