In this article, I will be taking a look back at some of the events that have occurred in the NBA Playoffs and in Major League Baseball over the past week. I hope to convey my thoughts in such a transparent manner so that the world will be able to witness the sports musings of an intellectual giant.
NBA Western Conference Playoffs
Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
The Lakers are lucky that they are playing the Thunder this year in the playoffs before Oklahoma City gains the necessary experience to possibly become the next NBA dynasty of the next decade. What I mean by experience is that in the first two games the Lakers won in LA, the Thunder only lost due to a lack of offensive execution. There were too many turnovers and too many missed layups. Los Angeles should win this series, but it won’t be a cakewalk.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns
I applaud Portland for winning the first game of this series. I thought that the Blazers wouldn’t have won a game in this series, but I am glad that they proved the world wrong. However, the injury bug bit Portland again in Game Two when Nicolas Batum went down with an injury. Portland needs a new training staff based upon the fragility of their team this season. Thank you Phoenix for finally waking up after the Game 1 loss and dominating the series like the Suns are supposed to.
Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz
The turning point for this series already has happened when Jerry Sloan received a technical in the second quarter of Game 2. That technical energized the Jazz team and caused for Utah to wrest home court advantage away from Denver. With Nuggets coach George Karl sitting out this series during his recovery, the lack of experience at coaching proved to be the difference.
Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs
When will Mavericks owner Mark Cuban keep his mouth shut? Before Game 2, he says, “I hate the Spurs.” Why egg San Antonio when they are already down? With that added motivation, the Spurs were up 20 points in the third quarter of Game 2. Instead of antagonizing the Spurs, maybe he should stick to making sure Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t choke again in the playoffs.
MLB Musings
In the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals lead the division once again by two games over Milwaukee. St. Louis was expected to win the division, so this fact is no surprise. However, we all have to put up with some more incredulous quotes from Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. After the 2-1 loss last Saturday night to the New York Mets that went 20 innings, he called what the Mets did “criminal.”
After the game went extra innings, the Mets made sure that they intentionally walked Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols every time. LaRussa should not have criticized the Mets; they were also trying to win the game. What was criminal is that LaRussa took Matt Holiday, who usually backs up Pujols in the lineup, out of the game. LaRussa’s mental error allowed for the Mets to win that game. Maybe he can blame it on the alcohol.
The world will not end because the Brewers just swept the Pirates. To cap off the sweep, Milwaukee defeated Pittsburgh 20-0 yesterday afternoon. Now, the Pirates can continue its annual descent into last place.
The Texas Rangers finally won their first game of the week yesterday over the Boston Red Sox. The Rangers have been disappointing so far this season. Many experts predicted that the Rangers would win the division. However, the Rangers sit in last place.
What could be the reason why the Rangers are starting so slow? Could the lack of enthusiasm in the Rangers dugout be linked to the team’s scandals about cocaine usage?
The surprise first place team is the Oakland A’s. The reason why they are in first place is due to their tenacity. Although the A’s hit into a triple play yesterday, they still defeated the Yankees.
Also, Oakland pitcher Dallas Braden got into a shouting match with Yanks’ Alex Rodriguez when A-Rod walked across the mound when he ran back to first from third after a foul ball. Braden yelled out, “This is my mound!”
This stand by Braden shows how much of an idiot A-Rod really is. One of the unwritten rules in baseball is that opposing players do not walk on the mound when they are batting. It seems that A-Rod breaks an unwritten rule every year now. I guess that one side effect of steroids about something shrinking has seriously affected A-Rod over his baseball career.
OK. I’m done. I will be back to wreak more havoc next week.
