Archive for April, 2006
Expect Cavs, James to bounce back in Game 3 vs Wizards
Friday, April 28th, 2006
Diehard Cleveland Cavaliers fans, there’s no reason to panic. You’ve just been re-introduced to the 2006 NBA playoffs.
As you stare at the box score of the Cavs’ 89-84 loss to the Washington Wizards on 
Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena, ask yourself a few questions. Have you seen LeBron James more confused, more frustrated in a big game?
Before answering that question, just remember that just as easily as the Cavs lost this Game 2 of the best-of-seven first-round series, they can win Game 3 on Friday night in Washington. Because of James, the Cavaliers can do that. How many times have we seen James at his best after a game where he was at a low point?
This was the kind of game after which James will bite those fingernails down to his knuckles. He also had a statistical shocker — 26 points, nine rebounds and, yes, 10 turnovers. Even more disturbing was James having only two assists, shooting a rim-bending 7-of-25 and missing a wide-open two-handed reverse slam.
Suns need to torch Lakers from the outside in Game 3
Friday, April 28th, 2006
Steve Nash has noticed it inside the locker room and on the court. So has Eddie House.
It’s not that the Suns aren’t loose. They are. People still joke around before tip-off, 
preparing as they would for any other game.
But there’s tightness as well, an intense focus that may be to blame for the team’s cautious actions in its first-round series against the Lakers, tied at 1 going into tonight’s Game 3 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Earlier this week, the series story line centered on strategy. How would the Suns stop Kobe Bryant? How would the Lakers attack Phoenix’s interior defense?
On Thursday, hours after the Suns lost home-court advantage, the drama shifted to psyche. What’s wrong with the Suns? And why aren’t they pushing tempo, chasing down loose balls and long rebounds, a style that led to 54 regular-season wins and the Pacific Division title?
Chelsea try to clinch Premiership title vs Manchester United
Friday, April 28th, 2006
Reigning Premiership champions Chelsea need only one point from Saturday lunchtime’s clash against Manchester United to clinch their second successive English Premiership crown.
If they do succeed this weekend, the league title will be Jose Mourinho’s only trophy of the season 
though after the Blues were beaten by Liverpool in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final, Barcelona in the Champions League and Charlton Athletic in the Carling Cup.
There have been a few chinks in Chelsea’s armour this term but they have hit top form in the Premiership at the right time since the shock 1-0 defeat at Fulham in mid-March.
Since then they have taken 13 points from five Premiership encounters, beating Manchester City, West Ham United, Bolton Wanderers and Everton and drawing with Birmingham City to finally extinguish United’s dreams of regaining a title they last won three years ago.
Top NFL Draft picks doesn’t mean W’s and Super Bowl rings
Friday, April 28th, 2006
Our problem is what the NFL draft doesn’t tell us. The draft never even hinted to us that Tom Brady, chosen in the sixth round, was going to lead a team to three Super Bowls. The NFL draft never told us that Terrell Davis, also chosen in the sixth round, was going to lead the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
It never told us Kurt Warner was going to lead the Rams to a pair of Super Bowl appearances because Warner was never even drafted. It never told us Brad Johnson, a ninth-round pick, was going to win more Super Bowls than Dan Marino.
And then there’s stuff we never should have listened to. For instance, the draft told us the combination of Shuler (No. 3 overall) to Michael Westbrook (No. 4 overall) would be leading the Redskins to one playoff appearance after another. The draft told us that Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch and Cade McNown were going to be studs.
The point I’m trying to make is this: Who knew?
Sometimes the picks pan out, sometimes they don’t.
Clippers Held Serve, Looking for 3-0 Lead.
Thursday, April 27th, 2006
The Los Angeles Clippers did what they were supposed to do at home. Now comes the tough part, winning on the road in the NBA Playoffs.
The Clippers lead the Nuggets 2-0 in a best-of-seven, first- round playoff series after winning the first two games in front of their red, white and blue crowd at the Staples Center. But they know the scenario changes dramatically in Denver’s altitude, in a boisterous arena, with Games 3 and 4 at the Pepsi Center.
”The series doesn’t start until you win an away game,” Clippers point guard Sam Cassell, a 13-year NBA veteran, said after practice Tuesday at the Spectrum Club.
”In all my years playing in the playoffs, once you win an away game, that’s when you say you have the advantage. Right now, we just held serve. We had home-court advantage and took care of our business.”
Of the 186 NBA playoff series in which teams have taken 2-0 leads since the 16-team playoff format started, the leading team won 176. Denver has started 0-2 in nine playoff series and has…
Read more Clippers visit the Nuggets for Game 3