Sports Agenda For Friday (5/27/11)
Big Story:
LeBron James. M.V.P.
If you missed the last 3 minutes and change of Game 5, you missed an instant classic. From D-Wade hitting a 4-point play to LeBron James inserting the dagger and twisting, the Heat proved why they are the best team in the NBA right now with the best player, who was robbed of the MVP award.
We'll dive into that, plus, the Marlins chop the beanstalk of the Giants, and the NFL continues to be the NO FUN LEAGUE.
Let's bury this agenda like a LeBron 3-pointer.
FYI: I called the Heat to win yesterday morning around 11 a.m.!
Miami Heat: (next game, Game 1 of the NBA Finals, vs. Dallas Mavericks, Tuesday, ABC)
When I was watching the 4th quarter of Game 5, I was beginning to give up and prepare for Game 6. Then, when Wade buried the 3 and the foul shot, I said out loud, they can win this!
It was stunning though to watch it play out.
I didn't really know what to say when LeBron buried a 3 and I saw the air go completely out of the United Center and the Bulls.
Seriously, it was like some just sucked the air out of that building and at that point, everyone, including the Bulls knew the game and the series was OVER!
Something I think the majority of the national media misses is that this is not a "showtime" team. It's not all Hollywood offense, this Heat team is about running an efficient offense and just smothering and suffocating you on defense.
For a former coach, yeah I only coached high school but still, it was just epic to watch LeBron and Wade stifle everything Derrick Rose wanted to do.
It also made me feel vindicated for an article I wrote before the end of the season laying out why LeBron was the MVP. It was roundly criticized by commenters, who I can now point to and say…I TOLD YOU SO!
Don't get the wrong idea though, the Bulls are a great team and they will be back. They need a dependable running mate for Derrick Rose because it's obviously not Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, or Luol Deng.
But make no mistake, the Heat will be hearing from the Bulls for the next several years.
Now, the Heat get to move on to the NBA Finals to take on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks are led by Dirk Nowitzki. He's been tearing up the Western Conference playoff bracket and will give the Heat headaches for his post-up and outside shooting game.
I look for the Heat to use Joel Anthony and possibly Udonis Haslem on Nowitzki. Anthony is athletic enough to keep in front of Dirk and did an effective job of guarding him during the regular season. The addition of Haslem will give Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra enough flexibility to rotate multiple defenders in Dirk's face.
Or, you could always put LeBron in front of him, although that's not likely. I'd try to keep LeBron on Jason Kidd to shut down the catalyst of the Mavs offense. Shut down Kidd and you cut off the head of the Mavericks snake.
Of course that's easier said than done.
It will be fun to watch how the Heat deal with Tyson Chandler, who has arguably been the best big man in the 2011 playoffs. Combining his size with Nowitzki will give the Heat headaches.
Don't be surprised if you see Zydrunas Ilgauskas make an appearance or two as Spoelstra looks to massage the lineup to get the best matchups out there.
Also, watch out for Peja Stojakovic. If you leave him open, he'll tear you up from downtown. So he's another weapon for the Mavs.
I've already thrown down the gauntlet to CBS11 in Dallas who told me bring it. Well, you guys are about to face Team Bring It!
Marlins: (@ Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., Fox Sports Florida_
What a pitching gem last night to give the Marlins a sweep of the Giants in San Francisco.
Anibal Sanchez went the distance and gave up only five hits in the shutout.
Logan Morrison continued his torrid pace by upping his average to .320. The Fish's 3-4-5 hitters are hitting .320, .315, .333 respectively. That's pretty darn good there if you ask me.
Plus, Mike Stanton has upped his average to .274 and is becoming one of the most feared hitters in baseball and he's batting 6th in the lineup right now. That's got to be a comfortable position for Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez to be in.
Tonight, the Marlins visit the only team more dysfunctional than the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kinda makes you wonder what happened to L.A. sports. The Clippers are a joke, the Dodgers are a joke, the Lakers choked, and the L.A. NFL team…oh wait.
Javier Vazquez takes his 3-4 record to the mound in L.A. tonight. He has a 6.41 ERA, so the Marlins better be ready to score. He goes against Garland who is 1-4 with a 4.75 ERA.
NFL Update:
The NFL's joke of a commissioner Roger Goodell said fans want an 18 game schedule. Really, because every public opinion poll on every sports site has voted against an 18 game schedule. I guess these are the fans Goodell sees in the stands if the lockout continues into the regular season.
What a joke.
I don't know who's worse, Goodell or NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. Both are about as competent as having Lady Gaga running the operation.
