Sports Agenda For Monday (2/14/11)
Big Story:
Well, if you got to catch any of the Heat's game against the Celtics yesterday, you saw one thing that was abundantly clear. The Heat are not at the same level as the Celtics. The Heat simply can't matchup against the Celtics' big men and even when Paul Pierce is having a bad game, the Heat still can't overcome the Celtics.
When it comes to supremacy in the East, the road to the title goes through Boston. And right now, the Heat can't beat the C's. Will that change when the playoffs hit…well, if yesterday's game was a preview, then LeBron and company will at least have a nice summer to think about using the mid-level exception when the NBA has another season, which likely won't be next year.
Heat:
The Heat gave Boston all they could handle in the fourth quarter, the only problem was the third quarter when the Heat got run off the court. Seriously, how does a team with Wade and LeBron give up a 20-3 run? I mean, I know the Celtics defense is good, but c'mon man!
If you want to know how the Celtics beat the Heat, check out the scoring. The Celtics had 6 different players in double figures. They were paced by Kevin Garnett who poured in 19 points. And seriously, if you can't beat the Celtics when Paul Pierce scores 1, yes 1 point, well, you're not a championship caliber team.
The Heat did get a good game out of Chris Bosh who scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. But outside of the big three, the only player with more than 5 points was Zydrunas Ilgauskas with 9.
Oh yeah, hey Mike Miller, way to earn that multi-million dollar contract. A wide-open three point shot at the end of the game and you brick it off the back of the rim. Can someone put the ball in Wade or James' hand at the end of the game in the playoffs….please!
FYI: LeBron is still third in the league in scoring at 26.2 points per game. Wade is 7th at 25 points per game and Bosh is 30th at 18 points per.
Newsflash to opponents: if you are in a close game with the Heat, foul LeBron and send him to the line or Wade. Neither shoot above 76 percent from the foul line, so you've got a fighting chance that way.
Dolphins:
Well, it's all quiet on the NFL front because the two sides can't agree on anything during the collective bargaining hearings. Plus, it's getting ugly from the owners towards the players.
According to Yahoo! Sports, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson treated Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in a condescending manner during the bargaining sessions. Apparently, Richardson was the only player on either side who was disrespectful. Richardson allegedly told Manning, "What do you know about player safety?" Given the state of the Colts offensive line, I'd say Peyton knows quite a bit.
So we're still at square one and until one side starts to make a move towards the middle, there will be a lockout starting March 4.
Marlins:
Well, it's Valentine's Day and that means pitchers and catchers begin reporting to Spring Training. The Marlins will be the last team to have their pitchers and catchers report on Friday. All other teams except the White Sox will have their first workout before the Marlins arrive.
Not that it matters much, because barring injury, any talk of the NL title will have to go through Philadelphia, who has the NASTIEST rotation in baseball.
Panthers:
It was another game and another los…wait, the Panthers won? Behold, the seventh seal has been broken and the end is nigh.
Yes, the Panthers beat the San Jose Sharks yesterday evening to hold on to the 11th spot in the NHL Eastern Conference. Of course, the Sharks are in fourth place in the Pacific Conference, so let's not break out the champagne celebrating just yet.
