Miami looks to steal a game in San Antonio!

With the series tied at one game a piece, the NBA finals are headed to San Antonio where the Miami Heat look to take the upper hand in the series.
A win in San Antonio would be a big move by the Heat since the San Antonio Spurs stole game one in Miami due to Tony Parkers rambunctious platy. Miami has been in the position before, just last year the same time when Oklahoma City stole game one in Miami.
The Heat have more than enough capability to become back to back champs with their big three. Yet, Its not what the big three do that’s going to help Miami win the most, its the production from bench players like Chris Anderson, Norris Cole and Ray Allen that will help seal the deal for Miami.
Anderson, also know as Birdman will probably be the biggest factor of them all. He is known as the enforcer and in my opinion is probably the best defensive player on the team other than the king himself Lebron James.
Another factor to this series will also be how much production comes from Dwyane Wade, he has been declining lately, but the fans who are watching seem to be pretty uptight about his performance, lets not forget that he is still one of the best we have just been so accustomed to his style of play that he is no longer capable of producing due to knee injuries and so fourth.
This series to me will end up being another long tough fought battle for Miami and it could end up going six or seven games.

New York takes game 1

Courtesy of Espn.com

The NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony  is one step closer to moving on to the second round of the playoffs since joining the New York Knicks.

The Knicks who earlier in the season beat the Boston Celtics out of top seed in the Atlantic Division have now put the pressure back on Celtics as the Knicks took game one in New York, 85-78 as the heated rivalry between the two teams continues.  Anthony who averaged a league leading 28.7 points per game during the regular season started out his postseason as he’s done all season exploding for points, 36 to be exact. Anthony also contributed with six rebounds, four steals and one assist.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we got our first win of the series here on our home court, took care of that business, It was real important for us to come out and get this first win,” said Anthony who lead the Knicks to their first 1-0 playoff start since the 200-2001 NBA post season.

If it wasn’t for Anthonys’ quick start to the game and late burst this series could belong to the Celtics, who are without All star point guard Rajon Rondo.

J.R smith was also a key to success for the Knicks as he added 15 points and 5 rebounds.

The Celtics looked to Jeff Green as they kept up with New York for most of the game. Green who lead Boston with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists was helped by team captain Paul Pierce who scored 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 rebounds and a steal.

If Boston wants to win the series, which probably won’t happen they need a better performance from big man Kevin Garentt who played 37 minutes and only scored 8 points. Again the older Celtics are showing their age, they aren’t doing as expected when you compare them to the oldest team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs. This will be an interesting series to watch as the pressure is now on Boston

Cost vs Benefits

photo courtesy of http://static1.businessinsider.com/
this is my first shot at an opinion story

Recent major sports injuries have caused many to contemplate how to prevent these career ending  impairments and whether enough measures are being put into place.

In the recent March Madness Tournament, champion Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware suffered a horrific injury when trying to block a three-point shot by Duke in the Elite Eight. Ware suffered a broken bone in his right leg which protruded six inches out of his skin. It has been released in multiple reports that Ware had a hairline fracture in the leg before breaking it.

From kids in Pee Wee leagues to athletes of professional sports, there is a growing fear on whether enough precautions are being implemented to protect them from injuring themselves . The fact that some student athletes are playing through injuries, is effecting them in the long run as it could prevent them from continuing to the collegiate and even professional level. Ware knew that he had previously suffered a hairline fracture in his leg yet decided to play, and with one land that shouldn’t have done anything to him has now put his future in sports in jeopardy.

Athletes who are looking for a safe and healthy way to remain protected from injury, should listen to doctors orders and get checkups regularly and after any part of the body starts to ache even if it’s minor. A yearly physical should also be done in order to assure that all aspects is checked before entering back into activity.

If athletes are really eager to get back into their sport, they can follow in the steps that some pro basketball players like Lebron James and Dwyane Wade take. Wade and James use hyperbaric chambers to accelerate the healing time.

The cost of suffering an injury often outweighs the benefits of playing with the risk of further injuring them, but in the cases where the athlete can’t pass up the chance to play not only I but doctors suggest the use of protective gear. For example, a type of very useful and protective gear most often used is a padded sleeve. The padding helps absorb the shock of a fall or collision which could make the difference of a broken bone or dislocated bone to being perfectly fine.

Struggling lakers

(ESPN.com)

After the struggles we’ve seen from the los Angeles Lakers who are 15-16 one of their stars has a word to say.

Kobe speaks his mind saying “we’re old as shit,” but that’s nothing new. He then continued,”You just saw an old damn team,I don’t know how else to put it to you. We’re just slow. You saw a team over there that was just younger and just had fresher legs and just played with more energy, and we were just stuck in the mud. I think individually we all have to figure out how to get ourselves ready each and every game to have a high level of energy. That’s all that is.” All this was said following their 103-99 to the Philadelphia 76ers.

This statement wasn’t just made about the loss but of all their struggles this far. Honestly to me excuses are excuses.
Look at Jason Kidd is doing, he’s also old but he isn’t slowing down. I think that this has come to a surprise to them because just a season ago this team was making noise and they could have even been in the finals and now their foresight isn’t even looking like they’ll make the playoffs.

If L.A continues on this road what will the future hold for them and Dwight Howard. Howard won’t want to stay in L.A if they continue to play like crap.

A better excuse would have been to say that right now this team is unstable because of the coaching situation that’s been on going.

What the Lakers need to do is stop finding excuses get back to practice and find a new game plan that works for the players and not for the coach.

Florida State pulls through

Lonnie Pryor as he crosses the end zone in last nights win against NIU (ESPN.com)

Road kill, that’s what Northern Illinois was yesterday night after a blow out loss to the Florida State Seminoles.

It couldn’t have been a more picture perfect night for two of the Seminoles senior stars Ej Manuel and Lonnie Pryor who both had out standing games.
Pryor racked up 2 TD’s and more than 134 yds rushing on only 5 attempts. Manuel also ran for a touchdown and was remarkable through the air as he passed for 291 and a TD.

To start the game Pryor ran the ball 60 yards (Pryor’s career longest) for the first touchdown of the game. But before the first quarter would come to an end NIU’s Matthew Sims would knock in a 25 yarder to make it 7-3, and that score wouldn’t change until 11 seconds left in the half when Manuel would throw a 6 yard TD pass to Rashard Greene. As you can see things took a while to get started as it was only 14-3 FSU at the half. Yet, the second half would get going faster as the Seminoles found the end zone three times, one time being a 37 yard run by Pryor and another a 9 yard TD run by Manuel.

Pryor gave NIU a run for their money as both of his touchdowns were the longest rushes that NIU had allowed all season.

As for the outcome, a 31-10 blowout win for FSU.

Living Legend set to retire

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis who has been sitting out with a torn bicep since October 17 has the I tensions to come back for the Ravens Playoff opener vs the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. Which will be the last time he ever plays In an NFL game if the Ravens get eliminated by the Colts.

Undoubtably a future hall of famer,Ex Hurricanes LineBacker, and Baltimore Raven Linebacker Ray Lewis has made his decision that we all expected to come sometime soon wether it be this season or next, he has decided to retire after 17 historical years in the NFL and a great run at the University of Miami during his college years with long time friend Ed Reed.

”I talked to them about life in general. And everything that starts has an end. For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride,” said Lewis who continued to say,”God is calling,My children have made the ultimate sacrifice for their father for 17 years. I don’t want to see them do that no more. I’ve done what I wanted to do in this business, and now it’s my turn to give them something back.”

Lewis hopes his son Ray Lewis III will take his talents to UM where Ray had played just 18 years prior.

Lewis was elected to the pro bowl 12 times (5th most all time), was on the first-team All-Pro seven times and had been voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice thus far in his career.

Lewis has changed the face of the game for the better as he was one of the hardest hitters to enter the game.

His speech that he gave in Madden NFL 13 says it all,”I’m older, of course I’m older, that’s the beauty of it.
16 years plus, different level of wisdom, different level of understanding, different level of punishment.
I wanna live LOOONG after my records have fallen, long after my rings have tarnished.
And whatever you got to do, to make sure you chase your legacy every second of your life.
Will you be remembered, how would you be remembered, why wouldn’t u fight for the greatest achievement ever?
Leave…Your…Mark,” this is exactly how he played the game to leave his mark.

Back to Back NBA Champs?

(Espn.com)

The reigning NBA champion Miami Heat and MVP Lebron James are coming off not only a memorable season, but a historic one. The Heat are going into this season aiming to become back-to-back champs.

The Heat have finally secured the first seed in the Eastern conference after battling the New York Knicks night in and night out but are only a half a game ahead in the East and overall are 6th in the league standing. Miami’s key players already made an imprint on the league, LeBron James won NBA player of the week for the 38th time (most in NBA history) just last month.

One reason the Heat will win yet another title this season is due to the teams great chemistry. With star players James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh who have played together for three years, have all played on the Olympic team twice and have age and experience over younger teams like the L.A Clippers who are young. Miami’s big three is simply the best in the league even compared to that of the L.A Lakers’ Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, or the Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace.

Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis have also played together on the Seattle Supersonic. Also the team’s veteran leadership from players like Allen, Lewis, Wade, Bosh, and James gives the Heat an edge over dynamic teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Clippers.

As the Heat look to repeat, Miami has already made an unstoppable team even greater. With the off-season additions of Allen and Lewis to the already exhilarating three-point specialist, Mike Miller and Shane Battier, Miami will easily be the best team from beyond the arc this season.

Yet, not only is Allen an astonishing  three-point specialist, but he can help secure wins. Allen already has two game winning shots under his belt this season. The addition of Allen is truly the piece to the puzzle the Heat have been looking for to bring back yet another title to Miami.