2011 NBA Finals – Game 2
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat
Game 2 is always a high pressure game for any team in any playoff series. Someone could fall behind 0-2, making the chances of winning 4 of the next 5 games for the trailing team slim. Someone could either lose home court advantage or risk dropping their first two games at home, almost always too large of a hole to crawl out of. The series could be tied. Game 2 is always critical.
The Miami Heat earned a solid victory at home in Game 1 on Tuesday. In that game, Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks suffered a finger injury on his non-shooting hand. Nowitzki likes to go left, however, so this injury is likely to have some degree of influence on how he plays. The question of how much influence remains.
LeBron James and Dwayne Wade both played the role of “closer by committee” with a run of fourth quarter scores. The defense of the Heat was enough to contain Nowitzki and the Mavericks, although he was not stopped, having scored 27 points. While Nowitzki got his points, other players were held in check, for the most part.
For Dallas to win tonight, they will need to reduce the already low number of mistakes made in Game 1. Nowitzki absolutely must get some help on the perimeter. Mavericks reserve players JJ Berea, Brendan Haywood, and Peja Stojakovic have to combine for more than 5 points. Finally, the Mavericks need to force the Heat into making some mistakes, as they will not shut down all of Miami’s “big three” of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Miami has not lost at home in the 2011 playoffs. While I expect Dallas to be competitive and to push back at the Heat, I do not expect the end result to be any different for the Mavericks. While I think Miami will win, I also think, with the series returning to Dallas for three games, that this series is far from over and that the NBA champion will be crowned in South Beach in a Game 6 or Game 7.
Advantages – Game: Heat, Series: Heat
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| The King is in hot pursuit of more jewels. 1 |
MLB
Texas Rangers at Cleveland Indians
Alexi Ogando (5-0, 2.33 ERA) – Rangers vs Justin Masterson (5-3, 3.07 ERA) – Indians
The resurgent Cleveland Indians, with the best record in the Majors host the first place, defending American League champion Texas Rangers. Alexi Ogando will continue what has been an extremely impressive first full season as a starter in Major League Baseball. He is still undefeated this year, in spite of a rough outing (no decision) in his last start against the Kansas City Royals, following a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on May 23.
Ogando is going to provide a challenge to the Indians, especially if Rangers DH Michael Young (.335, 3 HR, 36 RBI) and 3B Adrian Beltre (.252, 11 HR, 43 RBI) continue to swing their bats as well as they have this year. If Josh Hamilton (.291, 1 HR, 13 RBI) can return to form, after recently coming back from his leg injury, the top of the Rangers’ order can be an extremely difficult out to get.
The Indians will start Justin Masterson. The 26 year old got off to an extremely hot start to the 2011 season, but has cooled off since. Masterson has lost his last three straight decisions and did not record a win in the month of May. He was rocked on Sunday as the Indians lost, 7-0, to the Tampa Bay Rays. Masterson must reverse the recent trend if he expects to earn a victory tomorrow night.
Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera (.306, 10 HR, 39 RBI) has been a one man wrecking crew for the Tribe. He has been the team’s best hitter this year. From the shortstop position, that contribution is invaluable and is a major factor in the Indians early season dominance of the American League.
Right now the Rangers are hot. The Indians are not really hot (5-7 in their last 12 games). Ogando has yet to hit any big speed bumps while Masterson is digging out of a funk. In spite of being on the road, the Rangers have the edge in the second game of this four game series.
Advantages – Game: Rangers, Series: Rangers
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| Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera's name is on my short list for American League MVP candidates. 2 |
Saturday, June 4
NHL
Stanley Cup Finals – Game 2
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver won Game 1 in dramatic fashion, with Raffi Torres scoring the game’s only goal in the final 20 seconds of the game. Game 1 was hard fought, physical, and intense, including a Mike Tyson-esque biting incident during a fight. Hockey fans can only hope that Game 2 offers similar excitement. Vancouver was the best team in the regular season and, after surviving a near historic choke against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, Vancouver has been the best team in the playoffs. While the Bruins have overcome a number of challenges to reach the finals, I think the better team wins this game, in Vancouver, and this series.
Advantages – Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks
| Alex Burrows of the Canucks (right) gave a different meaning to "jaw-dropping action" while reinforcing the "keep your hands to yourself" principle to Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins. 3 |
Sunday, June 5
2011 NBA Finals – Game 3
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
Tonight’s Game 2 will be able to more accurately calibrate expectations for the series as it returns to Dallas for games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary). Still, I expect the Mavericks to elevate their game back at home and I do not expect Dallas to fall into a 3-0 hole (which could happen if the Mavs drop Game 2, which I expect).
Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Heat
Monday, June 6
MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies
Ted Lilly (4-4, 4.22 ERA) – Dodgers vs Cliff Lee (4-5, 3.94 ERA)
The Dodgers, in spite of a host of off-the-field issues, are not hopelessly behind in the NL West, trailing the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks by 6 games. Its on the field issues, like having a bottom of the batting order that completely bottoms out, are giving Dodgers fans little cause for optimism, though.
Other than Andre Ethier (.325, 5 HR, 26 RBI) and Matt Kemp (.306, 13 HR, 40 RBI, broke up with Rihanna) there is very little pop in the Dodgers’ bats. There are far too many players in the Dodgers’ lineup hitting below .250 to give the Dodgers’ pitching the support it needs to win consistently. Dodgers starting pitchers, generally, have given a solid number of innings, but have been otherwise average. Lilly fits the team profile.
The Phillies just keep on rolling, with the best record in the National League. Lee was rocked in his last start against the Washington Nationals yesterday, giving up 6 earned runs in a 10-2 loss. While he has not been as dominant in 2011 as he has been in the past, he has otherwise been consistent, giving the Phillies enough innings of work and keeping the opponents’ score low enough for the Phillies to be able to win. He has also mowed down enough batters, already at 90 strikeouts, to escape any jam he gets into.
Advantages – Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies
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| I wonder what is worse for Matt Kemp: toiling with monster numbers to no avail for the struggling Dodgers this year or knowing that he won't be able to put his hands all over Rihanna anymore. Actually, if I am on the Dodgers' payroll, I am probably more concerned about my paycheck bouncing than anything else. 4 |
Tuesday, June 7
2011 NBA Finals – Game 4
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
Without the aid of a crystal ball, this game is hard to call. Realistically, I expect the Heat to take one of the three games in Dallas. Absent any other information, it is difficult to project where that victory will come. I think that Miami will win the series and Game 5 (if necessary) is often the most pivotal in any best of seven series, regardless of the location or participants. My best guess is that Game 5 will offer the Heat its best opportunity for a road win en route to a series victory. If only I had that crystal ball….
Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Heat
Wednesday, June 8
MLB
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41) – Red Sox vs A.J. Burnett (6-3, 3.86) – Yankees
The fiercest rivalry in baseball is set for another series. Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays continue their threesome of musical chairs with first place in the American League East, with 2½ games separating the (for) now first place Yankees from the third place Rays. A series winner could yield a new division leader.
The Yankees were swept in 3 games during their last series meeting with the Red Sox. Since then, the Yankees have let their bats do the talking. Alex Rodriguez (.292, 9 HR, 31 RBI) has since been on a tear, reaching base in the last 15 consecutive games and Curtis Granderson (.278, 17 HR, 41 RBI) continues to prime the Yankees powerful offensive pump. They should supply ample run support for Burnett, who will be making his first start against the Red Sox this year.
Buchholz has a string of four consecutive quality starts, but with only one decision, a win, in those starts. Perhaps he has just been a victim of bad timing as the Red Sox have swung their bats well for most of the season. Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.329, 10 HR, 46 RBI) continues to be as good as advertised and designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz (.313, 13 HR, 38 RBI) is off to one of his better starts to a season, batting .342 in the month of May and only 23 strikeouts on the season, putting him on pace for less than half of his strikeout total from last season.
The Yankees are riding a modest hot streak and are back home. I think they are due to repay the favor of the Red Sox sweep of them from the last series.
Advatages – Game: Yankees, Series: push
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| A-Rod is another example of how talent, performance, and success can help a person overcome anything, even THIS! 5 |
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1) Image from tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com
2) Image from zimbio.com
3) Image from vancouversun.com
4) image from okmagazine.com
5) Image from bumpshack.com
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