The Finals are Finally Here!
The Finals are finally here.
Sometime this month we will learn the identities of the NBA and Stanley Cup champions. Perhaps you could have predicted three of the four finalists in the winter sports derby, but probably not the fourth.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are battling for the NBA crown for the third consecutive season. No surprise there. However, there is a hue and cry over the fact that the same powers seem to perennially compete for the title.
We’ll get to that shortly.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a habit of getting to the Cup finals in the NHL and winning a few in the process. But Nashville? The Predators are tangling with the Pens and they are a newcomer to be sure. Imagine what the old-timers are thinking? Once upon a time there were only six teams in the NHL…Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Chicago and New York.
Then the first expansion took place in the mid-sixties and now there are professional hockey teams in every section of the U.S., including the south. That’s where Nashville comes in. Not only are they a new face, but the Predators have what it takes to win the Cup. They are a deceptively strong team. They have a deep and impressive defensive corps. By the time you read this, the series will already be underway. But it should be a long series and while I’m sure of one thing, I am not quite sure of another.
I think the Stanley Cup finals will be thrilling. The entire playoffs have been exciting.
That will continue. I also am going out on a limb….a long one. I’m picking Nashville to capture the Cup.
I’m amused at the comments out there concerning the NBA Finals. Why are people surprised and even dismayed that the same teams are standing for the finish. It’s been the story, with rare exception, throughout the history of the sport.
When teams play a best-of-seven series upsets just don’t happen. The powers just prove themselves over and over. It’s not the same as the one-and-done NCAA tournament. Even there, the powers usually survive.
How could the Golden State Warriors or the San Antonio Spurs NOT get into the Finals? But when Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker went down for the Spurs that sealed their fate.
I realize the Celtics had a better regular season record than the defending champion Cavaliers. Who really expected the Cavs not to prevail in a long series?
So here we are.
Two years ago, the Warriors won the title. Last season Cleveland dramatically rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the crown. I think the Warriors obsession with setting the record for most victories in the regular season ultimately wore them out.
This time, the Warriors, who added Kevin Durant, should reverse last season’s disappointment and take it all.
A few thoughts: Kevin Durant drew considerable flack for leaving Oklahoma City for the The Finals are finally here.
Sometime this month we will learn the identities of the NBA and Stanley Cup champions.
Perhaps you could have predicted three of the four finalists in the winter sports derby, but probably not the fourth.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are battling for the NBA crown for the third consecutive season.
No surprise there. However, there is a hue and cry over the fact that the same powers seem to perennially compete for the title.
We’ll get to that shortly.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a habit of getting to the Cup finals in the NHL and winning a few in the process.
But Nashville? The Predators are tangling with the Pens and they are a newcomer to be sure.
Imagine what the old-timers are thinking? Once upon a time there were only six teams in the NHL. Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Chicago and New York.
Then the first expansion took place in the mid-sixties and now there are professional hockey teams in every section of the U.S., including
the south. That’s where Nashville comes in.
Not only are they a new face, but the Predators have what it takes to win the Cup. They are a deceptively strong team. They have a deep and impressive defensive corps. By the time you read this, the series will already be underway. But it should be a long series and while I’m sure of one thing, I am not quite sure of another. I think the Stanley Cup finals will be thrilling. The entire playoffs have been exciting.
That will continue. I also am going out on a limb….a long one. I’m picking Nashville to capture the Cup.
I’m amused at the comments out there concerning the NBA Finals. Why are people surprised and even dismayed that the same teams are standing for the finish. It’s been the story, with rare exception throughout the history of the sport.
When teams play a best-of-seven series upsets just don’t happen. The powers just prove themselves over and over.
It’s not the same as the one-and-done NCAA tournament. Even there, the powers usually survive.
How could the Golden State Warriors or the San Antonio Spurs NOT get the Finals. When Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker went down for the
Spurs that sealed their fate.
I realize the Celtics had a better regular season record than the defending champion Cavaliers. Who really expected the Cavs not to prevail in
a long series?
So here we are. Two years ago, the Warriors won the title. Last season Cleveland dramatically rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the crown.
I think the Warriors obsession with setting the record for most victories in the regular season ultimately wore them out. This time, the Warriors, who added Kevin Durant, should reverse last season’s disappointment and take it all.
A few thoughts: Kevin Durant drew considerable flack for leaving Oklahoma City for the Bay Area because he wanted to play on a championship team. He was right to do that and now he is on the brink of achieving his dream.
How ironic it is that Mike Brown, dumped by Cleveland on two occasions as their head coach, has a chance to gain a semblance of revenge if he can lead Golden State to victory. Brown is in that position because of the back problems of Steve Kerr, the team’s outstanding leader. But Kerr was smart enough to hire an experienced, playoff-savvy assistant in Brown in light of the possibility that Kerr might not be able to go the distance.
So, I believe the Warriors will win. They have been perfect in the playoffs. The first team to win it’s first 12 games without a setback. They won’t finish unbeaten in post-season, for sure. But when the trophy is hoisted, Golden State will be, indeed, golden.
A quick word on a couple of NFL rule changes. No longer will demonstrations after touchdowns be entirely penalized. Sports is about entertainment.
Players should celebrate when they reach the end zone. It will be interesting to see if those celebrations can be done in good taste. That question remains to be answered.
As to cutting down overtime in the regular season from 15 to 10 minutes, I’m all for it. I know fans want a winner in every game, but I have also seen the drama when
ties are figured in the standings. It is an advantage when a team which has played a tie game has fewer losses which can give them a higher percentage than a division rival.
Games ending in ties would also reduce those endless, and sometimes far-fetched tie-breaking scenarios at the end of the season. Anyway, that’s my opinion.
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A reminder to Alexandria Bay, New York readers: June 3rd is approaching. That’s the date of the Macsherry Library Golf Tournament. It takes place at the Alexander Bay Municipal Golf Course and for $50 per person you can enjoy a great day of golf, lunch, and prizes. What better way to further what your Library represents. It’s for kids and adults to dive into the world of books. Yes, reading, learning, escaping, if you will, and improving your literary world. It’s invaluable.
It should be a wonderful day. 18 holes, lunch at the turn, 50/ 50 Raffle, door prizes, longest drive and closest to the pin.
If I see you this summer, you can tell me how much you enjoyed it.
