5-at-10: NBA Finals, NBA issues, Open predictions, Rushmore of famous quotes form everyday Joes

We have a mailbag coming, so what do want to know?

From the “Talks too much” studios, how many days until football season? (Answer is 72 for the Aug. 29 opener between North Dakota State and Montana and 78 for the slate of games on Thursday,Sept. 3.)

Warriors win

Let’s wait a moment to discuss LeBron.

Let’s tip the visor to the basketball ease and cohesiveness that was the Golden State Warriors the last three games of these NBA Finals. Let’s smile and enjoy it and hope that the game will turn back to the Warriors’ clear and collected mission.

They moved the basketball, be it off the dribble or off a pass, looking to trade a good shot for a great one. They eased the load on their star by accepting the challenge at every position. They pushed when needed and protected the basketball without slowing the pace.

Defensively, they were tough and well-coordinated. They not only double-teamed the best player in the world at the right time, they double-teamed any Cavs player when the shot clock hit a certain point. It was genius in its direct simplicity and forced multiple shot-clock violations and even more forced shots from guys who before the year were not in the Cavs’ top eight offensive options.

In fact, as badly as the Warriors whipped Cleveland with balance, the balance of power in this series was toppled when Steve Kerr started pulling strings and making moves.

The best team won. It was a highly entertaining series.

It was a nice way to end the NBA season. Now, training camp starts like sometime early next month. (Kidding, OG, kidding.)

This deserves to be remembered as the championship the Warriors won more than anything else.

More than the injured-riddled Cavs. More than the coaching-whipping Kerr handed David Blatt. More than LeBron doing things we’ve never seen before.

This was the Warriors’ moment and they seized it.

And they deserved it.

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NBA Issues

Now that does not mean there are not lingering issues from last night.

First, we know why the vote went to Andre Iguodala. He was the biggest difference – on each end of the floor – in the three consecutive wins that sealed it. If you believe the MVP must come from the winning team, then OK. We can see that logic.

We also disagree with it.

LeBron James was historic in this series, accounting for a higher percentage of his teams points than any other player in NBA Finals history. He was so good, that the feeling was he had a terrible game last night, and he still had 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.

But that’s picking nits at this point and really just side discussion, because if there was any doubt about who the most valuable player in the series – or at any point during the season or the next few years – over the course of these Finals, the difference between when James was on the floor and when we was on the bench was staggering.

But so it goes.

Secondly, the NBA is certainly on an upswing with a new TV deal, several young, likable stars and the best athlete in all of sports in James as its centerpiece. The TV ratings were through the roof.

That said, the officiating has never been worse. We all agree that the block/charge is a tough call that is made tougher by the speed and size of the players. Well, the flopping on screens – especially illegal screens – has reached a point where it needs to be addressed.

And pardon us while we put on our LeBron fan club T-shirt, but dude is so strong that it actually works against him. He drives to the basket and gets hit every time – seriously, he gets fouled every time he drives – but he is so thick and looking for a three-point play that he tries to finish and the fouls just bounce off him.

But they are still fouls.

(That said, last night was shocking in the way Cleveland and LeBron decided to stop the isolation plays on the block or the backdowns. Cleveland’s offense was puzzling. They needed Merle in the huddle to say, “Coach, I think LeBron can take the guy guarding him if we set him up.” James is on the floor for more than 47 minutes and the rest of the Cavs combined for five assists. Heck, they should have had five on simple entry passes to James on the post.)

So it goes.

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US Open

We are seriously stoked about the U.S. Open.

This should be a lot of fun.

Here are five crazy predictions of the U.S. Open.

1. There will be a first-time major champion crowned this week. We think it will be Jason Day or Jimmie Walker, but do not sleep on Hideki Matsuyama.

2. Phil Mickelson will be firmly in the mix this week. Unlike a large chuck of the field, Mickelson has been talking about how much he likes Chambers Bay, which is a smart move and gives him an extra mental edge over those guys looking for something to complain about.

3. Tiger Woods will make the cut.

4. Rory McIlroy won’t.

5. The TV ratings will be through the roof. We think Mickelson’s presence on Sunday will help tremendously, but the prime time finish – as long as its not a runaway – will help Fox’s debut into major championship golf coverage. And yes, we all are a little concerned about Fox’s history of NFL robots or puck-tracing lights or NASCAR gadgets may muck up the works. But here’s hoping they pull out something cool along the way too.

We’ll have more on that tomorrow. Deal? Deal.

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This and that

– OK, the Pats under-inflating footballs is a matter of national security. The Cardinals committing corporate espionage is a blip on the radar. That may be the biggest testament to how much the NFL has passed every other sport, especially baseball.

– The Braves and the Red Sox are in a arm wrestling match to see which team has the worst arms. That’s fun in slow-pitch softball. In the big leagues, that’s how you finish 75-87.

– U.S. women’s soccer team delivered a 1-0 win over Nigeria to win its group and advance in the World Cup. Abby Wambach scored the goal. She may be on the Rushmore of all-time women athletes.

– Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur pitched in his team’s humbling 19-3 loss. Here’s a big-league curve ball, but he, like everyone in Philadelphia this side of Chip Kelly allowed a homer too.

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Today’s question

Two off-the-wall Rushmores today.

Jason Patric is 49 today. He was aces in Lost Boys and Rush back in the day.

He is definitely on our Rushmore of actors we expected to be monster stars who simply faded away.

Maybe it as Speed 2 that killed his career, but Patric certainly has underwhelmed.

Who else is on that Rushmore?

Secondly, Rodney King died today in 2012. The victim of police brutality, King uttered arguably the most famous and repeated common-man quote of his generation with “Can we all get along?”

What’s your suggestion for a Rushmore of most recognizable quotes from regular people?

Also, mailbag.