We are back with another “Which way Wednesday.”
You ready? We ready.
From the “Talks too much” studios, be them high atop Whiskey Hill, on the shores of Lake Martin or in the friendly confines of press boxes and SEC media days, it’s go time.
Which is better
OK, we are facing a real possibility of the NBA ending in a fizzle.
The series everyone wanted to see – Golden State-Houston – hinges on a must-win Game 2 tonight. And in truth, we all have to see that Golden State is far superior to the rest of the NBA.
Far superior.
It begs the question of which is better: A dominant favorite that has the expectation of championships from within and from outside or a wide-open field in which one of eight or nine teams could win it all?
For practical comparisons, the Warriors are as close to a predetermined championship team in a best-of-seven since the 1960s Celtics. The NHL playoffs feature the smallest market in team sports vs. a first-year franchise that had 300-to-1 odds to win it all before the season in one conference final. Baseball – other than wildcard games – is more like hockey considering the last five World Series champs are Houston, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco and Boston.
Which is better and more fun for the fans? A super team or a super-wide-open playoff bracket.
(The one-loss-and-your-out sports such as college football and basketball and the NFL also have these examples. Heck, Alabama football and UConn women’s hoops are every bit in the “it’s their title until someone proves otherwise” as the Warriors are.)
Which stat says more
The Celtics took LeBron James’ best shot Tuesday and still won by double digits.
That is neither one of the stat choices nor something that bodes well for Cleveland.
James was amazing, especially in the first quarter when he had 21 of his 42 points. He had a 42-10-12 night and made 16-of-29 shots and 5-of-11 3s. It was not unlike what happened with the Rockets in their Game 1 when James Harden had 41 and they still lost by 13.
Now for the stats.
Which stat says more:
Boston has never lost a playoff series in which it has a 2-0 lead. (And saying Boston and never in a postseason stat carries way more weight than saying Sacramento and never in a postseason stat.)
LeBron is 2-4 in previous playoff series in which his team has been in a 2-0 hole.
LeBron has 3 40-point, triple-double games in the postseason. In the last 54 years, the rest of the NBA has been three 40-point, triple-double games in the postseason.
Boston had 20 uncontested shots in the second. Cleveland had three. Wow, that seems like a pretty sizable.
In Game 2, Boston’s starting backcourt of Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier had 41 points; Cleveland’s starting backcourt of J.R. Smith and George Hill had three points.
The Celtics’ balance is undeniable, but Boston had a leading scorer in each quarter of Game 2. Brown had 14 in the first. Jayson Tatum had nine in the second. Rosier had 14 in the third. Al Horford, who has been rejuvenated, had eight in the fourth.
Lucas Glover, right, hugs his caddie Dan Cooper after winning the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Monday, June 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Which or witch?
Professional golfers have a good gig.
We’re all pretty envious. Granted you have to make a lot of sacrifices and deliver in huge pressure to get all the way to the PGA Tour.
Well, here’s a story that shows no matter the level of your success, human problems can land on all of us.
Lucas Glover has had good to very good career as a golfer. He has four career wins, including the 2009 U.S. Open.
He has made more than $20 million playing the game and was ranked as high as 15th in the world during the 2009 season.
Saturday, after a 78 at The Players, Glover was berated by his wife Krista.
Glover’s mom tried to intervene and Krista attacked Glover’s mom. (Yes, that it was the Saturday before Mother’s Day is not lost on any one.)
Krista was arrested and charged with domestic violence and resisting arrest.
Wow.
Sounds like it’s going to be a fun Memorial Day weekend with the fan at the Glovers, huh? Man, makes me think of the old Mark Chestnut song. “It’s too hot for golf, and too cold at home.”
This and that
– The Braves bullpen failed Tuesday and the Braves lost 3-2 to the Cubs. It happens.
– If this story does not make you want to call your momma, well, sorry. In the aftermath of his mother’s death earlier this month, Stephen Piscotty was on bereavement leave. He returned to the A’s on Tuesday and hit a home run in his first at-bat back.
– Man, Ethan Hawke, who in the world do you think you are, Keanu Reeves? On Bill Simmons’ podcast, Hawke called himself a Knicks fan but he no longer follows them because the team quit giving him free tickets. Yes, you read that correctly. There’s more in this story, but getting free tickets does not make you a fan. It makes you a freeloader.
– Nick Saban said UCF is full of poo. That is all.
– Phoenix won the NBA draft lottery. Sacramento got the second pick and the Atlanta Hawks got No. 3. Does anyone think there is any way the Hawks don’t screw this up? Of course not.
Today’s question
Here’s one more which way on a Wednesday.
Which is it: Laurel or Yanny?
As for today, May 16, well, let’s look back.
On this day in 1929, the first Academy Awards were presented. (Wonder if the celebs were just as preachy and condescending as they are now?)
In 2013, human stem cells were cloned for the first time.
Megan Fox is 32 today. Pierce Bronson is 65. Janet Jackson is 52.
Let’s honor Miss Jackson (because we’re nasty). First, which is the first thing you think of concerning Janet Jackson: International pop star with multiple Billboard No. 1 hits or wardrobe malfunction?
As for the Rushmore, would Janet crack the Rushmore of the best second fiddle from celebrity siblings?
Go, and remember the mailbag.