Back to where we started
There was consternation and some wonder. Maybe even some doubt from some corners.
But after two Game 7s in the conference finals, we are where almost all of us expected the NBA Finals to be.
Golden State-Cleveland. Part 4.
In retrospect, was the uncertainness doubt or hope? Are you in the camp that wants to see this again?
We’ll break down the series Wednesday. Now is about the reaction. And the path to the re-re-rematch.
For the Cavs, it has been a feather in LeBron’s cap to get this bunch – arguably the worst collection of teammates to the Finals since his first trip – to the ultimate stage. Especially when you consider that Kevin Love, the Cavs second-best player, missed the last two games of the Boston series and has struggled for most of the playoffs.
The balance of that is how good was the competition in the East? Cleveland needed seven to beat an offensively challenged Indiana. It swept a hollow Toronto team and it needed the distance to beat a Boston bunch without its top two players.
The Warriors also got a break, beating a Chris Paul-less Rockets in Games 6 and 7.
Last night, the lack of Paul’s penetration and his calming hand was quite noticeable. After a very aggressive start that featured a ton of offensive rebounds and a slew of hustle plays, Houston went stone cold from 3. The Rockets leaped to the best record in the league with record-setting numbers of 3s shot and made.
They were bounced last night with a record-setting amount of 3-point futility. Houston missed 27 consecutive 3s as Golden State turned to KD, Steph and Klay and the Rockets were ejected Tuesday night. The rest of the analysis and recapping is a matter of fringe detailing.
Kind of like the entire process that led us back to the place we all really knew we’d reach eventually.
Golden State vs. LeBron. The best team in the game vs. the best player in the game.
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors defenders Andre Iguodala (9), Stephen Curry (30), and Kevin Durant (35) during the first half in Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals, Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Hot time in Houston
Last night’s second-half 3-point meltdown aside, it’s a fine time to be a Houston sports fan.
The Astros are cruising. The defending champs have the top three starting pitchers in the AL in ERA. Justin Verlander (1.11), Charlie Morton (2.04) and Gerrit Cole (2.05) are a combined 19-3.They have been so good, it makes Dallas Keuchel’s 3.39 ERA look bloated. Houston is 2.5 games behind Boston for the best record in the majors, but its +126 run differential is by far the best in baseball.
Houston basketball, well, the end was sour, but for a large chunk of the last eight months the Rockets were the best team in the NBA. And one of the most fun to watch.
Now go to the NFL, and is there a player in the league right now that offers more intrigue than Houston quarterback DeShaun Watson?
After last season’s amazing run before his season-ending knee injury, Watson’s promise will be a great storyline for the league. In seven games (six starts), he threw for 1,699 yards and 19 TDs.
With the only exception of Philadelphia, Houston sports fans have the best thing going right now.
High times in the SEC
With the possible exception of what’s happening in Knoxville, this may be the all-time high-water mark for the SEC. And that’s saying something.
The league’s annual trek to Destin will prove if the finances are are as soaring as the success on the fields, diamonds and courts, but wow, this is pretty staggering.
Two SEC teams played for the college football title.
A record-tying 10 SEC baseball teams made the 64-team postseason field announced Monday. Here’s the complete bracket.
All 13 of the women’s softball teams made the NCAA tournament.
Eight SEC basketball teams made the men’s NCAA tournament; seven SEC women’s teams made their tournament.
Those are arguably the five biggest team sports out there and the SEC is dominating all of them.
This and that
– That was a relief. After an ugly fall over the weekend, news came Tuesday that Ronald Acuna Jr., the Braves’ star young prospect, only suffered a knee sprain. It looked like it could have been season-ending.
– Man, when was the last time the NCAA made a good decision? Here’s the story of a walk-on who uses cannibas oil to fight his seizures and how the NCAA ruled him ineligible to play football. Yes, that medicinal purpose of cannabis oil is legal in Georgia and Alabama.
– Speaking of the NBA playoffs, man that was an eye-popping – and eye-gouging – box score from last night. Trevor Ariza played 42 minutes and did not score.
– One of the best stories ever to come from the higher education realm. The University of Memphis will allow children of fallen military to attend tuition-free. Kudos Memphis decision-makers. Kudos.
– Las Vegas topped Washington in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In the previous six Stanley Cup Finals, the winner of Game 1 won the series.
Today’s questions
We can do weekend winners and losers if you’d like.
Of course it’s a Tuesday, so we can do a little T or F, too.
True or false, the Cavs win more than one game in these Finals.
True or false, colleges all over the country will follow Memphis’ lead.
As for today, May 29, let’s explore.
Bob Hope would have been 115. Annette Bening is 60.
On this day in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary is the first to scale Everest.
JFK would have been 101.
Let’s do a Rushmore of the famous folks known by initials. JFK and FDR seem like front-runners here.