Because it's the Cup

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals is tonight between the Kings and Devils. The Kings came into the Playoffs as the #8-seed in the Western Conference. They stunned the world by going a dominant 12-2 through the Playoffs. They eliminated the Canucks in five games to start out. After that, they swept the Blues. In the Western Conference Finals, they knocked out the Coyotes in five games. The Devils have had a tough road to the Stanley Cup. They had to beat the Panthers, Flyers, and Rangers to get to where they are now and take the picture next to the Prince of Wales Trophy. Zach Parise has been great this Playoff season. The goalies in this series are two of the best in the league in Jonathan Quick and Martin Brodeur. The captains for both teams in Dustin Brown and Zach Parise are American. Game 1 will be a great game, but I have to go with New Jersey at home. The Rock will be rocking tonight when both these teams battle it out for Game 1.

New Sheriff in Town

sportsagentblog.com

The Western Conference Finals are set. The Thunder and Spurs will face off on Sunday night for Game 1. Both teams have been outstanding this Playoff season. They are a combined 16-1 in these Playoffs. The Spurs are on an 18-game winning streak. The Thunder could be the most explosive team that is remaining. [No offense Miami.] The Spurs have proven that they can still make runs in the Playoffs, although many people have doubted them because of their age. I do think that the team that comes out of this series will win it all. I think that the Spurs will be able to slow down the Thunder. The only question is how long. That is why I am going with OKC in Game 1. This should be a great game to watch if you like seeing old stars against new stars. The AT&T Center will be extremely loud when these two teams battle it out on the hardwood.

                                                               

Punch for Punch

The Rangers and Devils have been going at it all series. Tonight Game 5 will be played at Madison Square Garden. This is a huge turning point in this series. If the Devils win tonight, I think they will move on to play the Kings. John Tortorella has his team motivated for tonight. Zach Parise will be huge for New Jersey tonight. The Forwards for the Rangers have to do more if New York wants to win. This should be hard fought battle after Mike Rupp got into it on Monday night with some Devils. The Devils have kept on fighting this whole series. Even when it looked like the Rangers had the momentum, Martin Brodeur and his Devils have fought back. This should be a tough game, but I think the Rangers fans will go home happy. The Garden will be going insane tonight when these two teams take the ice.

Cleveland.com

Feeling the Heat

The Heat and Pacers series has been so much fun to watch. It has gotten a little chippy, especially between Danny Granger and LeBron. The Pacers surprised everyone by taking a 2-1 series lead, but LeBron and Wade battled back to score 70 points between the two of them in Game 4. Wade bounced back after a horrific Game 3. This series is now headed to South Beach. Roy Hibbert has been outstanding for Indiana. He has dominated the post. In order for the Heat to win, they need to get him in foul trouble. I expect Game 5 to be a tough battle, but I think Indiana will surprise the Heat in the American Airlines Arena. South Beach will be going crazy tomorrow night when Indiana comes to town. 

Playoff Update

    The NBA Playoffs have been far from normal. The series that I can't wait to see is the Thunder /Lakers matchup. Game 1 is tonight in OKC. The Thunder fans are very pumped up and excited. The Thunder have had a little over a week to rest, while Kobe Bryant and his Lakers played on Saturday night. This will be Metta World Peace's second game back since his suspension for elbowing James Harden in the face. These fans will not be very nice to World Peace as he makes his return. This series will be fun to watch if you are a Thunder fan. I think OKC will win in five games. 

    There is another LA team in the Postseason, the Clippers. They will be taking on the Spurs. As much as I love the Spurs, I have a feeling that Chris Paul will step up and lead his team to the Conference Finals. This is his big step. 

    In the Eastern Conference, things are already underway. The Celtics and 76ers are in a tough series. The Celtics are up 1-0 on Philly. This series will go to six or seven games. I still have not made up my mind about this series. I will need to watch this game thoroughly to get a grip on what is going on. To be honest, I did not watch that Game 1 at all. 

    The Pacers and Heat are in a tough series. Everybody is saying about how the Pacers can't handle Miami, but I think Indiana will take the Heat to a Game 7. Hibbert has been great this whole Postseason. Danny Granger and Paul George will need to step up if the Pacers are to win a game or two. In the end, I still think Miami will win just off talent. As the Finals grow closer, the intensity is growing just as much.

Battle for the Hudson

The Eastern Conference has two teams left: the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. Game 1 is tonight at the Garden. The last time the Rangers/Devils were in a Playoff series, the Rangers won in five games in 1997. Tonight's game features two of the best goalies in the NHL. It will all come down to Brodeur and Lundqvist. You should expect plenty of fights tonight. This will be a very exciting game, but   I think the Rangers will come out with it. The key for the Rangers is the Hagelin/Richards/Gaborik line. If this line plays like it has, the Rangers are very hard to beat. The Garden will be going crazy tonight as the Devils and Rangers battle it out.

NHL Playoff Update

The NHL Playoffs have been very interesting and there have been some upsets. Out in the Western Conference, things have been very exciting. The eighth-seeded Kings are on fire and have clinched a spot in the Western Conference Finals. They beat the Canucks handily in the First Round, 4-1. They had to face the Blues in the Second Round. The Kings, led by their star goalie Jonathan Quick, swept the second-seeded Blues. The Coyotes and Predators are in a very tough series. However, Phoenix leads it 3-1. I think the Coyotes will close it out tonight in Phoenix. The Eastern Conference has been very thrilling. The Rangers/Capitals series has been fun to watch. The series is tied at two apiece. They will go at it at the Garden tonight. I expect Brian Boyle to have a big game for New York. In the end, I think that the Rangers will win it. In the other series in the Eastern Conference, the Devils are up 3-1 on the Flyers. I think that the Devils will finish the Flyers off in Philly. Claude Giroux has been suspended for Philly for an illegal check on Daniel Zubrus, so I have to go with New Jersey. Hopefully, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will continue to entertain fans.

Seau Dies at Age 43

Earlier this morning, Junior Seau died in his home in Oceanside, CA. It has just been reported that it was a suicide. Seau was a great Linebacker with the San Diego Chargers. He is one of eight players from the Chargers' team in 1994 to have died. That team made it to the Super Bowl where they lost to the 49ers. Seau went to the Pro Bowl 12 times and is one of the great defensive players to come out of USC. The world is losing a great man today. The whole Charger organization is in shock. My heart goes out to the Seau family and all who knew him.