Grizzlies vs. Spurs Western Conference Finals Is More Awesome Than You Think
May 18th, 2013 by Jesse Dorsey No comments »
As the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs are set to square off in the Western Conference Finals, there's a ton of different opinions on every aspect of the game.Ask any basketball fan and they'll give you their opinion on who is going to win, who is the series X-factor, which team has the better frontcourt, which style of play will dominate the flow and whether or not the series is as interesting as it could have been.Sure, it would have been neat to see the Los Angeles Lakers actually work out well together and play the completely healthy Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, but where's the fun in that?While the Grizzlies-Spurs matchup is nowhere near surprising, given the way the postseason has unfolded, a similar prediction at the beginning of the season would have been a long shot.Here we have the Grizzlies, playing a style of ...
Jordan’s Jersey Debacle
May 18th, 2013 by Daily Cold Hard Facts No comments »
Fact: After his jerseys were stolen from the visitors' locker room when the team was on the road against the Orlando Magic, Jordan had to wear a No. 12 jersey.Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
May 18th, 2013 by Tristan Thornburgh No comments »
Despite Carmelo's 39 points, the Pacers will head to the Eastern Conference Finals after beating New York in Game Six 106-99. Lance Stephenson scored a playoff career high 25 points in the win.Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
No-Brainer Adjustments for Every Struggling NHL Playoff Team
May 18th, 2013 by Tyler Donohue No comments »
The race for a league championship remains wide open for eight squads still participating in the postseason frenzy. The tournament is especially intriguing this year since no team appears head and shoulders above the fray, leaving the door open for improvement in each locker room.A few teams in particular have seen their efforts limited by shortcomings of different sorts. Rallying and rising above these issues can make the difference between playoff survival and elimination. No team is facing dire straits just yet, so there's still time to pull things together and perform at full throttle. Here's a look at corrections that can clearly make a substantial difference in Stanley Cup hopes for several squads. Begin Slideshow
Ranking the 5 Biggest Offseason Needs for the Washington Wizards
May 18th, 2013 by Jonathan Munshaw No comments »
If the Washington Wizards really want to be the talk of the nation's capital, there are five main things the front office must address this offseason. The more important the need, the more likely addressing that concern will make the Wizards a better team during the 2013-14 season. General manager Ernie Grunfeld—as well as the rest of the Wizards' front office—is hampered by the fact that they have some cap space problems that will hold them back from making any major moves in free agency. While most people just assume the Wizards are a young team with a bright future, they are currently in the middle of the pack in that category with an average age of 26.1. Therefore, it's important for the Wizards to bring in some younger talent—while using their older players to mentor the new players.Most of these needs could change depending where the Wizards fall in the draft. They ...
Chicago vs. Detroit: Will Lethargic Blackhawks Answer Wake-Up Call?
May 18th, 2013 by Steve Silverman No comments »
There's no need for the Chicago Blackhawks to panic after losing 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings in the second game of their conference semifinal playoff series.However, there is a need for the Blackhawks to wake up.Chicago and Detroit are tied 1-1 after the first two games at the United Center, and Detroit would appear to have the advantage since it stole a game in Chicago.However, the Blackhawks were 4-0 against the Red Wings this season, and they are very comfortable playing at Joe Louis Arena (they were 2-0 there). Head coach Joel Quenneville just has to have his team play with maximum effort for 60 minutes.That did not happen in the second game.It really isn't a surprise, either. The Blackhawks have been celebrated all season as the best team in the NHL. They won the Presidents' Trophy, but they played Game 2 like they believed their press clippings.The Blackhawks ...
NBA Playoffs 2013: Spurs’ Balance Will Lead Them to NBA Finals
May 18th, 2013 by Timothy Rapp No comments »
The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the NBA's most physical teams and best defensive units. The Golden State Warriors were one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers were, uh, probably the NBA's most dysfunctional.But in every conceivable way, the San Antonio Spurs are balanced. And that is why the team is primed to reach the NBA Finals this season. You want good offense? The Spurs were fourth in the NBA in scoring in the regular season (106.1 PPG) and second in the postseason (102.8 PPG). Seven players on the roster averaged 9.5 points or more, led by Tony Parker (20.3 PPG).And the team has multiple players capable of coming up huge in the clutch or able to facilitate the offense.Parker does it all. Manu Ginobili is just as capable of beating a team with a timely shot as he is setting up his teammates. ...
NBA Free Agents 2013: Available Players Who Will Transform Franchises
May 18th, 2013 by Steven Cook No comments »
There are a handful of stellar NBA players coming out of this year's free-agent class that have served as the focal point of their team and franchise.Simply said, there's a lot to like in this year's NBA free-agent class, as there are a handful of players who will serve as stars for their respective suitors.While there is no shortage of talent outside of the top players and many teams will upgrade their rotations tremendously, the real meat lies with the maximum-salary players who have experience as franchise players.Let's take a look at the top players available in the free-agent class who will transform the franchise that they join. Dwight Howard, CIf you don't think Dwight Howard is capable of changing a franchise completely, just look at the Orlando Magic right now.Whether it's his odd antics, dominating post-presence or funny-guy personality, Howard has captivated the entire NBA fanbase at times and shown ...
Metta World Peace Is a Weatherman
May 18th, 2013 by Jesse Dorsey No comments »
There are two major approaches to being a weatherman. There's the straightforward, "meteorologist" approach, and then there are the guys who try to have fun with the job. Metta World Peace is somehow in a third category of his own.Metta joined Fox 11 in Los Angeles to do the weather in a way that only he can.
Check out metta's weather on Fox LA @myfoxla— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) May 18, 2013
He started out in a yoga pose, obviously, and throughout his minute-long forecast he gave us visuals of Earl Clark in a thong, pretended to fart on Los Angeles and described Robert Sacre's migration from Canada to Louisiana.He spent most of the forecast with his back to the camera, staring directly at the green screen, which is generally a big no-no when you're on television. To put it bluntly, it was odd.If you're wondering why MWP seemed so incredibly polished ...
Mike Krzyzewski Reportedly Considering Returning as Team USA Coach in 2016
May 18th, 2013 by Justin Onslow No comments »
Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has made quite a mark on the USA Basketball team since he assumed the head coaching position in 2005. Despite remarks to the contrary, it now seems Krzyzewski could remain at the helm through 2016. According to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated, Coach K has “reversed course” in admitting he is considering a return:
BREAKING: Coach K reverses course and tells @sinow "there's a chance" he coaches USA Basketball again. sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basket…— Pete Thamel(@SIPeteThamel) May 18, 2013
Thamel reports that Krzyzewski, 66, and chairman Jerry Colangelo have been discussing the ongoing nature of the former’s relationship with USA Basketball.Colangelo commented, "I think it's very close to being resolved. That's all I can say for sure. Give it another week and it should be resolved.” USA Basketball hasn’t always been a top priority for the NBA’s brightest stars. After a lull in success prior to Krzyzewski’s arrival, ...