The Celtics have won two games in the NBA finals and they've lost two, and I still don't think they've played amazingly well in any of the four games. They needed a record performance from Ray Allen in Game 2, and the bench carried them in Thursday night's Game 4.
Which leads me to believe that the breakout game is still out there for the taking. And I really hope it's Game 5. To me, this one is pretty important - aren't they all? - because winning two straight in L.A. is a tall task.
As far as last night's game, don't you wish everyone had the energy and passion that Big Baby and Nate Robinson share? Even if it's for one game, I'd like to see Pierce, KG or Ray dive all over the floor. Yes, they might do it on occasion, but rarely do they give the kind of effort as the guys who need to prove themselves for minutes.
With the bench in during the fourth quarter, I was just waiting for the Lakers to make a run, and they never did. Kobe was great, but nobody else stood up when the game was on the line. It was clear from the start Boston had the deeper bench, but that was an impressive showing from Robinson, Baby, Tony Allen and Rasheed - despite two technical fouls.
If there's one other thing that bothers me, it's this: Game 4 could have been a blowout if the Celtics could have hit layups and open shots. I've never seen so many missed shots in the paint, and KG couldn't knock down that patented 18-footer. I don't know if his legs are gone, or what, but he's going to need to hit that when he's open.
OK, there might be two things that still bother me heading into Game 5: GRAB A REBOUND. Don't tip the rebound, don't get a hand on it and let it bounce all round. Grab it. Secure it, because the Lakers are going try to swipe it away.
The breakout game is still out there (like Game 3 against the Magic) and the Celtics sure can use one before heading back to the West Coast.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Middletown softball game postponed
The Division II playoff game between Middletown and Smithfield at Rhode Island College has been postponed to Thursday. The winners' bracket game still will be at RIC at 5:30 p.m.
Kapstein drafted by the Red Sox
Tiverton High School senior catcher Zach Kapstein was selected on the third day of the Major League Baseball draft, going in the 44th round to the Boston Red Sox. His uncle, Jeremy Kapstein, is a senior advisor for the team.
Kapstein led the Tigers to an 8-10 record in Division I-East and to a 1-2 mark in the playoffs. In 20 games, he hit a staggering .603 (44-for-68) with 22 RBIs, 29 runs scored, five home runs, four doubles and three triples. For the full story, read Thursday's edition of The Daily News.
Whistle blowers spoiling finals
Celtics fans hate the Lakers. Lakers fans hate the Celtics. And even if the players are somewhat indifferent, the fans probably hate each other. But there's one thing on which Celtics and Lakers fans should agree during the NBA finals.
The officiating through three games has been sub-par at best.
Contact that I wouldn't call a foul in a pickup game often is a foul in the NBA's championship series. Even when there's no contact, it's sometimes a foul. For possibly the first time in his career, Rasheed Wallace had good cause to freak out after he was whistled for a foul in the second half.
The poor performance by the officials is not limited to foul-no foul. Even when they go to instant replay, they screw it up. Late in Game 3, Lamar Odom and Rajon Rondo went after a rebound. Odom controlled it initially, then lost it out of bounds. To make sure Odom was the last to touch the ball, the refs reviewed the play. Upon further review, clearly the ball went off Odom, but that's because Rondo hacked his arm. I understand a foul cannot be called after watching the replay, and it shouldn't. But the Celtics got the ball!
Obviously some calls are missed, and that's part of the game. But when the refs review a play, they should review every part of the play. Penalties can't be reviewed in the NFL, but I'm pretty sure if, while reviewing whether a cornerback got both feet in bounds on an interception, if said cornerback dragged down the receiver by his facemask before making the pick, the cornerback's team wouldn't get the ball.
The build-up for this series was immense, and so far, it hasn't come close to another Celtics-Lakers classic. The games haven't been particularly well played on either side and none of the first three was very entertaining.
Hopefully the refs will, as so many parents shout during their kids' games, let them play for the rest of the series and we can actually see some good basketball.
The officiating through three games has been sub-par at best.
Contact that I wouldn't call a foul in a pickup game often is a foul in the NBA's championship series. Even when there's no contact, it's sometimes a foul. For possibly the first time in his career, Rasheed Wallace had good cause to freak out after he was whistled for a foul in the second half.
The poor performance by the officials is not limited to foul-no foul. Even when they go to instant replay, they screw it up. Late in Game 3, Lamar Odom and Rajon Rondo went after a rebound. Odom controlled it initially, then lost it out of bounds. To make sure Odom was the last to touch the ball, the refs reviewed the play. Upon further review, clearly the ball went off Odom, but that's because Rondo hacked his arm. I understand a foul cannot be called after watching the replay, and it shouldn't. But the Celtics got the ball!
Obviously some calls are missed, and that's part of the game. But when the refs review a play, they should review every part of the play. Penalties can't be reviewed in the NFL, but I'm pretty sure if, while reviewing whether a cornerback got both feet in bounds on an interception, if said cornerback dragged down the receiver by his facemask before making the pick, the cornerback's team wouldn't get the ball.
The build-up for this series was immense, and so far, it hasn't come close to another Celtics-Lakers classic. The games haven't been particularly well played on either side and none of the first three was very entertaining.
Hopefully the refs will, as so many parents shout during their kids' games, let them play for the rest of the series and we can actually see some good basketball.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Nationals treasure?
For the first time, perhaps in the team's brief existence, the Washington Nationals will be in the national spotlight this evening.
While some baseball fans likely cannot name a single Nationals player who already has suited up for Washington this season, we all know that the team's most famous player makes his major league debut tonight.
Pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, after running roughshod over the minor leagues, will be on the mound tonight at Nationals Park when the Nats take on the Pirates.
A 6-foot-4, 220-pound San Diego native, Strasburg, 21, has been unofficially tabbed as the savior of the Nationals. He'll be under immense pressure to not only pitch well, but dominate. The hype is so incredible, a mediocre outing will not do. If he's only so-so and loses, immediately questions will arise as to whether he's overrated. If he pitches a gem, some will rush to anoint him the next great starting pitcher.
In reality, no one should read too much into one game, especially Strasburg's first in the majors. In any case, it'll be interesting to see what he can do tonight.
While some baseball fans likely cannot name a single Nationals player who already has suited up for Washington this season, we all know that the team's most famous player makes his major league debut tonight.
Pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, after running roughshod over the minor leagues, will be on the mound tonight at Nationals Park when the Nats take on the Pirates.
A 6-foot-4, 220-pound San Diego native, Strasburg, 21, has been unofficially tabbed as the savior of the Nationals. He'll be under immense pressure to not only pitch well, but dominate. The hype is so incredible, a mediocre outing will not do. If he's only so-so and loses, immediately questions will arise as to whether he's overrated. If he pitches a gem, some will rush to anoint him the next great starting pitcher.
In reality, no one should read too much into one game, especially Strasburg's first in the majors. In any case, it'll be interesting to see what he can do tonight.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Game 2 musings
What makes the Boston Celtics such a dangerous team? When you look at the box score from Sunday night's Game 2, it becomes pretty evident.
Emotional leader Kevin Garnett played 23 minutes, scored six points and grabbed four rebounds. Leading scorer Paul Pierce shot 2-for-11 and had four rebounds in 40 minutes. And the Celtics scored in triple figures and beat the Lakers 103-94 to even the series as it heads back to Boston.
Shooting guard Ray Allen carried the team on his back for the first 24 points, scoring 27 points. That included a 7-for-7 showing from behind the 3-point line. That tied the NBA finals record, which he broke in the third quarter when he knocked down his eighth trey.
After a tough Game 1 in which he played only 27 minutes because of foul trouble, Allen was everyone two nights later. He ran the Lakers ragged, and nobody - not even Kobe Bryant - could follow him. When he rose and shot in that first half, you just knew it was going in.
And despite finishing with a game-high 32 points, Allen wasn't the player of the game. That honor has to go to Rajon Rondo, who notched his second triple-double of the playoffs with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. The point guard shook off a rough first half (he was making bad passes and putting up lousy shots) and really flexed his muscle in the final 12 minutes.
His putback of a Kendrick Perkins blocked shot put the Celtics ahead for good, and his 20-foot jumper extended the lead. He also made a huge defensive play (albeit a risky one) when he knocked the ball away from Bryant from behind.
I said after Game 1 that this was a must win. And I'll add that two out of three in Boston is mandatory. If that ends up being the case, the Celtics will need just one win in the final two games in L.A., where we now know they can win.
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