The Santiago Bernabeu, home pitch of Real Madrid, will play host to the Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. Not only are both clubs looking to etch their names in European football, but with both already having won their domestic league and main cup competition, both are also gunning for a historic treble of trophies. This match is full of unique storylines. Here are just a few...
The battle between managers. Much has been made over the years of the success of Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese Manager of Inter Milan. Mourinho, whose pedigree includes a prior European triumph with Porto as well as Carling Cup and League titles from his time with Chelsea, will be going up against Louis van Gaal. Van Gaal was the manager at Barcelona and Mourinho was his interpreter. Mourinho loves to play mind games, however I do not think any mind games will work with van Gaal as he has known Mourinho since he was "young and modest".
I also find it amusing how two Real Madrid castoffs from the summer, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, are now the focal points of their new clubs. The pair of Dutch internationals were deemed a surplus at the Bernabeu after $250,000,000 of summer spending brought in the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema.
Sneijder has blossomed in his role of playmaker in the Inter midfield. Flanked by Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto'o with Diego Milito leading the line, Sneijder is the one pulling the strings of Inter's attacking game. In their 4-2-3-1 formation, it is imperative that Inter hold the ball up in order to allow their fullbacks, specifically Maicon, the chance to join the play and provide width in attack.
On the other side of the ball, Bayern elect to play a traditional 4-4-2. Robben and Franck Ribery are the ones tasked with providing the width on the wings, but with Ribery out due to his red card in the semi-final stage against Bordeaux, even more pressure will be on Robben to not only terrorize the aging Inter back line, but maybe even chip in with a goal. The wild card for Bayern has to be Ivica Olic, the sporadic striker. Olic can be dreadful one day then phenomenal the next.
I anticipate this match being fairly open. Both sides have great attacking players who will want to get on the score sheet of a Champions League Final. I give the edge to Inter, who I think are just too strong all over the pitch for Bayern Munich. The absence of Ribery to this German side is too much to overcome. It is a beautiful Saturday morning in Orem, UT and the sun is making me giddy as I predict a surprising (in terms of the amount of goals scored in the match) 3-1 scoring line in favour of the Italian Champions.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
NBA Conference Finals Predictions
With the Conference Finals set and about to begin, it is time for me to go out on a limb again (just as I did in predicting the Boston Celtics would beat the Cleveland Cavaliers) and determine which two teams will represent their respective conferences in the NBA Finals. Here it is...
I will start in the east where the Orlando Magic play the Boston Celtics. The Magic, winners of eight straight playoff games and 27 of 30 overall, have been unstoppable to this point. Led by Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard, the magic easily handled the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks in the opening two rounds. This Boston team, however, is a totally different beast, especially now that they are the healthiest they have been since winning it all in 2008. I believe the keys to this series will be the battle between point guards (Nelson vs. Rajon Rondo), the power forwards (Rashard Lewis vs. Kevin Garnett) and the benches. Last year these two teams played each other in the Conference Semi-finals with Orlando winning in 7 games. However, that series was lacking Nelson and Garnett, respectively.
Orlando is the younger, more athletic team without question. Rajon Rondo, the emerging leader of this Celtics team, will have to dictate the tempo for Boston to have a chance. Rondo has averaged 18 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds thus far in the playoffs and it will be on him to get others, specifically the "Big 3" of Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, involved early and often. Nelson is definitely the stronger of the two point guards and it will be his job to keep Rondo out of the paint.
The power forward match-up intrigues me because I think Rashard Lewis and Antawn Jamison are very similar players. If you missed the Boston vs. Cleveland series I will inform you now that Garnett had no problem making Jamison look like a D-Leaguer on his way to avergaing 18 points and 8 boards during the series. That being said, Orlando has a much better system for a guy like Lewis to be successful as opposed to the "LeBron + 4" system implemented by Cavaliers coach, Mike "I cannot believe I am not fired yet" Brown. Lewis, never known for his defensive prowess, will have to find a way to be successful at both ends of the court in order to take pressure off Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard.
The bench is where I believe Orlando has the biggest edge, an edge which will ultimately determine the series. The Magic boast a solid point guard in Jason Williams, two all out shooting machines in Mickael Pietrus (who is also a stellar defender) and J.J. Reddick and a couple of solid, but not flashy, front court players in Marcin Gortat and Brian Anderson. This Magic bench is consistent and plays their roles extremely effective. The Celtics, on the other hand, receive sporadic performances from a cast that includes Glen "Big Baby" Davis (who will ALWAYS be Big Baby), Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen and Michael Finley.
Both teams have peaked at exactly the right time. Orlando's best is better than Boston's, but not by much. Magic in 7.
Out west it is the defending NBA Champion, Los Angeles Lakers, against the surprising, Phoenix Suns. Both teams are coming off sweeps from their semi-final match-ups over the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Both teams have clear advantages. The Lakers have the best player in the series in Kobe Bryant and the best front court in the form of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. The Suns have the best point guard, Steve Nash, and the better bench which includes Goran Dragic, Jared Dudley and Channing Frye.
Bryant will be faced with something he has yet to see so far in these playoffs, a veteran defender. After going up against Thabo Sefolosha and Wesley Matthews in the first two rounds, Grant Hill will now get the task of trying to contain the Lakers star. I would not be surprised to see Phoenix also throw Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley in the mix in an attempt to try and prevent Bryant from getting too comfortable with a certain defender. All three of these players are upgrades over Sefolosha and Matthews and Bryant knows he will be facing his biggest test to this point. Bryant will get his 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, but how he will get those numbers will be the key. Phoenix do not want him getting to the free throw line.
The front court of the Lakers can be their greatest strength, but can also be vulnerable depending on the health of Andrew Bynum and if Lamar Odom decides to make an appearance in these playoffs or not. Bynum says his knee problems are getting worse. Odom needs to step up. Odom will probably be fortunate enough to guard Amare Stoudemire while trying to work his way out of his current slump. The mettle of this Lakers front court will be tested, no doubt.
Steve Nash, yes he who hails from the great country to the north, will look to take advantage of his match-up against Derek Fisher. Nash should have no problem penetrating off the dribble and finding his shot when he likes. He also knows how important it is to get Jason Richardson involved (Phoenix is 5-0 this post season when Richardson scores 20 or more) and Stoudemire easy shots of their pick and roll. Nash, as always, will be the key to the Suns success and is a real worry to Lakers coach, Phil Jackson. Fisher, I believe, will be originally assigned the task of guarding Nash, but I am sure Ron Artest, Shannon Brown and even Bryant may also get their chance to stay in front of the Canadian.
The bench will be important in this series, but not as important as the Orlando vs. Boston series. Phil Jackson knows his bench is his biggest liability and will probably shorten it even more for this series. I would be shocked if anyone other than Odom and Shannon Brown played more than 12 minutes/game (assuming Bynum stays healthy). Phoenix loves the energy their bench provides, especially at home. Throughout these playoffs the Phoenix bench has been shown a lot of trust from coach Alvin Gentry. I look for Gentry to continuing giving extended minutes to Dragic, Dudley and Frye while also playing Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson and Jarron Collins.
Both teams are well rested. This will be a fascinating series and one that will show the value of home court advantage. Kobe Bryant will not allow the Lakers to lose a game 7 on their home floor. Lakers in 7.
I will start in the east where the Orlando Magic play the Boston Celtics. The Magic, winners of eight straight playoff games and 27 of 30 overall, have been unstoppable to this point. Led by Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard, the magic easily handled the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks in the opening two rounds. This Boston team, however, is a totally different beast, especially now that they are the healthiest they have been since winning it all in 2008. I believe the keys to this series will be the battle between point guards (Nelson vs. Rajon Rondo), the power forwards (Rashard Lewis vs. Kevin Garnett) and the benches. Last year these two teams played each other in the Conference Semi-finals with Orlando winning in 7 games. However, that series was lacking Nelson and Garnett, respectively.
Orlando is the younger, more athletic team without question. Rajon Rondo, the emerging leader of this Celtics team, will have to dictate the tempo for Boston to have a chance. Rondo has averaged 18 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds thus far in the playoffs and it will be on him to get others, specifically the "Big 3" of Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, involved early and often. Nelson is definitely the stronger of the two point guards and it will be his job to keep Rondo out of the paint.
The power forward match-up intrigues me because I think Rashard Lewis and Antawn Jamison are very similar players. If you missed the Boston vs. Cleveland series I will inform you now that Garnett had no problem making Jamison look like a D-Leaguer on his way to avergaing 18 points and 8 boards during the series. That being said, Orlando has a much better system for a guy like Lewis to be successful as opposed to the "LeBron + 4" system implemented by Cavaliers coach, Mike "I cannot believe I am not fired yet" Brown. Lewis, never known for his defensive prowess, will have to find a way to be successful at both ends of the court in order to take pressure off Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard.
The bench is where I believe Orlando has the biggest edge, an edge which will ultimately determine the series. The Magic boast a solid point guard in Jason Williams, two all out shooting machines in Mickael Pietrus (who is also a stellar defender) and J.J. Reddick and a couple of solid, but not flashy, front court players in Marcin Gortat and Brian Anderson. This Magic bench is consistent and plays their roles extremely effective. The Celtics, on the other hand, receive sporadic performances from a cast that includes Glen "Big Baby" Davis (who will ALWAYS be Big Baby), Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen and Michael Finley.
Both teams have peaked at exactly the right time. Orlando's best is better than Boston's, but not by much. Magic in 7.
Out west it is the defending NBA Champion, Los Angeles Lakers, against the surprising, Phoenix Suns. Both teams are coming off sweeps from their semi-final match-ups over the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Both teams have clear advantages. The Lakers have the best player in the series in Kobe Bryant and the best front court in the form of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. The Suns have the best point guard, Steve Nash, and the better bench which includes Goran Dragic, Jared Dudley and Channing Frye.
Bryant will be faced with something he has yet to see so far in these playoffs, a veteran defender. After going up against Thabo Sefolosha and Wesley Matthews in the first two rounds, Grant Hill will now get the task of trying to contain the Lakers star. I would not be surprised to see Phoenix also throw Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley in the mix in an attempt to try and prevent Bryant from getting too comfortable with a certain defender. All three of these players are upgrades over Sefolosha and Matthews and Bryant knows he will be facing his biggest test to this point. Bryant will get his 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, but how he will get those numbers will be the key. Phoenix do not want him getting to the free throw line.
The front court of the Lakers can be their greatest strength, but can also be vulnerable depending on the health of Andrew Bynum and if Lamar Odom decides to make an appearance in these playoffs or not. Bynum says his knee problems are getting worse. Odom needs to step up. Odom will probably be fortunate enough to guard Amare Stoudemire while trying to work his way out of his current slump. The mettle of this Lakers front court will be tested, no doubt.
Steve Nash, yes he who hails from the great country to the north, will look to take advantage of his match-up against Derek Fisher. Nash should have no problem penetrating off the dribble and finding his shot when he likes. He also knows how important it is to get Jason Richardson involved (Phoenix is 5-0 this post season when Richardson scores 20 or more) and Stoudemire easy shots of their pick and roll. Nash, as always, will be the key to the Suns success and is a real worry to Lakers coach, Phil Jackson. Fisher, I believe, will be originally assigned the task of guarding Nash, but I am sure Ron Artest, Shannon Brown and even Bryant may also get their chance to stay in front of the Canadian.
The bench will be important in this series, but not as important as the Orlando vs. Boston series. Phil Jackson knows his bench is his biggest liability and will probably shorten it even more for this series. I would be shocked if anyone other than Odom and Shannon Brown played more than 12 minutes/game (assuming Bynum stays healthy). Phoenix loves the energy their bench provides, especially at home. Throughout these playoffs the Phoenix bench has been shown a lot of trust from coach Alvin Gentry. I look for Gentry to continuing giving extended minutes to Dragic, Dudley and Frye while also playing Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson and Jarron Collins.
Both teams are well rested. This will be a fascinating series and one that will show the value of home court advantage. Kobe Bryant will not allow the Lakers to lose a game 7 on their home floor. Lakers in 7.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Things I Think From Last Night's (May 3) Sports
Yesterday I had the privilege to watch two great hockey games and two great basketball games. I love playoff sports more than anything and yesterday proved my point. Here is what I gathered from last night...
The Boston Bruins will play in the Eastern Conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They have done what they are supposed to in taking both games at home. A split in Philadelphia means they only have to win one of their last three games, with two of those games being played in TD Garden. As a side note, it amazes me at how well the Bruins scout goaltenders. In 2004 Andrew Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. He was then swiftly dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the right to 21st overall pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Tuukka Rask. The B's then turned to minor league journeyman Tim Thomas for the next 4 seasons who ended up winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie in 2009. During the second half of the 2009-10 NHL season, Rask supplanted Thomas as the Bruins #1 and has not looked back since. Rask, a native of Finland who just turned 23, has been in fine form with a GAA south of 2. As for Thomas, I do not know of any goalie who has won the Vezina one season, then been relegated to backup the next, but I believe it speaks loads of the abilities and maturity of Rask. As for Raycroft, the man who started this merry-go-round of goaltender's in Boston, he can be seen at the end of the bench in Vancouver backing up Bobby Louuuuuu (Roberto Luongo).
Shifting to the Western Conference and the Chicago Blackhawks v Vancouver Canucks series. At the beginning of the playoffs I honestly thought Chicago were destined to represent the west in the Stanley Cup finals despite their goaltending situation. Nashville then proceeded to give them all they could handle in the first round and Vancouver looks to finish the job the Predators could not do. After splitting the first two games in Chicago, the series heads north to Vancouver and a rowdy GM Place. Vancouver had the best home record of any team in the Western Conference during the regular season at 30-8-3 and will look to grab both games at home to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. I think they will do it. The Blackhawks goaltending has been in question all year with Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet and many, like myself, assumed they could just win the majority of games in the 5-4 range. That being said, I do not see Chicago scoring 5 goals against the aforementioned Roberto Luongo, especially in his own backyard. I think Vancouver has progressed substantially from the team that lost at the same stage of the playoffs to the same Blackhawk foe last season. Revenge is on the Canucks mind and I look for them to take the series in 6 games.
Switching now to the NBA. I'll start in the Eastern Conference where the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers got toyed with by the veteran Boston Celtics on their way to a disastrous 104-86 home loss. Cleveland is in trouble. They are very lucky to be leaving their home court with a 1-1 split on their way to Boston. LeBron James, the 2-time NBA MVP, is not himself. I have heard different sport personalities argue whether it's his ailing elbow or not, but to me, it was is emotions, or lack thereof, on the court. His emotions are not there. Could it be because of the elbow? I do not know, but I do know we have not seen his big grin and dance moves for two games. Many teams are intimidated by the Cavs, but Boston is not one of them. The Cavaliers are getting nothing from their bench and nothing from Mo Williams or Antawn Jamison. They are resorting back to the Cleveland who got eliminated by the Orlando Magic last year by hoping LeBron just goes for 40-10-10 every night while the rest of the team watches. Meanwhile, Rajon Rondo cannot be stopped. Cleveland has no answer for Rondo, the unquestioned MVP of the Boston Celtics. Yes Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen get most of the attention, but it is Rondo who orcastrates this fine, aging machine known as the Celtics. After going for 13 points and 19 assists last night as an encore to his 27 and 12 performance from game 1, I would not be surprised to see him average 15 and 15 for the series. Add that to the clutchness (yes, I just made up that word) that is Pierce, the intensity of Garnett and the shooting of Allen and a stunning cameo off the bench in the form of Rasheed Wallace, who awoke yesterday from his year long coma in Boston to produce 17 points in 18 minutes. That alone outscored the entire Cleveland bench who mustered up a measly 13 points. If Boston can get productivity from their bench and Rondo continues to have his way I think Boston will beat Cleveland.
Now to the Phoenix Suns v San Antonio Spurs series. I have a tough time not letting my personal feelings interfere as I love the Suns (STEVE NASH!!!) and dislike the Spurs. The Suns won an entertaining game 1 in Phoenix, but there are a few things that worry me. First, San Antonio is just starting to play their best basketball of the season. Second, Tony Parker is back and will no doubt be inserted into the Spurs starting lineup from here on out. Third, the Suns are in big trouble if Amare Stoudemire ever gets in foul trouble. That being said, the Suns are also playing great basketball at the moment. Jason Richardson has been stellar, Nash and Amare have been doing their thing and Grant Hill continues to just play solid, fundamental basketball. I see this series going 7 games. Yes the Spurs have owned the Suns in the playoffs in years past, like ALL the years past, I think this is the year the Suns will advance. I do not know if I would be saying that if Manu Ginobili was 100%, but he is not and there is just something about this Suns team and how they keep surpassing expectations this year. Suns in 7.
The Boston Bruins will play in the Eastern Conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They have done what they are supposed to in taking both games at home. A split in Philadelphia means they only have to win one of their last three games, with two of those games being played in TD Garden. As a side note, it amazes me at how well the Bruins scout goaltenders. In 2004 Andrew Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. He was then swiftly dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the right to 21st overall pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Tuukka Rask. The B's then turned to minor league journeyman Tim Thomas for the next 4 seasons who ended up winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie in 2009. During the second half of the 2009-10 NHL season, Rask supplanted Thomas as the Bruins #1 and has not looked back since. Rask, a native of Finland who just turned 23, has been in fine form with a GAA south of 2. As for Thomas, I do not know of any goalie who has won the Vezina one season, then been relegated to backup the next, but I believe it speaks loads of the abilities and maturity of Rask. As for Raycroft, the man who started this merry-go-round of goaltender's in Boston, he can be seen at the end of the bench in Vancouver backing up Bobby Louuuuuu (Roberto Luongo).
Shifting to the Western Conference and the Chicago Blackhawks v Vancouver Canucks series. At the beginning of the playoffs I honestly thought Chicago were destined to represent the west in the Stanley Cup finals despite their goaltending situation. Nashville then proceeded to give them all they could handle in the first round and Vancouver looks to finish the job the Predators could not do. After splitting the first two games in Chicago, the series heads north to Vancouver and a rowdy GM Place. Vancouver had the best home record of any team in the Western Conference during the regular season at 30-8-3 and will look to grab both games at home to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. I think they will do it. The Blackhawks goaltending has been in question all year with Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet and many, like myself, assumed they could just win the majority of games in the 5-4 range. That being said, I do not see Chicago scoring 5 goals against the aforementioned Roberto Luongo, especially in his own backyard. I think Vancouver has progressed substantially from the team that lost at the same stage of the playoffs to the same Blackhawk foe last season. Revenge is on the Canucks mind and I look for them to take the series in 6 games.
Switching now to the NBA. I'll start in the Eastern Conference where the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers got toyed with by the veteran Boston Celtics on their way to a disastrous 104-86 home loss. Cleveland is in trouble. They are very lucky to be leaving their home court with a 1-1 split on their way to Boston. LeBron James, the 2-time NBA MVP, is not himself. I have heard different sport personalities argue whether it's his ailing elbow or not, but to me, it was is emotions, or lack thereof, on the court. His emotions are not there. Could it be because of the elbow? I do not know, but I do know we have not seen his big grin and dance moves for two games. Many teams are intimidated by the Cavs, but Boston is not one of them. The Cavaliers are getting nothing from their bench and nothing from Mo Williams or Antawn Jamison. They are resorting back to the Cleveland who got eliminated by the Orlando Magic last year by hoping LeBron just goes for 40-10-10 every night while the rest of the team watches. Meanwhile, Rajon Rondo cannot be stopped. Cleveland has no answer for Rondo, the unquestioned MVP of the Boston Celtics. Yes Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen get most of the attention, but it is Rondo who orcastrates this fine, aging machine known as the Celtics. After going for 13 points and 19 assists last night as an encore to his 27 and 12 performance from game 1, I would not be surprised to see him average 15 and 15 for the series. Add that to the clutchness (yes, I just made up that word) that is Pierce, the intensity of Garnett and the shooting of Allen and a stunning cameo off the bench in the form of Rasheed Wallace, who awoke yesterday from his year long coma in Boston to produce 17 points in 18 minutes. That alone outscored the entire Cleveland bench who mustered up a measly 13 points. If Boston can get productivity from their bench and Rondo continues to have his way I think Boston will beat Cleveland.
Now to the Phoenix Suns v San Antonio Spurs series. I have a tough time not letting my personal feelings interfere as I love the Suns (STEVE NASH!!!) and dislike the Spurs. The Suns won an entertaining game 1 in Phoenix, but there are a few things that worry me. First, San Antonio is just starting to play their best basketball of the season. Second, Tony Parker is back and will no doubt be inserted into the Spurs starting lineup from here on out. Third, the Suns are in big trouble if Amare Stoudemire ever gets in foul trouble. That being said, the Suns are also playing great basketball at the moment. Jason Richardson has been stellar, Nash and Amare have been doing their thing and Grant Hill continues to just play solid, fundamental basketball. I see this series going 7 games. Yes the Spurs have owned the Suns in the playoffs in years past, like ALL the years past, I think this is the year the Suns will advance. I do not know if I would be saying that if Manu Ginobili was 100%, but he is not and there is just something about this Suns team and how they keep surpassing expectations this year. Suns in 7.
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