The weekend is here and sports addicts worldwide rejoice as the NBA Playoffs continue, the Stanley Cup Finals start up, the MLB season continues to take shape, European soccer teams attempt to sign high-paid superstars in the offseason and some of the PGA’s best tournament still lie ahead.
Here’s what in store for the weekend:
Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburg Penguins
This matchup is the NHL’s and NBC’s dream come true. Even casual fans will recognize the names in this highly anticipated series. Expect high scoring and electrifying play but less physical games than the hockey playoffs usually produce. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lead the Pens against a favored Red Wings team that will defend their Stanley Cup and try for a back-to-back championship. This is a rematch of last year’s Cup Finals that went 6 games, the first time we are seeing that since 1984 when Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers beat the New York Islanders. Red Wings’ forward Marian Hossa, who left Pittsburgh to sign with Detroit this offseason, has been quiet in the playoffs so far, but expect to see him turn it up when it counts the most. I got Detroit in 6. LEAVE YOUR STANLEY CUP PICKS HERE!
NBA Conference Finals
LA Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
Game 6 from Denver tonight. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were dangerously sharp in Wednesday night’s win and helped the Lakers push ahead with a 3-2 series lead. I knew there was trouble when hearing Carmelo Anthony make a statement that his shots were just not going in, but no adjustments were necessary. Wrong Melo. You need to take better shots and Kenyon Martin needs to stop stinking up the joint with god awful all around play. Nets fans remember his lack of production in playoff games all too well. LA’s big men can’t stay consistent so expect this series to go 7 games but after seeing Denver’s lack of direction, I have to go with Los Angeles in this series.
Cleveland Cavs vs. Orlando Magic
I guess the only surprise in this series is that Orlando is up 3-2. But everyone expected what we saw in last night game, a LeBron James’ takeover. Unlike Kobe Bryant, James can single-handedly take over a game on both ends and doesn’t need to dish the ball…ever. Expect LeBron to take over this series and as long as Dwight Howard is missing free throws, Orlando can’t win. Unless Skip To My Lou aka Rafer Alston wants to shoot lights out again, this is the Cavs series to lose.
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