BOSTON - MAY 14: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Ben Wallace #4 and Delonte West #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 14, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA
CELTS, LAKERS ONE WIN AWAY
LA Lakers 111, Utah 104
If you hold NBA MVP Kobe Bryant to three free throws in a period-especially the fourth period that began with your team tied with the LA Lakers-you might expect to win. But the Lakers proved that they are not just Kobe by scoring 30 points in the final quarter on Wednesday despite Bryant not making a single field goal.
As a result, the Lakers won 111-104, giving the home teams in the second round an astounding 19-1 mark and sending the Lakers and Jazz back to Salt Lake City with the Jazz needing a home win to even the series.
Bryant, despite getting just those free throws in the fourth period, scored 26 points for the Lakers. He was complemented by Lamar Odom's 22 and Pau Gasol's 21.
Deron Williams was his usual outstanding self for the Jazz, scoring 27 points and dishing out 10 assists. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur got their usual double-doubles (18 and 12 for Boozer; 13 and 13 for Okur). And, as usual, the home team won anyway.
Boston 96, Cleveland 89
The Boston Celtics' home court advantage is the only thing that is keeping them going so far in the NBA playoffs. Despite being the best team in the NBA all season long, they are 0-5 against the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavs in their first five road games in the postseason.
That record will be tested again Friday night when the teams meet up again in the Rock and Roll City. The good news for the Celtics is that they could do this the rest of the postseason and win the NBA title. The more disconcerting news for them is that they could run into someone who could beat them at home.
On Wednesday, the Celtics took advantage of LeBron James' second half cold shooting. Despite James' getting 35 points, he scored just 2 points in the third period and 12 total in the second half. In that third quarter, the Celtics outscored the Cavs 27-19.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 29 points while Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds, four assists and no turnovers.
NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
BOSTON VS. CLEVELAND
Game 1: Boston 76, Cleveland 72
Game 2: Boston 89, Cleveland 73
Game 3: Cleveland 108, Boston 84
Game 4: Cleveland 88, Boston 77
Game 5: Boston 96, Cleveland 89
Boston leads 3-2
Game 6: Friday at Cleveland
DETROIT VS. ORLANDO
Game 1: Detroit 91, Orlando 72
Game 2: Detroit 100, Orlando 93
Game 3: Orlando 111, Detroit 86
Game 4: Detroit 90, Orlando 89
Game 5: Detroit 91, Orlando 86
Detroit wins 4-1
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. UTAH
Game 1: LA Lakers 109, Utah 98
Game 2: LA Lakers 120, Utah 110
Game 3: Utah 104, LA Lakers 99
Game 4: Utah 123, LA Lakers 115 (OT)
Game 5: LA Lakers 111, Utah 104
LA leads 3-2
Game 6: Friday at Utah
NEW ORLEANS VS. SAN ANTONIO
Game 1: New Orleans 101, San Antonio 82
Game 2: New Orleans 102, San Antonio 84
Game 3: San Antonio 110, New Orleans 99
Game 4: San Antonio 100, New Orleans 80
Game 5: New Orleans 101, San Antonio 79
New Orleans leads 3-2
Game 6: Thursday at San Antonio
MLB
SABATHIA STYMIES A'S; CONTINUES INDIANS STREAK
Last year's American League Cy Young Award winner, C.C. Sabathia, has struggled in 2008. After watching his performance on Wednesday night, it appears the big lefty's struggles are over.
Sabathia (3-5) struck out 11 and gave up just five hits in a complete game shutout of the Oakland A's. Cleveland 2, Oakland 0.
Perhaps even more impressive than Sabathia's performance is the fact that it comes on the heels of a string of shutout pitching by the Indians starting rotation. Tribe starters have not allowed an earned run in 43 1/3 innings!
Offensively, Grady Sizemore and Ryan Garko homered for the Indians only runs.
Joe Blanton (2-6) pitched seven solid innings, but took the loss for Oakland.
Cleveland has now won seven of its last nine games.
AMERICAN LEAGUE SCORES
Kansas City 2, Detroit 0
Baltimore 6, Boston 3
New York Yankees 2, Tampa Bay 1
Toronto 6, Minnesota 5
Chicago White Sox 6, Los Angeles Angels 1
Seattle 4, Texas 3 - 12 innings
NATIONAL LEAGUE SCORES
Atlanta 8, Philadelphia 6
Washington 5, New York Mets 3
Chicago Cubs 8, San Diego 5
Arizona 4, Colorado 3
St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Milwaukee 4
Houston 6, San Francisco 3
Cincinnati 7, Florida 6 - 10 innings
NHL
STARS STAY ALIVE WITH WIN OVER WINGS
The Dallas Stars needed something to get them over the hump and allow them to avoid a sweep in the Western Conference finals. It might have come to them in the form of a controversial decision by a referee.
In the second period, Pavel Datsyuk slammed the puck into the net, and it appeared that the visitors from up north had a 1-0 lead over the boys from Big D. But an official waved off the goal, citing goalie interference by Tomas Holmstrom.
A little while later-with just 19 seconds left in the second period-Loui Eriksson scored a goal that counted when the got the puck past Chris Osgood unassisted.
Just 49 seconds into the third period, Henrik Zetterberg evened the match at 1-1. While the momentum may have returned to the men in Red and White, Mike Modano recaptured it for the Stars when he scored on a power play at 5:35. Brenden Morrow then iced the game with his ninth playoff goal nine minutes later.
CONFERENCE FINALS
East
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia
Game 1: Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 2
Game 2: Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 2
Game 3: Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 1
Pittsburgh leads 3-0
Game 4: Thursday at Philadelphia
West
Detroit vs. Dallas
Game 1: Detroit 4, Dallas 1
Game 2: Detroit 2, Dallas 1
Game 3: Detroit 5, Dallas 2
Game 4: Dallas 3, Detroit 1
Detroit leads 3-1
Game 5: Saturday at Detroit
SPORTS SPECTRUM INSIDER
Getting to the heart of what matters in life -- in the words of an athlete in the news.
TODAY'S FEATURE:
STEPHEN DREW, shortstop, Arizona Diamondbacks
BIO NOTE: Stephen was one of three brothers drafted in the first round of the major league draft, joining Tim and J. D. They are the only three-brother combo with that distinction.
RECENT NEWS: On Wednesday, Drew went 2 for 4 to help the D-Backs beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3. Drew is hitting .276 for Arizona.
FAITH QUOTE: "I try to share my faith with others, but sometimes the subject of religion can cause arguments. I never jump down anyone's throat or act as if I am better than someone else. It's just a matter of telling others, 'We are born as sinners and Jesus died for all of us. Do you accept that?" -Sports Spectrum magazine
Note: Drew's testimony of faith is found in the current May-June edition of Sports Spectrum magazine.
MINI MEMOS
Putting the SS spin on today's sports news
NBA
THIS ROSTER?
Either Mike D'Antoni is a miracle-working genius or the New York Knicks are in for a long season in 2008-2009. Or, and this is probably the way it is-Coach D'Antoni doesn't want to be caught criticizing any current New York players who might actually end up wearing a shirt with Knicks written across their chest next season. When he saw the Knicks list of players and said, "that's the roster I'm going to win with," he really could not have been serious. That roster has guys who are not talented enough to run his lightning-paced offense and don't seem motivated enough to play the tough defense he needs to break out of his mold and teach them. Surely, Mr. D'Antoni realizes that he needs to add a couple of new names to his roster-a Steve Nash here, a LeBron James there, perhaps-before he can start thinking about erasing the embarrassment that has permeated Madison Square Garden. All eyes will be on the new coach as he drafts, trades, and acquires new players. And really, no one will even bring up his "that's the roster" quote if he brings in some new faces to help turn the Knicks into winners.
NFL
MORE IDEAS FOR ARLEN SPECTER
Senator Arlen Specter is again spending precious taxpayer time and dollars on an issue that the NFL has covered, closed, and moved on from. There are more important issues for the good senator to go after, and as a public service, here are a few of them: Please look into traveling calls in the NBA. Clearly, referees are turning a blind eye to what is clearly a rule in the books. Guys are taking more long trips than Congress on vacation, and nobody's calling a thing. Now, that's a problem that needs a congressional hearing. And then there the whole American League East debacle in which a new team not named the Yankees or Red Sox has taken over. Surely there is collusion or tampering or pandering or something going on. It's just not tradition for a teamed named the Rays to be this good this late in the season, and a committee needs to investigate. And there's more. Maybe he could hire an independent counsel to look into how all those college kids can afford those thousand-dollar suits they wear on NFL and NBA draft day. And maybe he could check into why if they spend so much money on them some of them still seem not to fit all that well. There's plenty of stuff for Senator Specter to dig into-after he helps solve some of those other little problems such as the sagging economy and dwindling energy sources.
MLB
THE JOY OF BEING MANNY
Manny Ramirez pulled off a rare triple play on Wednesday, but it was not really anything like the one Asdrubal Cabrera pulled out of his glove the other day. No, Manny's TP was a Manny Special-probably the one and only time this has been or ever will be done in major league history. Manny's hat trick of excitement included a remarkable over-shoulder-catch of a Kevin Millar drive, a high-five of a fan in the outfield seats, and a throw back into the infield that resulted in a double play. Catch, smack, throw. It was even more rare than an unassisted triple play. Only a player with Ramirez' talent and his exuberance could combine to result in such a timeless play.
SPRINT CUP STANDINGS
We are 11 races into the 2008 NASCAR season. The race to get into the Cup Chase looks like this.
1. Kyle Busch 1,690
2. Jeff Burton 1,611
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,556
4. Denny Hamlin 1,500
5. Clint Bowyer 1,490
6. Jimmy Johnson 1,442
7. Carl Edwards 1,400
8. Tony Stewart 1,397
9. Kevin Harvick 1,396
10. Jeff Gordon 1,326
11. Greg Biffle 1,308
12. David Ragan 1,266
THIS JUST IN
Notes of significance from the Christian sports community
New Book: The Mulligan
By Wally Armstrong
After ending a successful career as a PGA golfer, Wally Armstrong began a venture of teaching golf and of using gold analogies to teach biblical principles. One of his latest ventures is teaching timeless truths through golf is a book called The Mulligan. It's a book that can be used by the Christian for edification, and it can be given to the non-Christian as an outreach tool. Find out more about the book at www.wallyarmstrong.com.
