2013 NBA Finals Preview

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

The Spurs had a while to prepare and now they have to defeat the defending champions to win the franchise’s fifth NBA title. The Spurs are not short on experience, but they might be short on athleticism. But they make up for that with excellent coaching from Gregg Popovich. He is the best at making adjustments on the fly during the game and he will likely have to make a few with the fast paced Miami Heat. San Antonio’s big weapon is the pick and roll with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Miami’s big men, Chris Bosh, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are not ideal at defending it. Should Tony Parker continue to slice his way through Miami’s frontcourt to the basket, it might be another quick series for the Spurs.

Miami had a tough seven game series with the Indiana Pacers and that long series has given the Spurs plenty of tape to study. What many teams have had trouble with though is how to contain LeBron James. San Antonio doesn’t really have one player that can contain LeBron without help. When that happens the Heat have many shooters that LeBron can then pass too for open shots. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have had a rough playoff run, but this will be a redeeming series for them if they can do more to help take the pressure off LeBron. It should be a tough series for Miami, but when they start to get it going their opponents have a tough time catching up.

Key Players: G Tony Parker and G Dwayne Wade

Results: Heat in 7 games

MLB Recap – May

Best Hitter – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.379 AVG 12 HR 33 RBI) Detroit Tigers

Best Pitcher – Patrick Corbin (5-0, 1.53 ERA) Arizona Diamondbacks

Best Team – St. Louis Cardinals 35-18 (20-9 road record)

Division Leaders

American League

Boston Red Sox 33-23

Best Player – 2B Dustin Pedroia (.336 AVG 3 HR 18 RBI)

Detroit Tigers 29-24

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.379 AVG 12 HR 33 RBI)

Texas Rangers 34-20

Best Player – 3B Adrian Beltre (.376 AVG 6 HR 23 RBI)

National League

Atlanta Braves 32-22

Best Player – P Mike Minor (4-0, 1.98 ERA)

St. Louis Cardinals 35-18

Best Player – C Yadier Molina (.394 AVG 1 HR 12 RBI)

Arizona Diamondbacks 30-24

Best Player – P Patrick Corbin (5-0, 1.53 ERA)

Wild Card Teams

American League

New York Yankees 31-23

Best Player – P Mariano Rivera (1.80 ERA, 9 SV)

Oakland Athletics 32-24

Best Player – 3B Josh Donaldson (.330 AVG 6 HR 13 RBI)

Baltimore Orioles 31-24

Best Player – 1B Chris Davis (.364 AVG 10 HR 22 RBI)

Cleveland Indians 29-25

Best Player – P Justin Masterson (4-1, 3.02 ERA)

Tampa Bay Rays 30-24

Best Player – 2B Kelly Johnson (.330 AVG 7 HR 26 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 24-28

Best Player – P Chris Sale (3-0, 0.87 ERA)

Los Angeles Angels 25-30

Best Player – OF Mike Trout (.327 AVG 8 HR 21 RBI)

National League

Cincinnati Reds 34-21

Best Player – 1B Joey Votto (.388 AVG 6 HR 16 RBI)

Pittsburgh Pirates 34-21

Best Player – P Francisco Liriano (3-1, 2.35 ERA)

San Francisco Giants 29-25

Best Player – 2B Marco Scutaro (.420 AVG 1 HR 9 RBI)

Colorado Rockies 28-27

Best Player – SS Troy Tulowitzki (.360 AVG 6 HR 21 RBI)

Washington Nationals 28-27

Best Player – P Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 1.95 ERA)

Philadelphia Phillies 26-29

Best Player – OF Domonic Brown (.303 AVG 12 HR 25 RBI)

San Diego Padres 25-29

Best Player – 2B Jedd Gyorko (.303 AVG 6 HR 12 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Minnesota Twins 23-29

Best Player – C Joe Mauer (.371 AVG 3 HR 10 RBI)

Seattle Mariners 24-31

Best Player – 1B Kendrys Morales (.343 AVG 5 HR 23 RBI)

Toronto Blue Jays 23-32

Best Player – 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.292 AVG 6 HR 26 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 22-30

Best Player – OF Alex Gordon (.339 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI)

Houston Astros 18-37

Best Player – C Jason Castro (.292 AVG 6 HR 13 RBI)

National League

Chicago Cubs 23-30

Best Player – P Scott Feldman (4-1, 2.25 ERA)

Los Angeles Dodgers 23-30

Best Player – 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.314 AVG 5 HR 22 RBI)

New York Mets 22-30

Best Player – P Matt Harvey (1-0, 2.15 ERA)

Milwaukee Brewers 20-33

Best Player – SS Jean Segura (.345 AVG 5 HR 13 RBI)

Miami Marlins 14-41

Best Player – OF Marcell Ozuna (.330 AVG 1 HR 11 RBI)

NBA Conference Finals Preview

Eastern Conference Finals

1. Miami Heat vs. 3. Indiana Pacers

These two teams do have some history between them. Recent history actually. Ever since this current Miami Heat team was assembled with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwayne Wade in South Beach, it was no surprise that almost every team in the NBA was going to give Miami their best. The Heat will be looking for their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance, but the Indiana Pacers have been a thorn in Miami’s side. Indiana does not like Miami and it’s probably the same with the Heat not liking the Pacers. The Pacers must establish themselves in the post early and often if they want to beat the Heat. They have a clear size advantage and will be attacking the glass often with a huge rebounding advantage. Roy Hibbert is quickly becoming a force in the paint and the Heat don’t have an answer for that unless they get him in foul trouble. Indiana will have to try to slow down Miami for as long as they possibly can. If Dwayne Wade isn’t healthy for the entire series the Heat might find it more difficult for them to make that Finals appearance.

Key Players: G Dwayne Wade and C Roy Hibbert

Results: Pacers in 7 games

Western Conference Finals

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Memphis Grizzlies are in this position. Both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are two formidable post players and they will create havoc for the Spurs. Tim Duncan is playing like his younger self, but he has a tough task ahead of himself and his teammates on the block against Memphis. Mike Conley is quickly establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the league for the Grizzlies. Tayshaun Prince is doing a great job with Tony Allen defensively and making smart decisions on offense. Memphis’ bench is just as good as any other team’s in the NBA. If San Antonio has any shot of beating the Grizzlies, they will need to outduel their bench. Which means Manu Ginobili needs to play much better in the Conference Finals. It’s to be expected that Tony Parker will perform up to his standard of play, but if he slows down or gets hurt it will be a quick exit for the Spurs.

Key Players: G Tony Parker and C Marc Gasol

Results: Grizzlies in 6 games

NBA Semifinals Preview

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat vs. 5. Chicago Bulls

Key Players: F LeBron James and G Nate Robinson

Results: Heat in 6 games

2. New York Knicks vs. 3 Indiana Pacers

Key Players: G J.R. Smith and F Paul George

Results: Pacers in 6 games

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

Key Players: G Reggie Jackson and C Marc Gasol

Results: Grizzlies in 6 games

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

Key Players: G Tony Parker and G Stephen Curry

Results: Spurs in 7 games

MLB Recap – April

Best Hitter – 1B Chris Davis (.352 AVG 9 HR 28 RBI) Baltimore Orioles

Best Pitcher – Matt Moore (5-0, 1.13 ERA) Tampa Bay Rays

Best Team – Boston Red Sox 18-8 (7-3 road record)

Division Leaders

American League

Boston Red Sox 18-8

Best Player – P Clay Buchholz (5-0, 1.19 ERA)

Detroit Tigers 15-10

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.363 AVG 4 HR 28 RBI)

Texas Rangers 17-9

Best Player – P Yu Darvish (5-1 2.33 ERA)

National League

Atlanta Braves 17-9

Best Player – OF Justin Upton (.298 AVG 12 HR 19 RBI)

St. Louis Cardinals 15-11

Best Player – P Adam Wainwright (4-2, 2.03 ERA)

Colorado Rockies 16-11

Best Player – C Wilin Rosario (.350 AVG 7 HR 19 RBI)

Wild Card Teams

American League

New York Yankees 16-10

Best Player – 2B Robinson Cano (.327 AVG 7 HR 17 RBI)

Baltimore Orioles 16-11

Best Player – 1B Chris Davis (.352 AVG 9 HR 28 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 14-10

Best Player – P Ervin Santana (3-1, 2.00 ERA)

Oakland Athletics 16-12

Best Player – SS Jed Lowrie (.333 AVG 3 HR 15 RBI)

Minnesota Twins 11-12

Best Player – C Joe Mauer (.287 AVG 2 HR 8 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 12-14

Best Player – P Matt Moore (5-0, 1.13 ERA)

Cleveland Indians 11-13

Best Player – C Carlos Santana (.389 AVG 5 HR 13 RBI)

National League

Milwaukee Brewers 14-11

Best Player – SS Jean Segura (.367 AVG 3 HR 9 RBI)

Arizona Diamondbacks 15-12

Best Player – P Patrick Corbin (3-0, 1.91 ERA)

Pittsburgh Pirates 15-12

Best Player – OF Starling Marte (.327 AVG 2 HR 11 RBI)

San Francisco Giants 15-12

Best Player – P Madison Bumgarner (3-0, 1.55 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 15-13

Best Player – OF Shin-Soo Choo (.337 AVG 4 HR 11 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 13-13

Best Player – 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.333 AVG 2 HR 18 RBI)

Washington Nationals 13-14

Best Player – OF Bryce Harper (.344 AVG 9 HR 18 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 12-15

Best Player – 3B Michael Young (.341 AVG 1 HR 6 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Seattle Mariners 12-17

Best Player – P Hisashi Iwakuma (2-1, 1.67 ERA)

Chicago White Sox 10-15

Best Player – P Addison Reed (8 SV, 1.64 ERA)

Toronto Blue Jays 10-17

Best Player – SS Jose Reyes (.395 AVG 1 HR 5 RBI) they really miss him

Los Angeles Angels 9-17

Best Player – 1B/DH Mark Trumbo (.300 AVG 5 HR 16 RBI)

Houston Astros 8-19

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.324 AVG 1 HR 13 RBI)

National League

New York Mets 10-15

Best Player – P Matt Harvey (4-0, 1.56 ERA)

Chicago Cubs 10-16

Best Player – P Travis Wood (2-1, 2.25 ERA)

San Diego Padres 10-16

Best Player – C Nick Hundley (.329 AVG 3 HR 11 RBI)

Miami Marlins 8-19

Best Player – P Kevin Slowey (0-2, 2.15 ERA)