"Hot in Cleveland"

LeBron James kneels down on the ground in Game 2 of the Cavs 110-77 loss to Warriors in the NBA Finals.

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

LeBron James versus the world has been the recurring storyline throughout King James' career. The same guy who was called "The Chosen One" before he logged a single NBA minute is the same one facing the most tumultuous task of his career. But, this is what James unknowingly signed up for when he entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

The most polarizing sports icon in the twenty-first century. Michael Jordan to most fans across the globe is the "God" of all things basketball therefore James was supposed to be "Jesus".

James probably has just as many fans as critics. He is 2-4 in the NBA Finals. He's not considered a closer because he routinely looks to make the right basketball play instead of taking the last shot in close games. Everyone criticized him for infamously "taking his talents to South Beach".

Criticism is well-deserved but the praise can be scarce at time. James should be appreciated despite several of his faults for the continued excellence he's brought to the game of basketball,

Through an age 31 season there is not another player in NBA history who has played as many minutes in the regular season and postseason as James. He's played almost more minutes in the regular season alone than Magic Johnson did during his postseason and regular season career at the end of his age 31 season. James has played 46,643 minutes in his career (through Game 2 of the Finals) which is a lot for one man let alone a man who has the responsibilities James has each and every night on the basketball court.

James will go down as one of the greatest players of all-time when he's done dribbling a basketball but this Finals could alter his legacy forever. James himself cannot expect anything else.

Who would expect anything else when you become the first player in 50 years to go to six straight NBA Finals?

The Golden State Warriors are standing in between LeBron and his third Finals ring. Now down 2-0 versus the greatest regular season team in NBA history the heat could not be any hotter in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers were embarrassed in Oracle Arena losing by a NBA Finals record combined 48 points through two games in the Finals.

James has looked passive at times though partially due to the fact he's been trying to keep his teammates as involved as possible in the game.

The biggest problem Cleveland has heading into Game 3 is the fact the Cavs do not have any answers defensively for the Warriors. Golden State just proposes too many matchup problems across the board.

The Cavs are at a constant disadvantage because 2/3 of the team's "Big 3" are defensive liabilities. Therefore, Cleveland's starting lineup is playing three on five most of the game on defense. Cleveland has looked brilliant throughout the playoffs due to the fact the Cavs played inferior competition throughout the Eastern Conference.

The last team to comeback from a 2-0 deficit was the 2006 Miami Heat led by Dwyane Wade who won two titles in Miami with James. Wade put Miami on his back and put up one of the most memorable Finals performances in Finals history by averaging 34.7 ppg and making every big shot possible down the stretch versus the Dallas Mavericks.

James challenge looks quite daunting in comparison. Cleveland loss by a record margin through two games and the Splash Bros did not have big games. The duo simply cooled off in the wave pool. James would have to be better than he was last year in the Finals to salvage a series which many thought would go the distance. Kevin Love is playing like the awkward adolescent kid he portrays in State Farm commercials and Kyrie Irving seems to be auditioning for a hoop mixtape.

Love and Irving have to show up. Cavs fans may be "All In" but the team's fans seem to be the only ones. Everyone has to play better or J.R Smith and Tristan Thompson will not be urging the "Big 3" to finish a press conference so the team can celebrate a win. The two will be bragging about who caught the bigger fish on the team fishing trip this summer.

Curry and Thompson are going to Cleveland with plans of only going back to the Bay for a championship parade. The Warriors do not have Game 5 in this team's vocabulary. James better galvanize his troops for Game 3 quick because as he's found out on multiple occasions a finger cannot beat a fist.

"Strength in Numbers"

Shaun Livingston (left) and Steph Curry (right) NBA Finals Game 1 post game interview

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith 

The Warriors are so lethal because of the team's depth. Golden State has worn t-shirts with the message "Strength in Numbers" on them for the last two years during the playoffs. The team's slogan did not resonate any louder than after the team's 104-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Golden State's bench outscored Cleveland's bench 45-10. Led by Peoria, Illinois native Shaun Patrick Livingston.

Most casual fans may not be aware of who Livingston is or know about his game but, his journey does not parallel to any other NBA veteran. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft coming out of Peoria Central High School turning down a chance to play at Duke.

Expectations came and Livingston was not the player some expected. Things did not get any easier when in 2007 Livingston destroyed his knee in a game versus the Charlotte Bobcats.

Many people would have never thought Livingston the guy who tore up every crucial ligament in his knee, the guy who had to learn how to walk again would make a difference on a championship team. He's the same guy who is currently playing for his tenth NBA team and the guy who many thought would never step foot on a basketball court again.

Livingston scored a playoff career-high 20 points on 8/10 shooting from the field including 10 points in the fourth quarter. During the fourth Livingston could not be guarded, taking advantage of every switch and mismatch versus the Cavs draining a barrage of mid-range jumpers.

Livingston led the way but everyone chipped in to lift up the struggling Splash Bros who combined for 20 points. Six teammates outside of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson scored in double figures: Livingston, LeAndro Barbosa, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes.

Barbosa dazzled fans showing he's still the "Brazilian Blur" who won the Sixth Man of the Year in 2007. Barnes got out of an offensive slump and Iguodala's versatility on both sides of the ball showed why he was last year's Finals MVP.

Curry and Thompson are not the only reason the Warriors are a force not to be trifled with, the Warriors are the best regular season team in NBA history because the team plays nine to ten guys every night.

Curry gets hurt. Livingston fills in as the starter and the Warriors don't miss a beat losing only two playoff games without the two-time reigning MVP.

Curry's backcourt mate is currently the leading scorer in the playoffs out of the remaining teams far as points per game (ppg). Thompson also is currently fifth in the NBA in ppg in the 2016 Playoffs.

Golden State's bench proposes serious matchup problems to Cleveland. 

Livingston is a 6'7 guard who loves to post up smaller guards and during switches in the pick roll has the athleticism to beat most bigger defenders off the dribble. He also is a strong mid-range shooter and has the length to get his shot off over most shooters. 

Iguodala is a 6'6 athletic wing who guards positions 1 through 3 on the perimeter, handles the ball, facilitates and can create his own shot.

Barbosa still is a quick guard who can blow past you and shoots the three well. Mauresse Speights better known as "Mo Buckets" is a 6'11 big who can score in bunches with three-point range. One would be wise not to forget Festus Ezeli or Bogut.

Both are strong bigs who can pass the ball and defend the paint well.

The Warriors may be known as the sweet shooting team down by the Bay but this team was constructed with the "next man up" mindset. Several players on one team who all have high basketball IQs, who can pass, cut and shoot the ball well from three-point range, inside the paint or both areas.

Bay Area natives and fans across the globe are treated to the exhibition game style entertainment the Warriors have brought to the basketball world over the last couple of years. 

This series is far from over. Game 2 is Sunday and should the Cavaliers win this series could very well go the seven games many people have expected. 

Everyone may not be fully aware of the "others" on the Warriors squad but basketball is a team sport. Though the Splash Bros are the faces of Golden State basketball the duo are champions because of the strength of the team.

All of the doubters can look to Game 1 of this year's Finals should any validation be needed to show their is "strength in numbers".

The Fairytale Continues...

Steph Curry holds up seven fingers after the Warriors win Game 6 in Oklahoma City before winning Game 7 at home.

The Warriors have been motivated all season to quiet naysayers. Last year the team's championship was considered fraudulent. ESPN analyst Skip Bayless even called it 'the most fortuitous Finals run by an eventual champion.' All of the starting point guards were hurt in each of the four series the Warriors played in including a completely injury ridden Cavaliers squad led by four-time MVP LeBron James. All of the negativity just would become the fuel to the fire of the champs.

The longest unbeaten streak in NBA history, the most road victories in NBA history, the best regular season record, the Coach of the Year, the first unanimous MVP and a long list of other notable accomplishments.

Everything changed for Golden State once the playoffs start. First two-time reigning MVP Steph Curry sprained his ankle during the first game of the team's first round series then he sprains his MCL in Game 3 and would be out of action for the next two weeks.

Golden State would not miss a step without the team's reigning MVP. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green played at another level which allowed Curry to rest and not risk re-injuring his MCL.

The MVP would return in the Western Conference Semifinals versus the Portland Trailblazers. He came off the bench in a pivotal Game 4 in Portland versus a Trailblazers squad who most analyst believed would not make the playoffs after losing four of the team's five starters to free agency last year. Curry struggled to find his shot but was forced to play heavy minutes in his return due to an uncharacteristic ejection by Shaun Livingston. Curry scored 13 points through three quarters looked fatigue and could not find his shot.

Curry didn't make a three-point shot until the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. The game went to overtime and Curry erupted. He scored 17 points including making five three-pointers which would be the most points in an overtime period in NBA history.

Curry and the rest of Golden State won Game 4 and dispatched of the Blazers in five games.

Golden State would face the team's biggest challenge in the playoffs in two years in Oklahoma City led by arguably two of the top five players in the world in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

For the first time all year, the Warriors looked human. The team was staring at a (3-1) deficit versus a team who was coming off a decisive second round win over the second best regular season team in the league this year in the San Antonio Spurs.

People started to count out the Warriors. On the verge of being ridiculed for not getting to the Finals after winning the most regular season games in history. The Splash Bros would not be denied. The two would combine to score 187 points between the two in the final three games of the series to get past the Thunder and get to the NBA Finals.

All of this would not be possible without Thompson's historic Game 6 performance where he set the NBA record for made threes in a postseason game with 11. His 41 points helped the Warriors steal a game in Chesapeake Arena. A building where the team loss by a combined 52 in two previous trips to Oklahoma City in the series.

Thompson kept the game close with his silky smooth shooting until his Splash Bro could join the party. The team now faces a Cleveland Cavaliers squad in a rematch of last year's Finals.

Game 1 went to Golden State not because the Splash Bros rained threes on the Cavs. Golden State won because everyone not named Thompson or Curry seemed to score.

The story just keeps getting better and the next chapter should be just as intriguing as the rest of the story has been thus far.

Aaron Gordon vs. Zach LaVine: The Dunk Off

Aaron Gordon (left) and Zach LaVine (right) did dunks never seen before in the 2016 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest.

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith 

On the eve of Valentine's Day two young NBA players did not mind spreading some love to the NBA fans at the Air Canada Centre during the main event of NBA All-Star Saturday night in Toronto.

The 2016 Verizon NBA Slam Dunk Contest featured: Will Barton, 2016 All-Star Andre Drummond, Aaron Gordon and last year's reigning dunk champ Zach LaVine.

The Dunk Contest has seen more anticlimactic moments than exciting ones since the contests early induction. The contest gained prominence because of the participation of all-time NBA greats in Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan and many more. Though except for a few contests the All-Star Saturday's main-event has not received as much attention partly due to the decline in star players' participation.

After a few dunks the contest seemed to be looking as disappointing as several previous dunk contests in the twenty-first century after marginal dunks and a few misses by Barton and Drummond.

LaVine was a prohibitive favorite based on the performance he put on in last year's contest as reigning champion. The problem was LaVine needed competition and he found competition in the former collegiate standout at Arizona and a former member of the "Freshman Focus" Aaron Gordon.

Gordon put the pressure on LaVine with his between the legs dunk over Stuff the Magic Dragon his team's mascot who was standing on a hoverboard.

The antics did not stop there. LaVine and Gordon became the first contest participants to participate in multiple dunk offs in the same dunk contest.

Stuff the Magic Dragon would make his way to the finals with Gordon as he was a part of the most memorable dunk of the night. Gordon performed a under the legs dunk jumping laterally over the dragon as he simultaneously grabbed the ball off the mascot's head and finished with a tomahawk dunk.

LaVine did not disappoint either. He matched his challenger stride for stride and dunk for dunk. His night was defined by a trio of free throw line dunks. LaVine caught an alley-oop from the free-throw line, did a windmill and won the contest by putting the ball between his legs as he glided from the charity stripe.

The dunk ensemble performed by each player can't even be found on a dunk package on 2K. All of the dunks performed have never been seen before nor have players tried to attempt the dunks before. The contest got to the point where both dunkers were just improvising because both dunkers ran out of ideas.

LaVine had to earn this victory though many still believe Gordon should've won despite LaVine's impressive showing as well. Only one word can sum up the showdown and it's rematch.

LaVine vs Gordon 2, sounds like quite the sequel. I'll see the rest of you when this one comes out.

It Ain't Easy Being the Best

Jordan Spieth's truly historic 2015 has golf experts and sports analyst alike seeing him as the next dominant golfer.

Golf is not an exciting sport. Most casual golf fans have a questionable knowledge of the sport outside of Tiger Woods. The absence of glamour and elation in golf is why the demographic of avid golf fans largely consist of senior citizens.

People want a polarizing figure. An alpha male to dominate the rest of the field or simply a group of golfers who consistently are seen competing for all of golf's major titles. Woods dominated golf for over a decade and was able to draw an astronomical amount of attention to golf thus increasing the fan base as a result. Golf was huge as long as Woods was dominate.

Woods no longer dominates golf any more. He has missed the cut in events he has played in a career-high four times. Rory McIlroy has played well but does not garner the same amount of attention as Woods or Phil Mickelson and has not been dominate.

Augusta National would be the stage to change the fortune of golf, The 2015 Masters paved way for a new star: Jordan Spieth. Spieth tied the 72 hole record at the Masters and became the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win the first two majors of the calendar year.

Spieth has dominated at majors this year. He has finished in the top 4 of all of this year's major championships including winning the Masters and the U.S Open. Spieth also has set the record for the lowest score in majors during the calendar year with a combined score of 54-under in majors this year. He also has captured the No. 1 world ranking in golf.

Spieth has done this all in less than a year. Although, Spieth choked on the final 2 holes at The Open preventing him from getting the win or a shot to play in the playoff in order to win the major. Spieth still has 4 of his 5 career PGA Tour victories during this year and already has about half as many wins as Rory McIlroy.

Spieth's mental toughness and his excellent play in majors has shown he will be around for a long time. He has a ridiculous lead in the race for the FedEx Cup and probably will be voted PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Zach Johnson won The Open but failed to make the cut during the PGA Tour Championship. Jason Day was finally able to win a major when he captured the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits this weekend after constantly finishing in the top 10 in majors without getting the win. Although, Spieth did not complete the calendar grand slam or even the "Tiger Slam" is not a story nor does this diminish the excellence he's exhibited this year. Spieth is only 22 years-old and has a chance to dominate golf for years to come.

Spieth is already a 5-1 favorite to win the 2016 Masters and considering a competitive field consisting of: Jason Day, Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and a plethora of talented young golfers likely will be competing says a lot about how he's dominated for most of 2015.

Will Spieth win 12 more majors to tie Woods for amount of major titles? Maybe not and his ability to produce several more years of dominance in majors shall deem whether this is possible. However,one can safely assume Spieth is truly elite and has the chance to continue to be the best golfer in the game for years to come.

Flip Saunders is diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Flip Saunders earlier today announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma disease.

Cancer is a crippling disease which has killed millions with only a fortunate few who have survived. Several iconic sports figures have suffered from this debilitating disease from George Karl to Curt Schilling. Iconic ESPN anchor Stuart Scott who received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs last year also battled cancer until he pasted away on January 4th, 2015.

Some people are able to deal with the array of chemotherapy treatments and beat cancer. Hall of Fame pitcher and Baseball Tonight analyst Curt Schilling and former NBA Coach of the Year George Karl survived but not too many people outside of Schilling and Karl have been fortunate enough to be diagnosed with cancer and live to tell the tell.

Flip Saunders is currently the coach, team president and part owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Saunders has been a coach for 17 seasons in the NBA and has made the playoffs 11 of the 14 full seasons he has coached including four Conference Finals appearances.

Saunders has built a legacy with Minnesota from his four years playing at the University of Minnesota to coaching 10 straight seasons with the Timberwolves during the Kevin Garnett era. He also seems to be the man capable of pulling Minnesota out of a 10-year playoff drought. This is also the last time Saunders coached the Timberwolves.

Last year president Saunders drafted athletic combo guard and 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk champ Zach LaVine out of UCLA and got rid of perennial All-Star Kevin Love but, picked up the 2014 NBA Draft's first overall pick and 2015 Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins. He followed up by drafting Karl Anthony-Towns from the University of Kentucky with the No. 1 overall pick and trading for 2015 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Tyus Jones out of Duke.

Saunders has stated he will undergo chemotherapy treatment soon and will still coach the Timberwolves this season. Although, Minnesota says the organization will work around his schedule as he deals with this dire situation.

Basketball aside cancer is not something to be taken lightly. The disease affects millions from the people who unfortunately acquire the disease to the loved ones of the patients who deal with cancer. Hopefully Saunders is able to defeat cancer and continue to live life to the fullest.

2015 Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins

The Race to the World Series Begins!

Cespedes (top left), Cueto (top right) and Price (bottom) are three All-Stars who were dealt at the deadline to help make a postseason push.

By: Lamar "L.A" Smith

The World Series is a stage MLB players dream about in bed as kids and constantly during a grueling 162 game season once in the majors. As the season progresses GMs move at a feverish pace to improve the rosters each team has in attempt to play in the Fall Classic. The trade deadline in baseball is more unique than any other in sports. Teams trade franchise players in return for young prospects, dump a variety of players to save money in salary and rent some of the best players in the game in an attempt to win a championship or retool a roster.

The Giants, Royals, Dodgers, Astros and Nationals are all championship contenders who made moves at the trade deadline. The Giants picked up starting pitcher Mike Leake (9-6, 3.52 ERA) from the Cincinnati Reds for a pair of  prospects. San Francisco gets a strong starter on a a low salary to strengthen the back end of the team's pitching rotation. The Royals who are the reigning AL champs acquired Johnny Cueto (7-6, 2.70 ERA), Kansas City is near the bottom or at the bottom of all major statistics for starting pitching staffs. Cueto was acquired to hopefully fulfill the role current San Diego Padres starting pitcher James Shields held for the Royals last October.

The Dodgers needed starting pitching depth after losing newly acquired Brandon McCarthy for the year who tore his UCL and have Hyun-Jin Ryu out as well. The team already has two aces in Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw who both have recently put up at least 37 scoreless inning streaks recently. Mat Latos (4-7, 4.29 ERA) traded from the Cincinnati Reds and Alex Wood (7-6, 3.54 ERA) traded from the Atlanta Braves look to give the Dodgers the starting  pitching depth the team needed. The Astros needed another ace pitcher and another bat so the team got Scott Kazmir (6-5, 2.10 ERA) and Carlos Gomez (8 HRs, 45 RBIs). 

The Nationals have been famous for squandering late leads in the team's last two postseason appearances, once against the St. Louis Cardinals and once again versus the World Series winning San Francisco Giants last year. Therefore getting 6-time All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon (18 saves, 1.55 ERA) was a must. Papelbon is a World Series champ with a 1.00 ERA throughout his playoff career. In contrast to former closer Drew Storen (29 saves, 1.64 ERA) who has a 8.44 ERA in the postseason including a collapse in the 2012 NL Divisional Series in which he blew a save and cost the Nationals the deciding Game 5 at home.

The rest of the season should be interesting. The New York Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes (18 HRs, 61 RBIs) in hopes of adding a strong hitter to help win the NL East division versus the reigning NL East champ the Washington Nationals. The Toronto Blue Jays who are six games behind the New York Yankees for the AL East division lead and one game behind the Minnesota Twins for the second wild card spot. Toronto picked up two All-Stars in shortstop Troy Tulowitski (13 HRs, 57 RBIs) and David Price (9-4, 2.53 ERA). Price is the most important pick up because he gives a weak starting pitching rotation a true ace to go along with the best offense in the majors (1st in runs scored).

The acquisition of Price should help Toronto end the longest playoff drought (21 years) in baseball. The Blue Jays last appearance in the playoffs saw Toronto win the World Series in 1993.

The winner at the deadline is something one can only answer once the season ends. Although, between Cueto and the Royals, Kazmir and the Astros, Cespedes and the Mets and Price and the Blue Jays the MLB trade deadline did not disappoint.