A 380 Full Breakdown: 2015 Stanley Cup Finals

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay was the first team to beat 3 teams apart of the "Original Six" hockey clubs in order to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals and could be the first to beat 4 of the "Original Six" to win it all. A tightly contested Conference Finals which both went the distance have created the necessary momentum to expect none other than a great Stanley Cup Final. Both the Lightning and the Blackhawks clinched their series on the road in hostile environments in Game 7. The Blackhawks won vs. Anaheim after being down 3-2 in the series and Ben Bishop outplayed Henrik Lundqvist at MSG.

 How we got here?

Chicago beat the Nashville Predators in 6 games in the 1st round, the Minnesota Wild in the Conference Semifinals 4-0 and beat the Anaheim Ducks in 7 games including a Game 7 on the road. Chicago's first test was the Nashville Predators who were led by playmaker and sniper Filip Forsberg. After handling the Predators thanks to the heroics by rookie goalie Scott Darling, the Blackhawks faced the Wild who have been dominated by Chicago the last couple of postseasons with each year looking more egregious than the next. Finally they beat Anaheim who was the best team in the West by dominating the Ducks 5-3 in a game where the Blackhawks were up by as many as 3 goals on 2 separate occasions.

Tampa Bay faced a tough road to get to this stage facing the Red Wings, Canadiens and the Rangers. The Lightning faced the Red Wings in a gritty series in which they were down 1-0, 2-1 & 3-2 in the series before winning the last 2 games to move on. The Bolts went up against Montreal in the Conference Semis and their Olympic Gold Medal winning goalie Carey Price. Tampa went up 3-0 in the series before dropping the next 2 and dominating the Canadiens 4-1 in a Game 6 home-clincher. The Lightning was truly tested when they faced the New York Rangers a playoff team which was coming off a series win where the team was down 3-1 and rallied past the Washington Capitals. Bishop recorded a shutout in Madison Square Garden ousting the Rangers and beating Lundqvist one of the best goalies in the NHL.

This year's Stanley Cup Final should be just what hockey fans want to see speed, speed and just in case I wasn't clear SPEED.

Goalies  

One of the hardest things to gauge about these two teams are the goalies. Ben Bishop is the new kid on the block who has been making his name in the playoffs this year and has oddly played his best hockey on the road and not at home. Bishop is 7-3 on the road and has 2 shutouts this postseason which both were vs. the Rangers last round in Games 5 and 7.

Corey Crawford is 2013 Stanley Cup winning goalie and has come up big for the Blackhawks time after time the last few years in the postseason. He struggled early in the first round vs. the Predators and was pulled in favor of rookie goalie Scott Darling who played strong before Crawford got his call again to start.

Bishop is hot and Crawford has shown some vulnerability this postseason so I'll give Bishop the slight edge despite his lack of Stanley Cup  Finals experience over Crawford.

Star Power

The Bolts and Hawks will not be short of stars as the two matchup in what looks to be a long series.

Chicago brings Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp who all are some of the most offensively gifted players in the NHL and have been with the Blackhawks who have been to 3 of the last 6 Stanley Cup Finals including 2 of the last 3. Kane and Toews are both former Conn Smythe Trophy winners proving their meddle in the Stanley Cup Finals. Kane's clinched the trios first Stanley Cup with the series-clinching goal in OT of Game 6 vs the Flyers from a ridiculous angle to win the Stanley Cup. The Hawks also have two of the best play-making defensemen in Duncan Keith and Brian Seabrook which constantly makes Chicago a threat to score.

Tampa Bay rides the back of Steven Stamkos. Stamkos has been the face of the franchise since he was drafted first overall in 2008 and will be looked at to end an 11-year drought and bring back the hardware to The Big Guava. Tampa also has Tyler Johnson who is tied with Stamkos for 14th during the NHL regular season in points. Though Johnson was more of a playmaker with 43 assists during the season to Stamkos 43 goals this season. Although Tyler Johnson has been rolling all postseason with 12 goals which is tied for a franchise record currently and leads all NHL players this postseason.

This series has an abundance of stars with Johnson and Stamkos playing at their best versus the dynamic duo of Toews and Kane. The difference maker is the stellar play in the Stanley Cup consistently by Toews and Kane, and the Blackhawks also have the best defenseman in the playoffs in Duncan Keith. Keith also happens to be a really strong offensive player. Chicago definitely has more stars, therefore the Blackhawks have the advantage.

Power Play

Tampa Bay has scored 16 goals on the power play this postseason. They are led by Ondrej Palat (4 goals) and Nikita Kucherov (3 goals) who have both been very effective on the power play. The team did pretty good scoring on the power play scoring 7 goals out of 22 opportunities which accounted for nearly half the team's power play production in the postseason. Though, the team's penalty kill unit wasn't as effective, allowing the Rangers to score 7/24 on power play chances.

Chicago has scored 10 goals on the power play this postseason. The team is led by Jonathan Toews who has 3 goals and 1 shorthanded goal. The Blackhawks were awful during the Western Conference Finals vs. Anaheim going only 5/26 on the power play. Although, the team also held the Ducks to 3/18 on the power play.

One team was pretty good scoring on the power play. The other wasn't particularly good at scoring during extra opportunity chances. The difference is Chicago's penalty kill unit was spectacular last round in comparison to the Lightning who defended the power play poorly last round. Another tight one but, I give Chicago the slight edge considering the team's ability to kill power plays.

Experience

This is not even close, Chicago has more experience by miles. The team has been to 3 Stanley Cup Finals' in 6 years and 4 Western Conference Finals' in 7 years. The Blackhawks know what to do when the game gets tight and the Lightning will have to play 60 strong minutes on the ice to be crowned the 2015 Stanley Cup Champs.

The Pick

The Blackhawks have the experience and have a strong supporting cast from: Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw to even guys like Antoine Vermette and Bryan Bickell; someone will step up when the moment comes. Tampa Bay has a hot goalie in Ben Bishop and 2 of the best in the game in Tyler Johnson and Steven Stamkos. But, in a series where home-ice doesn't mean anything and your starting goalie actually plays better on the road, the odds are never in your favor. A high-octane series but, I have Chicago in 6. Game 6 in Chicago will see the Blackhawks clinch the title. Series could go 7 but I doubt the Blackhawks choke.

The Curse Is Back?

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

The Curse Is Back?

The Clippers' franchise is constantly treated like second-class citizens in Los Angeles. Since the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to L.A. in 1960, the city of Los Angeles has been Lakerland, the Lake show or the city of Purple & Gold. The Clippers cannot replace the Lakers especially not after 45 years of bad basketball including 31 years while in the City of Angels.

Chris Paul's response to a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Houston Rockets in Houston after leading the series 3-1. Paul quotes Ricky Bobby the character played by Will Ferrell in the movie Talladega Nights.

"If your not first you're last."

This quote personifies the amount of anguish CP3 and the Clippers franchise has been through. Chris Paul is an 8-time NBA All-Star and next year could become first on a couple lists earning him a few dubious distinctions as well.

Paul has played 65 playoff games without reaching the Conference Finals which is the most among active NBA players. Paul also only has to play 5 more games to top that list next season, assuming the Clippers go back to the playoffs and win at least a game. Paul also has the second most amount of All-Star Game appearances without a trip to the Conference Finals behind Dominique Wilkins (9).

The Clippers are still one of only four franchises who have yet to make it to the Conference Finals. The Clips will only have but so many chances before they will be seen only as the franchise plagued by losing. The Raptors, Hornets and Pelicans have also never been to the Conference Finals but they currently do not have lofty expectations. Since Chris Paul was traded to the Clippers instead of the Lakers 4 years ago, the people of Los Angeles were now hopeful for the new persona the Clips had which was "Lob City". A perennial title-contender was expected with a nucleus consisting of young bigmen oozing potential in: DeAndre Jordan,  Blake Griffin and the team's new floor general Chris Paul.

Instead of "Lob City" Los Angeles has been "Sob City". A franchise full of disappointments continues to look at the more successful franchise in the other locker room and ask themselves: Why us? Why do the Clippers seem to find ways to lose games? This is a question everyone wants to know the answer to.

Doc Rivers the only coach to squander two 3-1 leads in the playoffs. Rivers also squandered a 3-1 lead vs the Pistons in 2003 while coaching the Magic. In contrast, Kevin McHale is the first person to comeback from 3-1 series leads as a player and a coach. McHale's coaching includes coaching the Rockets to a No. 2 seed after an injury plagued season and keeping Harden out of the game in a Game 6 comeback vs the Clippers.

A Game 5 collapse in Oklahoma City including a foul by Chris Paul on Russell Westbrook who sank the game-winning free throws to win Game 5 as the Thunder would go on to win the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals series vs. the Clippers. The Clippers would duplicate another misfortunate playoff run this year becoming the 9th team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 lead in the playoffs. This is including a 19-pt lead in Game 6 in L.A. which turned into a 49-18 run by Houston who won Game 6 and the series.

Another year has ended and even more questions are proposed to a franchise which is now devoid of hope. Maybe fans saw this outcome coming when Doc Rivers traded a two-way player in Jared Dudley or decided not to pay Darren Collison money to comeback in free agency. Doc tried to make amends for his mistake by signing Jordan Farmar and Spencer Hawes but, those acquisitions didn't pan out. However, this offseason Doc Rivers will have his work cut out for him from resigning DeAndre Jordan to finding some way to upgrade the Clippers' porous bench.

Are the Clippers cursed? The fans who have watched this year's NBA Playoffs may think this is already apparent.

'I have the blood of a champion. Championship blood runs through my veins.'

Jason Terry made this statement once the Rockets completed a 3-1 series comeback vs the Los Angeles Clippers. The quote is a derivative of Rudy Tomjanovich's proclamation "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion."

It seems we learned a few things about the Clippers this year they aren't sitting at home because Houston was head and shoulders better than them. It is because when Houston's back was against the wall they fought back in contrast to the Clippers who crumbled.

Houston simply wanted it more. The team with more heart won the series.

The Miami Mafia Is Back!

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

Thirty-nine players move in the busiest NBA Trade Deadline in 25 years but, the biggest surprise was how one team seemed to tame a "dragon".

Goran "Dragon" Dragic was the dragon obtained in the trade. The disgruntle point guard no longer wanted to play in Phoenix. As a result, the Phoenix Suns traded Dragic and his brother Zoran to the Miami Heat for Danny Granger, a 2017 1st-round pick, a 2021 1st-round pick and John Salmons from New Orleans who they plan on waiving. New Orleans who was apart of this three-team trade received Norris Cole, Shawne Williams and Justin Hamilton.

"I don't trust them anymore." said Dragic after his Wednesday practice in Phoenix.

Dragic was unhappy with his role as a spot-up shooter in the Phoenix offense. Dragic wanted to go to Miami, New York or Los Angeles and Miami was his No. 1 choice. Dragic who was All-NBA Third Team avg. a career-high 20.3 ppg and 5.9 apg for an injury plagued Suns team who barely missed the playoffs with a 48-34 record last season. Dragic a wizard with the ball and a great finisher will be asked to play with the same pace and fluidity he did last season and in some of his games this season.

Dragic who is averaging 16.2 ppg 4.1 apg and 3.6 rpg upgrades the point guard position for the Heat. The Heat are last in the league in pace, 28th in ppg only avg. 92.8 pts, 29th in apg with 20.1 asts and 18th in three-point percentage. Dragic who leads all guards in field goal percentage in the restricted area shooting 71% which is higher than LeBron James. Dragic also is 2nd among all guards in field-goal percentage shooting 50.1% and he also shoots 35.5% from 3-pt range.

Chris Bosh recently was hospitalized due to a possible blood clot on his lungs which would end his NBA season. Precaution is necessary especially with the recent death of NBA veteran Jerome Kersey who played in the league for 15 years, died from similar complications. Now more than ever the Heat need Dragic's production.


At 23-30 and 7th in the East, Miami looks to set ablaze like an inferno. A legitimate scare to anyone in the East with a combination of experience and talent, the skill set of Dragic makes it so opposing point guards can no longer look at the Heat's starting point guard like BBQ chicken.

A healthy starting lineup of Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh and emerging young center Hassan Whiteside is arguably the best in the league. Add Mario Chalmers, Chris "Birdman" Andersen, James Ennis and Shabazz Napier off the bench and the Heat become legitimate contenders in the top heavy Eastern Conference.