NBA FINALS: 5-1 ATS
VINNY'S STANLEY CUP FINALS PICKS: 5-1
KYLE'S NHL PICKS TO DATE: 51-39-1
KYLE'S MLB PICKS TO DATE: 166-136-7
KYLE'S UFC PICKS: 14-8*
KYLE'S TENNIS PICKS: 2-0
It was brutal - the kind of loss that even the casual fan will feel gutted by, the kind of loss that leaves you despondent and irritable in the moment, hopeless for the future, and even regretful of the past. It was the kind of loss that's lying next you later that night when you wake up to pee just waiting to say, "Yup. That happened. Hurts doesn't it?" When Ray Allen's three pointer with five seconds left in regulation hit the bottom of the net, I empathized deeply with the Spurs fans for a moment but held tightly to the silver lining that I was going into OT up by six and half points.
As an aging coach and competitor who knows how difficult it is to win an NBA title, watching one slip through his fingers in the final 30 seconds of regulation was probably like watching the roulette ball come to comfortable rest on your number right before some mysterious universal force or natural disaster or 6'9" 275 pound four-time MVP comes along and bumps the table just enough to change the course of history. San Antonio Spurs coach, Gregg Popavich, has never been accused of charming the media, but even he reached new heights of condescension in the post-game press conference. These were a couple of my favorite Q & A's:
Q. Did you take into consideration fouling up by three with the final seconds of regulation?
COACH GREGG POPOVICH: That's a European question, right?
Q. Yes. We usually do in Italy and Europe, anyways.
COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Right. We don't.
Q. Coach, what do you do for Game 7? How do you get your guys into Game 7?
COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Get them on a bus, it arrives at the ramp over here, we get off the bus, we get on the court and we play. That's how we get ready.
If you'd like to enjoy the complete interview:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1677821-gregg-popovich-not-a-happy-camper-after-game-6-nightmare?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nba
So that's it. In my first season covering the NBA Playoffs, we have a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Can the Spurs recover from such devastation? Will the Heat's first ATS loss after a real loss be enough to dethrone the champs? Will LeBron James put his headband back on, or will this become his new "business" attire? I hope it's all of the above, and to be honest going 5-1 ATS through six games when neither team playing has done that makes Marco and I feel like the real champions.
Now - and I never thought I'd say this with such enthusiasm - let's talk about hockey.
STANLEY CUP FINAL
Chicago Blackhawks @ BOSTON BRUINS: My thoughts heading to Boston was that the teams would split the games and return to Chicago tied 2-2. After Boston's dominating performance, I began to doubt myself. Doubt, however, is Vegas's best friend - so I'm sticking with my gut here. There's no question the Boston Bruins have outplayed the Chicago Blackhawks, but a deflection here, a missed block there, and this series could be 2-1 Chicago.
So, if Corey Crawford can figure out how to block high shots - where all seven of the Bruins goals have found the net - and the Blackhawks can take advantage of the numerous power play opportunities they are gaining (0-11 in the Final), then they should be able to pull out a victory in Boston. The way Bruins goalie Tuukka is playing, however, I don't see them scoring much, so they'll have to step up their defense, too.
Marian Hossa will be back for Chicago, but Jonathon Toews - who is having the worst post-season of his career - is going to have to pitch in and remind us all why he's revered as one of the best in the world. This is going to be a grind out battle and whoever scores first will win the game - because it might be the only goal of the game.
Take the Chicago Blackhawks, the UNDER, and watch them pull out a 1-0 win.
Vinny and Marco
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