Sports Update for May 3rd

NBA

What a game between the New Jersey Nets and the Chicago Bulls! Both teams have shown their strengths and resilience in this series, with the Bulls constantly plagued by injuries, nonetheless managing to win three consecutive games after dropping the first game. One of the wins for Chicago was a tremendous comeback from 14 points down very late in the game to win it in overtime. But the Nets showed their stuff as well, solidly defeating the Bulls in Brooklyn in Game 5, and then showing patience and poise in Game 6, hanging on for a tough, and obviously very necessary road win, to force the decisive Game 7!

It has been a strange series between the Knicks and the Celtics. At first, the Knicks raced out to a 3-0 series lead, and looked like they would sweep Boston, who had never looked so old. But with Boston winning the last two consecutive games, and hosting the next game, suddenly the Celtics have new life, and look ready to push this to the limit, and possibly even to win it. The Knicks are imploding, and losing their cool. Let's see if they can pull off a win on the road to clinch it, or if they allow things to get really scary for them, should the Celtics hang on and win. Is it me, or do these Knicks seem to suspiciously resemble the perennially underachieving, but very talented, Knicks clubs of the past?

The Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks are having a heated series, with the home team having won each game thus far. The Hawks host the Pacers tonight, with hopes of continuing the perfect record by both teams with home court advantage so far, although they would obviously hope to break it with a win in Game 7. But the Pacers, should they win the first road game by either team tonight, would clinch the series and advance, awaiting the winner of the Knicks and Celtics.

The Golden State Warriors shocked the Denver Nuggets, who had looked surprisingly strong all season behind the coaching of George Carl, surviving many challenges, including a number of seemingly crippling injuries, to reach the number three seed in the West at 57-25. Some people were thinking they might have finally come of age, and reached that elusive championship level. Yet, they basically got handled far too easily in this series. The Warriors, to their credit, really seem to be moving in the right direction.

The Oklahoma City Thunder looked like they had enough of an advantage in their series to perhaps deliver a knock out blow by now. They were up 3-0 in the series, and it looked like a laugher, a typical first round sweep by the top seed over a much weaker eighth seed. Houston managed to avoid the sweep with a win in Game 4, but that was not such a big deal. But what was a shocker was the way Houston dominated OKC in the fifth game on the road, which means they will now host the Thunder in Game 6. Harden just kept ripping them, and showed why they will miss him. A key injury for OKC has not helped their cause, either. The Thunder will really be hard pressed if they lose that, and it comes down to a final, winner takes all deciding game.

The Los Angeles Clippers also had a sizeable advantage, seeming to dictate the series against Memphis with wins in the first two. But Memphis has absolutely dominated since, and have a chance to clinch it all at home should they win tonight. For such a talented team as the Clippers, it would suggest that something is really wrong, and adjustments needs to be made.

NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks were red-hot all year, but they had to hold on to cling for a victory in the opener for a 1-0 series lead. Tonight, the Wild will get another crack at them in Chicago, and try to take away Chicago's hard earned home ice advantage.  Should be interesting!

Man, the St. Louis Blues look pissed off, don't they? In a rematch with the defending champion Los Angeles Kings, the Blues seem intent on avenging their embarrassing sweep loss last year by possibly doing the same to the Kings this time around. They have won the first two games quite convincingly, and have the Sharks clearly on the ropes. If they manage to win the next game, or at the very least take one of the next two in Los Angeles, it would be hard to picture the Kings battling back. They may have been the team of 2012, but this is a different year now.

The Canucks have ended each of their recent seasons with huge disappointments. They made the Cup finals two years ago, and held a 3-2 series lead, only to lose the final two - including the deciding Game 7 at home. Then, last season, they were the first victims of the suddenly red hot Los Angeles Kings. So, they were hoping to work for better results this time around, but a home loss to San Jose to open this series has to have been discouraging. Let';s see how they bounce back for the next game, as the series resumes tonight.

Detroit managed to tie their series with Anaheim by getting a big victory in Game 2 on the road, as the series now shifts to Detroit for the next two games.

Ottawa and Montreal played a very physical battle to open up that series last night, with Ottawa beating up on the Canadiens. Lars Eller was knocked out of the game, and his conditional is questionable right now. Anderson was very solid in the net for the Senators, who took the game, and home ice advantage away from the second seeded Canadiens. The series resumes tonight at the Centre Bell in Montreal.

The Capitals handled the Rangers in Washington to grab a 1-0 series lead.

Pittsburgh absolutely crushed the Islanders in the first game, scoring early and often and rolling over the Islanders, 5-0. Not the way you want to start a series if you're New York. But the series resumes tonight, and let's see how the Islanders respond, and if they can bounce back, or if perhaps Pittsburgh truly is just too much for them.

Toronto hopes for better results when their series with Boston resumes tomorrow, having been completely physically beaten in the series opener.

Boxing

Is anyone else hoping that Mayweather fails to end his career with a perfect record? Arrogant and physically abusive with his wife, maybe he is not the model of "perfection" for all time. But an undefeated career would indeed place him as one of the true boxing greats. At least in terms of skill, although the question is open regarding character. Bring back Muhammad Ali!