My guaranteed wrong Derby picks…
Not too shabby of a sports weekend…
HOOK:
“Alvarez-Khan.”
The masses live for the really big fights or MMA. Most don’t know a really, really good one is going down this weekend. Alvarez-Khan should be a stellar fight. Not splitting the atom here, but I like Canelo. Here is my breakdown:
- SPEED: Canelo doesn’t do great with quick hand-speed fighters, and Khan is one of those. But, I think Alvarez has learned some lessons and will be patient until a power punch of his has an opening. There might be some feeling out rounds and he will take a lot of shots, but if he doesn’t try to end it quickly, I think he catches Khan with a couple good ones in the mid-rounds.
- YOUTH: Canelo is younger by four years. I can’t BELIEVE Khan is already 29 years old. That comes into play.
- STREAK: Both fighters are hot right now, but considering Canelo’s only professional loss is against the greatest, I will take his resume over Khan’s.
- OPPORTUNITY: Canelo knows he blew a MONSTER chance when he lost to Floyd. But, he has made it back to the main stage, probably knows this is a golden opportunity, and he won’t blow it.
Canelo takes him in the 7th.
LINE:
“Heavyweights.”
Listen, people. Let’s get real here. The Cleveland-Atlanta series is simply trying to figure out whether it will be 4 or 5 games. The Warriors are cruising without the MVP. Yawn. Not only can’t the Heat nor Raptors beat the Cavs, but we are all still getting over the mockery they BOTH made in the last minutes and OT last night. WHO starts a last play inside of mid-court at 4 seconds left? Tonight is the REAL heavyweight series, and I am at full attention. OKC and San Antonio can both win the whole thing, and they are just feeling each other out right now. One blowout, one last second game with a steal at the other’s crib, and now a pivotal Game 3. Pop already knows all of these things and will probably enact them tonight, but here are my thoughts:
- You never usually rely on one player scoring a lot, Pop. Aldridge should not be scoring this much. That is not what you got him for. Spread it around.
- Guard the pick and roll differently. You are the Spurs. You don’t allow slow seven footers to get slams on pick and rolls.
- Rotation. What worked during the season is not totally being applied now. Aldridge, less minutes. Diaw, more.
- Spacing. Let Tony Parker do his thing.
- Defense. Know that if you do your thing, probably the Thunder can’t play defense like in Game 2.
I think the Spurs right the ship tonight, but not surprised if the Thunder feed off their home crowd and win it close.
Hey, Pop. If you bow out in the playoffs, at least you are suddenly in the conversation to GET Durant now. Wow. THEN, you can let a player score a LOT of points in the game.
SINKER:
“Zac.”
Professional golf. Guy misses shot. Guy hits himself in head out of frustration. Guy gets DQ’d because his putter was bent and it was a “non-conforming club.” Wow.
THE RIVER:
-Who would have thought the Knicks would reach out to Frank Vogel? Lucky guy gets fired and maybe inherits a bad team with Melo on it, but it IS in New York, and it IS under a guy who won’t tolerate losing another few seasons in Phil Jackson.
-Who would have thought there would be articles this week about TRADING the best player in the game?? That is insane. Reached for Josh Hamilton and Albert and it all went downhill from there.
-I read the article, but didn’t enjoy it. Paterno. Ugghhh. Hope it is fluff.
-I said at the beginning of the NHL playoffs that Nashville would be a pest. Some said to me I might be wrong when they went down 2-0 to the Sharks. THAT conversation is now open again after a big win last night that most people I know fell asleep on their couch watching. Nashville might go down in 7, but they are going to beat the living shit out of the Sharks before they advance.
DERBY PICKS:
Gun Runner wins. (love his post position)
Creator places second. (like his position better than Exaggerator’s)
Nyquist gets third. (think he will have too much ground to make up)
On record.
That’s it. Will I blog tomorrow? That is a CLOWN question, bro. Peace.
(just a tagline-probably taking a day off tomorrow-talk to you Sunday)