Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Back to Back Champions: “Elvis Has Just Left the Building”
The whistle heard around the hockey world. A non-goal that should have have been a goal early in the second period was not the straw that broke the Nashville Predators’ back, but the beginning of the end. The Pittsburgh Penguins led by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Matt Murray captured their third title during the “Crosby Malkin Era” and fifth in franchise history this past Sunday. The path for both teams was not an easy one. The Penguins, love them or hate them, played with a largely depleted lineup, and had to go through a Nashville Team that was 9-1 on home ice coming into Sunday's game. The controversy, the awful officiating and the hostile Nashville fans made for a great feeling back in Pittsburgh with 1:35 left on the clock. Patrick Hornqvist, the former Nashville Predators, sent his former team to the golf course on the 87th day of playoff hockey. How did he do it? The only way Hornqvist would, starting in front of the net and finishing with a goal from behind the net that banked off Pekka Rennee’s back and into the net. What did you think of the service? How did you feel about the NHL playoffs as a hole? Does this make this Pittsburgh Penguins team in the same category as other great NHL dynasties? Without a shadow of doubt this team deserves to be in the Conversation that's for sure.
The Whistle that Should Not Have Been
Kevin Pollok was out of position at 18:53 of the second period when a shot from Filip Forsberg rifled a shot to the left of Matt Murray. From Pollok’s vantage point that was the end of the play and Murray had frozen the puck. While Pollok was blowing his whistle due to losing site of the puck, Colton Sissons put the clearly loose puck in the back of the net. Pollok blowing his whistle early robbed the Predators of a 1-0 lead "You can discuss that all you want. Obviously 1-0 is better than a tight game. I think it should have been a goal but at the same time you can't do anything about it," Forsberg said. This was a shot to the heart of the Predators, but did not cost them the game. For 32 seconds of the third period the Predators had a 5-3 power play when they failed to capitalize, the momentum from killing that penalty carried the Penguins to the closing minutes of the game. That is when the former Nashville Predator struck with 1:35 left in a pivotal game six of the Stanley Cup Finals.
A Trade Comes Full Circle
On July 27th, 2014, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded James Neal to the Nashville Predators for Patrick Hornqvist. With 1:35 left to play in game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, that trade came full circle and Hornqvist broke the hearts of an entire city. Scoring a goal against his former team to win the Stanley Cup made it that much more special. "This is where I've been playing most of my games and to win it and score that goal here, it couldn't end any better for me." How did he do it you ask? The same way Hornqvist has made a name for himself since his arrival in Pittsburgh, causing havoc in front of the net, chasing down a loose puck, and banking it off the back of Pekka Rinne. With 14 seconds left to play Carl Hagelin slammed to door shut on the Predators and locked up the Penguins third Stanley cup in the Crosby, Malkin era. They also become the first team to repeat as champions since the 97’-98’ Detroit Redwings, and the first team to do so in the salary cap era.
The best and worst thing that could have happened to the NHL was this final series. On one hand Sidney Crosby, the face of the NHL wins his third ring, back to back Conn Smythe trophy and having an atmosphere like Nashville a 16 seed who no one ever saw making it this far. The Predators all but pushed the defending and now reigning Champs to the brink. Nashville’s fans were loud, the atmosphere was amazing and two good hockey teams battled tooth and nail to hoist Lord Stanley's cup. That is the good. The bad was a playoff issue and that was the officiating, which was inconsistent and at times filled with make calls and no calls for all 16 teams involved. The NHL needs to strongly look at the way their officials conduct themselves in these playoffs. The biggest point for this need to reevaluate, is what occurred at 18:53 of the second period in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In the end , my title pays homage to the great announcer Mike Lange “Spit shine my shoes Sidney” and “you can tell your ma, you can tell your pa, I'm sending you back to Arkansas. The Pittsburgh Penguins are repeat champions”.
Written by:
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by:
References
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/102756526/
https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-nashville-predators-game-6-recap/c-289884970
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/19610362/nashville-predators-goal-game-6-called-quick-whistle
https://www.google.com/amp/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/nhl/2017/6/12/15780346/penguins-stanley-cup-champions-2017
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
King James vs His Airness Michael Jordan: A Tale of two different Giants!
For years now we have heard the debate about LeBron James and Michael Jordan, as questions have surfaced regarding who is better? There are those that say without a shadow of doubt that it is Jordan, and there are those that say it is James. Many on the Jordan side say rings are what make Michael the better of the two. This should not be the argument for two players who play completely different styles of basketball. Stats do tell a very loud argument that James is the better of the two. Again, these are two completely different basketball players. Putting biases aside, who do you think is the better all-around player?
His Airness
Michael Jordan hit one of the most iconic shots in NCAA history and thus, the legend was born. He was drafted with the third overall pick in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls as a shooting guard/small forward. Here are what Jordan's career stats look like: 30.1 points per game, 5.3 assists,2.3 steals, 6.2 rebounds. Let's focus on the second stat there, just over 5 assists per game Michael was a scorer we all know this, but was Michael out there to make his teammates better? From all accounts, Michael was not a “pass first player”, and he did not have to be when he wanted to, he could take over games and the other four players were along for the show. When this happened, Jordan’s mentality was “give me the ball and get out of my way player.” So, was Mike a better basketball player and teammate then LeBron? The answer is yes because it was about winning and not just about stats. He had what a lot of experts call the killer instinct when Michael wanted to take a game over he did and the highlight reels show this to be true. Jordan could just be Jordan with a great surrounding cast that many people forget about Pippen, Rodman, Kerr, Harper, and Grant.
He had other players that were quite capable but at the end of the day, it was Mikes show. The 6-6 guard has the edge on James in scoring titles, rings, finals MVPs (currently). The other thing Michael had that James has never had in his career was a gambling issue that stained the NBA in 1993 an issue that some believe was an alternative factor in Jordan stepping away from basketball along with the loss of his father. Now there is no question that Michael left his mark on the game and made the game better at a time when the NBA was floundering. But, as a basketball player and a teammate, it still goes back to Michael only worried about winning, if that meant he had to score 61 in a playoff game, he would but he used his surrounding cast to the best of his ability. At the end of the game was Michael passing the on a game winning shot? Ask that question to the 1992 Detroit Pistons or the 1998 Utah Jazz, that killer instinct that fans loved so much was in full view. That same killer instinct has been questioned in LeBron James, but let us look a little deeper at the King.
King James
LeBron James drafted first overall in the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers has been chasing the “Ghost from Chicago” since he stepped into the league. Looking at James stats: 27.1 points per game, 7.0 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 50.1% field goal percentage, and can play every spot on the court at 6-8 250 pounds. Yes, LeBron only has 3 rings in 7 appearances but one of those 7 appearances is where I want to make my argument. 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers, can you name the roster? LeBron James took the likes of Eric Snow, Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Illgauskas. Yes, that is the supporting cast the LeBron James had when he went to and lost his first finals appearance. He finished that series with 22 points per game adding 7.0 rebounds a game and just under 7 assists, what he did not have and has not had constantly in his career is that killer instinct to go and take a game over and win it by himself. There should be no question LeBron makes his team better not just by scoring but by all the little intangibles he adds to the team on and off the court. The court vision, the freakish ability for a man his size, the knowledge and understanding of the game of basketball. Those are what make James a great basketball player.
The Decision
When Michael came into the league, he was the first of his kind and did not have to chase ghost or compete to be known as the greatest of all time. That title was placed upon his head due to the exceptional things he did. He had an entire generation of wanting to “Be like Mike”. LeBron has been chasing again from his own words “the Ghost in Chicago” since he stepped on an NBA floor. For me it still must be Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. For one simple reason, everyone who grew up during the Michael Jordan Era wanted to “Be Like Mike” that includes LeBron James, the difference between the rest of us and James is LeBron did it better than the rest of us. On my list, it is Michael number one Kobe number two and LeBron number 3 for the simple fact the first two guys had killer instinct every time they stepped on the floor, sometime in my opinion that killer instinct is not there in LeBron. You know how I feel, who is in your opinion the greatest of all time? Let the debate continue.
Written by
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by
Daniel Bishop M.A.
References
http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/lebron_james_vs_michael_jordan.htm
https://www.google.com/amp/sportsworld.nbcsports.com/michael-jordan-vs-lebron-james/amp/
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2007.html
His Airness
Michael Jordan hit one of the most iconic shots in NCAA history and thus, the legend was born. He was drafted with the third overall pick in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls as a shooting guard/small forward. Here are what Jordan's career stats look like: 30.1 points per game, 5.3 assists,2.3 steals, 6.2 rebounds. Let's focus on the second stat there, just over 5 assists per game Michael was a scorer we all know this, but was Michael out there to make his teammates better? From all accounts, Michael was not a “pass first player”, and he did not have to be when he wanted to, he could take over games and the other four players were along for the show. When this happened, Jordan’s mentality was “give me the ball and get out of my way player.” So, was Mike a better basketball player and teammate then LeBron? The answer is yes because it was about winning and not just about stats. He had what a lot of experts call the killer instinct when Michael wanted to take a game over he did and the highlight reels show this to be true. Jordan could just be Jordan with a great surrounding cast that many people forget about Pippen, Rodman, Kerr, Harper, and Grant.
He had other players that were quite capable but at the end of the day, it was Mikes show. The 6-6 guard has the edge on James in scoring titles, rings, finals MVPs (currently). The other thing Michael had that James has never had in his career was a gambling issue that stained the NBA in 1993 an issue that some believe was an alternative factor in Jordan stepping away from basketball along with the loss of his father. Now there is no question that Michael left his mark on the game and made the game better at a time when the NBA was floundering. But, as a basketball player and a teammate, it still goes back to Michael only worried about winning, if that meant he had to score 61 in a playoff game, he would but he used his surrounding cast to the best of his ability. At the end of the game was Michael passing the on a game winning shot? Ask that question to the 1992 Detroit Pistons or the 1998 Utah Jazz, that killer instinct that fans loved so much was in full view. That same killer instinct has been questioned in LeBron James, but let us look a little deeper at the King.
King James
LeBron James drafted first overall in the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers has been chasing the “Ghost from Chicago” since he stepped into the league. Looking at James stats: 27.1 points per game, 7.0 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 50.1% field goal percentage, and can play every spot on the court at 6-8 250 pounds. Yes, LeBron only has 3 rings in 7 appearances but one of those 7 appearances is where I want to make my argument. 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers, can you name the roster? LeBron James took the likes of Eric Snow, Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Illgauskas. Yes, that is the supporting cast the LeBron James had when he went to and lost his first finals appearance. He finished that series with 22 points per game adding 7.0 rebounds a game and just under 7 assists, what he did not have and has not had constantly in his career is that killer instinct to go and take a game over and win it by himself. There should be no question LeBron makes his team better not just by scoring but by all the little intangibles he adds to the team on and off the court. The court vision, the freakish ability for a man his size, the knowledge and understanding of the game of basketball. Those are what make James a great basketball player.
The Decision
When Michael came into the league, he was the first of his kind and did not have to chase ghost or compete to be known as the greatest of all time. That title was placed upon his head due to the exceptional things he did. He had an entire generation of wanting to “Be like Mike”. LeBron has been chasing again from his own words “the Ghost in Chicago” since he stepped on an NBA floor. For me it still must be Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. For one simple reason, everyone who grew up during the Michael Jordan Era wanted to “Be Like Mike” that includes LeBron James, the difference between the rest of us and James is LeBron did it better than the rest of us. On my list, it is Michael number one Kobe number two and LeBron number 3 for the simple fact the first two guys had killer instinct every time they stepped on the floor, sometime in my opinion that killer instinct is not there in LeBron. You know how I feel, who is in your opinion the greatest of all time? Let the debate continue.
Written by
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by
Daniel Bishop M.A.
References
http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/lebron_james_vs_michael_jordan.htm
https://www.google.com/amp/sportsworld.nbcsports.com/michael-jordan-vs-lebron-james/amp/
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2007.html
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