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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant Kept Getting Worse & Was Running on Empty
A true superstar doesn’t hit only 23.8% of his field goals attempts (taking 21 shots) as his team faces elimination. But Kevin Durant had to be everything for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their conference semifinals series, and ended up without anything left to give in the final two games. Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson actually put up the numbers they were supposed to in giving him the helping hand he needed, but it was a little too late, as Durant couldn’t find anything left in his arsenal in the fourth quarter.
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Chicago Bulls – Carlos Boozer, Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah & Nate Robinson Have Nothing to Be Ashamed Of
For the second time in three years, the Chicago Bulls lose to the Miami Heat in a playoff series, both of them lasting only 5 games. Yet with so many injuries to begin with, from Derrick Rose to Luol Deng and finishing with Kirk Hinrich, the effort, heart, sacrifice and ability that Carlos Boozer, Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah and Nate Robinson have shown in this postseason is nothing but commendable.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Randolph & Marc Gasol Grind the Life out of Kevin Durant
If last year after losing in the NBA finals Kevin Durant looked sad, he looked exhausted and empty after losing in 5 games to the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s hard to say when looked more pitiful. Zach Randolph pulled a number on him and his entire front line by destroying them in the paint, while Tayshaun Prince, Marc Gasol and Tony Allen did on the defensive end.
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Miami Heat – LeBron James Finds Answers by Lowering His Head and Grinding it Out
It’s been well established that for LeBron James and the Miami Heat to succeed in the playoffs and win NBA titles (which they’ve already done once), they won’t be able to turn away from winning by scoring in the paint. Dwyane Wade only started helping in the fourth quarter, but it was enough to put a lid on the Eastern conference semifinals series, closing it out in five games, as the big three advance to their third conference finals in three years.
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NFL Rumors – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Should Go After John Abraham & Dwight Freeney
Despite all of their impressive off-season moves, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some glaring needs heading into the 2013 NFL season, maybe the most obvious of them being the pass rush. They have lost Michael Bennett to the Seattle Seahawks, and their projected starters, Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers, aren’t exactly proven stalwarts, both coming off injuries. The optoin of going after still available Dwight Freeney and John Abraham seems a little bit more intriguing by the minute.
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NFL Rumors – Baltimore Ravens Might Try and Sign Brian Urlacher
It’s been a rough free agency period for Brian Urlacher, released by the Chicago Bears and not finding a lot of interest in an again middle linebacker. Now that the Baltimore Ravens have found out that Rolando McClain has decided to retire at the age of 23, their lack of depth at the position might lead them to at least consider signing the former defensive player of the year.
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Josh Berry Does Impressions of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray & Novak Djokovic
Even though it seems the era of the current top 4 in Men’s tennis is coming to somewhat of an end or a change, it still is the one most appealing factor in today’s game. Obviously, putting Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal all in one bundle works wonders in terms of popularity, as Josh Berry does fantastic impressions of all four players.
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Real Madrid – Copa Del Rey a Chance for Cristiano Ronaldo & Jose Mourinho to Say the Season was a Success
When a team like Real Madrid sets its goals before every season, the definition of success isn’t counting on winning the Copa Del Rey, even if the final is set to be against their big local rivals, Atletico Madrid. After another season of relative failure, Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo have a chance to add a meaningless trophy, not for the first time, in order to say that it wasn’t as bad as the “pro-Barcelona” media is trying to present it.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Put His Health, Body on the Line for a Championship
Would’ve Barcelona won the La Liga trophy this season without Lionel Messi playing in the last few matches? Probably, but it would have taken a little longer to secure it, possibly. It would have given Real Madrid a little bit of encouragement and belief that it is possible to do the impossible. But Messi, who hasn’t been 100% for quite some time, wasn’t going to let something minor (or maybe it was a little bit worse than that) slow him down, and prevent him from winning another league championship.
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Alexandre Pato & Juan Riquelme: A Special Miss, A Special Goal
This is why Juan Roman Riquelme came back – to score special goals for Boca Juniors, trying to guide them to more Copa Libertadores glory. Alexandre Pato, on the other hand, failing to bring Corinthians through into the quarterfinals, showed why his career has fizzled with an astonishing miss that was partly to blame for his side getting knocked out of the competition.