Just about two hours remain until the Dallas Mavericks travel to South Beach to take on the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
At the beginning of the season — heck, even at the beginning of the playoffs — it would have been bold to suggest the Mavs would make it all the way to the Finals. In the Western Conference, there were the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The San Antonio Spurs and their 61-21 record. The up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder with 22-year-old studs Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Dallas proved that there's something to be said for valuable playing experience. The Mavs steamrolled their way to the finals, ousting Portland in six games, Los Angeles in a four-game sweep (which had to be the most memorable playoff series in Mavs history) and Oklahoma City in five games to reach the finals.
Now, all that awaits is the villainous Miami Heat. The same team that lured LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the offseason to join Dwyane Wade in the most notable offseason haul in NBA history.
I think it's fair to say every NBA fan not associated with the Heat will be rooting for the Mavs in this series.
This Mavs team is different than the team that lost to the Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals, and it's a better team. Dirk Nowitzki is playing his best basketball, the bench is considerably deeper this year and the defensive mentality of the 2011 edition is much better.
The window on this team is closing with each passing day, though. Seizing each opportunity the Heat provide in this series will be essential. A quick look at the ages of the Mavs' top players.
Starters:
Jason Kidd: 38
DeShawn Stevenson: 30
Shawn Marion: 33
Dirk Nowitzki: 32
Tyson Chandler: 28
Bench:
Jason Terry: 33
J.J. Barea: 26
Peja Stojakovic: 33
Corey Brewer: 25
Rodrigue Beaubois: 23
Caron Butler (injured): 31
The Mavs go as Dirk goes, and it appears Dirk may have another two to three elite years left in him, particularly since he looks better than ever right now at age 32. But his surrounding cast is not getting any younger.
This postseason, it hasn't seemed to matter. Kidd hasn't played like he's 38, nor has Marion played like he's 33. Age and wisdom have carried the Mavs to the finals. Each time they advance, the question is: How much more do the Mavs have left in the tank?
You'd have to think they'll be energized tonight when feeling like outcasts in Miami should provide an extra boost of adrenaline.
Be back later tonight for my post-game remarks and observations from Game 1.
For now, enjoy the NBA Finals. And Go Mavs.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Mavs make NBA finals in dream year for DFW sports
Surely, us Dallas-Fort Worth sports fans must be living in a dream world.
Approximately six months after the Texas Rangers played in the World Series, the Dallas Mavericks clinched a berth in the NBA Finals with a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in Dallas.
This kind of sports karma does not come along that often. Fans are lucky to witness their favorite team reach the finals once every few years. Two in the span of six months is absurd.
OK, yes, the Rangers lost in the World Series, and the Mavericks still haven't won it all, so we haven't witnessed the purest gold, shiny form of championship nirvana. The possibility remains for two runner-up showings. But so be it.
It's still been the most enjoyable six months in my history of being a sports fan. What a joy ride.
The Rangers, who had previously never won a postseason game in franchise history, knocked out two teams from the American League East, including the New York Yankees, on their way to the AL pennant. Before the 2010 baseball season, Texas wasn't supposed to win the AL West, much less the AL.
Now the Mavs, who overcame obstacles presented by the Trail Blazers, Lakers and Thunder, are the class of the Western Conference in the NBA. The same Mavs team who was entirely too old and past their collective prime to make a serious run. The same Mavs team who lost Caron Butler for the season with a knee injury. And, of course, the same Mavs team who had no chance, before the series started, of dethroning the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Not with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, the latter of whom was looking to ride into the sunset in his last year of coaching. So much for that.
The Mavs proved they're as deep or deeper than anyone in the league.
Dirk Nowitzki established himself as the MVP of the postseason, so far, hitting impossible shots that seemed to have no angle from which to release the basketball.
Dallas' experience paid off in so many ways this postseason, from Jason Kidd's savvy presence handling the ball and defending Kobe Bryant, to Shawn Marion's numerous turn-back-the-clock moments when he looked like a combination of Shawn Marion from 2005 and Keanu Reeves spinning, ducking and bending backwards in The Matrix.
Jason Terry buried the Lakers, tying an NBA record for most three-pointers in an NBA playoff game with nine.
Peja Stojakovic found the bottom of the net several times from long-distance.
Tyson Chandler played exceptional defense on LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bynum and Kendrick Perkins, and already should be considered the best Mavericks center of all-time (by the way, he deserves a contract extension, and at 28 years old, it'd be a wise investment).
J.J. Barea frustrated the hell out of the Lakers (and Ron Artest, in particular), with cat-like maneuvers from the perimeter into the lane, where he mastered the options of shooting the floater, crafting a layup or finding an open jump shooter.
The Mavericks await the winner of Miami vs. Chicago. The Heat currently hold a 3-1 edge in the series. Sweet retribution would surely be on the minds of Mavs players and fans if the Heat emerge from the East. In 2006, the only other time Dallas has played in the NBA finals in team history, the Mavs squandered a 2-0 series lead that should have been 3-0. The Heat's power trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, operating with the same totalitarian mentality as the Yankees, would be an easy team to root against.
What a last six months. Let's hope the Mavs take it one step further than the Rangers did and take home that championship hardware.
Approximately six months after the Texas Rangers played in the World Series, the Dallas Mavericks clinched a berth in the NBA Finals with a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in Dallas.
This kind of sports karma does not come along that often. Fans are lucky to witness their favorite team reach the finals once every few years. Two in the span of six months is absurd.
OK, yes, the Rangers lost in the World Series, and the Mavericks still haven't won it all, so we haven't witnessed the purest gold, shiny form of championship nirvana. The possibility remains for two runner-up showings. But so be it.
It's still been the most enjoyable six months in my history of being a sports fan. What a joy ride.
The Rangers, who had previously never won a postseason game in franchise history, knocked out two teams from the American League East, including the New York Yankees, on their way to the AL pennant. Before the 2010 baseball season, Texas wasn't supposed to win the AL West, much less the AL.
Now the Mavs, who overcame obstacles presented by the Trail Blazers, Lakers and Thunder, are the class of the Western Conference in the NBA. The same Mavs team who was entirely too old and past their collective prime to make a serious run. The same Mavs team who lost Caron Butler for the season with a knee injury. And, of course, the same Mavs team who had no chance, before the series started, of dethroning the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Not with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, the latter of whom was looking to ride into the sunset in his last year of coaching. So much for that.
The Mavs proved they're as deep or deeper than anyone in the league.
Dirk Nowitzki established himself as the MVP of the postseason, so far, hitting impossible shots that seemed to have no angle from which to release the basketball.
Dallas' experience paid off in so many ways this postseason, from Jason Kidd's savvy presence handling the ball and defending Kobe Bryant, to Shawn Marion's numerous turn-back-the-clock moments when he looked like a combination of Shawn Marion from 2005 and Keanu Reeves spinning, ducking and bending backwards in The Matrix.
Jason Terry buried the Lakers, tying an NBA record for most three-pointers in an NBA playoff game with nine.
Peja Stojakovic found the bottom of the net several times from long-distance.
Tyson Chandler played exceptional defense on LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bynum and Kendrick Perkins, and already should be considered the best Mavericks center of all-time (by the way, he deserves a contract extension, and at 28 years old, it'd be a wise investment).
J.J. Barea frustrated the hell out of the Lakers (and Ron Artest, in particular), with cat-like maneuvers from the perimeter into the lane, where he mastered the options of shooting the floater, crafting a layup or finding an open jump shooter.
The Mavericks await the winner of Miami vs. Chicago. The Heat currently hold a 3-1 edge in the series. Sweet retribution would surely be on the minds of Mavs players and fans if the Heat emerge from the East. In 2006, the only other time Dallas has played in the NBA finals in team history, the Mavs squandered a 2-0 series lead that should have been 3-0. The Heat's power trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, operating with the same totalitarian mentality as the Yankees, would be an easy team to root against.
What a last six months. Let's hope the Mavs take it one step further than the Rangers did and take home that championship hardware.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Rangers lose in extras, but Kauffman experience still enjoyable
Kansas City, Mo. — Despite the Rangers losing another game due to a bullpen implosion, I still had an enjoyable experience with my mom during the Royals' 2-1 victory on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.
There's a lot to like about Kauffman Stadium, which completed its renovations in time for Opening Day 2009. A little more than two years later, it still feels like a brand new facility. Kauffman is one of the cleaner stadiums I've ever visited. The floors are nicely kept, the seats are clean. The atmosphere of the lower and upper concourses has a contemporary, modern feel. Heck, even the bathrooms are clean. My favorite part of the renovation was the massive scoreboard installed in centerfield. Still my favorite scoreboard in baseball.
Mom and I had two seats in the upper deck on the third-base side. Same preference as Arlington. And, like Arlington, it doesn't feel like you're in the third deck at Kauffman when taking in a game. No obstructed view and all of the action was clearly visible from our seats in section 410, row A.
As for the game, the first eight innings breezed by with Derek Holland pitching a gem. The southpaw took a 1-0 shutout into the final inning. It was just after 9 p.m. going into the ninth; pretty remarkable for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch.
Texas manager Ron Washington elected to leave Holland in the game to face the K.C. leadoff man, Eric Hosmer. Couldn't disagree with that since it was a lefty-lefty matchup. Hosmer, a polished rookie with an insanely high ceiling, did his part to keep the game alive and knocked a base hit to center. That was it for Holland, who was pulled for Neftali Feliz after tossing eight innings and giving up nine hits, one walk and striking out five. It was a brilliant game.
...And then there's the bullpen. Feliz simply hasn't located his pitches since coming back from the disabled list. He induced only two outs before leaving the game with the bases loaded (two hits, walk, RBI single) in favor of Mark Lowe, who bailed him out with an inning-ending groundout. The game was tied, 1-1, until former Ranger Jeff Franceour put the Texas bullpen out of its misery with a game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th off Cody Eppley. 2-1 final.
The Rangers dropped to 23-21, and the bullpen woes continued to plague the team in the late innings. Nine of Texas' 21 losses have come in the opposition's final at-bat. The bullpen has no reliable eighth-inning option, and the surest thing, or so we thought (Feliz), has struggled mightily to miss bats. Moving Alexi Ogando from the rotation to the bullpen doesn't seem like a safe option. He's doing extremely well as a starter, and he's needed in the rotation with Tommy Hunter, Brandon Webb and Scott Feldman still on the disabled list.
There's perhaps a ray of hope underneath the bullpen disaster. The batting lineup, which has struggled to produce runs lately, will get Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz back from the DL on Monday, when the Rangers play host to the Chicago White Sox in Arlington. That will help get Craig Gentry and Endy Chavez, serviceable options, but not MLB starters, out of the regular lineup. Hopefully, the offense gets a needed jolt with the return of its two best power hitters.
It really seems like it can't get a whole lot worse, and the Rangers are still hovering around .500. I'm ready for a winning streak.
Plaza restaurants don't disappoint: With my mom staying at the Plaza in Kansas City, we tried some restaurants that left a lasting impression and did not disappoint.
The Capital Grille could be one of my favorite places in Kansas City. It's a little pricey, so I won't be going there regularly, but they had the best salmon I've ever tasted, by a long shot. It was honey- and citrus-glazed and grilled just perfectly around the edges and in the center. String beans and bread chips accompanied the dish, which was the most memorable meal of my mom's visit.
We also had breakfast at the Intercontinental Hotel, which was super tasty. I just had Oatmeal, blueberry yogurt and granola, but it was the real deal.
We finished the trip with Kona Grill on Friday for lunch. I had a lettuce wrap with teriyaki chicken, shrimp, carrots and corn. Stellar way to continue my recent change of eating better and healthier.
Now if we can only get that bullpen to hold a lead.
There's a lot to like about Kauffman Stadium, which completed its renovations in time for Opening Day 2009. A little more than two years later, it still feels like a brand new facility. Kauffman is one of the cleaner stadiums I've ever visited. The floors are nicely kept, the seats are clean. The atmosphere of the lower and upper concourses has a contemporary, modern feel. Heck, even the bathrooms are clean. My favorite part of the renovation was the massive scoreboard installed in centerfield. Still my favorite scoreboard in baseball.
Mom and I had two seats in the upper deck on the third-base side. Same preference as Arlington. And, like Arlington, it doesn't feel like you're in the third deck at Kauffman when taking in a game. No obstructed view and all of the action was clearly visible from our seats in section 410, row A.
As for the game, the first eight innings breezed by with Derek Holland pitching a gem. The southpaw took a 1-0 shutout into the final inning. It was just after 9 p.m. going into the ninth; pretty remarkable for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch.
Texas manager Ron Washington elected to leave Holland in the game to face the K.C. leadoff man, Eric Hosmer. Couldn't disagree with that since it was a lefty-lefty matchup. Hosmer, a polished rookie with an insanely high ceiling, did his part to keep the game alive and knocked a base hit to center. That was it for Holland, who was pulled for Neftali Feliz after tossing eight innings and giving up nine hits, one walk and striking out five. It was a brilliant game.
...And then there's the bullpen. Feliz simply hasn't located his pitches since coming back from the disabled list. He induced only two outs before leaving the game with the bases loaded (two hits, walk, RBI single) in favor of Mark Lowe, who bailed him out with an inning-ending groundout. The game was tied, 1-1, until former Ranger Jeff Franceour put the Texas bullpen out of its misery with a game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th off Cody Eppley. 2-1 final.
The Rangers dropped to 23-21, and the bullpen woes continued to plague the team in the late innings. Nine of Texas' 21 losses have come in the opposition's final at-bat. The bullpen has no reliable eighth-inning option, and the surest thing, or so we thought (Feliz), has struggled mightily to miss bats. Moving Alexi Ogando from the rotation to the bullpen doesn't seem like a safe option. He's doing extremely well as a starter, and he's needed in the rotation with Tommy Hunter, Brandon Webb and Scott Feldman still on the disabled list.
There's perhaps a ray of hope underneath the bullpen disaster. The batting lineup, which has struggled to produce runs lately, will get Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz back from the DL on Monday, when the Rangers play host to the Chicago White Sox in Arlington. That will help get Craig Gentry and Endy Chavez, serviceable options, but not MLB starters, out of the regular lineup. Hopefully, the offense gets a needed jolt with the return of its two best power hitters.
It really seems like it can't get a whole lot worse, and the Rangers are still hovering around .500. I'm ready for a winning streak.
Plaza restaurants don't disappoint: With my mom staying at the Plaza in Kansas City, we tried some restaurants that left a lasting impression and did not disappoint.
The Capital Grille could be one of my favorite places in Kansas City. It's a little pricey, so I won't be going there regularly, but they had the best salmon I've ever tasted, by a long shot. It was honey- and citrus-glazed and grilled just perfectly around the edges and in the center. String beans and bread chips accompanied the dish, which was the most memorable meal of my mom's visit.
We also had breakfast at the Intercontinental Hotel, which was super tasty. I just had Oatmeal, blueberry yogurt and granola, but it was the real deal.
We finished the trip with Kona Grill on Friday for lunch. I had a lettuce wrap with teriyaki chicken, shrimp, carrots and corn. Stellar way to continue my recent change of eating better and healthier.
Now if we can only get that bullpen to hold a lead.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Bound for Kauffman Stadium tomorrow for Rangers-Royals
Before attending a Texas Rangers game in person, whether it's at the Ballpark in Arlington or on the road, an important decision has to be made with respect to my choice of apparel.
That will be the case on Thursday, when I travel to Kansas City, Mo. to watch the Rangers take on the Royals. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. (mound matchup: Derek Holland vs. Luke Hochevar).
I have two tickets in section 410, Row A, seats 3 and 4. Should be a fun time. Kauffman Stadium is a great place to take in a baseball game. So what will be my choice of Rangers gear?
Well ... it's fair to say I have quite a few options.
I think I'll probably go with the red AL West Division champions T-shirt with the Titleist Rangers hat. I don't really have a method or superstition when picking out gear for the game. Just whatever I feel like at the time.
I'm thrilled that my mom is visiting from Texas to attend the game with me.
It's great fun with mom in Lawrence. We started the trip with 715 for lunch. I highly recommend the apple pecan salad, cauliflower soup (may not sound good, but it's amazing) and the four-cheese pizza. We had Mad Greek for dinner, one of the more underrated restaurants in Lawrence. I wish more places around town had lentil soup. I can only seem to find it at Mad Greek, and it was plenty tasty, along with the chicken and pork combo dish I had.
Naturally, the Rangers will be a major part of mom's visit. We watched Wednesday night's 5-4 escape of a victory in 11 innings over the Royals at the Eldridge Hotel bar. Wednesday at the Eldridge is jazz night, and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing live music while taking in the game action.
Alexi Ogando (7 IP, 2 ER, BB, 5 K's) continued his seamless transition from reliable reliever to scintillating starter for Texas.
Kansas City brought up 23-year-old southpaw Danny Duffy to start, and he showed promise (4 K's in 4 IP), but walked six and didn't last too long.
K.C. first baseman/stud prospect Eric Hosmer destroyed an inside fastball on Neftali Feliz's first pitch of the ninth inning to tie the game. Feliz consistently hit 98 mph in the ninth frame, but his location was way too scattered.
Reliever Mark Lowe converted the save, giving up one run in the 11th. He walked one and struck out two. Lowe's final strikeout, a filthy fastball that started outside the left portion of the strike zone and had heavy tailing action back toward the plate, made me wonder why he hasn't been more consistent in the past. Lowe looked pretty solid on Wednesday — his fastball topped out at 99 mph — and if he can keep his control in check, he could develop into a semi-legitimate option at the back of the bullpen. The Rangers are sorely seeking a right-handed set-up man. Injuries and ineffectiveness have prohibited the bullpen from being reliable this year. The pen has easily been the most vulnerable aspect of the team.
After Wednesday night's slate, the Rangers leaped back into first place at 23-20, one game up on Oakland, 1.5 games ahead of Anaheim and 4.5 up on Seattle.
Tomorrow will be fun. I'm excited to watch the team in person for the first time this year. Time to head down I-70 east and enjoy some live baseball.
That will be the case on Thursday, when I travel to Kansas City, Mo. to watch the Rangers take on the Royals. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. (mound matchup: Derek Holland vs. Luke Hochevar).
I have two tickets in section 410, Row A, seats 3 and 4. Should be a fun time. Kauffman Stadium is a great place to take in a baseball game. So what will be my choice of Rangers gear?
Well ... it's fair to say I have quite a few options.
I think I'll probably go with the red AL West Division champions T-shirt with the Titleist Rangers hat. I don't really have a method or superstition when picking out gear for the game. Just whatever I feel like at the time.
I'm thrilled that my mom is visiting from Texas to attend the game with me.
It's great fun with mom in Lawrence. We started the trip with 715 for lunch. I highly recommend the apple pecan salad, cauliflower soup (may not sound good, but it's amazing) and the four-cheese pizza. We had Mad Greek for dinner, one of the more underrated restaurants in Lawrence. I wish more places around town had lentil soup. I can only seem to find it at Mad Greek, and it was plenty tasty, along with the chicken and pork combo dish I had.
Naturally, the Rangers will be a major part of mom's visit. We watched Wednesday night's 5-4 escape of a victory in 11 innings over the Royals at the Eldridge Hotel bar. Wednesday at the Eldridge is jazz night, and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing live music while taking in the game action.
Alexi Ogando (7 IP, 2 ER, BB, 5 K's) continued his seamless transition from reliable reliever to scintillating starter for Texas.
Kansas City brought up 23-year-old southpaw Danny Duffy to start, and he showed promise (4 K's in 4 IP), but walked six and didn't last too long.
K.C. first baseman/stud prospect Eric Hosmer destroyed an inside fastball on Neftali Feliz's first pitch of the ninth inning to tie the game. Feliz consistently hit 98 mph in the ninth frame, but his location was way too scattered.
Reliever Mark Lowe converted the save, giving up one run in the 11th. He walked one and struck out two. Lowe's final strikeout, a filthy fastball that started outside the left portion of the strike zone and had heavy tailing action back toward the plate, made me wonder why he hasn't been more consistent in the past. Lowe looked pretty solid on Wednesday — his fastball topped out at 99 mph — and if he can keep his control in check, he could develop into a semi-legitimate option at the back of the bullpen. The Rangers are sorely seeking a right-handed set-up man. Injuries and ineffectiveness have prohibited the bullpen from being reliable this year. The pen has easily been the most vulnerable aspect of the team.
After Wednesday night's slate, the Rangers leaped back into first place at 23-20, one game up on Oakland, 1.5 games ahead of Anaheim and 4.5 up on Seattle.
Tomorrow will be fun. I'm excited to watch the team in person for the first time this year. Time to head down I-70 east and enjoy some live baseball.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Dirk turns in performance for the ages
I watched in awe on Tuesday night as Dirk Nowitzki put the Dallas Mavericks on his back and turned in one of the best performances in NBA Playoffs history.
How's this for a line? 12-of-15 from the field, 24-of-24 from the foul line, 48 points. Dallas defeated Oklahoma City in Game 1, 121-112, at the American Airlines Center.
Few thoughts that come to mind:
First, Dirk has been unstoppable in the playoffs, averaging 28 points and eight rebounds per contest. He's a ridiculous 95-of-103 from the foul line in the postseason. For him to be carving up the league at age 32 (will be 33 on June 19) is a bit of a surprise, given that he was thought to be past his prime, simply due to his age and the knee injury he suffered this year.
Dirk looks better than he's ever looked. I make this statement because Oklahoma City has lengthy post players who can defend. In watching the highlights back again (and again and again), the Thunder played solid defense on Dirk. He just hit absurd shots. When a guy is 7-feet tall and falling away off of one leg, there is only so much a defender can do. He made more quality, contested shots tonight than I can remember in a long time.
These playoffs will mean a ton when it comes to remembering Dirk's legacy. He's already the best 7-foot shooter of all-time, and easily the best Dallas Mavericks player ever. A series victory over the Thunder would be huge, and a championship ring would mean he's sniffing top 20-30 of all-time territory.
Still a long way to go. The Thunder are very talented. But this was Dirk's night in Dallas. And I couldn't be happier that it resulted in a 1-0 series lead.
How's this for a line? 12-of-15 from the field, 24-of-24 from the foul line, 48 points. Dallas defeated Oklahoma City in Game 1, 121-112, at the American Airlines Center.
Few thoughts that come to mind:
First, Dirk has been unstoppable in the playoffs, averaging 28 points and eight rebounds per contest. He's a ridiculous 95-of-103 from the foul line in the postseason. For him to be carving up the league at age 32 (will be 33 on June 19) is a bit of a surprise, given that he was thought to be past his prime, simply due to his age and the knee injury he suffered this year.
Dirk looks better than he's ever looked. I make this statement because Oklahoma City has lengthy post players who can defend. In watching the highlights back again (and again and again), the Thunder played solid defense on Dirk. He just hit absurd shots. When a guy is 7-feet tall and falling away off of one leg, there is only so much a defender can do. He made more quality, contested shots tonight than I can remember in a long time.
These playoffs will mean a ton when it comes to remembering Dirk's legacy. He's already the best 7-foot shooter of all-time, and easily the best Dallas Mavericks player ever. A series victory over the Thunder would be huge, and a championship ring would mean he's sniffing top 20-30 of all-time territory.
Still a long way to go. The Thunder are very talented. But this was Dirk's night in Dallas. And I couldn't be happier that it resulted in a 1-0 series lead.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Fantastic DFW sports night doesn't disappoint
Upon learning I had Wednesday night off from work, one thought immediately entered my mind: It was going to be a fun night to follow my two favorite sports teams.
The Rangers played at 9:05 p.m. at Seattle, while the Mavericks faced the Lakers at 9:30 p.m. in Los Angeles. The doubleheader may be late for some, but I'm used to staying up until 1-2 a.m., so I welcomed the DFW twinbill with open arms. And it didn't disappoint.
C.J. Wilson, who's pitched like an All-Star lately, tossed a complete game (125 pitches), surrendering six hits, two runs (only one earned), one walk and striking out 12. The Rangers defeated the Mariners, 5-2.
A few minutes later, the Mavs completed an improbable 91-82 dismantling of the defending-champion Lakers at Staples Center, and took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Most rewarding, enjoyable sports night I've witnessed in some time.
First, let's start with Wilson, since Gametime in Arlington is, after all, Rangers-centric. I've been keeping a keen eye on Wilson's walk totals this year. Last season, he issued way too many free passes (93, compared to 170 strikeouts). The strikeout-to-walk ratio was lower than 2:1 (1.83).
How about this year?
After Wednesday night's gem, Wilson has compiled 46 strikeouts, compared to 13 walks. I know it's a sample size and much of the season remains, but his K/BB ratio to date is 3.54:1. Much better. If we are to rely on Wilson as the staff ace this season, he will have to keep that ratio rather stable.
The Rangers moved to 17-14 and are clinging to first place in the crowded AL West.
Can't forget about those Mavs. How sweet was that? Dirk Nowitzki led the way with 24 points, but it was J.J. Barea who completely changed the tempo of the game and swayed it in our favor.
Barea played 17 electric minutes, slicing through the Lakers defense, hitting floaters and finding open scorers, in the paint and outside. Barea is listed at 6 feet, but there's no way he's taller than 5-foot-9. His body control in the lane is remarkable for someone of his stature, and the quickness of his first two steps is fun to watch. Sometimes, he's out of control, but he was my MVP tonight.
Suddenly, Dallas is up 2-0 on the Lakers with two straight home games awaiting. There were times in the first-round playoff matchup against Portland when the Mavericks would lose focus and, consequently, big leads. Mental lapses and the Mavericks were synonymous. Not sure what changed in less than a week's time, but Dallas has owned the defending champs so far, at their place.
The series is not quite over yet. Los Angeles is a good road team, fully capable of taking two in Dallas and making it a series again.
Most of the Lakers are respectable players, but I have a hard time thinking of Ron Artest in that light. With just fewer than 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, with the game already decided, Artest inexplicably clothes-lined Barea after a play was stopped. He was promptly ejected. Artest should not be able to play in Friday's game in Dallas. His actions were completely uncalled for, and the blatant cheap shot should be punished accordingly.
Overall, an incredibly enjoyable evening to be a DFW sports fan with the 2-for-2 showing. It was well worth the day-long wait.
The Rangers played at 9:05 p.m. at Seattle, while the Mavericks faced the Lakers at 9:30 p.m. in Los Angeles. The doubleheader may be late for some, but I'm used to staying up until 1-2 a.m., so I welcomed the DFW twinbill with open arms. And it didn't disappoint.
C.J. Wilson, who's pitched like an All-Star lately, tossed a complete game (125 pitches), surrendering six hits, two runs (only one earned), one walk and striking out 12. The Rangers defeated the Mariners, 5-2.
A few minutes later, the Mavs completed an improbable 91-82 dismantling of the defending-champion Lakers at Staples Center, and took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Most rewarding, enjoyable sports night I've witnessed in some time.
First, let's start with Wilson, since Gametime in Arlington is, after all, Rangers-centric. I've been keeping a keen eye on Wilson's walk totals this year. Last season, he issued way too many free passes (93, compared to 170 strikeouts). The strikeout-to-walk ratio was lower than 2:1 (1.83).
How about this year?
After Wednesday night's gem, Wilson has compiled 46 strikeouts, compared to 13 walks. I know it's a sample size and much of the season remains, but his K/BB ratio to date is 3.54:1. Much better. If we are to rely on Wilson as the staff ace this season, he will have to keep that ratio rather stable.
The Rangers moved to 17-14 and are clinging to first place in the crowded AL West.
Can't forget about those Mavs. How sweet was that? Dirk Nowitzki led the way with 24 points, but it was J.J. Barea who completely changed the tempo of the game and swayed it in our favor.
Barea played 17 electric minutes, slicing through the Lakers defense, hitting floaters and finding open scorers, in the paint and outside. Barea is listed at 6 feet, but there's no way he's taller than 5-foot-9. His body control in the lane is remarkable for someone of his stature, and the quickness of his first two steps is fun to watch. Sometimes, he's out of control, but he was my MVP tonight.
Suddenly, Dallas is up 2-0 on the Lakers with two straight home games awaiting. There were times in the first-round playoff matchup against Portland when the Mavericks would lose focus and, consequently, big leads. Mental lapses and the Mavericks were synonymous. Not sure what changed in less than a week's time, but Dallas has owned the defending champs so far, at their place.
The series is not quite over yet. Los Angeles is a good road team, fully capable of taking two in Dallas and making it a series again.
Most of the Lakers are respectable players, but I have a hard time thinking of Ron Artest in that light. With just fewer than 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, with the game already decided, Artest inexplicably clothes-lined Barea after a play was stopped. He was promptly ejected. Artest should not be able to play in Friday's game in Dallas. His actions were completely uncalled for, and the blatant cheap shot should be punished accordingly.
Overall, an incredibly enjoyable evening to be a DFW sports fan with the 2-for-2 showing. It was well worth the day-long wait.
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