The Miami Heat finished off the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday 88-77, sweeping the opening-round series. Believe it or not, this was the first playoff sweep in the Big Three Era, and they won all four games by 11 points or more. Playing without Dwyane Wade yesterday, the Heat were led by, who else, LeBron James, who finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Ray Allen added 16 points, and Udonis Haslem contributed with 13 points. The Heat will now rest until probably next weekend, when they would open their second-round series against either the Brooklyn Nets or the Chicago Bulls. In the other first round games yesterday,
Boston 97 New York 90 OT Knicks lead series 3-1
The Celtics postponed what looks to be the inevitable by holding off the Knicks. Paul Pierce scored 29 points, but it was Jason Terry with the key baskets, as he scored the last 9 points for the Celtics.
San Antonio 103 LA Lakers 82 Spurs win series, 4-0
Tony Parker had 23 points as the Spurs completed the series sweep. In his final game before becoming an unrestricted free agent, Dwight Howard scored seven points before getting ejected early in the third quarter after two technical fouls for arguing. He's such a class act.
Golden State 115 Denver 101 Warriors lead series 3-1
Stephen Curry scored a game-high 31 points, including 22 in the third quarter. Jarrett Jack had 21 points and nine assists.
TONIGHT
Chicago @ Brooklyn 7:00 pm TNT
Game 5 Bulls lead series 3-1
Indiana @ Atlanta 7:30 pm NBA-TV
Game 4 Pacers lead series 2-1
Oklahoma City @ Houston 9:30 pm TNT
Game 4 Thunder lead series 3-0
TUESDAY
Golden State @ Denver 8:00 pm TNT
Game 5 Warriors lead series 3-1
Memphis @ LA Clippers 10:30 pm TNT
Game 5 Series tied 2-2
The NFL Draft is over, and the Dolphins and their GM, Jeff Ireland, are very happy with what they were able to do this weekend. In all honesty, all teams feel the same way after the draft. Once training camps open, we’ll be able to see more, and the first true test is when the Fins kick off the exhibition season in the Hall of Fame game against the Dallas Cowboys on August 4th. I’m not going to sit here and give them, or any other team, for that matter, a “grade”. You don’t know what you’re getting until the players take the field and play for a season.
My commentary: Credit where credit is due. They felt very strongly about Dion Jordan, and they went out and got their man, not overpaying for swapping their #12 for Oakland’s #3. They also strengthened the defensive backfield with three very fast and athletic DB’s, added a linebacker with excellent cover skills, a solid offensive line talent, and one of the nation’s best kickers. They are still going to have to make some finishing touches on the offensive side of the ball, especially the offensive line.
Here are the Dolphin picks in this year’s draft. Click on their names for a scouting report, and my comments are right below their name, as well.
ROUND NAME POS. SCHOOL
1 Dion Jordan OLB Oregon
Rated by many as the most dominant pass rusher in the draft, and has the ability to drop back into pass coverage. At 6’6” and 250 lbs, he is a Jason Taylor clone. Teamed with Cameron Wake, that is one very good pash-rushing combo.
2 Jamar Taylor CB Boise State
Key player in a Boise State defense that only allowed four passing touchdowns all year. Not afraid to attack the line of scrimmage, very fast, very athletic, and very strong.
3 Dallas Thomas OG Tennessee
Playing in the very difficult SEC, his Tennessee team only gave up a total of eight sacks in 2012. Played OT in 2010 and 2011, and at G in 2012.
3 Will Davis CB Utah State
Very athletic and very fast as well, and a real playmaker on defense.
4 Jelani Jenkins OLB Florida
One of the better cover linebackers in this draft. Injuries took a toll last season, including hamstring, broken foot, and broken thumb. Could be one of the steals in the draft.
4 Dion Sims TE Michigan State
Doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but is a clutch receiver, as 29 out of his 36 receptions last season went for first downs or touchdowns and a very good blocker as well.
5 Mike Gillislee RB Florida
Ran for 1,152 yards on 244 carries with 10 touchdowns. Could battle for playing time behind Jamar Miller this season. Good receiver out of the backfield, pretty good blocker as well.
5 Caleb Sturgis PK Florida
Connected on 24 of 28 field goals in 2012, including all three of his attempts from 50-plus yards. In his career at Florida, he hit on 70 out of 88 field goals, was 62-75 inside of 50 yards, and was 8-13 from beyond 49 yards. Will give Dan Carpenter a run for his money in training camp and in the preseason.
7 Don Jones S Arkansas State
Numbers don’t lie - 4.39 40-yd dash, 44-inch vertical leap, 17 bench-press reps at 225 pounds, and is considered one of the best special-teams players in this year’s draft.
In my pre-draft blog last Thursday, I gave you Jamar Taylor and Dallas Thomas as Dolphin picks in my mock draft, told you they would draft a running back in the middle rounds, as well as a kicker, and a linebacker. Overall, a good draft for the Dolphins.
Here is the division-by-division analysis of the draft, starting with the AFC East. You can find the other divisions in links in the article:
Mel Kiper’s grades for every team:
From the Miami Herald, Armando Salguero’s focus now shifts from GM Jeff Ireland to Head coach Joe Philbin and QB Ryan Tannehill:
After drafting QB Geno Smith in the second round of the NFL Draft, the New York Jets today released QB Tim Tebow. Mark Sanchez could be next.
Let’s go to baseball. Finally, a win for the Marlins over the Cubs. After losing the first three games this weekend, the Fish got two home runs yesterday from the Man-Child, Giancarlo Stanton, and they beat the Cubbies 6-4. Nick Green added a solo homer, and Ricky Nolasco evened his record at 2-2, giving up 3 runs and only four hits in seven innings of work. The Marlins now welcome the Mets for a three game series. Here are the pitching match-ups for the series against the Metropolitans:
Today 7:10 pm Matt Harvey vs Jose Fernandez
Tuesday 7:10 pm Jeremy Hefner vs Kevin Slowey
Wednesday 12:40 pm Dillon Gee vs Wade LeBlanc
The Fish are still bringing up the rear in MLB in runs scored, with a grand total of 67 runs in their first 25 games. I will be posting the “bottom five” rankings in runs scored until the Marlins aren’t on the list. At this point, I am not very optimistic about this list not being a permanent part of this blog.
TEAM W-L Runs
Marlins 6-19 67
Dodgers 12-12 80
Cubs 9-15 80
White Sox 10-14 83
Padres 9-15 85
By the way, the Marlins are also last in the majors in home runs (12), and last in team batting average (.220).
In the rest of MLB yesterday, first in the National League,
Phillies 5 Mets 1
The Phillies swept the three-game series at Citi Field. Ryan Howard’s two run double in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie.
Reds 5 Nationals 2
Tony Cingrani had 11 strikeouts in six shutout innings. Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart each drove in a pair of runs. Aroldis Chapman registered his fifth save of the season.
Pirates 9 Cardinals 0
Russell Martin hit two home runs, Jose Tabata and Garrett Jones also connected long distance in the win.
D-Backs 4 Rockies 2
Arizona took three out of four against the Rockies.
Padres 6 Giants 4
Chase Headley went 3-3 and had one of three San Diego home runs. Alexi Amarista and Nick Hundley also went yard for the Padres, who swept the three-game series against the Giants.
Dodgers 2 Brewers 0
Carl Crawford accounted for all the runs with two home runs. Clayton Kershaw threw eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts, before handing the ball to closer Brandon League, who notched his eighth save of the season.
Over in the American League:
Yankees 3 Blue Jays 2
Lyle Overbay blasted a two-run, go-ahead homer in the seventh inning. Brennan Boesch also homered for the Yankees, who came from behind in every game this series sweep.
Red Sox 6 Astros 1
Stephen Drew and David Ortiz each drove in two runs. The Red Sox swept the Astros and have the best record in the Major Leagues at 18-7.
Rays 8 White Sox 3
Ben Zobrist went 3-5 with two RBI, and Matt Joyce hit a two-run homer. David Price finally picked up his first win of the season.
Royals 9 Indians 0 (Game 1)
Indians 10 Royals 3 (Game 2)
Jeremy Guthrie improved his record to 3-0 this season in game 1, and is 8-0 over his last 16 starts, including last year. In game 2,
Mike Aviles homered and finished with five RBI.
Twins 5 Rangers 0
Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer in support of Kevin Correia, who threw eight shutout innings.
A’s 9 Orioles 8 (10)
Eric Sogard scored the winning run in the tenth. Yoenis Cespedes sent the game into extra innings with a two-run homer in the ninth.
Mariners 2 Angels 1
Michael Morse crushed a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie. Seattle took three out of four in the series, as the Angels were 0-17 with runners in scoring position for the series.
Tigers 8 Braves 3
Miguel Cabrera and Austin Jackson connected three-run homers and Omar Infante also went yard.
Today’s games, first in the National League:
Nationals @ Braves 7:05 pm
Stephen Strasburg vs Julio Teheran
Padres @ Cubs 8:05 pm
Clayton Richard vs eff Samardzija
Pirates @ Brewers 8:10 pm
Wandy Rodriguez vs Yovani Gallardo
Reds @ Cardinals 8:15 pm
Mat Latos vs Adam Wainwright
Giants @ D-Backs 9:40 pm
Matt Cain vs Ian Kennedy
Rockies @ Dodgers 10:10 pm
Tyler Chatwood vs Ted Lilly
Over in the American League:
Astros @ Yankees 7:05 pm
Lucas Harrell vs Andy Pettitte
Twins @ Tigers 7:08 pm
Mike Pelfrey vs Max Scherzer
Indians @ Royals 8:10 pm
Ubaldo Jimenez vs Wade Davis
Angels @ A’s 10:05 pm
Tommy Hanson vs Dan Straily
Orioles @ Mariners 10:10 pm
Zach Britton vs Joe Saunders
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: 20-year-old Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper hit his ninth home run of the season yesterday, and is now seventh all-time in home runs before his 21st birthday, with 31. Who’s number 1? Tell you later, alligator.
There was a very ugly incident in Tampa yesterday, between Cy Young winner David Price and home plate umpire Tom Hallion. I believe David Price. Umpires still believe that they are the reason why people go to baseball games:
After losing pitcher Ivan Nova and catcher Francisco Cervelli to injuries, the Yankees may also have to add another player to the DL:
The Dodgers got some good news regarding Hanley Ramirez, but bad news on their Cuban prospect Yasiel Puig:
In other California news, the Angels are not enjoying their season so far:
Here are the up-to-the-minute standings in MLB:
Here are the individual league leaders in MLB:
In college baseball this weekend, FIU lost two out of three against Louisiana-Lafayette. This week, they will take on Florida Gulf Coast in a doubleheader on Wednesday, and will travel to Troy, Alabama to take on Troy in a weekend series. The University of Miami also lost two out of three to Boston College up in Chestnut Hill. The Canes welcome St. Johns to Coral Gables this weekend for a three-game series.
Here is the web site for all the latest in High School Baseball -
Speaking of websites, check out my new and improved site:
Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” radio segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com.
THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: 20-year-old Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper hit his ninth home run of the season yesterday, and is now seventh all-time in home runs before his 21st birthday, with 31. Who’s number 1?
Mel Ott hit 61 dingers before his 21st birthday. By the way, young Mr. Harper will not turn 21 until October 16th, so he has plenty of time to climb up to the top of the list. Here’s the rest of the baby-boomers:
Mel Ott 61
Tony Conigliaro 56
Ken Griffey, Jr. 38
Mickey Mantle 36
Frank Robinson 34
Al Kaline 32
Bryce Harper 31
IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE ON MY RADIO SEGMENTS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME FOR ALL THE DETAILS - jerry@descargadeportiva.com
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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