NBA and NHL cities are buzzing with playoff fever as teams advance to the second round. April showers bring many a fortune to aspiring pro football players selected in the NFL draft.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Keep Calm and Play On…After regular season ups and downs, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, were the first to reach the second round….not a shocker. If they go all the way it will be their third consecutive trip to the Finals. The Warriors were especially impressive considering star player Kevin Durant sat out the previous two playoff games and coach Steve Kerr is also out with an injury.
Teams still battling for the six remaining second-round playoff spots include…
The second-best team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs, are getting all they can handle from the Memphis Grizzlies who tied the series at 2-2 over the weekend despite outstanding play by Spurs stud Kawhi Leonard.
Source: Sporting News
This one’s for you sis…The Boston Celtics lost the first two games of their series with the Chicago Bulls but bounced back to win the next couple behind 5’ 9” all-star guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas is playing despite his sister’s death in a car accident just before the playoffs began.
Russell Westbrook might win the league MVP but his Oklahoma City Thunder are in trouble down 3-1 to the Houston Rockets and likely MVP runner-up James Harden.
National Hockey League (NHL)
Ice Capades…The NHL playoffs first round concluded Sunday with the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals both winning in overtime to advance.
Here are the second-round matchups with the games resuming Wednesday:
Eastern Conference
- Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins (A battle of two of the games megastars: Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby)
- Ottawa Senators New York Rangers
Western Conference
- Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators (this year’s Cinderella team)
- Anaheim Ducks Edmonton Oilers
National Football League (NFL)
Are you ready for the big time? The NFL holds its annual hug fest this week with the Draft starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend. Speaking of embraces, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has a tradition of hugging it out with each first round draft pick after he is selected.
Source: Sporting News
The first five draft picks represent the worst teams in the league. Their consolation prize for being awful is a top pick to help the team bounce back.
1) Cleveland Browns
2) San Francisco 49ers
3) Chicago Bears
4) Jacksonville Jaguars
5) Tennessee Titans
The top pick is likely to be Myles Garrett, a defensive star from Texas A&M. Others to keep an eye on are national-championship-winning Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, Ohio State safety Marshon Lattimore and LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
Cheesesteaks and cheers…The draft will be held in Philly and the hometown Philadelphia Eagles pick 12th. Look for their selection to get a Rocky-like ovation.
Keep an eye on the outfits. The NFL draft is known for its fashion-forward and occasional outrageous attire.
Soccer
Spanish Supremacy…Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who some consider the best soccer player of all time, scored two goals (including the 500th of his career) to beat arch-rival Real Madrid Sunday. The match is so big it has its own name, El Clasico, and was viewed by an estimated 400 million fans.
Source: Daily Mail
Major League Baseball (MLB)
The first place Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles continue to win surprising baseball pundits and oddsmakers.
How the mighty have fallen…on the other end of the spectrum are the San Francisco Giants (2014 World Series champs) and the Kansas City Royals (2015 champs), who are each in last place. Maybe the Giants were waiting for Sunday’s “Silicon Valley” season four premiere but its time to get their act together as they are off to their worst start since 1983.
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