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Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals is in the books and while the Spurs took care of home court to little surprise, the circumstances were somewhat interesting. Cheap Royals Jerseys . Will Strickland and Duane Watson from TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane are joined on the Three Man Weave this week by On Points Drew Ebanks. On Point is a series of basketball films featuring prominent basketball personalities from across Canada. The trio look at what happened and what needs to happen for Game 2. The heat or The Heat couldnt slow the Spurs. Who and what can? Strickland: The HVAC Havoc in the AT&T Center is another in a long line of arena mishaps and strange occurrences in the history of San Antonio professional hoops, be it snakes in a locker, bats on the court or having the old Boston Garden heat trap trick in play. Whether you believe or not weather was the biggest culprit here, when history is at stake on both sides, you do what is necessary to improve your chances for victory. That said, Miami has to have better contributions from their bench or its One For The Thumb deep in the heart of Texas soon! Ebanks: Only the Spurs can truly stop the Spurs in these playoffs. When this collection of future Hall of Famers and highly productive role players and veterans are moving the ball, spreading the court and creating havoc for rotations they are almost impossible to slow down, never mind stop. If their 3 pointers are falling the only thing left to do is pray. San Antonio plays a beautiful style of basketball, making the game looks so easy and effortless, which in turn causes problems for opposing defenses. Watson: I wouldnt be entirely surprised if Spurs Head Coach Greg Popovich was behind the AC "failure" in the arena. Im sure it will come to light in an ESPN 30 For 30 one day. Despite Miami forcing 22 turnovers, it was the smaller stars for San Antonio that shined bright in Tiago Splitter, Danny Green and Boris Diaw. If the Heat expect to compete in this series, it cant be solely on the backs of the Big Three who scored 62 of their 95 points. LeBron James: Cant Stand The Heat... Or Human? Strickland: I loved the analysis of instant athletic trainers and non-athletes on social media who spent days pontificating on what they or someone else whose name rhymes with Michael Jordan would have done in that situation, but… There will always be a difference between fans and fanatics. Did LeBron shrink in the moment? No. Miami lost the game once James went down. Be sure that preventative maintenance will be the goal to keep James on the court for the rest of the Finals. Ebanks: Of course LeBron James is human. Look, this man is one of the most incredible physical specimens/athletes in the history of sports. 69", 265 lbs. who can play and defend all 5 positions, has the speed of a sprinter and the strength of a power lifter. Hes been pretty much an ironman throughout his career despite being hammered by defenders consistently in his career on his forays to tin. Plenty of players have succumbed to cramps. Heck, if youve played sports and havent had cramps you probably werent playing as hard as you should have. Watson: He cramped up, it happens and has happened in the past. It was a hotbox in the AT&T Center; that much was obvious. The only thing I found interesting was that he didnt seem to be taking any fluids while agonizing on the bench. How vital were bench contributions to Game 1? Strickland: Its no secret that the Spurs may have one of the most productive and diverse benches in NBA Finals history. It was surely an advantage in Game 1, where Manu Ginobili almost outscored the entire Miami bench alone and Boris Diaw combined with him to dish out 17 of the Spurs 30 assists off the pine. Vital? No question. The Heats subs not named Ray Allen have to show up for Game 2 to give Miami a chance to take their talents back to South Beach with a split. Ebanks: For any basketball team, especially at the NBA level, benches are extremely important. The less drop off a team has from its starters to their subs means more success, generally speaking. In this series, the Spurs clearly have a definite advantage. In Game 1, San Antonios bench of super-sub Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw, Marco Bellinelli and Patty Mills outscored the Heats bench of Ray Allen, Norris Cole, Chris Anderson and Shane Battier, 34-20. The Spurs margin of victory was 15, so there you go. One other point: San Antonios bench is also more crucial for them because their main players are older and have more mileage than Miamis. Watson: There hasnt been a more obvious stat disparity between these two teams and it was clear in Game 1. The depth of the Spurs bench has never been secret, outscoring the Heat 34-20. Yet, the rebounding (20-10), assists (17-9) were both overwhelmingly in San Antonios favour. What does Miami need to do to win Game 2? Strickland: No wholesale changes by the Heat are necessary except preventing 36 point 4th quarter explosions. Other than that, continue to impose their defensive identity on the game, crafting live ball turnovers that they convert into fast break points and fouls for the Spurs and getting multiple Triple Singles off the bench from players other than Walter Ray Allen. Ebanks: They need to LEBRON! Hows that for an answer? As King James goes, so do the Miami Heat. Before LeBron James went down in Game 1, the Heat were actually right in the ball game. LeBron has to bounce back and lead Miami to victory in Game 2. If I were the Heat, Id bring in some Miami Air Conditioning specialists of their own, just in case. I mean who knows more about air conditioning than Floridians?!? Watson: The Heat were only down by 94-92 when James left the game for the final time with 3:59 left and then effectively choked on a Spurs 14-3 run to close out the game. They were very much in Game 1 and the defensive pressure on the ball clearly worked. They need contributions from the supporting cast not named Ray Allen. What does San Antonio need to do to hold serve in Game 2? Strickland: They won Game 1, which they did in Miami last year, only to lose the Finals in 7. It will be a long series and this veteran Spurs team knows it. Popovich will implore his charges to protect the pumpkin better despite shooting almost 60 per cent vs the Heat because 22 turnovers are never good. When players 1-12 contribute as they did in Game 1, Game 2 should be no problem because Teamwork Makes The Dream Work! Ebanks: The Spurs I think have to be smelling blood and its only Game 2. Their opponents best player (LBJ) is hobbling, meanwhile San Antonios leader and floor general, Tony Parker, coming off ankle issues, played well and says he feels great and is ready to go for the next game. Watson: More of the same, their game plan was effective. While only five players can play on the court at a given time, everyone gave them something; whether, scoring, defense, ball movement, three-point shooting, or rebounds. That balanced approach has been the cornerstone to the franchises success. The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1-on-1 with Will and Duane, Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1) and Duane Watson (@byDuaneWatson) and guest air conditioning and 3-point specialist Drew Ebanks (@DrewEbanks) Frank White Jersey . The 25-year-old Lu, a regular on the Japan LPGA Tour after giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, shot an 8-under 64 in windy, wet conditions at Kintetsu Kashikojima. Cheap Royals Jerseys Authentic . Villarreals victory in Valencia kept it in fourth place and in control of Spains last Champions League spot. Uche broke free in the area in the 10th minute and was brought down by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was shown a direct red card. http://www.cheaproyalsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-jorge-soler-jersey . Burris threw for 247 yards in one half of a game -- on pace for a nearly 500-yard outing -- as the Redblacks downed the woeful Montreal Alouettes 26-10 in CFL pre-season play Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium.The Barclays Premier League season is officially halfway through. No exaggeration, the season has been great thus far. A more unpredictable Premier League is better viewing. Competition at the top and bottom of the table remains fierce and ever-changing. League leaders Arsenal are on pace for 84 points. Fewer than 84 points has only won the league once in the last decade. The word parity is thrown around, and its not entirely accurate. Top teams are beginning to hit their stride, although every team continues to show flaws, making for a topsy-turvy table. There has been no shortage of talking points through 19 games. Before we get to our mid-season awards, lets go all High Fidelity. Here are the top five storylines at the halfway mark. 5) Methodical Mourinho: You love to love him and love to hate him. Its all more compelling with Jose Mourinho in the Premier League. Inspiring, entertaining football however from has been few and far between from his Chelsea team. Mourinho is Exhibit A in over-managing. His meticulous approach leads to a dull end product more times than not. Chelsea has been clinically stifling at times against top competition, in particular stuffing out matches against Arsenal and Manchester United. Free flowing football has been sacrificed to climb the table. Although its surprising a team with the financial wherewithal and talent of Chelsea need to resort to such mind-numbing tactics at times, Mourinho understands its what needs to be done until he can get his players at the club. Its been a Masterclass job thus far; Mourinhos teams are among the most consistent and competitive week to week. While team performance has been predictable, the notable persona of the Portuguese has not. Mourinho 2.0 has overall been more subdued than his previous tenure. The trademark arrogance and gamesmanship however remain omnipresent. Mourinhos leap into the Stamford Bridge crowd, sitting amongst the supporters after being sent to the stands, and interrupting post-match interviews are few examples the Mourinho of yester year is not far from the surface. As Chelsea close in on the top of the table, Chelseas tactics will become more dry and Mourinhos personality more rebellious. We all win with the latter. 4) Managerial Merry-go-round: Five managers were fired in the 2012/13 season. There have been six casualties already this campaign. Paolo Di Canio (Sunderand), Ian Holloway (Crystal Palace), Martin Jol (Fulham), Steve Clarke (West Brom), Andre Villas-Boas (Tottenham), and Malky Mackay (Cardiff City) are all no longer with their respective sides. The biggest shock has to be AVB. The young Portuguese is now a two-time Premier League failure. Its a massive let-down for a perceived tactically superior young mind in the game not being able to relate with the modern player, isolating individuals within the team and not getting the most out of the players at his disposal. Losing Gareth Bale was a blow for Spurs. But the finances spent and the talent on hand is capable of much more. AVB as a man manager will rightfully be questioned in his next gig. The unlucky loser of the unemployed bunch is Mackay. Playing a public chess match with tumultuous Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan was never going to be a battle won. When an owner operates on an island without rhyme and reason, the environment becomes poisoned and stability goes out the window. Mackay leaves with his head held high, despite his big money swing and a miss of striker Andreas Cornelius. Di Canio gets the nod for most warranted sacking. Who in their right mind would think 11 new players; most of marginal talent, at the Stadium of Light would be a recipe for success? And the audacity to stand before the travelling Sunderland supporters after a 3-0 loss at the Hawthorns provided pictures that will go down in infamy. 3) Golden Gunners: Arsene Wengers demise was widely predicted after a 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa to start the season. After the opening day loss, Arsenal reeled off a streak of 12 straight undefeated in all competitions, signed Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, and brought Mathieu Flamini back to the Emirates. Meanwhile, talent became realized for Welshman Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud showed his worth as a Premier League talisman and a resurgent backline has developed into one of, if not, the best defensive unit in the league. So much for Wenger losing the plot. Arsenal sits atop the table and on top form despite losing Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as long-term absentees. You know things are rolling when goalkeeping is even top notch at the Emirates. The coming of age of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has provided much needed stability. Is this Arsenal team good enough to be Champions? The starting XI is virtually set. January depth moves can be made up front and at the back. But it will inevitably be up to the current crop. They are a strong group. But are they capable of taking their game to the next level? 2) Sizzling Suarez: Its incredible what can change in a matter of four months. Luis Suarez has gone from a biting, erratic misfit to the most consistent performer and producer in the league. Suarez has more goals than seven Premier League teams, and his 19 are equal to the tally of Fulham. And all this has all come in just 14 gammes. Bo Jackson Jersey. Incredible. The Uruguayan also has five assists, making it sound bizarre to suggest his stats alone doesnt tell the entire story. He is a true game-breaker in a time where players of that dimension are rare. A constant threat, remarkable touch on the ball and extraordinary movement off it, Suarez has evolved into one of the worlds best. Liverpool has broken the bank to sign Suarez to a new mega contract. Ironically enough, it may be his own influence that determines whether he actually sees that contract out on the Merseyside. Its Champions League or bust. Suarez is key. 1) The noise about Moyes: Its the most talked about story and will continue to be. The start of the David Moyes era at Old Trafford has been shaky at best. But there are signs the team is turning the corner. While still lacking true top end talents en masse, the team as unit is playing much better football. Unfair to Moyes, a transition period within the team hit at the same time as the managerial change. This is no fault of Moyes. And to suggest it could all be remedied in his first transfer window was naïve. That doesnt excuse his panic purchase of Marouane Fellaini or the all too cautious approach in team selection/tactics to open the season. Manchester United is in the midst of a squad evolution. The process will continue in January. The knee-jerk, have-it-now nature of sport demands swift change. Moyes will get blamed or praised for whatever happens in the transfer windows. But this is more of a test to the Glazer ownership. Sponsorship acquisition has come fast and furious. The player side continues to lag behind, not moving in accordance with the clubs commercial growth. In the meantime, United on the field will have to continue to be their scrappy best. Theres something truly likeable about an underdog United team. Its been years since theyve been in such a role. Champions League qualification and lengthy runs in Cup competitions would be seen as a successful year. Next year, the stakes will be much higher. Mid-season Awards Top Player: Suarez (Liverpool) – Honourable mentions to Sergio Aguero, Aaron Ramsey and Wayne Rooney. But Suarez is the clear choice. Manager: Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool) – Year number two at Liverpool has exceeded expectations. The manager bemoans his lack of squad depth, and rightfully so. Yet his team, no matter the change in formation or personnel has managed to play an increasing prominent passing game with the ability to adapt in shape and approach appropriately to the occasion. The man deserves a lot of credit. Belief is back at Anfield. Best Goal: Pajtim Kasami (Fulham) vs. Crystal Palace – An ultimate team goal by Arsenal and Jack Wilshere was trumped later the same weekend by an all-time strike from Kasami. A run on full trot from the middle of the park, controlling with the chest and volley top corner on the run from a ridiculous angle at the top corner of the box wins it. Hands down. End of story. Memorable Moment: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) goal vs. Southampton – It took just 12 seconds for the goalkeeper to score the shock goal of the season. The story goes it was a windy day, Begovic launched the ball from inside his own box, the ball landed between two Southampton centre-backs, Artur Boruc misjudged the big bounce and embarrassment ensued. Perhaps the most shocking variable was the goal made Begovic joint top goal scorer for Stoke at that time on the season. And the goal was scored in November, Surprise player: Seamus Coleman (Everton) – Roberto Martinez has struck gold with the Irish right back. His defensive play has been standout for one of the most dependable backlines in the league. Coleman has added five goals to his account. Thats more goals than he has scored in his Premier League career, one more than Christian Benteke and just one less than all of Chelseas strikers have scored combined. Surprise team: Hull City – many, including myself pegged the Tigers to go straight back to the League Championship. Instead, Hull sits 10th at the halfway point. They have beat Liverpool and Newcastle, were robbed against Spurs, and gave the two Manchester clubs a scare. This has all come from a team without top talent, a manager with a track record of Premier League failure, and a team garnering more attention for a potential name change than anything on the field. This is the feel good story of the league. Team Performance: Manchester City vs. Manchester United – Its one thing to win by a converted touchdown over Norwich City. Its another thing to run your neighbours and reigning Champions off the field in extraordinary fashion. The 4-1 final flattered United. It was truly a performance for the ages. Worst Owner: Vincent Tan (Cardiff City) – Mike Ashley is dethroned by a man who 1) changed the teams historic colours to the chagrin of club supporters, 2) fired his chief scout and hired his sons unqualified friend, 3) fired the popular coach, 4) has thrown the clubs reputation into disrepute. Not bad work for just four months. Well see how much further he goes, and how much higher his pants get in the New Year. Best XI: De GeaColeman-Jagielka-Mertesacker-SantonRamsey-Toure-HazardRooney-Suarez-Aguero ' ' '