The Sports Life- Thunder/Heat Game 3 NBA Finals

South Beach

Event: Oklahoma City Thunder v.s. Miami Heat
Game 3, 2012 NBA Finals
9:00 ET
American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL


Day of the Game: South Beach
Place of Eatery: Andiamo Pizza

The Lowdown: There isn't anything much better. Spend a day at the beach and chilling in beautiful Miami Beach and then head downtown for game three of the NBA Finals where the series is tied 1-1.

American Airlines Arena

Marquee Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Bosh, James Harden

Thunder/Heat Game 3 Prediction

James Harden

     Miami did everything I said they had to do in game 2 to win, they got more from their bench, they out rebounded the Thunder and they neutralized their fast break. They also got a lot of production from their big three while the Thunder's big three wasn't quite on top of their game. But I see the tide changing once again in game three. After Miami jumps out to a nice lead in game three, Oklahoma City rekindles their game one magic to take control. The Heat do not find an answer for Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant does his usual thing and James Harden has an exceptional shooting game. In a game that Miami controls throughout much of the game, Oklahoma City comes on late to put added pressure on the Heat, who have already lost their previous two game three's.

Oklahoma City 109-103


2012 Predicting Record
NBA Playoffs: 5-2

Total Record: 7-3

Kate Upton: Girl of the Week

Where you know her: How would you not know her? Kate Upton has exploded onto the scene ever since appearing in last year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and grabbing the cover on this year's. Upton is one of the hottest models out there right now.

Way to Early 2013 NHL Predictions + Is NHL Realignment Better?

     This is the last season we will see of the traditional two conference, eight playoff teams per each conference format. Now, there will be four conferences with the top four teams from each conference advancing a four team playoff within their own conference. From there, the four conference champions will either be reseeded or play in a more traditional conference finals. So which teams will comprise these new divisions?

I. Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Florida
II. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, New York, Carolina, Washington, New Jersey
III. Detroit, Chicago, Columbus, Minnesota, Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
IV. Los Angeles, Vancouver, Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, San Jose, Phoenix


    

The big question is whether this new seeding will make the playoffs better or worse. Well, just determine that for your self and see what matchups you would've like better from this year's playoffs.

 

Tyler Seguin

I.
1 Boston
2 Florida
3 Ottawa
4 Buffalo


Boston v.s. Buffalo- Boston in Six
Florida v.s. Ottawa- Ottawa in Seven


Boston v.s. Ottawa- Boston in Six


II.
1 New York 
2 Pittsburgh
3 Philadelphia
4 New Jersey


New York v.s. New Jersey- New Jersey in Six
Pittsburgh v.s. Philadelphia- Philadelphia in Six 


Philadelphia v.s. New Jersey- New Jersey in Five 


III.

Patrick Kane

1 St. Louis 
2 Nashville
3 Detroit
4 Chicago


St. Louis v.s. Chicago- St. Louis in Six
Nashville v.s. Detroit- Nashville in Five


St. Louis v.s. Nashville- Nashville in Seven


IV. 
1 Vancouver
2 Phoenix
3 San Jose 
4 Los Angeles


Vancouver v.s. Los Angeles- Los Angeles in Five
Phoenix v.s. San Jose- Phoenix in Six


Phoenix v.s. Los Angeles- Los Angeles in Five


Final Four
1 Nashville Predators 
2 Boston Bruins
3 New Jersey

Anze Kopitar

4 Los Angeles Kings


Los Angeles in Six
Boston in Seven


Stanley Cup Finals
Boston v.s. Los Angeles
Los Angeles in Six


     A Bruins/Kings Stanley Cup Finals wouldn't have drawn any complaints, right? One thing that is still yet to be decided is whether the final four should be reseeded or should just go back to a traditional eastern and western conference finals. The NHL would love say a Rangers/Canadiens Stanley Cup Final or something similar to that, but it would not want an all western conference final featuring say San Jose and St. Louis. I for one do not mind the reseeding, but it will certainly come down to what is better for the ratings and revenue.


Anyway, let's look at the matchups we could be in store for next season by predicting the outcomes from the new divisional format. 

Sidney Crosby

I.
1 Buffalo Sabres  109 PTS
2 Boston Bruins  100 PTS     
3 Ottawa Senators  97 PTS
4 Toronto Maple Leafs  88 PTS
5 Tampa Bay Lightning  86 PTS
6 Florida Panthers  81 PTS
7 Montreal Canadiens  77 PTS

II.
1 Pittsburgh Penguins  112 PTS
2 Washington Capitals  110 PTS
3 New York Rangers  105 PTS
4 Philadelphia Flyers  101 PTS
5 Carolina Hurricanes  95 PTS
6 New York Islanders  85 PTS
7 New Jersey Devils  79 PTS

III.
1 Chicago Blackhawks  106 PTS
2 St. Louis Blues  100 PTS
3 Detroit Red Wings  96 PTS
4 Winnipeg Jets  94 PTS

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

5 Nashville Predators  92 PTS
6 Minnesota Wild  91 PTS
7 Dallas Stars  87 PTS
8 Columbus Blue Jackets  67 PTS 


IV.
1 Los Angeles Kings  108 PTS
2 Vancouver Canucks  104 PTS
3 Edmonton Oilers  95 PTS
4 Phoenix Coyotes  93 PTS
5 Colorado Avalanche  90 PTS
6 San Jose Sharks  90 PTS
7 Anaheim Ducks  81 PTS
8 Calgary Flames  74 PTS


Conference Semi-Finals
1) Buffalo over 4) Toronto  4-2 
2) Boston over 3) Ottawa  4-2
1) Pittsburgh over 4) Philadelphia  4-2
3) New York over 2) Washington  4-1
1) Chicago over 4) Winnipeg  4-3
3) Detroit over 2) St. Louis  4-3
1) Los Angeles over 4) Phoenix  4-2 
2) Vancouver over 3) Edmonton  4-0


Conference Finals
2) Boston over 1) Buffalo  4-3
3) New York over 1) Pittsburgh  4-2
1) Chicago over 3) Detroit  4-1

2) Vancouver over 1) Los Angeles  4-3

Henrik Lundqvist

Final Four
Option A
Boston Bruins v.s. New York Rangers
Vancouver Canucks v.s. Chicago Blackhawks


New York over Boston  4-2
Vancouver over Chicago  4-2


Stanley Cup Finals
New York Rangers over Vancouver Canucks  4-2

Option B
Boston Bruins v.s. Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks v.s. New York Rangers


Chicago over Boston  4-1
New York over Vancouver  4-2


Stanley Cup Finals 
New York Rangers over Chicago Blackhawks  4-2

The Sports Life- Heat/Thunder Game 2 NBA Finals

Event: Miami Heat v.s. Oklahoma City Thunder
Game 2, 2012 NBA Finals
9:00 ET, 7:00 CT
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK


Day of the Game: Tour of AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
Place of Eatery: Mickey Mantle's Bar & Grill

The Lowdown: Should be another electric atmosphere inside Chesapeake Energy Arena for Game 2 as the Heat try to even the series at 1.

Marquee Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Bosh, James Harden

Heat/Thunder Game 2 Prediction

     Though the Miami Heat lost game one of the best of seven NBA Finals, it was not all bad news for them. Miami dictated and controlled most of the game even though they faded in the 4th quarter. But tonight, expect another terrific performance from LeBron James and expect Dwyane Wade to silence all the naysayers with a traditional D-Wade electrifying performance on a grand stage. The Heat will get just enough from their bench to equal what
Oklahoma City's bench has to offer. Miami lucks out with a subpar
shooting performance from Russell Westbrook as the Heat even
the series heading back to Miami.
Miami 98-94

Dwyane Wade

Heat/Thunder Game 1 Analysis

Kevin Durant

     The Heat looked great early on but the Thunder came on late in the game. Now what is that? A few things that popped out to me in this game was the clear lack of depth of the Heat. They rotate six guys at the most and they usually don't get a whole lot out of any other players besides the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Shane Battier is consistent, but he will rarely give you the point production he gave you last night. Mario Chalmers is inconsistent and Udonis Haslem is a reliable veteran, but he isn't going to impact this series. So with the Heat's lack of depth, that means they will need even more from their big three. Besides LeBron, neither of the other two have been great this playoffs. Bosh has been injured, so he has a legitimate excuse. Wade however either is not healthy or he is no longer a superstar caliber player.
     Or maybe it is because the Thunder are the deeper and more athletic team! Yes, I think that is it. The Thunder get production from eight guys on most nights. You know what you are going to get from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but did anyone expect Nick Collison to grab ten rebounds? Or how about Thabo Sefelosha doing a great job at containing LeBron James? To think that the Thunder only got 8 points from James Harden is a sign of some hard times to come for the Heat.
    Oklahoma City limited the Heat in transition and they controlled the boards. Miami is a transition team; they are not great in the half court. If Oklahoma City can keep this up and if Kevin Durant remains dominant, this series will be over in five games like I predicted.