BULL FIGHTERS

The Bulls, to me, are a college team in NBA clothing. If they miss their first 5 shots, they're sunk. They need to shoot the lights out in order to have a chance against a solid NBA team. I can't believe they scared me so much after Game 2.

The 107-86 score doesn't do justice for how completely the Celtics dominated the Bulls. Only 58 points for Chicago after 3 quarters. Derrick Rose was 4 for 14 with 9 points. Ben "Jordan" (I can't believe people in Chicago would disrespect MJ by using his name on Ben Gordon) led the Bulls with 15 points. As a team, they shot 37.5%.

I think this series is a chance for the rest of the NBA to see and recognize just how good Rajon Rondo has become. Last year, he wasn't a scoring threat, and was inconsistent. This year, he's doing things on his own, and kick-starting the offense of stars like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Another double-double for Rajon, plus 6 assists and 5 steals.



Glen Davis is having the series of his life. 14 more points 9 boards, 6 assists, 6 steals, and 3 blocks for Big Baby. He's averaging 19.3 PPG this series.



Ray Allen's found his shot, 6 of 12 from the floor, 3 of 4 from three.

It was a good chance to give Marbury some extended minutes, and maybe get back some of his confidence. The C's will need him eventually in this postseason, and this blowout was a great time to give him some shots. He had 13 points off the bench.

The Bulls, who had momentum coming into this game, despite losing Game 2, have now lost whatever edge they had. They'll still be tough to beat, but I think the Celtics will take care of them in 6 games or fewer.

Game 4 is Sunday at 1.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

SOX WIN 7TH STRAIGHT

How many uniforms do the Red Sox have? My count is 5 so far. And none are uglier than these mint green Earth Day atrocities. I'm all for recycling and reducing carbon footprints and all that fun stuff, but these uniforms are atrocities both to baseball and fashion.

Thankfully, that's pretty much the only thing one can complain about. After starting the season 2-6, the Sox have notched 7 in a row. Suddenly 1st place is only 1.5 games away.

Brad Penny had another solid start, 6 innings, 3 runs (2 earned), only 1 walk. And apart from a hit batter, the bullpen tossed 3 PERFECT innings. To quote the manager from Major League: "things are starting to come together."

Man of the Game: Justin Morneau - 2/3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI. He had 1 of everything.

I hope you like watching the same players play day in and day out, because the Red Sox only play 3 teams in the next 17 games: The Yankees, Indians, and Rays. Jon Lester vs. Joba Chamberlain Friday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Elise Amendola

BRUINS' 2ND ROUND SCENARIOS

It's been a long time since the Bruins have advanced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so let's have a refresher of the rules. Like the NFL and NBA, the teams are reseeded after each round. The Bruins, as the #1 seed in the East, will face the lowest seeded team that remains.

The #7 Rangers hold a 3-1 series lead over the #2 Capitals. If the Rangers win the series, they will meet the Bruins in the next round.

If the Rangers lose their series, and the #6 Hurricanes beat the #3 Devils (series tied 2-2), then the Canes will meet the Bruins in the next round. In my opinion, this would be the best matchup for the B's in the 2nd round.

If the Rangers lose their series, and the Hurricanes lose their series, the Bruins will meet the winner of the #5 Flyers/#4 Penguins series. Right now, Pittsburgh holds a 3-1 lead in this series.

There is no way the Bruins will face the #2 Capitals, or #3 Devils in the 2nd round.

So odds are it will be Bruins/Rangers in the Conference Semifinals.

AU REVOIR!!!

Before Wednesday night, the Bruins had only swept the Canadiens twice in their 31 playoff series, One sweep came in 1992, the other came in 1929. Add sweep number three to that list.

The Habs scored on the opening shift of Game 4, but the Bruins didn't yield, didn't get nervous, didn't even get that excited. They simply played Bruins hockey, confident and strong, and eventually came out on top of a 4-1 scoreline.

Michael Ryder, what a steal he was. He had 2 goals in this game (thankfully not a 3rd, because I made a bet to get a #73 tramp stamp on my lower back (with black and gold flowers) if he got a hat trick), and was outstanding on every shift. You could tell he was on the ice simply by the way the game changed.



And I'm going to get the #73 as a temporary tramp stamp on my lower back. Weird? Maybe... who cares?

Only the 3rd time in 32 meetings that the Bruins have swept the Habs. The others were 1992 and 1929.

The Bruins utterly outplayed the Canadiens in just about every aspect of the game. The Habs certainly beat the B's in instigation and cheapness, but that's it. The Bruins were stronger, faster, smoother, cooler, better.

Now we wait about a week and a half for our next opponent.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz

MERCY RULE/RAIN GIVES SOX A WIN

The Red Sox claimed the first game of their attempted doubleheader against the Twins, behind a solid effort from Tim Wakefield, and a trio of 2 run homers. Youkilis hit a 2 run shot in the 1st, then Nick Green in the 2nd, then Mike Lowell in the 3rd. The rains came in the bottom of the 7th with the Sox up 10-1, which made the game easy to call for both teams. The Sox get a win, the Twins don't have to waste an inning+ of mop-up bullpen work.

Third time in 5 games the Sox have put up 10+ runs, 4th time in 6 games they've scored 8+.

The Man of the Game is Mike Lowell, who was 3 for 4 with a homer, a double, 3 RBI, a run, and was on 3rd base with 1 out when the game was suspended.

They'll try to get the nightcap in, but I'm not too optimistic. Francisco Liriano faces Brad Penny. This game was going to be mere intermission entertainment during the Bruins game, so I could care less.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

RED SOX INJURY UPDATES

The Red Sox were rained out tonight. The game will be played as the first part of a day-night doubleheader Thursday afternoon at 12:35.

Jed Lowrie had surgery on his wrist and is out 6 to 8 more weeks. But Julio Lugo should be coming back soon.

Rocco Baldelli's injury woes continue as he was placed on the 15 Day DL with a hamstring strain. Jeff Bailey has been summoned from AAA Pawtucket to take his roster spot.

Source:
AP/Boston.com

CELTICS COME THROUGH, BUT SHOULD C'S FANS STILL BE NERVOUS?

Ray Allen's winning 3 pointer made all the highlight reels, both locally and nationally, this morning. But I for one, am losing my positivity on the Celtics' chances, even in this series.

It's hard to be negative after a 118-115 gut-wrenching, hard fought, clutch victory. But it's hard to be positive when the Bulls split in Boston, and they've put 220 points up in 2 games.

Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo had ridiculously good games. Allen with 30 points (28 after halftime), and Rondo with a triple double. Rondo is the 3rd person EVER to have a triple double and 5+ steals. The other two are Gary Payton and Magic Johnson.

But the Celtics won the 2008 Championship with defense. They won 62 games with defense. And now we hear that Leon Powe is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

The C's are going to win this series, but it won't be pretty. And it won't be fast, either. So while other fans are jubilant after last night's amazingly entertaining show, I'm not so thrilled.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

BRUINS VICTORIOUS IN THE BATTLE OF MONTREAL

There was a lot going against the Bruins Monday night. The Bell Centre in Montreal has been a house of horrors. Lucic would be out due to suspension. The Canadiens would have Cornered Animal Syndrome.

Thwe first 15 minutes, the 2009 Bruins looked a great deal like the 2004 Bruins, nervous, shaky, tentative, even shy. They only had 3 shots on goal in those 15 minutes. Montreal scored on a 3-on-2 breakaway, and things look like they were going to get complex. Then Phil Kessel simplified shit. Had to be nice for the young man from Wisconsin to score after the Canadiens fans booed America's national anthem.



Unlike a Canadien, when Kessel brought the puck up ice and had an opponent's stick hassling his advance, he didn't flop to the ice hoping for a call. He continued to skate into the offensive zone. Eventually, Komisarek made an ill-advised pass, and the punk-bitch Greg Stewart couldn't find the puck. Wideman blasted away from the point and Kessel was in great position to redirect it home. The Bruins took a 1-1 lead into the locker room, and the once raucous Bell Centre crowd quietly sipped their wine coolers and champaign smoothies in between periods... worried, nervous, scared shitless.

When Lucic got suspended, I was pissed, mostly at him. My anger lessened when I realized Byron Bitz would likely replace him on the roster. Byron didn't let me down. His physical forechecking on the 4th line, followed by a perfect pass to Shawn Thornton gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead 3:36 into the 2nd.



The Habs got it back, then Michael Ryder made it a 1 goal game again.

If someone were to write a hockey textbook about how to play with a 1 goal lead in the 3rd period of a playoff game, the Bruins' effort in the final 20 minutes would be the guideline. High percentage passes, the only penalty they took was thanks to a Carey Price dive, they stood up on their blue line, Bergeron and Savard played excellent defense and forechecking, and Kobasew's empty-netter was beautiful. Koivu committed about 3 penalties as Kobasew sailed toward the crease and tapped it in.

Speaking of Koivu, how much little shit does that little bastard get away with? Have you ever seen him chased from a faceoff circle? Nope.

The Bruins were remarkably cool in this game. After playing like crap for 15 minutes, they clamped down, and remembered how to play hockey. Montreal went up 1-0, so what? Byron Bitz was hit late by a Hab, but didn't push the envelope when he had a borderline chance to get revenge on the same shift.

The Habs pulled all their little tricks, 3 guys brushing against Shawn Thornton when he changed. Doing their own line changes just half a second earlier than other teams are allowed to do. To the credit of the referees, they didn't fall for most of the diving, and called a great game.

Fun fact: The Bruins are 11-3 vs. Montreal since Game 2 of last year's playoff series.

How much do other Bruin fans miss Glen Metropolit, because I know I do. He's slick.

The Bruins go for the sweep Wednesday night in Montreal. And Lucic will be back, so the Habs will once again turtle and shirk in fear like thousands of Japanese when Godzilla shows up.



Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson
AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz