Ricardo Lamas has this

[jinshuiqian0713]

In this weeks Three-Man Weave, Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane are joined by veteran NBA scribe Darren Andrade to discuss Kevin Durants quandary, ponder what the "luckiest" team in The Association should do with the #1 pick in the Draft... again and test the temperature in hiring coaches for coachless teams. With LeBron James and Dwyane Wades 22 point performance in the fourth quarter of Game 2, are they the deadliest two-man tandem in the NBA Playoffs? What does that mean for the Pacers? Strickland: Is this a rhetorical question? Two proven playoff commodities and two champions. Miami at home with The King and Three will offer little to no chance for the Pacers to win this pivotal game. And even with a concussion-less George, a healthy Wade and LeBron will be the ultimate x-factors against Indy and any team they may face next in the NBA Finals. Andrade: By the force of nature that is LeBron James, yes, he and Dwyane Wade are the deadliest.With all due respect to Wade, there are lots of two guards LBJ could team with and instantly become the "deadliest duo in the NBA." Hes that much better than the world. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? Chris Paul and Blake Griffin? DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry? The numbers are there, but this is about timing and impact...and rings. Critics say LBJ has to do too much for the Heat, but the fact is that the longer he can do that, the longer Wade (and Ray Allen) can fill in the gaps so beautifully. Does that shorten his career while he extends Wades? Maybe, but its all for the cause in Miami. Game 2s comeback win was vintage LBJ/Wade wait-and-kill mode and its about as deadly a thing that Ive seen in the NBA in the last 10 years in this, their fourth straight Eastern Conference Final. Watson: Indeed. LeBron James is always in the discussion when it comes to deadliest players in the league and DWades 2013-14 NBA season, aka "The Rest & Recuperation Tour," did wonders for him. Only playing in 54 of the Heats 82 games, this campaign was all about prepping him for the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Finals, hes averaging 25 points a game and shooting 64.7 per cent from the field. What does this mean for the Pacers? Even if Paul Georges concussion, knocked him into a Freaky Friday/Thunderstruck-like exchange with a playoff-primed Reggie Miller, it wouldnt be enough. What, if anything, can Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder do to make this Western Conference Finals a series? Strickland: Ummm... Compete? Pray? Ask his Mom, aka "The Real MVP," to suit up and fill the lanes with him? Really, the best Durant can do now, even with the "revelation" that PF Serge Ibaka is now miraculously listed as day-to-day, is to show and prove his MVP status by putting greater pressure on the Spurs by attacking the basket relentlessly. Hell craft more scoring and free throw opportunities for himself. Additionally, KD can create open shots for youngsters Perry Jones III and Jeremy Lamb, as well as the not-so-young Caron Butler and Derek Fisher. Despite his greatness, the jury is still out on Kevin Wayne Durant, fairly or unfairly so. Andrade: More like, what, if anything, will the Spurs forget to do to ALLOW the Thunder back into the series? Without Serge Ibaka, there is less defence against a San Antonio team that can score with the best of them. The Spurs have averaged 117 points per game vs OKC in two games and held them to just 77 in the second. Tim Duncan is averaging 20, Kawhi Leonard keeps emerging and Gregg Popovich has still managed to keep everyones minutes down in a Western Conference Final. The Durant/Westbrook tandem scored a 30 combined points on 13-40 shooting from the field in Game 2. What can the Thunder do? Durants gotta bring out the cape! KDs gotta go 2K, other-worldly. Thats it. Old samurai teaching: "Common sense will not accomplish great things. Simply become insane and desperate." Watson: Focus on cracking the top 50 in NBA Career playoff points, as he currently sits at #53 with 1997 points, Jason Kidd is #50 with 2043. Even if Durant plays twice as good as his MVP campaign, it wont be enough. KD and Westbrook need the support of their teammates. The Spurs have made it abundantly clear that, even IF Serge Ibaka walks through that door, it wont be enough. What will Cleveland do with the #1 pick in the NBA Draft for the second year in a row and third time in four years? Strickland: Draft Andrew Wiggins to create Team Canada South along with fellow Canucks Tristan Thompson & Anthony Bennett... and that may be the wrong move for long term success for a franchise not synonymous with long term success. What they SHOULD do? Despite the red flags of back issues for a 19-year-old 7-footer who may still be growing, draft #TheColonelsSon and Wigginss former teammate at Kansas, C Joel Embiid. The Cavs cant mess this up, too...can they? Andrade: The Cavaliers will draft Andrew Wiggins. How could they not? They certainly cant get cute like they did with Anthony Bennett last year - a good gamble, but not for a first-overall pick. Wiggins, paired with a healthy Kyrie Irving, could make things go electric in a hurry quickly in Ohio and the Cavs have the front court assets to move should they wish to compliment that tag-team further. Theres also Dion Waiters as an on-the-trading-block guy that could help return a much needed veteran. Joel Embiid is tempting, but the upside to Wiggins is just so much higher. Hes the closest thing to replacing LeBron James via draft this franchise has had since The Kings departure. Whatcha think all the picks is for?!? Wig-GINS by the door... no beef no more! Watson: The Cavaliers have the most injury-prone All-Star in the league with Kyrie Irving, who missed fewer than 20 games for the first time in his three-career this season, (he missed 10). They cant afford to have Joel Embiid out, as well, with potential back issues. They will take Andrew Wiggins, who will slide right in at the three-spot as a proven commodity. If youre Masai Ujiri, who do the Toronto Raptors select with the 20th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft? Strickland: Front office wizard Ujiri will find a quality young replacement for the potential loss of free agent point guards Kyle Lowry and/or Greivis Vasquez. With the out-of-the-blue success of the long, rangy, athletic 2014 Rookie Of The Year Michael Carter-Williams, Id look at UCLAs Kyle Anderson, the 68" point guard with a solid all-around skill set that can be enhanced with a professional setting, improved conditioning/strength training, diet and skill-enhancement repetition. Andrade: With Tyler Enniss stock wildly fluctuating from lottery pick to late first-rounder, the Raptors could realistically see him on the board with the 20th pick and would have a cheap star-potential steal and insurance at the PG for what looks to be an expensive Kyle Lowry situation. Do they have to keep the pick? Sure, the ill-fated Roy Hibbert for Nathan Jawai (and others) draft night swap with Indiana in 2008 haunted the Raps until Jonas Valanciunas showed up, but this time moving the pick, before or after its made, makes more sense. The Raptors had eight players with three or fewer years NBA experience last season, including keepers Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez and Valanciunas. Do they really need to get younger? The Raptors are in a delicate place. Riding the Drake-era wave is essential for an organization with just one playoff series victory in its 20-year history. Packaging the pick with grease like Tyler Hansbrough, Landry Fields and/or Chuck Hayes might fetch a more dynamic piece that helps take better advantage of their window. Watson: I do what I do best: fleece the other GMs in the league with it for a good trade. Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross are big parts of this ball club, but will only be entering their third seasons. The Raptors need a veteran who can contribute right away. They were one shot away from the second round of the playoffs. This team does not necessarily need to get younger. I only make the pick if Tyler Ennis or Nik Stauskas are still available, of course. Steve Kerr has been the coveted new coach this off-season. Will he continue a current trend of new blood in the NBA coaching ranks, or will we see a number of recycled coaches get jobs this summer? Strickland: Depends on situation and circumstance. Analytics rule the day for many teams and analysts like Kerr have gotten their coaching stripes without coaching experience (see: Jackson, Mark - Golden State). Young teams will need a veteran coach with a younger staff to relate to the ever changing National Basketball Association and its players while implementing structure, accountability and professionalism, as well as having the foresight to know when to let your horses be horses. Lionel Hollins, Nate McMillan, George Karl, Sam Mitchell and the aforementioned Jackson immediately come to mind. Older teams in soon-to-be rebuilding modes may need younger, less experienced coaches willing to take lumps while losing and learning on the job. Does that mean that Floridas Billy Donovan or UConns Kevin Ollie are going to leave cushy college gigs for the bright lights and finely finished hardwood courts of the NBA? Stay tuned! Andrade: Its always a mix. Weve already seen recycled with good old Stan Van Gundy coming back with the Pistons to balance the Steve Kerr rookie hire in Oakland. Last season it was Jason Kidd, Steve Clifford and Jeff Hornecek among others getting first-time kicks at the can with Kidd and Clifford making the playoffs and all of them earning league-wide props. Trending? Perhaps, but everyone from the still-active-and-fighting-for-his-playoff-life OKC vet Derek Fisher to the tried and true Lionel Hollins and George Karl are being mentioned for gigs. Landscape is a factor. Much easier to sell a post-Kevin Love era rookie bench boss in Minnesota for the possible reboot. Ditto for the Cavaliers. Head coaching hires are as much about stop-gapping and finances as they are about optics and competing. If Mark Jackson has taught us anything at all, its that the line between his first-stint firing from a 51-win playoff Warriors team and Karls coach of the year winning fifth-stint firing from a 57-win Nuggets postseason squad a year ago, is severely blurred. Watson: Enough already with retreads. Mike Dunleavy and George Karl havent won anything. If youre a successful coach like the Van Gundy brothers fine, but dont hire by name alone. Newbies like Dave Joerger (Memphis), Mike Budenholzer (Atlanta) and Jeff Hornacek (Phoenix) all had great seasons in the big chair. There are enough basketball coaching minds who can get more out of your team with new approaches and strategies.The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1-on-1 with Will and Duane , Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1), Duane Watson (@byDuaneWatson) and guest holder of the best groomed beard on the team this week, Darren Andrade (@hoopdogz) Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Dwyane Wade took over in the fourth quarter. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .C. -- Jackson Whistle made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Kelowna Rockets blanked the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-0 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. In his first game with Boston University, the 17-year-old Eichel picked up five assists as his Boston University Terriers thumped St. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Jones took a beating, the worst one of his record reign, in a bout against Alexander Gustafsson that knocked the light heavyweight champion on the canvas for the first time in his career and put his belt in jeopardy. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The D-Backs came into being in 1998 and appear destined to finish second in the AL West after the Tsunami that is the Los Angeles Dodgers swept over them. I thought it might be interesting to see what the D-backs have done over their 16 years compared to what the Blue Jays have done over their past 16 campaigns.In its latest installment, UFC 169 will take place in Newark, New Jersey with two titles on the line. This is a shot at redemption for Urijah Faber, his chance to win a title fight. Its also a massive proving ground for Jose Aldo, not that he needs it. If Aldo can pick up the victory, he will be at nearly a decade without defeat. He isnt even 27; his talent will only increase over the next few years. There is also a bout in the heavyweight division with Alistair Overeem facing Frank Mir. On paper it sounds like a great matchup but will need a dramatic ending or tense action packed rounds in order for people to be talking about it the next day. Here are the UFC 169 picks from the team at TSN 1290s the “Weigh In”. Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby… thats right, just Toby. Catch us on air every Saturday at 11:30am ct/12:30pm et. Renan Barao (31-1-0) vs. Urijah Faber (30-6-0) Jordan Cieciwa Who doesnt love a big title fight? Well if you are Uriah Faber, history says you actually may not. His only losses came at the hands of champions. There are few people in the game as talented as him, especially when it comes to wrestling and the use of unorthodox strikes. Hes shown unbelievable skill with elbows off the cage and spinning back fists. His ability to target is second to none. Thats only gotten better with the addition of Duane ‘Bang Ludwig. Across the cage from him is the very dangerous Renan Barao. Barao came out of obscurity to start dismantling his competition in both the WEC and UFC. He is on nearly a decade long win streak. Ask anyone, except Eddie Wineland, and theyll say he is a submission specialist. He beat Wineland very quickly and with an amazing back kick to start the process. His talent is unquestioned now, and his ability to push the pace will make him hard to beat. So much so that I dont think “The California Kid” can do it. Barao via fourth round submission Big Marv You could make the argument that Urijah Faber was the fighter of the year in 2013. He went 4-0 last year, with only one of his fights going the distance. Even that fight, against Yuri Alcantara, was a dominant decision for Faber. In fact the last time Faber lost was to Renan Barao in 2012. Since then, the California Kid has been more determined than ever. With an incredible improvement in striking thanks to Alpha Males new coach Duane “Bang” Ludwig. However, lets not sleep on the champ. Renan Barao took that interim title with his win over Faber and has staked his claimed as not only the 135lb king, but also in the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world. It is so hard to pick a winner here. Will Faber choke again in a championship fight situation? I say not this time. Urijah Faber via unanimous decision Toby This one should be an amazing fight! Faber had an outstanding 2013 and will look to finally become a UFC Champion, all that stands in his way is Renan Barao, who has the longest current unbeaten streak in active MMA today (33). This has fight of the night potential and as much as Id like to see “The California Kid” becoming the UFC champ I believe Renan Barao will have his hand raised in this one. Renan Barao via decision Jose Aldo (23-1-0) vs. Ricardo Lamas (13-2-0) JC What were you doing when you were 18? If you were an 18-year-old Jose Aldo, you were suffering your last MMA loss. At 27, Aldo has been on a nearly nine-year win streak. Most of those wins are while holding the UFC featherweight title. He is perhaps one of the sharpest fighters in the game. Fortunately, he isnt talked about all that often because it seems to have kept him hungry. Aldo willl probably keep this fight standing and use some amazing leg kicks to slow his opponent down.dddddddddddd Though let it be known that Ricardo Lamas is no slouch either. Lamas is on a four-fight win streak of his own and looked great stopping Cub Swanson with a triangle choke and Erik Koch with elbows. The good news for fans, both these athletes stop fights including Aldo who has a 30% decision rate. That to me is fantastic. I think that, in combination with his skill level, will have this fight ending sometime in the fourth round. We will be treated to a lot of leg kicks and some great movement and skill on display. Jose Aldo via fourth round TKO Toby After watching Jose Aldo fight for the past couple of years Ive learned two things, he is without a doubt one of the best pound for pound fighters in MMA and its hard to bet against him. Ricardo Lamas is a real threat but I see Aldo getting his hand raised and us fans being one step closer to an Aldo vs. Pettis super fight. Jose Aldo via TKO BM Jose Aldo is one of those champions that just seems infallible. His striking is fast and vicious, his ground and pound is relentless, he has slick jiu jitsu and is almost impossible to take down. All of that adds up to him being one of the best in the world pound-for-pound. However, his opponent Ricardo Lamas has this crazy habit of winning fights he shouldnt. Sorry Toby, weve got to put the Aldo vs. Pettis super fight on hold, Lamas is taking this one. Ricardo Lamas via TKO round 4. Frank Mir (16-8-0) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-13-0) JC This is one of those fights that really means very little in the heavyweight division, but will be interesting to watch. I have a very bad feeling it will end in the first round with a toe hold, but who knows, Mir might try to show off his “highly average” boxing skills. Lets face it, Alistair Overeem comes into this fight with a bad rap for using drugs (very deserved), and being a one sided fighter. Overeem has no business being in the cage with a jujitsu whiz like Frank Mir. Mir is also not afraid to end a fight with an “uncool” submission. He grabbed Brock Lesnars toe and threatened to break it. The loser of this fight probably wont have much longer in the UFC, and I dont know that its a bad thing. The winner probably wont ever contend for a title, but at least they dont have to retire or go find work somewhere else. Its a simple case of a very impressive K-1 specialist in Overeem, meeting up with a jujitsu guy that will take the submission anyway he can. I expect that Mir will find and exploit the very large weakness that is Overeems ground game. Mir via second round submission. BM Both these guys are desperate for a win. With Overeem, he beat up Bigfoot for two rounds before his cockiness got the best of him. Against Travis Browne, he almost finished him, but Brown proved too tough and Overeem got caught. In Frank Mirs last fight, he was slow and Barnet destroyed him quickly. Against Cormier, he was slow and lost by decision. The difference between the two, Overeem still has it, while it looks like Mir does not. Plus, Mir wont be able to weather the early storm like Silva or Browne. Its going to be an early night for both men. Alistair Overeem via KO round 1 Toby This is a possible “Loser leaves town” fight, with both fighters coming off consecutive losses Mir (3) Overeem (2). Overeem has lost some weight which will help his cardio, I love watching both of these guys fight but in this case I believe Overeems stand-up will be the difference on Saturday. Alistair Overeem via TKO ' ' '