Hamilton Quitting Way Out of June Slump

Josh Hamilton will not be getting an endorsement from "big tobacco" anytime soon.  In the midst of an atrocious hitting slump, Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder, Josh Hamilton is attempting to quit the dip.

According to a report from ESPN Dallas’, Richard Durrett, Hamilton has begun the process of trying to quit the art of dipping cold turkey…. well kind of.  Hamilton has resorted to using tea tree oil and menthol laced toothpicks as a means to help weaken his cravings.

Via ESPNDallas.com, “It was time to do it," Hamilton said. "It's a habit and I don't really enjoy it like I used to."

This is indeed a wise decision for Hamilton; but why now?  The Texas Rangers have been cruising through the regular season thus far.  They currently lead the American League West with a record of 45-29 (4 1/2 games ahead of the LA Angels) and lead the entire American League in runs scored with 388.  The Rangers are having a fantastic season and appear to be well on their way to their third consecutive playoff birth.

However, June has not been kind to Hamilton.  His season batting average is still an impressive .319, but he’s only hitting .194 this month.  He had two monster months prior in April (.395) and May (.344), so it’s safe to say that June is an insignificant bump in the road for Hamilton. 

Why quit dipping now though?  One would assume that in the middle of a long hot major league season, that quitting could wait until the offseason. Probably the case, but Hamilton has his motives and it looks like everything will continue to work out for him going forward.

His hitting issues will be resolved in the cage, but mentally quitting could help.  Maybe just maybe, thinking about quitting dipping, could serve as a mental distraction away from his swing that gets him back in the groove of dominating at the plate.      

No doubt this slump will pass and if dip is the only thing left behind along the way, then so be it.     

Upton Not Out

You don’t have to be a baseball aficionado to understand or even appreciate the talent of Arizona Diamondbacks out fielder, Justin Upton.  Last night in Arizona, the Diamondbacks picked up a solid victory over a struggling Chicago Cubs team, 10-5.  No doubt the Diamondbacks needed the win.  They currently sit in third place in the National League West at 36-35; trailing San Francisco and Los Angeles. 

However, last nights win could serve as a turning point for Arizona’s young All-Star.  Upton’s numbers are down this year, but there not horrible.  He’s currently batting .267 (career avg. is .276), slugging .394 (career avg. .478), and last night he hit his 7th homer of the season.  His on base percentage is right on target at .352; putting his overall OPS at .746 (his career OPS is .835). 

Again, not horrible numbers by any stretch, but still not on the level Diamondback fans want him to be on.

Upton went 2-2 with a walk in three at bats last night against the Cubs.  He homered to left center early then hit an RBI single to center field, giving the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead and plenty of momentum going forward.

Diamondbacks first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt had a slightly bigger night going 3-5 that included a home run and a triple, but Upton’s performance had more significance.   

Arizona’s announcers seemed pleased with Upton’s night.  Ever since he was drafted first overall in 2005, Upton has been an intriguing player to follow.  At age 24, he doesn’t get the media attention of a Matt Kemp or Bryce Harper; essentially because he plays in Phoenix and not in a major market like LA, DC, or New York.  The intriguing part is that Upton is okay with that.  He seems fine going about his business in Arizona and not soaking in all the attention, which a former number one overall draft pick in a larger market, would be. 

The NL West is suddenly a highly competitive division with the Dodgers freight training the division early and the Giants returning to their somewhat old form from 2010.  The Diamondbacks won this division last season and if they want to repeat as champions then they need Upton to take his game from an All-Star level to a Super-Star level.  

He clearly has the athleticism and overall potential to do so.  Maybe last night’s feat was a start.  Upton appears to be settled in now and his peers in Arizona should have taken notice in the victory.    

Finals: South Beach Shuffle

No one expected that kind of performance from the Miami Heat in game five, but we all knew it was possible.  When the new look Heat took shape in the summer of 2010, a future championship became inevitable.  LeBron James sat on a stage along side teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and began to rattle off the number of titles possible for the newly formed trio.  "Not one, not two, not three, not four....." and so on.  Now, more then ever, LeBron's bold statements from that summer seem like they could turn into a reality.

The Miami Heat closed out the Oklahoma City Thunder in fine fashion.  The final score read 121-106 in favor of Miami; giving the Heat a 4-1 Finals triumph that will surely be referenced for the rest of LeBron's career. 

Miami's role players finally showed up and by far delivered their most productive game this entire postseason.  Mario Chalmers had 10 points, Shane Battier scored 11, and Mike Miller was shooting from another planet dropping in 23 points while going 7-8 from three point land.  Throw in a cool 24 points from Chris Bosh and 20 points from Wade, and you have the Thunder simply falling into a death trap last night in Miami. 

The headline performance came from Miami's leader and three time MVP, LeBron James.  LeBron played one of the best games of his entire career and did so in a close out situation on basketball's biggest stage.  His triple-double consisted of 26 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds; he did everything in game five for his team.  James joins a small list: Tim Duncan, James Worthy, Larry Bird, and (twice)Magic Johnson, all legends who had triple-double performances in close out games of the NBA Finals.  James has something new in common with those guys now; an NBA Championship to call his own.

James can also add a Finals MVP to his resume.  He averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in five Finals games.  By far the Heat's MVP all postseason long; he didn't let his team down in the Finals. 

The Thunder proved to be a worthy opponent.  Maybe some thought OKC could force a game six and perhaps a game seven back home, but credit Miami for protecting home court and closing any and all escape valves OKC was seeking.

OKC seemed shaken in the second half of game five, especially when Miami's crowd came alive late in the third, which was fueled by fast break dunks and big three pointers.  It felt at times as if Thunder forward Kevin Durant disappeared despite the fact that he lead all scorers with 32 points and 11 rebounds.  A brilliant night numbers wise for Durant, it was just overshadowed by Miami's spirited team play.

Durant was emotional following the loss and rightfully so.  He had a masterful season; winning the regular season scoring title and leading his team to the Finals.  He and his teammates wanted to be the ones celebrating with champagne and the trophy in the locker room.  Durant wanted to be the one hoisting up the "Bill Russell Finals MVP Award."  Instead, Durant lead a quiet walk back to the locker room to share a somber moment with his team. 

LeBron suffered two of these losses in the Finals before winning it all last night.  Game five in Miami was LeBron's stage and he relished every minute of it.  Durant's time will come one day, but he shouldn't take this experience for granted.  He should cherish it and remember how it feels to walk off the court empty handed.  Its not guaranteed that a he or any player will ever make it back to the Finals.  Like LeBron, Durant should let his disappointment fuel his drive to get back there sooner rather than later.

            (Trophy ceremony from last night.  LeBron wins Finals MVP and gets his ring. Via YouTube)

Finals: Not Over Yet

Time now to sit back, relax, and digest the NBA Finals.  Not quite yet.  The Miami Heat took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Thunder by winning game four 104-98.  Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, who has been the topic of most debates amongst NBA fans, put on a show last night.  Westbrook scored 43 points on 20-32 shooting, but his 40 plus point night wasn't good enough.  Heat point guard Mario Chalmers stole Westbrook's show by dropping in 25 points of his own, by far the most productive game Chalmers has had all postseason. 

LeBron James had yet another big night.  James finished one rebound shy of a triple-double going for 26 points (14th consecutive 25 plus point playoff game), 12 assists, and 9 rebounds.  The real headline for James came late in the fourth quarter.  James was apparently suffering from leg cramps and had to be carried off the court by two of his teammates with under six minutes to go in regulation.  He would check back in following a time out and hit quite possibly one of the biggest shots of his career. 

Game four was tied 94-94 with just under three minutes to play.  James limping and the shot clock running out, pulls up at the top of the key and nails a three pointer over Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha, to take a 97-94 lead late.  LeBron's clutch three served as the go-ahead basket for a Heat win.  Miami would not relinquish their advantage and would end up closing out the Thunder on their own terms. 

You got a sense last night during game four that the Miami Heat want this championship in a bad way.  LeBron is 0-2 in the Finals and hears about it everyday.  His teammates, especially Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh want this title not only for themselves, but for LeBron as well.  OKC is new on the scene.  Kevin Durant is only 23 years old, so the urgency to win a title might not have fully set in for the young Thunder.

That doesn't mean they're done though.  Immediately after the buzzer sounded in game four, Heat guard Dwyane Wade  held up one finger, signifying to the Miami crowd that their Heat were one single win away from a second championship in franchise history.

The Heat seemed relieved and almost a little too laid back following their crucial game four win.  The loss could be a potential back-breaker for the Thunder, but they have been here before.

The Thunder were as good as dead down 2-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals; the series prior to this one with the Heat.  OKC rallied and rattled off four straight wins to best the Spurs 4-2 and advance to the NBA Finals.  No one was giving the Thunder much of a chance after they dropped games one and two against the Spurs.  They didn't listen to their critics and instead responded like champions with their backs against the wall.

That being said, a game five win for the Heat, won't be so easy.  OKC is very dangerous at home and they knew coming into Miami for games three, four, and five that all they needed was one win to regain home court advantage.  They still have an opportunity to obtain that one win on Thursday night.

Video of LeBron's clutch three over Sefolosha in game four of the NBA Finals.  (via YouTube)

Finals: Advantage LeBron

The Miami Heat came out swinging; sticking to their guns for game two of the NBA Finals.  The Heat sustained their energy for all 48 minutes, building momentum from the early onslaught they put on the Thunder.  OKC would make a late charge fueled by point guard Russell Westbrook and forward Kevin Durant, but LeBron James would seal the win with a clutch rebound and two clutch free throws late.  Miami forced OKC to drop a game at home 100-96 as the series shifts to South Beach tied 1-1. 

Games three, four, and five will be on the Heat's home floor.  The Finals transitions to a 2-3-2 format, which is different from the previous three rounds.  The loss last night for the Thunder gives James and the Heat a clear advantage moving forward.  If Miami can win at least 2 out of 3 home games, then they would take a series lead up 3-2 back to OKC for game six.  The Heat also have the opportunity to close the series out at home, if they can muster up three straight wins in front of their home town fans.

James and his sidekicks, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade put on a masterful performance in game two.  The Heat looked like a different team last night.  Their offense flowed and most of the scoring seemed effortless.  James lead his squad with 32 points (13th 30 plus game this postseason), 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Bosh and Wade combined for 40 points and 21 rebounds (Bosh grabbing 15).  Believe it or not a role player stepped up for Miami.  Forward Shane Battier contributed 17 points on 5-7 shooting from downtown. 

Even though Miami allowed OKC to make a run late; it was still a solid performance for the Heat.  They took their lumps from game one and came out in game two with a ferocious mentality that never permitted them to give up the lead.

Let's not forget about the Thunder.  Kevin Durant matched James with 32 points and Russell Westbrook continued to shoot (26 attempts), but still dropped in 27.  The first half was atrocious for Westbrook and the Thunder.  Magic Johnson on the ABC halftime show called it, "The worst half he had ever seen a point guard play in the playoffs," or something like that. 

However, OKC would bounce back early in the second half, fueled by the leagues sixth man of the year, James Harden.  Harden finished the night with 21 points, but his spirited play along side with Durant and Westbrook wasn't enough to foil the Heat.  Game three of the NBA Finals will air at 8PM ET Sunday night on ABC. 

___________

Time now to focus on Miami Heat star and three time league MVP, LeBron James.  For one reason or another people love to root against LeBron.  Not sure why we want to see a great player fail, but that is the case with LeBron. 

If it's because of "The Decsision," which aired in prime time back in the Summer of 2010, then it's not a good enough reason to hate him.  LeBron spent seven grueling seasons with a franchise that never gave him enough support.  The Cavaliers had the opportunity to keep James during the free agency frenzy of 2010, but failed to achieve what James needed; which was landing a star he could play along side with.

LeBron James did nothing wrong and in fact he owed us "The Decision."  Would we have been satisfied with James making it known that he was leaving Cleveland for South Beach on Twitter or through a well manicured press release, probably not.  The drama surrounding his decision was so hyped that he did the right thing by letting the world know together where his choice would land him.  Seven years in Cleveland was enough.  If the Cavaliers as an organization couldn't land a suitable sidekick for James or let alone keep one (Carlos Boozer) then they weren't ever going to do so. 

Perceived arrogance is another reason why most people dislike LeBron.  We ignore how un-selfish he is on the floor, and focus more on his off the court swag.  The fact is that James has accomplised a lot during his time in the NBA except for winning a championship.  He shouldn't be knocked for how he carries himself; he's still young and is prideful in his achievements. 

However, questions will always swirl around why James disappears in crunch time or why he shut it down against Boston during the 2010 postseason.  The bottom line is that LeBron James is the best player in the NBA right now and hopefully fans of the game will be able to enjoy watching him play rather then despise his every move. 

When Miami's "big 3" of James, Wade, and Bosh came together, who didn't think they could win seven titles in a row?  The scary thing is that they still can. 

Finals: Job Well Done in Game One

The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a solid performance in last nights game one win of the NBA Finals (except for the introductions).  Even if your not a Thunder fan, you have to appreciate their aggressive play on both ends of the floor last night.  Everyone showed up for OKC and it resulted in a 105-94 win over the Heat; giving the Thunder an early 1-0 series lead. 

A game one loss is not the proverbial "kiss of death" in an NBA Finals series and the Miami Heat know this.  Last year during the Finals, the Heat overpowered the Dallas Mavericks in game one, but would eventually falter and lose the series against Dallas in six. 

Basketball fans are already saying that the Heat are done in this one.  Most of the talk is centered around Miami's "big 3" and the things Miami didn't do in the game one loss.  The fact of the matter is that the Heat are far from finished and we need to give OKC credit where credit is do.  The Thunder stayed poised and weathered Miami's early attack.  They dug in before halftime, cutting Miami's lead to seven.  OKC's attack mode mentality early in the second half crumpled any momentum Miami had left over from the first two quarters. 

Heat forward LeBron James lead his team with 30 points (his 12th 30 plus point game this postseason) and 9 rebounds in 46 minutes of action.  LeBron's numbers this postseason have been truly remarkable.  James is averaging 30.7 points, 5 assists, and just under 10 rebounds per game in the playoffs, but he has to get some help from teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh going forward in the Finals. 

He probably will. Wade and Bosh have been helpful when playing healthy this postseason; something just didn't seem right with those two guys last night.  The Heat came out tired in the second half just as the Thunder ramped up their tenacity on defense.  Wade and Bosh didn't have the energy needed to help James keep up with the well rested Thunder.      

The Thunder are a very good basketball team and forward Kevin Durant is beginning to look like the second coming of Michael Jordan.  Durant  lead all scorers with 36 points and 8 boards (his 7th 30 plus point game this postseason).  Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a productive night as well.  Westbrook dropped 27 points on 10-24 shooting, dished 11 assist, and snagged 8 rebounds (2 boards shy of a triple-double). 

Twenty four shot attempts by a point guard is a pretty big number, but Westbrook needed to be aggressive.  Westbrook should continue to keep shooting until head coach Scott Brooks advises him to do otherwise.  If Westbrook needs to shoot the ball in order for him to keep his mind in an attacking mindset, then he should continue to do so.  He and Durant were superb last night.  His 24 shot attempts didn't hinder OKC's cause in the least bit during game one.  Instead, Durant and his teammates fed off of Westbrook's energy the entire second half. 

Game two of the NBA Finals tips at 9PM ET Thursday night on ABC.  The Heat should be settled in now.  They now have a day to rest and prepare.  Miami is aware of how loud the arena will be on Thursday night (despite what Bosh thinks), so they will be ready to face the noise.  Look for Miami to come out attacking early again, but this time they should have the energy to close the Thunder out.  The Heat know how big of an advantage it will be in the following three games if they can force the Thunder to drop game two in OKC.   They've been on the wrong side of this equation before.

Westbrook's Time

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, Russell Westbrook has been a difficult player for NBA fans to figure out.  Ever since Westbrook was drafted fourth overall in 2008 to the then Seattle SuperSonics (now the Thunder) he has for whatever reason had a hard time establishing himself as an elite NBA point guard; until now. 

Westbrook has officially arrived and has established himself as a top five point guard in the NBA.  During this phenomenal playoff run for the Thunder, Westbrook is averaging close to 22 points per game. Second only to teammate Kevin Durant, who is averaging right around 28 points per game this postseason.

Like Kevin Durant, Westbrook has been through it all during the rebuilding process in OKC.  In his first season with the Thunder, both he and Durant endured a 23-59 season together.  P.J. Carlesimo was in his second season as head coach, but was axed early in the '08-'09 inaugural campaign in OKC and was replaced by current head coach Scott Brooks.

Soon after he took control, Brooks quickly decided to go with Westbrook at the point.  Westbrook would start in 65 games and end up averaging 15 points and 5 assists per game as a rookie. Respectable numbers for a young rookie in the NBA, but Westbrook still had a long way to go to earn the respect of being a high caliber producer around the league.

The lack of respect for Westbrook around the league was not shared by the Thunder organization.  This past offseason trade talks began to swirl around Westbrook, but the Thunder stood firm on their belief that Westbrook is and could continue to be a special player in the NBA.  OKC said no to a Rajon Rondo deal and distanced themselves from Chris Paul talk.  They knew very well what they had in Russell Westbrook and are now witnessing his full potential as a productive point guard.

Westbrook has become an athletic freak.  His ability to defend, attack the basket, and shoot puts him on a higher level then many of his opponents.  His aggressive style of play mixed in with his bread and butter jump shots have helped lift his team into the NBA Finals.  There is no doubt that the Thunder are lead by Kevin Durant (regular season scoring champion), but Westbrook is his sidekick.  Without Westbrook, the Thunder machine does not find themselves in their current situation; the situation being present for the NBA Finals. 

The Thunder are now just four wins away from raising a banner in their own arena.  They face a daunting opponent though.  Westbrook will more then likely be matched-up against Heat guard Dwyane Wade.  Their styles and athletic ability are similar, so it should make for an exciting match-up to watch.  Westbrook now has the opportunity on basketball's biggest stage to make an even bigger name for himself.  With an NBA title at stake, Westbrook will have to lead the Thunder early on by being aggressive on both ends of the floor while allowing for Kevin Durant to get his looks and do the same.

The offense will be running through Westbrook's floor leadership and his team will be counting on him to defend one of the best guards in the league.  His time is now.

Westbrook showing off his freak attack in game six of the WCF.  (Via YouTube)