Miami Heat Brace for Game 3 Against Thunder

The Miami Heat will try to take control of the 2012 NBA Finals when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 17.

After losing the first game of their series against the Thunder, the Heat evened things out on June 14, thanks to the excellent play of the "big three," and some hot three-point shooting by Shane Battier.

"I don't know if we were any more motivated in Game 2," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. "What we were was angry about our performance in Game 1. ... You want to throw your best punches out there, and may the best team win. We didn't throw our best punches in Game 1."

Given the fact that the next three games of the series will be held at the American Airlines Arena, the results of Game 3 will have a big impact on the rest of the series.

"You've got the two best teams in the league right now going against each other," Dwyane Wade told reporters about Miami's upcoming contest. "So it's going to be a very tough game, but we have to find a way to win it. And it's about taking, like I said, one possession at a time, one second, one minute at a time to make sure we reach our goal -- and that's to win the game."

The Heat have been very dominant on their home-court, and there's a decent chance they'll close out the series at home. Of course, they'll need the "big three" to continue playing well, along with their role players.
Even though the Heat played well in Game 2, they slacked off a bit during the final quarter of the contest. Fortunately for them, LeBron James took over the game during clutch time, leading Miami to its first win of the series.

"I'm enjoying it," LeBron told reporters. "I'm having fun with these first two games. I mean, this is a great opportunity for myself and for our team, for both teams. It's a lot of fun being out there and competing at a high level, you know, the intense moment where every possession counts."

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Associated Press, "Thunder-Heat Preview"

Seattle Sounders Struggle Against Montreal Impact

The Seattle Sounders FC suffered a humiliating loss on June 16, losing 4-1 to the lowly Montreal Impact. With the loss, the Sounders slide down to the fourth spot in the MLS Western Conference table, trailing first place Real Salt Lake by eight points.

"We need to play much better than what we did tonight," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid told reporters after the game. "We gave away goals on a missed clearance, by throwing a ball in, opening up a counter for their team ... and I didn't think our pressure was good enough on their third goal. We made three mistakes on one play. We have to eliminate that."

The Impact struck early against the Sounders, thanks to a well placed shot by Felipe Martins 18 minutes into the match. They struck again early in the second half, increasing their advantage to two goals.

Things got even worse for the Sounders in the 56^th minute, when Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was ejected for a rough tackle.

Seattle's defense wasn't able to adjust to Hurtado's ejection, and the Impact made them pay shortly after, increasing their lead to three goals. Eddie Johnson cut down the Impact's lead to two goals a few minutes later. But former Sounders midfielder Lamar Neagle answered back with a goal of his own in the 87^th minute, restoring the Impact's three-goal cushion.

The Sounders will now get a few days off, before hosting Kansas City on June 20. Kansas currently holds the second spot in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, and the Sounders will be in for an even tougher contest when the two teams clash on Wednesday.

"We've been down before," Seattle defender Zach Scott said. "We know what it takes to come back and pull out a result. It's unfortunate, but we just need to get back on how we play successfully and not worry about what the other team does. We need to go back to what we're good at and play our type of possession soccer."

David has been a fan of the Seattle Sounders for the past 3 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Joshua Mayers, "Zach Scott: 'It's embarrassing to lose like that.' (postgame quotes and stats)"

Miami Heat Take 2-1 Lead in NBA Finals

The Miami Heat took control of the 2012 NBA Finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-85 on June 17. With the win, the Heat take a 2-1 lead in the series, with the next two games set for the American Airlines Arena.

For the third consecutive time, the Heat got off to a fast start against the Thunder. But Oklahoma fought back in the second quarter, cutting Miami's lead down to a point by the halftime break. The Thunder took over the game in the third quarter, leading by as much as 10 points.

However, Miami refused to go down without a fight. They cut down the Thunder's lead in the third quarter, and the "big three" stepped up during the final minutes of the game, leading Miami to victory.

"It's all about chemistry," LeBron James told reporters after the game. "We understand where we like to get the ball, what we like to do in close situations, and it's good to see us execute down the stretch. But more importantly it was great to see we were able to get stops. That's where the game is won and we did that."

LeBron put up another MVP worthy performance in Game 3, walking away with 29 points (game-high), 14 rebounds (game-high), and 3 assists. Dwyane Wade struggled with his shot on Sunday, but he remained aggressive throughout the game, finishing with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Chris Bosh also had some problems with his jumper, but he found other ways to help his teammates out, putting up 10 points and 11 rebounds.

As a team, the Heat shot the ball poorly in Game 3, but Shane Battier continued his hot three-point shooting, converting on his two attempts from beyond the arc.

Miami's defense certainly played a huge role in the way things turned out against the Thunder, and their role players deserve a lot of credit for their energy on the floor.

At this point in the NBA Finals, it's pretty clear Miami is the better team. I expect them to take another step closer to the 2012 NBA title when the two teams meet again on June 19.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Associated Press, "LeBron James leads way with 29 points, 14 boards as Heat go up 2-1"

Miami Heat Look for Third Straight Win Against Thunder

The Miami Heat's offense struggled a bit during their last outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they were able to win their second straight game in the NBA Finals, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

The Heat will try to win their third consecutive game against the Thunder, when the two teams meet again on June 19.

Miami's "big three" have played well in the first three games of the NBA finals, and I expect more of the same from them on Tuesday. LeBron James in particular has been amazing against the Thunder, putting up clutch performances Miami fans will remember for years.

"The biggest evolution of great players is they always stay in constant state of being uncomfortable," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters about LeBron's impressive play. "They don't stay satisfied. And LeBron every summer has added something to his game. I've seen it when I've followed him from afar, and now that I've gotten to know him he's added two, three, four different elements now to his game, the well-documented one of the post-up game, which we needed. But he continues to try to improve and stay uncomfortable. I think that's a sign of greatness."

Shane Battier has also played well against the Thunder, stealing the role of "X-factor" from Mario Chalmers.
Miami's defense has been a huge part of their success in the last two years, and they haven't strayed away from it in their last two outings. The Heat have been effective at stifling Oklahoma's offense, and they should be able to close out the series in Miami if they keep it up.

Spoelstra has taken his share of criticism over the years, but he's managed the team very well against the Thunder. He's kept his players focused on the defensive end, while spreading out their offense.
With a win against the Thunder on Tuesday, the Heat should be able to able to close out the series at the American Airlines Arena later on in the week. They've been the best team in the NBA for the past two years, and it's about time they have some hardware to prove it.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Associated Press, "Thunder-Heat Preview"

Miami Heat Take 3-1 Lead in NBA Finals

The Miami Heat are now 48 minutes away from their first NBA title in the LeBron James-Chris Bosh era, thanks to their 104-98 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 19.

The Heat started poorly on Tuesday, trailing by as much as 17 points in the first half of the game. Fortunately for Miami fans, they turned things around in the second half, cutting Oklahoma's lead down to three points by halftime. Both teams went back and forth in the second half, but the Heat proved to be the better team, taking control of the game during the final minutes.

LeBron did a good job of managing Miami's offense in Game 4, playing the role of ball handler. He kept their supporting cast involved throughout the contest, finishing with 26 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds. Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers also played well on Tuesday, finishing with 25 points apiece.

Even though Miami's "big three" played well in Game 4, their role players deserve a lot of credit for their performance against the Thunder. Norris Cole carried the Heat out of their first quarter slump with his three-point shooting, converting on two of his three attempts from beyond the arc.

Shane Battier finished with only four points against the Thunder, but the numbers don't do him any justice. Battier made some big plays down the stretch, including a tip to Chalmers in the final minute of the game that sealed Miami's victory.

With a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, things couldn't be going any better for the Heat right now. The odds are certainly on their side, as no team has ever comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.

LeBron will have the opportunity to win his first NBA championship when the two teams meet again on June 21, and I'm sure he'll be up to the task. He's clearly the best player in the NBA right now, with the potential to become the greatest ever if he keeps it up.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Associated Press, "Heat overcome Russell Westbrook's 43 points, take 3-1 Finals lead"

Miami Heat Poised to Win NBA Title

The Miami Heat will try to finish off the Oklahoma City Thunder when the two teams meet on June 21, for Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals.

For LeBron James and Chris Bosh, it will be the closest they've been to an NBA title, and I expect them to bring their A-games. LeBron suffered from leg cramps during the final quarter of Game 4, but he doesn't think it'll affect his performance on the court.

"I feel a lot better than I did last night. That's clear," LeBron told reporters. "I'm still a little [sore] because of the muscles just kind of being at an intense level, very tight. I'm still sore. I was able to get some treatment last night. I was able to get some treatment this morning. ... And also with the game being basically at midnight tomorrow night, I have all day tomorrow, too, to prepare. I should be fine by tomorrow night."

The Thunder won the first game of the series, but the Heat made the necessary adjustments, winning the next three encounters between the two teams. LeBron solidified his status as the best player in the NBA with his performances throughout the postseason, and he's been a huge factor in the Heat's success against the Thunder.

Last year, Miami's role-players failed them during the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, but they've been nothing short of spectacular against the Thunder. From Shane Battier to rookie Norris Cole, Miami's supporting cast continues to deliver consistently, putting the Heat in a position to win their first NBA title under coach Erik Spoelstra.

Even though things couldn't be going any better for Miami right now, Game 5 is certainly a must-win situation. We've all seen how good the Thunder can be at home, and it wouldn't be wise to take any chances against them.

Given all the unnecessary criticism the Heat have taken in the last two years, I'm sure they understand what's at stake. I expect the "big three" to put up historic numbers on Thursday, and emerge as the 2012 NBA champions.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Associated Press, "Thunder-Heat Preview"

Sounders Settle for Draw Against Sporting KC

The Seattle Sounders FC weren't able to snap out of their slump against Sporting KC, settling for the 1-1 draw on June 20. With the results of the match, the Sounders are now winless in their last six MLS games, but they remain at the fourth spot in the Western Conference table.

"Happy with the fact that we were able to come back from going down a goal," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid told reporters after the game. "I thought it was a very physical match, but I was pleased with our effort and our heart that we displayed and that we showed. I thought it was a major jump forward from the way we played in Montreal."

Jacob Peterson opened up the scoreboard for Kansas City on Wednesday, knocking a deflected shot back into Seattle's post eight minutes into the contest. The Sounders fired back shortly after, thanks to Patrick Ianni, who finished a well-played Mauro Rosales free-kick with a beautifully played side-volley.

"It was just a good ball by Mauro [Rosales] and it came a little behind the line," Ianni told reporters. "I think Zach [Scott] and Brad [Evans] were going, and maybe Eddie [Johnson] too, and brought their defenders with them and it just kind of snuck through to me. I thought, if it comes all the way through, I'm just going to get good contact on it and put it on frame and fortunately it went in."

However, both teams cooled off considerably after the early fireworks, leading to the low scoring contest.
Given how well the Sounders started off the 2012 MLS season, it's frustrating to see them struggling. It's not yet time to panic, but they'll be in serious trouble if they don't figure out a way to win games.

Fortunately for the Sounders, they'll get a chance to figure things against the Portland Timbers on June 24, and a rivalry game might just be what they need to find their groove.

David has been a fan of the Seattle Sounders for the past 3 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Joshua Mayers, "Alex Caskey: 'It was just a battle -- 90 minutes of fighting.'"

Miami Heat Win NBA Championship

When LeBron James exercised his right to align himself with a competent NBA team, his decision turned him into one of the most vilified athletes on the entire planet.

However, LeBron's decision to take his talents to South Beach turned out to be the right one, as the Miami Heat hoisted the 2012 NBA title on June 21, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 at the American Airlines Arena.

"We love you Miami, thank you for your patience," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said during the trophy presentation. "We remembered last year, we wanted to make it up."

Miami's players came out with their guns blazing in Game 5, taking control early in the contest. They outscored the Thunder in every single quarter of the game, holding them to 41 percent shooting from the field, while converting on 52 percent of their field-goal attempts.

As expected, LeBron put on MVP-type numbers in Game 5, finishing with 26 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds. It certainly wasn't a surprise when NBA commissioner David Stern handed him the Finals MVP award.

"It means everything," LeBron said shortly after the game. "I made a difficult decision to leave Cleveland but I understood what my future was about ... I knew we had a bright future [in Miami]. This is a dream come true for me. This is definitely when it pays off."

Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade also brought their A-game, finishing with 24 and 20 points respectively.
Mike Miller gave the Heat a huge boost coming off the bench, knocking down seven of his eight three-point attempts. He finished with 23 points and 5 rebounds.

Miami's remaining role players also played pretty well, with Norris Cole and Shane Battier knocking down some big three's.

The Heat's road to the NBA Finals wasn't easy, but it only prepared them for their showdown against the Thunder. Miami fans couldn't be any happier with the results, and I'm sure we'll have many more title celebrations in the years to come.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Associated Press, "LeBron James, Heat dominate Thunder to win NBA championship"

Portland Timbers Escape with Win Against Seattle Sounders

The Seattle Sounders FC's problems continued on June 24, losing 2-1 to the Portland Timbers. For the Sounders, it was their first loss against the Timbers since joining the MLS, extending their current regular season winless streak to seven games.

"We made a couple of mistakes in the first half," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid told reporters after the frustrating loss. "They scored a good goal on a set piece; we had already given away one off the post by [David] Horst. The marking was bad on [Kris] Boyd's goal - he was behind the ball, so he's not offside - and we put ourselves in a hole. It's tough; the last seven games we've played out of the hole every time and when you're constantly playing from behind, it makes it difficult."

Fortunately for the Sounders, they'll get to hold on to the fourth spot in the MLS Western Conference rankings.

The Timbers got off to a good start against the Sounders, scoring their first goal early in the match. Kris Boyd tipped a well-played cross past Andrew Weber, opening up the scoreboard in the 16^th minute. David Horst doubled the Timbers' advantage nine minutes later, nodding one into the post.

The Sounders tried to fight back in the second half, and their offense played considerably better. Eddie Johnson brought them back into the game in the 58^th minute, firing a shot past Troy Perkins from the top of the box. The Sounders had many more chances to equalize the game, but they couldn't find a way to get the ball into the net.

To make things worse for the Sounders, Fredy Montero was ejected during the final minute of regulation, after getting involved in a shoving contest. He'll automatically face a one-game suspension.

The Sounders' next game will be against the San Jose Earthquakes - currently the top team in the Western Conference table - on June 26. Seattle's goal to become the first team to win four consecutive US Open Cup titles will be on the line when the two teams meet, and the Sounders will be in for an even tougher contest.

David has been a fan of the Seattle Sounders for the past 3 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
 
Sources:
Joshua Mayers, "Zach Scott: "To let (the fans) down, to know that they're…"

Seattle Sounders FC Advance to US Open Cup Semifinals

The Seattle Sounders FC couldn't have figured out a better time to get their act together, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 on June 26.

With the win, the Sounders' goal of becoming the first team to win four consecutive US Open Cup titles remains a reality, and they're now two games away from completing their quest. They'll face Chivas USA in the semifinals of the tournament on July 10.

"It was an important win," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid told reporters after the game. "We overcame a lot of things today and that can help a team. Obstacles are there, but obstacles are there to be overcome and we can overcome those obstacles."

The Sounders struck first in the 19^th minute of the match, thanks to 19 year-old Cordell Cato, who coolly fired one between San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham's legs for his first MLS goal.

"The last couple games it was difficult because we always had to fight from the back," Cato said. "With that goal, it brought confidence to not only me, but the whole team and we were able to push forward as a whole team."

The Sounders had a few more chances during the course of the game, but Bingham refused to concede a second goal.

Seattle's defense certainly deserves a lot of credit for the victory, shutting down the number one team in the MLS Western Conference. Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Weber stepped up his game during the final minutes of the match, preventing the Earthquakes from equalizing on a few close calls.

Besides positioning the Sounders two wins away from their fourth straight US Open Cup title, their victory will serve as a morale boost, given their recent struggles. However, their win was mired in controversy, as a melee involving Eddie Johnson broke out right after the match.

The Sounders will now get a few days to enjoy their victory, before heading out to face the New England Revolution on June 30.

David has been a fan of the Seattle Sounders for the past 3 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter.
 
Sources:
SoundersFC.com, "Sounders keep USOC hopes alive"

Late Goal Forces Sounders FC to Settle for Draw Against Revolution

After securing a spot in the 2012 US Open Cup semifinals with their win against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 26, the Seattle Sounders FC were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution on June 30.

For a majority of the match, the Sounders lead the Revolution, but their defense slipped up during the final minutes of the contest. The Revolution evened out the scoreboard during stoppage time, robbing the Sounders of their opportunity to secure three points in the MLS Western Conference standings.

"Obviously, it's a difficult game for us," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid told reporters after the match. "We play a ton of games, playing on Sunday and coming back and playing on Tuesday and then flying cross-country and playing here, it puts a big burden on the team physically. So I was very pleased with how we responded. I was pleased with how we responded in the first half, in the second half, and we did what we had to do."

The Revolution opened up the scoreboard during the 12^th minute of the game, when Saer Sene capitalized on a nice pass from Blake Brettschneider.

Eddie Johnson evened things out 11 minutes later, nodding a cross past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis. Johnson struck again during the 35^th minute, heading another ball into the Revolution's post for his fifth goal of the season.

"It's just something we practice on, the out-back passing forward, back and then out wide," Johnson said. "One of our strengths is getting the ball out wide and serving the ball in the box. We've got guys who can score, who are dangerous on crosses."

The Sounders maintained their lead for the remainder of the game, and for a moment, it looked like they were about to snap their (then) seven-game regular season winless streak. Unfortunately for them, their defense failed them when it counted the most, allowing Diego Fagundez to head one in.

Things won't get any easier for the Sounders in their next outing, as they'll face Real Salt Lake on July 4.

David has been a fan of the Seattle Sounders for the past 3 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter.
 
Sources:
Joshua Mayers, "Eddie Johnson: 'It's frustrating. You look around the locker room…'"