NBA Finals Game 2: Things We Learned

Three Things We Learned:

Russell Westbrook needs to get mentally tough early in games
Courtesy: NBAE

1.     Russell Westbrook Needs To Stay In Control

Through 2 games this series, Russell Westbrook has played brilliantly in 4^th quarters, helping spark Oklahoma City’s comebacks in both games. Unfortunately, Westbrook was also one of the main reasons the Thunder needed to comeback in the first place in game 2. We all know Westbrook plays with a ton of emotion. But in the 1^st quarter of game 2 it seemed to overwhelm Westbrook at times. He seemed out of control early in the game, a tendency he cannot continue for OKC to win the series.

MLB First Third Review - AL West

Los Angeles Angels

MVP: Mike Trout

Trout has a .341/.401/.541 line and 16 steals as the Angels' leadoff hitter

MLB First Third Review - AL Central

Chicago White Sox

MVP: Paul Konerko

Chris Sale deserves a shout out here. His WHIP is under 1.00, his ERA is under 3.00 (an AL-leading 2.30) and he is holding opponents to a batting average under .200. Those are ace numbers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the MVP for the ChiSox because Paul Konerko is playing out of his mind. He leads the team (and the AL) in batting average at .366, and is third in all of baseball with a 1.062 OPS. While the White Sox are playing well offensively as a whole, there is no doubt Konerko is sparking the whole thing.

MLB First Third Review - AL East

Baltimore Orioles (30-24; 2^nd)

MVP: Adam Jones

The Orioles’ surprising start owes a lot to their pitching staff, which currently sports the 4^th lowest team ERA in the American League. Why give the MVP to Jones then? In short, because he is the only regular player putting up consistent numbers. While the Orioles as a team rank near the middle of the AL in almost every offensive statistic (home runs aside), Jones is playing the best baseball of his career. Jones currently leads the team in runs, hits, home runs, RBIs, batting average and on-base percentage. Clearly, that contract extension was well-deserved.

NBA Finals Game 1: Things We Learned

Courtesy: Garrett Ellwood/ NBAE/ Getty Images

Three Things We Learned:

1.     Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook aren’t scared of the spotlight.

Heading into the series, the Thunder’s youth was one of the big talking points. Would these young kids shrink in the spotlight of the NBA finals, facing one of the toughest teams in the league? Tuesday night proved they’ll be just fine. Durant was the biggest clutch scorer on the floor for either team, meanwhile Westbrook showed what happens when he actively looks to pass: the team becomes infinitely tougher to beat.