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The USA have now qualified for the Round of 16 single-elimination phase of the World Cup for the 4th time ever (all in the last 20 years). Though they finished group play with a sinking 1-0 loss to Germany, their prior performances against Ghana and Portugal earned them the points necessary to move forward.
Up next is Belgium in the Round of 16. Belgium is always a quality team and certainly a match favorite this time around. However, they have put out some mystifying performances this summer, leaving many to question just what their potential is.
They won all 3 of their group matches, but only by scoring very late goals in each. 2 of those matches were 1-0 finishes (nearly draws). Though no doubt a talented roster, many critics continue to question their ability to play as a team.
While this will undoubtedly be an exciting match, and the US certainly have a CHANCE, I’m going with Belgium to pull out a late win.
USA’s last match vs Portugal has become what many are calling the most exciting match of the World Cup tournament so far. After falling behind early on a bad defensive miscue, USA rallied back in the 2nd half for a powerful 2-1 lead. They controlled the entire field for 85 out of the 90 minutes of regulation time. And only in the last 30 seconds of extra time did they let the game slip away.
Rather than dwelling on the agony and excitement of last game, the USA Men’s National Team must look forward to their next game against Germany. There are still several scenarios that include the US moving forward to Round 2 of the World Cup.
The simplest way would be with a win over Germany this Thursday. However, that is not absolutely necessary to advance. A draw with Germany would also secure their spot. Or, a draw in the Ghana – Portugal match would guarantee the US (and Germany) a place in the final 16.
Lastly, if the US lose to Germany and Portugal beats Ghana, then goal differential would be the tiebreaker for 2nd place in Group G. Since Portugal lost by 4 goals against Germany last week, they are at a severe disadvantage here and would have to outscore Ghana by enough goals to catch up to the US. The same is true in case of a Ghana win but with a much slighter disadvantage. See the chart for more details.
As far as the German – US match this Thursday, there will be no shortage of excitement or anticipation. US Coach Jurgen Klinsmann will be facing off against his home country and former World Cup team. It will be interesting to observe how Germany responds to one of their own moving west to coach the US team. It will also be an exciting match between a perennially tough German team and a newly dangerous American team.
I’m leaning towards a 1-1 draw in this match. Therefore I have to pick the US side from a sports betting perspective.
Set to be one of the exciting final matches of World Cup round-robin play, Mexico vs Croatia is not an easy game to pick. Both teams have sleeper potential and have exhibited the ability to play with the best in the world.
Mexico is coming off of a 1-0 win over Cameroon and a 0-0 draw vs Brazil. Though they only put up 1 goal in 2 games, Mexico looked bold and creative in their attacks during the Brazil match. Their defense, led by the outstanding play of their goalkeeper, was also rock solid. Pulling a draw with Brazil puts them in position to only need a draw vs Croatia to advance, and it also proves they can battle toe to toe with the best.
Croatia on the other hand, suffered a defeat in the World Cup opener vs Brazil. However the 3-1 final score tells a misleading story. During a hard fought 1-1 game, Brazil was awarded a penalty kick in the 71st minute that viewers agreed was a bad call. Brazil’s 3rd goal came in extra time with only a few minutes remaining.
In Croatia’s bounceback game, they came out firing and annihilated Cameroon 4-0, demonstrating their offensive prowess and their defensive command. Croatia needs an outright win to advance, while a tie would send Mexico alongside Brazil to the final round of 16.
Interestingly Croatia appear to be slightly favored by the bookies. Since I feel this is very much an even match, I’m taking Mexico and the favorable odds.
Coming off of a thrilling opening game 2-1 victory over Ghana, the US National Soccer team is in position to virtually lock up a seat in Round 2 of the World Cup. A win over Portugal would provide the US with 6 points in their group, and a likely German victory over Ghana would put the US (and Germany) into the 2nd round.
However, beating Portugal will be no easy feat. The Portuguese are favored by anywhere from 1/2 point to a full point. They were humiliated 4-0 by Germany in Game 1 and are playing for their tournament lives. That kind of desperation and urgency makes them more dangerous than ever.
Still the US stand a reasonable chance of securing a draw, or even a victory, in this match. While Portugal is historically considered a stronger time, it is worth noting that these 2 teams have met 5 times dating back to the 1970’s. They have an even record of 2-2-1. During their last meeting in 2002, the US were victorious by a score of 3-2, going on to make it to the final 8 nations in the tournament.
While there has been much talk about the loss of Jozy Altidore, the US have shown they have a deep bench. Johannson and Brooks performed admirably in their relief efforts vs Ghana, and the latter scored the game winner.
After a second consecutive embarrassing loss at home in the NBA Finals in which the Miami Heat never had much of a chance, the Heat have entered uncharted territory.
Having lost back-to-back postseason games for the first time since the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, the Heat find themselves on the verge of elimination after losing Game 4 of the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs.
Over the past three seasons, the Big 3 – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh – who have never trailed 3-1 in a playoff series — always responded when no one thought they would. Just ask the Boston Celtics, who were up 3-2 in the 2012 Conference Finals, or the San Antonio Spurs, who were leading by five points with less than 30 seconds left in Game 6 last year.
In both instances, the Heat rallied en route to back-to-back NBA championships, but this year seems different. Because after a blowout loss in Game 3, it was widely assumed the Heat would bounce right back in Game 4, and the 2014 NBA Finals would be all tied at two games apiece when the series returned to San Antonio for Game 5. Why wouldn’t they have? James always responded with a masterful performance. Wade always had an answer. Bosh always made the big shot.
But just as we have grown accustomed to always assuming and believing the Heat would find a way, maybe it’s possible that this roster doesn’t have enough talent to defeat the Spurs. Or maybe the workload over the past four years is simply taking its toll. Whatever the reason for the Spurs domination, there’s no way around it. The Spurs have simply been the better team in this years finals, and despite being on the losing end, you could argue they were the better team last year too.
So while the Spurs certainly haven’t forgotten the feeling of losing the last two games of the finals last year, many believed that was the Spurs’ final curtain call. With aging stars on their roster, and having to overcome a heartbreaking loss, there was no way San Antonio would be able to rally from letting the 2013 championship slip right through their hands. But not only have the responded by finishing the regular season with the NBA’s best record, but they are also one win away from being the NBA’s best team.
Entering Game 5, the Spurs are the 32nd team in NBA history to hold a 3-1 lead in the finals. All 31 of the previous teams have won the title. Barring a miraculous comeback by the Heat, it’s not a matter of whether the Spurs will win their fifth NBA championship, but when.
However, I’m not ready to wave the white flag on the Heat just yet. My gut tells me they’ll be ready to play Sunday night. My gut tells me they’ll respond because they always have before.
At some point over the next three games, King James will be dethroned as the Heat’s reign as NBA champions will come to an end. No matter what the past two games have shown, I can’t envision James going out like this. So while the series might end in six games or seven, it’s not going to end in five.
Down 3-1, the Heat are faced with their biggest test yet. They pass the first part on Sunday.
In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs made 19 of its first 21 shots and shot a finals-record 75.8 percent in the first half. That’s all that was needed en route to their 111-92 victory over the Miami Heat.
Now, up 2-1 over the two-time defending NBA champions, the Spurs find themselves in the same position they were in just one year ago, after a 36-point victory in Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals. The Spurs are well aware how the rest of that series played out.
And while San Antonio should certainly not be comparing last year to this year, Game 4 presents a tremendous opportunity. No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, and a victory Thursday would guarantee the Spurs two chances to win the series on their home floor, putting an end to the reign of the Heat.
But the Spurs weren’t “awarded” the championship trophy just yet. Don’t expect San Antonio to to shoot lights out again. Chris Bosh, who scored 18 points in Games 1 and 2 had a mere four attempts from the field, was a forgotten piece to the puzzle on offense. LeBron James committed seven turnovers in Game 3, his personal high in an NBA Finals game. And Mario Chalmers has been anything but “Super Mario” after missing all five shots and falling to 3 for 12 in the finals.
After James’ 35-point performance in the Heats’ Game 2 victory, LeBron was a mere mortal in Game 3, scoring 22 points, and finishing with seven assists, five rebounds and five steals. James is the first person in NBA history to lose a finals game with that line, but what should resonate, as a concern was James’ lack of aggressiveness in the second half. Attempting just five shots in the final two quarters, the Heat cannot afford James to be lackluster during any part of Game 4.
While the four-time MVP struggled, the same cannot be said for Kawhi Leonard, who had his best game of the series, and was no match for anyone on the court. Not only did Leonard have one of the best offensive performances of his career (29 points on 10-of-13 shooting), but Leonard’s defense turned king James into a prince – at least for one night.
For two consecutive Finals, the Leonard versus James matchup has taken center stage. The fate of the Spurs will not solely depend on the offensive production of Leonard, but Miami’s destiny will be decided by No. 6.
You might think that with Las Vegas giving the Spurs more than two baskets, they’re a lock to cover in Game 4. But remember this, the Heat haven’t lost two postseason games in a row since the 2012 East Finals against Boston, and they’re 12-1 ATS over that stretch.
After Thursday night, let’s make it a bakers’ dozen.
Neither leg cramps nor the San Antonio Spurs was stopping LeBron James from an immortal performance during Game 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals.
After making headlines for his self-imposed exit during the fourth quarter of Game 1, James silenced his critics with an awe-inspiring performance that sent his team back to Miami with the NBA Finals tied at one game apiece following a 98-96 victory over the Spurs on Sunday at AT&T Center.
James scored a game-high 35 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out three assists, including one to Chris Bosh for the go-ahead three-pointer with 1 minute 18 seconds remaining, reminding us all what the king is capable of doing when someone tries to take away his power. James wasn’t out to prove a point; he was out to get his team a win, and that’s exactly what transpired.
Through two games, this series has proven that when James is on the floor, there’s no question who the better team has been. Per Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider, the Heat are plus-11 in James’ 71 minutes of action in this series, but have been outscored by 24 points during the 25 minutes he’s spent on the bench. The Spurs have been no match for James, and not even the NBA Coach of the Year, Gregg Popovich, has a solution for slowing James down.
Although Boris Diaw has given a valiant effort in trying to defend James, the Spurs certainly haven’t gotten help from Kawhi Leonard, who can’t stay out of foul trouble. Therefore, not being able to be on the court. Going forward, it’s not going to make a difference who is asked to guard James. No one is capable of it.
After a 2-0 series lead was within their reach, the Spurs unraveled, blowing their chance to be halfway home to an NBA championship. While San Antonio had a opportunity to do something that no Heat playoff opponent has ever been able to accomplish since James, Bosh, and Dwyane Wade joined forces, home-court advantage is now in the hands of the two-time defending NBA champions.
While four straight free-throw misses by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan when the Spurs held a two-point lead with 6:30 to play may be the turning point in this series for the Spurs, James then put his stamp on Game 2, hitting five straight. Instead of the Heat facing all the pressure heading home for the next two games, the pressure now shifts to the Spurs needing a split in Miami to have any chance of dethroning the champs.
For San Antonio, winning one game will be tough. Winning two in South Beach will be impossible. There’s no doubt that when James has played, the Spurs do not stand a chance. According to their record, they are the NBA’s best team, but in this series, they are just second fiddle.
Now, Miami enters Game 3, having won a franchise-record 11 straight postseason games at home. The last team to win a playoff game in Miami was the Spurs, winning Game 1 of last season’s finals. And at least for one more game, the Heat will extend their franchise record to 12.
I haven’t picked against the king yet. Three games in, don’t start calling me Benedict Arnold now.
The Heat, in more ways than one, were no match for the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals.
Overcoming 22 turnovers and sweltering temperatures, the Spurs extended their NBA-record to eight straight home playoff wins by 15 or more points with a 110-95 victory over the Miami Heat.
There’s no doubt, Game 1 saw the NBA’s best team take advantage of a four-time MVP being forced to the bench because his body simply failed him. With LeBron James watching from the sidelines, the Spurs shot light outs in the fourth quarter, going 14-of-16 from the field including 6-6 from 3-point range.
Danny Green, who was held in check for 3 ½ quarters by LeBron, finally found his touch with James on the bench, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter. Although the scoreboard displayed a convincing win by San Antonio, it didn’t quite reflect a game in which the Heat led by seven points just over two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Without James on the floor, the Spurs seized control of Game 1. Miami crumbled both defensively and offensively and melted as the Spurs closed out the game with a 21-7 run. Without their leader, the Heat’s chances of stealing the opening game went up in flames faster than the temperature inside the AT&T Center.
If Tim Duncan, who once again had a stellar playoff game scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, suffered those cramps, San Antonio would have been able to recover. If Tony Parker were forced to the bench, Patty Mills would step right in. Oh wait, we’ve seen that before. And if Kawhi Leonard or Green were struggling on offense, Marco Belinelli and Boris Diaw would step right in. We’ve seen it happen all playoffs.
But there’s no player on the Heat’s roster or on the planet that can replace. The Messiah wasn’t coming off that bench and neither was Michael Jordan. Rejuvenated and healthy as Dwayne Wade is, he’s not capable of carrying this team – at least not anymore.
Ray Allen “Got Game” sometimes, and Mario Chalmers wasn’t bringing the same magic that we saw during the 2008 National Championship game when he nailed a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to put the game in overtime. Chalmers has been invisible and needs to play better. He doesn’t have to score twenty, but Patty Mills can’t outplay him.
So whether you love James or you hate him, there’s no denying what he means to the Heat and to Miami’s chances of winning their third consecutive NBA championship. He’s been superhuman at times, and has the heart of a warrior. Its been said he can’t do it a lone. Therefore, if the rest of the supporting cast doesn’t help, James is going to have to. He will Sunday night in Game 2, where James and the Heat will even up the NBA Finals at one game apiece.
With James on the roster, the Heat have never lost a series after starting down 1-0.. In the 2014 NBA finals, that streak continues.
The San Antonio Spurs are certainly ready for their “Drive for Five”. Apparently, Tony Parker is too.
Averaging 17.2 points and 4.9 assists per game during the postseason, leading San Antonio in both categories, Parker’s health has been one of the issues surrounding the Spurs heading into the NBA Finals. Despite closing out the Thunder 112-107 in overtime in Game 6 on Saturday to wrap up the Western Conference championship without Parker, there’s no overlooking the fact that Parker has been dealing with nagging injuries in recent weeks.
The Spurs have been able to survive without Parker, but San Antonio can ill-afford to have Parker sidelined during the finals. The Spurs proved last year that if Parker isn’t the All-Star point guard that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing, it won’t be a question of if the Miami Heat will win the championship, but in how many games. Parker, who was limited by a hamstring injury during the 2013 Finals, may have ultimately been the reason why the Spurs fell in seven games to the Heat. This time around, a healthy Parker is confirmed to start Game 1.
Initially, Mario Chalmers might be called upon to defend Parker – a matchup that would undoubtedly favor the Spurs. However, LeBron James, who guarded Parker in last year’s finals, will also be an option, forcing Parker to be at the top of his game. However, knowing the Heat’s Game 1 history, the Spurs might be able to rely more on Patty Mills, allowing Parker to regroup for the remainder of the series.
Because if the Heat hold true to form, Miami will be heading into Game 2 trailing 1-0 in the best-of-seven series. All five times the Heat previously lost a Game 1 with LeBron James on the roster, they have come back to win the series. It seems that’s the position the Heat thrive in. So whether it’s lack of motivation, or simply needing a challenge in order to rise to the occasion, in the NBA Finals, their challenge certainly awaits.
In order to complete their quest for a three-peat, the Heat will need to win at least once in San Antonio, which has home-court advantage and have been nothing short of dominant at the AT&T Center. The Heat rolled through the Eastern Conference, shooting .497 in the playoffs, the best in the NBA. Miami hasn’t been challenged yet, and if Parker isn’t one hundred percent, the Spurs don’t stand a chance. The Spurs better hope that is not the case, otherwise, they’ll be heading into the offseason in the same position as last year: runner-up
It’s been said that the easiest game to steal on the road is always Game 1 and anytime Las Vegas is giving LeBron and the Heat points, it would be foolish to pass up. LeBron is on a mission for championship number three. Then again, he did promise eight championships after taking his talents to South Beach. He is four wins away from completing that mission.
For the first time since Michael Jordan’s Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz in 1997 and 1998, a pair of teams will face off in back to back NBA Finals. Players will be looking to add to their legacies, and basketball will be on center stage as the NBA’s best collide.
As the Spurs look to exact revenge on the Heat, the Heat are looking to put their stamp on the basketball world as the NBA’s next dynasty. For 12 months, we wanted a rematch. Now, the wait is finally over.
Without further ado, here are a few reasons why each team could soon be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, earning the right to call themselves NBA champions:
Why San Antonio will win:
There are no guarantees in life (except for death and taxes), but I can assure you the Spurs have not forgotten the way the 2013 NBA Finals ended. The Spurs were a mere 5.3 seconds away from their fifth NBA championship, until Ray Allen sent a dagger through the heartland of Texas, forcing Game 6 into overtime. As we all saw, the rest was history.
San Antonio entered the 2014 NBA Playoffs with more wins than one year ago (62), earning home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Undoubtedly the best team in the league all season long, once the calendar turned to May the Spurs have yet to lose a home game in the playoffs, going 7-0.
Winning each game by at least 17 points, the Spurs’ home court has spelled doom for the opposition. The Spurs will attack early and often. If Miami decides to take a game off, which we’ve seen during these playoffs, they could certainly be in trouble.
Led by All-Star point guard Tony Parker, the Spurs offense never misses a beat. Parker can get to the basket at any time, and his execution of the pick-and-roll has reminded us all of the days when John Stockton and Karl Malone’s two-man game was simply a masterpiece to watch. Parker’s continuous ability to find the open shooter is one of the many reasons why he’ll end up in Springfield, Massachusetts when his career is over.
Miami must be able to defend the three-point line. Not only do the Spurs take advantage of any mismatch in the paint, but the Spurs are also loaded with shooters that continuously drain 3 pointers. As teams collapse on Duncan, sharpshooters such as Danny Green and Marco Belinelli, have found their shooters touch, making them deadly from beyond the arc. Green, who is shooting an impressive 48 percent from three-point range during the playoffs, will look to repeat his shooting performance from last years final. But even more impressive, was his 65.2% from deep in three home games against the Thunder in the conference finals.
While the Spurs offense has been nothing short of impressive, their defense has also put on a show, making life difficult for opposing superstars. In the earlier rounds, the Spurs defense was able to contain Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge, and the dangerous duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who were all held below their season average in their respective series.
But this time Kawhi Leonard will be asked to defend LeBron James, a whole different animal. The task for Leonard is simple. If he can’t help slow down James, the Heat will be an offensive juggernaut. If San Antonio can make James settle for jump shots, the Spurs will be one step closer to hoisting the championship trophy that eluded them last season.
The Spurs have unprecedented depth, and the Heat pose no match for the Spurs second unit. While all the pressure will be on James and Dwyane Wade to score for the Heat, the Spurs can and will rely heavily on their bench, who have produced all season long.
Although Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich are under contract for next season, don’t’ be surprised if Duncan and Pop decide to call it quits together after this season. And there would be no better time than after winning their fifth NBA championship.
Why Miami will win:
In order for the Miami Heat to become the only the second team to three-peat during the post-Jordan era, joining the 2000-2002 Los Angeles Lakers, the formula is simple. LeBron James must be LeBron James for the entire series. Although he failed to win the NBA MVP award, he’s still the best player on the planet and the best player on the court in each game these playoffs.
Although the two-time defending champions will go as far as James takes them, a burden still falls on the shoulders of Dwayne Wade, who appears to be rejuvenated during these playoffs. Averaging 18.7 points and shooting 51.9 percent in the playoffs, both way up from last year, Wade’s health and injury woes are no longer a concern.
Having scored in double figures in all 15 of Miami’s playoff games, Wade is once again a pivotal contributor on offense. With Wade playing at the top of his game and James’ ability to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, no team stretches the floor as well as the Heat, making life easy for Ray Allen, who will look to be the hero once again.
It’s no secret that the Heat have proven their ability to turn it on in the playoffs when the stakes are at their highest. Well, the stakes don’t get any bigger than the NBA finals. Therefore, expect Miami to be at their best.
My Pick:
For me, this series comes down to one thing and one thing only. One team has LeBron James and the other team doesn’t. And just as I’d never bet against Michael Jordan, in the 2014 NBA Finals I’m certainly not betting against LeBron James. Although the Spurs have the better coach, the better team, and the deeper bench, they are still missing one thing: a king who isn’t ready to give up his throne just yet.
