NBA Finals Preview (Is LeBron better than MJ? Kobe? Is Steph Curry the greatest shooter ever?)

He's the closest thing to Jordan since the greatest basketball player of all-time retired over a decade ago and left us yearning for more. He dominates games in a fashion we haven't seen since MJ.
One of the best pure scorers in NBA history. No, not LeBron or Steph Curry. This guy.




With LeBron's fifth straight trip to the NBA finals, you'll find many analysts and articles talking about how LBJ is catching up to and transcending MJ. But in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, he hasn't even caught Kobe yet. Yet.

Bryant is currently looking at both of his hands, one with five rings on it and the other with none. He's been chasing number six for five years now and it doesn't look like he's going to get it. LeBron is quietly sitting with two rings, and still trying to make up for the three he couldn't cash in on. In case you need a quick refresher, MJ has enough to put rings on both hands, capturing six titles and six Finals MVP awards. To take it a step further, he should probably have eight rings but chose to pursue a "career" in baseball in the middle of his championship runs. Why the greatest basketball player of all-time gave it up in the middle of his prime to chase a dream in another sport is beyond me.

(MJ celebrating his 4th title on Father's Day 1996. His father, James, was murdered in 1993 on the side of the road while taking a nap in his vehicle.)


While the debate between Jordan, Kobe and LeBron will go on for unforeseeable decades to come, one thing is clear. LeBron is gaining ground. Quickly. He has taken his team to the NBA Finals now in five straight years and is making his sixth overall appearance. He's playing arguably the best basketball of his career while leading a team riddled with injuries. It was supposed to be the "Big 3" again for Bron Bron, this time in Cleveland. But losing Kevin Love to a cheap shot shoulder injury and Kyrie Irving to his ailing legs (I'm starting to wonder if Irving is beginning to think he actually is Uncle Drew) has left LeBron with a mediocre supporting cast. Let's give him the credit he deserves, he has willed this team to the Finals. He's the best point guard in the game, although his position is small forward. Now, the Cavaliers went through a weak Eastern Conference, I get that. But a team can only play who they are scheduled to play. The Cavaliers, LeBron in particular, have played very good basketball and positioned themselves to possibly take home the title.

(Irving, aka Uncle Drew, has to shake off the old man legs if the Cavs are going to have a chance in these NBA Finals)

On the other side of the ball, we are graced with the greatest gift the NBA has given us this year. No, not Steph Curry. His daughter, Riley.

(Riley Curry is taking the NBA by storm)

Ok, she's great but she can't play in the NBA yet. Only because of the dumb college rule. So let's focus on Steph. Better known as the baby-faced assassin, the better half of the splash, Curry is widely considered to be the greatest 3-point shooter of all-time. Yes, all-time. Better than Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, and Larry Bird. He makes making 3's look easier than breathing. He'll pull up from the parking lot. With the quickest release in the game it's almost impossible to block his shot. Curry had one of the greatest shooting seasons in NBA history and took home the MVP award, deservedly.

But he's not LeBron.

LeBron is the best player on the planet and has been for the last decade or so minus Kobe. He plays all five positions and has strengthened his teammates in a way that hasn't been done since.. Jordan?

What can we expect to see in the Finals?

Viewers can expect to see great basketball. The best player on the planet against perhaps the greatest shooter of all-time. Expect to see a record number of 3-point attempts. Look forward to fast-paced basketball with great ball movement.

Prediction

The Warriors have the better team and supporting cast surrounding Steph Curry. The Cavaliers have one of the best of all-time and a deadly sidekick in Irving. LeBron has started 172 career playoff games while the Warriors starting five has a total of 168. However...

The Warriors take home the title in one of the most prolific series in NBA Finals history. The best part for the Warriors? They do it at home in game 7.


*This blog was written in dedication to and in memory of Stuart Scott. The ESPN anchor loved covering the NBA Finals every year and made it one of his goals to come back and deliver the championship trophy last year in San Antonio, which he did. Stuart Scott passed away from cancer in January 2015.

Keeping up with the Jenners (Why sports networks should not be covering Caitlyn)

   Ted's Take is a sports blog that covers sporting news across the world. I started this in an effort to reach fans and communicate sports in a light-hearted and fun manner that privies information from the brain of a sports fanatic. This blog is centered around sports and always will be. That is why even though I have opinions on the new Caitlyn Jenner, I would never write about them. People are free to do what they want with their lives. It is their choice to do or not do whatever they see as being in their best interest. I am a big believer in if it doesn't involve you, don't be involved. Well I'm involved in sports, and it just so happens that ESPN is the worldwide leader in sports.

A quick factoid for the viewing population if not already known, ESPN is an acronym for Entertainment Sports and Programming Network. While most of the followers from the companies' inception in 1979 have tuned in to view the sports part of the program, the company has shifted focus over the last couple of years. ESPN has moved to include more of the entertainment and less of the sports in the programming. This is evidenced by daily shows First Take, Mike and Mike, and others bringing entertainment stars on the network. Rappers, actors, and comedians alike have hit the stage with sports analysts to debate current issues and rivalries in sports. I'll be honest, does anyone know who Lil B the base god is, because I don't? I'm not even sure if that's how you spell the guy's name but I refuse to waste ten seconds of my life looking it up. The rapper has claimed to put a "curse" on NBA players Kevin Durant and James Harden. Most recently Harden for "stealing" his cooking or stirring the pot motion after making a basket. Lil B or whatever the hell his name is has been all over ESPN and Twitter. Does he play sports? No. As a sports fan do I want to see him on my sports programming or being tweeted about on my twitter line by sports anchors? No. Point being, let's stick to sports here ESPN. Let's let E! cover the entertainment industry. Speaking of which...

There's a fine line between sports and entertainment. Sports are entertaining, but entertainment is not necessarily sporty. Right? Ok follow me down this road for a minute...a 65 year-old has-been athlete, who is only relevant because he (now she)  married the mom of the biggest trio of egotistical whore daughters in the world, having a later-life crisis and sex change is not sports related. Bruce Jenner was an Olympic gold medal winning decathlon athlete in the 1970's. Caitlyn Jenner is not. While this news is certainly relevant to the LGBT community, it is not relevant in the sports industry.

Apparently ESPN does not see it that way. ESPN has an annual awards show called the ESPY's where they recognize the best plays and players in sports from the past year. During the ceremony, they give away awards for categories like top play, top team, best male and female athlete, as well as the Jimmy V perseverance award and Arthur Ashe courage award. The courage award is presented to a team or individual who transcends the sports world, and does not necessarily have to be an athlete. Why is that? It's a sports awards program. I don't remember seeing the Grammy's giving out an award for best buzzer-beater.

Nevertheless, ESPN has presented the award to individuals like Muhammad Ali, Dean Smith, Pat Tillman, Nelson Mandela, and Michael Sam. What defines courage? Giving up a multi-million dollar contract in the NFL to join the Army and serve your country? Yes, thank you Pat Tillman for paying the ultimate sacrifice. Becoming the first openly-gay athlete to enter the NFL draft knowing that teams will pass on you in the draft in fear of you being a distraction to the organization? Kudos for being you, Michael Sam. Having an identity crisis and deciding to change genders? Nope.

While Bruce has known, apparently for a while that he has wanted to be a she and finally having the balls (pun intended) to go through with the process, it is not an action that needs to be recognized by a sports network. It is an action that needs to be recognized by the LGBT world, and rightfully so. The world is evolving into a place where people are starting to feel like they can be themselves and voicing their opinions on the situation. That's what we call advancement in society. Every person has the right to be happy, Caitlyn no different. I just don't want to hear about it on ESPN, NFL Network or from any other "sports" network.

This is a case of a network playing the politically correct card and reaping the benefits. ESPN is well-aware that Jenner is a high-profile celebrity. Shoot, she gained a million twitter followers in four hours yesterday! Beating the record set by President Obama, which I find both hysterically funny and sad. I couldn't get a million followers if I was giving away money.

ESPN knows that their viewership will skyrocket in July when the ESPY's are held  because they will have non-sports fans tuning in for 5 minutes to see the acceptance speech by Jenner. I'm all about bringing in new fans, but not by tainting the award for past winners. There are plenty of courageous athletes to choose from, we don't need to tune in to Keeping up with the Kardashians to find one.