"The Stack" 6-11-18
The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to wrap up the NBA Finals Friday night and win their third championship in four years.
The Stack is back on this Monday and there is no more NBA or NHL this season. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup Thursday night and the Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night to win the NBA Finals. We have reaction to that and more so let’s get right to “the stack” for today, Monday, June 11th:
Warriors sweep Cavs, win third NBA Finals in four years
The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in this year’s NBA Finals, winning game four 108-85 to win the series 4-0. In order for it to be a sweep, there must be four games. This could technically be counted as 3.5 games, because the Cavaliers checked out in the second half of game four. It was a nine point lead for the Warriors at halftime and the Cavs clearly saw the writing on the wall. The Warriors poured it on and Steph Curry redeemed himself with a massive game scoring 34 points on 6-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc. It was a scintillating, sensational performance by the Warriors who smelled blood in the water after coming back to beat the Cavs in game three. This is one amazing team. Kevin Durant was named MVP of the NBA Finals and rightfully so after his 43 point performance in game three. Then we find out after the game that LeBron played games two, three and four with a broken hand or a severe hand contusion. He apparently punched a blackboard after game one. Hey, at least he didn’t punch J.R. Smith (maybe that would have been a better idea). No Cleveland waits to see what LeBron will decide. I hope he stays in Cleveland, but I don’t think that is necessarily going to happen. Philadelphia, Houston or the Lakers are likely ahead of the Cavs. NBA free agency starts the beginning of July. It’s going to be fascinating.
Justify makes history
For the second time in four years, horse racing has a Triple Crown winner. In 2015 it was American Pharaoh. This year it is Justify. Justify won the Belmont Race leading basically from start to finish. A late charge by Gronkowski (yes, owned in part by Rob Gronkowski) was not good enough to catch Justify. He was sensational and he raced beautifully on a dry track after having to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown on soggy, sloppy, wet tracks. What a fun race to watch and great to see more history. Hopefully we all remember this race and this run by Justify years later. It was quite remarkable to watch. Congrats to Justify, trainer Bob Baffert (he also trained American Pharaoh) and to the ownership group. We witness something special. Justify is still undefeated and we’ll see how he does in the Breeders Cup later this year.
Halep, Nadal win French Open
Different year, same story at the French Open for Rafael Nadal. The King on Clay won another one French Open Sunday in three sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 over Dominic Thiem. He was incredibly dominant. Has been every year on the clay courts of Roland Garros. He is something else to watch. For Simona Halep, it took her three sets to take down Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Feel bad for Stephens. America needs that next woman (and man for that matter) to take over for Serena Williams. Stephens still could do that, but winning at the French Open would have been that much more helpful. Hopefully she can come back again.
Coming up later this week: World Cup preview?? And U.S. Open preview
