Ray Jr. on Sports

1. The fans were ready, the plans of a celebration were discussed, the Stanley Cup was in a treasure chest just several feet from the ice, but unfortunately the only ones who weren’t ready join the celebration were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who laid an egg in a 4-2 loss at home to the San Jose Sharks at CONSOL Energy Center
2. To be honest, the Penguins were knocked on their backs just a few minutes into the game as the Sharks scored not just one goal, but 2 in those opening minutes. That will catch any team off guard. it certainly did G Matt Murray, who gave up both of those goals.
3. But then the Penguins struck back and tied the game just minutes later when Evangi Malkin and Carl Hagelin and they had a power-play for a possible 3rd goal, but then Sharks G Martin Jones locked up the goal-and threw away the key as he made 44 stops the rest of the game.
4. Meanwhile, the Sharks scored 2 more in route to the 4-2 win. A bitter reminder to the Penguins that nothing’s just going to be given to them. Like they’ve done all season: If they want it, they need to fight for it and take it, like the Sharks did.
5. A frustrated Sidney Crosby said this: “I feel like (Jones) made some good saves, but I feel like we had our chances and missed them.” I agree. Jones was lights-out. But the Penguins last their hustle in this game. No matter how you look at it, you need goals to win. Especially if you’re one win away from getting the Stanley Cup.
6. Unfortunately, the Penguins weren’t ready, and I honestly think that they thought the Sharks were going to lay down because they were down 3-1. Not at all. A team is desperate at that stage and you will often see the best come out of that team. Hopefully the Penguins will learn from this, regroup, refocus and be ready to play hard on Sunday and win that Cup.
7. As for the NBA, I admit that I was impressed with the Cleveland Cavaliers as they stormed back and beat up on the Golden State Warriors 120-90. I guess it is true: There’s no place like home. The Cavs went home and found their mojo.
8. Folks want to point their fingers at LeBron James for playing better, but I think it was because of the rest of the team. James (32 points) does his part every game, but G Kyrie Irving (30 points) and JR Smith (20 points) stepping up is what made the difference, especially with F Kevin Love out (concussion)
9. On the flip side, what went wrong with the Warriors, who actually scored under 100 points for the first time in a while? They honestly looked like the Cavs in game 2. And what’s with G Steph Curry who scored only 19 points? Some folks think he still may be hurt. But we know it would take something major to miss any more games.
10. Nevertheless, Game 4 of the NBA Finals is like a crossroads for both teams. Will the Cavs have enough juice to tie it, or will the Warriors get their own mojo back and extend it to 3-1? Personally, I hope it goes the full 7 games. But we’ll see.
11. The rest of the NBA’s pretty quiet, and it will probably stay that way until the Finals are over. And then it’ll be time for the NBA Draft, which is basically a Poor Man’s version of the NFL Draft, in my opinion.
12. Not sure what happened to the NBA Draft, but it’s suddenly gotten as corny as their All-Star Game. But it’s the players that count and the Philadelphia 76ers are truly on the clock. I think it’s a shame that the Sixers have planted themselves in the NBA’s basement. They need to draft huge to start rebuilding this team & LSU F Ben Simmons would be an excellent start.
13. As for the LA Lakers, if Simmons is gone, then they better snatch up Dukes Brandon Ingram. Time will tell what they will really do when June 23 arrives.
14. As for the MLB, the Pittsburgh Pirates sweep a doubleheader against the NY Mets and then lose an extra-inning game to the Mets, travel to Colorado and get slaughtered 11-5 by the Rockies in a make-up game. Sad to say, but such is the life of your Pirates.
15. They lost Wednesday’s game 6-5 to the Mets because they gave up two-2-run HRs, one by rookie Jameson Tallion, who was beating the Mets 2-0 up to that point, but he gave up that HR to a Mets rookie by the name of Ty Kelly. The Pirates would then take a 5-3 lead but then Michael Conforto’s 2-run shot once again tied the game and then they won it in the 10th.
16. The Pirates actually led the game vs. the Rockies 1-0, but then starting P Jeff Locke became Jeff Locke again as he gave up 11 runs in only 4.2 innings. Take him out of the game, and the Rockies score no more runs. Go figure.
17. The Pirates are now 32-28, tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for 2nd place in the NL Central-and 10 games behind 1st place Chicago. And if the season ended today, they would still play the Mets in the Wild Card game. But as I usually say, there’s still a lot of baseball left.
18. As for the NFL, the draft picks are being signed and that not only includes the Pittsburgh Steelers first round pick CB Artie Burns, but the LA Rams overall pick Jared Goff has also signed as well. That means the rest of the 1st round picks will follow suit.
19. So I hear that veteran WR Roddy White says that he’ll either sign with a veteran WR or retire, eh? It makes me wonder if a team like the Steelers will take a look at him, especially with the year-long suspension of speedster Martavis Bryant. Question is, can White stretch the field?
20. To be honest, I could see a team like the New England Patriots or even the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers taking a look at White. They both badly need a veteran WR.

Please e-mail Ray at [email protected]

Follow him @urbanmediaRay on twitter