Warriors Sweep Pelicans with Brains and Heart

During a critical time out in the second half Saturday night, Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr had a strong message for his team after a questionable call in front of a raucous crowd in New Orleans.
"It takes brains and heart to win playoff games," said Kerr. "You showed a great deal of heart in that first half, now keep that up and don't forget the brains."
No worries,  Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the "heartbeat" of the Dubs, Draymond Green combined for 86 points in the 109-98 win over the Pelicans. The four game sweep sends Golden State to the second round with the luxury of time for well deserved rest before facing either Memphis or Portland.
"We were fortunate to sweep," explained a very happy Kerr after his first playoff series as a coach. "The first three games all came down to the wire. Tonight was our best game of the series. I'm glad I don't have to see Anthony Davis until November. He is truly special."

The 22 year old super star showcased his remarkable talent once again, finishing with 36 points and 11 rebounds.
After the game, Davis and Curry shared an emotional embrace. It looked like a reaffirmation of the weight they each carry on their shoulders. Luckily for Number 30, he has an amazing cast of supporting players. Something Curry never takes for granted, mentioning all his teammates as critical to the team's success.
"We played hard the whole night," said Curry as he listened to Warriors fans chanting "MVP" at Smoothie King Center. "It's surreal. We're on a big journey to win a championship. I'm just glad we got two wins on the road for these loyal fans. Now we can go home and rest up for the second round."
Just a little rest. There is a fine line between too much of a good thing. Kerr who has plenty of experience winning playoffs as a guard with Chicago and San Antonio joked about what he would do with all the free time.
"I'm going to cabo tomorrow," Kerr told the national press. "I won't see them for a week until sunday. Just kidding. The long extended rest is tricky. We have to balance rest with staying sharp."
Curry agrees. "I'm going to kick back with my family for a day or so. But then we will go back to work to get better and keep our rhythm."
Hard to believe Curry thinks he can get any better. Even Charles Barkley had to agree that the Davidson grad is the real thing, the MVP of 2015. His coach and teammates never doubted it.
"He's the best player in the NBA right now," said Andrew Bogut who also silenced his critics with spectacular defensive plays all night. "He's the MVP. The shots he made in the last game and this game, he keeps us in the games."
Curry doesn't just keep them in games. He  proves that Coach Kerr can bring that championship mentality, of defense feeding offense, and make what was a good team; great. So far the Warriors have broken pretty much every franchise record, the only thing missing is the Championship, and that is now only 12 wins away.

Giants SWEEP The Dodgers and Warriors Pluck The Pelicans

No doubt about it, Thursday, April 23, 2015 was as an emotional roller coaster sports day for bay area fans. I was lucky enough to be at AT&T Park to witness the comeback game of this young baseball season. Under sunny skies,  timely hits finally returned to the lineup as San Francisco pulled off a three game sweep of the NL West Division leading Dodgers 3-2 in 10 innings.
Yes, two walk-off hits in two days to ignite a moral comeback and rocket the Giants to just three games back of Los Angeles.
"We weren't playing the type of baseball we're capable of playing," Manager Bruche Bochy said after the game. "I think this was a test for us, and they rose to the occasion. (The Dodgers) came in hot and we had to play our best ball against those guys."

The heroes were many on the winning home stand, one of the Giants' new guys, Justin Maxwell recorded the one-out single that scored Angel Pagan from third and sent the daytime crowd home chanting, "sweep LA!"
"Every time I walk up to the plate, I try to hit it hard," said Maxwell who tripled and homered in Tuesday's series opener, a 6-2 Giants win that stopped the Dodger's 7 game win streak. Maxwell collected two more hits Thursday.
But nobody is happier on this Thursday night than the Golden State Warriors who came back from a third quarter 20 point deficit to shock the sold out New Orleans home crowd and outplay the Pelicans 123-119 in Overtime.
It was such a surprising turn of events that first year Coach Steve Kerr called it a "Miracle" comeback.
"I'm going to have to watch the tape to see what actually happened," joked Kerr. "We have something special with our team. They are never out of the fight. They have great confidence. Sometimes a little too much confidence. We got a little careless, but this team is really talented."
Talented is just one way to describe Stephen Curry who again used his play to prove he is the league's MVP.  The shot of the game without a doubt was an incredible three pointer from the corner over rushing defender, Tyreke Evans with Anthony Davis falling on him. Curry made it and tied the score with 2 seconds left.  Of course the foul wasn't called but New Orleans couldn't made the ensuing basket and the game went into overtime.
"It's as good as it gets. A three with two seconds left and he got fouled," said Kerr. "To make that shot it shows what Steph is all about. It's why he's steph curry."
Curry finished the night with 40 points. He did have to take 29 shots but in the end nobody cared about that statistic.
"It's just a matter of finishing out the game," said Curry. "From a 20 point deficit in one quarter it was huge. The whole game we were fighting hard, competing. We were missing shots we normally make. But we never got too down on ourselves. We just keep telling each other,  it's a long game."
According to ESPN Stats & Info, only two other teams have overturned a similar deficit.
"I told them how proud I was of their competitiveness," said Kerr who was also a little frustrated. "We weren't composed the first three quarters. I didn't recognize the team that was out there. But they have a competitive fire that allows them to do this and it's fun to see. I just felt it was a miracle we had another chance."
Asked if he thought it was a miracle, Klay Thompson laughed.
"I don't know if it was a miracle, but it was huge," said Thompson who finished with 28 points. "I was just proud of how everyone responded."
The heartbeat of the Warriors, Draymond Green had 12 points and 17 rebounds, a key to the late comeback.
"It's  amazing.  We just never give up," explained Green. "We have a hustlers mentality. We fight until the end."
And the end is now seemingly near for the Pelicans who fall to 0-3 in the best of seven series and were reminded that no lead is safe with the number one ranked Warriors.

Giants Rekindle Their Championship Magic Against The Dodgers

After a very rough 4-10 start and a much needed day off, the San Francisco Giants discovered the magic that lead them to win three World Series in five years. The hero of the night is one of the new kids, but don't tell Justin Maxwell. The 31 year old has eight years in the majors and used his bat and glove to help the Giants win 6-2 and halt the Dodger's seven game winning streak.
Maxwell hit a two out triple in the second inning and on the next play scored the first run of the night when Brandon Crawford hit a perfect bunt.

"Crawford laying down the bunt. I wasn't expecting it," said Maxwell. "It was big for us."
On the mound Tim Lincecum showed why he earned his spot on the starting rotation with six strong innings allowing just one earned run. He left the game with the score 4-1 after a series of double plays and some timely hitting by Joe Panik, Angel Pagan and Nori Aoki. The game also highlighted the Giants' championship defense with a series of double plays featuring Crawford,  Panik, Buster Posey on first and the play of the night by a rushing Maxwell along the right field wall.
"I didn't think he had a chance at the play," said Manager Bruce Bochy. "I was watching him front he dugout. He slammed into the wall pretty good, made the catch, then hit a home run. He'll be back out there tomorrow. It's nice when these guys get a start and they take advantage of it."
Maxwell certainly proved he belongs. After the catch that robbed one LA's biggest threats Yasiel Puig of a hit and even drew a hand from Puig, the reserve outfielder made another huge statement, with his first homer as a Giant, a 430 foot shot down the left field line.
"It's exciting. We have a packed house," said Maxwell. "I appreciate everybody's support.
 I  didn't change my approach. I  kept it simple and good things happened."
Indeed, keeping it simple with a new look line-up was exactly what the doctor ordered.
"Overall we played well," explained Bochy. "It's a good win for us. It's been a tough home stand. Timmy did a great job, induced the double plays when we needed them. He showed great command and we put up runs early which always helps."
Playing the Division leading Dodgers also seemed to help, giving the players and the crowd that added incentive.
"It always feels good to beat the Dodgers," said Lincecum who was all smiles after the outing. Tomorrow both teams send their aces to the mound. World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner up against three time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw.  The two are experiencing a slow start and find themselves at 1-1 with uncharacteristically high ERA's. But all statistics seem to go out the window when these two rivals play. And Maxwell will be ready for whatever comes his way.

Giants Loose Home Opener yet Deliver a Memorable Celebration

The 2015 Home Opener for the San Francisco Giants kicked off with a ceremony fit for the big screen. The script, worthy of an Oscar couldn't have been written any better. The team's MVP Madison Bumgarner-looking like John Wayne- riding on a SFPD horse with the championship flag in front of a sold out stadium.
MadBum who is known to rope cattle in his spare time, delivering once again as the crowd goes wild. Just like he did on the mound during his historic playoff performances, the Hickory, North Carolina native never flinched. Future Hall of Fame Manager, Bruce Bochy chuckled when asked if he was worried watching  his star pitcher riding in the outfield.

"Madison did ask me, and there was a little concern," said Bochy. "But he's grown up on a horse. He's comfortable on a horse. I was fine with it. It was a nice day out there. Madison became the show by getting on a horse.The players had some fun with it."
The fans also had fun with the sun shinning, the wind blowing, the fire boat, the signs and banners spelling what still seems like a fictional dream of a team winning three World Series trophies in five years.
Giants fan Mary Ann Mills proudly reporting that her neighborhood started buzzing as the sun rose over AT&T Park.
"It's so exciting," said Mills. "The bars opened early, people are so happy. I love this team."
She was crying as each member was introduced and the "triplets" were paraded onto the field by Bochy, All-Star pitcher Tim Lincecum, and 2012 MVP Buster Posey.
But as magical as the festivities were, the game didn't live up to past expectations. Chris Heston, the 27 year old rookie making his second big league start of the year did his part. However, this story would not have a happy ending. The offense behind Heston could not deliver crucial hits and stranded 12 players going 0-7.
"You hate to loose your opener," explained Bochy. "It was a  big day with the ceremonies. We did what we hoped to do, put pressure on them and got bases loaded but just couldn't get the runs in. We didn't get a timely hit."
The one bright spot for the team which finds itself in the cellar of the NL West at 3-5 is the promise of Heston.
"The kid did a great job," said Bochy. "He threw seven strong innings. We need just couldn't get the job done with one more hit."
Bochy didn't want to address the numerous and costly injuries that are hampering the World Champs including Hunter Pence, Matt Cain, new third baseman Casey McGehee and Travis Ishikawa. His focus is on the lineup he has to work with now.
"There's no point talking about how much we miss Pence. The point is this is the lineup we have," said Bochy. "We created many good things out there we just needed one more hit. Of course your'e going to miss your core players but there's no point dwelling on it."
It is after all a very long season. Perhaps Buster Posey summed it up best.
"That's the appealing part of baseball," said Posey. "You know there will be ups and downs, and you've still got to be tough through the long haul."
And nobody displays that toughness better than the man on the horse, Madison Bumgarner.

New Blood Helps Giants Win First Series in Arizona

Remember his name: Chris Heston. The 26 year old called up from Triple A Sacramento was the hero Wednesday night as he filled in some huge shoes to lead the World Champion Giants 5-2 over the Diamondbacks.
The first inning wasn't pretty, but the minor league veteran showed iron-clad composure as he settled down to earn his first career MLB win. Heston who was taking injured Matt Cain's spot finished with 91 pitches in six innings allowing just 3 hits and 2 unearned runs.

"The first inning started pretty shaky," said Heston. "Luckily I was able to get back on it and keep going. The game plan is to do whatever I can do to help our club win."
Manager Bruce Bochy was so impressed with Heston that he is considering keeping him exactly where he is in the rotation which would have the rookie as the starter on opening day in San Francisco Monday night.
"What a game he had,"said Bochy. "Good for him. He was a little amped up the first inning but settled down and really did a nice job. We're not moving him. We need him right now. It's a good shot in the arm for us."
An excellent shot in the arm for Heston as well. The Florida native who boarded the plane to San Diego with the team recalled how he was having lunch in Sacramento preparing to start for the River Cats when he got the call.
"I'm just on cloud nine,"said Heston. "I'm ecstatic. I'm just happy I could come in and get the job done."
Heston wasn't the only new Giant delivering in the desert to ensure the first series victory. Nori Aoki had six hits in his first three games in a San Francisco uniform. Matt Duffy also had timely hits and  Casey McGehee went 2 for 5 with a two-run homer to make fans ask Pablo who?
In all the world champs showed impressive offensive power in hitter friendly Arizona with 37 hits. However, now they head to pitcher friendly San Diego for four games before returning home.

A Tough Tuesday Night for Bay Area Sports Fans

It all started with the Golden State Warriors. The best team in the NBA with 63 wins and  home court advantage secured throughout the playoffs faced the New Orleans Pelicans, desperate to grab the number eight spot from Oklahoma City. Lead by Anthony Davis, the home team enjoyed some favorable calls to squeak out a 103 to 100 win. MVP top candidate Stephen Curry had a chance to tie the game as the clock wound down, but after what looked like some obvious contact without a whistle, the ball rimmed in and out.

"I was sort of confused to what happened," said the league's winningest rookie Coach Steve Kerr. "He  jumped up and just dropped the ball and picked it up again and they let him shoot it. He almost made it. Because that's what Steph does. There was a lot to be confused out there to be honest."

Curry described the play this way: "I thought I drew a foul on the pump fake because he kind of came  to me and I got contact. Then the ball dropped. There was obviously no whistle and I got it right backhand I had a pretty clean look after that, that I thought was going in."
After the game Davis who finished as the top scorer with 29 points remarked on its importance, not just for the playoffs but to send a message to the Warriors.
"It means a lot," said Davis. " They came out and said this is going to be a scrimmage game. We kind of took that personally."
If the playoffs started tomorrow, The Dubs would face the Pels who they had beaten 10 straight times until tonight.
"They hit a bunch of threes that we should have taken away," explained Curry. "It would be a competitive battle. There are no easy outs in the West. Whoever we play we'll be ready. We won't play like we did tonight."
In Arizona a night that started with a blast ended with the season's first loss for the World Champion Giants. Buster Posey kicked things off with a two run homer in the first. But starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong in for injured Jake Peavy gave up a three run bomb to David Peralta in the third and another one to Jake Lamb in the fifth. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford recorded his first home run in the sixth, one of ten hits for the visitors, but it wouldn't be enough.
Despite the 7-6 loss, Manager Bruch Bochy was encouraged by his team's effort as they are now 1-1.
"They came back fighting,"said Bochy. "We did a good job putting some runs on the board. We just couldn't quite finish it all."
What Bochy couldn't put a rosy spin on was his growing injury list. First baseman Brandon Belt had to leave the game with a strained right groin. He joins Peavy and starter Matt Cain along with
right fielder Hunter Pence who are already on the disabled list.
26 year old Chris Heston has been called up to replace Cain and will make his second career start for the Giants Wednesday.
As for the A's, they followed their exciting 8-0 home opener Monday with a 3-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. No almost no-hitter Tuesday. Jesse Hahn pitched six innings giving up three earned runs. Manager Bob Melvin liked what he saw from Hahn.
"I thought He pitched well, threw strikes," said Melvin."We just didn't score him enough runs."
And so it goes, the pendulum of sports; celebrations one day, humility and disappointment the next, good thing there is always tomorrow.

Welcome Back Madison Bumgarner and Angel Pagan

Will the naysayers please take a seat. The 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants kicked off the 2015 season with a solid 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. MVP Madison Bumgarner took control of the mound pitching seven strong innings allowing just one earned run leaving in the eight with a 5-1 lead.
"What else can you say about Bum. This guy is special," said Manager Bruce Bochy. "He did a terrific job against a tough line-up. His first start he throws a terrific game."
"I felt pretty good, " added Bumgarner. "The defense was great behind me. Picking me up several times."

The new look top of the order did their part too against Josh Collmenter. Newcomer Nori Aoki, first time opening day starter Joe Panik, and Angel Pagan who missed much of last season, went a combined 8-for-9, scored four runs and drove in two to take a 5-1 lead into the 8th inning. Not bad considering the team is without  injured Hunter Pence and departed slugger Pablo Sandoval.
"You always dream about opening day," said Panik who had a three hit night. "You can't wait to get on the field. All the excitement. We were feeling good. Then in the 8th inning things changed, but we have the guys who can finish the job and close the door."
Yes, Giants "torture" made its comeback in the eight. With Bumgarner out of the game, the D-backs scored four quick runs off relievers, Javier Lopez, Jean Machi and Sergio Romo .Bochy then turned to Jeremy Affeldt for a critical out to end the dreaded inning. Santiago Casilla earned the save with lights out pitching in the 9th.
It's just one win, but Bochy was happy with the way his team battled and put away their spring training woes.
"They really did a nice job of getting on base," said Bochy. "Aoki, Panik, and Angel, the top three guys put together a great game. They kept grinding and getting on base. You can throw away the spring training stats. When the bell rung, these guys answer it."
The Giants did have to deal with some tough news on opening day concerning starters Matt Cain and Jake Peavy. Cain had an MRI Monday after experiencing tightness in his right forearm and may be unavailable for his Wednesday start. Peavy will miss his first start scheduled for Tuesday due to a sore back. Ryan Vogelsong is scheduled to take Peavy's spot in the desert against Rubby De La Rosa.
The injuries raise red flags, but if there is one thing the three time World Champions in five years have proven is that they should never be underestimated.

Warriors Set The Stage For The Ultimate Prize in 2015

Forget the record books. Beating the Dallas Mavericks 123-110 Saturday night in the Lone Star state ensured that the Golden State Warriors would finish the season with the best record in the NBA. The Dubs secured the number one seed and critical home court advantage throughout the playoffs. First year coach Steve Kerr set yet another milestone with  63 wins, the most ever for a rookie coach. As he was presented with the game ball in the locker room, him team showered him, not with champagne, but water and gatorade. And just like he has done since he took over, Kerr humbly and humorously shared the credit with his guys.
"The ball was great. The gatorade not so much, but still pretty fun. It was a great scene in there," said Kerr."I wasn't really thinking of  the significance of the record but those guys were when they presented me the ball. How  lucky am I to coach these guys in my first year? Ridiculous."

All-Star Andre Iguodala while joking that Coach Kerr inherited a deep team with great players says luck has nothing to do with it.
"He's done a good job of letting us keep our strengths," explained Iguodala. "He hasn't held Steph (Stephen Curry) or Klay (Thompson) back. He's letting them be gun slingers but he's said this is what you need to work on to get to the next level."
Coach Kerr pounded three keys to reaching that next level all season long. First, the five time NBA champion stresses it all starts with defense and the Warriors lead the league in defensive rating. The next focus is on taking care of the ball by minimizing turnovers, and lastly,  ball movement, asking players  to make that extra pass and turn down a good shot for a great shot.
The Warriors also lead the league in assists,  points per game, and field goal percentage.
While much of the attention centers on the amazing scoring abilities of Splash Brothers, Curry and Thompson, the not so hidden strengths of this team firmly rest on defensive powerhouses Andrew Bogut, and Draymond Green and the depth of that bench which contains all-stars David Lee, Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Marreese Speights and Festus Ezeli.
"They were ready to take the next step whether I was here or not,"explained Kerr. "All I've tried to do with my staff is let them do that. We have fun every day. We work hard but we enjoy being around one another."
It's ironic that tonight's Warriors telecast was followed by a look back at the Giants Legends show reviewing the 2014 World Series Championship season. There are so many similarities between the two teams, their management and coach/manager. Every player  contributed to the Giants' success and clearly the Warriors share that "Together" feeling where on any given night any Warrior player can steal the spotlight.
And as with the Giants, these Warriors are not satisfied with breaking records, their goal is to win the NBA Finals and ride in their own parade. Their work isn't done yet, but the foundation is set, and the home crowd will be there to cheer them on at Oracle, their ultimate advantage.