NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Happy Monday, We are headed into mid-May, but I have to say: between the winter and the amount of overcast and rain this spring, this is the longest stretch of gray sky weather I have endured in all my years in Western New York. Now you guys have to endure another article. Today’s topics: the Mets’ week in review, playoff Knicks, and a Buffalo Sabres update.
NY Mets Week in Review
After that terrible April, May has started out better for the Mets. They took 3 out of 4 against the Rockies—should have been 4 out of 4—and then won one game against the Arizona Diamondbacks before losing the next two. That still puts them at 6-4 for the month so far, which is a damn sight better.
But one of the things stopping them from being happy is watching Clay Holmes on the mound—or before that, it was Freddy Peralta. Long-suffering Mets fans know this: when your pitcher keeps pitching lights out but can’t get run support. He holds the opposition to two runs or one run, and for some reason the bats are asleep while he’s in there. That happened to Holmes on Saturday against the Diamondbacks. He held them to two runs—which is what he’s been doing all season long: two runs or less. His ERA is like 1.70, and still the Mets lost.
What makes it really frustrating is that Santana and Senga were aces. Although this is his first year back from the bump that he’s been on, Holmes is like the third or fourth guy in the rotation. So he’s only going up against the other team’s third or fourth guy, and he’s still leaving with no support. But if Holmes can keep this up, and Freddy Peralta can still be good—not top-level yet—and the Mets’ Japanese pitcher gets better, then the Mets have a much better rotation. Not to mention a couple of their batters getting healthy.NY Knicks Sweep Philly
I’m sure everybody’s seen the score of the Knicks’ Game 5 blowout win and then Game 6. I mean, I haven’t seen that kind of abuse since I saw What’s Love Got to Do with It. As bad as that is, I think Atlanta still had a decent season, but yeah, to lose that badly at home in a must-win playoff game was not good for them.
What’s been interesting in the Eastern Conference playoffs is just how evenly matched things seem. Detroit fell into a 3-1 hole against Orlando before winning three straight to come back, and I really felt for Atlanta—they were up 20 and could have closed it out. But then you know, they’re in the NBA for a reason, right?
The team seated just above them, the Philadelphia 76ers, took down the Boston Celtics in Game 7 without a doubt. Philadelphia is a whole different type of problem when Joel Embiid is healthy and playing. How healthy he stays is a question as they move on to face the Knicks. Embiid’s presence will force Karl-Anthony Towns to actually play some of his best ball. But also Tyrese Maxey is the most underrated point guard in the NBA. The way he kept Philly in it and then towards the end took over against Boston was impressive.
One thing I noticed: Maxey started going to the hole after they got a couple of stops and got the game tied and took the lead. Meanwhile, Boston would get a defensive stop and then keep trying to hit the big-time three-pointer until it was under a minute and they were already down by five late. Joe Mazzulla did a great job coaching Boston to the second seed without Jayson Tatum for most of the season. They didn’t have Tatum in Game 7, and I guess it would have definitely made a difference, but I just don’t think this is the Jayson Tatum that is at his best—I’m not sure.
The other series went to a Game 7, in which Cleveland, led by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, finally did enough to pull away from the Toronto Raptors. So in the end, three of the four top seeds won, but two of them had to go to a Game 7, and the one favorite was upset. So the Knicks should be ready to go and fresher than everybody else. We’ll see how that plays out tonight as New York takes on Philly.
Sabres In Trouble
When the Sabres hired Lindy Ruff to be their coach, everybody thought it was a shot in the dark trying to bring back the glory days. Despite getting past Boston, they lost two of their three home games. This week, they split at home and just got roughed up in Montreal in Game 3. Montreal scored three goals in the second period—which is probably more than the Sabres have allowed in a period all season. Montreal cruised to a 6-2 win.
The Sabres seem to be unsettled by the crowd and some niggling issues that led to some very bad penalties. They’re going to have to regroup and steal one in Montreal, or they’ll be facing elimination.
Thanks for coming. Stay tuned tomorrow for The Big Aristotle
