Three-Pointer and the Foul!

Since I'm not a huge fan of having three small posts, here is one large post with three separate topics. It's not quite a five pack, more like a three-pointer. So let's get to it

• The next five games are going to ultimately define the Devils season. They currently sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, 8 points behind 8th place Buffalo (even on games played) and 10 points behind 7th place Ranger (with 3 games in hand). They are 20-2-2 in their last 24 games, yet I feel like they haven't gained much ground in the past week because teams above them having been winning. I see them still needing 24 points out of their final 17 games in order to have a legit shot at the playoffs (in doing so they also need the teams ahead of them to play losing hockey during this spell). The next five games are going to be crucial - not because they are playing teams that are on top of the standings, but rather they are playing teams they should beat. For a team that has been playing with nothing to lose, these games represent the first time when they do have something to lose. In the next five they get Ottawa twice (15th East), Atlanta twice (11th) and the hated Islanders (14th). They have to get 9 if not 10 points out of these 5 games because the schedule gets harder down the stretch with two against Boston (2nd) and Pittsburgh (4th) and one against Philly (1st), Washington (2nd) and the Rangers on the final day of the season. If they want to really make the playoffs, they need to get max points. It's as simple as that.
• We are witnessing one of the truly most remarkable NBA seasons of the past thirty years. Kevin Love, the 6'8" PF from the Minnesota Timberwolves, is having a record-breaking year. And while he has garnered some mainstream media attention, I'm not sure all America knows what he is going (credit playing in Minnesota and having to compete with Blake Griffin as large parts). So let's go over it: in 60 games this season Love has 55 double-doubles including a record-breaking 51 straight games. In that streak he has twelve 20/20 games and one 30/30 game (Nov 12 vs NY). His current average of 15.7 would be the highest in the league since Rodman in 1996-97 and he is the first person to have 20 points to go along with 15 boards since Moses Malone in 1982-83. He has been simply amazing, especially since he would not be considered one of the 6 most athletic guys on his own team, let alone the league. Instead he is using intelligence and savvy to pull down double-dogit boards every night, regardless of the opponent. Again, he has been simply amazing.
• Finally, let's talk a little wrestling again. As you know, The Rock returned to Raw a few weeks ago. He crushed John Cena and The Miz, prompting Cena to fire back using his old Dr of Thugonomics persona 'for one night only'. Last week, The Rock responded 'live' via satellite. As my boy Kevin Eck noted, the WWE is creating a sticky situation by having The Rock on tape while Cena shows up live every week. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see the hypocrisy in The Rock saying he is back and never leaving again...which makes me believe that they are actually doing this on purpose. And you know what, it is totally working. Last night you had Cena rap again and the crowd really seemed to be split between Cena and The Rock. By having them at each others throats rather than being buddy-buddy leading up to WM, they are creating major interest and intrigue. Personally, I am jacked to see what happens, especially now that The Miz finally has entered the fray by continuing to pummel a distracted Cena and by finally calling out The Rock. If I'm not wrong, I think I actually heard a pop for The Miz last night which is pretty unheard of. So far they are playing it perfect: keeping Cena and The Rock a part and at odds (thus making fans choose a side and then wait to see what happens) and having the wild card Miz (seemingly the heel of the three) now start to seem edgy and cool. I probably still can't justify the price of WM, but I certainly am going to enjoy the build-up to it...
• Oh wait, a 4th item - I totally forgot to mention the highlight of the night -Stone Cold Steve Austin came back and raised total hell. After Michael Cole announced that JBL would be the special guest ref in his match against Jerry Lawler, Austin stunned JBL and drank what appeared to be 12 beers. Then he poured two over Cole's head at the announcers table. When JBL finally got up in the ring, Austin offered him a beer and I assumed that for one night only JBL would revert back to his beer-drinking Bradshaw days, but instead, Austin stunned him and then had probably 12 more beers after that. It was classic Austin...and a classic reminder as to why he brought wrestling to such heights back when I was in college.