The Cheat SheetBy David Lauterbach on

Well the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, but is that really surprising? Meanwhile Tom Izzo on the future of Big Ten Men’s Basketball scheduling, more info on Battle of the Network Stars, and a review of the newest 30 for 30 dominated the headlines as well. 

Golden State Warriors are Golden

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 04: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors react to a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

With a 129-120 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 5 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors won their second title in three years. Kevin Durant was named the Finals’ MVP after scoring 39 points in the clinching victory.

Steph Curry scored 34 as well despite going only 2-9 from beyond the arc. LeBron James scored 41 for the Cavs in the losing effort while Kyrie Irving contributed with 26.

Tom Izzo is in favor of a 20-game Big Ten Men’s Basketball Schedule

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 09: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center on March 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

“I personally see us going to a 20-game schedule,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo told ESPN on Monday. “I don’t think there’s any question it’s going to happen — and I’m not overly against it.”

There are a number of benefits to expanding the conference schedule to 20 games for the Big Ten. First and foremost, it satisfies the television partners by providing more important game sin the early parts of the regular season. If the Big Ten expanded to 20 games, it would likely mean playing conference games in December instead of waiting for January. At a time when the value of the regular season is shrunk, giving some importance to games in December seems like a logical move that would be pleasing to FOX and ESPN, not to mention give a boost to the Big Ten Network.

“If everyone doesn’t go to 20 games in the power five, someone will have a major advantage in terms of wins and losses,” Izzo added. “When you are only talking about a difference of one game in wins, it’s not a big deal. But when you start talking two or three wins, a lot of time they will take the team with the better record.”

Battle of the Network Stars revival is a who’s who of TV has-beens

Battle of the Network Stars is coming back to airwaves and spanning the entire depth of TV history to form its teams. Among the stars lined up to appear on the revived competition show are Vivica A. Fox, Lou Ferrigno, Erik Estrada, Danny Bonaduce, and Kevin Sorbo.

Yep, it’s basically a who’s who of TV has-beens preparing to compete against one another for some sort of bragging rights among the TV industry. But who can blame any of them for taking on a paycheck for cashing in on past fame, right? We should all aim to reach such heights.

To branch out and draw more interest in the show, this updated version of Battle of the Network Stars will extend beyond the traditional networks and include stars from cable. In all, the new Battle of the Network Stars will include a whopping 100 stars from a variety of TV genres and eras.

30 for 30 review of Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies

BOSTON – JUNE 17: Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

A sneak preview from our own Ben Koo’s review…

You can’t argue that ESPN wasn’t exceptionally shrewd in selecting and scheduling this 30 for 30, a documentary about two rivals who kept meeting in the NBA Finals that ultimately will air during the backdrop of the modern day doppelgänger of the Lakers and Celtics rivalry of yesteryear. Ultimately, though, five hours is an awfully big ask, especially when you consider the longer OJ installment had a much broader base of possible viewers opposed to a film focusing on two specific teams.

You can’t argue that ESPN wasn’t exceptionally shrewd in selecting and scheduling this 30 for 30, a documentary about two rivals who kept meeting in the NBA Finals that ultimately will air during the backdrop of the modern day doppelgänger of the Lakers and Celtics rivalry of yesteryear. Ultimately, though, five hours is an awfully big ask, especially when you consider the longer OJ installment had a much broader base of possible viewers opposed to a film focusing on two specific teams.

Read the rest right here.

Quick Hits

David West and Tristan Thompson almost kissed in Game 5.

– Yep it definitely looks like David West and Tristan Thompson kissed during Game 5.

– Jeopardy took a jab at Kevin Durant before game 5 of the finals.

– A Warriors fan wrote a letter to his favorite team detailing how they should use WWII strategy to win game 5. Here’s a piece of it:

Use the Cavaliers’ own strategy against them. As they are bullying Curry, use their double-teaming to keep them WAY beyond the arc. Use Curry primarily as a DECOY to keep the game 4-on-3 close in. This strategy was actually used in WWII using General Patton as a non-functioning decoy in charge of a fake Army of rubber tanks and trucks at Calais. It fooled Hitler in thinking D Day would be coming from Calais.

– This is a real tweet and it is terrifying.

– The MLB Draft began on Monday night and Royce Lewis went first overall to the Minnesota Twins.

– Dontari Poe has six figures of salary riding on what the scale says.

As noted by Pro Football Talk, Poe actually has multiple weight incentives built into his contract that could add up to $500,000 over four regularly scheduled weigh-ins. The next checkup will be at training camp, followed by the start of the regular season and again in November around the midway point of the season. His Tuesday weigh-in will be the first chance the Falcons get to see how Poe has handled himself since the Super Bowl.

– EA Sports revealed new details about this year’s edition of Madden NFL by spotlighting a brand new story mode in the game. In it, you guide a player up the ranks from high school stardom to a shot to prove what you can do in the NFL.

– Vance Joseph compares Broncos players to kids with social media education. Rule 1: never tweet.

“Social media is different than what I grew up around,” said Broncos coach Vance Joseph. “It’s their everyday lives. Sometimes, they fall into the trap of it being a normal deal, but this is work. This is a workplace. We can’t share what we’re doing here to the outside world, so to speak.”

– Hawaii did what no school should ever do: offer a scholarship to an 11-year-old.

– LeBron on Durant and the Warriors before game 6: “A few years from now, I’ll tell you how I really feel.”

– The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for what people used to think wouldn’t be possible: what they should do if they don’t draft Lonzo Ball.

The Lakers still like Lonzo as a playmaker and leader, which means for once his father, LaVar Ball, isn’t spewing total crapout of his mouth. Here were the Lakers takeaways, from the OC Register:

Many qualities have made the Lakers impressed with Ball, including his leadership potential, passing and scoring. They are not impressed, however, with his level of conditioning. Some observers of Ball’s workout last Wednesday thought he came in out of shape. Ball acknowledged that the “drills get you tired, so you got to stay focused.”

– Looking back at the last week in trailers including this incredible one:

– South Korean President suggests a World Cup bid with North Korea that will surely be a disaster.

– Players are already complaining about the rough at next week’s U.S. Open.

A Random “The Office” Video:

Not okay Michael. Not okay.

One Last Glorious Moment of Procrastination:

This is weird.

 

About David Lauterbach

David is a writer for The Comeback. He enjoyed two Men's Basketball Final Four trips for Syracuse before graduating in 2016. If The Office or Game of Thrones is on TV, David will be watching.

View all posts by David Lauterbach