ESPN The Magazine annually posts an issue dedicated to none other than the beautiful, sculpted male and female athletes that kill the game, literally and physically. From all shapes and sizes, ESPN gets the up-close and personal view of some of our favorite athletes.
Here is my top 10!
Now go pick up a copy, read by the pool or use it as motivation to get that ass in the gym! (Uhm… Hello Paige Selenski, can I just have a few of your abs?! Hook a sista up!)
1. Kevin Love, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Photo: ESPN Instagram
2. Odell Beckham Jr.,WR, New York Giants
Photo: ESPN Instagram
3. Ali Krieger, USWNT, Women’s World Cup Champion
Photo: ESPN Instagram
4. Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Photo: ESPN Instagram
5. Natalie Coughlin, US Women’s Swimmer, 6 time Olympic Medalist
Photo: Natalie Coughlin Instagram
6. Venus Williams, US Women’s Tennis player
Photo: ESPN “Bodies We Want”
7. Paige Selenski, US Women’s Field Hockey Player
Photo: ESPN “Bodies We Want”
8. Dallas Friday, US Women’s Wakeboarder
Photo: ESPN “Bodies We Want”
9. DeAndre Jordan, Center, Los Angeles Clippers
Photo: ESPN Instagram
10. Ali Raisman, US Women’s Gymnast
Photo: ESPN “Bodies We Want”
Well, I think I’m going to have to go do a spin class now and drink some green sh*t or something. Later!
Game 4 has finally arrived and the Cavs are looking to take the lead to 3-1.
Funny isn’t it?
The battle in the West leading to this felt like the finals, because of the intensity and talent amongst every team. Then there was the East- such an unbalance of talent from team to team. Aka LOE. LeBron Over Everything.
Now the dominators of the West, including NBA MVP are seriously struggling against Cleveland, a team thought to have gotten lucky to only have to face minor opponents on their journey to the Finals.
What happened?
Let’s start here. The reality is the Cavs do deserve to be here. They have been dominant through the Finals and are making Golden State look like a completely different team.
One big factor that has been huge for the Cavs is Dellavedova’s performance. Watch out LeBron, there’s another war horse out there on the court for Cleveland. Dellavedova has gone the distance this finals, scoring 20 points in Game 3. And check out this stat from ESPN, 78 of the Cavs’ 96 points (81.3%) in Game 3 involved LeBron or Dellavedova via scoring or assists. Okay, okay, we see you boys grinding!
Dellavedova is expected to play tonight even though leaving Game 3 for cramps, later diagnosed as dehydration. Apparently the guy needs to lay off the coffee? (Seriously? #BasicWhiteGirlProbs much?)
But let’s be real here. Love him or hate him, without LeBron James, the Cavs wouldn’t be here. And without his performance the past three games, the Cavs wouldn’t be set up for a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. He is on a record pace. Scoring 123 points through the first 3 games, LeBron has scored more points than any player in the NBA Finals thus far. Now we all love (or hate) watching LeBron smash it down on the rim, but don’t forget where a good majority of his points are coming from- the place where it matters most- the give away points. The free throw line. LeBron has already pocketed 30 points from the line so far in the finals.
However there are a few things Cleveland needs to continue working on if they want this Game 4 victory. For starters, they need to play quicker. Too many opportunities have been lost in the beginning of the game letting it all come down to the final minutes or periods. Thankfully the Cavs have a stacked line up of closers, otherwise they might not be up 3-1.
Now this game is key for Golden State, obviously.
Golden State has not been playing as aggressively, which is something they’re going to need since both their top guns aka the splash bros have been a bit slippery in their consistency.
Photo: Keith Allison
The 2015 MVP, Steph Curry would not appear that way so far in the finals. Actually, Curry’s numbers would make his performance in the finals one of the worst by a regular-season MVP. From his average PPG of 23.8 points, it is down to 24 PPG so far in the finals. And that’s just the half of it. From the field during the season he was shooting 47% from the field, now down to 32%. And of course there’s those missing “splashes.” Three pointers are down from 44% to 32%. OUCH.
The second half of the splash brothers duo, Klay Thompson posted 14 points in Game 3, but that will not be enough to win this series. The Warriors need a Game 2 performance from Thompson of 34 points or more, especially if Curry doesn’t pull it together to pull off the big win. Both players are going to need to be performing to top standards in order to keep up with hot Dellavedova and King James.
Steve Kerr has the Dub Nation boys playing easy, but in order to get the win for Game 4 it’s time to pull out all the stops. The Warriors need to start acting like just that, warriors. They need to fight to get those possessions and rebounds so they can get to the hoop more often and early on. They can’t try and play catch up with a team as defensively strong as the Cavs. Their best bet is to get up on the board early and then continue to keep possession of the ball.
Defense may win games, but in order to win, you have to score. If the Warriors offense gets the numbers in the first half and keeps good possession for the second the Cavs could be in trouble.
Prediction time!
I’ll come full circle and answer my first question: Are the Splash Brothers too slippery to take the win of Game 4? Nahhh.
Warriors are taking the win tonight to tie up the series. It’s about time we see some serious splashes from the bros themselves and start watching the Cavaliers do the slipping.
Don’t act like you are surprised. How could you be?!
LeBron James is a two-time NBA champion, four-time league MVP, and one of the game’s best players averaging 27.6 points and 10.4 rebounds this year in the playoffs.
James post-season play has been phenomenal, but what has been the most impressive characteristic of James is his maturity, leadership and will to win. James returns to the Finals for a fifth consecutive year and is using that experience to fuel him.
Growing up in Cleveland, this championship run the Cavaliers are making takes a special place in my heart. Hell, to even hear the words “championship” and “Cleveland” in the same sentence is strange for me. What I keep going back to for constant positive thoughts during the series is LeBron’s letter (the opposite of “The Decision”) that he released to Sports Illustrated below:
“I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get. In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have. I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.”
LeBron’s back is a bit sore (literally and figuratively) from carrying the Cavs, but his supporting cast has definitely stepped up. With no Kevin Love and an injured Kyrie Irving the most unlikely players are making a name for themselves.
Matthew Dellavedova, the backup point guard single handedly won Game 3 against the Hawks, scoring 17 points off the bench. He has been the defensive and energetic spark plug for the Cavaliers always ending up in scrappy hustle plays on the floor leaving 110% on the court. In Game 6 of Cleveland’s series clincher against the Bulls, Dellavedova posted 19 points as well.
Forward Tristan Thompson is a big, gritty man who can guard multiple positions defensively and kill it on the offensive glass to get second chance points.
JR Smith scored a playoff career high 28 points and set a Cavaliers playoff franchise record nailing eight 3-pointers and is acting as a 3-point specialist. Smith brings the cockiness and swagger that every locker room needs.
But make no mistake…this is LeBron’s town, this is LeBron’s team and it’s starting to look like it might be his time too.
With the NBA Finals coming up, it is only natural everyone makes a prediction. And let’s just say these two teams are making it pretty hard. In terms of head to head match ups, the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers have only faced off twice this season.
In the first game on Jan. 9, the Cavs traveled to Oracle Arena. The Warriors pulled away with the win, 112-94. Klay Thompson led the team in scoring with 24 points and Stephen Curry finished with 23 points and 10 assists. LeBron James was out due to lingering injuries.
Getty Images
The next time the two teams met was on Feb. 26 in Cleveland. This time the Cavs had “The Chosen One” on the court, and he was dominant, as expected. James finished the game with 42 points and 11 rebounds. Mr. MVP Stephen Curry had an off night (shockingly), shooting only 5-of-17 from the field. This game was tied eight times and had 12 different lead changes. One prediction is for sure – this series will be entertaining.
With a week off before the Finals start, both teams have time to rest and get players healthy. The advantage of this goes to the Warriors. Curry will have time to rest a sore elbow and Thompson a cut in his ear and a concussion. Cleveland needs more than a week to get their players in shape. Kevin Love is out for the Finals and it is unclear what will happen with Kyrie Irving.
Both teams have weapons. James and Iman Shumpert are the Cavs best defenders, but they will have their work cut out for them containing the splash brothers.
The Warriors are known for hitting their threes left and right, and their defense is just as solid. Draymond Green has been all over his opponents and he’s having his best defensive year yet.
The Cavs and the Warriors both have big guys under the hoop, guys that can shoot the ball well and often, and players that can take over the game at any time.
Now for my prediction: LeBron James may be the best player, but the Warriors are the better team. Warriors WIN in 6.
Catch the NBA Finals starting June 4.
Game 1: June 4, 9 p.m. ET Cleveland at Golden State
Game 2: June 7, 8 p.m. ET Cleveland at Golden State
Game 3: June 9, 9 p.m. ET Golden State at Cleveland
Game 4: June 11, 9 p.m. ET Golden State at Cleveland
*Game 5: June 14, 8 p.m. ET Cleveland at Golden State
*Game 6: June 16, 9 p.m. ET Golden State at Cleveland
*Game 7: June 19, 9 p.m. ET Cleveland at Golden State *Denotes if necessary
The Coaches' Daughters 