Great game last night between the Warriors and Rockets.  It’s interesting to watch how Golden State is deviating from their winning formula of ball movement to going with the player with the hot hand for long stretches in isolation.  It’s been Durant for much of the playoffs but now we see Curry taking over – especially in the 2nd half of these games.  While you benefit from a flurry of points for short periods, other players are not in rhythm, e.g., Clay Thompson.  And then, late in the game when those players need to produce, they can’t as they have barely shot the ball.

Houston on the other hand plays this isolation style which for SU is unattractive, uninspiring and just hard to watch.  Especially when you have one of the top point guards of all time on your team in CP3.  I mean, who wants to watch James Harden jab step from the top of the key for 20 seconds (other than Carmelo Anthony who no doubt watches in front of the mirror practicing the same move)?  You can’t argue with regular season success certainly for the Rockets but is this style effective in the playoffs?  And SU says how do you let him drive left over and over again and not have someone underneath to protect the rim?

Celtics and Cavs have both held serve so far on their home courts.  LeBron continues to impress with his production.  While he is a pass first player, he knows he needs to score 35+ points a night for them to win.  SU is not sure what happened to Kevin Love who was unstoppable in Minnesota but is really a pedestrian player in Cleveland.  He needs to be the 2nd option for LeBron.  Otherwise, your fate rests with JR Smith and Knick fans know how that usually ends.

Gary Sanchez was brutal last night behind the plate.  3 wild pitches in one inning and SU says Romine stops all three of them.  He finally left the game with a calf issue and maybe that was bothering him.  I get it that in the regular season, your team benefits by having an offensively superior player at catcher and he sure can hit.  But come playoff time, he will be a liability.  He also calls a bad game.  When Romine catches the ERAs are lower and the pace of play moves along.  Sanchez just lacks the instincts of how to call a game and can’t be trusted in the 8th and 9th innings of close games.  Now, David Cone went off last night defending him bigly and he does have a gun for an arm, but the reality is teams don’t need to bother stealing – just wait for the passed ball or wild pitch.  SU is not sure why the Yankees can’t improve his defense.  Long-time SU subscriber S. Greenberg says Sanchez has stone hands – can’t receive the ball cleanly.  SU would agree.

Cole Hamels auditioned for the trade to the Yankees later in the year.  He looked good but where would he start on the Astros?  Maybe the 5th starter?  SU says he is not the answer.  Cashman needs to keep looking and waiting.

Finally, Chase Headley was officially DFA’d.  He can be picked up for the minimum salary for the remainder of the season.  You know Cashman is tempted and may assign him to the minors to compete with veteran Adam Lind.  Greg Bird is close to being ready.  SU says they really need his left-handed bat in there.  I am fine with moving Tyler Austin.  He reminds me of Andruw Jones – all or nothing approach at the plate.