TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball around his back while guarded by Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of the NBA Finals on June 2, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headlines in today’s Star-Phoenix Sports Section…..
First headline…Dramatic “Hoopla” wins will be remembered forever, Holy Cross’s boys basketball squad has pulled out thrilling final victories twice. My reaction…A little while back in this space, I was talking about how Walter Murray’s basketball teams had found a way to break through the long-time Holy Cross domination and the odd time that St. Joseph had broken through and said look at us in local high school sports. The Crusaders’ boys hoopsters must’ve said, enough, taking a page out of the history books when Barry Rawlyk prowled the sideline and led so many Holy Cross championship teams. All I know is, no matter which team from Saskatoon wins, so long as they do and not lose to a Regina school in the final! Yes, I take the Big City Saskatchewan rivalry very seriously! The only thing I’ll concede to agreeing with them on is the Saskatchewan Roughiders!!
Next headline…Raptor Barrett ready to make his own playoff magic. Reaction…R-J Barrett and the Toronto Raptors are the poster children of a team that is young, brash, but not quite yet ready to be a prime time player in the N-B-A! The Raps are 42-and-33 for the season and sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind fifth place Atlanta and only a game ahead of seventh place Philadelphia. Both the Hawks and Sixers have a tie-breaker advantage over Toronto, which is significant because a top six finish means avoiding the seventh through 10th place Play-In preliminary tournament! What has done in the Raptors is their poor record against top teams in the N-B-A, while they beat up on the also rans! Like I said, not quite yet ready to be a prime time player!!
Last headline…Premier League fans back call to scrap V-A-R says survey. My reaction…so English soccer fans don’t like video review? Meanwhile, as I pointed out in this space yesterday, baseball managers and players can’t get enough of using their new Automated Ball Strike challenge toy! I just hope A-B-S doesn’t become a novelty and passe for baseball fans because I, for one, believe that getting calls right is necessary in sports with the technology available!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
