Good morning!
A few random thoughts while I try to figure out if we're up one or tied...
- Man, that was some crazy game last night to kick off the NBA Finals. LeBron did everything he could, and then the refs and his teammates snatched it from him.
- The one thought I had watching that Cavs clown show down the stretch was ... the Celtics blew 2-0 and 3-2 series leads, and a 12-point lead in the first half of Game 7 ... to those guys? Guessing Danny Ainge was thinking the same thing.
- LeBron's reaction to J.R. Smith was roughly the same one I have about 12 times a game coaching U10 softball.
- The Sox fell in the opener to the Astros in a back-and-forth affair. Now Boston has to beat Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz ... sorry, wrong era.
- What's up with Mookie? It seems like he's been one day away for about a week. Sox should have just put him on the DL. He's The Franchise. No series in early June — even in one of the two competitive series they'll have in the next two months (have you looked at the schedule?) — is worth risking The MVP.
- The Patriots coaches were very much in the "playtime is over, time to get to work and stop screwing around" portion of OTAs. A lot of yelling and stern instruction. Don't tell Cassius Marsh.
- Speaking of that worthless player — seriously, not a good vibe from him in the locker room — that would be a big miss by the personnel department. Gave up two picks for a player who couldn't set the edge and is a big baby. I'm sure Nick Caserio and crew have already learned the lessons there and are applying them forward.
- It's been out there, but it's true: Tom Brady has been showing up to Gillette but he's only going into the bubble to throw to Julian Edelman and then leaving. Not even a pop-in? I figured Brady to be a pop-in guy. BTW, I bet Brady and Josh McDaniels are in constant contact about what's going on.
- Kenny Britt's probably the player that is stuck in my mind from yesterday. He looks great ... just don't expect Randy Moss or anything. More red zone.
- And, man, any defense is five times better with 54 out there.
- Eric Rowe looked good. Cornerbacks have been working on a lot of trail and under technique. Could see more a return to two-man (two deep safeties with man coverage). Patriots have been more single high in recent year.
APP GLITCH
Time to get to the links...
CELTICS
RED SOX
PATRIOTS
BRUINS
REVOLUTION
ON TAP
2:30 p.m.: BSJ Live Q&A — Bedard on Patriots and everything else
2:30:
2:30:
3 p.m.:
8:10 p.m.: Red Sox at Astros, NESN (McAdam)
9 p.m.
9 p.m.
PARTING THOUGHT
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS
you’re going to be a hero to a big-time Boston sports fan
@GregABedard My Mom says the BSJ subscription I gave my Dad is the best gift I’ve ever given him. He’s totally obsessed & talks you guys up to all friend & fam. Thanks for making me look good.
— Mandy Johnson Gilman (@MandyGilman) January 23, 2018

