High Expectations From The Bay Area

Sports fans in the Bay Area of California enjoyed an NBA championship last year and are fully expecting another this year as the Golden State Warriors grind up the Cleveland Cavaliers (again).

They’ve also had the joy of watching the San Jose Sharks make a first-ever trip to the NHL’s Stanley Cup finals. This trip, however, is going less well.

While the Warriors lead the Cavs two games to none in their best-of-seven series for the NBA title, the Sharks are in a bit of hole. They fell 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night, and that is now the size of their deficit in the series – 3-1.

Considering the team didn’t even make the playoffs last year, its offseason changes of personnel and the addition of coach Peter DeBoer leave fans much to be encouraged about going forward. Still, it’s disheartening to see one set of title dreams on the cusp of being extinguished while a neighboring team (forgive my geographical generosity tying San Jose and Oakland together) appears ready to repeat.

The Sharks have no choice but to win on Thursday night when the series returns to Pittsburgh. And the Penguins, an unlikely contender for the title this year, would love to close this out at home.

The Warriors and Cavaliers resume their series on Wednesday night in Cleveland.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman