Let’s be honest. We love baseball, but summertime is a dead point for sports, and nothing like wintertime when we have football, basketball, hockey, and others to choose from.
That said, summertime is also a great time for speculation. From MVP forecasts to upset predictions, us sports fans could go all day.
When it comes to dream matchups, here are a few:
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA Championship)
This one doesn’t need an explanation. A rivalry full of stories and starpower, a Celtics-Lakers matchup is always exciting. Add Jayson Tatum and LeBron James to the mix, and you’ve got history in the making.
When I think of this series, the first thing I think of is how unpredictable it could – and would – be. On one side, Tatum, Brown, and, now, Porzingis can win a game by themselves. On the other hand, so can LeBron and Anthony Davis. Would LeBron do his thing, would Tatum get his first title, or would role players steal the show? The fight for Finals MVP would truly be a toss-up.
Jets vs. Chiefs (AFC Championship)
In a game featuring dozens of players, our eyes would be locked in on two of them, and what a matchup it would be: Patrick Mahomes vs. Aaron Rodgers.
Oh, and the gunslingers have never played each other in an NFL game. Can you believe that?
Seriously, when’s a good time to take a break from the action? There isn’t one. In a game of offensive firepower, it could honestly come down to which quarterback is hotter. Yes, Mahomes, Kelce, and company have their go-to schemes, but Rodgers, in his first year wearing Jets’ green, could be so unpredictable, you never know.
Mahomes would be going for a hat-trick of Super Bowls, while Rodgers would look to prove his worth by winning Super Bowls with two franchises. Sign me up.
Gervonta Davis vs. Naoya Inoue (catchweight)
For those who are into boxing, it’s been quite the year. From Davis vs. Garcia, Haney vs. Lomachenko, and Spence vs. Crawford, we’ve already gotten our money’s worth – literally and figuratively.
Then there’s the dream matchup of Gervonta Davis vs. Naoya Inoue. Inoue hails from Japan, and puts on a show with his speed, combinations, and straight body shots. On the other hand, American Gervonta Davis sells out arenas with his knockout power – on top of being a criminally-underrated boxer (head movement, in-and-out ability, etc.).
There’s just one problem. Inoue just fought at 122 pounds, while Davis’ last fight was set at 136. Boxing legend and famed promoter Floyd Mayweather wants the two to meet at a catchweight to determine who’s truly the face of boxing – I agree.
Davis – who’s shown interest in this fight – and Inoue are both on ESPN’s pound-for-pound top 10 list, and a win over the other might just cement a number one or two spot besides Terence Crawford.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Stanley Cup)
Call me old-fashioned, but I love when a former star goes up against today’s star – in any sport. Sidney Crosby of the Penguins ruled the NHL for over a decade, but present day, it’s Connor McDavid’s league.
The Penguins are mediocre at best, but if Crosby stays healthy alongside a hot goaltender, you never know.
Similarly to Rodgers vs. Mahomes, our eyes would be glued to the pair of centermen. On one side, you’d have Crosby searching for relevancy and looking for Cup number four, while McDavid still seeks his first en route to a storied career.
New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens (AFC Playoffs)
The Patriots and Ravens used to meet in the playoffs all the time – four times during the Brady era, to be exact. The last was in 2015, and it’s been too long.
Mac Jones would be looking for a big-time playoff win on national television, while Lamar Jackson would look to establish himself as a top-five player in the NFL.
It’d also be the next chapter of a great rivalry. From past stars like Brady, Gronkowski, Flacco, and Ray Rice, Mac against Lamar would be a great start to something fun for the next decade. Oh, and the fans would love it – maybe too much.
