With two weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, the talk about who deserve the NFL's Most Valuable Player award begins.
The two candidates who are clear favorites are New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady and Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick.
The Patriots have clinched themselves the American Football Conference East and the Eagles have clinched the National Football Conference East while both teams have guaranteed spots in the postseason.
With no questions asked, both quarterbacks have been a big factor for their team's success this season and have performed spectacular in several games.
Brady has had a great season as he has been averaging 254-yards per game and has 3561 pass yards on 31 touchdowns thus far in the season with two games left on the schedule.
As well as Brady, Vick is having a great season as he is averaging 250-yards per game and has 2755 passing yards on 20 touchdowns thus far in the season with two games left as well.
The two are putting up great stats as well as spectacular games.
Against the Detroit Lions in week 12, Brady threw 341-yards on 21 of 27 completed passes with four touchdowns to win the game 45-24. He repeated his performance a game later against the Jets when he poured 326-yards on 21 of 29 completed passes with four touchdowns to win the game 45-3.
Brady's performance has lunched the Patriots to a 12-2 record thus far while on a six game winning streak.
On the other hand Vick has done his own work to keep the race between the two quarterbacks close.
Against the Chicago Bears in week 12, Vick passed for 333-yards while completing 29 passes on 44 attempts for two touchdowns but lost the game 31-26.
In last week's game against the New York Giants, Vick threw for 242-yards while completing 21 passes on 35 attempts for three touchdowns and rushed 10 times to get 130 rushing yards for one touchdown to win the game 38-31.
The win against the Giants won the AFC East for the Eagles and gave the team a 10-4 record thus far for a three game winning streak.
Either player is worth winning the award without any disappointment from the fans.
Personally I would like to see Vick win the award after overcoming his legal issues and serving time in prison for his actions. But Brady is most likely going to win the MVP award because his team is performing beyond expectation.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Jimmie Johnson: Five-time champ
A five-time Sprint Cup champion is what Jimmie Johnson can now call himself.
Johnson, the driver who has been dominating the sport of Nascar since 2005, was looking to add his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship today.
The goal of winning the fifth title was not easy because Johnson was 15 points behind Danny Hamlin in the points leader board of the Sprint Cup chase.
Not only did Johnson have to leap over Hamlin for the first place finish but he also had to worry about Kevin Harvick, who was not far behind in third place in points.
The finale of the 2010 Nascar season was coming to a close in Homestead, Florida, where the three drivers looked to win the title for themselves.
Johnson qualified to start the race in the top ten, and the other two drivers started lower.
Hamlin was far behind in the back of the pack, where he had to fight his way through the traffic and reach the front of the pack.
Unfortunately as the laps started to add up, Hamlin ran into Greg Biffle on a lap after 20 laps were completed.
Hamlin's car suffered some damage that would result in him not recovering from and being the deciding factor for him to lose his chance to win the Sprint Cup.
As for Harvick, he battled along side Johnson midway through the race for forth place and looked to have a great chance to win the title.
But near the end of the race, Harvick was penalized for speeding out of the pitstop.
Harvick finished third behind Johnson but that was not enough for Harvick to win the title.
Johnson finished the race second behind Carl Edwards and that was enough for Johnson to win his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup title.
Johnson can surely secure his name in Nascar history as one of the greatest drivers to dominate the sport.
Johnson proved champions know how to win when pressure is breathing down their neck.
Johnson, the driver who has been dominating the sport of Nascar since 2005, was looking to add his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship today.
The goal of winning the fifth title was not easy because Johnson was 15 points behind Danny Hamlin in the points leader board of the Sprint Cup chase.
Not only did Johnson have to leap over Hamlin for the first place finish but he also had to worry about Kevin Harvick, who was not far behind in third place in points.
The finale of the 2010 Nascar season was coming to a close in Homestead, Florida, where the three drivers looked to win the title for themselves.
Johnson qualified to start the race in the top ten, and the other two drivers started lower.
Hamlin was far behind in the back of the pack, where he had to fight his way through the traffic and reach the front of the pack.
Unfortunately as the laps started to add up, Hamlin ran into Greg Biffle on a lap after 20 laps were completed.
Hamlin's car suffered some damage that would result in him not recovering from and being the deciding factor for him to lose his chance to win the Sprint Cup.
As for Harvick, he battled along side Johnson midway through the race for forth place and looked to have a great chance to win the title.
But near the end of the race, Harvick was penalized for speeding out of the pitstop.
Harvick finished third behind Johnson but that was not enough for Harvick to win the title.
Johnson finished the race second behind Carl Edwards and that was enough for Johnson to win his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup title.
Johnson can surely secure his name in Nascar history as one of the greatest drivers to dominate the sport.
Johnson proved champions know how to win when pressure is breathing down their neck.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
RCC women's water polo wins state title
Riverside City College women's water polo team defeated Long Beach City College 9-7 today and won the California state title.
Riverside and Long Beach settled for a 3-3 tie after one quarter. Riverside had a 5-4 lead after two quarters and added four more goals to lead 9-6 after three quarters. Long Beach shut out Riverside in the fourth but Riverside held on to win the match 9-7.
RCC was led by Southern California Co-MVP, Jamie Clark with three goals. Chelsea Harrod had two goals.
Andrea Antonissen had four saves for Riverside.
Riverside completed the undefeated season as the team went 32-0 this season. RCC sure did disprove the saying, "No one is perfect," because they sure did achieve a perfect season.
Stay tune as Viewpoints continues the developing story on the RCC women's water polo team.
Riverside and Long Beach settled for a 3-3 tie after one quarter. Riverside had a 5-4 lead after two quarters and added four more goals to lead 9-6 after three quarters. Long Beach shut out Riverside in the fourth but Riverside held on to win the match 9-7.
RCC was led by Southern California Co-MVP, Jamie Clark with three goals. Chelsea Harrod had two goals.
Andrea Antonissen had four saves for Riverside.
Riverside completed the undefeated season as the team went 32-0 this season. RCC sure did disprove the saying, "No one is perfect," because they sure did achieve a perfect season.
Stay tune as Viewpoints continues the developing story on the RCC women's water polo team.
Friday, November 19, 2010
RCC football plays in bowl game
A 9-1 record along being undefeated at in conference was not enough for the Riverside City College football team to compete for a state title.
The format for the California Community College Athletic Association football state finals playoffs only picks up the four best teams from Northern California and the four best in Southern California.
Riverside, ranked No. 5 missed the chance to play for the state title this year after having a remarkable turnaround in a year. Last season the team won a game and lost nine games.
Therefore RCC will settle for a bowl game tomorrow at home.
Riverside the winners of the East Central Conference, will take on Los Angeles Harbor college, the winners of the West Central Conference, for the Central Bowl at 6 p.m. at Riverside City College.
The format for the California Community College Athletic Association football state finals playoffs only picks up the four best teams from Northern California and the four best in Southern California.
Riverside, ranked No. 5 missed the chance to play for the state title this year after having a remarkable turnaround in a year. Last season the team won a game and lost nine games.
Therefore RCC will settle for a bowl game tomorrow at home.
Riverside the winners of the East Central Conference, will take on Los Angeles Harbor college, the winners of the West Central Conference, for the Central Bowl at 6 p.m. at Riverside City College.
One away from state title and perfect season
With a 12-1 victory over Foothill College at the California Community College Athletic Association semi-finals, the Riverside City College women's water polo team is a game away from have a undefeated season.
The Tigers took on Foothill today in Sacramento and shut the team down like Riverside has been doing to the majority of its opponents this season.
Jamie Clark led the Tigers with four goals and six steals as RCC goalkeeper Andrea Antonissen had 14 saves.
Riverside improves to 31-0 and are one win away from winning the state title.
Riverside faces Long Beach City College tomorrow as the perfect season and state title are on the line for RCC.
The Tigers took on Foothill today in Sacramento and shut the team down like Riverside has been doing to the majority of its opponents this season.
Jamie Clark led the Tigers with four goals and six steals as RCC goalkeeper Andrea Antonissen had 14 saves.
Riverside improves to 31-0 and are one win away from winning the state title.
Riverside faces Long Beach City College tomorrow as the perfect season and state title are on the line for RCC.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
RCC football wins seven straight
The Riverside City College football team wins seven straight games, as College of the Desert were the latest victims tonight in a 42-23 beat down by the Tigers.
RCC is now 8-1 overall on the season and 4-0 in the East Central Conference. The Tigers can win their final game of the season and head into the postseason a high note when they head to SouthWestern College on Nov. 13.
The team is looking to make the postseason again since 2005.
Last season the team had a 1-9 record and during the offseason, the team replaced coach Bill Brown with Tom Craft.
What a year can make with a new coach running the team.
RCC is now 8-1 overall on the season and 4-0 in the East Central Conference. The Tigers can win their final game of the season and head into the postseason a high note when they head to SouthWestern College on Nov. 13.
The team is looking to make the postseason again since 2005.
Last season the team had a 1-9 record and during the offseason, the team replaced coach Bill Brown with Tom Craft.
What a year can make with a new coach running the team.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Yankees, Giants take care of business
The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins for the second time in two days.
The Yankees won Game 2 of the division series with the Twins to take a 2-0 lead in the best of five series.
The Yankees were lead by starting pitcher, Andy Pettitte, who pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
The Yankees now head back to New York where they will look to sweep the Twins.
The San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves opened up their division series tonight in San Francisco. The Giants took Game 1 with a 1-0 victory.
The game dominated by the pitching from both teams.
The Braves' Derrick Lowe pitched five and one-third innings as he gave up one run on five hits.
Following the no-hitter from Roy Halladay yesterday, the Giants' Tim Lincecum pitched a complete shutout game and only gave up two hits.
The Major League Baseball experts are calling this postseason; the year of the pitchers. So far that motto is holding.
The Yankees won Game 2 of the division series with the Twins to take a 2-0 lead in the best of five series.
The Yankees were lead by starting pitcher, Andy Pettitte, who pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
The Yankees now head back to New York where they will look to sweep the Twins.
The San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves opened up their division series tonight in San Francisco. The Giants took Game 1 with a 1-0 victory.
The game dominated by the pitching from both teams.
The Braves' Derrick Lowe pitched five and one-third innings as he gave up one run on five hits.
Following the no-hitter from Roy Halladay yesterday, the Giants' Tim Lincecum pitched a complete shutout game and only gave up two hits.
The Major League Baseball experts are calling this postseason; the year of the pitchers. So far that motto is holding.
Tampa Bay Rays falling off
What happen to the Tampa Bay Ray? A team that was expected to reach the World Series, is now one game from making a quick exit from the Major League Baseball postseason.
The Rays won the must difficult division in baseball, the American League East, with a 96-66 record and one game better than the New York Yankees. The division includes the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue jays.
The team had the home-court advantage entering its division series with the Texas Rangers.
In the first two games of the series, the Rays have lost the first two games in Tampa Bay. Yesterday the Rangers won 5-1, and today they won 6-0.
The Rays have only scored one run against the Rangers' starting pitchers Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson.
The series now shifts to Texas where the Rangers have a chance to end the series on their home field.
The Rays won the must difficult division in baseball, the American League East, with a 96-66 record and one game better than the New York Yankees. The division includes the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue jays.
The team had the home-court advantage entering its division series with the Texas Rangers.
In the first two games of the series, the Rays have lost the first two games in Tampa Bay. Yesterday the Rangers won 5-1, and today they won 6-0.
The Rays have only scored one run against the Rangers' starting pitchers Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson.
The series now shifts to Texas where the Rangers have a chance to end the series on their home field.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
MLB starts postseason with a bang
The start of the Major League Baseball postseason began with an amazing performance by Roy Halladay in the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Halladay pitched a complete game and pitched a no-hitter in the postseason. It's just the second time a pitcher has pitched a no-hitter in the postseason. The last time it happen was in 1950.
The performance overshadowed the Phillies' 1-0 lead against the Reds in the division series and it can be a motivation boost for the Phillies to jump on and capture another World Series Championship.
Earlier in the day the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays opened up their division series and the Rangers took Game 1 with a 5-1 victory at home.
The Rangers were lead by their ace pitcher, Cliff Lee who pitched seven innings and allowed one run on five hits.
The day ended with the defending champs, the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins opening up their division series.
The game started with the Twins leading 3-0 after five innings, but the Yankees rallied back to tie the game after six innings.
Mark Teixeira put the Yankees up in the seventh inning with a two-run home run.
The game is currently in play as the Yankees are up 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth.
Halladay pitched a complete game and pitched a no-hitter in the postseason. It's just the second time a pitcher has pitched a no-hitter in the postseason. The last time it happen was in 1950.
The performance overshadowed the Phillies' 1-0 lead against the Reds in the division series and it can be a motivation boost for the Phillies to jump on and capture another World Series Championship.
Earlier in the day the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays opened up their division series and the Rangers took Game 1 with a 5-1 victory at home.
The Rangers were lead by their ace pitcher, Cliff Lee who pitched seven innings and allowed one run on five hits.
The day ended with the defending champs, the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins opening up their division series.
The game started with the Twins leading 3-0 after five innings, but the Yankees rallied back to tie the game after six innings.
Mark Teixeira put the Yankees up in the seventh inning with a two-run home run.
The game is currently in play as the Yankees are up 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth.
Friday, June 18, 2010
USA robbed of a win
Today was the worst day for the FIFA World Cup.
The first match was a unexpected upset as Serbia defeated Germany 1-0.
The Germans were favorites in the match, but they could not get nothing to fall for them.
Not too long ago, the Germans defeated Australia easily in a 4-0 victory.
The second match was USA vs. Slovenia.
Slovenia was on a roll after they won their first match.
It was a difficult match for USA because they had to switch roles of being the underdogs in their first match against England, to being favorites in this match.
Slovenia scored two goals in the first half. USA allowed the pair of goals by poor defense.
As Slovenia relaxed with their two goal lead, the Americans stormed out of halftime and scored a pair of goals of their own.
As the match was tied with less than 20 minutes left in the game, the Americans scored again, but the official who was calling the match, called off the goal because he said an American player committed a foul during the play.
The Americans showed frustration and anger because after the replay was shown multiple times, no where did it show that an American committed a foul.
The Americans were basically screwed a goal and a win.
The third match of the day was England vs. Algeria.
It was a perfect opportunity for England to get a win and keep the Americans hopes of advancing out of group play low.
But the match finished in a 0-0 draw and neither England or USA could make progress in the group standings.
The Americans group is a weak and pathetic group. It does not have great teams and England has shown they can hardly score a goal. All four teams are not great and the two teams who advance from the group, will surely be knocked out in the first round of the final 16.
Group C standings: Slovenia has four points, England and USA both have two points and Algeria has one point.
Next matches for Group C: England vs. Slovenia on June 23 at 7 a.m. on ESPN 2. USA vs. Algeria on June 23 at 7 a.m. on ESPN.
The first match was a unexpected upset as Serbia defeated Germany 1-0.
The Germans were favorites in the match, but they could not get nothing to fall for them.
Not too long ago, the Germans defeated Australia easily in a 4-0 victory.
The second match was USA vs. Slovenia.
Slovenia was on a roll after they won their first match.
It was a difficult match for USA because they had to switch roles of being the underdogs in their first match against England, to being favorites in this match.
Slovenia scored two goals in the first half. USA allowed the pair of goals by poor defense.
As Slovenia relaxed with their two goal lead, the Americans stormed out of halftime and scored a pair of goals of their own.
As the match was tied with less than 20 minutes left in the game, the Americans scored again, but the official who was calling the match, called off the goal because he said an American player committed a foul during the play.
The Americans showed frustration and anger because after the replay was shown multiple times, no where did it show that an American committed a foul.
The Americans were basically screwed a goal and a win.
The third match of the day was England vs. Algeria.
It was a perfect opportunity for England to get a win and keep the Americans hopes of advancing out of group play low.
But the match finished in a 0-0 draw and neither England or USA could make progress in the group standings.
The Americans group is a weak and pathetic group. It does not have great teams and England has shown they can hardly score a goal. All four teams are not great and the two teams who advance from the group, will surely be knocked out in the first round of the final 16.
Group C standings: Slovenia has four points, England and USA both have two points and Algeria has one point.
Next matches for Group C: England vs. Slovenia on June 23 at 7 a.m. on ESPN 2. USA vs. Algeria on June 23 at 7 a.m. on ESPN.
Lakers go back to back
The Los Angeles Lakers repeated as NBA Champions last night after defeating the Boston Celtics 83-79.
What a game it was for the Lakers.
The team started off bad on the offensive side. Missing shot after shot, especially Kobe Bryant.
They trailed by nine points after the first quarter and scoring only 14 points.
It continued to look bad in the second quarter and Lakers fans started to get nervous and scared that it was going to be a sad ending to the season.
The Lakers managed to cut the Celtics lead to four points by halftime, but Bryant continued to shoot poorly from the field.
After the game, Bryant said that he let the hype of the game and what was on stake, get the best of him and he was lucky that his team was able to pull him up.
The second half started to become a nightmare for Los Angeles, as the Celtics lead grew to their max high, 13 points, but the Lakers continued to play hard.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, was asked what did he say to the team during the Celtics run, and he said that he told the team to keep rebounding the ball.
His players listened as Bryant (who was not effective offensively) had 15 rebounds to finish the game.
Pau Gasol, the Lakers true MVP of the finals, finished the game 19 points and 18 rebounds.
The Lakers had 23 offensive rebounds.
The Lakers came out in the fourth and made a magnificent come back from the free throw line and was led by Gasol.
The real player that had a big contribution to this win was none other than Ron Artest.
Artest, the player who had a horrible percentage from beyond the arc in the playoffs, hit a huge three pointer for the Lakers down the stretch, after Rasheed Wallace hit a big three to cut the Lakers lead to three.
It was a wonderful ending for the Lakers. Not only did the Lakers went back to back, but they also got the big payback on the hated Celtics.
As a Lakers fan, I am so excited to see the Lakers succeed and watch them get another championship.
It was a long season and as hard it is to repeat, the Lakers did it.
Now it is a summer of partying and showing the pride and love of being a Lakers fan.
When the new season starts in Novemeber, the quest for a three peat starts.
Lets do it again Los Angeles!
What a game it was for the Lakers.
The team started off bad on the offensive side. Missing shot after shot, especially Kobe Bryant.
They trailed by nine points after the first quarter and scoring only 14 points.
It continued to look bad in the second quarter and Lakers fans started to get nervous and scared that it was going to be a sad ending to the season.
The Lakers managed to cut the Celtics lead to four points by halftime, but Bryant continued to shoot poorly from the field.
After the game, Bryant said that he let the hype of the game and what was on stake, get the best of him and he was lucky that his team was able to pull him up.
The second half started to become a nightmare for Los Angeles, as the Celtics lead grew to their max high, 13 points, but the Lakers continued to play hard.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, was asked what did he say to the team during the Celtics run, and he said that he told the team to keep rebounding the ball.
His players listened as Bryant (who was not effective offensively) had 15 rebounds to finish the game.
Pau Gasol, the Lakers true MVP of the finals, finished the game 19 points and 18 rebounds.
The Lakers had 23 offensive rebounds.
The Lakers came out in the fourth and made a magnificent come back from the free throw line and was led by Gasol.
The real player that had a big contribution to this win was none other than Ron Artest.
Artest, the player who had a horrible percentage from beyond the arc in the playoffs, hit a huge three pointer for the Lakers down the stretch, after Rasheed Wallace hit a big three to cut the Lakers lead to three.
It was a wonderful ending for the Lakers. Not only did the Lakers went back to back, but they also got the big payback on the hated Celtics.
As a Lakers fan, I am so excited to see the Lakers succeed and watch them get another championship.
It was a long season and as hard it is to repeat, the Lakers did it.
Now it is a summer of partying and showing the pride and love of being a Lakers fan.
When the new season starts in Novemeber, the quest for a three peat starts.
Lets do it again Los Angeles!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Substitutions win the game for Mexico
The game of the day in the 2010 World Cup was the 2-0 Mexico win over France.
The two teams were playing with a lot on the line. Both teams were playing for a chance to keep their chance to advance from the group alive.
Yesterday Uruguay defeated South Africa easily, 3-0 and had first place spot in the group.
Either Mexico or France could join Uruguay with four points, but they also could have remained tied with a draw in today's match.
The first half was quite with a 0-0 tie going into half.
Mexico made a few substitutions after the half and it would turn out to be the best move from Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre.
The first sub, Javier Hernandez, scored on a open net after beating the defenders and going around France's goalkeeper.
France thought it was a offside, but the sideline officals called him onside and Hernandez continued on to finish the goal.
The second sub, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, scored the second goal for Mexico after one of the France defender's was caught slide tackling a Mexican player inside the goal box, and rewarding the Mexicans with a penalty.
The Mexicans are now tied with Uruguay with four points, and France is tied with South Africa with one point.
As long as Mexico and Uruguay can finish their match with a draw than both teams will move on into the final 16.
The scenario is easy, but the challenge for Mexico and Uruguay is to win the top spot in Group A, because neither team does not want to face Argentina (the top team in Group B) in the first match of the final 16.
(The winner of Group A faces the second place team in Group B and the winner of Group B faces the second place team in Group A. The same goes for Group C and Group D, Group E and Group F, Group G and Group H.)
Earlier in the morning, Argentina murdered South Korea in a 4-1 victory.
Argentina were clearly favorites to win Group B, and it was no surprised they easily defeated the Southern Korans.
The other match of Group B, Greece vs. Nigeria, was a exciting but it was it was not a good game.
Greece won the game 2-1.
Group A standings: Uruguay and Mexico with four points and France and South Africa with one point.
Group B standings: Argentina with six points, South Korea and Greece with three points and Nigeria with zero points.
The two teams were playing with a lot on the line. Both teams were playing for a chance to keep their chance to advance from the group alive.
Yesterday Uruguay defeated South Africa easily, 3-0 and had first place spot in the group.
Either Mexico or France could join Uruguay with four points, but they also could have remained tied with a draw in today's match.
The first half was quite with a 0-0 tie going into half.
Mexico made a few substitutions after the half and it would turn out to be the best move from Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre.
The first sub, Javier Hernandez, scored on a open net after beating the defenders and going around France's goalkeeper.
France thought it was a offside, but the sideline officals called him onside and Hernandez continued on to finish the goal.
The second sub, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, scored the second goal for Mexico after one of the France defender's was caught slide tackling a Mexican player inside the goal box, and rewarding the Mexicans with a penalty.
The Mexicans are now tied with Uruguay with four points, and France is tied with South Africa with one point.
As long as Mexico and Uruguay can finish their match with a draw than both teams will move on into the final 16.
The scenario is easy, but the challenge for Mexico and Uruguay is to win the top spot in Group A, because neither team does not want to face Argentina (the top team in Group B) in the first match of the final 16.
(The winner of Group A faces the second place team in Group B and the winner of Group B faces the second place team in Group A. The same goes for Group C and Group D, Group E and Group F, Group G and Group H.)
Earlier in the morning, Argentina murdered South Korea in a 4-1 victory.
Argentina were clearly favorites to win Group B, and it was no surprised they easily defeated the Southern Korans.
The other match of Group B, Greece vs. Nigeria, was a exciting but it was it was not a good game.
Greece won the game 2-1.
Group A standings: Uruguay and Mexico with four points and France and South Africa with one point.
Group B standings: Argentina with six points, South Korea and Greece with three points and Nigeria with zero points.
Biggest game of the season
After a grueling NBA Finals series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the series comes down to one single game at Staples Center tonight.
The series has been marvelous as both teams have shown that they can rebound from a bad loss and win a game with full dominance.
The Lakers faced elimination in Game 6 and played specular as they held the Celtics to 67 points!
The Lakers cannot let their guard down after that impressive win. If they want to repeat as champions; they must repeat what they did in Game 6 and raise up the notch ten times more then the Celtics.
I am confident the Lakers will prevail in Game 7 and win the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship for the second time in two years.
It has been a amazing season for the Lakers and winning Game 7 against their arch rivals would just be the perfect ending to the season.
Without Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics will be vulnerable inside the paint, so the Lakers must pound the ball inside to the big man for as long as they can.
The Lakers motto for the series has been, "No rebounds, no rings."
That's exactly what the Lakers also need to do, rebound!
Rebound, rebound, rebound Lakers.
Lets go Lakers. Lets get us another banner!
The series has been marvelous as both teams have shown that they can rebound from a bad loss and win a game with full dominance.
The Lakers faced elimination in Game 6 and played specular as they held the Celtics to 67 points!
The Lakers cannot let their guard down after that impressive win. If they want to repeat as champions; they must repeat what they did in Game 6 and raise up the notch ten times more then the Celtics.
I am confident the Lakers will prevail in Game 7 and win the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship for the second time in two years.
It has been a amazing season for the Lakers and winning Game 7 against their arch rivals would just be the perfect ending to the season.
Without Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics will be vulnerable inside the paint, so the Lakers must pound the ball inside to the big man for as long as they can.
The Lakers motto for the series has been, "No rebounds, no rings."
That's exactly what the Lakers also need to do, rebound!
Rebound, rebound, rebound Lakers.
Lets go Lakers. Lets get us another banner!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Spain falls to Switzerland
Spain loses to Switzerland.
Something that no one thought would happen, but the unthinkable happen and it came true.
The favorites to win the 2010 World Cup opened up its run to the cup with a 1-0 loss to Switzerland.
Spain and Switzerland had a competitive first half as both held a 0-0 draw for the first half.
Seven minutes into the second half, Switzerland scored the only goal of the match when Gelson Fernandes put the ball into the net after a loose ball stood inches from the goal line, and Spain's goalkeeper feet away from recovering the ball.
Spain had multiple chances to even up the score and take the lead, but they could not convert against the strong defense and goalkeeping from Switzerland.
Switzerland's victory is the biggest upset thus far in the World Cup.
The other match of the group featured Chile and Honduras.
Chile controlled the entire game and had tons of chances to score.
Chile's only goal came at the 34 minute mark by Jean Beausejour.
All the groups have played a match each, and now it started back to Group A.
Host country, South Africa, got back on the field after splitting a 1-1 draw with Mexico.
The team played Uruguay, a team who also had a draw in its first match with France.
Uruguay beat South Africa easily 3-0.
Diego Forlan scored twice for Uruguay and Alvaro Pereira scored in the closing minutes of the match.
Group H current standings: Chile and Switzerland with three points and Honduras and Spain with no points.
Next matches for Group H: Chile vs. Switzerland on June 21 at 7 a.m. on ESPN. Honduras vs. Spain on June 21 at 11:30 a.m.
Something that no one thought would happen, but the unthinkable happen and it came true.
The favorites to win the 2010 World Cup opened up its run to the cup with a 1-0 loss to Switzerland.
Spain and Switzerland had a competitive first half as both held a 0-0 draw for the first half.
Seven minutes into the second half, Switzerland scored the only goal of the match when Gelson Fernandes put the ball into the net after a loose ball stood inches from the goal line, and Spain's goalkeeper feet away from recovering the ball.
Spain had multiple chances to even up the score and take the lead, but they could not convert against the strong defense and goalkeeping from Switzerland.
Switzerland's victory is the biggest upset thus far in the World Cup.
The other match of the group featured Chile and Honduras.
Chile controlled the entire game and had tons of chances to score.
Chile's only goal came at the 34 minute mark by Jean Beausejour.
All the groups have played a match each, and now it started back to Group A.
Host country, South Africa, got back on the field after splitting a 1-1 draw with Mexico.
The team played Uruguay, a team who also had a draw in its first match with France.
Uruguay beat South Africa easily 3-0.
Diego Forlan scored twice for Uruguay and Alvaro Pereira scored in the closing minutes of the match.
Group H current standings: Chile and Switzerland with three points and Honduras and Spain with no points.
Next matches for Group H: Chile vs. Switzerland on June 21 at 7 a.m. on ESPN. Honduras vs. Spain on June 21 at 11:30 a.m.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Italy is not the same 2006 champions
The 2006 FIFA World Cup Champions, Italy, kicked off its campaign to defend its title against Paraguay today.
The match finished in a 1-1 draw.
Paraguay had no fear against the older and slower Italy team as the two teams had a heated battle for the first 25 minutes of the match.
Paraguay scored first at the 39 minute mark when Antolin Alcaraz connected with a header while being bodied up by two Italian defenders in the air.
The team celebrated by dancing in a big circle, but got back into the match as they tried to defend the one goal lead.
The Italians tried to get back into the match, but kept being called offside.
The second half continued to be like the first half, but Italy kept pushing to even up the score.
The Italians got their chance at the 63 minute mark when Daniele De Rossi scored off a corner from a teammate.
Both teams kept their composer for the remainder of the match and they had to settle for a draw.
There were two other matches that were played before this match. Japan defeated Cameroon 1-0 and Netherlands defeated Denmark 2-0.
Current standings for Group E: Japan and Netherlands with three points each and Cameroon and Denmark with no points.
Next matches for Group E: Japan vs. Netherlands at 4:30 a.m. on June 19 on ESPN and Cameroon vs. Denmark at 11:30 a.m. on June 19 on ESPN.
The match finished in a 1-1 draw.
Paraguay had no fear against the older and slower Italy team as the two teams had a heated battle for the first 25 minutes of the match.
Paraguay scored first at the 39 minute mark when Antolin Alcaraz connected with a header while being bodied up by two Italian defenders in the air.
The team celebrated by dancing in a big circle, but got back into the match as they tried to defend the one goal lead.
The Italians tried to get back into the match, but kept being called offside.
The second half continued to be like the first half, but Italy kept pushing to even up the score.
The Italians got their chance at the 63 minute mark when Daniele De Rossi scored off a corner from a teammate.
Both teams kept their composer for the remainder of the match and they had to settle for a draw.
There were two other matches that were played before this match. Japan defeated Cameroon 1-0 and Netherlands defeated Denmark 2-0.
Current standings for Group E: Japan and Netherlands with three points each and Cameroon and Denmark with no points.
Next matches for Group E: Japan vs. Netherlands at 4:30 a.m. on June 19 on ESPN and Cameroon vs. Denmark at 11:30 a.m. on June 19 on ESPN.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Lakers are down but not out
In the shadow of the the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals are heating up as the series is heading back to Los Angeles.
The series has been a pattern as one team would win than the other team would win the following game and etc.
But now that pattern has been stopped as the Boston Celtics are the first team to win back to back games in the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now facing elimination for the first time in the postseason since the 2008 NBA Finals.
The Lakers are down 3-2 in the series but they are not discourage, because they have the final two games at home.
Now this series has been unpredictable with all the big performances by random players from both teams.
In Game 2 it was Rajon Rondo, Game 3 it was Derek Fisher, Game 4 it was Glen Davis and Nate Robinson and Game 5 it was Paul Pierce.
No game has been won by the big names like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett.
But the prediction by NBA Experts like Jalen Rose are on target.
He and many other experts predicted the Lakers to win the title in seven games. They also said each team would win one game on the other team's floor.
Phil Jackson is 47-0 when winning Game 1 of a seven game series.
The Lakers won Game 1.
The winner of Game 3 after a series is tied at 1-1 in a 2-3-2 format goes on to win the title 100 percent.
The Lakers won Game 3.
It does not look like the Lakers are favorites to win at this moment, but they have all the odds with them to come back and win the title.
I predicted the Lakers in six, but I am confident they are going to win the final two games at Staples Center.
I am never going to lose hope.
The series has been a pattern as one team would win than the other team would win the following game and etc.
But now that pattern has been stopped as the Boston Celtics are the first team to win back to back games in the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now facing elimination for the first time in the postseason since the 2008 NBA Finals.
The Lakers are down 3-2 in the series but they are not discourage, because they have the final two games at home.
Now this series has been unpredictable with all the big performances by random players from both teams.
In Game 2 it was Rajon Rondo, Game 3 it was Derek Fisher, Game 4 it was Glen Davis and Nate Robinson and Game 5 it was Paul Pierce.
No game has been won by the big names like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett.
But the prediction by NBA Experts like Jalen Rose are on target.
He and many other experts predicted the Lakers to win the title in seven games. They also said each team would win one game on the other team's floor.
Phil Jackson is 47-0 when winning Game 1 of a seven game series.
The Lakers won Game 1.
The winner of Game 3 after a series is tied at 1-1 in a 2-3-2 format goes on to win the title 100 percent.
The Lakers won Game 3.
It does not look like the Lakers are favorites to win at this moment, but they have all the odds with them to come back and win the title.
I predicted the Lakers in six, but I am confident they are going to win the final two games at Staples Center.
I am never going to lose hope.
Germany wins without a sweat
The World Cup is beginning to pick up some momentum after having three of its first five matches end in draws.
The most exciting game of today was the Germany and Australia match.
The match was the first lopsided match of the World Cup thus far, as Germany defeated Australia 4-0.
Australia was the underdogs coming into the match, and it did not take much to show that they were.
Germany took a early 2-0 in the first 30 minutes of the match and never looked to take their foot off the gas pedal.
Germany got two more goals in the second half to win the match.
Germany was questioned weather they were going to be able to compete at a high level without their star player, Michael Ballack, but they looked great in their first match of the 2010 World Cup.
Ballack sustained a torn ligaments in his right ankle back last month.
The other two matches of the day ended in 1-0 victories for Ghana and Slovenia.
The other two teams in the USA's and England's group, Slovenia and Algeria, played their first match a day after the exciting English and American match.
Slovenia won the match and are leading Group C, follow by England and USA with one point and Algeria with no points.
The win by Slovenia now puts pressure on USA because USA must win the match against Slovenia to keep their chances alive to advance from the group play.
Slovenia and USA play on June 18 at 7 a.m. The Americans were the underdogs in the mach against England, but are now favorites in the this match, and it puts pressure on the Americans to not get caught up in underestimating their opponent.
The other match was against Ghana and Serbia.
Ghana won the match 1-0, and are tied with Germany with three points in Group D.
Group D standings: Germany and Ghana with 3 points and Australia and Serbia with no points.
Next matches for Group D: Germany vs. Serbia on June 18 at 4:30 a.m. on ESPN. Australia vs. Ghana on June 19 at 7 a.m. on ESPN.
The most exciting game of today was the Germany and Australia match.
The match was the first lopsided match of the World Cup thus far, as Germany defeated Australia 4-0.
Australia was the underdogs coming into the match, and it did not take much to show that they were.
Germany took a early 2-0 in the first 30 minutes of the match and never looked to take their foot off the gas pedal.
Germany got two more goals in the second half to win the match.
Germany was questioned weather they were going to be able to compete at a high level without their star player, Michael Ballack, but they looked great in their first match of the 2010 World Cup.
Ballack sustained a torn ligaments in his right ankle back last month.
The other two matches of the day ended in 1-0 victories for Ghana and Slovenia.
The other two teams in the USA's and England's group, Slovenia and Algeria, played their first match a day after the exciting English and American match.
Slovenia won the match and are leading Group C, follow by England and USA with one point and Algeria with no points.
The win by Slovenia now puts pressure on USA because USA must win the match against Slovenia to keep their chances alive to advance from the group play.
Slovenia and USA play on June 18 at 7 a.m. The Americans were the underdogs in the mach against England, but are now favorites in the this match, and it puts pressure on the Americans to not get caught up in underestimating their opponent.
The other match was against Ghana and Serbia.
Ghana won the match 1-0, and are tied with Germany with three points in Group D.
Group D standings: Germany and Ghana with 3 points and Australia and Serbia with no points.
Next matches for Group D: Germany vs. Serbia on June 18 at 4:30 a.m. on ESPN. Australia vs. Ghana on June 19 at 7 a.m. on ESPN.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Yanks and English settle for draw
The incredible game between USA and England lived up to its hype.
The most anticipated game of the first round in the 2010 World Cup was full of dramatic and exciting fútbol for the full 90 minutes of the match.
The English did not waste anytime to put themselves on the board.
Within the first three minutes, the English found their own captain, Steven Garrard, in a open gap heading towards the USA's goal, and found themselves up 1-0 with Garrard's strike of the ball into the back of the net.
The English looked as if they were on their way to another victory of the Yanks, but the Americans felt they were not out of the game.
USA and England continued the game battling and battling for control of the game.
Hard tackles for the ball resulted in six yellow cards handed out to players on both sides. (Three for each team.)
As the time was coming to a close in the first half, the Americans had one more shot to even up the score.
At the 40th minute, Clint Dempsey blasted a ground ball towards the goal with no belief of being able to get the ball passed the great English goalkeeper, Robert Green.
But with a remarkable miracle, Green bobbled the ball from his control, and allowed to ball to roll passed him and into the goal.
The Americans celebrated the incredible mistake of the English goalkeeper and went into the half evened up with England at one.
The second half was just as exciting as the first half.
USA's goalkeeper, Tim Howard, performed an amazing performance for the Americans, as he saved several shots from going into the net.
The English and Americans couldn't get the tie breaker point in the second half, and the two teams settled for a draw.
The Americans now believe they are closer than ever of being recognized as one the elite soccer clubs in the world.
The draw with England gives USA a chance to move on from the group stage.
Group C standings: England and USA with one point and Slovenia and Algeria with zero points, but they have yet to play their match.
Next matches: Slovenia vs. Algeria 4:30 a.m. on June 13 on ESPN. USA vs. Slovenia 7 a.m. on June 18 on ESPN. England vs. Algeria 11:30 a.m. on June 18 on ESPN.
The most anticipated game of the first round in the 2010 World Cup was full of dramatic and exciting fútbol for the full 90 minutes of the match.
The English did not waste anytime to put themselves on the board.
Within the first three minutes, the English found their own captain, Steven Garrard, in a open gap heading towards the USA's goal, and found themselves up 1-0 with Garrard's strike of the ball into the back of the net.
The English looked as if they were on their way to another victory of the Yanks, but the Americans felt they were not out of the game.
USA and England continued the game battling and battling for control of the game.
Hard tackles for the ball resulted in six yellow cards handed out to players on both sides. (Three for each team.)
As the time was coming to a close in the first half, the Americans had one more shot to even up the score.
At the 40th minute, Clint Dempsey blasted a ground ball towards the goal with no belief of being able to get the ball passed the great English goalkeeper, Robert Green.
But with a remarkable miracle, Green bobbled the ball from his control, and allowed to ball to roll passed him and into the goal.
The Americans celebrated the incredible mistake of the English goalkeeper and went into the half evened up with England at one.
The second half was just as exciting as the first half.
USA's goalkeeper, Tim Howard, performed an amazing performance for the Americans, as he saved several shots from going into the net.
The English and Americans couldn't get the tie breaker point in the second half, and the two teams settled for a draw.
The Americans now believe they are closer than ever of being recognized as one the elite soccer clubs in the world.
The draw with England gives USA a chance to move on from the group stage.
Group C standings: England and USA with one point and Slovenia and Algeria with zero points, but they have yet to play their match.
Next matches: Slovenia vs. Algeria 4:30 a.m. on June 13 on ESPN. USA vs. Slovenia 7 a.m. on June 18 on ESPN. England vs. Algeria 11:30 a.m. on June 18 on ESPN.
Argentina, South Korea wins first matches
Group B of the 2010 FIFA World Cup turned out to be more of a one sided match in its first day debut.
Rather than having draws like Group A, the teams in Group B showed that a team can win in the World Cup.
The first match which was at 4:30 a.m. (and I was able to get up to see a bit of) had South Korea facing off with Greece.
South Korea took a early 1-0 lead after Lee Jung Soo scored a goal off his head from a corner kick in the first seven minutes.
The Koreans maintained the one goal differential for the remainder of the half.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Koreans scored again.
This time the team had Park Ji Sung grab the 2-0 lead when he took away the ball from one of the Greece defenders and scored against the goal keeper with little pressure.
2-0 would be the fine result of the match, and South Korea grabbed three points.
The second match had Argentina vs. Nigeria.
Many people and including myself predicted a Argentina blow out.
Argentina has what most people would consider the best player in the world,Lionel Messi.
But it did not matter to the Nigerians, instead it was a surprisingly 1-0 victory in favor of Argentina.
The only goal of the match came in the first six minutes of the match when Gabriel Heinze scored off one of the Argentina's corner kicks.
Give Nigeria's goalkeeper a lot off credit. The guy was not scared to get his hands dirty, because he was diving and jumping all over the place to deflect all of what should been goals for Argentina.
This game could have been easily a 6-0 win for Argentina, but Nigeria was saved of the embarrassment by their goalkeeper.
Group B now standing: Argentina and South Korea with three points each and Greece and Nigeria with zero points.
Next matches in Group B: Argentina vs. South Korea at 4:30 a.m. and Greece vs. Nigeria at 7 a.m. Both games are on June 17.
I am going to pick Argentina to win this group, and with South Korea winning today, than I have them as the second team to come out of this group.
Rather than having draws like Group A, the teams in Group B showed that a team can win in the World Cup.
The first match which was at 4:30 a.m. (and I was able to get up to see a bit of) had South Korea facing off with Greece.
South Korea took a early 1-0 lead after Lee Jung Soo scored a goal off his head from a corner kick in the first seven minutes.
The Koreans maintained the one goal differential for the remainder of the half.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Koreans scored again.
This time the team had Park Ji Sung grab the 2-0 lead when he took away the ball from one of the Greece defenders and scored against the goal keeper with little pressure.
2-0 would be the fine result of the match, and South Korea grabbed three points.
The second match had Argentina vs. Nigeria.
Many people and including myself predicted a Argentina blow out.
Argentina has what most people would consider the best player in the world,Lionel Messi.
But it did not matter to the Nigerians, instead it was a surprisingly 1-0 victory in favor of Argentina.
The only goal of the match came in the first six minutes of the match when Gabriel Heinze scored off one of the Argentina's corner kicks.
Give Nigeria's goalkeeper a lot off credit. The guy was not scared to get his hands dirty, because he was diving and jumping all over the place to deflect all of what should been goals for Argentina.
This game could have been easily a 6-0 win for Argentina, but Nigeria was saved of the embarrassment by their goalkeeper.
Group B now standing: Argentina and South Korea with three points each and Greece and Nigeria with zero points.
Next matches in Group B: Argentina vs. South Korea at 4:30 a.m. and Greece vs. Nigeria at 7 a.m. Both games are on June 17.
I am going to pick Argentina to win this group, and with South Korea winning today, than I have them as the second team to come out of this group.
Friday, June 11, 2010
2010 FIFA World Cup starts with draws
The 2010 FIFA World Cup opening has came and gone with two fantastic matches that ended with draws.
The host country, South Africa, started the one month tournament with a fierce battle with Mexico.
Mexico controlled the first half by having 61 percent of the ball possession and having clean shots at goal over and over again, but they failed to get one shot into the back of the net.
With the scoree tied at zero, the momentum seemed to be shifting a little to the host team, but Mexico still looked like they were going to win the game.
The tie broke at the 55 minute mark when South Africa's Siphiwe Tshbalala scored off a fast break and over Mexico's undersized goal keeper.
With time increasingly fading away for the Mexicans, coach Javier Aguirre brought in fresh legs to keep the Mexicans competitive.
At the 79th minute, Mexico's Rafael Marquez tied up the game with a point blank shot at the goal.
There was not enough time for either team to break the 1-1 tie, and the game resulted in a draw.
The second game from Group A feature France and Uruguay, and it was the same result, but this time, a 0-0 draw.
Not many exciting moments from this game.
Both teams had a balance match and both played really well on the defensive end.
Uruguay was a man short for the last 15 minutes of the game after one of their players picked up a red card and resulted in a rejection.
(In soccer, when a player receives a red card: It means he or she is ejected from the game and their team is forced to play one player short. The player is then suspended for the team's following game, but is allowed to return after the one game suspension.)
With the the two games completed in draws; all four teams are tied at one point in Group A.
Next matches in the group are: Mexico vs. France on June 17 at 11:30 a.m. and South Africa vs. Uruguay on June 16 at 11:30 a.m. Both matches are on ESPN.
The World Cup matches will continue tomorrow with a triple header.
Group B starts its matches: South Korea vs. Greece at 4:30 a.m. (I don't think I will be able to watch this one. Yet again, I don't think it is worth getting up for.) Argentina vs. Nigeria 7 a.m. Both games are on ESPN.
But the most anticipated game for the Americans gets started between USA and England. The match will be on ABC at 11:30 a.m.
The host country, South Africa, started the one month tournament with a fierce battle with Mexico.
Mexico controlled the first half by having 61 percent of the ball possession and having clean shots at goal over and over again, but they failed to get one shot into the back of the net.
With the scoree tied at zero, the momentum seemed to be shifting a little to the host team, but Mexico still looked like they were going to win the game.
The tie broke at the 55 minute mark when South Africa's Siphiwe Tshbalala scored off a fast break and over Mexico's undersized goal keeper.
With time increasingly fading away for the Mexicans, coach Javier Aguirre brought in fresh legs to keep the Mexicans competitive.
At the 79th minute, Mexico's Rafael Marquez tied up the game with a point blank shot at the goal.
There was not enough time for either team to break the 1-1 tie, and the game resulted in a draw.
The second game from Group A feature France and Uruguay, and it was the same result, but this time, a 0-0 draw.
Not many exciting moments from this game.
Both teams had a balance match and both played really well on the defensive end.
Uruguay was a man short for the last 15 minutes of the game after one of their players picked up a red card and resulted in a rejection.
(In soccer, when a player receives a red card: It means he or she is ejected from the game and their team is forced to play one player short. The player is then suspended for the team's following game, but is allowed to return after the one game suspension.)
With the the two games completed in draws; all four teams are tied at one point in Group A.
Next matches in the group are: Mexico vs. France on June 17 at 11:30 a.m. and South Africa vs. Uruguay on June 16 at 11:30 a.m. Both matches are on ESPN.
The World Cup matches will continue tomorrow with a triple header.
Group B starts its matches: South Korea vs. Greece at 4:30 a.m. (I don't think I will be able to watch this one. Yet again, I don't think it is worth getting up for.) Argentina vs. Nigeria 7 a.m. Both games are on ESPN.
But the most anticipated game for the Americans gets started between USA and England. The match will be on ABC at 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Referees win game two
The Boston referees won game two of the 2010 NBA Finals.
It was not the Celtics, it was the referees who defeated the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bad call after bad call kept Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest from being aggressive.
The referees are not letting the men play. It is cheating both teams from having a fair chance at winning.
The NBA has the worse officials calling the games and it is hurting the league, fans and teams.
The Lakers are not in trouble because of this loss on their home court.
The Lakers can beat Boston anywhere, anytime. Boston barely beat Los Angeles with the help of the referees.
The referees proved they rigged the game, when they had a chance to change a call by viewing the replay on the TV screen, but they kept the call after seeing they had the call wrong.
It is no panic time for the Lakers because they are going to win two in Boston and come back to win the series in six or seven. Depending when the NBA wants to end it.
The NBA is corrupt.
It was not the Celtics, it was the referees who defeated the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bad call after bad call kept Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest from being aggressive.
The referees are not letting the men play. It is cheating both teams from having a fair chance at winning.
The NBA has the worse officials calling the games and it is hurting the league, fans and teams.
The Lakers are not in trouble because of this loss on their home court.
The Lakers can beat Boston anywhere, anytime. Boston barely beat Los Angeles with the help of the referees.
The referees proved they rigged the game, when they had a chance to change a call by viewing the replay on the TV screen, but they kept the call after seeing they had the call wrong.
It is no panic time for the Lakers because they are going to win two in Boston and come back to win the series in six or seven. Depending when the NBA wants to end it.
The NBA is corrupt.
Friday, June 4, 2010
First draw goes to Lakers
Game 1 goes the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a week of hyping up the rivalry between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the two teams started their twelfth meeting in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers came out setting the tone against the Celtics. Telling Boston that they are not the soft team in the series and they are not going to put up with all the trash talking prior to leading up to the game.
Ron Artest sent the first message after tangling with Paul Pierce in the first 30 seconds of the game.
After that play, the Lakers kept the lead and never looked back.
The Lakers were soft in their front line in 2008 against the Celtics, but in Game 1 last night, the Lakers front line had 48 points in the paint.
Pau Gasol was the player everyone was looking at to see if he would be tougher against Keven Garnett.
Gasol did not waste no time to show everyone he is no longer a soft big man. Gasol finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds (eight of them being offensive rebounds.)
Kobe Bryant picked up where he left off at in the Phoenix series, since he finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Game 1.
Bryant did not let nothing distract him, not even the comedian, Chris Rock, as Rock tried to crack a smile from him.
Boston had been talking trash for the past four days, and claiming they were going to win Game 1, but it looked as if they did not know what hit them after the Lakers came out as a team that the Celtics never knew existed.
The Lakers are focused to defeat the Celtics and not only get revenge from 2008, but repeat as NBA Champions.
As Bryant said after the Phoenix series, Boston is just a team that is in the way of the Lakers from the title.
Lakers are on their way to a repeat.
After a week of hyping up the rivalry between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the two teams started their twelfth meeting in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers came out setting the tone against the Celtics. Telling Boston that they are not the soft team in the series and they are not going to put up with all the trash talking prior to leading up to the game.
Ron Artest sent the first message after tangling with Paul Pierce in the first 30 seconds of the game.
After that play, the Lakers kept the lead and never looked back.
The Lakers were soft in their front line in 2008 against the Celtics, but in Game 1 last night, the Lakers front line had 48 points in the paint.
Pau Gasol was the player everyone was looking at to see if he would be tougher against Keven Garnett.
Gasol did not waste no time to show everyone he is no longer a soft big man. Gasol finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds (eight of them being offensive rebounds.)
Kobe Bryant picked up where he left off at in the Phoenix series, since he finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Game 1.
Bryant did not let nothing distract him, not even the comedian, Chris Rock, as Rock tried to crack a smile from him.
Boston had been talking trash for the past four days, and claiming they were going to win Game 1, but it looked as if they did not know what hit them after the Lakers came out as a team that the Celtics never knew existed.
The Lakers are focused to defeat the Celtics and not only get revenge from 2008, but repeat as NBA Champions.
As Bryant said after the Phoenix series, Boston is just a team that is in the way of the Lakers from the title.
Lakers are on their way to a repeat.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Let the revenge begin
Finally after two weeks of amazing basketball, the NBA finals are set, and as the smoke clears, we are left with the two most storied franchised in the NBA.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics will renew their long documented rivalry.
The Celtics were a team that everyone wrote off and were no one's choice to be in this year's NBA Finals, but after a impressive upset over the favorites, Cleveland Cavaliers, and knocking off the defending Eastern Conference Champions, Orlando Magic, the Celtics are back again as the team they were two years ago.
The Lakers were favorites to be back in the finals, and are the favorites to repeat as champions again, but it was not easy for the Lakers to get back to the finals this year.
The Celtics entered the NBA Playoffs with questions on the health of their team.
The Celtics passed the Miami Heat and were up against their next challenge: The Cavaliers. The world was shocked when LeBron James had quit in Games 5 and 6, and give the Celtics the series.
After knocking out the Cavaliers, no one believed the Celtics could do it again against the Magic. The Celtics jumped up to a 3-0 lead in the series, and had people jumping back on their wagon.
The Magic did not quit, instead the team grabbed two wins before the Celtics eliminated them.
For the Lakers, they had a tough season dealing with injuries with their super star Kobe Bryant. Bryant did not let that stop him from playing, he continued playing with the injuries.
The Lakers opened up their road to repeat with the young, athletic Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder did not let them off easily as they took them six games, but the Lakers won the series.
Next were the Utah Jazz, the team was lucky to advance to the second round, after the Denver Nuggets lost control of their team without the leadership of their coach.
The Jazz had no chance against the Lakers. Los Angeles swept them in four games.
Next were the underestimated Phoenix Suns, the team that missed the playoffs last season and were not expected to be in the Western Conference Finals.
No one had the Suns beating the Lakers, but the Suns figured out a way to beat the Lakers after Los Angeles went up 2-0 in the series.
Pheonix went to a zone defense that brought the team back to a 2-2 tie and was keeping them in the series.
Game 5 was the turning point of the series.
With a minute to go and the Lakers up 101-98, Ron Artest took the stupidest shot in Lakers history.
Artest had missed a running shot but Gasol had gotten the offensive rebound and passed it back to Artest, but Artest took another shot with 22 seconds left in the shot clock but missed the shot.
Afterwards Steve Nash brought the ball up and took a three pointer that missed. The Suns grabbed the rebound and Jason Richardson took another three, but he missed and the Suns got another rebound, this time Richardson banked a three with three seconds left in the game.
The Lakers came back with Bryant shooting a three pointer, but it fell short and Artest was there to put it back for the game winning shot.
The win gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series and allowing Artest to redeem himself for dumb shot he did before.
The Lakers closed out the Suns back in Phoenix and are in the NBA Finals for the third straight year and 31st time in franchise history.
The last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off in the finals, the Lakers were on a roll that was feeding off the trade that brought Gasol to the Lakers.
The Celtics had fire power and great defense that locked up Bryant to allow Boston to beat the Lakers in six games.
This year will be different because the Lakers have the experience, great defense (with the addition of Artest), Andrew Bynum (a player that the Lakers did not have in 2008), and the Celtics are not the same team of 2008.
Artest was brought to Los Angeles to face guys like Paul Pierce. Pierce went off on the Lakers back in 2008, but this time he will be getting locked down by Artest.
The Lakers did not have Bynum in 2008 because he had a knee injury. Bynum has another knee injury, but since he is playing with it, it gives the Lakers another body to fill the post and get rebounds and block shots.
Bynum does not need to lead the Lakers in scoring, any points he gets will be a extra for the Lakers. His defense is what is more important for the Lakers.
The Lakers are favorites this time, because I do not believe the Celtics can take out another elite team for a third time.
Kevin Garnett is not 100 percent, Ray Allen is not going to hurt the Lakers a whole lot, Pierce won't get everything he wants, and the Celtics live and die with Rajon Rondo.
As long as the Lakers continue what they have been doing all season, than Boston should not be a headace.
Boston will get wins, but not all four wins.
The Lakers are well enough prepared to go head to head with the Celtics and they have home court advantage.
Not that I am a Lakers fan, but I do believe the Lakers will beat the Celtics this year.
I pick the Lakers in six games.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics will renew their long documented rivalry.
The Celtics were a team that everyone wrote off and were no one's choice to be in this year's NBA Finals, but after a impressive upset over the favorites, Cleveland Cavaliers, and knocking off the defending Eastern Conference Champions, Orlando Magic, the Celtics are back again as the team they were two years ago.
The Lakers were favorites to be back in the finals, and are the favorites to repeat as champions again, but it was not easy for the Lakers to get back to the finals this year.
The Celtics entered the NBA Playoffs with questions on the health of their team.
The Celtics passed the Miami Heat and were up against their next challenge: The Cavaliers. The world was shocked when LeBron James had quit in Games 5 and 6, and give the Celtics the series.
After knocking out the Cavaliers, no one believed the Celtics could do it again against the Magic. The Celtics jumped up to a 3-0 lead in the series, and had people jumping back on their wagon.
The Magic did not quit, instead the team grabbed two wins before the Celtics eliminated them.
For the Lakers, they had a tough season dealing with injuries with their super star Kobe Bryant. Bryant did not let that stop him from playing, he continued playing with the injuries.
The Lakers opened up their road to repeat with the young, athletic Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder did not let them off easily as they took them six games, but the Lakers won the series.
Next were the Utah Jazz, the team was lucky to advance to the second round, after the Denver Nuggets lost control of their team without the leadership of their coach.
The Jazz had no chance against the Lakers. Los Angeles swept them in four games.
Next were the underestimated Phoenix Suns, the team that missed the playoffs last season and were not expected to be in the Western Conference Finals.
No one had the Suns beating the Lakers, but the Suns figured out a way to beat the Lakers after Los Angeles went up 2-0 in the series.
Pheonix went to a zone defense that brought the team back to a 2-2 tie and was keeping them in the series.
Game 5 was the turning point of the series.
With a minute to go and the Lakers up 101-98, Ron Artest took the stupidest shot in Lakers history.
Artest had missed a running shot but Gasol had gotten the offensive rebound and passed it back to Artest, but Artest took another shot with 22 seconds left in the shot clock but missed the shot.
Afterwards Steve Nash brought the ball up and took a three pointer that missed. The Suns grabbed the rebound and Jason Richardson took another three, but he missed and the Suns got another rebound, this time Richardson banked a three with three seconds left in the game.
The Lakers came back with Bryant shooting a three pointer, but it fell short and Artest was there to put it back for the game winning shot.
The win gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series and allowing Artest to redeem himself for dumb shot he did before.
The Lakers closed out the Suns back in Phoenix and are in the NBA Finals for the third straight year and 31st time in franchise history.
The last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off in the finals, the Lakers were on a roll that was feeding off the trade that brought Gasol to the Lakers.
The Celtics had fire power and great defense that locked up Bryant to allow Boston to beat the Lakers in six games.
This year will be different because the Lakers have the experience, great defense (with the addition of Artest), Andrew Bynum (a player that the Lakers did not have in 2008), and the Celtics are not the same team of 2008.
Artest was brought to Los Angeles to face guys like Paul Pierce. Pierce went off on the Lakers back in 2008, but this time he will be getting locked down by Artest.
The Lakers did not have Bynum in 2008 because he had a knee injury. Bynum has another knee injury, but since he is playing with it, it gives the Lakers another body to fill the post and get rebounds and block shots.
Bynum does not need to lead the Lakers in scoring, any points he gets will be a extra for the Lakers. His defense is what is more important for the Lakers.
The Lakers are favorites this time, because I do not believe the Celtics can take out another elite team for a third time.
Kevin Garnett is not 100 percent, Ray Allen is not going to hurt the Lakers a whole lot, Pierce won't get everything he wants, and the Celtics live and die with Rajon Rondo.
As long as the Lakers continue what they have been doing all season, than Boston should not be a headace.
Boston will get wins, but not all four wins.
The Lakers are well enough prepared to go head to head with the Celtics and they have home court advantage.
Not that I am a Lakers fan, but I do believe the Lakers will beat the Celtics this year.
I pick the Lakers in six games.
Friday, May 14, 2010
A fan is a fan
What does a person have to do to be known as a "die hard fan" of a certain team and what makes other people judge a person's loyalty to a team?
It is a well debated argument among fans of the same team.
Fans who self proclaim themselves as a die hard, call out the others who show little less support to the team as to how the die hard shows their support.
What if the fan who shows little less support does not have the money to spend to show their support via t-shirt, hat, jersey and etc.
How can other fans of the same team judge the person based on not knowing why they do not wear the team's colors during the time the team plays?
How long does it take to be called a fan of a team?
My friend Jenny Martinez tried to answer these questions on her own.
She sets examples during times where her team was going through troubles and the fans of now where not there at the time.
She asked other die hard fans to expressed their thoughts on the fans who are not die hard's, and they agreed with her.
But I find that these questions cannot be answered because every fan's situtation is different, because it shouldn't be up to other fans to claim one fan's loyalty to the team.
So call "bandwagons" is a term used to describe a fan who suddenly appeared during a time the team is succeeding and claims they have been a fan for a while.
Other definitions for a bandwagon fan is a person claiming they are a fan and not knowing one fact about the team.
If a person wants to cheer on a team, than let them, the team does not care who is a fan of theirs.
It's the people who are the die hard fans who care if the person is a true fan or not.
It splits a line in the middle between the fans who care about calling out the bandwagons and the fans who can careless about these fans.
Instead of becoming one group of fans cheering on their team, these fans cause conflict between each other and cause two parties fighting about nonsense stuff.
As a fan of the Lakers, I see this everyday on Twitter.
Laker fans argue among each other about stupid things. One being bandwagons and instead of agreeing on one thing, it causes more arguments.
Every Laker fan should not care about other fan's loyalty because they should care about the team, and know for themselves if they are true fan or not.
It shouldn't be up to other fans to determine if one fan's loyalty to the team is faithful or not.
If a person wants to root for the Lakers or Yankees because the are the popular team than let them, and if a person self proclaims that they are only a Laker fan no matter what then let them too.
What it boils down to is that Kobe Bryant or Derek Jeter can give a rat's ass of who is cheering their teams on every night.
It is a well debated argument among fans of the same team.
Fans who self proclaim themselves as a die hard, call out the others who show little less support to the team as to how the die hard shows their support.
What if the fan who shows little less support does not have the money to spend to show their support via t-shirt, hat, jersey and etc.
How can other fans of the same team judge the person based on not knowing why they do not wear the team's colors during the time the team plays?
How long does it take to be called a fan of a team?
My friend Jenny Martinez tried to answer these questions on her own.
She sets examples during times where her team was going through troubles and the fans of now where not there at the time.
She asked other die hard fans to expressed their thoughts on the fans who are not die hard's, and they agreed with her.
But I find that these questions cannot be answered because every fan's situtation is different, because it shouldn't be up to other fans to claim one fan's loyalty to the team.
So call "bandwagons" is a term used to describe a fan who suddenly appeared during a time the team is succeeding and claims they have been a fan for a while.
Other definitions for a bandwagon fan is a person claiming they are a fan and not knowing one fact about the team.
If a person wants to cheer on a team, than let them, the team does not care who is a fan of theirs.
It's the people who are the die hard fans who care if the person is a true fan or not.
It splits a line in the middle between the fans who care about calling out the bandwagons and the fans who can careless about these fans.
Instead of becoming one group of fans cheering on their team, these fans cause conflict between each other and cause two parties fighting about nonsense stuff.
As a fan of the Lakers, I see this everyday on Twitter.
Laker fans argue among each other about stupid things. One being bandwagons and instead of agreeing on one thing, it causes more arguments.
Every Laker fan should not care about other fan's loyalty because they should care about the team, and know for themselves if they are true fan or not.
It shouldn't be up to other fans to determine if one fan's loyalty to the team is faithful or not.
If a person wants to root for the Lakers or Yankees because the are the popular team than let them, and if a person self proclaims that they are only a Laker fan no matter what then let them too.
What it boils down to is that Kobe Bryant or Derek Jeter can give a rat's ass of who is cheering their teams on every night.
The predictable NBA playoffs
How exciting is it to finally be in the NBA conference finals after a month's worth of amazing and unpredictable playoffs.
The main headline in the conference finals is the Boston Celtics upsetting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance the the eastern conference finals.
The second headline is the Phoenix Suns make their way back the the western conference finals. They return after sweeping the San Antonio Spurs and a season after missing the playoffs.
The two teams that were predicted to be in the conference finals were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic, and with no surprise, both are there.
The Lakers and Magic both swept their semi-finals series' and are looking to have a collision course in the NBA finals for a consecutive season.
My predictions for the semi-finals were a lot better from my first round predictions. All four teams that I predicted to be in the conference finals are in and I hit the bull's eye with Boston beating Cleveland in six games.
Now that the conference finals are set; it's time to predict who will be in the NBA finals in June.
In the East we have No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 4 Boston Celtics:
I am going to pick Boston in six. I am sold this team is the best team in the east. They were chosen to be the best team in the regular season, but they fell to fourth because of injuries. Now that they have a full roster and are playing their best basketball of the season; I think they have to be the favorite to come out of the east.
Yes, Orlando is great, they swept both of their first two series, but I think Boston has too much momentum after knocking of King Quitter and the Cavaliers.
Rajon Rondo is leading the Celtics with impressive stats, Kevin Garnett looks like he is still in his prime, Paul Pierce is looking sharp from the three point line, Ray Allen is still a prime shooter, and the Celtics supporting cast behind these four guys are superior to Orlando's supporting cast.
Boston has the best defense to match Orlando's hot offense and I just don't see the Magic getting past Boston like they did last season.
Now to the West. we have No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 3 Phoenix Suns:
I have the Lakers in five. It's not even a contest. The Lakers can defeat the Suns with one hand tied behind their back.
The Suns do not have the height to compete with the Lakers' big men. Last series, Pau Gasol went off against the under-size Utah Jazz, and he will do the same with the Suns.
Andrew Bynum is suffering a bad knee, but as long as he can give the Lakers 10 points and 12 rebounds for the series, that will be enough for him to help the Lakers.
Lamar Odom, the player who has been inconsistent forever for the Lakers, will have a huge series. I see Odom averaging a double-double in the series.
The Suns had a impressive season, but their season is going to fall short here. They are just not good enough at their best against the Lakers.
So let's recap my picks. After my predictions we have Boston and LA.
"Boston and LA ... That's all you can say ... is Boston and LA," Kobe Bryant once said about facing the Celtics.
And he is right, that's all you can say, Boston and LA.
The rematch the Lakers have been waiting for two years is going to finally happen.
The rivalry of these two teams is going to be once again renewed.
The best series the NBA can hope for is going to go down in June!
I can't wait for these series to start, check back when Boston and LA defeat their opponents and make the finals to see my prediction of who is going to win the NBA championship!
The main headline in the conference finals is the Boston Celtics upsetting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance the the eastern conference finals.
The second headline is the Phoenix Suns make their way back the the western conference finals. They return after sweeping the San Antonio Spurs and a season after missing the playoffs.
The two teams that were predicted to be in the conference finals were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic, and with no surprise, both are there.
The Lakers and Magic both swept their semi-finals series' and are looking to have a collision course in the NBA finals for a consecutive season.
My predictions for the semi-finals were a lot better from my first round predictions. All four teams that I predicted to be in the conference finals are in and I hit the bull's eye with Boston beating Cleveland in six games.
Now that the conference finals are set; it's time to predict who will be in the NBA finals in June.
In the East we have No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 4 Boston Celtics:
I am going to pick Boston in six. I am sold this team is the best team in the east. They were chosen to be the best team in the regular season, but they fell to fourth because of injuries. Now that they have a full roster and are playing their best basketball of the season; I think they have to be the favorite to come out of the east.
Yes, Orlando is great, they swept both of their first two series, but I think Boston has too much momentum after knocking of King Quitter and the Cavaliers.
Rajon Rondo is leading the Celtics with impressive stats, Kevin Garnett looks like he is still in his prime, Paul Pierce is looking sharp from the three point line, Ray Allen is still a prime shooter, and the Celtics supporting cast behind these four guys are superior to Orlando's supporting cast.
Boston has the best defense to match Orlando's hot offense and I just don't see the Magic getting past Boston like they did last season.
Now to the West. we have No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 3 Phoenix Suns:
I have the Lakers in five. It's not even a contest. The Lakers can defeat the Suns with one hand tied behind their back.
The Suns do not have the height to compete with the Lakers' big men. Last series, Pau Gasol went off against the under-size Utah Jazz, and he will do the same with the Suns.
Andrew Bynum is suffering a bad knee, but as long as he can give the Lakers 10 points and 12 rebounds for the series, that will be enough for him to help the Lakers.
Lamar Odom, the player who has been inconsistent forever for the Lakers, will have a huge series. I see Odom averaging a double-double in the series.
The Suns had a impressive season, but their season is going to fall short here. They are just not good enough at their best against the Lakers.
So let's recap my picks. After my predictions we have Boston and LA.
"Boston and LA ... That's all you can say ... is Boston and LA," Kobe Bryant once said about facing the Celtics.
And he is right, that's all you can say, Boston and LA.
The rematch the Lakers have been waiting for two years is going to finally happen.
The rivalry of these two teams is going to be once again renewed.
The best series the NBA can hope for is going to go down in June!
I can't wait for these series to start, check back when Boston and LA defeat their opponents and make the finals to see my prediction of who is going to win the NBA championship!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
LeBron's last game with Cleveland
Tonight LeBron James proved he is the king.
The king of quitting.
Seriously, this man is overrated, how can he be the greatest player in today's world when his team had the best record in the last two season's and failed to reach the NBA finals?
James is no super hero who can be seen as one of the greats to be talked about in the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
He simply turned his back on his team, the city of Cleveland and himself.
Passing up shots, back peddling when his team had yet to attempt a shot and turning over the ball repeatedly in a game where Cleveland needed to continue their season; he gave the attitude of "It's fine, it happens," and it is not what I view as one of the characteristics of a legend.
If it were Jordan or Bryant, neither player would had sat back and let their team sink in a elimination game like James did tonight; they both would had taken control of the game and win the game at their own will.
James made no excuses for the failed season after finishing the season with a Cleveland Cavaliers record 61-21 and winning his consecutive season NBA Most Valuable Player award.
But he showed through his body language that he was done with the Cavaliers after seven seasons.
The careless reaction of what had happen to the team's collapse, his fall in the series and the endless questions if he will return to the Cavaliers.
I see James leaving Cleveland this off season, but I don't know where.
The scary though is him and another superstar like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson teaming up on one team.
James would never achieve winning a NBA championship with the attitude he showed in this series. He gave up.
One more thing, I finally hit the bull's eye, I predicted the exact winner in the series and the exact number of games the team would take to win it.
The king of quitting.
Seriously, this man is overrated, how can he be the greatest player in today's world when his team had the best record in the last two season's and failed to reach the NBA finals?
James is no super hero who can be seen as one of the greats to be talked about in the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
He simply turned his back on his team, the city of Cleveland and himself.
Passing up shots, back peddling when his team had yet to attempt a shot and turning over the ball repeatedly in a game where Cleveland needed to continue their season; he gave the attitude of "It's fine, it happens," and it is not what I view as one of the characteristics of a legend.
If it were Jordan or Bryant, neither player would had sat back and let their team sink in a elimination game like James did tonight; they both would had taken control of the game and win the game at their own will.
James made no excuses for the failed season after finishing the season with a Cleveland Cavaliers record 61-21 and winning his consecutive season NBA Most Valuable Player award.
But he showed through his body language that he was done with the Cavaliers after seven seasons.
The careless reaction of what had happen to the team's collapse, his fall in the series and the endless questions if he will return to the Cavaliers.
I see James leaving Cleveland this off season, but I don't know where.
The scary though is him and another superstar like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson teaming up on one team.
James would never achieve winning a NBA championship with the attitude he showed in this series. He gave up.
One more thing, I finally hit the bull's eye, I predicted the exact winner in the series and the exact number of games the team would take to win it.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The unpredictable NBA
I am starting to believe I am not the best when it comes to predicting NBA playoff series' outcomes.
Now I am good at picking what team wins, but I am not good at how many games it will take.
I did not see the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic and especially the Phoenix Suns being up 3-0 in their respective series'.
I did have them all moving on to the conference finals.
I knew the Suns would beat the San Antonio Spurs, but I had that series going six games. Now that it is 3-0 in favor of the Suns, this can be over in four.
I had the Suns moving on because I was not sold on the Spurs doing it again after that impressive six game series they won against the Dallas Mavericks.
I had the Lakers over the Utah Jazz in five games because the Lakers beat the Jazz in five games in the past two postseasons series' they had against them.
But it's not a surprise that the Lakers and Magic are up 3-0, because those are the teams that are expected to dominate throughout the postseason.
I am still hoping the Boston Celtics can find their three-leaved clover and beat LePrick James in six games.
The Celtics had a horrible game three in Boston. The team had nothing going for them for the start that resulted in a slaughter by the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The excitement of the NBA playoffs is starting to heat up. It's time to buckle your seat belts because the Lakers are coming hard.
Now I am good at picking what team wins, but I am not good at how many games it will take.
I did not see the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic and especially the Phoenix Suns being up 3-0 in their respective series'.
I did have them all moving on to the conference finals.
I knew the Suns would beat the San Antonio Spurs, but I had that series going six games. Now that it is 3-0 in favor of the Suns, this can be over in four.
I had the Suns moving on because I was not sold on the Spurs doing it again after that impressive six game series they won against the Dallas Mavericks.
I had the Lakers over the Utah Jazz in five games because the Lakers beat the Jazz in five games in the past two postseasons series' they had against them.
But it's not a surprise that the Lakers and Magic are up 3-0, because those are the teams that are expected to dominate throughout the postseason.
I am still hoping the Boston Celtics can find their three-leaved clover and beat LePrick James in six games.
The Celtics had a horrible game three in Boston. The team had nothing going for them for the start that resulted in a slaughter by the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The excitement of the NBA playoffs is starting to heat up. It's time to buckle your seat belts because the Lakers are coming hard.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Magic make a lasting impression
Talk about taking care of business.
The Los Angeles Lakers should rip a page out of the Orlando Magic's playbook after the Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-71 in Game 1.
After the Hawks won their seven game series against the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games, they set their sites on Orlando.
It felt as if the Magic have been waiting decades to start its second round series after they swept the Charlotte Bobcats.
The game was a no contest from the opening tip, and the Hawks seemed to be lost as they did in their first series.
I predicted the Magic would win in five games, but now that they beat the Hawks by 43 points; I think they can sweep them too.
Vince Carter said it best after the game, "We are hungry." Something that Lakers lack this year.
The Los Angeles Lakers should rip a page out of the Orlando Magic's playbook after the Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-71 in Game 1.
After the Hawks won their seven game series against the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games, they set their sites on Orlando.
It felt as if the Magic have been waiting decades to start its second round series after they swept the Charlotte Bobcats.
The game was a no contest from the opening tip, and the Hawks seemed to be lost as they did in their first series.
I predicted the Magic would win in five games, but now that they beat the Hawks by 43 points; I think they can sweep them too.
Vince Carter said it best after the game, "We are hungry." Something that Lakers lack this year.
Suns doing more off the court
For the first time the Phoenix Suns are a winner in my eyes.
It's not because they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 last night, it's because they are standing up for what's right and they get a standing ovation by me and my raza.
After the illegal immigration bill was signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last month, lots of people, including Latinos opposed the bill, because it has the potential to develop racial profiling other than being used for its purpose of allowing police officers to request proof of legal documents if there is reasonable suspicion.
Suns owner, Robert Sarver wanted to make his mark of how he thinks of this bill, and by doing so, he came up with a brilliant plan.
In the next game the Suns play, the team will be wearing the "Los Suns" jerseys that they and other NBA teams wear during the annual NBA's "Noche Latina".
The game falls on Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday that is celebrated for the wrong reasons, but it is more than a perfect day for Sarver and the Suns to show their appreciation for their Latino fans and tell them they are on our side.
After the bill was past, there were calls out to professional sport teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels to consider moving their spring training facility out of Arizona help boycott the bill.
People have threaten to leave the state, students who where committed to attending college in Arizona immediately canceled their plans and Arizona was left with the potential to lose out on lots of money.
So with the first action from a professional sport being made by the Suns, a sign that the heroes the fans look up to all the time, do care about their fans, and are trying to be a voice for them.
I applause the Suns for their efforts, but once they face my Los Angeles Lakers in a few weeks in the western conference finals, it's no more respect for you.
But thank you to the Phoenix Suns for doing this for the Latinos, we appreciate your efforts in this unfair situation.
It's not because they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 last night, it's because they are standing up for what's right and they get a standing ovation by me and my raza.
After the illegal immigration bill was signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last month, lots of people, including Latinos opposed the bill, because it has the potential to develop racial profiling other than being used for its purpose of allowing police officers to request proof of legal documents if there is reasonable suspicion.
Suns owner, Robert Sarver wanted to make his mark of how he thinks of this bill, and by doing so, he came up with a brilliant plan.
In the next game the Suns play, the team will be wearing the "Los Suns" jerseys that they and other NBA teams wear during the annual NBA's "Noche Latina".
The game falls on Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday that is celebrated for the wrong reasons, but it is more than a perfect day for Sarver and the Suns to show their appreciation for their Latino fans and tell them they are on our side.
After the bill was past, there were calls out to professional sport teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels to consider moving their spring training facility out of Arizona help boycott the bill.
People have threaten to leave the state, students who where committed to attending college in Arizona immediately canceled their plans and Arizona was left with the potential to lose out on lots of money.
So with the first action from a professional sport being made by the Suns, a sign that the heroes the fans look up to all the time, do care about their fans, and are trying to be a voice for them.
I applause the Suns for their efforts, but once they face my Los Angeles Lakers in a few weeks in the western conference finals, it's no more respect for you.
But thank you to the Phoenix Suns for doing this for the Latinos, we appreciate your efforts in this unfair situation.
Celtics are better than ever
The Boston Celtics are back.
The team that won its seventh NBA Championship two years ago, are back to contend for another one.
A team that was written off as too old to compete with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, have made a 180 and now seems to be able to beat anyone.
The Celtics are currently in a 1-1 tie with the Cavaliers in their best of seven series, and Boston is looking to take the lead when the series resumes back in Massachusetts.
As a loyal Lakers' fan, I hate to admit this thought, but the Celtics are the team I am pulling for in the series.
Not only because I know they are going to win this series, but the fact that Cleveland fans are so ignorant and stupid to believe their team is the best with the mediocre players they have surrounding LeBron... is why I want them to lose every year.
Believe me, I would love to see Kobe Bryant capture his fifth NBA Championship by beating "LePrick" James and Shaq, but on behave of the rest of the NBA, we would love to see the Celtics and Lakers get it on again.
The Celtics are healthy and are playing their best basketball of the season, that said, they have the recipe to make it back to the finals for another showdown with their foe.
Trust me, the Lakers have their ticket to the finals set, the Utah Jazz and most likely, the Phoenix Suns are not going to be a threat to them.
I will say it again, the Lakers will not repeat if they get beat by themselves, no one can beat L.A. in a seven game series.
On a final thought, let the rivalry continue Boston and L.A.
The team that won its seventh NBA Championship two years ago, are back to contend for another one.
A team that was written off as too old to compete with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, have made a 180 and now seems to be able to beat anyone.
The Celtics are currently in a 1-1 tie with the Cavaliers in their best of seven series, and Boston is looking to take the lead when the series resumes back in Massachusetts.
As a loyal Lakers' fan, I hate to admit this thought, but the Celtics are the team I am pulling for in the series.
Not only because I know they are going to win this series, but the fact that Cleveland fans are so ignorant and stupid to believe their team is the best with the mediocre players they have surrounding LeBron... is why I want them to lose every year.
Believe me, I would love to see Kobe Bryant capture his fifth NBA Championship by beating "LePrick" James and Shaq, but on behave of the rest of the NBA, we would love to see the Celtics and Lakers get it on again.
The Celtics are healthy and are playing their best basketball of the season, that said, they have the recipe to make it back to the finals for another showdown with their foe.
Trust me, the Lakers have their ticket to the finals set, the Utah Jazz and most likely, the Phoenix Suns are not going to be a threat to them.
I will say it again, the Lakers will not repeat if they get beat by themselves, no one can beat L.A. in a seven game series.
On a final thought, let the rivalry continue Boston and L.A.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Round one is done; now round two is up
Where to start with what happen in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
My first round predictions were a bust, I came no where near of my predictions and picked losing teams.
Lots of action, intensity and twist and turns happened in the western conference first round.
The No. 7 San Antonio Spurs defeated the No. 2 Dallas Mavericks in six games. I said I was going with the Mavs but I would not be surprised if the Spurs won and they did.
The No. 5 Utah Jazz defeated the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in six games. I had the Jazz winning in 7 and I was almost right, because they still won and they won because the Nuggets were a mess without its head coach, George Karl.
The biggest surprise is the No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 3 Atlanta Hawks. I had the Hawks winning, and they still have a chance tomorrow in Game 7, but I didn't believe the Bucks could possibly win. They did not only force a Game 7, but they also had a 3-2 lead in the series. Tomorrow is the big game to see who Orlando will face, and I am going with the Hawks.
Now for my second round NBA predictions. Hopefully this goes better than the first time.
In the West:
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz.
I am going with the Lakers in five games. I know the Jazz and Lakers are both dealing with lots of injuries, but this is what the Lakers need after a long six game series against the Oaklahoma City Thunder. This series favors the Lakers because they dominate the tempo and front line. The only advantage the Jazz have is Deron Williams.
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs.
I am going with the Suns in six. I think the Spurs had a great series against the Mavericks, but I am not sure if they can do it again against the Suns. The Suns are doing really well right now, they had one of the best second half season records in the NBA and they continue to play really good. I think the reason why the Suns are playing great is because they finally got over the Amare Stoudemire trades.
Another reason why I am going with the Suns is because they would be a really great way for the Lakers to finally get revenge for those two first round loses against the Suns back in the 2006 and 2007 playoffs.
Now in the East:
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 4 Boston Celtics
This is the series I am excited to watch. The Celtics have finally found their legs and are playing Boston Celtics basketball, the basketball that won them a NBA championship two years ago. I am going with the upset, I am picking the Boston Celtics in six games. I am convince the Celtics can beat the Cavs this year. Cleveland is really overrated and I don't believe the Cavs will ever win a championship in my lifetime. I am sure the Celtics can punch the Cavs in the face and move on to the eastern conference finals.
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 3 Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are not in the second round at the moment, but I picked them to beat the Bucks tomorrow in Game 7 and I am sure it will go as planned. But either way, who ever faces the Magic in the second round will not beat them. I am picking the Magic in five games no matter if it's the Hawks or Bucks. No one will be a threat to the Magic until they go further into the playoffs. It is just a nice walk to the conference finals for the Magic in these two first rounds.
So there you have it, those are my second round picks; come back to check out more NBA playoff blogs by me and my conference finals predictions in two weeks!
My first round predictions were a bust, I came no where near of my predictions and picked losing teams.
Lots of action, intensity and twist and turns happened in the western conference first round.
The No. 7 San Antonio Spurs defeated the No. 2 Dallas Mavericks in six games. I said I was going with the Mavs but I would not be surprised if the Spurs won and they did.
The No. 5 Utah Jazz defeated the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in six games. I had the Jazz winning in 7 and I was almost right, because they still won and they won because the Nuggets were a mess without its head coach, George Karl.
The biggest surprise is the No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 3 Atlanta Hawks. I had the Hawks winning, and they still have a chance tomorrow in Game 7, but I didn't believe the Bucks could possibly win. They did not only force a Game 7, but they also had a 3-2 lead in the series. Tomorrow is the big game to see who Orlando will face, and I am going with the Hawks.
Now for my second round NBA predictions. Hopefully this goes better than the first time.
In the West:
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz.
I am going with the Lakers in five games. I know the Jazz and Lakers are both dealing with lots of injuries, but this is what the Lakers need after a long six game series against the Oaklahoma City Thunder. This series favors the Lakers because they dominate the tempo and front line. The only advantage the Jazz have is Deron Williams.
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs.
I am going with the Suns in six. I think the Spurs had a great series against the Mavericks, but I am not sure if they can do it again against the Suns. The Suns are doing really well right now, they had one of the best second half season records in the NBA and they continue to play really good. I think the reason why the Suns are playing great is because they finally got over the Amare Stoudemire trades.
Another reason why I am going with the Suns is because they would be a really great way for the Lakers to finally get revenge for those two first round loses against the Suns back in the 2006 and 2007 playoffs.
Now in the East:
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 4 Boston Celtics
This is the series I am excited to watch. The Celtics have finally found their legs and are playing Boston Celtics basketball, the basketball that won them a NBA championship two years ago. I am going with the upset, I am picking the Boston Celtics in six games. I am convince the Celtics can beat the Cavs this year. Cleveland is really overrated and I don't believe the Cavs will ever win a championship in my lifetime. I am sure the Celtics can punch the Cavs in the face and move on to the eastern conference finals.
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 3 Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are not in the second round at the moment, but I picked them to beat the Bucks tomorrow in Game 7 and I am sure it will go as planned. But either way, who ever faces the Magic in the second round will not beat them. I am picking the Magic in five games no matter if it's the Hawks or Bucks. No one will be a threat to the Magic until they go further into the playoffs. It is just a nice walk to the conference finals for the Magic in these two first rounds.
So there you have it, those are my second round picks; come back to check out more NBA playoff blogs by me and my conference finals predictions in two weeks!
The Lakers beat their future competitors
The thunder has cleared for the Los Angeles Lakers and the path to a repeat has taken a new jazz tune.
The Lakers took care of business last night in Oklahoma City and put away the Thunder in six games to move on to the western conference semi-finals, and a match up against the Utah Jazz.
For a sixth game, the OKC Thunder fought hard and gave the Lakers one last offensive surge, only to fall a point short from forcing a game seven in Los Angeles.
The Lakers are moving on, but the Thunder are not gone for good.
A team that surpassed its expectations and grew up in front of our eys in six games; have made a name for themselves in the years to come.
The OKC Thunder are the real winners of this series against the defending champs. They played their hearts out and proved they can beat any team in the NBA and can go much further into the playoffs in the coming years.
With the trio combo of Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook and Serge Ibaka and the supporting cast made up of Jeff Green, James Harden and Nick Collison, only makes this team one big free agent away from being a NBA championship contender.
They have shown they can score at will, defend when called upon and play with the best anywhere.
The OKC Thunder should not leave this series with its head down, because they won millions of people's hearts and respect, including the fans of the Lakers, who wished to cheer on the young team, but only hoped it was against another team.
They made the Lakers work for every point, every game and every win. They made people believe they had a chance to upset the champs.
Respect ... respect ... respect is the only word that comes to mind when I think about these guys. Durant has made me a fan of his and Westbrook has become a NBA all star in my eyes.
The players from Oklahoma City, are a team who came into the series against Los Angeles as the inexperience boys, and left the series as NBA veteran men looking to get back to the playoffs next season and finish what they left on the court last night.
This team was expected to make the playoffs this year and lose in the first round to the Lakers with no wins, but they were not expected to force the Lakers to a nearly seventh game.
The Lakers and the rest of the NBA now know they must acknowledge this team as a contender for now on.
The scariest fact about this Thunder team is that they are young and ready to improve.
The Lakers took care of business last night in Oklahoma City and put away the Thunder in six games to move on to the western conference semi-finals, and a match up against the Utah Jazz.
For a sixth game, the OKC Thunder fought hard and gave the Lakers one last offensive surge, only to fall a point short from forcing a game seven in Los Angeles.
The Lakers are moving on, but the Thunder are not gone for good.
A team that surpassed its expectations and grew up in front of our eys in six games; have made a name for themselves in the years to come.
The OKC Thunder are the real winners of this series against the defending champs. They played their hearts out and proved they can beat any team in the NBA and can go much further into the playoffs in the coming years.
With the trio combo of Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook and Serge Ibaka and the supporting cast made up of Jeff Green, James Harden and Nick Collison, only makes this team one big free agent away from being a NBA championship contender.
They have shown they can score at will, defend when called upon and play with the best anywhere.
The OKC Thunder should not leave this series with its head down, because they won millions of people's hearts and respect, including the fans of the Lakers, who wished to cheer on the young team, but only hoped it was against another team.
They made the Lakers work for every point, every game and every win. They made people believe they had a chance to upset the champs.
Respect ... respect ... respect is the only word that comes to mind when I think about these guys. Durant has made me a fan of his and Westbrook has become a NBA all star in my eyes.
The players from Oklahoma City, are a team who came into the series against Los Angeles as the inexperience boys, and left the series as NBA veteran men looking to get back to the playoffs next season and finish what they left on the court last night.
This team was expected to make the playoffs this year and lose in the first round to the Lakers with no wins, but they were not expected to force the Lakers to a nearly seventh game.
The Lakers and the rest of the NBA now know they must acknowledge this team as a contender for now on.
The scariest fact about this Thunder team is that they are young and ready to improve.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Going the long distances for the Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have started its season on a slow pace, but with 14 games in the new 2010 MLB season and going 7-7 in them, the Dodgers look to its sluggers to lead them into the playoffs again.
Matt Kemp, center fielder, has been explosive in the early season, in the last 10 games, he has blown away seven baseballs over the fence for seven home runs.
Andre Ethier, right fielder, has contributed alongside Kemp, having four home runs and a walk off game winning hit thus far in the season.
Manny Ramirez, left fielder, has been batting .432, with a pinch hit two-run home run and multiple runs based in.
The three players have been caring most of the load for the Dodgers, with the role players like James Loney, Russel Martin and Casey Blake adding on the extra small stats that don't show up on the stat sheet.
The big bats must continue for the Dodgers if they want to make another chase to make the world series this year.
A reason why the big bats have to stay the way it has been for the first 14 games, because the Dodgers pitching is unreliable.
With a decent starting five rotation and a lousy bullpen, the Dodgers have to rely on its hits and runs to win ball games.
Matt Kemp, center fielder, has been explosive in the early season, in the last 10 games, he has blown away seven baseballs over the fence for seven home runs.
Andre Ethier, right fielder, has contributed alongside Kemp, having four home runs and a walk off game winning hit thus far in the season.
Manny Ramirez, left fielder, has been batting .432, with a pinch hit two-run home run and multiple runs based in.
The three players have been caring most of the load for the Dodgers, with the role players like James Loney, Russel Martin and Casey Blake adding on the extra small stats that don't show up on the stat sheet.
The big bats must continue for the Dodgers if they want to make another chase to make the world series this year.
A reason why the big bats have to stay the way it has been for the first 14 games, because the Dodgers pitching is unreliable.
With a decent starting five rotation and a lousy bullpen, the Dodgers have to rely on its hits and runs to win ball games.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
2010 NBA postseason predictions
The 2009-10 NBA regular season has came to screeching end, and it came down to the 82nd game to determine the seedings for the playoffs.
In the western conference, No. 2 through No. 7 were up for grabs, and all eight western conference teams winning 50 or more games.
In the east, the eighth and final playoff spot was a snail race between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
The games came and gone and here are the official playoff matches:
Western Conferences playoff bracket.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No 6. Portland Blazers
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
In the Lakers/ Thunder series, I am going with the Lakers in four games. I don't think the Thunder will be able to steal one game against the defending champs because I am confident the Lakers will finally flip the switch and be the team they were last postseason.
In the Nuggets/ Jazz series, I am leaning towards the Jazz in seven. I think this series will be fun and full of emotion from both teams. The two teams are evenly balance and this series can go all seven games and can go to either team. I will mark this series as a toss up but for now I will go with the Jazz because they have made a late run in their season.
In the Suns/ Blazers series, I am going with the Suns in five games. I don't think the Blazers can recover and win this series without Brandon Roy. They had a great season, but the Suns have been on fire for all of the second season, and if the Suns can continue that, they have a easy chance of making it to the western conference finals.
In the Mavericks/ Spurs series, I am going with the Mavericks in six games. I think this series can be like the Nuggets/ Jazz series because the Spurs are old but not out. The Spurs can definitely challenge the Mavericks and take them to seven games, but I am not sold if they can go the extra mile to win the series. I would not be surprise if the Spurs can do it.
The Eastern Conference bracket.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
In the Cavaliers/ Bulls series, I am going with the Cavaliers in five. I think the Bulls can sneak a win but I am sure they will not push the Cavaliers to seven games like they did last year against the Celtics. (I would love to see them go seven, but that is just impossible.)
In the Celtics/ Heat series, I am going with the Celtics in six. I think this can be a fun match up, and if the Heat can make it close, than I am sure it will be a home run for the NBA.
In the Hawks/ Bucks series, I am going with the Hawks in five. The Bucks were the team to look out for this postseason, but with the loss of their big man Andrew Bogut, they are a dead fish in the pond. They will be luck to get one win, but they have the rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to give them something!
In the Magic/ Bobcats series, I am going with the Magic in five. It can be another interesting series because the Bobcats are no kittens to be missed with. They are on fire after getting Stephon Jackson and they can push the Magic to the limits. Dwight Howard will be too much for the cats to handle and that is why I am giving them one game in this series.
Stay tune and check out my second round NBA playoff picks after the excitement of the first round is over.
In the western conference, No. 2 through No. 7 were up for grabs, and all eight western conference teams winning 50 or more games.
In the east, the eighth and final playoff spot was a snail race between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
The games came and gone and here are the official playoff matches:
Western Conferences playoff bracket.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No 6. Portland Blazers
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
In the Lakers/ Thunder series, I am going with the Lakers in four games. I don't think the Thunder will be able to steal one game against the defending champs because I am confident the Lakers will finally flip the switch and be the team they were last postseason.
In the Nuggets/ Jazz series, I am leaning towards the Jazz in seven. I think this series will be fun and full of emotion from both teams. The two teams are evenly balance and this series can go all seven games and can go to either team. I will mark this series as a toss up but for now I will go with the Jazz because they have made a late run in their season.
In the Suns/ Blazers series, I am going with the Suns in five games. I don't think the Blazers can recover and win this series without Brandon Roy. They had a great season, but the Suns have been on fire for all of the second season, and if the Suns can continue that, they have a easy chance of making it to the western conference finals.
In the Mavericks/ Spurs series, I am going with the Mavericks in six games. I think this series can be like the Nuggets/ Jazz series because the Spurs are old but not out. The Spurs can definitely challenge the Mavericks and take them to seven games, but I am not sold if they can go the extra mile to win the series. I would not be surprise if the Spurs can do it.
The Eastern Conference bracket.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
In the Cavaliers/ Bulls series, I am going with the Cavaliers in five. I think the Bulls can sneak a win but I am sure they will not push the Cavaliers to seven games like they did last year against the Celtics. (I would love to see them go seven, but that is just impossible.)
In the Celtics/ Heat series, I am going with the Celtics in six. I think this can be a fun match up, and if the Heat can make it close, than I am sure it will be a home run for the NBA.
In the Hawks/ Bucks series, I am going with the Hawks in five. The Bucks were the team to look out for this postseason, but with the loss of their big man Andrew Bogut, they are a dead fish in the pond. They will be luck to get one win, but they have the rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to give them something!
In the Magic/ Bobcats series, I am going with the Magic in five. It can be another interesting series because the Bobcats are no kittens to be missed with. They are on fire after getting Stephon Jackson and they can push the Magic to the limits. Dwight Howard will be too much for the cats to handle and that is why I am giving them one game in this series.
Stay tune and check out my second round NBA playoff picks after the excitement of the first round is over.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Lakers clinch the West for a third time
The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up the Western Conference against the Minniesota Timberwolves in a 97-88 victory at the Target Center Arena.
With what many believe was going to be a easy accomplishedment by the Lakers, turned to be a never ending trail of when the team was going to claim the conference of their own.
This year the Lakers have been riding a roller coaster that has no direction to guide it; the team has had its share of injuries, bad games and more bad games, but with the NBA playoffs starting on April 18, Los Angeles has some issues to take care of.
The on going unconsistant contributation by the Lakers' bench and the long minutes the starters have had all season, many believe the Lakers doesn't have what it takes to win the championship again this year.
On the other hand, the team has all the players (minus Trevor Ariza and the addition of Ron Artest) to make a strong run for another NBA championship.
The Lakers are either going to shut up the critics come playoff time, or just make the critics feel proud of themselves once they are able to say, "I told you so."
The Lakers are unpredictable, but if they are just crusing towards the postseason, then they are doing a good job keeping everyone on their each of their seats to see what's on the next episode of Lakersland.
With what many believe was going to be a easy accomplishedment by the Lakers, turned to be a never ending trail of when the team was going to claim the conference of their own.
This year the Lakers have been riding a roller coaster that has no direction to guide it; the team has had its share of injuries, bad games and more bad games, but with the NBA playoffs starting on April 18, Los Angeles has some issues to take care of.
The on going unconsistant contributation by the Lakers' bench and the long minutes the starters have had all season, many believe the Lakers doesn't have what it takes to win the championship again this year.
On the other hand, the team has all the players (minus Trevor Ariza and the addition of Ron Artest) to make a strong run for another NBA championship.
The Lakers are either going to shut up the critics come playoff time, or just make the critics feel proud of themselves once they are able to say, "I told you so."
The Lakers are unpredictable, but if they are just crusing towards the postseason, then they are doing a good job keeping everyone on their each of their seats to see what's on the next episode of Lakersland.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Lakers five qualities to repeat
What qualities do the Los Angeles Lakers have to win its 16 NBA championship this season.
5. The bench: This season the Lakers bench has been inconsistent and unreliable for Lakers' coach Phil Jackson. The answer to this is the injuries that have occurred throughout the season. Last year the Lakers were fortunate to have a safe season with no major injuries, but this season the team has had its share of multiple injuries from Kobe Bryant to Pau Gasol. Since most of the starters had injuries that kept them out of action, the Lakers had to bring a bench player to start; causing the bench rotation to change its course. Once the team manages to keep the whole roster healthy, then everyone on the roster will be back on their regular role on the team and boosting the Lakers bench back to being one of the most efficient benches in the league.
4. Ron Artest: The biggest question has been, will Ron Artest be a great addition to the Lakers or a bust. The question has been great so far but the question will not be answered until the playoffs are well underway. Artest bring a lot more than Trevor Ariza did last year for the Lakers. Artest bring his physical defense that the Laker and Jackson has been wanting for many years. He also brings his outside jumper that he has been consistent with fore many years. He is hungry for a championship and has shown he doesn't matter if he scores or not for the Lakers to be successful. He helps Kobe Bryant out on the opponent's best player and keeps Bryant rested to do his part on the offensive side. Ariza did very well last year for the Lakers but Artest will be matching those stats once the playoffs begin, because the Lakers will need everyone's production once they get deep into the playoffs.
3. Andrew Bynum: Finally, for once everyone thought the boy was going to have a full season, but that thought was thrown out once Andrew Bynum suffered a strain Achilles a few weeks ago (but is expected to return before the playoffs.) Bynum will help the Lakers a lot with his huge frame and dominates down on the post, this injury is different from the other injuries that Bynum has suffered because this injury should not effect the production that he has given the Lakers thus far and he should be able to bounce right back with the 15 points and eight rebounds that he has put up this season. This postseason will be the first time Bynum will be efficient for the Lakers and will have a big part in the Lakers capturing its 16 title.
2. The Hunger: The biggest part to repeating in the NBA is having the players who have won the title; do it again in the following year. This will be the only thing keeping the Lakers from the title, because the drive from the players other than Kobe Bryant will be question since everyone knows that Bryant always has the drive to be the best no matter if he knows he is already the best. The Lakers must show the determination once the first ball is tipped in the playoffs because no matter who the opponent is in the first round, that team is going to test the drive of the Lakers and it will show if the Lakers are really greedy for another title.
1. Kobe 'Bean' Bryant- Any team can win the NBA championship when it has Kobe Bryant on its team. Bryant is a player that can do it all for the team; he can put a team on his back and pull it to victory or he can win a game for the team at the final buzzer. Bryant has always wanted to match the greatest of the NBA and to do that, he must win as many as titles as he can before his career comes to a end. Once Bryant reaches the finals, no matter who is the opponent; if it is LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat, Bryant will not let another chance from being that close to a title slip away again. Bryant will not let his team fail on the big stage again, because the man drives off being pressured to win the whole thing on his own and he does not fail.
The five qualities for the Los Angeles Lakers to repeat as NBA Champions and capture its 16 title will factor down two these five things. No team cannot beat the Lakers in a seven game series or will never do as long as the Lakers are on its A-game.
My prediction is the Lakers in six games against the Orlando Magic in 2009 NBA finals rematch.
5. The bench: This season the Lakers bench has been inconsistent and unreliable for Lakers' coach Phil Jackson. The answer to this is the injuries that have occurred throughout the season. Last year the Lakers were fortunate to have a safe season with no major injuries, but this season the team has had its share of multiple injuries from Kobe Bryant to Pau Gasol. Since most of the starters had injuries that kept them out of action, the Lakers had to bring a bench player to start; causing the bench rotation to change its course. Once the team manages to keep the whole roster healthy, then everyone on the roster will be back on their regular role on the team and boosting the Lakers bench back to being one of the most efficient benches in the league.
4. Ron Artest: The biggest question has been, will Ron Artest be a great addition to the Lakers or a bust. The question has been great so far but the question will not be answered until the playoffs are well underway. Artest bring a lot more than Trevor Ariza did last year for the Lakers. Artest bring his physical defense that the Laker and Jackson has been wanting for many years. He also brings his outside jumper that he has been consistent with fore many years. He is hungry for a championship and has shown he doesn't matter if he scores or not for the Lakers to be successful. He helps Kobe Bryant out on the opponent's best player and keeps Bryant rested to do his part on the offensive side. Ariza did very well last year for the Lakers but Artest will be matching those stats once the playoffs begin, because the Lakers will need everyone's production once they get deep into the playoffs.
3. Andrew Bynum: Finally, for once everyone thought the boy was going to have a full season, but that thought was thrown out once Andrew Bynum suffered a strain Achilles a few weeks ago (but is expected to return before the playoffs.) Bynum will help the Lakers a lot with his huge frame and dominates down on the post, this injury is different from the other injuries that Bynum has suffered because this injury should not effect the production that he has given the Lakers thus far and he should be able to bounce right back with the 15 points and eight rebounds that he has put up this season. This postseason will be the first time Bynum will be efficient for the Lakers and will have a big part in the Lakers capturing its 16 title.
2. The Hunger: The biggest part to repeating in the NBA is having the players who have won the title; do it again in the following year. This will be the only thing keeping the Lakers from the title, because the drive from the players other than Kobe Bryant will be question since everyone knows that Bryant always has the drive to be the best no matter if he knows he is already the best. The Lakers must show the determination once the first ball is tipped in the playoffs because no matter who the opponent is in the first round, that team is going to test the drive of the Lakers and it will show if the Lakers are really greedy for another title.
1. Kobe 'Bean' Bryant- Any team can win the NBA championship when it has Kobe Bryant on its team. Bryant is a player that can do it all for the team; he can put a team on his back and pull it to victory or he can win a game for the team at the final buzzer. Bryant has always wanted to match the greatest of the NBA and to do that, he must win as many as titles as he can before his career comes to a end. Once Bryant reaches the finals, no matter who is the opponent; if it is LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat, Bryant will not let another chance from being that close to a title slip away again. Bryant will not let his team fail on the big stage again, because the man drives off being pressured to win the whole thing on his own and he does not fail.
The five qualities for the Los Angeles Lakers to repeat as NBA Champions and capture its 16 title will factor down two these five things. No team cannot beat the Lakers in a seven game series or will never do as long as the Lakers are on its A-game.
My prediction is the Lakers in six games against the Orlando Magic in 2009 NBA finals rematch.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saddleback College men's basketball wins state
A year after losing in the state finals to Riverside City College in a overtime, Saddleback College redeems itself and defeated City College of San Francisco, 63-57, to win the 2010 California State Championship.
A week prior to winning the title, Saddleback claimed revenge over Riverside after knocking out the defending champions on their own floor to move on to the state finals.
Saddleback never stopped after the upset win over Riverside; they went on to beat No. 1 ranked team from the North, Ohlone College in the first round, No. 2 ranked team from the South, Citrus College before beating San Fancisco in the finals.
Saddleback had one goal in mind after last season's finals' loss and that was come back and win it this time around.
Lead by the state finals' MVP, Perry Webster, Saddleback had control of the game throughout and manage to keep a short lead for all of the game.
The last two men's basketball state titles came from the power house Orange Empire Conference.
A week prior to winning the title, Saddleback claimed revenge over Riverside after knocking out the defending champions on their own floor to move on to the state finals.
Saddleback never stopped after the upset win over Riverside; they went on to beat No. 1 ranked team from the North, Ohlone College in the first round, No. 2 ranked team from the South, Citrus College before beating San Fancisco in the finals.
Saddleback had one goal in mind after last season's finals' loss and that was come back and win it this time around.
Lead by the state finals' MVP, Perry Webster, Saddleback had control of the game throughout and manage to keep a short lead for all of the game.
The last two men's basketball state titles came from the power house Orange Empire Conference.
Monday, March 1, 2010
L.A. is big enough for two super stars
LeBron James should be a Los Angeles Laker next year.
Mostly because the Lakers are the only team that he can win multiple rings with.
Yes, Kobe Bryant is the leader and captain of the Lakers, but bryant is not reliable to be here for long term, in reality, Kobe Bryant has three-five years left in which he could be as effective as he is now.
Having James means the Lakers would remain as championship contenders, once Bryant moves into the part of his career where he is the secondary option or role player.
Jerry Buss, owner of the Lakers, has been known as a owner who grabs the best players to ever play this game, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he is thinking about acquiring James right now, even though his team is set to repeat as champs.
Plus the Lakers are always known for getting better, because the are driven on winning champions all the time.
Another reason why James should be a Laker, is because he would be a worldwide professional athlete and would have a lot more endorsements.
The New York Knicks can offer him the chance of being a worldwide professional athlete but they do not offer the rings.
The Cleveland Cavaliers can offer him a chance to win a title, but that chance is slim, because the Cavaliers are great right now but they are not as good as the Lakers in the long run.
The Lakers will offer James both the fame and fortunes, plus James would be coached by the greatest coach to ever coach in the NBA, Phil Jackson.
There is not wrong if the Lakers can have James and Bryant on the same team, it just means no other team will be able to win a title till 2025.
Mostly because the Lakers are the only team that he can win multiple rings with.
Yes, Kobe Bryant is the leader and captain of the Lakers, but bryant is not reliable to be here for long term, in reality, Kobe Bryant has three-five years left in which he could be as effective as he is now.
Having James means the Lakers would remain as championship contenders, once Bryant moves into the part of his career where he is the secondary option or role player.
Jerry Buss, owner of the Lakers, has been known as a owner who grabs the best players to ever play this game, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he is thinking about acquiring James right now, even though his team is set to repeat as champs.
Plus the Lakers are always known for getting better, because the are driven on winning champions all the time.
Another reason why James should be a Laker, is because he would be a worldwide professional athlete and would have a lot more endorsements.
The New York Knicks can offer him the chance of being a worldwide professional athlete but they do not offer the rings.
The Cleveland Cavaliers can offer him a chance to win a title, but that chance is slim, because the Cavaliers are great right now but they are not as good as the Lakers in the long run.
The Lakers will offer James both the fame and fortunes, plus James would be coached by the greatest coach to ever coach in the NBA, Phil Jackson.
There is not wrong if the Lakers can have James and Bryant on the same team, it just means no other team will be able to win a title till 2025.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Kobe will never fail
Kobe Bryant saves the day once again.
In his return after missing five games due to a ankle injury, Bryant won the game for the Los Angeles Lakers in Memphis tonight.
In the first quarter, Bryant and the Lakers looked so great, holding the Memphis Grizzles to 16 points and scoring 27, Bryant had 11 points that included two dunks and a four point play.
As in every basketball game, no lead is safe, after the Lakers had had a lead as high as 14 points, the Grizzles cut it by five heading in at halftime.
The second half was not the best time for the Lakers, because the Grizzles caught the Lakers and took the lead for the majority of the second half.
With the lack of effort and their big men, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum struggling with foul trouble, Los Angeles looked like they were going to drop another loss in Memphis.
Deja vu struck again, it felt like the last game the Lakers played in Memphis just three weeks ago, down by one point and less than 24 seconds left for the Lakers to win the game.
Last time, the Lakers were unsuccessful with a Ron Artest missed three from the corner after Memphis was the first successful team to force Bryant to pass up the winning shot.
This time history did not repeat itself, because Bryant was not going to let the Grizzles get in his way in his welcome back game.
With less than eight seconds left in the game, Bryant came off a Gasol screen and took a jumper beyond the three point line and swished in the winning bucket with less than two seconds.
The Grizzles had a chance to spoil the celebration for Bryant, but O.J Mayo missed a 15 footer as time expired.
Bryant now has six games where he has won the game for the Lakers, the others came against the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavricks, Boston Celtics, and Bryant came close to winning a seventh game against the Toranto Raptors.
Los Angeles has to feel great to have their assassin back.
In his return after missing five games due to a ankle injury, Bryant won the game for the Los Angeles Lakers in Memphis tonight.
In the first quarter, Bryant and the Lakers looked so great, holding the Memphis Grizzles to 16 points and scoring 27, Bryant had 11 points that included two dunks and a four point play.
As in every basketball game, no lead is safe, after the Lakers had had a lead as high as 14 points, the Grizzles cut it by five heading in at halftime.
The second half was not the best time for the Lakers, because the Grizzles caught the Lakers and took the lead for the majority of the second half.
With the lack of effort and their big men, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum struggling with foul trouble, Los Angeles looked like they were going to drop another loss in Memphis.
Deja vu struck again, it felt like the last game the Lakers played in Memphis just three weeks ago, down by one point and less than 24 seconds left for the Lakers to win the game.
Last time, the Lakers were unsuccessful with a Ron Artest missed three from the corner after Memphis was the first successful team to force Bryant to pass up the winning shot.
This time history did not repeat itself, because Bryant was not going to let the Grizzles get in his way in his welcome back game.
With less than eight seconds left in the game, Bryant came off a Gasol screen and took a jumper beyond the three point line and swished in the winning bucket with less than two seconds.
The Grizzles had a chance to spoil the celebration for Bryant, but O.J Mayo missed a 15 footer as time expired.
Bryant now has six games where he has won the game for the Lakers, the others came against the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavricks, Boston Celtics, and Bryant came close to winning a seventh game against the Toranto Raptors.
Los Angeles has to feel great to have their assassin back.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Manny is never boring
Without no time to waste in the first day of Spring training, "Manny being Manny," strikes again.
In the first day of the Los Angeles Dodgers Spring training, Manny Ramirez said he is probably not going to be with the team next year.
Ramirez said he doesn't believe the Dodgers want him back after his two year contract is over after the upcoming season.
All he has left to offer is being a slugger, because Ramirez is beginning the start of the end of his career.
With what Ramirez believes is just an opinion, has blown up out of prospective and people believe it is a shot at the Dodgers.
He is known for stirring up controversies, and everyone knows Ramirez loves to be in the center of attention, that is why his nickname, "Mannywood," fits him so perfect.
The season has not started for the Dodgers and Ramirez but if this is the start of many unexplainable actions Ramirez has up his sleeves, than it will be a long season for Dodger nation.
In the first day of the Los Angeles Dodgers Spring training, Manny Ramirez said he is probably not going to be with the team next year.
Ramirez said he doesn't believe the Dodgers want him back after his two year contract is over after the upcoming season.
All he has left to offer is being a slugger, because Ramirez is beginning the start of the end of his career.
With what Ramirez believes is just an opinion, has blown up out of prospective and people believe it is a shot at the Dodgers.
He is known for stirring up controversies, and everyone knows Ramirez loves to be in the center of attention, that is why his nickname, "Mannywood," fits him so perfect.
The season has not started for the Dodgers and Ramirez but if this is the start of many unexplainable actions Ramirez has up his sleeves, than it will be a long season for Dodger nation.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Smart Move Pays Off For No. 48
The Nascar Sprint Cup Chase reached the California Speedway in Fontana for the Auto Club 500 today, and Jimmie Johnson made his first move to capturing his fifth straight championship.
During the whole race, Johnson battled and won almost all the challenges he received by other drivers, after the first 20 laps, he took over first place after Juan Mantoya led most of the beginning laps, and later Mantoya would finish the race early after engine failure.
Johnson fell behind during the cautions that followed in the race, and he found himself battling fourth through sixth with other drivers with less than 100 laps to go.
With less than 25 laps left, Johnson was in the top 10 and he decided to make a pit stop, at the same time Johnson committed to pit, Brad Keselowski spun out in front of the starting/finish line.
With the bold move, Johnson was given the pass and was in first place with 19 laps to go.
With his strong racing throughout the race and his car being the best all day, Johnson was able to hold off Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton to win the race.
During the whole race, Johnson battled and won almost all the challenges he received by other drivers, after the first 20 laps, he took over first place after Juan Mantoya led most of the beginning laps, and later Mantoya would finish the race early after engine failure.
Johnson fell behind during the cautions that followed in the race, and he found himself battling fourth through sixth with other drivers with less than 100 laps to go.
With less than 25 laps left, Johnson was in the top 10 and he decided to make a pit stop, at the same time Johnson committed to pit, Brad Keselowski spun out in front of the starting/finish line.
With the bold move, Johnson was given the pass and was in first place with 19 laps to go.
With his strong racing throughout the race and his car being the best all day, Johnson was able to hold off Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton to win the race.
Kevin Durant's MVP Thunder Season
The 2009-2010 NBA MVP should be Kevin Durant, because the man is pulling his Oklahoma City Thunder's team to possibly their first playoff appearance since moving from Seattle as the Supersonics.
Thus far Durant is averaging 29.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.9 apg, as the Thunder currently sit in the fifth seed of the Western conference with a record of 32-21.
Durant is averaging the same amount of points as LeBron James, who is leading all scorers with 29.9 ppg.
Many had expected the Thunder to make the playoffs this year, but not as good as possibly being the fifth seed or better.
Every year the Western conference is tight heading to the final weeks of the season, and this year is no surprise as it's the same.
From seeds 2-11, the teams are bunched up within 9.5 games apart, making it difficulty for any team to secure a playoff spot anytime soon.
The Los Angeles Lakers have secured the No. 1 spot since they acquired Pau Gasol two seasons ago, so no one is even trying to challenge the Los Angeles, but the Thunder can achieve any seed the wish.
Durant is valuable to be mentioned with James and Kobe Bryant for MVP and he should win since he is on the verge of putting his Thunders into the playoffs since the team moved to Oklahoma City three years ago.
Thus far Durant is averaging 29.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.9 apg, as the Thunder currently sit in the fifth seed of the Western conference with a record of 32-21.
Durant is averaging the same amount of points as LeBron James, who is leading all scorers with 29.9 ppg.
Many had expected the Thunder to make the playoffs this year, but not as good as possibly being the fifth seed or better.
Every year the Western conference is tight heading to the final weeks of the season, and this year is no surprise as it's the same.
From seeds 2-11, the teams are bunched up within 9.5 games apart, making it difficulty for any team to secure a playoff spot anytime soon.
The Los Angeles Lakers have secured the No. 1 spot since they acquired Pau Gasol two seasons ago, so no one is even trying to challenge the Los Angeles, but the Thunder can achieve any seed the wish.
Durant is valuable to be mentioned with James and Kobe Bryant for MVP and he should win since he is on the verge of putting his Thunders into the playoffs since the team moved to Oklahoma City three years ago.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A game the Lakers wished Kobe played
The Los Angeles Lakers played four straight games without their super star Kobe Bryant and won all of them by fashionable margins.
The fans were excited about the wins against the Portland Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, since they came up with a new quote, "No Kobe, no problem".
A fifth game came, a game most players and fans hoped Bryant would have returned for, a game against hated the Boston Celtics. But Bryant was still rehabbing a swollen sprang ankle and he could not play another game.
Without their super star and up against a Celtics team fully healthy of their core players, the Lakers had to defend their home court as a team.
Surprisingly, the Lakers led by Lamar Odom and Ron Artest kept close to the Celtics for all of the game.
Unfortunately, Los Angeles never lead in any of the first three quarter, losing the first by three, the second by two, the third by one.
The Lakers did make a effort in the final fourth quarter to come back from seven and win the game, but failed to score in the final five minutes of the game.
Down by one point, with 2.7 seconds left and not having Bryant to take the last shot, the Lakers handed the ball to clutch shooter Derek Fisher.
Fisher got the ball, turned toward to the basket, took a few dribbles, lend into a Celtic player and attempted an awkward off balanced shot that came no near any basket.
Later Fisher said he knew the Celtics had a foul to give and that's why he lend into the player,so he can create a foul.
For the first time, the Lakers finally needed Kobe Bryant.
The fans were excited about the wins against the Portland Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, since they came up with a new quote, "No Kobe, no problem".
A fifth game came, a game most players and fans hoped Bryant would have returned for, a game against hated the Boston Celtics. But Bryant was still rehabbing a swollen sprang ankle and he could not play another game.
Without their super star and up against a Celtics team fully healthy of their core players, the Lakers had to defend their home court as a team.
Surprisingly, the Lakers led by Lamar Odom and Ron Artest kept close to the Celtics for all of the game.
Unfortunately, Los Angeles never lead in any of the first three quarter, losing the first by three, the second by two, the third by one.
The Lakers did make a effort in the final fourth quarter to come back from seven and win the game, but failed to score in the final five minutes of the game.
Down by one point, with 2.7 seconds left and not having Bryant to take the last shot, the Lakers handed the ball to clutch shooter Derek Fisher.
Fisher got the ball, turned toward to the basket, took a few dribbles, lend into a Celtic player and attempted an awkward off balanced shot that came no near any basket.
Later Fisher said he knew the Celtics had a foul to give and that's why he lend into the player,so he can create a foul.
For the first time, the Lakers finally needed Kobe Bryant.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Hey Plushenko, real champions have class
There's an old saying that true champions don't just know how to win, they also know how to lose.
Last night in the men's figure skating free skate, Evan Lysacek skated a stronger, more well rounded program than defending Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko and won the gold. Plushenko had to settle for the silver.
Unfortunately, Plushenko couldn't accept this outcome with the class and sportsmanship that is expected of a competitor at his level. During the medal ceremony he shifted uncomfortably, barely waved to the crowd and rolled his eyes during "The Star Spangled Banner."
He continued his childish act by criticizing Lysacek in the post competition press conference saying, "you can't be a true men's champion without a quad." Lysacek, who is capable of a quad, chose not to do the risky jump and instead used his artistic abilities to up his score.
Someone needs to explain to Plushenko, that while the competition was close he lost fair and square. That means it's time to man up and act like the champion that you want us to think you are.
It has long been known that Plushenko is severely lacking in artistry and has always relied too heavily on his jumps. Since he took no steps to improve his talent while his competition steadily gained on him, he really has no one to blame but himself.
It is also worth noting that while Lysacek skated clean, landing all his jumps in near textbook fashion, Plushenko bobbled on his quad and was tilted in the air on many of his other jumps, lowering his grade of execution scores.
When the competition is as close as it was last night, you have to be perfect. Lysacek was and Plushenko wasn't, it's as simple as that.
Plushenko has always been cocky and obnoxious, but there is absolutely no call for the poor sportsmanship he displayed last night. He basically spit in the face of everything the Olympics stands for.
Last night in the men's figure skating free skate, Evan Lysacek skated a stronger, more well rounded program than defending Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko and won the gold. Plushenko had to settle for the silver.
Unfortunately, Plushenko couldn't accept this outcome with the class and sportsmanship that is expected of a competitor at his level. During the medal ceremony he shifted uncomfortably, barely waved to the crowd and rolled his eyes during "The Star Spangled Banner."
He continued his childish act by criticizing Lysacek in the post competition press conference saying, "you can't be a true men's champion without a quad." Lysacek, who is capable of a quad, chose not to do the risky jump and instead used his artistic abilities to up his score.
Someone needs to explain to Plushenko, that while the competition was close he lost fair and square. That means it's time to man up and act like the champion that you want us to think you are.
It has long been known that Plushenko is severely lacking in artistry and has always relied too heavily on his jumps. Since he took no steps to improve his talent while his competition steadily gained on him, he really has no one to blame but himself.
It is also worth noting that while Lysacek skated clean, landing all his jumps in near textbook fashion, Plushenko bobbled on his quad and was tilted in the air on many of his other jumps, lowering his grade of execution scores.
When the competition is as close as it was last night, you have to be perfect. Lysacek was and Plushenko wasn't, it's as simple as that.
Plushenko has always been cocky and obnoxious, but there is absolutely no call for the poor sportsmanship he displayed last night. He basically spit in the face of everything the Olympics stands for.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Figure skating reignites the cold war
Tonight's coverage of the Olympics is all about the men's figure skating free skate. With the top three skaters so close they're in a virtual tie, whoever wins the free skate will likely win the gold.
In first place is Yevgeny Plushenko of Russia with 90.85. He is no doubt a talented skater, however, he relies heavily on his technical abilities which leaves him vulnerable artistically.
In second place is reigning world champion Evan Lysacek of the US with 90.30. He is much stronger than Plushenko artistically and has solid technical skills. If he can put them both together, he will win gold.
Finally, in third place is Daisuke Takahashi of Japan with 90.25. He skated the short program of his life to put himself in contention for gold. He is a beautiful skater who often leaves all his emotions on the ice. If Lysacek and Plushenko falter and he skates clean, look for him to get the gold.
Since the short program Plushenko and Lysacek have exchanged trash talk in the media, with Plushenko questioning why Lysacek didn't do a quad in his short and Lysacek questioning Plushenko's artistry.
This gamesmanship has led many analysts to dub this new rivalry a new cold war.
The other part to this story is that the skaters in fourth through seventh place are only six to eight points back. So if they skate clean and one of the top skaters messes up, they have a chance to make the podium.
These skaters include Nobunari Oda of Japan, former world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, charismatic US skater Johnny Weir and Canada's own Patrick Chan.
Any one of these men is capable of winning a medal. This kind of close competition is what makes the Olympics so exciting.
The real surprise of this is that in recent years the women's competition has been the marquee event. However, I think after the excitement of the men, it will feel anti-climatic.
In first place is Yevgeny Plushenko of Russia with 90.85. He is no doubt a talented skater, however, he relies heavily on his technical abilities which leaves him vulnerable artistically.
In second place is reigning world champion Evan Lysacek of the US with 90.30. He is much stronger than Plushenko artistically and has solid technical skills. If he can put them both together, he will win gold.
Finally, in third place is Daisuke Takahashi of Japan with 90.25. He skated the short program of his life to put himself in contention for gold. He is a beautiful skater who often leaves all his emotions on the ice. If Lysacek and Plushenko falter and he skates clean, look for him to get the gold.
Since the short program Plushenko and Lysacek have exchanged trash talk in the media, with Plushenko questioning why Lysacek didn't do a quad in his short and Lysacek questioning Plushenko's artistry.
This gamesmanship has led many analysts to dub this new rivalry a new cold war.
The other part to this story is that the skaters in fourth through seventh place are only six to eight points back. So if they skate clean and one of the top skaters messes up, they have a chance to make the podium.
These skaters include Nobunari Oda of Japan, former world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, charismatic US skater Johnny Weir and Canada's own Patrick Chan.
Any one of these men is capable of winning a medal. This kind of close competition is what makes the Olympics so exciting.
The real surprise of this is that in recent years the women's competition has been the marquee event. However, I think after the excitement of the men, it will feel anti-climatic.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Shaun White is an alien
Shaun White can't be human. That's the only reasonable explanation for what he does. The way he moves on a snowboard is ridiculous.
In the finals of the men's halfpipe he was so fantastic on his first run that he had all but wrapped up the gold medal. So on his second run which turned out to be a victory lap, he busted out his signature double McTwist.
According to nbcolympics.com in a McTwist the athlete rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction while doing a forward flip. White does this move as a double, which is frankly a little insane.
The remarkable thing about White is that he is so good he advanced the sport light years ahead of where it was four years ago when he won his first gold medal. All his competitors had to up their game just to keep up with him.
His response was to go out and do a move so wicked and crazy no one could touch him. You get the sense that all the other snowboarders know that they're just competing for second place.
Now that he has two gold medals I'm wondering what could possibly be next for White as he pretty much owns snowboarding.
In the finals of the men's halfpipe he was so fantastic on his first run that he had all but wrapped up the gold medal. So on his second run which turned out to be a victory lap, he busted out his signature double McTwist.
According to nbcolympics.com in a McTwist the athlete rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction while doing a forward flip. White does this move as a double, which is frankly a little insane.
The remarkable thing about White is that he is so good he advanced the sport light years ahead of where it was four years ago when he won his first gold medal. All his competitors had to up their game just to keep up with him.
His response was to go out and do a move so wicked and crazy no one could touch him. You get the sense that all the other snowboarders know that they're just competing for second place.
Now that he has two gold medals I'm wondering what could possibly be next for White as he pretty much owns snowboarding.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
All Olympics all the time
I love the Olympics. Summer or Winter, I don't care. I watch it all. So you can imagine my excitement that the Olympics started during a four day weekend.
It all began with the opening ceremonies, which were really lovely. Everyone was wondering how Vancouver would compete with the spectacle of Beijing. However, the Vancouver ceremonies were much more intimate and wondrous than China.
The first day of competition featured the women's moguls, where the US won gold and bronze. What amazes me about the moguls is the intense beating the athletes' knees must take. You know these people have to all need surgery when their careers are over.
Day two began the first day of figure skating, which is one of my favorite sports. Chinese pair Shen and Zhao were two time bronze medalists who came out of retirement to try for gold one more time. They set a world record with their score in the short program and went on to take gold with a spectacular free skate, while their teammates Pang and Tong took the silver.
The other big story of the weekend was Apolo Ohno winning silver in short track speed skating and tying Bonnie Blair as the most decorated Winter Olympian. He was almost out of the medals when two of his competitors crashed and he and teammate J.R. Celski skated in for silver and bronze.
After only four days of competition these Olympics have proven so far to be everything that you could want from competitions at this level.
They're exciting, awe-inspiring and heart-stopping. And just think, curling hasn't even started yet.
It all began with the opening ceremonies, which were really lovely. Everyone was wondering how Vancouver would compete with the spectacle of Beijing. However, the Vancouver ceremonies were much more intimate and wondrous than China.
The first day of competition featured the women's moguls, where the US won gold and bronze. What amazes me about the moguls is the intense beating the athletes' knees must take. You know these people have to all need surgery when their careers are over.
Day two began the first day of figure skating, which is one of my favorite sports. Chinese pair Shen and Zhao were two time bronze medalists who came out of retirement to try for gold one more time. They set a world record with their score in the short program and went on to take gold with a spectacular free skate, while their teammates Pang and Tong took the silver.
The other big story of the weekend was Apolo Ohno winning silver in short track speed skating and tying Bonnie Blair as the most decorated Winter Olympian. He was almost out of the medals when two of his competitors crashed and he and teammate J.R. Celski skated in for silver and bronze.
After only four days of competition these Olympics have proven so far to be everything that you could want from competitions at this level.
They're exciting, awe-inspiring and heart-stopping. And just think, curling hasn't even started yet.
Monday, January 25, 2010
New Orleans vs. Indianapolis: A dream matchup
In the National Football League it's very rare that the best two teams end up in the Super Bowl. However, this year that's exactly what happened.
All season long the Colts and Saints dominated the rest of the NFL going undefeated for several weeks and humiliating their opponents in blow out games.
Now everyone will get the championship game they've been waiting for. Even better is that both these teams are extremely likable, so with no clear villain fans can just look forward to a great competitive game and be excited no matter the outcome.
There's no doubt the the city of New Orleans deserves to celebrate a championship team, but at the same time, who doesn't like Peyton Manning?
So, for fans of good competitive football, this year's Super Bowl is win-win.
All season long the Colts and Saints dominated the rest of the NFL going undefeated for several weeks and humiliating their opponents in blow out games.
Now everyone will get the championship game they've been waiting for. Even better is that both these teams are extremely likable, so with no clear villain fans can just look forward to a great competitive game and be excited no matter the outcome.
There's no doubt the the city of New Orleans deserves to celebrate a championship team, but at the same time, who doesn't like Peyton Manning?
So, for fans of good competitive football, this year's Super Bowl is win-win.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)