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.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
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.
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