Built From Scratch

Have a Happy New Year Everyone!

2012-01-05T20:05:00.001-08:00

What a great year ahead of us! :)

The San Antonio Spurs managed to win, 93-71, against their Southwest rival the Dallas Mavericks. Manu Ginobili will be out for at two months due to a fracture on his shooting hand. Get well soon Manu!

Watch the highlights of the Mavs-Spurs game: http://www.nba.com/video/games/spurs/2012/01/05/0021100095_dal_sas_1h.nba

Image Source/s:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLpFIU1Ixv0/Ttczlvz3gdI/AAAAAAAAPdM/CoNwhBluYFU/s640/New+Year+2012+High+Quality+Images+and+Wallpapers-11.jpg

Schuhmann on the Spurs

2011-12-08T05:07:00.001-08:00

John Schuhmann on the San Antonio Spurs...

Last season was unique in many ways for the Spurs. With a change of pace and a new identity, they became a team that folks in San Antonio might not recognize, even though most of the players in silver and black were plenty familiar.

Source/s:
http://www.nba.com/news/features/john_schuhmann/statscube-preview-2011-SAS/index.html
http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/duncan_playfilegallery1.jpg

Christmas Day is NBA Day!

2011-12-08T03:06:00.001-08:00

Counting down the days to the 2011-12 NBA Season. :) So excited! GO SPURS!

It's JaggedCore's 4th Year!

2011-12-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

I've been wondering when JaggedCore began. So, I looked up for my very first post here and found this.

Reposting Angels..

Angels.. Come as visions, voices, dreams, coincidences, & intuition, the whisper of knowledge at your ear. They come as animals or other people, or as a wash of peace in an ailing heart. Sometimes a stranger may come up & give you just the information or assistance you need. Sometimes you yourself are used as an angel, for a moment, either knowingly or not, speaking words you did not know you knew.
But sometimes these beings come as angels, in the very form that artists show - as beings of light, both with & without wings.
-Sophy Burnham

Thanks Ruthie for being the first one to comment. :)

Yea, so much have changed.

But I'm glad Built from Scratch is still here.

Still Thrilled About the 2011-12 Season?

2011-11-29T07:15:00.000-08:00

Finally, some good news about the NBA. The five-month lockout end and the season begins on Christmas Day. A tentative agreement has been made but 29 owners and 450 players will still have to vote for the deal to be effective. According to NBA Commissioner David Stern, the agreement was "subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations, but we are optimistic that will all come to pass."

If all goes well on the pending agreement, the 2011-12 season [which could be a 66-game season] will begin on December 25. Below is the 2011-12 general breakdown of "hopefully" the upcoming season:

Regular Season Start Date: December 25, 2011
Regular Season End Date: April 26, 2012
Playoffs Start Date: April 28, 2012
Last Possible Finals Date: June 26, 2012

Note: Full schedule hasn't been released yet.

What are your thoughts on this? Still excited? Or did the five-month lockout spoiled the thrill?

Source/s:
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/11/27/schedule/index.html

Lockout Frustration

2011-11-20T05:24:00.001-08:00

The NBA lockout is still on. :( And I'm getting frustrated about it.

NBA Superstars Going Overseas

2011-10-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Speaking of the NBA, it's October and players should be warming up for the coming season. But the lockout hasn't been lifted yet and I'm not even sure if there will be a new season [sigh]. So, where do we go now fellow NBA fans?

Overseas? I suppose, yea.

According to Dime reports, there will be an elite number of NBA superstars who will be playing overseas. The basketball superstars include, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Chris Paul.

Source/s:
http://dimemag.com/2011/10/dime-exclusive-breaking-news-nba-superstars-headed-overseas/

Thank You, 1st Bicol Bloggy Awards

2011-10-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

It was Thursday, when a friend from the office told me that my blog was nominated as one of the Best Sports Blog at the 1st Bicol Bloggy Awards and was invited to go the awarding ceremony. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend to awards night. But even so, I was still very glad that people now knew about jaggedcore.blogspot.com, which was a fusion of my love for the NBA and writing.

I never really expected to win in the sports category, but I won! My blog won the Best Sports Blog in the very 1st Annual Bicol Bloggy Awards that was held at the Bicol University Amphi Theater. My deepest gratitude to the organizers and to everyone who's contributed to this great blogging event.

Thank you very much!

Image Source/s:

http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/290203_2027344164865_1281885144_1771443_199539210_o.jpg

Celebrities Looking Like Athletes?

2011-08-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

I know this is out of my usual NBA stuff but I just couldn't stop myself from posting this because I've really enjoyed watching this and I know you will too.

Harrison Ford and Nick Faldo (Professional Golfer/Golf Analyst)

How about a Han Solo stand-in for Nick Faldo eh?

Jim Carrey and Rick Carlisle (National Basketball Association)

Of course, how was I able to miss this one? Have you noticed the resemblance?

Will Smith and Robert Horry (National Basketball Association)

Wow, they really look alike. Miss Big Shot Rob.

Christian Bale and Homer Bailey (American Major League Baseball)

The eerie similarity between Bale and Bailey left me speechless.

Ron Jeremy and Stan Van Gundy (National Basketball Association)

Gosh, the mustache looks unusually similar. (Goosebumps!)

Want to find more celebrities who likes like a famous athlete, check out my source below. :)

Source/s:
http://www.zimbio.com/Celebrities+Who+Look+Like+Athletes

Shaq on Heat's BIG 2?

2011-07-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

So, what is it this time for Shaq?

After retiring from the NBA [finally!], Shaquille O'Neal finally found a new career as a NBA analyst. I'm not sure if I'm going to laugh at this big joke or be hacked off [all he ever did was babble].

According to Shaq, “Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, you know, they’re great players, they’re probably the greatest backcourt ever assembled. And you know, they’re going to get back. They’re going to get back. They play well, they went through a lot, they put a lot of pressure on themselves. That’s how they like it. And they will be back.” Of course, they will be back that is if there's no NBA lockout. [2011-12 NBA Schedule]

“The Miami Heat, they’ve got a lot of great players, the `Big 2.’ They will be back,” - Shaquille O'Neal

Of course, he'll be talking about Dwayne Wade and LeBron James and how good they were. He knows them, no doubt about that. But not even recognizing the contributions that Chris Bosh made for the Miami Heat is being arrogant. I'm NOT huge a Bosh fan but I can say that he's done fair enough for the team and he's had his moments too, and so does Wade and James.

So, Shaq please shut up. You're not helping much. NBA fans are pretty anxious about the lockout that should probably be the one you're analyzing, right? Or maybe you're all about the BIG TALK.

Technorati Claim Token: 7CFTRB9KW8C2

America's 2011 Most Popular Athletes Named: Kobe Ties With Jordan

2011-07-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

Kobe Bryant lost the chance to win the 2011 NBA Championship and all Los Angeles Lakers fan were hurt.

I guess the pain won't stop there because Kobe has again lost another one but this time it's the list of America's Most Popular Athletes. But stay positive Kobe fans because he's still included in the TOP 10. It's better than LeBron James who's no longer in the list. Congratulations to Derrick Rose for making it to the 9th spot this year!

America's Top 10 Most Popular Athletes

Male
1. Derek Jeter
2. Peyton Manning
3. Kobe Bryant -- Tie
3. Michael Jordan -- Tie
5. Tiger Woods
6. Tom Brady
7. Albert Pujols -- Tie
7. Hines Ward -- Tie

9. Derrick Rose
10. Aaron Rodgers

Female
1. Serena Williams
2. Venus Williams
3. Danica Patrick
4. Maria Sharapova
5. Mia Hamm
6. Anna Kournikova
7. Martina Navratilova -- Tie
7. Sue Bird -- Tie
9. Kerry Walsh -- Tie
9. Michele Wie -- Tie

Source/s:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Kobe-Bryant-is-no-longer-America-8217-s-most-po;_ylt=Aspo5EHAqGTIwwlQjmwBrha8vLYF?urn=nba-wp6485
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/way-to-go---derek-jeter-has-3000-hits-and-is-americas-favorite-sports-star-125552273.html

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After Game3, Who Will Lead the Series?

2011-06-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

Ahh the feeling of excitement during Playoff season sure didn't waver for me even though my beloved team didn't make it.

But going back to reality, Game 3 of The Finals series brings us to Dallas, Texas (not San Antonio) where the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat will battle it out for the lead. The series is now tied to 1-1 with the Mavs having the home court bonus of 3 straight games at the American Airlines Center before going back to South Beach (if necessary of course).

So, who do you think will win? Will it be the Heat? Or the Mavs?

It's fair to say that both teams have played so good during the post season and they've had exciting plays during the regular season. But it was during the second game of theseries that their flaws have been apparent. For the Mavs, it was their inconsistency in moving the ball, lackluster defense, there were a lot of turnovers, and shots that were just too unconfident. For the Heat, it was overconfidence which turned into being lax and brought out an oh-yeah-we-can-win-this-because-we're-the-best attitude, ~~which brought out a big BOO!~~

Oh yes, the Heat is a great team. And yes, LeBron James is good and so is Dwayne Wade. I admit that. But can they really win this time? Now that the entire Mavs is on them and Nowitzki ever focused in taking home that ring?

It sure ain't over, 'til it's over. :)

Should Dwyane Wade be closing games instead of LeBron James? Is Erik Spoelstra overmatched? Is Chris Bosh overrated? Are these front-running Heat resilient enough to stand strong when the pressure is greatest? Oh, and didn’t these preening narcissists get exactly what they deserved?

Heat-Mavs Series Tied, 1-1

2011-06-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

I wasn't really planning on watching Game2 of the Heat-Mavs series. But seeing the frustration mounting from my sister's face just made me.

I thought the game was exciting because both teams we're playing like it was the last. The Heat was attacking the paint and LBJ made faces because he feels like they're winning. And the Mavs getting a lot of turnovers. But its was during the 4th quarter that made the difference. The Heat was confident but they weren't playing consistently in the offensive end. And the Mavs? They continued to play the way they did all throughout the game with less turnovers & some good defense. Way to go Mavs!

Oh and by the way, (for the Heat) if you're going to cheer on each other's shots don't make it look like a celebration.

Posted via Spica :)

JaggedCore will be Back Soon

2011-05-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

Ahh can't believe I've missed a lot of posts again for my blog. But this time, I'm definitely reviving my blog.

Sloan Leaving Jazz

2011-02-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

"You do it 'til they don't want you anymore. Or it stops being fun." -Jerry Sloan.

I love Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and finding out that he's saying goodbye as the team's coach makes me sad. I love that he's honed Deron Williams to be a better player.

2011 NBA All-Stars Roster

2011-01-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

It's the mid-season, which only means that the ALL-STARS is near! Here's the roster of the five starters of the East and the West conferences:

2011 Eastern Conference All-Stars

LeBron James [Miami Heat]

Amar'e Stoudemire [New York Knicks]

Dwayne Wade [Miami Heat]

Derrick Rose [Chicago Bulls]

Dwight Howard [Orlando Magic]

Head Coach: TBD

2011 Western Conference All-Stars

Kevin Durant [Oklahoma City Thunder]

Carmelo Anthony [Denver Nuggets]

Kobe Bryant [LA Lakers]

Chris Paul [New Orleans Hornets]

Yao Ming [Houston Rockets]

Gregg Popovich [Head Coach]

And oh, no questions asked, I'm going for the WEST!

My Technorati

Kobe on Laker's Defense

2011-01-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Kobe Bryant wasn’t about to disparage Jerry West for saying the Los Angeles Lakers are “getting long in the tooth.” He just begged to differ.

West, a Hall of Fame player and former Lakers general manager, suggested last week at a speech in Orange County that there’s a connection between the Lakers’ age and their consistency on defense.

Ten of the Lakers are 30 or older, including starters Bryant (32), Derek Fisher (36), Ron Artest (31) and Pau Gasol (30).

“If there’s a loose ball now, how often do they get to it? The reason you can’t play defense is because you can’t,” West was quoted as saying by the Orange County Register.

Asked about West’s comments after the Lakers routed Utah 120-91 on Tuesday night, Bryant said, “We’ve been pretty good on defense all year. The numbers don’t lie.”

The Lakers have given up 100 points or fewer in 15 of their last 18 games.

Coach Phil Jackson resorted to sarcasm, saying, “I went out and bought Omega 3s right away. I knew I needed something youthful.”

The Lakers certainly clamped down on the Jazz, who have lost a season-high five straight games. They held Utah to 42 percent shooting.

“They didn’t look old, they didn’t look tired and they didn’t look like they couldn’t play defense to me,” Utah guard Deron Williams said.

West predicted the age of the two-time defending NBA champions will catch up to them.

“I don’t think the Lakers will be good for much longer. You can keep a car running for a long time by changing the tires, etc. But you can’t change a player’s tires,” he said.

Source/s:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-lakers-west

Game Preview: Spurs-Jazz

2011-01-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

The Utah Jazz are likely excited about returning home following a winless five-game road trip.

They’re probably not too thrilled, however, to see who’s waiting for them.

The NBA-best San Antonio Spurs, who expect to have Tim Duncan in their lineup, look to hand the scuffling Jazz a sixth straight defeat Wednesday night.

After winning five of its first seven games of January, Utah (27-18) set off on a week-long trip featuring several favorable matchups. The Jazz failed to pick up a single victory, however, losing to last-place teams Washington and New Jersey, as well as Boston, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The loss to the Lakers on Tuesday was especially embarrassing. Utah fell behind by 17 points in the first quarter, 28 in the second and ended up losing 120-91.

“We’ve lacked chemistry and continuity on offense and on defense and we’re not trusting each other,” Deron Williams said. “We couldn’t execute and we couldn’t get stops against teams with the worst records in the NBA, and coming in to play one of the better teams in the league, it got ugly.”

A sluggish offense has been the biggest reason for Utah’s longest skid since dropping six straight Dec. 4-14, 2007.

The Jazz are averaging 91.6 points in the last five games after averaging 118.3 in winning their previous three. Getting their offense on track could be difficult against a Spurs team that has held nine of its last 10 opponents to 97 points or fewer.

While Utah, 12-4 at home since Nov. 22, has dropped each of its last five games, San Antonio has just five losses in its last 30 contests.

Part of the reason the Spurs (38-7) have been so successful is they’ve managed to avoid injury, playing with the same starting five in every game this season. It looked like that streak could be in jeopardy, though, when Duncan left Monday’s 113-102 win over Golden State with a left knee injury.

Duncan was setting a pick in the second quarter when he turned to roll to the basket and his knee buckled slightly. The 12-time All-Star fell to the floor and had to be helped up before eventually walking to the locker room under his own power.

The injury doesn’t seem as serious as it originally appeared, as Duncan returned to start the third quarter. Diagnosed with a hyperflexed left knee, Duncan played his usual minutes, finished with 16 points and seven rebounds and showed no signs of being hobbled.

“I think he’s going to be all right,” Gregg Popovich said. “He just kind of hyperextended it, but he said it felt good, worked it out and said it was good. He’s his own best judge.”

With Monday’s victory, the Spurs clinched the Western Conference’s best record through Feb. 6, meaning Popovich will coach the West in the All-Star game.

The All-Star game’s starting lineups will be announced Thursday, and there’s a chance Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker could be named to the West’s roster.

Ginobili, who averages a team-high 18.6 points, had 20 points and seven assists against the Warriors, with Parker adding 18 points and 11 assists.

Parker had 24 points and seven assists to lead the Spurs to a 94-82 win in Utah on Nov. 19, while Duncan had 19 points and 14 rebounds, as San Antonio snapped a four-game losing streak in the series.

Williams, fourth in the NBA with an average of 9.4 assists, had 23 points for the Jazz in the first meeting but matched a season low with five assists. Utah is 1-9 when Williams has six or fewer assists.

Source/s:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011012626

Mid-Season Report Card: San Antonio Spurs

2011-01-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Just this previous weekend, I was lucky enough to have watched the Mid-Season report card of the San Antonio Spurs and all other teams in the Western Conference. The three guests were Sekou, 3-D, and Mr Scott [I should've taken note of their full names] and they gave their grades on the San Antonio Spurs.

It was three straight As, which was GREAT news for me. However, I know the Spurs are good offensively this season. The Big Three are sure in their best shapes. But I also know that the Spurs are GREAT defensively. I just hope that that end won't let them lose games come playoffs time.

I so love the Spurs and I want to see them in The Finals. They simply have to bring their A-game on the defensive end because - defense wins.

Popovich Named West Coach for All-Star game

2011-01-25T15:17:00.000-08:00

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will coach the West team in the All-Star game after leading San Antonio to the NBA’s best record.

Popovich has guided the Spurs to a 38-7 start, the best in franchise history. The Spurs have been rejuvenated behind Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili staying healthy for the first time in three seasons.

Popovich also coached the West All-Stars in 2005.

The All-Star game is Feb. 20 in Los Angeles. The coach for the Eastern Conference has not yet been announced.

Source/s:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ajjf8GXrsoYWW__M9nDoTBq8vLYF?slug=ap-all-stargame-popovich

James Missing Two Straight Games

2011-01-15T18:38:00.000-08:00

LeBron James was out of the Miami Heat’s lineup against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, missing his second straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

James went to the court at the United Center, did some shooting and even tried a couple of dunks before the game, then was declared inactive.

James, who is averaging 25.4 points in his first season with Miami, was hurt late in the Heat’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night and sat out their 130-102 loss at Denver on Thursday.

James Jones was in the starting lineup in James’ spot.

The Heat are 1-2 this season when one of their top three players—James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh — is not in the lineup.

The Bulls were one of the teams that courted James and Wade during last summer’s free agent bonanza.

Source/s:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtOSQkelgu4ERm7xagrW7Y.8vLYF?slug=ap-heat-james

Forever Rivals, Shaq, Duncan Chase 5th Title

2011-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

The words about Shaquille O’Neal sounded strange tumbling out of Tim Duncan’s mouth, something between marvel and melancholy. Once, this would’ve been a night about them, the two best teams in basketball centered upon the Russell and Chamberlain of a generation.

“We’re the two godfathers now,” Duncan said on Wednesday night. “We’re the old players of the league. A lot of history together.”

His words trailed away. “…So much history together, so many battles,” he finally said.

Out of the gloom of back-to-back losses, the bungling of a final possession in a 105-103 loss at the Garden, something of a smile creased Duncan’s face. They’ve never been buddies, but they’re forever bonded, forever linked.

Shaq was Duncan’s alter ego, the bigger-than-life cartoon character with peerless power and charisma. He was the comedian and chameleon, a force of nature and humanity. Duncan was the proud, private star full of fundamentals and free of flash.

What made O’Neal and Duncan so compelling, such an epic clash, were the ways they flourished in complete contrast.

“I imagine it was a little like what made Wilt and Russell such a great matchup,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said.

Together, they won eight championships and three MVP trophies and owned the NBA for more than a decade. Yes, it was all about them and now the clock’s ticking down and Duncan sighs, “We both realize there’s a lot of years behind us, and we don’t have a lot of years in front of us. We’re enjoying this time left, these situations we have here.”

Chances to be champions, again.

They find themselves in circumstances that career and life choices left them: Duncan is 34 years old, his knees going and these remade and recast Spurs trying to win one more title in the twilight of his greatness. Shaq is 38 and a pure mercenary-for-hire now. From Phoenix to Cleveland to Boston, he’s chasing a fifth ring to surpass Duncan. They’re the most fascinating contrast of a generation, two superstars who traveled such parallel professional and personal paths. They crossed once more on Wednesday, and together they would be the backdrop of an NBA Finals the league office wouldn’t want again.

Television wants the Lakers-Heat, but the Spurs have the West’s best record and the Celtics still have the East’s deepest, most complete team. Shaq can still be a factor for the Celtics, but he’s an afterthought within a system blessed with so many stars. For the Spurs, how Duncan fits is a far more complex issue. This franchise is centered upon his stature, but everything no longer goes through him. Over a decade ago, Duncan would come into David Robinson’s life and start to phase him out. This time, there’s no star, young 7-footer, but a bold change of direction out of coach Gregg Popovich to play fast with so much speed and athleticism. In a lot of ways, the Spurs are leaving Duncan in the dust.

“Occasionally, Tim will give that look like, ‘Throw me the ball,’ but I don’t think Pop has spent 15 minutes trying to convince him of the different direction,” Buford said. “I don’t think Pop has spent much, if any, energy trying to convince Tim to play a different way.”

As much as anything, that’s a product of Duncan’s DNA and character. Deep down, Duncan understands his declining knees and need for reduced minutes make it necessary for Popovich to turn the ball over to Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and the rest of these go-go Spurs. Nevertheless, Duncan is a product of the Spurs and he’s able to call upon the professionalism and grace of Robinson’s twilight.

“It happened with David, and Tim saw how David handled it,” said Malik Rose, an old Spurs teammate. “Of course it bothered David, and it probably bothers [Tim] too. But he’s going to find a way to do what he does in whatever role he’s given.”

O’Neal, a military child, spent most of his childhood in San Antonio. He insisted Robinson had dismissed him as a young kid once, but few ever completely believed the veracity of that story. Nevertheless, Shaq turned it into a device to disparage Robinson in the pros. O’Neal manufactured disdain for so many opponents – and still does – but never could muster it for Duncan. “He had too much respect for Tim,” Rose said.

In a lot of ways, Duncan had a discipline and staying power that Shaq never did. In so many ways, Duncan and the Spurs were the perfect foils for the early 2000s Lakers dynasty. Duncan stayed with the Spurs to chase that fifth title, and now Shaq comes to the Celtics near the end of his career. Once LeBron James bailed on the Cavaliers in the playoff series against Boston a year ago, Shaq privately believed coach Mike Brown should’ve gone through him. He still commands a double team, still imposes a presence, but he couldn’t have carried that team – never mind this one now.

“The ego that makes them great makes it hard for them to ever buy into anything but that they’re still the most dominant player going,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “You don’t want to dash that in a player. But I think it’s an easier sell [with Shaq] coming out of the Cleveland and Phoenix seasons. The thing is now, though: He really wants to win.”

O’Neal has been terrific with the Celtics, and they’ll need him for a title run. For the Spurs, they’ll need Duncan even more. For everything that’s changed for San Antonio, for all the nights now that Duncan isn’t much of a factor, it’s all designed to leave him fresher for the playoff grind. Perhaps these younger Spurs will race San Antonio into the playoffs, but they’ll still lean on Duncan to get themselves to the finish line.

“He’s not going to do all the things he’s done in past years … [but] we know what he can do on the floor based on the situation, the score, who’s guarding him and what we need,” Popovich said. “He always makes pretty damn good decisions.”

The best he ever made was never leaving the Spurs, never turning into a vagabond chasing that final title like Shaq. Maybe this time, they won’t be fighting to get out of the West. Maybe this time, they’ll fight for a championship. Maybe that’s the curtain call, the final bow. Tim Duncan had to laugh on Wednesday night.

“All the playoff battles, all the All-Star games, we’ve been through a lot together,” he said. “The two of us, we’re as old as time.”

And just maybe, come this spring in the winter of these forever careers, it’ll be the two of them in the Finals for old times’ sake.

by Adrian Wojnarowski

2010-11 NBA Season: Ginobili leads Spurs past Pacers

2011-01-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

The San Antonio Spurs’ typically potent offense struggled at times against the Indiana Pacers. Their defense made up for it, though.

The Spurs held the Pacers to 1-for-15 shooting in the fourth quarter to win 90-87 and snap a two-game skid. Roy Hibbert had a chance to give the Pacers the lead in the closing seconds, but his hook shot fell short.

“We got the win,” San Antonio guard George Hill, an Indianapolis native, said. “Our veterans stepped up when we needed to, and that’s all that matters.”

According to STATS Inc., Indiana’s one field goal in the fourth quarter was the fewest the Pacers have made in a quarter in at least 19 years. STATS’ records go back to the 1991-92 season.

“It’s never just great defense,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They missed some shots also. Sometimes you don’t make shots. That was part of it. I thought our intensity level, our physicality, got better. I thought we had a good mix on the court that reacted well.”

Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, Tim Duncan had 15 points and 15 rebounds and Hill scored 16 points for the Spurs, who overcame a 15-point deficit to become the first team in the league to win 30 games.

The Spurs were unhappy with the way they played late in a 105-103 loss to Boston on Wednesday and were determined to play better against the Pacers.

“We lost the other night in Boston at the end of the third quarter and the end of the fourth quarter when we didn’t close,” Popovich said. “We turned it over, we imploded defensively, didn’t execute on offense.”

Tyler Hansbrough had career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds in his first start of the season for the Pacers.

“He almost took the game away from us,” Popovich said. “We couldn’t find anybody to guard him. He ripped us up tonight.”

The Pacers have lost five of six.

“I’m very disappointed for our guys,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said. “We played a solid defensive game. For them to come back and beat us, it’s painful. They took their defense to a whole different level in the fourth quarter.”

Indiana led 87-83 in the fourth quarter when Hill scored and was fouled. He made the free throw to cut Indiana’s lead to 87-86 with 1:07 to play.

San Antonio rebounded a miss by Mike Dunleavy and took a timeout with 23.1 seconds remaining. Ginobili drove to the basket and was fouled by Jeff Foster with 15.7 seconds to play. He made both free throws to give the Spurs their first lead of the quarter.

After Hibbert’s miss, the Pacers were forced to foul. Tony Parker made two free throws with 0.8 seconds left to make it 90-87. Indiana’s James Posey missed a 3-pointer from the left corner in his only action of the game as time expired.

“We had them down and led them up,” Indiana point guard Darren Collison said. “We just can’t seem to find a way to close a game out. We have to keep working at that until we get it right.”

The Pacers led for most of the first half, but Ginobili scored eight straight points to turn a 44-40 deficit into a 48-44 lead for the Spurs. Granger made a 3-pointer as time expired in the first half to trim San Antonio’s lead to 48-47 at the break.

Hansbrough hit back-to-back shots, then Granger drained a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a 60-55 lead.

Indiana extended the lead through the rest of the quarter and began to play to the crowd. Dunleavy faked a behind-the-back pass, kept the ball and laid it in to give Indiana a 75-60 lead. Hansbrough had 12 points and six rebounds in the third quarter to help the Pacers take a 75-64 lead at the end of the period.

Gary Neal’s 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter cut Indiana’s lead to 75-69 and caused the Pacers to call timeout. Indiana didn’t make a field goal in the quarter until Dunleavy made a floater with 6:41 left, and the Pacers didn’t make another field goal the rest of the game.

“They just kept playing the game,” Popovich said of his Spurs. “That’s a great sign. We’ve done that several times this year. That’s what a team really needs to sustain in this league. We’re fortunate to get that win tonight.”

by Cliff Brunt

2011 NBA All-Stars: 2 Heat, 2 Celtics on Pace to Earn All-Star starts

2011-01-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Heat and Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo of the Celtics are on pace to be voted as starters for the NBA All-Star game.

Garnett and Rondo remained in second place at their positions behind the Heat duo in the third voting returns announced Thursday. Orlando center Dwight Howard is the other leader among Eastern Conference players and has the most votes of any player in the conference.

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant is the top overall vote-getter for the game in his home Staples Center on Feb. 20. The Hornets’ Chris Paul at the other guard and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony at forward are the other West leaders, while Houston’s Yao Ming has a sizable lead at center despite being out for the season with a foot injury.

Boosted by the huge online vote total he receives from fans in his native China, Yao was voted as a starter the first seven years of his career, from 2003-09. He was not on the ballot last season, when he was out for the year with an injury.

If an injured player is voted to start, Commissioner David Stern chooses an injury replacement for the roster and the conference’s coach tabs a reserve to start.

Starters will be announced Jan. 27.

Source/s:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgXSdLfLjiXwj23_b8RfKyG8vLYF?slug=ap-all-starvoting

2010-11 NBA Season: Lakers and Suns Preview

2011-01-05T11:32:00.001-08:00

Kobe Bryant knows how to motivate the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers, but coach Phil Jackson still wants to see further improvement.

A visit to the struggling Phoenix Suns could help.

The Lakers look to build on one of their best performances in nearly three weeks when they face the Suns on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles (24-11) is trying to turn around a sluggish 3-4 stretch that has seen its losses come by an average of 17.3 points, including a stunning 104-85 home loss to Memphis on Sunday.

The Lakers bounced back in impressive fashion Tuesday, beating Detroit 108-83 after Bryant gave his teammates some advice in dealing with the growing criticisms of the two-time reigning NBA champions.

“I told the guys, ‘Listen to how everyone is talking about you. You have to use it as fuel for motivation,’” Bryant said. “It’s early, we just continue to play, take our time. The playoffs aren’t tomorrow.”

Jackson feels there’s still more work to do for Los Angeles to turn things around. However, the Lakers’ struggles haven’t done much damage to their lead atop the Pacific Division - 8 1/2 games ahead of second-place Phoenix (14-18).

“We have to really turn it around,” Jackson said. “One game is not the end of this situation.”

Continued success in the defensive end could go a long way in spurring Los Angeles. The team held the Pistons to 3 for 13 shooting from 3-point range while forcing 19 turnovers that led to 25 points - 17 more than Sunday.

Bryant is getting closer to another milestone after his 17 points Tuesday moved him past Dominique Wilkins into 10th on the NBA’s career scoring list with 26,671. The 12-time All-Star is 39 points shy of Oscar Robertson in ninth place.

Bryant has reached 40 points once this season, getting 41 in a loss to Indiana on Nov. 28. He topped that plateau eight times last season, including seven by this stage.

Bryant is averaging 29.9 points in his last seven meetings with Phoenix, and the Lakers have won 10 of the last 14 matchups.

They won 114-106 in their last visit to US Airways Center on Oct. 29 behind 25 points from Bryant.

The Suns have dropped nine of 12 while giving up an average of 105.2 points over that span. That’s actually an improvement from the 108.4 points per game they’re surrendering on the season.

Phoenix has been much better defensively over the last two games, allowing 40.6 percent shooting - 28.1 from 3-point range. However, the Suns have just one win to show for that improvement as they followed Friday’s 92-75 win over Detroit with a 94-89 loss at Sacramento on Sunday.

That defeat came despite a perfect shooting performance from Steve Nash, who was 8 of 8 from the field - including a pair of 3s. He also hit both free throws to finish with 20 points and 12 assists against the Kings.

Nash wasn’t close to being that productive in the most recent home meeting with the Lakers, making 3 of 9 shots for eight points while dishing out nine assists. He was much better at Los Angeles in a 121-116 win on Nov. 14, scoring 21 points with 13 assists.

Vince Carter is averaging 18.0 points over three games since being acquired from Orlando as part of a six-player deal last month. The swingman scored 25 points for the Magic in a win over the Lakers on March 7.

by Nicolino Dibenedetto

2010-11 NBA Season: He Treats Everyone Like a Servant

2010-12-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

"The fundamental problem for Spoelstra isn’t that James doesn’t respect coaches – he doesn’t respect people. Give LeBron this, though: He’s learned to live one way with the television light on, and another with it off. He treats everyone like a servant, because that’s what the system taught him as a teenage prodigy. To James, the coach isn’t there to mold him into the team dynamic. He’s there to serve him." - Adrian Wojnarowski

Wow, I thought I was the only one who sees James for who he is and besides that, why does everyone call him a King? Yea Yea, he's won two MVP awards but has he ever worn a championship ring? Like I've said on one of my previous posts, basketball is about teamwork. If LeBron tries to do things his way, he probably won't win a single ring.

He's just been too overrated.

2010-11 NBA Season: Heat-Cavs MatchUp Hyped Up

2010-11-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

Brace yourself. Three days and counting until touchdown at The Q, where LeBron James will make the most awaited appearance in Cleveland since ... well, since the Cavaliers drafted him in 2003, turning him into an instant civic treasure. And the spectacle will only be surpassed by the buildup, which promises to be both fascinating and insufferable.

Well, maybe it's just me, but is this really a good thing for the NBA?

This game is being hyped and anticipated for all the wrong reasons. Nobody's tuning in to see a potentially classic contest, or a terrific one-on-one matchup, or even a Game 7.

We're watching to see a scorned city give the finger to Public Enemy No. 1.

We're watching to rubberneck at LeBron's expense, wondering if anything more lethal than a boo will fly from the stands.

It has less to do with basketball and more to do with verbal mayhem, or the promise (hope?) of it, anyway.

The game is secondary. The abuse and anger and revenge factor and mob mentality? That's primary. That's the show. That's not the main attraction; it's the only attraction.

Folks wanna know: How will Cleveland react? What will the fans say and do? What about the homemade signs, will they be safe for children to read? Will Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers owner, bring along his LeBron voodoo doll? Will the sellout crowd blow talcum powder in LeBron's face? Will they stand in silent protest during pregame introductions? And how will he respond and hold up to the venom and the hate?

Boy, this is a sticky situation for the NBA. The buzz for this game is squarely focused on a negative. David Stern can't be thrilled about the circumstances and the reason this game holds such appeal for the masses, and yet like the rest of us, the commissioner will watch.

When additional security is needed for a December game on a Thursday, to protect a player not from a crush of adoring fans but from being crushed by someone who took "The Decision" a bit too personally, then it's not good for the league. Imagine if this game gets the highest ratings of the season. Sure, business is business, but is that really worth celebrating?

Actually, it's sorta been that way all season for the NBA and LeBron. Imagine: One of the league's best and highest-profile players is as welcome across the NBA as a fungus. Nobody comes to see LeBron play; people come to see LeBron fail. That makes him tough to market and promote in a league that relies so heavily on star power. The only folks with a trickier job when it comes to LeBron and his "appeal" are those who work for Nike.

How would the NFL feel, for example, if Peyton Manning was suddenly cast as a villain? Or in the NHL, if Sidney Crosby was booed in every arena outside of Pittsburgh? Or major league baseball, if the Yankees were despised everywhere they played? (Oh, wait.) Point is, LeBron is supposed to be one of the four or five league showpieces, someone to be respected in opposing arenas if not adored (like Michael Jordan was), but those days are gone, perhaps forever. And that point will be rammed home with authority come Thursday in Cleveland.

Yes, this game will draw high ratings, but will also cause a high degree of discomfort for the league. It will be the same squeamish feeling as when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal met following their tense parting of the ways from the Lakers in 2004. Strangely enough, and foolishly in hindsight, the league scheduled that grudge match game on Christmas Day, giving it prime-time real estate on the highest profile day of the regular season, essentially tossing logs on the fire. That was an awkward message to send: "Come See Two Guys Who'd Love To Clobber Each Other."

The Heat-Lakers game itself was secondary to the bitter backdrop. Would Shaq and Kobe shake hands or at least touch fists in a show of solidarity before tip-off? (They didn't.) Would Shaq give Kobe a hard foul? Would Kobe try to dunk on Shaq? The interplay between former teammates, their championship-rich relationship ripped apart by jealousy and greed and ego, overwhelmed all else.

That game appealed to the beast in all of us, just like LeBron's return to Cleveland will. It's almost like the reasons some people watch hockey, not for the sport, but for the chance to see someone get sucker-punched.

Oh, well. Such is the life LeBron made for himself, and by extension, for Cleveland. Come Thursday, we get a player whose silly and callous disregard for Cleveland transformed him from a local sports hero into a national outcast, and a battered but proud city ready and willing to issue a stiff and firm payback, rooted on by an entire country. Yes, come see anger, stripped bare and specifically targeted at one person, flow in all of its R-rated glory.

Isn't that why you'll watch?

by Shaun Powell

NBA 2010-11: Spurs Win over the Hornets, 109-85

2010-11-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

The New Orleans Hornets is the last NBA team left unbeaten at home.

But not for long.

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Hornets 109-95 today, slashing Chris Paul's perfect home win to one loss. Manu Ginobili, with eight assists and 23 points drove the Spurs to their 14th win this season with huge help coming from Richard Jefferson's end with 3 three pointers.

Hornet's scoreboard: David West with 23 points, 7 rebounds; Chris Paul dishing out 15 points, 7 assists.

Ginobili: Too Much For the Pacers

2010-11-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

On an average, all four Tallbiceleste representatives in the NBA had a good night but only one was on the winning side.

Carlos DELFINO had a superb start for the Milwaukee Bucks against the New Orleans Hornets. He was on target for 5 times from the 3 points paint, totaling 19 points plus 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals. But the Bucks went down 91-95.

NOCIONI made his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers against none other than the much talked about Miami Big 3. Coming from the bench, he posted 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists plus one block shot. Though the Heat was very much the stronger side, the Sixers still gave a respectable performance before going down 87-97.

The biggest show of the night must have come from Luis SCOLA, as he was bombing the Golden State Warriors. Following his performance against the Lakers from the previous night, SCOLA produce another double-double with 36 points and 16 points plus a steal and block shot. Even that wasn’t enough for his side as the Rockets lost 128-132.

So what about Manu GINOBILI?

Well the newly turned Dad still had all the right stuff in him. GINOBILI was 5 of 9 from three points range posting 22 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals plus one block shot as the Spurs started off with a 122-109 win over the Pacers. The original Big 3 was indeed back in business though the season has just started.

“All three played pretty well for the first game of the season,” GINOBILI said. “And when that happens, everything becomes better.” (quoted from the Associated Press).

Hopefully he will stay healthy throughout the season and we will see more from him.

A post from Mundo Albiceleste.

Phil on Suns

2010-10-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

Now this is the kind of pair I'm looking forward to watch -- LA Lakers v Phoenix Suns. What makes it exciting for me? Firstly, there'll be NO more Amar'e Stoudemire, who's now in the New York Knicks. It's all on Steve Nash. But it's not like Nash is anywhere close to getting the championship ring but for sure getting rid of someone like Stoudemire in the team is better.

Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, wouldn't mind the changes. It was the Lakers anyway who got rid of the Suns during last season's playoffs. "The combination with Stoudemire and Nash has been great in the last few years, so that will need a little timing. But this will be a good team, Phoenix will still be a real good team," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

Change is Inevitable. -- Dwayne Wade

2010-10-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

Change is inevitable indeed. If it's for the good, however, Dwayne Wade welcomes anyone who joins him in his quest for the championship ring -- even if its a LeBron James we're talking about.

The King certainly came to Miami.

Unfortunately, the opening game against the Boston Celtics gave them their first loss this season - 80-88 points. A loss that tells a lot on how these two basketball superstars' rapport will be in the next few months.

Aside from the big tweak that happened in Miami, Carmelo Anthony could make use of change by making a huge career move. Melo told Yahoo! Sports that he's still not set on re-signing a $64 million dollar contract with the Denver Nuggets.

"I feel it’s a time for change," said Melo.

Tipoff Showdown: Heat v Celtics

2010-10-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

And the so the season begins.

Interesting season opener between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. LeBron revisits the place where his dreams ended last season as a Cavalier. The 2-time season MVP makes his debut as a Heat, however, who by the way was stripped off by the Celtics during last season's first round.

Now, will James oust the reigning Eastern Conference champions? With the help of Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, they probably could. And there's also the solid performance the three All-Stars have showed during '08 Beijing Olympics. But will they be able to hold on to the dream of having a championship?

Too early, I think to overrate the new and more powerful Heat lineup. But this I know, Kobe Bryant ain't backing down, now that the LA Lakers has a title to defend. Kevin Durant is not stopping, either.

So, game on!!

Under Construction!

2010-10-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

This blog is currently under construction. :) Thank you for visiting.

2010 NBA Season: Spurs Summer Report Card

2010-09-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

I've always wondered when San Antonio Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich would get Tiago Splitter. :) Well, he's a Spurs now and even if it was pretty much a quiet offseason move, it sure would make a lot of difference for the team this year.

September Post

2010-08-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

My very first September post. Oh can't believe I missed out two NBA seasons because I was so busy with work. And look what it got me, a blog of fragments from last season.

Well, hope everything goes well because I'm ready to write. :)

Warming Up

2010-08-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

Haven't done writing for quite some time. But I'm warming up, hopefully this keeps up when the new season begins. Looking forward! :)

2010 NBA Playoffs: The Finals, a Retribution

2010-05-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

I thought the Phoenix Suns had it, but soon fell short against the LA Lakers. And now, Kobe Bryant faces the one team that he probably wishes most to meet in the Finals - the Boston Celtics.

It has been two years, but the memory of the '08 NBA Finals is still clear. The Celtics won and Bryant was left wanting a championship without his chum, Shaquille O'Neal. Everybody was rooting for the Lakers but no one can deny that 2008 was a great year for Boston.

KB24's greatness couldn't be compared to the Big Three. The Celtics have Paul Pierce, with the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Lakers only got Bryant and a team seemingly unreliable for a playoff showdown. And then last year, the Lakers won but it appears that there was no sense of fulfillment and left everybody thinking what if it was the Celtics?

The Finals. It's all about winning now. And with the Celtics standing in the way, Bryant is sure to find retribution from the team who's beaten them two years ago.

Need Shaq Enlightenment, If There's Any

2010-04-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

I was reading an article about Tim Duncan being considered among the Top 10 NBA players of all-time. Then, I tried to trace some of the links and was not convinced about everything I read about it and it was not even about Duncan that had me ranting this way. I just couldn't believe Shaquille O'Neal to be included in the 10 best players. HELL NO! I would appreciate it more if Kobe Bryant was listed on the Top 10 and not Shaq.

Sometimes, it's not always about the ring, performance, leadership, attitude, or passion. It's a little bit of everything.

If you want to shoot your opinions, post it. Enlighten me.

2010 NBA Playoffs: One More to an Oust?

2010-04-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

When my sister told me the Spurs are 2-1, I was like, "Yeah, it's on!"

And I was not mistaken, the San Antonio Spurs won the two home games, putting the Dallas Mavericks on the verge of a first round elimination. The Mavs had an 11-point lead during the first half of the fourth game, which continued down to 14 points. But the Mavs began to miss shots and the stopping the Spurs' Big Three isn't helping. In fact, stopping the Big Three had very little advantage to them because George Hill was the biggest trouble.

Hill led the Spurs with 92-89 win, racking up 29 points and displaying a classic playoffs game. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker had 31 points combined. The very physical game between this Texas rivals left bruises, fouls, but it was the pressure looming for the Mavs' elimination who's going back to Dallas to hopefully seal Game 5 as theirs. “We’re not looking at three straight. We’re just looking at Game 5 and that’s as far as we can look,” said Mavs point guard Jason Kidd. Dallas is now the ninth team to recover from a 3-1 deficit in NBA history.

Now, the trouble is...

For the Spurs, an outraged crowd will be waiting at the American Airlines Center. Will Hill continue to play as he did on Game 4? Will the Big Three be able to come back with more than the 31 combined points they had at the AT&T?

For the Mavs, a looming oust from a 7th-seed team which is unfortunately their long-term Texas rival. They're the best NBA road team, but this is no road game --- this is a home game, an plus for them actually. But just one more loss and they're out of the playoffs.

2010 NBA Playoffs: Spurs-Mavs Even Out

2010-04-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

And Spurs tie the series to 1-1.

His minutes may have lessened but Tim Duncan never ceased to ensure that everything goes well for the San Antonio Spurs. And this was evident game 2, Spurs winning against the Dallas Mavericks 102-88. Duncan dished out 25 points with 17 boards. Manu Ginobili delivered a 23-point second game against the Mavericks. Now, the series goes to the AT&T Center where the Mavs play two games before returning to American Airlines Center.

Right at the Mavs’ side, Jason Terry racked up 27 points followed by Dirk Nowitzki’s 24 points at the score boards and 10 rebounds. Box scores also showed Jason Kidd doing what he’s good at – assisting, finishing the game with eight of it.
The Spurs even the series and has to push their way to a 5-game run, which includes two straight games at home.

Duncan, who’s turning 34 this Sunday, may be growing old but he’s definitely not stirred up by that fact. What made him more efficient this season, is his wiser grasp to the game. “He’ll never lose his skill set,” Dirk on Tim.

As many of his critics say, Duncan is growing old. But certainly, it’s not ALWAYS about the age, right?

Love you Johnny Ludden!

2010 NBA Playoffs: KG's Suspension

2010-04-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Playoffs is getting even hotter these days with hot matchups including the East’s Boston Celtics and Miami Heat rivalry. Celtics took Game 1 with a 85-76 win over the Heat. But here’s downside, Kevin Garnett’s not playing for the second game.

I watched the video and I pretty much agree with what Doc Rivers, Celtics Head Coach has said – suspend the retaliator and the agitator. Fair enough.

Tell me if my eyes wasn’t seeing very clearly, I saw Quentin Richardson stir up the situation while KG was busy checking up on Paul Pierce. There was the elbow, but if Richardson didn’t start KG wouldn’t be pushed to his limits. It would’ve just been fair to KG if the association re-viewed the video.

Celtics lead the series to 1-0.

2010 NBA Playoffs: Injury Over Underdogs

2010-04-15T12:47:00.001-07:00

I can’t imagine a NBA Playoffs without the LA Lakers playing. They’re simply good or should I say, Kobe Bryant is just so good at playing basketball. This 2010 NBA Playoffs matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder creates a stir among critics as to whether the Lakers can make it to the championship – again.

Let’s see, Kobe’s not 100% healthy.

But hey, it’s Kobe we’re talking about. He never stops shooting. But his injuries will definitely affect maybe and hopefully a fraction of his usual game style. So, does this mean the Thunder is ruined? I don’t think so. With the excellent shooting skills of Kevin Durant and the rest of the team providing 2nd chance baskets and good defense, the young guns aren’t very short of power showdown.

The tempo will be up with the Thunder’s offensive knack but with the Lakers’ defense, the game will be more interesting to watch. Injuries could blight the Lakers eye for the win but they will eventually move through the first round in 5.

2010 NBA Playoffs: Game On!

2010-04-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here are the list of schedules for the upcoming 2010 NBA Playoffs. Most have really exciting matchups.

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Source/s:
http://www.nba.com/playoffs2010/series/index.html?ls=nbaplayoffsTab?ls=iref:nbahpt1

2010 NBA Playoffs: Is it his time?

2010-04-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I can't believe I missed a lot of details in this season's NBA playoffs. Guess my friend was right, I've been too busy with some other stuff. But going back to the topic, the season is officially done and the playoffs is almost there - April 17, 2010. Here are the matchups, got it from Wiki:

I know, the fonts are too small -- just click on the image. I'm pretty much confused on who to root for this coming playoffs season. Of course, I'll always be rooting for my San Antonio Spurs but I know it's anybody's game right now. Remember last season? Everybody's all over Lebron James winning the playoffs but after all that's been said, Kobe and the LA Lakers won.

So, is it his season? Who knows.

I Hope Manu

2009-11-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

What I love about Manu Ginobili is that he remains to be the Manu who's passionate about basketball - about his team. I just hope he stays healthy, so, he'll stay as a Spur for good. “I don't want to miss any more games. I'm a little paranoid,” said the Argentinian icon. It may sound selfish, I just don't want to see Manu wearing other team's jersey. No, I don't even want to think about it.

Check Buck Harvey.

Rondo's Claims Against Paul

2009-11-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Currently, the New Orleans Hornets hangs by a thread with a 1-3 and is fourth at the Southwest division. It was plain to see that the Hornets should be getting worried even if it's just the start of the season. A lot can happen and if Hornets don't do something N-O-W, New Orleans would have to say bye-bye to the playoffs.

But that's not the case with Chris Paul, "I...want...to...win. Whatever it takes me to do, I’m going to find a way." It's the passion for the game that has got many to like CP3, which Rajon Rondo shares. Their difference is that Rondo has a ring while Paul still aims to have one.

Unsurprisingly, reports said that Rando told CP3 that, "I’ve got a ring, and you’re never gonna win one." Well, that was pretty much unprofessional for our young Celts. To think that he's got their so-called Big Three with him all this time while Paul carried on with what he's got.

Another huge difference that Paul has next to Rondo is humility. You got me all rooting for the Hornets even more with that kind of attitude. Can someone bring Rondo back to Earth? He's probably seeing himself so good. He is good but not as good as Paul is.

Paul was frustrated and worsened because of Rondo's claim. "I’m envious. I’m very envious. Those guys have been where I want to get to. This is my fifth year in the league, and I’m not trying to wait until I’m an old veteran in this league to win a championship. We’re trying to win now," says the Hornets point guard.

The Hornets will win as long as Paul stays and continues to believe that together with his David West, Tyson Chandler, and the rest of the Hornets.

As for Rondo, stay on the ground and watch that attitude before it pulls you down.

First Game Wrap Up

2009-10-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

It's just the beginning of the NBA season and yet, here I am getting too excited about it. There's just a lot going on in the association - changes. Shaq's now with King James, unfortunately it was pretty much a slow start for the Cleveland Cavaliers. [not giving anymore side comments on Shaq] The San Antonio Spurs, however, had a good start against the Byron Scott's Hornets with a 113-96 win.

Tim Duncan clutched nine pts and 12 rebounds, Manu Ginobili with 16 pts, and Tony Parker summed up the game with 17 pts and six assists. Second-round draft DeJuan Blair clinched a double-double of 14 pts and 11 boards. Hornets' Chris Paul wrapped up the game with 26 pts and nine assists. The 2-digit difference of the Spurs with the recovered Hornets says a lot about the team's deeper roster.

That was a good start for the Spurs and I won't get too thrilled about it.

Well, it's definitely going to be a fun season.

Will Shaq help King James get the ring he sooo lost last season because of Superman?

Making A Tag Cloud: The Easy Way

2009-10-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated my blog since June and I felt like I have to change things around here. And so I did, but my problem was how to make a tag cloud. I searched for better instructions but found none. Well, I found some handy stuff but not quite handy as this one:

http://phy3blog.googlepages.com/Beta-Blogger-Label-Cloud.html

Hope I helped some of you who're trying to look for the easiest way in making a tag cloud. Ciao!

Honoring the King of Pop

2009-06-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

This entry is pretty much out-of-place for a blog like this. But I'm definitely giving a space for the controversial King of Pop, age 50, who died due to cardiac arrest. The whole industry is mourning as well as his fans.

I'm not a huge fan of his but I definitely am a fan of his music.
There's a place in
Your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could
Be much
Brighter than tomorrow
And if you really try
You'll find there's no need
To cry

May you rest in peace MJ.

The Classic Parker Show

2009-04-21T10:13:00.001-07:00

My sister was so happy that the Dallas Mavericks came out of Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs with a 1-0 lead and obviously I was feeling otherwise. But then again, it’s a game – you win, you lose. The only difference is that this is the NBA playoffs. And so, I told her that the Spurs will get even and take over the AT&T Center on Game 2.

Spurs’ Tony Parker settled the score to 1-1 with 38 points and eight assists on Game 2 against the Mavs. Tim Duncan finished the game with 13 pts, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. The Mavs’ flaw was being unable to contain TP which is very much evident during Game 1 after Parker had 24 points. Jason Terry, the forerunner for the 6th Man Award this season, finished off with 16 pts with Dirk Nowitzki providing 14 pts with six rebounds.

Overall, it was a classic Parker game. Cheers to all my fellow Spurs fan! But you see, it ain’t over until it’s over. Game 3 & 4 would be in the home of the Mavs and a lot can happen.

Rose @ the Garden

2009-04-19T03:56:00.000-07:00

The 2009 NBA Playoffs has begun! I'm so stoked. Here is the list of team ups for the first round:

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers [1-0] v Detroit Pistons [0-1]
Boston Celtics [0-1] v Chicago Bulls [1-0]
Orlando Magic [0-0] v Philadelphia 76ers [0-0]
Atlanta Hawks [0-0] v Miami Heat [0-0]

Western Conference

LA Lakers [0-0] v Utah Jazz [0-0]
Denver Nuggets [0-0] v New Orleans Hornets [0-0]
San Antonio Spurs [0-1] v Dallas Mavericks [1-0]
Portland Trailblazers [0-1] v Houston Rockets [1-0]

One of the most surprising game 1's of the first round happened at The Garden. With Kevin Garnett out this entire playoffs due to a knee injury, the Celtics can still pose a threat to the Bulls but not for long. The Bulls have rookie, Derrick Rose around to survive.

With 36 points, 11 assists, and four rebounds, Rose had made it clear that the Bulls have the guns to win against the defending champs. The Celts' Big Three is down to two, however, so there is that 'what-if' that have surely entered the mind of every Celts fan. "What if KG wasn't injured?" Would he have made a difference?

Well, Rose did that's for sure!..

Marbury a Celt? N-O W-A-Y!

2009-01-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

"It's speculation, I don't really have to think about it," said Ray Allen, Boston Celtics.

Honestly, I'm not even sure if he knows what he's saying. It's like welcoming the Celtics' downfall if this speculation comes true. I don't even want to think that someone had the guts to speculate regarding this incredibly troubling subject. Grrrhh!!

I like the Celts enough to stop me from getting really bored with their high stat in the association and pretty good comments from among critics. But if the speculations about New York Knicks' Stephon Marbury going over the Celts, I'd be exxxtremely disappointed. Anything that has something to do with Marbury is very very troubling given the problems he's caused to the poor Knicks.

Valley of The Stars, Yeah That's Right

2009-01-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

Phoenix, Arizona, will be host to the upcoming 2009 NBA All-Star. I'm getting psyched about it! I have my All-Stars and here are the non-Spurs players I've already voted for:

Forward: WEST >> Pau Gasol(LAL), Carmelo Anthony(DEN); EAST >> Kevin Garnett(BOS), LeBron James(CLE)
Guard: WEST >> Chauncey Billups(DEN), Chris Paul(NOH); EAST >> Dwayne Wade(MIA), Vince Carter(NJN), Gilbert Arenas(WAS)
Center: WEST >> Marcus Camby(LAC); EAST >> Dwight Howard(ORL)

There are only 17 days left to vote. So, start voting your favorite All-Stars now. Oh, there are no Suns [PHX] on my list yet. Well, I still have time to vote haven't I. I'd definitely want to see Steve Nash play for the West. GO WEST!

A very Happy New Year to All!!..

2009-01-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

Unsung Hero

2008-12-28T01:29:00.000-08:00

The rivalry between the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs is undeniable. The neck-and-neck game between the two was proven too much for Roger Mason, who brought the Spurs victory against the Suns. Apart from the Suns, there's also the Memphis Grizzlies that the Spurs ought to worry about particularly the guy named Rudy Gay. So, what's the Gay-solution that Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich applied? Have Bruce Bowen tail Gay and it worked in the favor of the Spurs, beating off the Grizzlies, 106-103, in a double-overtime game.

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 32 pts, five assists. And despite missing the remaining 1:13 minutes of the game with 6 fouls, Tim Duncan dished out 29 pts and five rebounds. Manu Ginobili meanwhile had his low profile night with 20 pts. The Spurs' BIG 3 is pulling off games the way they should. But there's another player wearing grey and white jersey that deserves almost the same credit as the Spurs' BIG 3 gets and that's Bowen.

The perimeter defender of the Spurs took charge of Gay and limited him with 5-to-18 shooting. “A lot of times, I start out off them, then I end up on them, and they don't know what's going on. I more or less give them a different diet of things and slide my feet. They try to feel my body, and I'm nowhere to be felt,” said Bowen. Knowing the damage that the Grizzlies' ace player can do, Pop knows that Bowen can do the lock-down defense he's good at while the rest finish the game off. Gay finished with 13 pts and 11 boards. O.J. Mayo, the Grizzly rookie, took 29 pts along with Marc Gasol's 15 pts, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.

With Parker and Bowen providing more pressure on the ball, the Spurs forced several missed shots and turnovers and start chipping away at the Memphis lead.

Missing A Lot

2008-12-28T01:17:00.000-08:00

Whoa, it's been what? A month since I posted my last blog post. Can't believe I've been missing a lot of games lately. And that's mostly because I've been sleeping a lot due to my work. [sigh] Oh well, I'm literally back that's what's most important.

Why Not Get Rid of Him?

2008-11-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

I'm actually planning on writing a new post here in my blog, this coming December 1st. But when this news caught my attention, I was itching to write about it. Here it is: Marbury Suspended.

Honestly, Marbury should've been suspended ages ago. Why? Because he's got this H-U-G-E attitude problem and I can't stand the fact that the New York Knicks is still sticking with him. Argh! Not that the Knicks are in my list of favorite NBA teams, but I just wanted him out of the NBA [period!]. He's really not a big loss to the team.

What's Wrong?

2008-11-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

The San Antonio Spurs have now lost three games in a row. The freshest loss came against their Texas rival, Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs were definitely not playing the way they should be as the Mavs won 98-81.

The first half of the game was plainly dreadful. The Spurs just couldn't find their rhythm on the offense while the Mavs kept on hitting the right shots. Jason Terry, who's had his first game of the season, totted up with 29 points and six assists. Dirk Nowitzki played his best too, I think, with 30 points and seven rebounds. On the gray and silver jerseys, it was Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Roger Mason, who finished with double-digits 22, 19, 11, respectively.

So, what went wrong with the Spurs? Why 0-3? Missing Manu Ginobili's spunk? Or getting younger isn't really the best solution?

Can They Stick With It?

2008-10-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

Too bad the Author missed the first set of season opener games. Anyways, back to back to business. The NBA season was officially opened at the Rose Garden with Boston Celtics winning 90-85 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The highlight of the game was Banner #17, which marked the 17th championship of the Celts. Apart from the Celts-Cavs game, the season openers also included a tough battle in the West between Greg Oden's Portland Trailblazers and Kobe Bryant's LA Lakers. The Lakers routed Blazers 96-76 with Bryant leading the scoreboards with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Back to East, the games continued between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won 108-95 over the Bucks. Luol Deng had 21 points. The excitement continues from there on.

The following day set a more exciting feeling in the air with the Phoenix Suns facing the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamo City. The Suns was offense-driven last season under Mike D'Antoni's mustache. But with defense-oriented, Terry Porter, coaching Steve Nash & Co., the Suns are in good shape right on the defensive end. And the first time they're going to display their new-found strategy is at the Alamo City, home of the Spurs. The Suns succeeded though in outplaying the Spurs and winning, 103-98.

The question is... Will the Suns outlast the best teams in the West? There are considerations to make. First, it's too early to think that the Suns will be as competitive as they are during the past seasons. A lot of things can happen as the season goes. Second is that they are very new to this playing style. Can they handle the sudden change? And lastly, the West is as crowded as ever with teams that play good defense. So, can they stick to their style up to the very end?

Biggie Just Won't Shut

2008-10-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

The Author's hands been itching to write after reading this Ball Don't Lie article about Shaquille O'Neal calling the San Antonio Spurs cowards.

"When you're down, I can see using that as a strategy. But when you're up 10, 15 points, there's really no need for that. That's a coward move. And he knows that. I'll make 'em pay for that."

As you know, my dearest reader, Shaquille O'Neal's ranting about the first round loss of the Phoenix Suns to the Spurs on last season's playoffs. No one can really blame him for being bitter, right? But calling another team's strategy cowardly is lame, just very lame. Hack-a-Shaq, the Spurs' strategy courtesy of Gregg Popovich, is like a slap on Shaq's face that his free throw shooting stinks. Yea, Shaq stinks on the free throw line and he's still having a hard time accepting that valuable fact.

So, instead of training himself to shoot free throws better this season, he just won't shut about the blunder his actually made during the Suns' last moments in the playoffs. He's simply having cold feet in admitting that he's slowly and surely losing his touch.

Peace out.

NBA Outdoors! Oh yeah?

2008-10-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

The basketball season has begun and new things have happened in the NBA. Apart from the trades, which are normal, there's this outdoor games. Okay, James Naismith created the game basketball as an indoor game for his students, right? So, the idea was really quite out-of-the-ordinary.

But David Stern surely has his ways. And unbelievably, he had the preseason tickets between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets sold out. The Suns and the Nuggets definitely had a wonderful view of the night sky in the Indian Wells Tennis Center. The game went well but it was pretty chilly that the players had to put their towels over their heads for some warmth. Allen Iverson, who's missed the game because of a sore knee, didn't have to endure the cold while watching his teammates win 77-72 against the now-defense-oriented Suns. Carmelo Anthony sat out for the second time with a sore finger while JR Smith did his own thing despite the icy-cold weather and finished with 12 points. Nene also had his share of the Nuggets' victory with 10 points.

The Suns played differently, giving more emphasis on their defense which is expected to improve. Among the problems of the cold Suns during the game was their turnovers and their poor 3-pt shooting. It was probably one of their lowest ever. Even so, Steve Nash played pretty well with 16 points while Boris Diaw took care of the ball with 10 rebounds. There's no one to blamed for the poor shooting of the Suns and Nuggets, who have showed offensive power during the past seasons, it's probably because of the wind slicing every now and then through the Indian Wells.

P.S. The new look of NBA.com is great!! Luv it!

PreSeason Opener Loss

2008-10-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen, and Michael Finley were there for the San Antonio Spurs but just as audiences. The three Spurs stars sat on the sideline to watch the game against fellow-Texan team, Houston Rockets, but wearing street clothes. Maybe Gregg Popovich, Spurs head coach, just didn't want to his three stars to get too tired before the regular season. But apart from keeping his stars healthy, Pop also wanted to watch how his young guns would execute their play, win or lose. "If we win, nobody cares, and if we lose nobody cares," said Spurs head coach.

The Rockets blasted the Spurs out of their way by winning 85-78. Ron Artest gave the boost for his team with 18 points and three blocks. Ex-Blazers, Von Wafer, added 14 pts while Luis Scola continued to do his thang! and finishing with 13 pts. Tracy McGrady was out with an injury. But he's really not what made the Rockets more special this season, it's the ex-Spurs, Brent Barry, who hasn't stretched out his muscles yet with three pts and eight assists.

On the Spurs' side, t'was Malik Hairston who's showed flair on the offensive end with 10 points and followed by Tony Parker adding eight pts with only 13 mins playing time. Ime Udoka also had his share of seven rebounds and Fabricio Oberto with seven pts. Kurt Thomas, Ian Mahinmi, and Salim Stoudamire, were out because of injuries.

The Spurs' preseason opener proves that there still a lot to improve, particularly on the defensive end. The Rockets, with a huge number of turnovers, has outrebounded the Spurs. Apart from that, the Brent-less Spurs were outscored beyond the arc by their rival. But Pop appears to be relax and confident with his team and I think that should be enough to keep the Spurs fan happy even with Manu Ginobili out.

Great Oden?

2008-10-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

The NBA season has begun with 10 teams playing against each other. The games included the Portland Trailblazers against the Sacramento Kings. Trailblazers' Greg Oden, who was missing in action last season, is back with something to prove. Oden and the rest of the Trailblazers displayed an offensive edge during the preseason opener, with 50.6 field goal percentage, and winning 110-81 against the Kings. Martell Webster got 15 points and six rebounds, while Joel Pryzbilla ruled the boards with 12 rebounds. Oden and Lamarcus Aldridge had 13 points apiece. The drive that Oden displayed could give the Blazers the ticket to the road where the New Orleans Hornets used to be. The newbie, Donte Greene, tried to pull off a great show for the Kings at the Rose Garden, with 18 points. But the effort wasn't enough to lessen the Kings' terrible offense.

It's probably just the start of the season and some teams are probably not putting all efforts on winning preseason games. But it's definitely the perfect time to stretch out and apply the new strategies and see what happens. For the Kings, it's definitely not a good start, specially pulling off a 28.9 fg%. Cheers to Oden, of course, he's definitely made a huge difference in the Blazers' rotation. And since he's never had the chance to show what he's made of last season, he's definitely going to make up for his team now and surely that's what the Kings and the other teams have to watch for. [anyways, there's something very classic about the name "Oden", don't you agree? or is it because Greg sounds a bit like great?]

Hornets, Back Again

2008-10-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Of all the teams that, I think, is going to be play better this season is the New Orleans Hornets. You see, they're not the newbies anymore. They know what and how it feels like to play during the postseason. And Byron Scott, Hornets' head coach, have surely made some improvements on his team particularly on David West.

The road in the West for the Hornets, however, was blocked by the San Antonio Spurs. The series of the Hornets against the veteran Spurs were among the must-see games in the West. Chris Paul & Co. were in the lead during the first two rounds of the series and the 4-time champions almost on the verge of elimination. Then, the veterans showed the stingy Hornets who they were playing against and tied the series to 2-2. But the Hornets hopes were high because the tie would mean that they would go back to the Big Easy, which houses the most unified crowd. The result was a 3-2 lead of the bees and a game 4 at the Alamo City. The Spurs turned it over for the Hornets and tied the series again. And then it was the deciding game, Game 7, the Spurs outplayed the Hornets and left the newbies in awe for what could have been a great season against the LA Lakers. It was the Lakers, though, who got rid of the Spurs during the Western Conference finals.

The Hornets team that has surprised everyone last season is all set for this season, bringing all the lessons [even memories] of the last season. Paul, West, & the rest of the Hornets' weapon? Well, it would definitely be their 3-pt efficiency and there's no doubt that their defense is pretty [I think, even better than the Lakers]. But there's still definitely more room for improvement specially in the West side of America.

It's going to be hard to thwart these bees from advancing to the top of the ever-thrilling Western Conference. It's going to be a blast in the West, I'm sure!..

Up and Coming Season

2008-10-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

Can you smell it? [inhale] Christmas is in the air but I'm not talking about it! I'm talking about the approaching NBA season. Can't wait to see the changes in the lineup of the San Antonio Spurs and the other teams. Actually, I'm looking forward to the Phoenix Suns without their former coach Mike D'Antoni, who's now the Knicks head coach. What's clearly new this season is the Oklahoma City Thunder that's wearing few new faces since it almost consist of the previous lineup of the outmoded Seattle SuperSonics. But before I go any further, here are some of the previews I got from the NBA. Starting from the defending NBA champions, Boston Celtics and the Western Conference champions, LA Lakers.

Boston Celtics: When you win 66 games and an NBA title, there's not much room for improvement. You might say that the only direction to go is down. And in the NBA, no team has repeated as champions since the 2002 Lakers. It's undeniable, the Celtics' defense was the best last season. The 66 games they've won meant the team was serious about getting to the top. But there's something a bit wrong with the Celts threesome and that could prevent them from defending their title this season. I still can't figure out what that wrong is, though.

LA Lakers: One thing is for sure, if the Lakers are going to defend their place as the Western Conference representative in The Finals, it’s going to come down to defense. Yeah, it's probably time to tweak a bit of the Lakers' ball game particularly on the defensive end. No problem with the offense because they still have Kobe Bryant, the nonstop shooting machine. There's Pau Gasol ready for the rebounds and Lamar Odom, who I expect to play better.

..It's going to be a lot different season. The Celtics are in good shape and the Lakers, I mean KB24, is determined to stay on top of the Western conference. The San Antonio Spurs, on the other hand, will have to play Manu-less until mid-December and Gregg Popovich made some huge changes in the lineup. But will it help the Spurs? Let's see.

Everyone's been talking about the Celts and the Lakers and how good they were during the regular season. And it seems like everyone's forgotten about the Phoenix Suns, who are still keeping quiet, counting out the time when D'Antoni decided to go with the Knicks. There's definitely "a lot" of talent in the Suns lineup, they were simply mishandled by D'Antoni. It's definitely a good thing that he's left the Suns and no one's going to baby Amare Stoudemire anymore. =p

It's exciting to write some more but I'm desperate for some sleep, so, that's all for now. Ciao! =)

My Other Blog

2008-09-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's time to introduce my other blog. There's nothing much going on with it but I promise you, I'm writing nothing about basketball there. Promise! =) Hope you can drop by.

Waive For the Best

2008-09-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

Reports regarding the New York Knicks waiving Stephon Marbury was one of best news I've got. Face it, the Knicks haven't given any serious threat to their opponents last season. Internal conflicts provided a huge disadvantage for the team and the best solution reasonable was to cut the cause for all of it, which for the most of the time involved Marbury.

It's probably time for the Knicks to get a fresh start, which can only be done without their infamous point guard. [honestly, the guy has an attitude] The author is already looking forward in seeing the Knicks' Marbury-free roster next season.

Achilles' Heel?

2008-08-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

The way he limped off the court, the author and everyone else who was watching the game between Argentina and Greece knew that Manu Ginobili was in BIG trouble. The author even thought that Popovich must've choked while watching the NBA star in pain. The cause for his limping was the same ankle that got him into trouble during the postseason.

What's troubling the entire San Antonio Spurs is that the MRI showed that the 6th-man-extraordinaire needs a foot surgery. With the looming preseason of the NBA, Ginobili's injury could mean that the Spurs need a more reliable backup [the 7th man, I must say]. As far as the author could see on the current roster of the Spurs, the only possible player to fill in the job of Ginobili is Ime Udoka. There is one problem, however, Udoka is not offensively consistent. So, literally there is no one in Pop's lineup, who could play as aggressive and as good as Ginobili.

The foot surgery is scheduled next week and after that the team will determine when can Ginobili return.

Not Knowing What to do

2008-08-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hmmm.. After the series of training that I've been attending, I kept asking myself. Where would I go next? Honestly, I don't know. But I'm really hoping I pass the next training.

Euroleague in NBA?

2008-08-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Now that the Beijing Olympic is over, the entries on this blog will be sluggish. But Halley will do her best to give you the juiciest news about the National Basketball Association and other interesting basketball leagues.

And yes, the author has found the juiciest news in the league which is the collaboration of the NBA with Euroleague. You heard the lady right. The Euroleague will set foot in America to play in the preseason games. The Lietuvos Rytas [Lithuania], FC Barcelona [Spain] and CSKA Moscow [Russia] could play against the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.

"We value the chance to partner with NBA teams in their own arenas. There are basketball fans of all types in North America whom we plan to entertain with our own distinct playing style. We are sure they will appreciate again that the international game has a lot to offer our sport," said Jordi Bertomeu, the Euroleague Basketball CEO.

It'll definitely be a blast! Can't wait for the next season. =)

The Long-Awaited Gold

2008-08-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

It has been three years and at last the Redeem Team of the United States has successfully redeemed their country in achieving the Olympic victory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball.

The undefeated team consists of Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, & Carmelo Anthony. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski along with assistant coaches Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan, & Mike D'Antoni has managed to secure the winning combination of the team despite the threats posed by Spain, Argentina, Greece, & many others. "It's an unbelievable feeling to win a gold medal for your country," Bryant said.

Spain, on the other hand, gets the silver after losing 107-118 to the USA. Wade and Bryant were the two leading scorers with 27 & 20 points respectively. And Argentina, who's just been routed during the semifinals played against Lithuania for the bronze and won. “The guys went out and did what they had to do,” said Manu Ginobili, Argentina.

The game against the Spaniards was a bit shaky at first but as soon as the Americans found their rhythm, they were back with the lead and finally finishing the game off as the victors. With this win, the United States gets a total medal count of 110, 36 gold, 38 silver, & 36 bronze.

Unimaginable Twist

2008-08-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

I am happy for Spain and the USA for advancing to the finals, but right now I'm very anxious about Manu Ginobili's twisted ankle. The sight of him in pain was unimaginable. “He was pretty bad. He was in pain,” said fellow-Argentine Carlos Delfino.

The injury took place during the early period of the first quarter. Suddenly, Ginobili was limping off the court and sat. The pain was all over his face. I actually wished, it was just a joke to trick the Americans. But it was no joke at all, he's badly hurt. Several tests must be taken just to make sure that his ankle is fine. Otherwise, the worst that could happen is to have him in a surgery.

I really hope he's fine.

USA and Spain Advances to the Finals

2008-08-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Redeem Team of the USA redeemed themselves by routing Argentina in the semifinals. The Americans won 101-81 and now headed in a battle against the World Champions - Spain.

During the first quarter, the North Americans had their biggest lead and the South Americans was left befuddled by their poor offense and turnovers. But the situation almost flipped as soon as the second quarter began. The Argentines were getting the right shots while the Americans showing panic. Despite all the efforts from Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, and the others, Argentina fell short and the Redeem Team just a game away from the Olympic gold.

Carmelo Anthony lead the US team with 21 points while Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Dwayne Wade each had 12 points. And Scola, for the S Americans, finished with 28 points and 11 boards. Also, Delfino was there fill out a vital place for his team by providing 17 points.

Prior to the game between the north and south of America, Spain thrashed Lithuania 91-86 for a chance to win the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball.

Semifinals: A Battlefield

2008-08-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

I heard one of the commentators say, "It's everybody's game." I said, "No. It's Argentina's game." And yes! They won! Argentina enters the semifinals after an exhilarating 80-78 win against Greece.

Argentina finally enters the semifinals after defeating Greece - one of Europe's best basketball leagues, in the quarterfinals. The 80-78 win didn't come easy for the Argentines because they were trailing, sometimes by two points and sometimes by one. With the lead changes and scores so close as every minute goes, it was just so hard to determine who is better. And then, the Greeks showed their weak spot – the 3-point area. It was on that arc that the Argentines took advantage of the game and grabbed the lead off the hands of the Greeks. Among the best 3-pointers of the night were Manu Ginobili, with 24 pts, and Carlos Delfino, 23 pts. There’s just one thing that troubles me though with regards to Argentina. I know their good and I love them but they ought to tone down their turnovers, which were mostly caused by their reckless passes. I don’t know if it’s one of their strategies but for me it could cost them a game.

Overall, Argentina is balanced team. They have superb defense. They have great shooters in Luis Scola (TC), Ginobili, Delfino, Andres Nocioni, Pablo Prigioni, and a lot more. But they can’t have a lot of turnovers especially now that they’re in the semifinals and they’re about to face the still-undefeated team USA. And it’s kinda scary that I can’t feel the presence of Kobe Bryant anywhere. I bet KB24’s going to try and bring Argentina down once the game begins.

The Redeem Team [if ever I’ve mentioned Dream Team for the current basketball team of USA on any of my posts, my sincere apologies] of the USA looks so perfect but that’s all because no team has been able to reveal its weakness. Not even the tough Aussies. I just hope the Argentines make the semifinals for the US team harder. From what I can see, Argentina is the team that matches well with team USA. Just please...reduce the turnovers....

Tomorrow, the Beijing Olympic Gymnasium will be a battlefield.

Quarterfinal Matchups

2008-08-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is it! I'm talking about the quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball. The final list of countries for the quarterfinals are set. First, let me present to you the four teams of each group.

Group A: Lithuania [4-1/A1], Argentina [4-1/A2], Croatia [3-2/A3], & Australia [3-2/A4]

Group B: USA [5-0/B1], Spain [4-1/B1], Greece [3-2/B1], China [2-3/B1]

Honestly, I'm impressed with team USA. Team USA is definitely the ultimate Dream Team of the country. Whoever it was that was behind the roster of team USA, I salute him! I really do. But I don't think the upcoming games is going to be easy for them. Well, I really hope Australia will give them trouble. Speaking of trouble, I'm a bit troubled with regards to Kobe Bryant. He is a member of team USA, right? Why can't I see his name on the stats, I just can't find his name. Where is he? I can't feel his presence.

Okay, now let's talk about Lithuania, Argentina, & Spain. I'm still can't believe how good the Lithuanians are, particularly Linas Kleiza. He's been on fire, lately. And the Argentines, as I admit to you my dear reader as my favorite, is more balanced than ever. Spain, who only lost to team USA, is very persistent which makes them very dangerous and even if I'm miles away from Beijing, I can see their hungry in winning the gold. I mean, every team is but Spain's aura is just too strong that I think they'll do everything just to win.

For Croatia, I think they haven't been very consistent both on their offense and defense. But there's not enough time to improve, though. Greece, on the other hand, was just lucky to have survived after being beaten by USA and Spain. But all in all, the Greeks have shown that they're good. The Australians have also proven that they have world-class players that just don't give up and that can be scary and tiring for their opponents.

And last but certainly not the least is China. To be honest, I never really thought China would survive the tough competition in Group B. But they did it, so, I'm giving them my full respect. I'm really expecting to hear loud cheers from the crowd once team China gets into the court. For the Lithuanians, who are planning on watching the game live at the courtside, I wish you all the luck to be heard.

These are the matchups for the quarterfinals:

Argentina [A2] v Greece [B3]
USA [B1] v Australia [A4]
Spain [B2] v Croatia [A3]
Lithuania [A1] v China [B4]

Russians Late Surge Came Too Late

2008-08-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

I've been really worried about the game result between Argentina and Russians. Because I know Russians don't give up easily. I'm just so glad that the Argentines won 91-79, with Luis Scola setting the pace for his team and scored 37 points with eight boards. Andres Nocioni also added frustration to the Russians with his 100% shooting, which includes three 3-pointers and nine boards. Manu Ginobili also poured in 12 points and four assists. The Russians fought hard but it was too late even for Andrei Kirilenko -the NBA star, who finished with 23 points. Well, it's unfortunate for the Russians to not make it to the quarterfinals. I think it's just tough to win get a spot in a group full of great players and I'm not just talking about Argentina, okay. I'm also talking about Lithuania, Croatia, and Australia. All these teams are good! And you know what? Team USA will find their match soooon.

I Really Can't Miss This

2008-08-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Vamos Argentina!

Apart from the fact that they are the defending Olympic Gold Medalists, the Argentines prove to be one of the teams to beat in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball. After throttling the Croatians with their defense, the Argentines finished off Iran to 97-82. The top scorers of the night were Manu Ginobili, with 32 points, and Luis Scola, with 20 points and seven rebounds. Despite the efforts of Iran particularly Hamed Ehadadi, with 21 points and 16 rebounds, it wasn't enough to pull out a win against the Argentines. The Argentines are IN in the quarterfinals but still they have to continue winning. What Juan Pedro Gutierrez have to say is, "Every game is important. We play Russia on Monday and it is important to win that game and avoid finishing fourth. They are European champions and it will be a tough game."

So, what's the fuss about being fourth in Group A in the quarterfinals? Well, it has something to with team USA who is currently on top in Group B. If in case they win against Spain who remains undefeated in Group B, they'll be the ones to face the fourth placer of Group A. I think teams from Group B should also worry about Greece, who lost against USA and Spain. And if the current standings don't change in both groups, Argentina will be the likely foe of the Greeks and that's the match that I really can't miss. Vamos Argentina!

Lithuania is Feeling Good

2008-08-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Whoa! That was one terrific game for Lithuania. And as for the Croatians, they simply didn't have enough power in defeating an undeniably good team. The Lithuanians thrashed the Croatians, 86-73, with Mindauqas Lukauskis pouring 20 points and Linas Kleiza of the Denver Nuggets finishing with 18 points and setting the 3-pt arc a hotspot for the Lithuanians.

The game was pretty tight during the first half and continued to the third quarter. But as soon as last quarter began, Kleiza began shooting three's and the Croatians were in their heels trying to make up for the large deficit that the Nuggets' star has done. And it was soon too late for the Croatians to defeat the Lithuanians, which remains undefeated with 4-0 in the record and clinching a sure spot in the quarterfinals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball. But let's not get too excited, the Lithuanians still has another tough team to beat and that's the Aussies. =p

Clash of the Titans

2008-08-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

As I watched the game between Croatia and Argentina last night, I reminded myself that the Croatians are as good as the other teams, so it could be a close fight. But as the game continued, the Croatians were suffering both on the offensive and defensive ends of the game. The Argentines were in control of the game and seized the chance of taking the lead right on the first quarter. What's probably worse for the Croatians was the 9-point score during the second quarter, which was the result of their poor shooting. And when it comes to defense, the Argentines displayed the best they had, stopping the Croatians from scoring in double-digits.

Andres Nocioni was the Man of the Night for Argentina, posting 18 points and eight rebounds. Following him was the Toronto Raptors star, Carlos Delfino adding 15 points, mostly three's, and six boards, sealing the game for Argentina and ruining the perfect record of Croatia, who is now tied with the Argentines in Group A.

As for Group B of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball, things are going smooth for the undefeated team USA. Team USA had no trouble defeating Greece 92-69 on Thursday, proving that they're better. I remember, the last time these two teams faced each other, it was the Greeks who ended up victorious. But since the Americans have proven that they're better and more mature, they deserve to be eventual winners of Group B if they win against Spainiards tomorrow, August 16. The court will definitely look like a battle field as soon as these two Group B titans meet.

The Toughest and most Exciting Preliminary

2008-08-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

After the loss to Lithuania, Argentina got back into the game and defeated the Aussies 85-68. Manu Ginobili finished the game on top with 21 points. Luis Scola also finished strong with 17 points and seven rebounds. Fellow NBA stars that stood out are Carlos Delfino and Fabricio Oberto with 14 points and 12 points, respectively. The offensive display of the Argentinians left the Aussies with nothing but a huge deficit before halftime and lasted 'til the end of the game. Now, the Argentinians are 1-1 and must prove that they deserve a rightful place for the next round. Well, that would be tough because the team they're about to face is Croatia, which surprisingly doesn't have a loss yet. But hey, my faith on Argentina will not falter. They'll win this because everybody on the team is up on their game and with the balance they have, they'll continue to be stronger.

Spain, is proving the world that they are the World Champions because until now they stay undefeated with 3-0 just like team USA. The latest victim of the Spaniards was the Dirk-powered team of Germany. The game seemed so easy for the Spanish team particularly the part of containing the Germans to just 59 points. Looks like team the Spaniards are hungry for a more challenging competition, whom they'll be facing this Saturday, August 16.

As the preliminary round draws to a close, games get a little bit tougher for the teams and that's the time when the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Basketball gets more exciting!

It's All About Winning

2008-08-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

The preliminary match of the 2008 Beijing Olympica Men's Basketball between Argentina and Lithuania left an air of excitement among Olympic viewers. The Lithuanians won, 79-75, against the defending Olympic champions. What's made everyone more excited was the following win of the Lithuanian team against Iran, 99-67. The team that has sitted at number four during the start of the Olympic is now at the top of Group A and certainly been showing signs that they're good.

Argentina, currently at number four of Group A, isn't the only team that's suffered a loss. China has just suffered a loss as well against Spain. The Spaniards eventually won, 85-75, against the Chinese despite their troublesome turnovers during the third quarter. Well, I think the host team needs to work harder or they'll find themselves out before the semis. The Argentinians, on the other hand, has to win the next game against Australia to stay on the right track. It's all about winning now.

One World, One Dream

2008-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't written any post here for quite sometime and that's because, hmmm... it's a long story. I might as well just forget about it. And yes, I've pretty much changed the layout of my blog, for a change. [wink]

What I'm writing about this time is the approaching 2008 Beijing Olympics, which my friends is about to happen this August 8, 2008 [8-8-8]. Yes, I'm excited. Who isn't anyway?! Of course, among the highlighted events that'll take place ing the Olympics and what I am and most of my fellow-NBA fans have been anticipating is basketball. Twelve teams will be battling it out for the Olympic Gold. So, who's in? On Group A: Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Iran, Lithuania, & Russia. On Group B: Angola, China*, Germany, Greece, Spain, & the U.S.A. Achieving the Olympic Gold is going to be hard this time especially for the defending Olympic Champions - the Argentinian team. And that's because of the more solid lineup of team U.S.A. and of course, you can't count out teams Spain, Russia, and Greece. There's also a women division for basketball, which includes Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Korea, Latvia and Russia on Group A. Group B includes China*, Czech Republic, Mali, New Zealand, Spain, and the U.S.A.

So, how does a team achieve the Olympic Gold? First, the 12 teams will have to trim down their number to eight, meaning the top four teams for each group will be the ones who are moving on to the knockout stage. During the knockout stage, the top four teams from both groups will face each other and the four winning teams will carry on to the semis. Then, the two teams who will survive the semis are going to battle it out on the Gold medal game. The team who wins will achieve the elusive Olympic Gold. So, which team's are you rooting for? Are you going for the Kobe-powered team U.S.A.?

Celtics Win the Finals

2008-06-18T01:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics for winning the series against the LA Lakers in six games. Celts won 131-92 against the Lakers, who were outscored during the second quarter. "I took a deep breath, looked up and said 'Hey, it finally happened, man. So many things were running though our heads on the sidelines. We were just in awe over there, can't believe what was going on. I still can't believe right now that I've got a championship under my belt," said Paul Pierce of the Celtics. This is the Celtics 17th championship but for Kevin Garnett it's a first that he surely won't forget. [clap clap clap] Cheers to KG! At last, he got what he's always longed for and he's not a T-Wolf anymore, he's a Celtic! =) Pierce is MVP?

The Road to the Finals

2008-05-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

The road to the Finals for the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons is over. Yesterday, the LA Lakers [4-1] won 100-92 over the defending champs that only took five games and today the Boston Celtics [4-2] took over The Palace of Auburn Hills with an 89-81 victory, the Eastern series only went up to six games. And so, it was over for the previous defending champs to return to the road where they once battled each other out that was year 2005. They were the better team during that time but this season was different. The Lakers and the Celtics were simply the better teams.

What went wrong with the Spurs? The defending champs simply didn't have the consistency on the offensive end. During the first round against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs didn't have that much troubl with regards to their shooting. But every game against the Suns was a hard-fought battle for the Spurs. Their offensive problems showed during their series against the New Orleans Hornets, which went up to seven games. And when the series against the Lakers began, the Spurs just hung in the balance because of their poor shooting and the supporting casts' lack of contribution on the offense. I know the Spurs played against the Lakers the best they could but they just weren't strong enough to go along with KB24 and the rest of the Lakers.

As for the Pistons, the Celtics outplayed them in four games and that was all. For the postseason record of the Bad Boys, they played neck-and-neck against an underdog named Anrei Iguodala and the Philadelphia 76ers. The way the Sixers played against the Pistons really shocked me but in the end it was the Sheed's company who won and advanced to the semis to face the Orlando Magic. I thought it was going to be another neck-and-neck battle but I was wrong. The Pistons prevailed after finishing Superman and his allies in five games. And off they went to the conference finals where the legendary Celtics await them. The series was then tied to 2-2, Ray Allen even said that the series felt like it was back to zero. Then after Game 5, the Celtics had the 3-2 lead. But the Bad Boys of Motown weren't the type who's going to lose their cool just because their behind. What's good news for the Pistons was that they were playing at The Palace - their home. But I guess being at home doesn't really assure you a win. The Pistons eventually lost to the Celtics and KG advances to meet KB24 in the Finals.

I don't really know where to go from here. Two of my favorite teams have been eliminated by the teams that are going to the Finals. Honestly, I want the Lakers to win because I want the loss of the Spurs to be worth it. So, I'll be rooting for the Lakers in the Finals. Why I don't like the Celtics? The answer is wearing the #20 green jersey. =p

Spurs in BIG Trouble

2008-05-28T00:18:00.000-07:00

Try to imagine someone writing from a computer with keys almost popping out from the keyboard. That's definitely how I'm typing as I write this entry. I'm disappointed, sad, frustrated, and everything negative that a fan could feel whenever his/her favorite team loses. Good news to all Lakers fans though, Kobe and his squad just crushed the Spurs to a 93-91 win at the Alamodome, getting the lead to 3-1. Kobe Bryant finished the game with 28 points and 10 boards. Lamar Odom sits next to KB24 as the second best scorer of the game adding 16 points and nine rebounds. Pau Gasol, who came to the Lakers to seek for a championship, contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. Good job for the Lakers.

The series was almost done for the Spurs as the last seconds winded down during the fourth quarter of Game 4. The Spurs have done their best and I know that they're feeling more frustrated and pressured more than ever. Imagine trying to win three straight games and two of those has to come from the Staples Center. Tim Duncan with 29 points also had 17 rebounds, while Tony Parker and Brent Barry added 23 points each. Barry's 3-point shot could've made the difference but the shot didn't came and the buzzer sounded and Game 4 was over for the Spurs. Manu Ginobili clearly wasn't himself with seven points and six assists. The Spurs are now down to 1-3 against the Lakers. The Spurs are on the verge of extinction, which slowly takes all the hope in me. I wonder how the Staples Center would look like in Game 5. What I do know right now is that the Spurs are in BIG trouble when they visit Hollywood.

"It's almost like zero-zero now." - Ray Allen, Celtics

2008-05-26T23:56:00.000-07:00

The Boston Celtics arrived at the Palace with the notion that the Detroit Pistons will sweep them two game in a row. But that didn't happen when the Celts won Game 3 over the Bad Boys. The Celts eventually got the 2-1 against and feeling confident about making another one in Auburn Hills. Well, not for too long because the Pistons would never allow such feat and so the Pistons fueled themselves to win, which they successfully did. The Palace rejoiced as their Pistons lashed the Celts with a 94-75 win, getting the series to 2-2. Good news for all Pistons fans.

What's amazing about Game 4 was that none of the usual top scorers of the Pistons took the top spot. The spot was taken by none other than Antonio McDyess, who finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds. He was followed by Rip Hamilton who scored 20 points while Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiel each had 14 points. McDyess was the star player on Game 4. I've always admired him, he just didn't have that much minutes to really prove his worth and now he's done it. Well done McDyess, you've carried your team to a crucial win this series.

While the Palace celebrated, the Kevin Garnett and the Celtics just felt the gravity of the situation of losing a road-game against an opponent like the Pistons. KG and Paul Pierce only 16 points apiece. Ray Allen wasn't feeling his rhythm that much with only 11 points. During the course of the playoffs, I noticed that Allen isn't helping his team that much. Is he injured? Is feeling unwell? Does he have early vacation plans? If he continues to be that way, KG and Pierce will need to find another backup. Don't ever think of Sam Cassell being moved to the starter because I don't think he'll be of any help at all. "They didn't play great. Kevin had shots that he normally makes, and he didn't make them. I just thought he didn't have shots when we wanted him to get the ball. He had elbow jumpers, not in the post," said Doc Rivers, Celts coach. But for the Pistons' coach Flip Saunders, “I thought this game was called very differently than any other game in the playoffs. There were a lot of ticky-tack fouls called.”

How Good is He?

2008-05-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

How good is KB24 in playing basketball? If only I have a measuring device to determine how good he is, I wouldn't have a hard time figuring it out. But What I do know is Kobe is so good that basketball becomes so easy when he's playing. I am definitely not a fan of Kobe Bryant, I just can't help but be amazed with the way he's played basketball and I think he's changed a lot. He's not the Kobe that has a glue on hand, where the ball just sticks with him throughout the game and him scoring more than half of his team's score. It simply seemed to me that the Kobe who won MVP this regular season was the one I've always wanted to watch. I hate saying this, but I'm starting to like the way he's carried his team and the way his teammates have improved despite his persistence of having a trade earlier this season.

KB24 has definitely matured and that has driven him and the rest of the LA Lakers to be better. Look where they are now. They are in the Conference Finals and battling it out against the defending champions, the San Antonio Spurs. The series is going to be more exciting with Manu Ginobili back on top form and Kobe just thrilled watching someone who showed as much determination as he does when playing basketball. As for the question about how good Kobe is? No one can really tell exactly how good he is. Kobe is simply good.

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“He hit a lot of big shots, he hit one shot that just made me laugh. It was right in Sasha’s face. It was just great defense,” said Kobe on Manu's face off against Lakers' Sasha Vujacic.

Spurs, Manu Helps Win Over the Lakers

2008-05-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

The San Antonio Spurs were down 0-2 against the LA Lakers. But with their playoff routine, the Spurs bounced back with a 103-84 against the Lakers on Game 3. But hey that was just Game 3 and the Lakers still lead the series to 2-1. So, I guess I really shouldn't be overconfident about the Spurs. But who wouldn't be very confident if the Manu Ginobili that we've always known has just returned to the AT&T Center and buried 30 points for the Spurs? After two games of poor shooting, Ginobili was back and hitting every crucial shot for his team. Tim Duncan finished with another double-double with 22 points and 21 rebounds. Tony Parker also had an outstanding Game 3 performance and added 20 points. The rest of the Spurs played well but they have to step up their games more and with much pressure at hand because I'm pretty sure Kobe Bryant and the entire squad of Phil Jackson will recover from that loss and will be determined to try win at the AT&T Center.

Speaking of the Lakers, Kobe topped their scoreboards with 30 points and was followed by his mate Pau Gasol with 15 points. Lamar Odom wasn't quite himself with only seven points and 11 boards. I've got to put that behind me and get ready for the next one," Odom said.
What's the one thing the Spurs are trying to avoid when playing against KB24? The answer is to prevent him from getting to the freethrow line, which he loved doing during the Lakers' second round series against the Utah Jazz. "It's something we try to do. Sometimes, you just can't, but if you give Kobe -- besides all those shots that he takes -- 20 free-throw opportunities, then it becomes really difficult," said Spurs G Ginobili. And indeed, Kobe only only had one freethrow and missed it. The Lakers' defense were also stretched with the presence of Robert Horry But PJ will certainly make some adjustments with Gregg Popovich's strategy during the previous game and we'll definitely see those changes on Game 4.

Lakers Victorious Over the Spurs

2008-05-24T01:13:00.000-07:00

The LA Lakers dominated in the Staples Center with a 101-71 victory against the San Antonio Spurs. "The building was electric and we just kept it going,” said Jordan Farmar. Kobe Bryant was definitely himself with 22 points. Lamar Odom, who said he didn't played well in Game 1, had a superb game finished with 20 points and 12 boards. "I just try to fit a role and find my niche and find my lane," said Odom. The Lakers' bench were productive, too, with Farmar contributing 14 points along with Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton with seven points apiece. "The past, maybe, week and a half, I've been feeling really good about my game," said Farmar.

On the Spurs' side, well, no one was actually feeling Game 2. Tony Parker had 13 points, Tim Duncan with 12 points, and Manu Ginobili [back to being the 6th Man] only scored seven points. Honestly, I really have no idea what happened to my Spurs. They were literally outscored by the Lakers in three quarters and again they were in the exact spot they were in during the series against the Hornets, which is to be down by 0-2. “We are going to go home and one of two things are going to happen. We are either going to make this a series, or not,” said Duncan.

“I think they might have had some tired legs,” said Lakers' coach Phil Jackson. They probably had tired legs but they can't make any excuses now, it's the conference finals. “We knew (fatigue) would catch up this game, not last game. We thought our last game was our best shot to get something here, to just dig down and go after it. Obviously, we didn't get that done,” said Popovich.

After losing two straight games to the Lakers, the Spurs are heading back to AlamoCity to try and win Games 3 & 4, which I really hope they get. Again, Games 3 & 4 are make-or-break games.

Spurs' 0-2 Deficit Repeat

2008-05-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

Do we [Spurs' fans] have to endure that same feeling when the New Orleans Hornets buried the San Antonio Spurs to a 0-2 deficit again? I understand if the Spurs are still weary after that strenuous job of eliminating the Hornets. But it's the conference finals and it's the Lakers that they're battling against. Okay, inhale-exhale. Breathe Halley, just relax.

Tell me, is there any reason for the Spurs to panic? Definitely. In fact, the Spurs have all the reasons to panic. The Game 1 loss was a bit easier to take in because they had a superb 1st half. But then again, it was the Lakers who won and showing the Spurs who rules in the Staples Center. And then came Game 2. Without any practice the Spurs allowed Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Lakers to finish them off with a 30-point lead. The Lakers won 101-71 against the weary defending champs and getting a 2-0 lead in the series. I am not feeling good about this series but I won't falter, I'm still going for the Spurs no matter what. Cheer up my fellow Spurs fans!.. =)

Top 5 Perimeter Defenders

2008-05-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

What separates him [Bruce Bowen] are intelligence and effort. Some consider him a dirty player beacause of how shooters sometimes land on his feet, but I don’t agree. - Stan McNeal

1 Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs
2 Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons
3 Raja Bell, Phoenix Suns
4 James Posey, Boston Celtics
5 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers/LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

The Bad Boys Tie the Series

2008-05-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

Let me hear you say! Deeeeetrooooit baaaasketballlllllll!! Yeah! The battle is definitely on between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. The so-called Bad Boys of Motown won 103-97 against KG and the Celts in Game 2, tying the series to 1-1. They are a team that is so consistent in being good that they elude greatness -- sometimes, it seems, on purpose. - Scoop Jackson

Now, it's time for Kevin Garnett to prove his prowess at The Palace in Games 3 & 4. I'm really loving this! Six out of the 10 Pistons were in double-figures. The leading scorer for the Pistons was Richard Hamilton with 25 points and was followed Chauncey Billups scoring 19 points. Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Antonio McDyess, had 26 rebounds all in all. This is definitely what you call Detroit Basketball.

On the greener side of the court, it was Paul Pierce who dominated with 26 points while KG added 24 points and 13 boards. Where was Ray Allen? Well, I think he's slowly getting in shape with 25 points and eight assists. Boston's Big Three wasn't able to hold on to their homecourt advantage as the Pistons wreak havoc during the first half. "The atmosphere's going to be crazy. We're geeked about getting back to our home court. The fans are excited, and now it's our job to take care of home court," said Rip Hamilton. Superb win for the Pistons!.. Bravo!..

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Spurs show their age in loss to Lakers When the Spurs win, it's about their experience but when they lose it's all about their age!.. Duh!! Such foolishness!..

"He [KB24] was doing a trust-his-teammates thing in the first half. He was checking it all out and seeing where his territory was going to be. In the second half, he went to work," said Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich.

“We don't want to go down 0-2 because it's very difficult to come back," said Spurs G, Tony Parker.

Game 1 Goes to the Lakers

2008-05-22T01:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know the LA Lakers won 89-85 against the San Antonio Spurs. And I also know that KB24 is this season's MVP, so, I'm don't wonder why he got 27 points and nine assists for the Game 1 win. "I knew I could make a push and once I made that push, it felt like it energized us a little bit, get the game back under control, get it under 10 where we knew we could be in striking distance," said Lakers' G Bryant. Next to Kobe Bryant on scoring is Pau Gasol with 19 points and seven boards. Derek Fisher only had four points and was cursed with five personal fouls, the reason for his 29-minute playing time. On the side of the silver and black jersey, it was Tim Duncan who dominated the scoreboards with 30 points and 18 rebounds. Tony Parker who only had 18 points had 10 rebounds to pull it off for his team. But I think it wasn't enough to steal one game from the Staples Center. Manu Ginobili, obviously, wasn't in perfect rhythm scoring only 10 points and four turnovers. Was he one of the Spurs who slept on the plane? The Spurs lost but I'm sure they'll definitely get back in Game 2. “We had a great opportunity and didn’t take advantage of it,” Gregg Popovich said. Game 1 was close and it will get even closer as the series continues.

The road to the Western Conference finals for the Lakers was easy. First, Kobe has to eliminate the combo named Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. The series was way to easy for the Lakers, imagine sweeping the Denver Nuggets 4-0. It wasn't really a shocker. Round 2, KB24 faced a more challenging opponent - the Utah Jazz. But even with the combination Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur, the Jazz fell short against the Lakers. This win gave the Lakers the ticket to the Western Conference finals. But during that time, the Spurs were still battling a make-or-break series against the stinging New Orleans Hornets. In the end, it was the pride of AlamoCity who ended up victorious.

If the Lakers had the easiest road to the Western Conference finals, for the Spurs it was the opposite. First round and the Spurs have to eliminate one of their toughest rivals, the Phoenix Suns. We all what happened to these two teams last seasons. And I think up to now, the Suns' fans aren't over yet with Robert Horry's hipcheck on Steve Nash. But the series was tougher for the Suns after being ousted by the Spurs to 4-1. Then, on the second round the problem for the Spurs continued with CP3 and the Hornets very eager to get into the Finals. It was definitely one of the toughest series I've watched which went to a grueling Game 7. Despite the homecourt advantage of the Hornets on Game 7, the Spurs still won 91-82. And what awaits the Spurs in the conference finals is another trouble with a leader named MVP this season.

Game 1 was a proof on how exciting the Lakers-Spurs series is going to be. The game was pretty close and it's going to continue that way until Game 7. Go Spurs!

Marbury + D'Antoni = Knicks >> Just Perfect

2008-05-21T02:19:00.001-07:00

I never really liked Mike D'Antoni and I think it's a good thing Steve Kerr, General Manager of the Phoenix Suns, let him go and be with his fellow stubborn, hard-headed fellas of the New York Knicks. I don't know, whenever I hear the name Knicks the face that gets into my head is Stephon Marbury. I really don't like the guy and I don't know if I'm going to be annoyed that the two people that I really dislike in the NBA are together at last. Or feel sad about the suffering that the team has to endure with these two guys. You're going down Knicks!!

Spurs Advances to the Western Conference Finals

2008-05-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

I told myself yesterday thay before I write something about Game 7 of the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Hornets series, I am going to watch it. And yes, I've watched the game and again it was an outstanding performance from the Spurs' 6th Man extraordinaire Manu Ginobili. Ginobili led the Spurs to a 91-82 win against the crowd favorites the Hornets. The Argentinean poured in 26 points for the win, along with the 17 points and 16 points from Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, respectively. Fab Oberto also played brilliantly with four points and nine critical rebounds. Everybody from the Spurs simply played their part, even the bench players played a vital part for the victorious Game 7 win. “I’m sure glad that’s over," said Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich.

For CP3 & Co. I definitely applaud them for being a good sport. The Spurs played better this time and they [Hornets] were simply not making shots especially on the third quarter. David West, as expected, was great with 20 points and nine rebounds. Chris Paul scored 18 points and provided his team with 14 assists and Tyson Chandler, who guarded Duncan the entire series, added 13 points and 15 rebounds. The Hornets really caused a lot of trouble for the Spurs, offensively and defensively. The few days of rest, I guess helped the Spurs recover and mull over about how to win against these Hornets in their home, where the Spurs lost with double-digit margins.

Popovich isn't the type of coach, who causes hype because he's is not very pleased with the way his players played. He talks little but with a lot of sense and humor that is why he is considered to be one of best coaches in the association today. He made good decisions in the past and is now reaping the end result. Take a look at Parker. When Parker joined the Spurs in 2001, he was this stubborn teenager with little idea on how to satisfy Pop. They've probably had arguments but that paidoff with Parker as one of the best point guards of today. What's nice about the relationship between these two is that Pop trusts Parker. During a timeout in the first quarter, instead of Pop holding the magic board for some coaching I saw TP holding it and instructing something to Duncan, who simply nodded and nodded. And when Pop went to their side, the game was about to start again. It was just amazing how Pop trusts his players. TP isn't the only one whom Pop trusts and is confident about. I'm talking about Ginobili. Just putting Manu as the 6th man and hearing nothing from him, made Pop to put a lot of trust to his Argentinean player. Of all the Spurs, Manu is the one who showed a lot patience. He just doesn't stop shooting and when he gets his rhythm the game is truly on for the Spurs. With the win against the Hornets, the Spurs are off to Hollywood to face KB24 and the rest of the LA Lakers. What I know is that this series is going to be a lot more exciting than the one with the Hornets and the Phoenix Suns. I wish to write more, but I still have work to do. So, I guess that's all for now. Have a great day!.. =)

The Semis is Almost Over

2008-05-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

The end of the conference is near and eight teams are still vying for spots in the Conference Finals. Okay, I mean there are only seven teams vying for the Conference Finals because the Detroit Pistons already had a spot after winning the series 4-1 against the Orlando Magic. The other Eastern Conference series is still on going with the Boston Celtics leading 3-2 against King James and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers. You know what I think? I think the Celtics will win this series, KG is very determined to win the ring and he knows that Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and everyone wearing the green jersey, shares that same attitude. King James is young with a lot more to learn. But I don't he has the perfect combination of Knights to help him earn the sweetest victory a NBA player could achieve.

Let's go to the toughest Western Conference semis I've seen. The LA Lakers are a game away from achieving a spot in the conference finals with a 3-2 lead. But I don't think the Utah Jazz is ready to give up. I think anyone who's watched the Jazz play last year during the conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs can really tell that the team has improved a lot - particularly Mehmet Okur. Yes, Okur was pretttty boring last season but now?? He's playing great and I can't put into words what I feel whenever I see him make shot after shot. It's still very unbelievable for me. [with sarcasm] KB24 isn't feeling 100 percent okay, but I don't think it'll stop him from reaching his goal and that is to win the NBA Finals. As for the Spurs-New Orleans Hornets series, which is now tied to 3-3, there were no excuses made and both teams have played their hearts out. But definitely, I'm going for the Spurs. I know some might think that they're old and they can't win against the young and stingy Hornets. I really don't care. I love the Spurs. And I know they enjoy playing against the Hornets despite the sleepless nights of coach Popovich and Manu Ginobili's incredible willpower after each loss. [Go Argentina!! << for the Beijing Olympics] I also salute the Hornets for playing outstanding basketball! David West really caught my attention and I kinda like him because at a young age, he's become a very versatile player just like his idol David Robinson, which ironically is a former Spur and who also played with Tim Duncan.

Spurs Tie the Series to 3-3

2008-05-15T21:42:00.001-07:00

Yes!! The San Antonio Spurs won 99-80 against New Orleans Hornets. The series is now tied to 3-3 and the Spurs go back to the New Orleans Arena. Game 7 will definitely be one-heck-of-a-game. The Spurs who dominated was Tim Duncan, with 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Manu Ginobili scoring 25 points. Tony Parker was subtle with only 15 points. Ime Udoka and Kurt Thomas helped boost the Spurs' bench. Udoka with 13 points and Thomas with nine boards. The Spurs' 2nd-Half Syndrome was gone. In fact, they outscored the Hornets during the 2nd half. Bravo!.. On the Hornets side, David West came out of the game because of back problems, leaving him with only 10 points and 6 rebounds. Chris Paul had 21 points and eight assists. The second leading scorer for the Hornets was Tyson Chandler adding 14 points and followed by Peja Stojakovic with 13 points one of which was a 3-points.

Of course, the Spurs played better at home but they were just a game away from being eliminated by the Hornets. They can't afford to lose, not on Game 6 and definitely not on Game 7. The last game is a few days away, so, both teams can rest. The Spurs need to take advantage of this time off to close this series with them at the top. The Hornets are tough at home and this is the "real" Game 7 and the only way to the Western Conference Finals where the LA Lakers or probably the Utah Jazz will be waiting. [with fingers crossed] The Spurs will win this series.

Hornets A Game Away from the Western Conference Finals

2008-05-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

Cheers to the Detroit Pistons in making it to the Eastern Conference Finals! Whoever faces them, the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers, I know they'll put up a good fight. What worries me right now is the 3-2 status of the New Orleans Hornets, who just won 101-79 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Hornets is just a game away from the Western Conference Finals and I definitely don't want them to win this series. I respect the Hornets [a lot] and coach Byron Scott, but it's the Spurs who I want to continue on. During the first half of Game 5, the Spurs were looking good with a 4-point lead. But as soon as the second started and the Hornets began to shoot effectively, they [Spurs] were slowly dismantled. Their 2nd Half Syndrome only shows when they're playing in New Orleans Arena. Manu Ginobili was the Spurs' top scorer with 20 points and seven assists. Tony Parker added 10 points while Tim Duncan contributed 10 points and 23 boards. “Hopefully, I can make an adjustment and do better in the next game,” said Spurs forward, Duncan. Game 5 seemed like the repeat of the first two games, which were all awful games from the Spurs. “Now we are in a really tough situation,” said Ginobili.

At the first half, Chris Paul wasn't still on his rhythm and the only Hornet in double figures is David West. Both of them turned over the game during the 2nd half leaving the Spurs with just 11 points during the 3rd quarter. The Spurs, I guess, got lost along the way like they did during the first two games. I'm really really hoping that the Spurs win Game 6 and win this series. I know, there'll be articles about the Hornets showing the Spurs how old they were. That's alright with me, the losing team always gets the worst criticism anyway. So, whatever happens on Game 6, I'll take it as it is.

Game 5 in Progress

2008-05-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

Game 5 is in progress and the San Antonio Spurs lead by four points. Manu Ginobili, the Spurs' top scorer for the first half, has 15 points. David West, on the side of the New Orleans Hornets, started hot with 22 points.

The Palace rejoices as the Detroit Pistons, at last, ousted the Orlando Magic 91-86 and returns to a very familiar spot - the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Big Easy Won't be Easy

2008-05-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

During Games 3 & 4, the San Antonio Spurs showed the New Orleans Hornets what made them the defending NBA Champions - defense. From a 0-2 deficit, the Spurs bounces backs and ties with the Hornets to 2-2. “We are in a different situation now, but we have to try to do it the same way,” said Spurs' guard Manu Ginobili. As the series shifts back to the Big Easy, winning for the Spurs won't come easy. The Spurs' effective approach to the Hornets' stiff defense and surging offense is to play stiffer defense and not stopping Chris Paul. Yes, you heard me right [I actually heard this from one of the commentators] the Spurs aren't stopping CP3. Instead, they'll be stopping everybody else. Surely, CP3 can't win the game by himself. Very clever move from Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich. The question now is, will the Spurs hear each other out for this approach with the L-O-U-D crowd that is sure to fill the New Orleans Arena today? We'll see!..

Check out this article from Mr. John Hollinger, which is all about history that kinda irritates me. "OK, you might think, but if the Spurs take Game 5 tonight, then it's definitely over, right? Wrong. [sigh] So, what really makes the Spurs Go Round??