Have a Happy New Year Everyone!

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:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnpR-frhggfX_uPwG4EL9tFxulFFIYvHSZd0SLWx4wFlj1eBpbU1-s-lP6_HuJKeJC7RCbPnYt6q_DrYMvBeY4pA0ySDdBrgJZ4bkd66eFU-sv3w7PqOhKRJpS4CWi8ASg2pII9MJQ4UN/s640/New+Year+2012+High+Quality+Images+and+Wallpapers-11.jpg

After Game3, Who Will Lead the Series?

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

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 :)

2010 NBA Playoffs: One More to an Oust?

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

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: Game On!

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

The Classic Parker Show

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.

What's Wrong?

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?

The Regular Season is Coming To an End

>>I love this photo! loL!!

The playoffs is a few days away and the crowded West is teeming with great teams. Among the teams that'll surely make it to the playoffs are the New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, LA Lakers, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and the Phoenix Suns. The Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors are still vying for the 7th and 8th seed on the Western Conference.

Of all the teams I've mentioned, the Spurs is closest to my heart. [ain't it obvious?] Some people don't understand the Spurs and they call them dirrty players, which I don't they are and all Spurs fans would definitely agree with me. Of course, I'm a fan. I defend the Spurs whenever their haters keep hatin' on them. But hey, a fan is not just a f-a-n. A fan is someone who shares the same passion with the team he roots for. Whether you're a Spurs fan, a Suns fan, or whatever type of fan, you'll definitely say that "hey, I love my team and win or lose i'll back them up!" So, as much as possible I try to respect other people's opinion about their teams. But sometimes, there are fans that are fond of the blame-it-on-them type of mindset, which I don't really understand. I'm pin-pointing other team fans here. What I'm saying is true because fans of different teams often exchange hurtful words. Very childish. I admit, I was once this childish fan. But not anymore. I do write about KB24 and telling you, my readers, that I don't like him. But that's about it. It stops right there. Are you digesting what I'm saying? Well, anyways, that's all I want to talk about right now.

The playoffs is about to start soon. The teams are slowing gearing up for the real battle. On the crowded Western Conference, expect that the 1st round will seem like the Finals. Hopefully, the San Antonio Spurs make it on the way to the Finals despite the hurdles posed by their rivals.

>>>POWER RANKINGS

Here are some of the NBA photos that I really like. >> Since when did Dirk learn to ballet???

Spurs V Mavs

The Texas sweep huh!.. "We don't want to see Texas again. It's a great state, but we don't want to see these three teams any more. They're too tough," said coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics. Of course, the Texas trio [Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs] are tough teams and I've never seen a tougher Western Conference than this season. Why these trio are tough to beat? First of to Houston, which despite the absence of Yao Ming can still pull off a long winning streak. As long as T-Mac stays healthy, the Rockets are a team to beat. Second stop is Dallas. The Dallas were reshaped with the coming of Jason Kidd. He's a great advantage for the team when it comes to the offensive end. And obviously, the Mavs are offensively better and are trying to improve defensively especially with the loss of a great defensive player in the name of Diop.

But despite all the efforts coming from Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, the Mavs are on the 7th spot of the Western Conference. And they've recently lost two straight games against winning teams that is very unlikely of the Spurs' situation now who's won back-to-back games against losing teams. The Mavs are about to face their fellow-Texan team in their homecourt soon. The team's best weapon against the Spurs is their offensive edge. If they play tough D, don't ever let Erick Dampier get early fouls or they'll end up playing the slow-paced style of the Spurs. Of course, anything can happen and I'm not saying that the Spurs got this game on their bag. What I'm trying to say is that the Mavs lack of D strategies cannot easily beat a defense-minded team like the Spurs. If they want to win, they have to take the lead as early as possible and don't let Manu Ginobili out of their sights!.. And lastly, watch out for Kurt Thomas!.. =p Spurs-Mavs game by Bill Fitch

No Time To Waste Dirk

The acquisition of Jason Kidd in exchange for Devin Harris, Desagana Diop, & three other players meant that the San Antonio Spurs now have a chance to win against the Dallas Mavericks. Devin Harris & Desagana Diop were two of the Mavericks that really caused trouble for the Spurs. But since they're off to New Jersey now, the Spurs have a bigger chances of winning against the Mavs. And that's just been proven with the Spurs winning 97-94 against the Mavs. Every time we come down here it's a highly contested game. It's a big time rivalry," said coach Avery Johnson.

Yeah, I know that Mavs are still working on things but the clock is ticking. If they don't find their rhythm in time, they'll find themselves vying for a good spot in the playoffs which isn't gonna be easy. The Western Conference is tight and teams are few games behind the number one team, which is "currently" occupied by the LA Lakers. Jason Kidd is a great addition to the Mavs but they are still weak without the defense from Diop and quickness of Harris. They need to shape up now. Coach Avery is probably having migraines in shaping the Mavs into a greater team. Greater than the Mavs who faced last year's upset against the Golden State Warriors.

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Jason Terry charging at Bruce Bowen

Where Will He Be?

Brent Barry is now a free agent and has 30 days to choose which team he wants to be in. Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets*, Dallas Mavericks*, and Boston Celtics are trying to buy him out of free agency. The San Antonio Spurs, the team who traded him and Francisco Elson for Kurt Thomas, has showed interest in getting Barry back but they'd have to wait for 30 days for him to re-sign. 30 days is a long waiting period for the Spurs and Barry might decide to sign to a new team. I'm just crossing my fingers that Barry would return to the Spurs. He's a great 3-point shooter, understands the system of the Spurs, and is comfortable with his former teammates. Plus, his family lives in San Antonio. I really have no idea where Brent Barry will be, I just hope he chooses San Antonio.

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Shaq should go back to Earth and do what he's gotta do << the Suns' key to win

The Trade Craze

The trade deadline is getting to a close. Teams are trying to trade some of their good players for better ones to get into the playoffs. Some of the famous trades include the acquisition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics. The most talked-about trade was Shaquille O'neal going to Phoenix Suns in exchange for the star-player Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Everybody questioned how efficient Shaq will be with regards to his efficiency in playing the Suns' way. The most recent trade was of the Kidd-to-Dallas trade. Yes, Jason Kidd has returned to Dallas and he's played as a Mavericks against the New Orleans Hornets. And now, the hottest buzz is the three-team trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle Supersonics, & Chicago Bulls. If this trade becomes successful, Ben Wallace will possibly go to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Another trade comes from the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs plan to trade Francisco Elson and Brent Barry [!!] for Kurt Thomas. I understand why Pop chose Elson but Barry? I just don't understand it. Barry has been playing great. If not for his injury, he would've proven to Pop that he's worthy to remain as a Spur. "I wish there had been a local bar that was open," said Barry. And FYI the teams that are showing their interest on Barry are the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets!.. Argh! What can Kurt Thomas do to the Spurs now? Can someone tell me? Oh and by the way, Manu Ginobili rocked the Spurs game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Manu poured in 44pts and Tim Duncan adding 24 pts with 14 rebounds. Spurs won 100-99.

5 Mavericks Is Equal To Kidd

Yes, the Jason-Kidd-to-Dallas deal is final. Kidd is going to Dallas in exchange for 5 Dallas Mavericks players, namely: Devin Harris, Desagana Diop, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassell, & Moe Ager. Trading Devin Harris is the biggest mistake in the deal. I'd rather trade Jason Terry for Kidd, but I'm no Mark Cuban. [sigh] He's [Harris] a great player, I actually think he's much better than Jason Terry. What do you think? Is the Kidd trade worth it? ``It doesn't matter what moves you make, if they're not playing well for you, if you're not jelling, if you don't find the right rhythm or the right people to put on the court at the same time, it's not going to work for you." -- Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs.

Gay's Jumper

The place is the FedExForum arena at Memphis and the name of the Grizzlies hero is Rudy Gay.

Rudy Gay, jersey #22, is the culprit for the 2nd loss of the San Antonio Spurs. With only 2.4 secs left on the 4th quarter, Manu Ginobili dunked and tied the game to 85-85. But then, Rudy Gay hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Grizzlies a win against the Spurs. The Memphis Grizzlies outscored the San Antonio Spurs during the 1st half. But after halftime, the Spurs defense throttled the Grizzlies. Tim Duncan had another double-double collecting 16pts and 14 rebounds. Manu Ginobili got 20pts, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Spurs' bench provided some depth adding 39pts. But unfortunately, Rudy Gay was at the right spot, at the right time and hit the winning shot. The Grizzlies won 88-85.

Rudy Gay's winning shot, nice view, eh ;-)
Grizzlies' Gay Halts Spurs' Comeback Bid

Injured list:
[SAS] Francisco Elson[sprained right ankle]and Tony Parker[sprained left ankle]; [MEM] Pau Gasol[jammed big toe] and Mike Conley[labral tear, right shoulder]

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Feels like the playoffs, huh? Nah!.. It's just the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns or should I say Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki. Hmm. The Suns gave the Spurs their first loss at the Alamo City on their previous game. The Suns gave their effort to play good defense against the Spurs. But today, is a different story the Suns didn't beat the Mavs at the American Airlines Center, Dallas, for a reason I could not very well comprehend. The stats tell me that Suns should've won. They were shooting 52% while the Mavs were contained to 46%. What happened? Nash had an airball on a crucial moment of the game, maybe that was it. It would've made a difference like the shot Rudy Gay made. [sigh!] Nowitzki had a stunning 31pts. Erick Dampier was the king of the boards getting 10 rebounds. The flaw of the Suns play would probably be their rebounds. They were outrebounded by the Mavs. The Mavs won 108-105 against the Suns.

Mavs Hold Off The Suns

Rematch : Suns [17-7] - Spurs [18-5]

Today, we're expecting a rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns. The Suns will visit the Alamo City for the first time this season. As I have mentioned on my previous entry, the game between the two top teams in the Western Conference is going to be intense. The San Antonio Spurs have home court advantage but will they be able to keep their clean record at home? Or will the Suns be the first team to win at the AT&T Center? To Suns fans, peace out!

>>Suns-Spurs Preview @ NBA.com

Another news about the Suns-Spurs game, Tony Parker and Francisco Elson might be unable to play. I bet the Suns will take advantage of it.

"Without Parker or Duncan they seem to be doing pretty well anyway. They're a great team and they've got a lot of weapons. It just cuts down one of their main weapons. Obviously, it benefits us, and we've got to take advantage of it." - Mike D'Antoni, Suns coach

"I have nothing against Robert at all," Nash said Sunday. >> That's what a real sportsman is, unlike somebody I know. Peace out!.. =P

And oh! the Dallas Mavericks are facing the Orlando Magic. Ohh I love this, there are a lot of great games to watch today!..

2 games at the AT&T Center

Even though I wasn't able to watch the game, I know that the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks is a close game. Manu Ginobili's so hot with 37 pts [season high] and with 6 assists. Coach Avery Johnson of the Mavericks made some changes on his roster, putting Jason Terry back on the starting lineup. And so did coach Gregg Popovich [Spurs], putting Manu Ginobili back in the starting lineup. From what I've read, the crowd went loud when Manu came in as a starter. Duncan, on the other hand, sat on the courtside watching as his teammates lash the Mavericks. During the 1st half, the Mavs were up by 7 points but that lead was trimmed down during the 3quarter as the Spurs' offense woke up from a slumber. [which they usually do] Then, the Spurs had the lead and the Mavs weren't able to catch up. Sorry sister. [she's a BIG fan of the Mavs esp of Dirk Nowitzki] She wouldn't believe me that the Mavs won't win against the Spurs especially that they're playing at the AT&T Center. Hahaha!! Better luck next time sis!.. =P

"He [Manu Ginobili] was the hot man, and everything we threw at him he took advantage of." - Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

The next game of the San Antonio Spurs will still be at the AT&T Center against their Western Conference rival [last season], the Utah Jazz. Hmm. I'm not really excited about this game. Why? Because I find the Jazz dull that's all. I'm not saying the Jazz ain't good, they're actually playing much better now compared to the last time they played against the Spurs. The Spurs are the Jazz's nemesis? Really? Then, let Boozer-Williams & Co. bring it on at the AT&T Center this Fri. The Spurs are now 11-0 at home, let's see if the Jazz could change it to 11-1.

11-0 or 10-1

Manu Ginobili, the San Antonio Spurs 2nd leading scorer, has an injured "left" index finger to be exact. Well, I wouldn't be surprised of all his drives through the basket. He can be very agressive at times and he doesn't mind using his body to block opponents. Mind you, he's very flexible. With the two main players of the Spurs injured, how will the rest of the squad win against the Dallas Mavericks this coming Thursday? Playing defense is what the San Antonio Spurs is all about but without the Big Fundamental and their 6th man how will they do that? There's still Bruce Bowen I know. Oh well, I just hope the Spurs could contain the Mavs well or they'd have to savor their first loss at home.

>>The evolution of Dirk Nowitzki on AT&T Center?