Lakers Rally Back; Win Series 3-2

Kobe is one step closer to winninig it all for the first time without Shaq. He brings with him a new , young nucleus, a team that made Jerry West and the Laker fans very grateful last night. Kobe led the lakers in a third quarter rally to come back from a 17 point deficit with a series of impressive jump shots, including jordanesque fade aways reminiscent of Phil jackson's former dynasty days. Odome added 13 points and nine rebounds, topped off with a Paul Gasol three pointer at the end of the game serving as an exclamation point defying the Lakers dominance in this year's post season. Fans cheered as former Laker legend Jerry West prsented the trophy and gave special credit to Bryant, emphasizing the strong athletic role model he is to children and young people with his superior leadership skills. Kobe was very humble and refreshed as he soaked it all in. It may very well be a revival of the laker-celtic rivalry with Boston leading three games to two currently. Even the Pistons had a memorable rivalry with Los Angeles. Get ready to hear chants of Beat L.A. by one of those eastern teams and prepare to see some major "showtime" from Los Angeles. Either way, it looks like a fantastic series.

Lakers Go Up 3-1, Despite Conterversy

Kobe Bryant had 28 points and led the lakers to a two point victory last night, despite a non-call on what many considered to be a foul by Los Angeles in the final seconds against Brent Barry. Los Angeles led all the way. San Antonio got close and tied multiple times. The play was in the final seconds of the game. Brent Barry took a three and there was some contact. It appeared to be away from the ball. Either way, no type of foul was called. San Antonio came within two within the final seonds of the game and that was their chance to win. It was very controversial. For if Barry had taken the three foul shots and made them all, he could have won the game

Duncan and Spurs Stay Alive

Despite a sore ankle and ripped fingernail, Manu Ginobli told the rest of the NBA world he was still alive with a thirty point performance, while Tim Duncan outplayed Gasol and Otum with 22 points and 20 rebounds, putting the Spurs back into it with a crushing 103-84 victory. The Spurs led almost all the way despite a few unsuccesful attempt the lakers had at rallying back. Bruce Bowen forced Kobe to shoot jumpers. Kobe was held to a mere one assist in the entire game and no fouls shouts in the first half. Kobe did make three treys from way out in a short frame of time in the fourth, but it was too little too late. The momentum has definitely shifted. Duncan has proved that Gasol and Otumn cannot handle him when he is on his game. The Lakers lacked team chemistry. There was very little circulation on the offensive end and just plain poor defense down low. Duncan took advantage. Los Angeles is mostly a young team, besides Kobe and Derek Fisher, and since they led 2-0, I felt there was a neccessary sense of urgency they just didn't feel strongly enough. Everyone thinks the Spurs can some back. I think Phil jackson and the Lakers are going to readjust, make neccessary changes. I think Kobe will step up as well as pass the ball more while encouraging his teammates to do so and I think it will be Los Angeles in six.

Boston Silences Critics for Now; Takes game 3

The Boston Celtics have silenced critics to some degree by finally winning one on the road. Garnet had 22 to lead the Celts past Detroit, 94-80, to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Boston had lost their first six road games of this postseason, getting a bad wrap about their defense and overall recoursefulness as a team unit, especially from me. Well, they did play much better defense, which has improved quite dramatically over the past three games or so. They are contesting more shots, attacking the boards, and have also become somewhat stronger down low. I may have eaten my words when I said they didn't have what it took. I predict Boston wins in six games. Any takers?

Kobe and Lakers Rally Past Spurs

Kobe Bryant scored all but two of his 26 points after halftime to lead the Lakers in a fourth period rally past the Spurs 89-85. Bryant also finished with nine assists and five rebounds. The Spurs led most of the way. San Antonio jumped out to a 65-45 lead before San Antonio worked their comeback starting with a nine nothing run. In the fourth, two straight baskets by Bryant cut the lead to three with eight minutes remaining. After Bowen's three- pointer with 7:38 left, the Spurs went stone cold for nearly six in a half minutes. Los Angeles took advantage by scoring ten straight points to cut the defecit to four. Bryant gave L.A. the lead for the first time in the game with 2:42 left. He proved worthy of his MVP status by hitting a clutch jumper twenty four seconds later to make it 85-81. The Lakers used the same method Phil jackson used to defent talented centers like Ewing and Hakeem in his days in Chicago by waiting until late in the game to double team Duncan. This should be an interesting series. Both teams are hungry, smart , experienced , and talented!

Warmed-Up Boston Takes Game One

Well, what's better, ateam with fresh legs or a well rested team? In this case it's the team with fresh legs. Garnett had 26 points and nine rebounds. Pierce added 22 to lead the Celtics past the Pistons last night in game one of the eastern conference finals. It marked Boston's fifteenth straight home win. The Pistons, however, were at somewhat of a disatvantage with Chauncy Billups playing but not 100% back from his pulled hamstring. The lesser known, but talented Rondo fared well against him, with five steals and seven assists. Boston scored the first eight points of the game. They led by one at halftime and held Detroit to just seventeen points in the third quarter. Boston has lost all six raod games this post season.

Blast from The Past

The New Orleans Hornets right now remind me of the Charlotte Hornets in 1993. They had rookie Alonzo Mourning in his prime, Larry Johnson, and Mugsy Bogues. They, much like New Orleans now, had a young, energetic nucleus. Two years later Mourning was traded and Johnson was severely injured . Had Johnson had never gotten hurt and the threesome would have stuck togetherthey would have atleast went to the conference finalsor maybe furhter during the span Jordan was out of the league. They also had great supporting players. Guard Kendal Gill had a jordanistic game and J.R. Reid had finesse in the paint and was a promising defensive player. When I was in junior high, there were a lot of Hornets fans.

Spurs Sail by Hornets;New Orleans Still Looking Promising

Ginobli had 26 points, including four crucial free throws in the final minute to seal the win for the Spurs,91-82. Parker added 17, including a key jumper in the closing minute. Duncan had 16 points and 14 boards. Despite an aging San Antonio ball club, Horry insist experience and team smarts give them an edge. "People always talk about you being old becuase you don't dunk anymore or slash as fast as you used to slash, but we're one of the smartest teams in the league and we have a very good coaching staff. "We didn't make stupid mistakes tonight," says Horry. Hornets coach Byron Scott was proud his team of young rising stars led by Chris Paul took the defending champs to a game seven after not even making the playoffs last season. Scott insisted, "You have to go through some things before you can really understandhow good it's going to feel when you get to that next level."

Lakers Take 3-2 Lead

Despite not attempting a single shot, Kobe Bryant still manged to score 26 points and led the Lakers to a 111-104 victory over the Jazz. Los Angeles can advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004 with a win this coming Friday. Bryant's back spasms kept his shot selection limited, though he shot well at 6 for 10 from the floor and 13 for 17 from the line. The Jazz kept the game close until late in the fourth quarter, with all five starters scoring in double figures. Deron Williams led with 27 points and 10 assists. The Jazz got within one with 2:18 left, but after a Lamar Otom dunk, followed by Utah trey, Gasol went on to score the next four points and put the game away. Bryant did not practive between games four and five, concerned about his back.

Does Boston Have What it Takes To Make it in The Playoffs?

Boston seems to be following the same sour melody to postseason play as many teams who dominated in the regular season have sung to. With the exception of Kevin Garnett, where is their all around defense? Two major flaws in game four; taking unreasonable shots and and little inside activity are part of what has plagued them-especially on the road. They have little all around defense, no major movement in the paint, and when their big three isn't shooting well, they have litt,le if any recources to go to. Though it's very moving the Celtics or good again, they may not have what Russell had or Bird, Parish, and Mchale had. Those guys had awesome defense, perimeter shooting, and an inside game. I don't think they have what it takes to win it all this year. How about it readers?

Lebron Leads Cavs, Evens Sesries

Swarmng defense high lighted by and expolisive Jame with 1:45 to go sparked the Cavs' victory. Though the game was close throughout. Boston's game was plagued by unreasonable shout selection and failure to get inside late into the game. Cleveland fans were going crazy.

Doc Rivers: "No Heroe Shots"

In game five, Doc Rivers was expaining to his Celtics, "No Heroe Shots." I thinkg that could be wrong with the NBA these days. The power isn't handed down to just two or three guys. It seems as if everyone wants to be the hero, and even the heroes try to be the hero to much. Does anyone disagree or agre with me. Holla back!

Booze Leads Jazz to Victory; Fisher Gets Booed

Carlos Boozer raked in 27 points and tied a career playoff high 20 rebounds to lead the Jazz passed the Lakers 104-99, giving the Lakers their first postseason loss. A more controversial issue taking place during the game was the surprising amount of boos Derek Fisher(former Utah Jazz member) got from the Utah crowd. Last year, Boozer made a dramatic flight croos country to play for the Jazz in a an overtime victory over Golden State. He moved to Utah so his baby daughter, who was dying of cancer could receive special treatment on her eye. In this game, he had flown from New York, becuase his daughter needed treatment their. If you ask me, this is an examp[le of just how cold and uncompassionate people are becoming in this day and age. What do you think readers?

Kobe Takes MVP Honors

Kobe Bryant, who led the Lakers to the best record in the west, won MVP honors Tuesday. Kobe said he couldn't have doner it without his teammates and says a championship would be a fairy tale end for the season. Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, anb King James received the remaining votes.

Hornets put Spurs in a Hole, Lead 2-0

Chris Paul's showtime style, glamorous dribble followed by a floating shot off the glass served as an exclamation point to the defending champs as New Orleans won 102-84, and put the Spurs in 0-2 deficit for the first time since 2001, when they were swept by Los Angeles. Chris Paul had thirty points and Pete Stovojak added 25 points including five three pointers. The Spurs went through similar lapses as the Suns did when San Antonio won their first two games aginst them in the previous round. They included third quarter meltdowns among other things. TNT analyst Kenny Smith, like myself, think it will be Los Angeles and New Orleans in the Western Conference Finals. What do you think readers?

Boston wins Game Seven

Yes, Boston beat the eighth seeded Hawks.99-65, to win the series and to mark their first game seven win since 1988, a game coincidentally against the Hawks back whe Bird Parish and Mchale were the big three. They made phenominal adjustments on the defensive end, puttin pressure in the paint. Celtic legend Bill Russell will tell you that's how it's done. Body language was apparent throughout the contest with Williams hitting Rando with a hard flagrant in the third and Garnett foulling hard when the Hawks were taking the ball out. The Celtics simply did not allow the Hawks in the paint and forced them to shoot jumpers, which the Hawks had no success with. They held the Hawks to just four free throw attempts in the first half. Boston is learning early in the playoff what kind of approach is neccessary for teams they can't match in various aspect of the game-Atlanta's athleticism being one of them. They may have to go to this same defensive approach when they face the explosive Lebron and the Cavs on Thursday. The thing is though, Cleveland can hit some of the jumpers the Hawks would miss. Readers what do you think? Do the Celtics have the defense to withstand Lebron and the Cavs?

Why Boston and Atlanta are having Game Seven

Many people in the basketball world are flustered as to why the number one seed Celtics, who went 66-16 in the regular season, are playing a game seven against the eighth seeded Hawks. It has to do with two major factors.
1.) Experience as a team unit:
Boston's Kevin Garnett, Ray Allan, and Paul Pierce have only been together for one season. This is their first post season together. Certain aspects of team chemestry and knowing who can do what when is still in somewhat of an experimental phase as far as the post season goes.
2.) Atlanta's overall Athleticism
Atlanta is a much more athletic team. Their superior overall vertical leap gets them more offensive boards-a neccesity in winning big games. Every time Joe Johnson gets doubled and has to give the ball up, he has a teammate whose quick with the ball ready to take his opponent off the dribble while the celtics are defending in rotation.
If anyone can add to these factors or even disagrees or has a different perspective on things, by all means, make yourself heard, before game seven!

I was wrong, CelticsHawks go up a game 7

Alright everyone, I was wrong about the celtics and the Hawks. Boston doesn't seem to have a strong enough of an advantage over them.However, the home team has the advantage in this series. Thank God Boston has the homecourt. Who knows what their fate will be. I remember when the 1993 Suns won fifty nine games in the regular season with the best record in the league. The Lakers took them to a game five(at that time first round series had best of five set up).Hey, this is what makes sports exciting. Once again, feel free to comment........I get lonely here for cryin' out loud. I feel like I'm talking to myself!