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Wizard Goes to Cavaliers

2010-02-23T00:29:00.000-08:00

Antawn Jamison being traded from the Wizards to the Cavaliers will give the Cavaliers that much-needed scoring lift that they need from the forward position. Although Anderson Varejao is a great high-energy player, his offensive skill set is lacking.

Shaquille O'Neill is still a presence in the paint even though his scoring prowess has declined. With the addition of Antawn Jamison, the Cavaliers possess a much more balanced front court and back court scoring attack.

Antawn gives the Cavaliers the luxury to play from the inside-out or the outside-in due to his versatility as an all-around player. Because of LeBron James' "Pass First Score Second" mentality, he can now feel very secure in the fact that he has a very capable scorer in Antawn Jamison to help shoulder the load. This will help to alleviate alot of the scoring pressure that has weighed heavily on LeBron James during his short, but stellar career in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers now have a three-pronged scoring attack with LeBron James, Moe Williams, and Antawn Jamison. The addition of Antawn Jamison may be the saving grace that Cleveland fans have been wishing for because LeBron will now probably feel that the organization is putting legitimate pieces around him to make a run at the title. That's key(!) due to the fast- approaching expiration of LeBron's contract.

Good luck keeping the King from leaving the court, Cleveland!

Celtics Lose in California: Must Be the Water

2009-12-28T23:48:00.000-08:00

The Boston Celtics have had a grueling two days. After beating the Magic on Christmas Day, they come to California and may have got caught up in the relaxing atmosphere that usually engulfs people who enter the Golden State.

First, they lose to the Clippers on Sunday and tonight they lose to the Warriors. Were the Celtics tired? We have to presume so. Hopefully they can catch their breath tomorrow before heading out to Phoenix to play the Suns on Wednesday night.

What killed the Celtics tonight were turnovers. They hit an all-time season high of 25. Yes, turnovers can kill a team.

However, I was more disappointed with Rajon Rondo's seemingly lack of confidence. Although I only caught the second half of the game, from what I saw, Rondo refused to take open shots...and just when you thought he was going to shoot, he passes it someone else. We'll just say that Rondo had an off night, but we're really hoping that Paul Pierce gets healthy soon. But then, perhaps Pierce's absence is giving Rondo the chance to develop his leadership skills.

With less than 6 seconds in the game and the Celtics down by three, I was so sure the ball was going to Ray Allen so he could tie the game… However, his 3-point game tonight was a little shaky.

Oh, well. We’ll just blame the two-in-a-row loss to the California water.

Dwayne Wade's Nasty Dunk on Anderson Varejao

2009-11-13T22:23:00.000-08:00

This nasty dunk from Dwayne Wade on Anderson Varejao has to be put on the records...

It's been awhile since I've seen a downright nasty dunk like that. The Cavaliers ended up beating the Heat 111-104.

Here's a video with highlights from the game...

Early Prediction For the 2009-10 NBA Season

2009-11-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

The 2009-2010 NBA season is underway and judging from the past week's games, I can already see the final two: Lakers and Celtics.

Pau Gasol is currently sitting out because of a strained right hamstring. Even without him the team looks pretty strong with Ron Artest's defensive presence.

Here's a recap of the Lakers' first game against the Clippers...

On the other coast the Celtics have come out the gate with a commanding 4-0 standing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had acquired Rasheed Wallace who adds even more years of experience to an already vetted team. Although Wallace did seem like he was starting to lose his mojo awhile back, I think bringing him on will reenergize and inspire him.

Here's a recap of the Celtics' first game against the Cavaliers...

But then again...who knows, the Magic might just surprise us again like they did last season...

Why Ron Artest Is Good For the Lakers

2009-07-13T17:34:00.001-07:00

Ever since the announcement was made that Ron Artest was going to the Lakers, there have been many people chiming in with their opinions. There are those who think it was a smart move while many others are thinking, Ron Artest with the Lakers? Meh...not so much.

I happen to side with those who believe that Ron Artest can definitely add value to the Lakers. For one, Artest is an aggressive defensive player who brings a great deal of energy to the court. Artest is active, he's good on the boards, and he plays with intensity.

One thing I love about Ron Artest: He's entertaining. Sure, the Lakers are situated in the entertainment capital of the world and surely Kobe Bryant entertains us with this jaw-dropping shots and plays, however, bringing Ron Artest onto the roster will provide plenty of laughs. He's a comedian without even trying. You may recall this interview where Artest said that Charles Barkley was overrated...

Here is the recent interview of Ron Artest where he talks about being a Laker and "hoodalizes" ESPN...

It'll be interesting to see a relationship between Phil Jackson and Artest will play out. Although Artest's temper has calmed down alot, perhaps PJ's meditation techniques will calm him down even more ;)

Love, Peace, and Hoops!
~Maria

Why The Lakers Are the Champions

2009-06-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the L.A. Lakers for taking home the trophy!

They deserved it considering all the hard work they've put in the past few years. The team came up short last year, but this year they proved how much they really wanted to win the championship.

I lost a little respect for Kobe after all the drama that happened with the alleged rape, but regardless, I have to give him props for overcoming that obstacle and staying focused on his work.

There's no doubt that Kobe is one of the greatest players of all time. He's grown and matured a great deal and I love to watch him in action - whethere he's on the floor throwing down jumpers or when he's on the sidelines coaching him teammates.

Because after all is said and done, basketball is a team sport. The Lakers played as a cohesive team and that's why they are the champions. Everyone on their team played their role and they played the game with passion and intensity.

You can't ask for anything more!

Special kudos to Phil Jackson for winning his 10th championship. We don't call him "The Wizard" for nothin'!

I'll leave you with a video clip of the Lakers parade that took place today...

~Peace, Love, and Hoops!
Maria

Video: Rafer Alston Talks About Trust and Mentality of the Magic

2009-06-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

In this video David Aldridge of NBA.com interviews Rafer Alston about the trust issue and the mentality that the Magic have going into Game 5...

So the Lakers are up 3-1, but it could have easily been the other way around. The Magic threw away that game by missing free-throws. However, let's also give credit to Derek "Mr. Clutch" Fisher for dropping two 3-pointers at the end.

Rafer Alston was a no-show in the second half of Game 4 - a move that I thought could have hurt the Magic, but then again I do have to admit that Jameer Nelson did step up and provided some great passes to Dwight Howard.

It doesn't really matter to me who wins the title, but I would like to see Magic win one more game just because I don't want the season to end!

Love, Peace, and Hoops,
~Maria

NBA Finals 2009: Game 3 Pre-Game Analysis

2009-06-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

Will the White Wizard, Phil Jackson, continue his strategic dominance in the realm of the Magic?

Although Phil Jackson has mapped out the better game plan in the two previous games, I have to give Stan Van Gundy, the Mage of the Magic, credit for making a great play call to free up Courtney Lee for the lob to potentially win the game at the end of the fourth quarter.

Game 3 Analysis:

Will we see the marquee match-ups that we have been anticipating since this series began? The answer to this question rests solely in the disposition of the refereeing core. If the referees decide to manage and not control the game, then I believe we're in for a very competitive and exciting contest.

Key Notes For the Magic:

Rafer Alston will be key in determining whether the Orlando Magic will play a competitive game for the full 48 minutes. Jameer Nelson's return has disrupted the chemistry due only to the fact that Rafer Alston has led the Magic through all of the challenges and adversity that the playoffs have thrown at him.
I feel that you should always stick with the leader who has led you to success. In all reality, Jameer Nelson is Orlando's franchise point guard, but he is not in playoff condition nor is he in playoff basketball rhythm. Therefore, his overall effect on the Orlando Magic's team has been less than stellar. Rafer Alston is obviously disconcerted about how his role on the team has changed since Jameer Nelson's return.

Stick with what got you success!

Key Notes for the Lakers

The Candy Man (Lamar Odom) can!
Pau Gasol's gall!
Kobe Is On A Mission!

Peace, Love, and Hoops,
~JEDI

Video: NBA Finals 2009 Game 2 Recap and Key Notes

2009-06-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a video recap of Game 2 where the Lakers were able to secure a 2-0 lead over the Magic:

Key notes:

The pre-game article from game 1 has proven to be prophetic. When Lamar Odom comes to the game focused and intent on being effective, the Lakers are invincible. I read an article in which the author concluded that Lamar Odom's spurratic play from game to game was more than likely a result of his excessive sugar intake. Lamar Odom's level of play would decline in the second half of games because he would have came down from his sugar high. As we have seen in the two previous games, Lamar Odom has been able to sustain his focus and energy levels for the entire games. So much for the doctor's theory: The Candy Man Can!

The referees kept calling bogus fouls which interrupted the flow of the game throughout the whole first half. Basketball is a physical sport. The referees need to allow the marquee players some leeway to showcase their talents which is the sole purpose of the NBA Finals.
Fans pay to see the high-profile match-ups and they deserve to get their money's worth. The referees have totally taken over this year's NBA Finals sporting event, and I as a fan am very disappointed that the commissioner hasn't stepped in and rectified the situation.

2009 NBA Finals: Post-Game Analysis and Key Notes

2009-06-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

Although I did predict the winner of game 1 of the NBA Finals Series, I did not expect such a lopsided outcome.

As I stated in the previous post, I feel that Lamar Odom will be the determining factor in whether the Lakers would ultimately win the championship, although his contributions in Game 1 on the offensive end of the floor were less than impressive.

Odom's presence on the court alone contributes greatly to the overall confidence of the Laker's second unit - and that is why his versatility is such an asset to the team. He may not provide alot of scoring punch on any given night, but he still brings rebounding, defense, and assists to the table.

Other than Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom is the most important piece to the Laker's championship puzzle.

The referees need to adjust their game calling style according to the team's matchups. I personally wanted to see how a Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum matchup would pan out. But due to the ref's not allowing aggressive play - which has been a tradition in the NBA since I began watching the sport in the early 80's - some of the marquee matchups that hard-core basketball fans have been anticipating watching will hopefully be seen in upcoming games.

Needless to say, the Lakers did need a ton of scoring punch from their second unit because Kobe Bryant carried the bulk of the scoring load from buzzer to buzzer.

Key Notes For the Lakers:

Pau Gasol visibly more aggressive than I've ever seen him which is frightening for the opposition.
Phil Jackson, aka "The White Wizard", does not seem phased by Van Gundy's Magic.
Bynum's foul trouble was not an issue in this game, but he needs to figure out how to stay on the court.
Kobe Bryant can't be stopped.

Key Notes For the Magic:

They looked defeated as a team midway through the 3rd quarter. The Magic's energy and body language gave all indications that they felt defeated before the game had entered into the 4th quarter of play.
Rafer Alston should have played the bulk of the minutes due to the fact that from the lead guard position, he led a team that he has only been with for half of a season into the NBA finals.
If Jameer Nelson can get his game stamina up in a short period of time, then that greatly increases their chance of winning two games in the series.
Stan Van Gundy conducted himself like a consummate professional by continuing to inspire his team during every timeout even when there was all indication that the game was over. Very refreshing to see.

Peace, Love, and Hoops!
~JEDI

2009 NBA Pre-Finals Analysis

2009-06-02T21:58:00.000-07:00

The Prediction

I feel that this series will end in 5 games. Lakers will win 4-1 because Orlando depends on their 3-point arsenal for the bulk of their scoring.

Why the Lakers Will Win

Orlando has the most dominant Big Man in the NBA, but they fail to utilize the versatility and size of their greatest strength, Dwight Howard. Instead of the traditional inside-outside game strategy that the majority of the teams in the NBA use, they do exactly the opposite by initiating their offense from the perimeter and only passing the ball down low in moments of desperation.

The Orlando Magic has an excellent young team, but I feel they lack the experience of playing in a series that has so much riding on it. I also feel that there is not one player on the Orlando Magic squad that has the same hunger and mental approach to the game (i.e. killer instinct) as Kobe Bryant.

If Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol are mentally prepared to play a focused, intense series, then the Lakers will be invincible.

The X-Factor

Phil "The Wizard!" Jackson is the X-Factor because the teams are pretty evenly matched as far as talent goes, but Mr. Jackson has a more level temperament than Coach Van Gundy.

Van Gundy's passion often fuels his team, but that same passion has sometimes been interpreted to be afronting to the referees. If he doesn't control his emotions, he could cost his team some valuable points due to technicals.

Scoring

Each game will be a high-scoring affair because throughout the playoffs neither the Lakers nor the Magic have shown the willingness to play a sustained, attacking defensive type of game for a full four quarters.

Peace, Love, and Hoops!
~JEDI

2009 NBA PLayoffs: Cavs and Magic Game 6 Highlights

2009-05-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

In case you missed the heart-stopping game last night, here is a clip with highlights...

Check out more NBA videos over at NBA.com...

Can You Blame LeBron For Being Silent?

2009-05-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

LeBron James has done everything right this season. He's scored, he's assisted, he's rebounded...He's been a coach, has provided great analysis during the games, and let's throw in the fact that he's even out-dressed most NBA players this season.

So he leaves Orlando in silence...Can ya' blame the guy?

People have expressed their disappointment in LeBron for not shaking hands with the Magic players after the defeat in game 6.

On ESPN Jalen Rose said that he was disappointed in James for not being professional enough.

Imagine being the MVP of the league. You've been touted as one of the best in the game...a legend...Your team had the best record by winning the most games during the regular season...You plowed through your opponents in the post-season...

Everyone thought FOR SURE your team would be one of the last ones standing, but you couldn't make it to the finals?

Wouldn't you be angry? Disappointed? Emotional? Want to be by yourself?

Maybe LeBron will come out in a couple days and share his thoughts, but for now, I think the king deserves a little peace.

Other news article of interest: For the Cavs, LeBron's silence speaks loud enough

Our Favorite Lebron/Kobe Nike Commercial

2009-05-31T02:05:00.000-07:00

We happen to think that the "Unstoppable" Nike commercial featuring Kobe and Lebron is one of the funniest commercials so far in the puppet series...

We're wondering if Nike will come out with new commercials now that Dwight Howard has come into the scene.

On a side note: Wouldn't it be interesting to see how a Charles Barkley puppet would look?

An Unexpected Match-Up: Lakers vs Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals

2009-05-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

Whoever bet that the Lakers would be playing the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals is probably seeing the money roll in right now. This was certainly an unexpected match-up...

It's Superman vs The Black Mamba!

Many basketball fans were hoping for a Lebron/Kobe show-down - especially with all those Nike commercials featuring the two basketball All-Stars - but unfortunately we won't be seeing that this year.

Tonight basketball fans around the world witnessed the Orlando Magic dominate the court against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals which took place on their home court. Dwight Howard was cast as the lead in which he displayed physical toughness and ended up with an all-season scoring high of 40.

So, who will take the title this year? Stay tuned for amazing things!

Basketball news stories of interest:

NBA Finals schedule:
Game 1: at L.A., Thursday, June 4, 9 p.m., ABC
Game 2: at L.A., Sunday, June 7, 8 p.m., ABC
Game 3: at Orlando, Tuesday, June 9, 9 p.m., ABC
Game 4: at Orlando, Thursday, June 11, 9 p.m., ABC
Game 5: at Orlando, Sunday, June 14, 8 p.m., ABC
Game 6: at L.A., Tuesday, June 16, 9 p.m., ABC
Game 7: at L.A., Thursday, June 18, 9 p.m., ABC

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2009-05-30T22:53:00.001-07:00

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2009-05-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

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