You're a Champ [again]

Definitely give a BIG congrats to Kobe [Finals MVP] on winning number 4 and his first without Shaq. And another congrats to Phil Jackson who became the #1 coach with 10 championship rings. Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol added 14 and 15 rebounds in a 99-86 win in Game 5 over the Orlando Magic. Even Shaq was happy for the Kobe saying this on his twitter page: 

"Congratulations kobe, u deserve it," O'Neal said on his Twitter page. "You played great. Enjoy it my man enjoy it."

The climax of the game was when Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer and Ariza hit two 3-pointers on a 16-0 run that took less than three minutes. Another reason why the series is over is because the Magic ran out of magic shooting 8 for 27 downtown.Phil maybe done now that he has 10 and he may want to go out on top. Also Jackson's contract is up and he's hinted at retirement. Bryant doesn't believe it though. 

Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 18 points, but 10 of them came in he fourth quarter and he shot 6-for-19. Dwight Howard finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Move of the Night

One Win Away

At halftime I thought for sure that the Lakers would have lost an oppurtunity to go up 3-1 but there was still another half to be played. That is when the rally started for the Lakers who won in OT 99-91. Give all the credit to Kobe Bryant, I meant the role players. Trevor Ariza scored 13 points in the third quarter to lead the spark and hit a big three to tie the game. Then you have Robert Horry, [sorry] Derek Fisher who hit the big shot to send the game into overtime. Then Fish hit another one to close the casket for the Magic who blew their chances to steal one again. The reason why the Magic are one game away from being eliminated instead of tying up the series: Free throws! [we won't even blame it on the last play]. If they learn to make those [Dwight & Turkoglu] they would have closed the game out. Now they have to win 3 straight games. OH WELL! On Sunday the Lakers will look to close them out in 5 games. 

Notes: Kobe responded from Game 3 by scoring 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists; Odom & Gasol had a big game on the defensive side; Howard had a good game [besides the FTs] scoring 16 points and 21 boards; they went to the line 17 to the Lakers 0 in the 4th; Van Gundy should really rethink his play calling too [haha..full court trap..with a 3 point lead?]; and will when he learn to put his best players on the floor [Alston played 0 min in the 4th and OT and Lee played only 7 min] ha good stuff!

Welcome Back!

With a 119-92 victory, the Lakers will be moving on to the NBA Finals next week[2nd straight season]. The Lakers played an almost perfect game which was surprising compared to their recent games where they had problems winning back to back games. Any other team would have celebrated tonight's victory, not the Lakers though. They knew they were suppose to return back to the Finals, they are focused on winning it this year. What may help them in the Finals is the fact that they have been tested a lot more than last year's run. I mean they are really focusing, Ariza said he will not sleep until they win that ring. Kobe played superb though scoring 35 points on 12 of 20 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 10 dimes. He played so great George Karl said that Jesus would have had trouble guarding him. Now I don't know if I wouldn't take it that far [Karl better watch himself] but Kobe played extra good. Of course you have to give his team credit because they are the reason they are advancing. He had help from Ariza [17], Gasol [20], and they key Odom [20]. You have to blame the Nuggets for not winning this series because if they would not have turnover the ball at the end of Game 1 & 3 they would have swept the Lakers. Oh well good season though Nuggets

Note: Today was Carmelo's birthday. I am sure he is "thanking" Kobe for the present. Oh yeah almost forgot have to give credit to JR Smith. He had a great night and that's why I thought they would win. Billups only had 10 which was definitely not enough. 

Lost in Denver

The key reason the Lakers lost [101-120] was because they got out rebounded 58-40. Between Kenyon Martin, NeNe, and Chris Anderson, they had 42 of them. The Lakers had no answer for the Nuggets who was even playing with a sick Carmelo Anthony [he shot 3-16]. The Nuggets got big help from JR Smith who finally showed up and scored 24 points. What hurt the Lakers were their bench play. They got no help from them unlike the Nuggets. Bench players like Birdman [Chris Anderson] and Linas Klieza came off and made a great impact. Kobe on the other hand had 34 points but just from 10-26 shooting [game like Lebron's Game 3]. Just like Lebron, Kobe did not get any help from anyone else so instead of going up 3-1, the Nuggets tied the series at 2 going back to LA. If the Nuggets play like this they may win the next 2 games because the Lakers are showing their split personalities again. I do know that Kobe needs a guard to step up beacuse Kobe and Gasol cannot be the only one playing hard. Odom or Gasol need to step it up big time.

Nuggets Lose it at Home

Game 3 [in which I thought the Nuggets would take] the Lakers came away feeling a little bit better about themselves after winning 103-97. Tonight was not a 1 or 2 point final score but the game still was not decided until the end. Not to be out done by his counter partner, Kobe scored 41 to lead all scorers. Pau Gasol continued to step up for the Lakers has he chipped in 20.  Denver was leading by 8 until the Lakers Kobe sparked a comeback scoring 13 4th quarter points [you could blame JR Smith since he did draw a technical]. Bryant hit a 3 himself that was big because it put the Lakers up 96-95. What sealed the game was a repeat of Game 1. Trevor Ariza stole the ball for what looked like the Nuggets ran the exact same play & got the same result. Ariza would make the two FTs to put the Lakers up 99-95. If the Lakers could have made some more of their FTs the game could have been a little less stressful as they went 31 for 45 [68%]. It may have been from something in Denver because they all looked exhausted after the game [even Kobe missed some FTs]. I mean I understand this is the playoffs but they looked more tired than a high school team after first day of tryouts. The Lakers did catch a break as they held Melo to just 21 points [shooting 4-13]. Billups had a decent game but not enough points to lead his team to a victory [18 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists]. Game 4 will be in Denver again and will be big because anything but a win for Denver may wrap this series up. The key will be their front court picking up their shooting percentages [30.6%] and they keep people out of foul trouble.

I love the NBA Playoffs still! Especially after Lebron & Kobe keep going back and forth with their performances. I wonder what Lebron will have in store for his fans & the NBA tomorrow. 

What a Surprised....[not]

Ok, so the Magic and Lakers won Game 7. Wohoo! No, they were suppose to win and end their series a couple of games ago. All is well though.

The Magic won because they finally found their shooting stroke as they went 13-21 downtown. The Magic are hard to beat the days they are own fire from 3-point range. They shot an amazing 51% from the field as for most the series they have been struggling to find any kind of rhythm. Hedo Turkoglu led the attack for Orlando having 25 points and 12 assists. Dwight Howard had 12 points and 16 boards. On the other hand, the Celtics played pretty good considering they were playing short hand for majority of the series [Powe, KG]. Gotta give them guys props for not giving up and playing hard but they really missed KG. This may have been the last year for them to make a run because they are getting older and young teams are giving them a run. Now the Magic are put up against the rested Lebron & Cavs, who are looking forward to another Finals appearance. I say Cavs in 4 but probably 5. Unlike Charles Barkley who was tripping on the show saying the Magic will beat them. Crazy guy, Barkley he is.

On the west side, the Lakers showed dominance as they came out on fire and beat the Magic by 19. The game was never close from the beginning and I did not expect it too. Gasol led the Lakers by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds. What also helped the Lakers was the fact that the Rockets shoot just 37% the whole game. I mean they started the game by missing their first 12 shots. Aaron Brooks could not get anything going as the Lakers actually decided to play defense tonight [13 points, 4 for 13]. The Lakers better not have a series like this against the Denver Nuggets because I promise Chauncey Billups will make them pay BIG. If Brooks scored easily I expect the same from Billups. I want to say the Lakers in 7 but I have a feeling it could be the Nuggets in 6. Just for the simple fact, you never know what Lakers team will show up. I mean it is like they are bipolar. 

Both series should be good but I am just ready for the Finals right about now!

Not a Game 7

Because the Lakers have two different identities and the Magic did not end the series when they had their chance, both will be playing a Game 7 on Sunday. 

I mean, the Lakers could have and should have ended this in Game 4 & 5 after they heard that Yao was done [EPIC FAIL]. No what do they Lakers do, come out flat and get beat. So what if you won Game 5 by 40 points, you still have to win one more in that's where tonight came in. They thought the Rockets would lay down but once again they were mistaken and took another L. The Rockets opened the game up on a 17-1 run [thanks in huge part to Scola: 24 points 12 rebounds]. They won't get to Finals playing like that I can promise you that. The Nuggets have some veteran players [Billups] and they will take advantage on the road. I mean, I expected the Lakers to play a lot more consistent than what they are playing now. Going into Game 7, I don't know what to think. I want to expect to see Kobe, Gasol, & Odom to actually show up but who knows. They probably need guard play to pick up the most though because Aaron Brooks [26] just have been out playing Farmar and Fisher

The Magic also got a W tonight to tie the series [which was not a surprise]. Another thing that was a no brainer tonight is how Dwight Howard scored 23 points and had 22 boards. This game was not like the others because the Magic were actually down in the 3rd quarter. The only difference was that win it was 75-75 with 3:46 left, they did not choke [it helped that Ray went o-7 too]. I was a bit surprised because the Magic did not have a great night shooting the 3-ball but still won [shooting 23%]. Game 7 will be at Boston where they have been quite successful. I still expect this game to go to the wire, but it maybe like the Game 7 with the Bulls that was not close. 

Pivotal G5s

Both the Lakers and the Celtics did what they were suppose to do Tuesday night and that was win at home. 

For the Rockets so much for playing on emotion. They must have used it all in Game 4's win. Boy did they not show up at all. I mean getting beat by 15 is pretty bad in the playoffs, but to get torched by 40 [Kobe had that himself]!!!! Wow I mean where is T-Mac when you need him. I expected this because the Lakers had to respond to all that heat they were receiving. I mean if one of the NBA legends [Magic Johnson] told you that you embarrassed the team that he use to play for, you would come out perfect too. Gasol and Bynum [who finally showed up] finished the game with a combined 30 points and 19 boards. Kobe [who you expected to show up] lead his team with 40 points. He had just about 20 at half time, so you knew what kind of night it would be for him. This nightmare for the Rockets will be all over shortly.

Well I am not going to touch on the Magic. I mean they are choking badly in this series. They could have easily won 4-1, but bad time management and poor execution down the stretch will get you everytime. The past two games I do not know what Van Gundy has told his guys but he needs to give better advice. Right now, Gundy is making Shaq look correct about what he said on Van Gundy's coaching career. And just in case you forgot, let me remind you:

"One thing I really despise is a front-runner, so I know for a fact that he's a master of panic, and when it gets time for his team to go in the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic. I've been there before, I've played for him" -Shaq

Wow! He was very accurate because that is all they have done in the clutch. I mean you cannot get out scored 17-3 and expect to win. Well maybe their nightmare will be over shortly....