Last night, Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 103-94, to tie the series 1-1. Rajon Rondo recorded another triple double, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, but it was Ray Allen who kept them in the game in the first half. Allen set a Finals record for most made final three-pointers, hitting 8 3's of his 11 attempts for 32 points. Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis were great off the bench, filling in for Kevin Garnett who struggled.
Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest struggled as well. Artest had a terrible game, shooting 1 of 10, but he played good defense on Paul Pierce. Bryant couldn't make shots consistently which hurt his team, but it was still a close game because of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Gasol finished with 25 points, while Bynum added 21.
Game 3 will be played in Boston, I believe they could easily win if Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett step it up. They've struggled a lot at the wrong time, but they're experienced so they know their team needs them. The Big 3 have been very inconsistent this Season, but they can't afford to have bad games anymore, especially because their bench is weak.
This game might decide the series because the winner goes into Game 4 with the lead so tune in. And to end this blog, here are the highlights of Game 2:
Hey everyone, today I'll be discussing the present and future of many teams that I barely ever talked about in my previous blogs.
First of all, there's the Houston Rockets. They missed this year's Playoffs but they were still very close to make it despite missing Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, who was traded during the Season. With the addition of Kevin Martin, and Yao returning next season, I think they will be back in the Playoffs. Not to mention they'll be trying to add Chris Bosh to their Roster this Off-Season which would definitely make them a top contender. If they make the right moves and trades, Rockets could be one of the best teams next season.
Next up is the Indiana Pacers. It wasn't long ago when they were a contender, but they seem to be going no where the last few seasons. They have Danny Granger, a great scorer, along with some other young pieces. I believe the only way for them to compete for a Playoffs spot is by re-building through the draft, which seems like their current plan.
And finally, there's the Memphis Grizzlies. Their starting line up is very solid, they have Marc Gasol at Center, Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay at Fowards, O.J Mayo and Mike Conley at Guards. Their bench is also good with Hasheem Thabeet, Ronnie Brewer, and many others. But I think they should add some other pieces to it in the NBA Draft where they have 3 first round picks (12, 25, 28). However, their main focus right now is to re-sign Rudy Gay who will be a Free Agent this summer. And since he's a restricted free-agent, Memphis will probably match any offer he receives from any other team. I think they have a bright future, and they could make the Playoffs next year.
Now here's a mix of my favorite player from the Grizzlies, I hope you enjoy it:
We're around 24 hours away from the 2010 NBA Finals which is why I decided to do a preview blog, and whether you're rooting for the Lakers or Celtics, I hope this time the series will be entertaining, because personally I have barely enjoyed the Finals the past few years.
Not a lot of people were expecting Boston to have any kind of impact in the Playoffs at the end of the Regular Season where they struggled, but they have picked it up in the post-season eliminating the top two teams with the best records this Season. Meanwhile, the Lakers were struggling as well due to injuries, but since the beginning of the Playoffs, they've been ready to defend their title.
Game 1 will take place in L.A at 9 PM ET, this is a must win for both teams because if Boston win this one, I believe it will give them a big advantage, since they play Game 3 and 4 at home. It will be interesting to see if the Lakers will have Derrick Fisher cover Rajon Rondo or someone else, because Rondo has been arguably the best player during the Playoffs, meanwhile Fisher struggles to keep up with younger guards.
Another important match-up is Pau Gasol vs Kevin Garnett, people have been saying that Garnett could struggle to defend Gasol inside the paint due to his size, and I might have to agree with that. I think the best strategy for the Celtics would be to get him in foul trouble early on, to weaken the Lakers' presence inside.
Enjoy this NBA Finals promo I came across featuring Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol, and Ray Allen:
Last year during the Playoffs, the Celtics were missing Kevin Garnett and still took Orlando Magic to 7 Games in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they were eliminated. This year, the Magic couldn't stop Celtics, who beat them in 6 Games.
The Big 3, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, along with Rondo, played great throughout the series, and so did Orlando's Dwight Howard, however Rashard Lewis had a terrible series, averaging 3 points while shooting 27 % from the field in the first 3 games. Meanwhile, the Magic's newest addition, Vince Carter, who was supposed to lead them to the next level, forgot to show up which is nothing unusual as he tends to disappear when it matters.
Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 31 points, meanwhile Dwight Howard finished with 28. Nate Robinson energized the Celtics off the bench in the second quarter making the lead bigger, and Orlando's hopes slimmer. Boston never let them back in the game, putting an end to the series.
Boston have now advanced to the Finals, their second appearance in the past 3 years, as they face the defending Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic will probably have a busy off-season as they continue trying to get it together to make a run at the NBA title again next season.
Here are some highlights of Game 6 between Boston and Orlando, enjoy:
This past Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers qualified to the NBA Finals for the third time in a row after defeating the Phoenix Suns in 6 Games. The Suns were looking to keep their hopes alive in Game 6, but the Lakers stopped them behind Kobe Bryant's 37 points to win 111-103. Ron Artest hit 4 of his 7 three point shots, finishing with 25 points. Derrick Fisher contributed a lot as well, hitting several big shots in the Second half. Meanwhile the Suns' Steve Nash finished with 21 points and 9 assists, but it wasn't enough to take the series to Game 7.
I think this was an entertaining series filled with a lot of action, and my personal favorite game was the 5th. After being down by more than 10 points in the fourth quarter, Steve Nash brought his team back into the game with some help from the bench. Phoenix tied the game with only 3.5 seconds left as Jason Richardson hit a 3. The game was going to Overtime until Ron Artest tipped in Kobe Bryant's missed shot at the buzzer to defeat the Suns. That game gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead and a lot of advantage going into the next game.
The celebration hasn't started yet because the Lakers will now be playing Boston Celtics in the Finals, which means the 2009 Champions taking on the 2008 Champions. There's a strong rivalry between these two franchises, they've won the most titles and made the most appearances in the Finals. And not to mention, two years ago Celtics won a title defeating none other than the Lakers, so Kobe Bryant and his teammates will be seeking revenge. Look out for a more detailed preview of the Finals in my next blog, but for now enjoy these videos:
The Washington Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery this past week, and it seems like they will be taking John Wall with the Number 1 pick. They only had 10.3 % chance at winning it, 5th in the league, compared to the New Jersey Nets who were at 25 %. The Sixers took the Second pick, meanwhile the Nets ended up with the third pick. You can check out the rest of the NBA Draft order here: http://www.nba.com/news/features/2010.draft.order/index.html
The Wizards had a very tough season, their owner, Abe Pollin, died earlier this year. They also traded Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood after the team failed to meet expectations. And most importantly, their superstar player, Gilbert Arenas, was suspended by the NBA in January for the rest of the season, due to gun possession in the locker room. Winning the Lottery is a step forward for the franchise as I believe John Wall would be a good fit next to Andray Blatche.
However, rumors are floating around that Wizards are looking to trade Arenas, which could be difficult because of the recent incident, and his big contract. There's still many teams that would probably be interested in acquiring Arenas as he's a very good player, and I think it's time for him and the Wizards to move on. The Knicks, Mavericks, Pacers, Magic, Raptors, Hawks and many other teams could make a move to add Arenas to their roster. I think it's a risky move, but still worth it. Arenas might be able to contribute a lot to his team in the right situation, while Wizards continue their rebuilding process.
In the end, I'd like to add that I have high expectations for this off-season. It might be the best ever, I'm hoping for a lot of changes and trades, more competition, and new contenders as I'm personally bored of the same teams in the title picture such as the Lakers.
The 2010 NBA Draft Lottery airs tomorrow at 7:30 on the Score, it's a very important event that could play a major part in the future of the NBA, especially since this year's draft class is strong.
John Wall is the clear favorite to be the Number 1 pick, so expect any team to win first pick to pick him. New Jersey Nets lead the way at 25 % chance of winning the lottery, after finishing the season with a 12-70 record.
Here are the chances for each team to win the Number 1 pick in order, with Nets being the highest, and Houston Rockets the lowest with only 0.5 %, also their Regular Season record is shown here:
This is one of the best classes in recent history, so every team will be getting a good prospect no matter what. Unlike the previous drafts, it has a lot of variety, from Guards to Forwards to Centers, and there's many potential All-Star players and Role Players this year.
This Summer should determine the future due to a lot of great available Free-Agents such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudamire, and of course the draft class, which will also have major trades. For example, if Nets draft John Wall they will most likely be trading Devin Harris, their starting Point Guard, on the draft night.
After struggling during the Regular Season, the Boston Celtics have picked it up in the Playoffs, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Orlando Magic. In the first round, they eliminated Miami Heat in 5 games, but they faced a real challenge in the Second round when they played LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavaliers were the favorites to win it all this season until Boston took 3-2 lead. Cavs seemed lost, and the real surprise came when LeBron James quit on his team. Some might blame it on the elbow injury, but it was apparent James wasn't even trying, he didn't attack the basket as much he usually does and he didn't set up his teammates either. He was being passive at times and then took several bad shots. But even then, Cavaliers were expected to force a Game 7.
However, Game 6 was no different. Celtics were rolling and the Cavaliers couldn't stop them. Their bench stepped it up and hit big shots. Kevin Garnett had a great game, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists. Rondo had another double-double with 21 point and 12 assists. Paul Pierce came up big in the second half to make the lead bigger. Rasheed Wallace contributed as well off the bench, making it too hard for the Cavs.
Boston are playing great Basketball, but do they still have what it takes to win it all? We'll find out in the upcoming weeks.
When the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship two years ago, it was all about Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, better known as the Big 3. As of today, they continue to contribute but just not as much as before. The Big 3 era is officially over, because Rajon Rondo is currently the Celtics' best player.
Rondo has been phenomenal for quite some time, he was voted as an NBA All-Star for the very first time this year, and he's currently leading Boston in a tied series vs the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Sunday, Rondo had a triple double as he put up 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists. He was doing it all on both ends of the courts, and made sure his team got the victory.
He's becoming one of the best Point Guards in the League, and his recent performances back it up. Last week, he had 19 assists against the Cavaliers, and he was setting up all of his teammates for open shots. I believe Rondo has what it takes to take it to the next level, and so does Boston Celtics coach, Doc Rivers. In a recent interview, he said he was impressed with Rondo and how he's become more of a leader than he once was. However, he isn't perfect yet. He must work on his jumpshot and his Free-throw shooting in the off-season, or else he will never reach that top level.
I hope you enjoyed reading my Blog, and I'd like to finish it off with an amazing play by Rondo this past Sunday:
On Sunday, Phoenix Suns ended the series against San Antonio Spurs in 4 games. A lot of people, including myself, predicted the Spurs to win in 6 or 7 games, but they were surprisingly swept. This goes to show that anything could happen in the NBA, as Phoenix advance to the Western Conference finals. Suns won 107-101, led by Steve Nash who finished with 20 points, scoring 10 of them in the fourth quarter despite an eye injury.
Nash averaged 22.0 PPG, 7.8 APG, 4.5 RPG in the Second round, meanwhile his teammate, Amar'e Stoudemire, averaged 20.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.2 BPG. It's also important to point out that Goran Dragic has been huge off the bench, especially in Game 3, when he scored 23 points in the 4th quarter.
Suns will rest until the Lakers-Jazz series is over, which the Lakers lead 3-0. The Western Conference finals will definitely be exciting, and I think it's a great opportunity for Steve Nash, one of the greatest Point Guards in NBA history, to put the final touches on his legacy. He's been the League's Most Valuable Player twice, in 2005 and 2006, a 7 times All-Star, 3 times All-NBA First Team, 2 times All-NBA Second Team, and a 2 times All-NBA Third Team, but now it's time to add a ring to his impressive resume.
Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar, and arguably the best player in the NBA, LeBron James, was named NBA Most Valuable Player, for the second time in a row. He led the Cavaliers to the best record this season, 61-21, while averaging 29.7 PPG, 8.6 APG, 7.3 RPG. He currently led his team to the Second round of the playoffs, after defeating the Chicago Bulls in 5 Games in the First round.
James had plenty of great performances this Season. For example, this past February, he had 43 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists against the Denver Nuggets. He also had 37 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists, and a game winning block, against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He received 116 first-place votes out of 123, Kevin Durant finished second with only four votes. It's no surprise, James has been the most consistent player in the league, and he definitely deserved this award more than anyone else.
James was presented the Award this Sunday by NBA Commissioner, David Stern.
"To be MVP is definitely an honor. It's a humbling experience," James said. "To receive that while you are trying to win a championship, you have to balance it out. I've been able to do that so far."
Winning this award is very important to LeBron James, but he has made it clear that a Championship run is a lot more important than individual accomplishments. Here are some highlights of the Press Conference on Sunday:
Just a week ago, Milwaukee Bucks were 0-2, and their chances of winning the series were near impossible. But they've turned it around, managing to win 3 games in a row to lead the series 3-2. And guess what? They've done it without their star, Andrew Bogut, who had a season ending injury few weeks ago. Everyone on the Bucks, from Salmons to Delfino to Jennings to Thomas has stepped up big.
They were down by 17 points in the 3rd quarter of Game 5, but they ended the quarter with a 7-0 run. The game stayed close during the 4th quarter, as Atlanta's Joe Johnson fouled out. Hawks couldn't make a shot, while Bucks were playing hard on both ends of the floor. Bucks made all their free throws with a minute left of the game, and forced Jamal Crawford of the Hawks to force several shots. Bucks won 91-87, taking the lead of the series.
Tomorrow, Bucks have a chance to end the series and advance to the Second round to play the Orlando Magic. If Hawks are eliminated, this will be one of the biggest upsets during these past few years. I predict Atlanta to win Game 6, but they will have to play harder.
After winning Game 1, Nuggets have failed to win any other until last night. They're now down 2-3 against the Utah Jazz, as they go back on the road for Game 6 on Friday. They must win in order to keep their hopes alive of advancing past the First round. Carmelo Anthony is having a great series, averaging 34.5 PPG, 7 RPG and 3 APG, but not enough to give his team the series lead. The rest of the team has failed to step up constantly, from Chauncey Billups to Nene to J.R. Smith. Meanwhile, Deron Williams has proven to be the best Point Guard in the league. He's averaging a double-double putting up 28.2 PPG and 12.0 APG.
Not only the Nuggets have struggled on court, but off the court as well. The team is suffering of chemistry issues, and it's apparent. Few days ago, after their loss in Game 4, J.R. Smith tweeted: “You play selfish you lose selfish that’s all I’m saying about the game!” His comment has received a lot of heat and it seems like the team is falling apart, but last night's win might be a wake up call.
Denver can't afford to lose any other game, they have to win on Friday to force Game 7. The last time a team won a series after being down 1-3, it was in 2006 when Steve Nash led the Phoenix Suns past the Los Angeles Lakers. Here's a recap video of Game 5 between the Jazz and Nuggets:
Last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics won Game 5 against their first round opponent, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, advancing to the second round. This will be a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals from two years ago, when Boston eliminated Cleveland, and went on to win the Championship. But this time, it's a different scenario. The Big 3 of the Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have been battling injuries the past two seasons, while the Cavaliers have improved a lot.
I think this will be an interesting series, their games during the Regular season have been very intense. This series could go to 7 games, but I predict the Cavaliers to finish them off in 6. However, I wouldn't count the Celtics out. They've played great defense against LeBron James previously, and forced him to take bad shots. Boston have enough talent to eliminate the Cavaliers again, but they'll need the bench to step up. The Celtics bench has been very inconsistent this year, and they haven't contributed as much they are supposed to. In Game 2 of the first round, they only scored 12 points out of 106. Rasheed Wallace, who was supposed to give them a huge boost off the bench, has been disappointing, and he only averaged 3 PPG in the First round.
Neither team will go down without a fight as both teams have a lot to prove. This series could start this weekend so look out for it.
As I mentioned in my latest blog, I'll be doing a preview for the four games this Sunday. The first one starts a 3:00 PM (ET) as current NBA Champions, Los Angeles Lakers, take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. This should be a great series, Lakers have been struggling the last two months after losing Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant to injuries. Bryant is back while Bynum will most likely miss the first round. Thunder are a young team, and I believe they are good enough to upset the Champions. Kevin Durant of the Thunder, became the youngest player to lead the League in scoring this season. They also have many other talented players, like Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, James Harden, and many more. I think Lakers will win Game 1 and the series, but Thunder won't go down without a fight.
The second game kicks off at 5:30 PM, as Orlando Magic go against Charlotte Bobcats. If Bobcats can stop Dwight Howard, they will most likely come out victorious in Game 1. It's important to note that Bobcats's record on the road this season was 13-28, if they can't win a game of the first two, I believe the series is over.
At 8:00 PM, the San Antonio Spurs face the Dallas Mavericks. Last year, they played in the first round as well, and Dallas came out on top. I think they will once again eliminate the Spurs in the first round as long Dirk Nowitzki gets help from his teammates. A healthy Spurs squad should be able to beat the Mavericks, but they have been struggling with injuries since the beginning of the season. I pick Dallas to win Game 1.
And the final game of the night begins at 10:30 PM as Phoenix Suns play Portland Trailblazers. Blazers are a very good team, but they will be missing their superstar, Brandon Roy, for the first round, which is why I'm going with the Suns to win the series, including Game 1.
The regular season is over, 16 teams have qualified to the NBA Playoffs, but only one will win the Championship. The Playoffs start this Saturday, and we have 4 games. The first game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls is played at 3:00 PM (ET), the Bulls have struggled against Cavaliers during the regular season, and there's a huge possibility this series will be a sweep, because Cavaliers possess too many weapons for the Bulls to deal with, including the MVP, LeBron James.
The second game is played at 5:30 PM, as the Atlanta Hawks take on Milwaukee Bucks at home. After losing Bogut to injury, Bucks have been unable to defend the paint. Hawks have a very talented froncourt in Al Horford and Josh Smith which will cause trouble for the Bucks. They also have Joe Johnson who's one of the best scorers in the league, and with the Bucks' best player being injured, I think Hawks win this game and the series.
At 8:00 PM, the Boston Celtics play against Miami Heat. I think this will be a close series, but Heat will come out on top in Game 1. Celtics have been struggling for months, while Miami have continued improving. Jermaine O'Neal has been stepping up lately, while Dwyane Wade remains one of the best in the League. However, they will need Michael Beasley to contribute more if they want to advance to the second round. As I mentioned previously, this won't be an easy one for either team, Kevin Garnett has regressed this season due to injuries, but he will have to step up to lead the Celtics past the first round.
And finally, the division rivals, Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz meet at 10:30 PM. Nuggets have won the regular season series, 3-1, including a victory without their star players, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko of the Jazz, are injured, and they will most likely miss Game 1. If they aren't back by Game 3, I think Denver should easily win this series, as long they're able to step Deron Williams, who's arguably the best Point Guard in the NBA today. This will be a very interesting series, but I can't see Utah winning it if they're missing two key players.
I'm looking forward these four games, and I'll be doing a Preview for Sunday's games soon. Those were my personal predictions, feel free to leave yours.
Tyreke Evans is a special player, everybody should know that by now. Evans has become just the fourth player in NBA history to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in his rookie season. He joined two members of the Hall of Fame, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson, and current NBA MVP, LeBron James.
"That’s just an elite three right there,” Evans said. “To have my name added is just a blessing."
History was made during Sacramento Kings' final home game of the season against the Houston Rockets. At halftime, Evans already had 22 points, but he needed two more points to assure he averages 20-5-5 for the season with only a game left on Wednesday. The crowd was behind him, but he struggled in the second half missing more than five shots in a row. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that he got his 24th point. He was fouled by Trevor Ariza, and went to the free throw line, converting both.
"That was the most pressure I'd had so far." Evans added. "I was more nervous than getting drafted. I'm still shaking right now as we speak. It was the toughest basket I ever had to get in my life but I'm glad I got it."
Evans might be on his way to win Rookie of the year as well, and I think he has the potential to be one of the best players in the league, and turn the Kings franchise around.
Below is a video of Evans scoring his 24th point, and his best highlights in his rookie season.
After defeating the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, 104-103, the Charlotte Bobcats (42-37) have clinched Playoff Berth for the first time in the franchise's history. The club was founded in 2004, and they're located in the Southeast Division. They're seventh in the Eastern Conference, and they will most likely play Orlando Magic in the first round of the Playoffs.
They've made significant improvements this year, by acquiring Stephen Jackson from Golden State Warriors, who's having a great season. They also traded for Tyrus Thomas and Theo Ratliff, which improved their froncourt's defense. There's no doubt their coach, Larry Brown, has done a great job, and he's a top candidate to win Coach of the Year award. Gerald Wallace hasn't disappointed either, he's been performing great on both ends of the floor while averaging 18.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.1 BPG. He was selected as an All-Star earlier this year, becoming the franchise's first ever All-Star player.
Charlotte Bobcats are one of the most athletic and defensive teams in the NBA, they've performed great against Contenders, and they have the potential to upset the Magic in the first round of the Playoffs. I believe they're heading into the right direction, and they have a bright future. They've become one of my favorite teams in the NBA, because they play hard constantly, and I hope they make noise in the Playoffs.
Tomorrow night, the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls will be fighting for the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference. They're currently tied at 38-41, but only one team will the make Playoffs, and meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Each team has two other games left of the Regular Season, the Bulls play Boston Celtics (49-30) at home, and Charlotte Bobcats (42-37) on the road. Meanwhile, the Raptors play Detroit Pistons (26-53) on the road, and New York Knicks (28-51) at home. It's important to note that Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh will miss the rest of the regular season after being injured (facial fractures). Raptors have struggled without him, but they'll need to step it up on Sunday to make the Playoffs. They have played twice this Season, and the Raptors have won both meetings. Last night, Raptors lost to Atlanta Hawks, and the Bulls had a chance to take the eighth spot, but they couldn't capitalize against the worst team in the NBA, New Jersey Nets (12-67), losing in Double overtime.
I don't believe either team has a chance to advance past the first round, but it's always important to make the Playoffs. I think the winner of Sunday's match-up will end up being in the 2010 Playoffs, and despite missing Bosh, I think the Raptors will come out on top.
This past Tuesday, the Utah Jazz (51-28) beat Oklahoma City Thunder (48-30) in a playoff-intensity game. Several players of both teams had a great game, Kevin Durant of the Thunder, finished with 45 points and 7 rebounds, and his teammate Russell Westbrook added 27 points and 9 assists. Meanwhile, Carlos Boozer of the Jazz, finished with 28 points and 15 rebounds, but it was Deron Williams' night. He had a career-high 42 points, 10 assists, and he hit the game-winning shot.
With four games left of the regular Season, both teams are currently fighting for a better spot in the Western Conference. Jazz were up by 13 points in the fourth quarter, but Kevin Durant took over, leading his team to a comeback. During the last possession, Durant was forced to pass the ball to Jeff Green, who hit a three-point shot to tie the game up. The game went to overtime as both teams continued putting up a fight, until Deron Williams hit the game-winning jumper with 1.1 seconds left.
However, Thunder took a timeout, and inbounded the ball to Kevin Durant who attempted a three-point shot. Replays showed that CJ Miles had fouled Durant as he went up for the shot, but there was no foul called. NBA President, League and Basketball Operations, issued a statement on Wednesday admitting that the referee missed the foul on Durant: "On the final play of last night’s Oklahoma City-Utah game, the officials missed a foul committed by the Jazz’s C.J. Miles on the Thunder’s Kevin Durant during a three-point shot attempt.”
This game will definitely impact the final Standings of the Western Conference, but regardless, it will be a night to remember. Here’s a video of the last 5 seconds of OT, which includes Deron Williams`game-winner, and the foul on Durant.
This past Friday, one of my favorite games this season took place between the Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets at the Air Canada Centre. Not only because they're my favorite teams, but it was one of the most intense games I've seen in a while, especially in the fourth quarter. Coming into this game, both teams were struggling, which resulted them putting up a fight for a much-needed win. The Raptors are eighth in the Eastern Conference, a victory would've put them in a better situation to qualify for the Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Nuggets were tied with Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz for the second place in the Western Conference, and they couldn't afford losing another game on the road.
Denver won the first quarter, 26-19, however, the Raptors responded in the second and third quarters, leading 81-72 before the beginning of the fourth quarter. With seven minutes left until the end of the game, the Raptors led by 10 points, 88-78. Things weren't going well for the Nuggets, they couldn't make any shot, but the Raptors didn't take advantage of that and continued committing turnovers. Within 2 minutes, the lead was cut to five. Denver tied the game at 92 after Carmelo Anthony scored four points in a row with a minute left. Nuggets Point Guard, Chauncey Billups, took a tough contest 3 point shot, and missed. Raptors' Andrea Bargnani rebounded the ball, and had an And-1 play after making a layup. He made the free throw to put the Raptors up by 3 points with 40 seconds left. Carmelo Anthony was fouled and went to the Free throw line, but he missed both free throws. However, Nuggets were able to get the offensive rebound, sending the ball to the corner as Billups hit a 3 point shot to tie the game once again. There was 15 seconds left of the game when Nene tried to steal the ball from Chris Bosh, and was called for a foul. Bosh missed the first, but made the second. Raptors were up by one point, but not for long.
Carmelo Anthony missed a jump shot with 6 seconds left, but Denver were able to rebound the ball, and pass it to Billups, who was double teamed. Billups passed it to Carmelo Anthony who hit the game winning shot right at the buzzer to steal a victory. That was Anthony's second game winner this season. Toronto Raptors are now 35-37, while Denver Nuggets are 48-26, as both teams continue fighting for a better spot in their conferences.
The free agency talk is heating up as the summer approaches. There's only about 10 games left of the Regular Season before the Playoffs start. This off-season has been anticipated more than any other. Several teams have been tanking, and shedding salaries to be able to sign some of the Top Free agents. Among those Free agents, there's LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Amar'e Stoudamire, Carlos Boozer, and many others. These All-Star players are most likely to get a Maximum contract, or close to it. Here's a brief breakdown of each player's situation and my predictions:
LeBron James
Small Forward
LeBron is arguably the best basketball player in the world. He's been putting up incredible stats since joining the league. He's also carried his team to the NBA Finals in 2007, despite having a weak roster. He won the Most Valuable Player award last Season, and it seems like he'll be doing it again this year. James was drafted with the first pick in 2003 by his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers (57-15) have the best record in NBA today, they've made several moves to improve the team bringing in Shaquille O'Neal during the off-season, and Antawn Jamison before the trade deadline. If they can't win it all this year, I can see LeBron leaving. Many teams are in the running to acquire James including New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Clippers. Personally, I don't see him joining the Clippers who have been one of the worst teams in the last few years, despite having a nice core. Nets (8-63) are currently the worst team in the NBA, but they have many expiring contracts which allows them to make a run at James. It's almost guaranteed they'll get the the first pick of the 2010 Draft, which is a very strong class. But I think James would prefer to be in a win now situation. Being the most attractive city, and having a lot of cap space which means the ability to sign two top Free agents, puts New York Knicks ahead of the rest. I think he'll stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but if he were to leave, I can see him heading to play for the Knicks.
Dwyane Wade
Shooting Guard
I see Wade staying in Miami, especially since they'll be able to sign another Top Free agent. If Heat can sign Stoudemire, Bosh or Boozer, there's absolutely no reason for Wade to leave. However, if they fail to make significant improvements, I think he'd head to play for his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls.
Chris Bosh
Power Forward
Just like James and Wade, Chris Bosh was drafted in 2003 by the Toronto Raptors. However, his team hasn't been as successful as the Cavaliers and Heat. They've only made the playoffs twice, and couldn't make it past the first round. Some people have argued for years whether Chris Bosh is a franchise player or not. The stats are there to back him up, but he has failed to lead his team to any success in the Playoffs. Many believe he's better suited as a second option player, teaming up with a star player like LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. A lot of teams are eyeing Bosh, from Miami Heat to Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls. I don't see him playing alongside another Superstar, especially after this statement from last month: "I was just looking at what people say and it’s like, ‘Chris is going to go here and play with him or this, this and that.’ I’m like, ‘Wait a minute.’ I feel like I should be built around. And maybe that’s just my ego talking, but I feel that I’m a very good player in this league and I’m only going to get better. So … maybe we should be getting somebody [in Toronto]". It seems to me like Houston and Chicago would be the best possible destinations, they have a solid, young core, and they also have the assets to make a sign-and-trade deal. Raptors are 8th in the East, if they make the Playoffs and qualify to the Second Round, or at least play hard, I can see Bosh staying to play for the city he loves. Otherwise he won't be in a Raptors uniform next season.
Amar'e Stoudemire Power Forward
Personally, I think Stoudemire won't be playing for the Phoenix Suns next year. They have several aging players such as Steve Nash, which doesn't seem like a good situation for him in the long run. I can see him joining Dwyane Wade next season in Miami. If not, I think he will sign with the New York Knicks as long they acquire LeBron James. Joe Johnson Shooting Guard
There's a strong possibility Joe Johnson will stay with his current team, Atlanta Hawks, for several reasons. They're a young talented team, and they've been improving every year. They're third in the Eastern Conference right now, and only one game behind the third place. They have a bright future as a team, which is why I strongly doubt Joe Johnson leaves. But I can also see him joining the New York Knicks, who will be making a run at two of the top Free agents, to play alongside Amar'e Stoudemire for example. Carlos Boozer
Power Forward
I think Boozer will end up playing for Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, or his current team. He has a good team at the moment, and he's playing with an All-Star player, Deron Williams. I believe his decision will be based on his team's success in Playoffs.
This will be a very interesting off-season, and will determine the future of the NBA. Those were my personal predictions, I'd like to see yours, and I hope you enjoyed reading my blog.
Hey guys, as we approach the end of the Season, I decided to make my personal predictions concerning the NBA Awards.
First, let me start off with the Rookie of the Year Award. This latest draft had 17 Guards drafted in the First Round, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that the best players from this Draft are Point/Shooting Guards.
My Top 5 candidates are:
Tyreke Evans Drafted: 1st Round (4th pick) by the Sacramento Kings Point Guard, Shooting Guard
Stephen Curry Drafted: 1st Round (7th pick) by the Golden State Warriors Point Guard
Darren Collison Drafted: 1st Round (21st pick) by the Sacramento Kings Point Guard
Brandon Jennings Drafted: 1st Round (10th pick) by the Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard
Jonny Flynn Drafted: 1st Round (5th pick) by the Minnesota Timberwolves Point Guard
I'm going with Tyreke Evans on this one, and I didn't even have to think twice about it. He's having a phenomenal Rookie season averaging 20 PPG (Points Per Game), 5.5 APG (Assists), and 5.0 RPG (Rebounds). He's on his way to become the fourth ever Rookie to do so, joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. That alone should tell you something. Evans has also won the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge MVP last month. This past Wednesday, he had his first career Triple Double against the Toronto Raptors, and he's also hit two Game Winners this Season, which is impressive for a Rookie.
Next up is the Sixth Man of the Year award, and here are my Top 5 candidates:
J.R. Smith
Shooting Guard
Manu Ginobili Shooting Guard
Jason Terry Shooting Guard
Jamal Crawford Shooting Guard
Lamar Odom Forward
This wasn't an easy pick at all, but I'll have to go with Atlanta Hawks' Jamal Crawford. In his first year with Atlanta, Crawford is coming off the bench to provide scoring, and he's done a good job doing so. He's averaging 17.5 PPG, and he's been great in crunch time hitting big shots to put his team in a position to win. Below is an example of that:
Next is the Most Improved Player award, I had a hard time picking my Top 5, and leaving out other deserving players, but here are the Top candidates:
Russell Westbrook Point Guard
Carl Landry Power Forward
Chris Kaman Center
Corey Brewer Guard-Forward
Aaron Brooks Point Guard
As much I want to say Westbrook, I'll have to pick Aaron Brooks. When Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were expected to miss a part, if not the full season, people predicted the Houston Rockets would be the worst team in the league. However, that isn't the case. Aaron Brooks has stepped up and led them to a 32-31 record, averaging 19.8 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 2.0 RPG.
And now, the most important Award of all, Most Valuable Player, and here are my Top 5:
Kobe Bryant Shooting Guard
Steve Nash Point Guard
Carmelo Anthony Small Forward
LeBron James Small Forward
Kevin Durant Small Forward
At the beginning of the Season, it seemed like Carmelo Anthony was a safe bet for MVP. But then he struggled with injuries, as Kobe Bryant took over. He was on the Top of the Race, but not for long, because he had to deal with injuries as well. Players like Steve Nash and Kevin Durant were performing great, but not enough to compete with LeBron James. Jame has been carrying his team, Cleveland Cavaliers, to the best record in the League (50-15), while averaging 30 PPG, 8.5 APG, and 7.2 RPG. Players like Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups, Dirk Nowitzki deserve honorable mentions, but the 2009-2010 MVP remains LeBron James.
I hope you enjoyed reading this Blog, and feel free to leave your own predictions.
