CHAMPIONS!!! And no one is happier than the man who hit the biggest shot of his career, against the advice of the voice of the Zen master in his head, went to the club, like he promised, showed up the next morning still in his Laker shorts after giving away his jersey to Chris Brown, and he still reigns supreme as the greatest post-game interview of all-time. Not to mention he scored 20 points, grabbed 5 boards, shut down Paul Pierce, again, and got 5 crucial steals to keep the champs in the game. The MVP of Game 7.
Ron Artest does it all.
This is his night and morning after the game.
Post-game Ron
Post-Post-Game Ron.
Clubbin' Ron
Morning After Ron
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Game 3 Review
Game 3- Lakers 91 Celtics 84
A near-impossible shot with 0.4 seconds left, two big three's vs. the Magic in the Finals last year, now this.
Clutch and Derek Fisher are synonymous. And no performance may be bigger than this one. I stressed the importance of this game in a previous blog, and Fisher knew it as well. In a fourth quarter where Kobe Bryant went 1 for 6 and nobody else stood up. Pau Gasol finished with a mere 13 points and Lamar Odom finally stepped up his game and the bench scoring along with him with 12 points.
Derek Fisher felt the momentum swinging. The Lakers had a 17 point lead at one point in the second quarter, but they were now only leading by six versus a tough Celtics squad that was due for a run. And they made their run, but Derek Fisher answered every shot they made with one of his own. The biggest shot for Fisher, actually, the biggest shot of the game, of the series, of the playoffs, of the season, was made with his wit and his will.
A brilliant play by a seasoned veteran would have never happened if he didn't switch on a screen with Ron Artest. Artest chased around Ray Allen on this certain play, who missed yet another 3-pointer. Allen was 0-13 from the field and missed as many 3's this game as he made for Game 2, 8. Fisher grabbed the rebound and hesitated. He then saw a row of four Celtics jogging back. For many, this would have been a sign to slow it down and jog as well. Not for Fisher. He pushed the ball to halfcourt and saw his advantage. He sped by a slow Kevin Garnett while Paul Pierce, who pretty much guaranteed a win this game, looked for instruction from his coach.
As Fisher neared the hoop, he snuck in a layup while getting hit in the head by Garnett, mauled by Glen Davis, and landed on by Ray Allen. They could only give a foul to one person, Davis, and only one person knew success during this play, Fisher. Kobe screamed, I hit the roof, and the Lakers were up by 7 after a made free throw.
The dagger had been set into the heart of the Celtics, their fans, the city of Boston, and Paul Pierce's dignity. The Lakers deflected off any run that the Celtics tried to make after the layup that sealed the game.
With the win under their belt, the Lakers may prove Paul Pierce correct. Maybe they "ain't coming back to LA." If the Lakers win the next two games, they don't have to.
The Celtics may be desperate in Game 4 and may continue the trend of lose a game, win a game, but the Lakers may also have them stunned. I see a very tough and close game four. And of course I think the Lakers will win.
I watched game 3 in silence with my dad and with both of us being experienced fans of the NBA, we didn't have to point out the obvious and the exciting plays were more exciting without the background noise that could have been distracting. We broke down each play ourselves and watched the post game interviews after. It was awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the game in its purest form. Try it out for game four, even if its for only a couple minutes. You will find out you know more about the game than you thought. Good luck.
A near-impossible shot with 0.4 seconds left, two big three's vs. the Magic in the Finals last year, now this.
Clutch and Derek Fisher are synonymous. And no performance may be bigger than this one. I stressed the importance of this game in a previous blog, and Fisher knew it as well. In a fourth quarter where Kobe Bryant went 1 for 6 and nobody else stood up. Pau Gasol finished with a mere 13 points and Lamar Odom finally stepped up his game and the bench scoring along with him with 12 points.
Derek Fisher felt the momentum swinging. The Lakers had a 17 point lead at one point in the second quarter, but they were now only leading by six versus a tough Celtics squad that was due for a run. And they made their run, but Derek Fisher answered every shot they made with one of his own. The biggest shot for Fisher, actually, the biggest shot of the game, of the series, of the playoffs, of the season, was made with his wit and his will.
A brilliant play by a seasoned veteran would have never happened if he didn't switch on a screen with Ron Artest. Artest chased around Ray Allen on this certain play, who missed yet another 3-pointer. Allen was 0-13 from the field and missed as many 3's this game as he made for Game 2, 8. Fisher grabbed the rebound and hesitated. He then saw a row of four Celtics jogging back. For many, this would have been a sign to slow it down and jog as well. Not for Fisher. He pushed the ball to halfcourt and saw his advantage. He sped by a slow Kevin Garnett while Paul Pierce, who pretty much guaranteed a win this game, looked for instruction from his coach.
As Fisher neared the hoop, he snuck in a layup while getting hit in the head by Garnett, mauled by Glen Davis, and landed on by Ray Allen. They could only give a foul to one person, Davis, and only one person knew success during this play, Fisher. Kobe screamed, I hit the roof, and the Lakers were up by 7 after a made free throw.
The dagger had been set into the heart of the Celtics, their fans, the city of Boston, and Paul Pierce's dignity. The Lakers deflected off any run that the Celtics tried to make after the layup that sealed the game.
With the win under their belt, the Lakers may prove Paul Pierce correct. Maybe they "ain't coming back to LA." If the Lakers win the next two games, they don't have to.
The Celtics may be desperate in Game 4 and may continue the trend of lose a game, win a game, but the Lakers may also have them stunned. I see a very tough and close game four. And of course I think the Lakers will win.
I watched game 3 in silence with my dad and with both of us being experienced fans of the NBA, we didn't have to point out the obvious and the exciting plays were more exciting without the background noise that could have been distracting. We broke down each play ourselves and watched the post game interviews after. It was awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the game in its purest form. Try it out for game four, even if its for only a couple minutes. You will find out you know more about the game than you thought. Good luck.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Listen Closely
Ever find announcers annoying? Why does Jeff Van Gundy, a former NBA coach, always insist on talking about everything but basketball? His growing bald spot gets more attention than Kobe Bryant's spot up jumper. All his other talk is just noise. Mark Jackson praises the best players and points out the obvious. As a former great NBA point guard, his analysis of the position is absent. Mike Breen, a 14-year announcing veteran, seems to have gotten the memo to try to get Van Gundy off topic as much as possible, especially during the fourth quarter. The rants that ensue pertain nothing close to basketball, and my time is officially wasted.
Where I am going with this is this: hit the mute button. These announcers don't matter; they don't change the game in any way. This strategy can be for both the experienced basketball fan and even the inexperienced. The experienced can test themselves to see how much about the game they know, while the inexperienced can enhance their knowledge on their own and not learn from someone who you are told knows more about the game than you do. Make your own assumptions about the game and base them about what you know. And talk to your family and friends around you about the game. Call your own fouls and maybe even announce the game yourself if you want, if it's okay with those around you. And let them chime in, unlike Van Gundy. Keep a box score open on the website of your choice, I prefer Yahoo Sports, and check the stats to see who is doing well and who isn't.
After the game, watch Sportscenter or the post game show. Watch the press conferences with the players and listen to what they got from the game, they, of course, know more about what happened in the game than anyone else. And don't believe the talking heads of ESPN who claim to know more about the game than the players themselves. Test your knowledge of the game. See the fouls for what they are, and don't let Mike Breen tell you it wasn't a foul when the referees called one, but watch and make opinions for yourself. You may find out that you know more about the game than you thought, and maybe even something about yourself.
As a matter of fact, do the same with life.
Comment if you decide to try it out for maybe a couple minutes or even the whole game and let me know how it goes.
Where I am going with this is this: hit the mute button. These announcers don't matter; they don't change the game in any way. This strategy can be for both the experienced basketball fan and even the inexperienced. The experienced can test themselves to see how much about the game they know, while the inexperienced can enhance their knowledge on their own and not learn from someone who you are told knows more about the game than you do. Make your own assumptions about the game and base them about what you know. And talk to your family and friends around you about the game. Call your own fouls and maybe even announce the game yourself if you want, if it's okay with those around you. And let them chime in, unlike Van Gundy. Keep a box score open on the website of your choice, I prefer Yahoo Sports, and check the stats to see who is doing well and who isn't.
After the game, watch Sportscenter or the post game show. Watch the press conferences with the players and listen to what they got from the game, they, of course, know more about what happened in the game than anyone else. And don't believe the talking heads of ESPN who claim to know more about the game than the players themselves. Test your knowledge of the game. See the fouls for what they are, and don't let Mike Breen tell you it wasn't a foul when the referees called one, but watch and make opinions for yourself. You may find out that you know more about the game than you thought, and maybe even something about yourself.
As a matter of fact, do the same with life.
Comment if you decide to try it out for maybe a couple minutes or even the whole game and let me know how it goes.
Game 2 overview
NBA Finals Game 2- Celtics 103 Lakers 94
Celtics won, so what. Home court advantage has been taken from the Lakers and the Celtics have a chance, if they hold home court, to win their next three games at home. This would win them the series and their NBA record 18th championship.
But they made one key mistake. They provoked Kobe Bryant.
Actually, Paul Pierce provoked Kobe Bryant. Confident after one win where they blew a 14 point lead to the defending champions, nearly lost the game after a record performance from Ray Allen, who hit 8 three pointers, and needed a triple double from Rajon Rondo; Paul Pierce opened his mouth. And mistakes followed from his mouth smoother than his jump shot, which isn't saying much, for the second time in the 2010 playoffs.
After winning a different game 2 versus the Orlando Magic, Pierce predicted that they were not coming back to Orlando and they would finish off the series with a sweep by winning two games on their home court. The Celtics won the first game, and lost the next two.
Not only lost the next two, but they let the big man on the Magic, Dwight Howard, turn into the best player on the court. He averaged 27.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3 blocks in the last three games after he was provoked by Pierce. So the Celtics struggled with a determined, 7-footer. The Lakers now have two.
We have seen what Andrew Bynum can do when he is aggressive and stays out of foul trouble, 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 blocked shots, and Gasol can put up 30 points and 15 boards versus a slow Kevin Garnett.
Now Kobe Bryant. He will strive to prove himself as the best player on the court after the bogey he shot on game 2. His 21 points will not earn him the finals MVP award, and it will not get him a ring for the only open finger on his hand.
It's okay that Paul Pierce doesn't want the series to come back to LA. Kobe will make sure it does. The Celtics do not back up Pierce's talk and they will not be able to, even in Boston. The Lakers may lose a game in Boston, but they will not lose game 3. With the 2-3-2 format, the team that has won game 3 has won the series 100% of the time.
The Lakers will win game three and Kobe will be Kobe again. No more saves from superhero performances by Allen and Rondo. A more determined and smarter team will shut them down. I know I was wrong about game 2, and I can't see into the future, but I believe that the Lakers have to win game three. A "must-win". Phil Jackson doesn't lose those games, and neither does Kobe.
Paul Pierce needs to learn to shut his mouth, and even though he is from Inglewood, he is not welcome in LA. So when he gets back here for game 6, he will not be "home" because he is not welcome.
Celtics won, so what. Home court advantage has been taken from the Lakers and the Celtics have a chance, if they hold home court, to win their next three games at home. This would win them the series and their NBA record 18th championship.
But they made one key mistake. They provoked Kobe Bryant.
Actually, Paul Pierce provoked Kobe Bryant. Confident after one win where they blew a 14 point lead to the defending champions, nearly lost the game after a record performance from Ray Allen, who hit 8 three pointers, and needed a triple double from Rajon Rondo; Paul Pierce opened his mouth. And mistakes followed from his mouth smoother than his jump shot, which isn't saying much, for the second time in the 2010 playoffs.
After winning a different game 2 versus the Orlando Magic, Pierce predicted that they were not coming back to Orlando and they would finish off the series with a sweep by winning two games on their home court. The Celtics won the first game, and lost the next two.
Not only lost the next two, but they let the big man on the Magic, Dwight Howard, turn into the best player on the court. He averaged 27.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3 blocks in the last three games after he was provoked by Pierce. So the Celtics struggled with a determined, 7-footer. The Lakers now have two.
We have seen what Andrew Bynum can do when he is aggressive and stays out of foul trouble, 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 blocked shots, and Gasol can put up 30 points and 15 boards versus a slow Kevin Garnett.
Now Kobe Bryant. He will strive to prove himself as the best player on the court after the bogey he shot on game 2. His 21 points will not earn him the finals MVP award, and it will not get him a ring for the only open finger on his hand.
It's okay that Paul Pierce doesn't want the series to come back to LA. Kobe will make sure it does. The Celtics do not back up Pierce's talk and they will not be able to, even in Boston. The Lakers may lose a game in Boston, but they will not lose game 3. With the 2-3-2 format, the team that has won game 3 has won the series 100% of the time.
The Lakers will win game three and Kobe will be Kobe again. No more saves from superhero performances by Allen and Rondo. A more determined and smarter team will shut them down. I know I was wrong about game 2, and I can't see into the future, but I believe that the Lakers have to win game three. A "must-win". Phil Jackson doesn't lose those games, and neither does Kobe.
Paul Pierce needs to learn to shut his mouth, and even though he is from Inglewood, he is not welcome in LA. So when he gets back here for game 6, he will not be "home" because he is not welcome.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The 24th Man
It has been a long time coming. I've wanted to start a blog for a while now and I figured now will be no better time. In the famous words of Chris Tucker: "You ain't got no job, you ain't got s**t to do." His influential words of wisdom rang through my brain for most of the day and the blog has begun. Just to let you all know a little bit about my background, this is a sports blog and I am from LA and bias is necessary. I write for my school newspaper, The Otter Realm, and I am limited for the most part to non-objective writing that, for the most part, has to do with school-related sports. And since sports and CSU Monterey Bay don't really get along too well, it can prove difficult to find something readable to write about. So here is my forum to be Samuel Pereira, uncensored. By the way, I go by Sam.
Just a quick overview of what is going on in the sports world for me; the greatest coach of all time died the other day, the Dodgers blew another lead last night, the Lakers are looking to dominate (again) in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the World Cup Countdown is down to 5 days, and LeBron James and I are both looking for our first ring.
John Wooden will be known for more than his 10 National Championships and other unreachable records. For me his undying loyalty to his wife, Nell Wooden, will be the most remembered part of his life. This kind of loyalty is unseen in the sports world of today where athletes are signing more for their pockets than their hearts. John Wooden coached and lived with his heart and he will never be forgotten.
For the second night in a row, the Dodgers gave up a lead to the Atlanta Braves. Last night, they were unlucky enough to lose 9-3 thanks to the bullpen. Chad Billingsly gave the 'pen a 2-1 lead and Ramon Troncoso quickly gave the Braves a 3-2 lead that they never looked back on. Way to play for first place blue crew, but better luck next game.
Sportscenter is making a huge deal that "Pau Gasol threw the first punch of the series". REALLY, Jalen Rose? Did you not hear what Garnett said? "I have no comments for his comments," and let me stop him right there. We know you never went to college, but you don't have to prove it again to everyone. He then goes on to say, "Come on, who is he?". Well you better find out that answer quicker than the Spaniards spin move or else you'll end up looking like more of a fool than Paul Pierce with his pants on the ground. This match-up is extremely one-sided and it is they key to the series according to many. Garnett is a first ballot hall of famer, but he will not finish his playing career with more than one ring. Lake Show in 5.
The US choose a couple good tune-up matches before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Turkey was a good send-off game and the US took that game with relative ease. Although I was unable to watch the Australia game, it was on at 5:30 a.m. and I'm saving my sleep sacrifices for the real Cup games, the highlights looked as though the US had control of the game. France lost its send-off game to 84th ranked China, who isn't even in the World Cup. This will give them a disadvantage heading into the cup, while the US will have momentum from beating up on our Thanksgiving meal and England's former prison.
LeBron James is my number one most hated player in sports. His attitude and body language when talking to Larry King the other day was nonchalant about a topic that many people are very passionate about. The queen enjoys being wooed by every team in the NBA that didn't make the playoffs and mostly, he is embarrassing his hometown by teasing them with every comment that he makes. He was a BULLS fan while growing up in Cleveland! If there isn't a bigger sign for the Cleveland fans that they should give up now, maybe their disappointments in recent history should tell them something because, as we all know, history repeats itself. If I were LeBron, I would stay in Cleveland, and for less than the maximum contract. If "winning a championship" is what you're all about, be humble and learn a lesson of loyalty from the greatest coach that ever lived. And of course, we all know how humble and mature you can really be. If there's anyone that needed college more, and a real coach that will tell you like it is, it's the most athletically gifted player in the game. Too bad he doesn't have that Zen-like focus of the greatest player ever.
Just a quick overview of what is going on in the sports world for me; the greatest coach of all time died the other day, the Dodgers blew another lead last night, the Lakers are looking to dominate (again) in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the World Cup Countdown is down to 5 days, and LeBron James and I are both looking for our first ring.
John Wooden will be known for more than his 10 National Championships and other unreachable records. For me his undying loyalty to his wife, Nell Wooden, will be the most remembered part of his life. This kind of loyalty is unseen in the sports world of today where athletes are signing more for their pockets than their hearts. John Wooden coached and lived with his heart and he will never be forgotten.
For the second night in a row, the Dodgers gave up a lead to the Atlanta Braves. Last night, they were unlucky enough to lose 9-3 thanks to the bullpen. Chad Billingsly gave the 'pen a 2-1 lead and Ramon Troncoso quickly gave the Braves a 3-2 lead that they never looked back on. Way to play for first place blue crew, but better luck next game.
Sportscenter is making a huge deal that "Pau Gasol threw the first punch of the series". REALLY, Jalen Rose? Did you not hear what Garnett said? "I have no comments for his comments," and let me stop him right there. We know you never went to college, but you don't have to prove it again to everyone. He then goes on to say, "Come on, who is he?". Well you better find out that answer quicker than the Spaniards spin move or else you'll end up looking like more of a fool than Paul Pierce with his pants on the ground. This match-up is extremely one-sided and it is they key to the series according to many. Garnett is a first ballot hall of famer, but he will not finish his playing career with more than one ring. Lake Show in 5.
The US choose a couple good tune-up matches before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Turkey was a good send-off game and the US took that game with relative ease. Although I was unable to watch the Australia game, it was on at 5:30 a.m. and I'm saving my sleep sacrifices for the real Cup games, the highlights looked as though the US had control of the game. France lost its send-off game to 84th ranked China, who isn't even in the World Cup. This will give them a disadvantage heading into the cup, while the US will have momentum from beating up on our Thanksgiving meal and England's former prison.
LeBron James is my number one most hated player in sports. His attitude and body language when talking to Larry King the other day was nonchalant about a topic that many people are very passionate about. The queen enjoys being wooed by every team in the NBA that didn't make the playoffs and mostly, he is embarrassing his hometown by teasing them with every comment that he makes. He was a BULLS fan while growing up in Cleveland! If there isn't a bigger sign for the Cleveland fans that they should give up now, maybe their disappointments in recent history should tell them something because, as we all know, history repeats itself. If I were LeBron, I would stay in Cleveland, and for less than the maximum contract. If "winning a championship" is what you're all about, be humble and learn a lesson of loyalty from the greatest coach that ever lived. And of course, we all know how humble and mature you can really be. If there's anyone that needed college more, and a real coach that will tell you like it is, it's the most athletically gifted player in the game. Too bad he doesn't have that Zen-like focus of the greatest player ever.
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