At the Top; Now Without a Doubt

Well I can say nothing by the moment. Lakers absolutely did it. It is truly OUR time, the time we call REDEMPTION. I don't care if this will be my shortest blog ever. I just got overwhelmed so much.

Congratulations Zen Master and Kobe!

"The tenth to be at the top. The fourth to leave those doubt."

- jre

AS OUR TIME COMES CLOSER

Define resiliency? The answer is the Lakers itself. Execution after execution. Poise after poise. Three's after three's, and now the Magic is trailing 3 games to 1. The Redemption is near. Maybe in less than three days it will happen. As the "The Old Man" veteran Derek Fisher hits his clutch three to tie the game in regulation, I know that Game 4 belongs to L.A. already. I recently wrote that better "Mark my word" about the outcome of this game today. Yes it is a sweet revenge. Now that we're a win away to our 15th title, and Coach Phil's soon to be 9th title rings over the last eighteen years, it will be much better to clinch in at Amway Arena by Monday morning. Why? Because there nothing more to prove on both camps. Orlando gives their best. Dwight is the real Superman. But they are still a very young team. They can used this as a lesson for their brighter future. I know there's no room for giving up for Orlando's chances but history isn't by their side. It is OUR time. I already told you that guys. Emotional and Mental toughness is our best weapon in this series. We are very eager and confident to win that ring after this game. This is it. The seven-long years of waiting is over I guess. Finished by Monday or Wednesday is not a big deal. Mr. Bryant and Co. just finished it please. So we can be going bananas for this much awaited Post-Shaq NBA Finals Championship.

Fakes and Breaks

It is uncharacteristic for a Laker Fan like me, not to write about the early two wins by my team. Instead I will be thinking something about this painful loss in Game 3. We had the chances, but they blowned it up. Mental lapses and unfocus eagerness is the main key for this defeat. Pietrus' footback and his superstar steal bring back the Lakers down to earth. They made good comeback but still lose it though. Bryant is spectacular in the first two quarters then suddenly lost his clucthness in the dying minutes. Lakers almost had it. Vengeance will definitely Bryant's option by Game 4. His rhythm truly drops in those important possessions, but still fighting until the end of it. He really deserve his fourth ring. This is his time. This will be Lakers time. This is OUR Time. We'll be bouncing back on the Game 4. Mark my word.

The Kryptonite

Now that the Conferences Showdown is over, its time for the NBA Finals to come. Lakers against the Magic. Kobe against Superman. This is less exciting comparing to a Kobe-Lebron matchup but I guess this is much good basketball in the making for Bryant and the Co. The Lakers didn't win against the Magic back to the regular season. Its payback time for the Lakers. There are two things in my mind as a Laker fan. First to getback to Orlando. Lastly to seek revenge for the lost time and glory. This is the perfect chance for them to win their Post-Shaq NBA Title. The perfect chance to redeem what must have been on to them a year ago. A NBA Finals Trophy.

Orlando is a also a perfect opponent for the Lakers. Matchup-wise they can cover the might of the Superman. Athleticism-wise they are heavenly favored. The battle of the benches can be also an important factor to them. The Lakers can go a Nate Robinson in this series. The Kryptonite must be pull-out in the face of the Man of Steel. But this ain't just Howard. Their defense must contain the Magic's Three Point Bombs. Inside and Outside defense will be the Green thing for the Lakers. As I hope, This is the moment were all waiting for.

Go Lakers!

Can Cavs pull-out a Magic?

This is the thing that I am saying last night. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers in Game 5 three hours ago. Now that No. 1 seeded team in the East and the No. 1 team in the regular season is on the ropes, and they are against the strong wall. Superman come to play and he played great. Rashard Lewis hits another clutch that might win th ball game earlier than the overtime, anyway he played terrific though. The duel of Kobe and Lebron is now also on the edges of a cliff. Can Lebron and his fellow Cavaliers comeback in an impossible situation trailing 3 games to 1? Can they pull out a magic out of their hat? Let us see it for the last week on the Conference's Finals. I, as a basketball fanatic, analyze this as an probable but yet not impossible thing to do. The only thing left is watch and see it by myself in days to come.

Duel or No duel?

The NBA Finals will be starting in less than 10 days today. So who's your dog? As a basketball fanatic it will be more exciting to watch a Kobe-Lebron Showdown by the 4th day of June. Two MVP contenders, two fearless but wise players. A replicate of a modern Michael Jordan. Since I got exposed watching basketball games, I'm a Laker fan because of Bryant's athleticism. The clutch shooter of his time. Big games on the line, give the ball on Kobe and he will provide. Lebron is a different player. He is ahead of his time definitely. The league's MVP will surely have a seat as a future Hall of Famer, but they need to win to even the series to two than to drop and go down to ropes trailing 3 game to 1. The showdown is not yet look as I want it to be but I know those two guys will step up to the challenge in the coming days. As I hope to watch a classic duel of those great players in their generation.

“Will History repeats itself?”

Celtics and Bulls The Finale

versus

Will it happen to the Celtics in this year’s play-offs? Will they win the series at their home again? Or Will the Derrick Rose led Bulls will shock the Celtics to frustrate them to defend their title? The questions shall be answered by Sunday. The only Game 7 so far in this first round will at the TD Banknorth Garden. The host team will be at the same situation but with a different and younger opponent. The 3rd to the last seat will be up for grabs and this will be the toughest compare to performances of two squads in the last six games. Four regular overtime periods with two additional extension period in the latter isn’t enough for the Celtics to close out the series last night.

Derrick Rose played big time in this series but Rajon Rondo played splendidly against him in this first round match-up. The two point guards were battling each other way above the expectation of all the basketball fans around the world. They’re leading their team in every game in scoring big time, being the facilitator perfectly and defending each other in the most important minutes of the ball game. Rose block to Rondo in the dying seconds in Game 6 spell out his overall package as primetime and franchise player for the Chicago Bulls, they truly made the right choice.

The match-ups aren’t just monopolized by the quickies. Ray Allen was playing his best postseason career games in this series averaging 23.5 points per game including 51 points, his play-off career high in Game 6 on which they lost by a point. Paul Pierce still as stellar as his performance in last year’s postseason. He has his biggest shot in Game 5 hitting the two pointer in the last 12.5 seconds of the game for the lead in the series 3-2. Joachim Noah’s plays like being wingman after stealing the ball to Pierce and Game 6 and running across the backcourt for his facial and-and one play against the Finals MVP a year ago. Ben Gordon hits his shots when the bulls needed to. John Salmons waking up in that thriller sixth game having 35 points upon averaging only 16 per night in the first five games.

So what are the key for winning the Game 7? For the Celtics to repeat the history on which heavily favored by them it will be two things. Their Championship Instinct on which they used last year, their defense must be superb and consistent all throughout the game until the overtime periods. The four overtime periods was only won by them once. Bulls win their games only with a margin of 2 points on which won all in the OT’s. Another for the C’s is their Newest Bigger Trio. Yes, KG’s out and sidelined but Rondo’s stepping up for him more than his imaginations and expectations. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce shall play with all their hearts and must hit clutch shots for them not to be eliminated in the First Round ,as the reigning and defending champion. The Do’s for the Bulls will be their 3-point shots. They needed to keep distant to Ray Allen’s awesome shooting beyond the arc. If Ben, John and Kirk cannot defend well their opponent they can offset it by making their own 3’s. Mr. Rose shall play his A-game to put another or better than 38 point performance in Game 1 against Rajon Rondo. He’s a defender, we all know that. He’s a passer. The only thing he need to do is the only thing left on his young NBA career, hit the big shot. He may be tentative driving in the dying minutes but wittily dishing out it to the wings for the guys like Salmons, Hinrich and Gordon will be a good decision. The confidence is there I guess, but He needs it to assert more efficiently and effectively especially in Game 7 for the Bulls to have the biggest upset in this year’s NBA Play-offs by eliminating the Defending Champions.

23 or 24 ?

In my inaugural post in my basketball blog, I will analyze and predict who will be the NBA 2008-2009 Most Valuable Player. Will it be the reigning MVP, Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant, or it will appointing of the new King in the hardcourt, LeBron James?


The MVP race for this season is very tight. James' Cavs (66-16) finished the regular season only ahead half game compare to Bryant's Lakers (65-17). For that Cleveland stole the overall home court advantage throughout the play-offs. Lebron James was slightly ahead statistically (28-8-7) to Bryant(27-5-6), but it isn't not always by the numbers itself.



Cleveland is now the team to beat in the postseason in the NBA. They swept the Pistons in the first round with the help of King James 32 points average per game. Cavs are superb on defense and offense even showing that they owned the Piston's Palace. Dominating the series was the most apparent proof how will the Cavs finished their start of dynasty -so called season. The series itself reflects two things what Cavs have been doing do their 82 game season. They are tough especially at home and When Cavs get going by the will of LeBron James, it isn't just about all by himself, he can make his teammates better especially the little guys and their wingmens.



How about Kobe's Lakers? The Lakers are still eager to comeback to NBA Finals this year after their walloping defeat to their all-time rival the Boston Celtics. They want to face whatever team it is, and claim the title that must be won by them a year ago. Now that their line-up is quite complete, Kobe Bryant and Co. can turn around their fortunes and so claim the golden bag for the reigning MVP, Mr. Black Mamba.

LeBron's athleticism can do all the things around the basketball world right now. He is heavily favored to take home the MVP Trophy. He is my next Michael Jordan in terms of the package,in his own generation, except for just one thing. A NBA Title. Kobe have three title rings in his closet, but none of them came after the Shaquille Oneal Era. Yes he is the reigning MVP and played their best basketball consistently in two years by now, but it doesn't paid by the right amount of dividends so far.

Athleticism wise, it will go for LeBron. Talent including the Package and Experience will be for Bryant. The only thing left is Performance. Currently James' Performance is way above than to Kobe. I am a self-confessed Kobe Bryant Fan. He is my next clutch shooter next to His Airness, Michael Jordan. Contrasting the past events, only including this seasons stats and occurrences, my MVP is LeBron James. He is the right choice because on what he brought to this team especially his teammates. Six years ago, I never heard a thing about Cavaliers, even don't know that they're existing. Right now, they are the toughest and notably favored to win the NBA Title. They have the guts, the power and the will to win it. So far I can only predict and hypothetically guess, Lebron James will win his first MVP on his young career in the next coming days. As I expect for the battle of # 23 against # 24 in the NBA Finals in the 4th day of June.

-jre