Road Tests For The Lakers
The road to a second straight NBA championship seemed easy for the Los Angeles Lakers during their first 19 games of the 2010-2011 season.
Currently owning a hot streak of nine straight wins, following their 108-88 demolition of the road-weary Phoenix Suns, the Lakers appear every bit of a champion.
Ron Artest has been fitting well in the Lakers’ triangle offense, averaging modest numbers of 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals during his first 19 games in the purple-and-gold uniform.
Andrew Bynum, meantime, has up the ante of his game thus far this year. Avearging 18 points and just above 10 boards per night and two blocks, the young seven-foot Laker slotman has improved further in his post plays, posting match up problems against opponents.
One thing, however, the Lakers will have to be prepared for is the coming road games.
Considering that in their first 19 games, LA only played four road games, the most recent of which, (prior to the 9-0 streak) was a 26-point humiliation at the Pepsi Center against Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets.
As the Lakers end their six-game home stand versus Minnesota this week, LA will be away from the Staples Center 19 of the 28 times where they are expected to play against more hostile crowd, teams out to beat them, different time zones plus a lot of traveling.
The coming road games will surely test the mettle and readiness of the Lakers to defend their title, which they won at the expense of the Orlando Magic last June.
The good thing though for LA this season is the difficulty of opposing teams to decide which player to guard defensively.
Kobe Bryant, considered the NBA’s premiere player now, has added a repertoire to his growing offensive arsenal—the low-post, which he improved on during the off season after his one-on-one sessions with NBA great center Hakeem Olajuwon.
Bynum also has a healthy Pau Gasol to lean on in the shaded lane for defense, rebounding and dunks, while Artest supplies the needed defensive presence against any opposing scorer.
Coming off the bench and expected to produce anytime is Lamar Odom, who has willingly stepped back and play the supporting role in the star-studded LA rotation.
With a host of scorers, defensive players and role players, the Lakers must translate these into Ws that would carry them on to the best record and the home court advantage going into the Playoffs.
Renewed Rivalry For the Celtics And The Lakers This NBA 2010?
A Boston Celtics-LA Lakers Finals match up for the second time in three years could be an interesting championship plot come June 2010.
The Celtics and the Lakers ruled the 2008 and 2009 respectively. And both teams are entering the 2010 NBA season with some changes to ensure their continuous competitiveness.
Boston, as everyone already knows, made one of the biggest off-season moves after acquiring the services of veteran forward-center Rasheed Wallace, who finally burned ties with the rebuilding Detroit Pistons.
Wallace, the 6’10” flamboyant big man, has a mean jump shot, can play well on the post and could certainly be a big, big help to Kevin Garnett, who is coming off a successful knee surgery during the off season.
Compared to the Celtics’ line up two seasons ago, Boston has more depth this time since aside from Wallace, coach Doc Rivers also added scoring support with the arrival of Marquis Daniels, who averaged more than 14 points and 4.3 rebounds in 54 games with the Indiana Pacers.
He previously played three seasons with the running-and-gunning Dallas Mavericks, a team that reached the Finals in the 2006 season, which dropped a 2-4 decision to eventual champion Miami Heat.
The Celtics though remains the team of the Big Three—Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, whose vast experience and passion to win revived Boston’s pride. Prior to 2008, Boston tasted its last NBA championship in 1986 when it swept Houston, 4-0 in the Finals.
Artest, A Plus Or A Minus To LA?
Meanwhile, the Lakers, learning from the painful championship series loss they took against the Celtics in 2008, reached the NBA’s apex in 2009 after finishing off the Orlando Magic in five games in the Finals.
Trevor Ariza played a huge defensive role for the Lakers aside from shooting timely three-point baskets during the Playoffs that helped LA in its successful title run.
This season though, the Lakers decided to let Ariza go via the free agency rout, where the long-armed 6’7” swingman signed up with the Houston Rockets.
LA, however, got what it believed was a better deal after hooking up with defense specialist Ron Artest.
Though a lot are wondering how Artest’s volatile ways could fit in to the Lakers’ triangle offense and proven championship formula, LA’s general manager Mitch Kupchak did say during the training camp that it’s not coach Phil Jackson and his coaching staff’s job to keep the 6’8” forward within the team’s scheme of things.
Should Andrew Bynum finally be able to stay healthy all season long and click well in the painted area with Pau Gasol, the Lakers are sure to give any NBA team a run for their money.
The Celtics have Garnett, center Kenrick Perkins, Wallace and Glen Davis to lean on in the shaded lane, but a lot of Laker followers believe 2008 MVP Kobe Bryant and his vast championship experience will play a major role in LA’s title retention bid.
Interesting because though many considered him as the greatest basketball player of his generation, Kobe still had a work out with Hall of Famer and former Rocket great center Hakeem Olajuwon to teach him how to improve his pivot.
Olajuwon, who led the Rockets to the NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, was know for his “dream shake” moves that allowed him to dominate his opponents with ease.
Anyway, talking about a Celtics-Lakers Finals II (for this decade), remains too early to predict, considering that the East has a bevy of teams capable of giving the Celtics a run for their money.
There’s Cleveland and Lebron James, who finally got a helping hand with the entry of super star center Shaquille O’Neal; as well as Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard, who also got Vince Carter during the off season.
Over at the West, the Spurs are a team to reckon with as well as with the addition of swingman Richard Jefferson, veteran big man Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff and the return of a healthy Manu Ginobili.
Well, the NBA’s 2010 season appears to be exciting and filled with surprises.
Which team will end up king of the NBA hill?
Photo Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_42w5-R0zz2g/SlayCbVHadI/AAAAAAAAH0E/D8oCGhluaJ4/s400/Rasheed+Wallace+Boston+Celtics+P
NBA Preview: West Side Story (2nd of 2 Parts)
While Boston, Cleveland and Orlando are all expected to flex their muscles and make their presence felt in the East, the West is as talented and as ultra-competitive as ever.
The Los Angeles Lakers remain the prohibitive favorites in the West, what with an intact core of veterans and youngsters that bludgeoned the Orlando Magic in the Finals on the way to capturing their 15th league title in the process.
However, the focus of attention isn’t going to be just for the Lakers considering that the Spurs made some off-season moves that brought strength and more talent back to the Texas land in the hope of figuring prominently again in the West.
But then, there remains several Western Conference clubs that have made significant improvements during the off season, hoping to create some noise and figure well come Playoff time.
Now, here are my top three choices to finish among the top 3 in the West.
Bye Ariza, Welcome Artest!
After getting quality defensive presence from youthful swingman Trevor Ariza last season, the Lakers thought they could still get a whole lot more from the free agency market.
And when the mercurial Ron Artest signified his intention to join the Hollywood-outfit, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wasted no time leaving Ariza to test the free agent market while landing on Artest in the process.
Now, having Artest around, the Lakers are even more fearsome on the defensive end as well as a physical presence that they sorely lacked when ranged against a physical team like the Boston Celtics in the East.
Of course, Kobe Bryant remains the no. 1 scoring option for coach Phil Jackson with guys like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and even “Bench Mob” members Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic, Josh Powell and even DJ Mbenga providing more support off the bench.
Stirring the Texas Tornado in San Antonio
For the past five years or so, San Antonio has been closely identified to its top three All-Stars—Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
But after spending several years together that produced championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007, the wear and tear as well as the banging the Spurs’ “Big Three” sustained through those years have made them susceptible to injuries.
Which is why after exiting early in the first round last season after bowing to the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs front office had been busy burning the phone lines in an effort to bring in some help from the talent-rich free agent market.
First to join the Spurs was Richard Jefferson, the athletic swingman, who has a championship experience with him after being part of the New Jersey Nets team that finished runner up twice this decade (2002 and 2005).
Jefferson has a good mid-range jump shot and can readily mix it up against other big guys in the pain, thus, giving the Spurs a ready offense anytime.
Giving additional inside support are Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff, whose wealth of experience are key in preserving Duncan for the Playoffs.
Roger Mason and Michael Finley as well as Matt Bonner could also shoot from beyond the arc, making them a legitimate title contender again.
Young and Upstart Blazers
Though Denver led by Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups gave the Lakers quite a scare during last season’s Western Conference Finals, this season appears to be Portland’s turn to rise to prominence.
The Blazers have a young but reliable leader by the name of Brandon Roy.
Roy, the Rookie of the Year two seasons ago, is undeniably the Blazers’ spiritual leader. Passionate and all-out, Roy nearly led the Blazers to a first-round victory over the Houston Rockets.
But Roy isn’t just the only legit scoring threat considering that Portland has two young, big men to man the slot—Greg Oden and Lamarcus Aldridge, who just signed a new five-year contract extension.
Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez, along with guards Steve Blake and a host of others add more scoring punch.
Here are just three of the top Western teams I think would dominate the West this season. But how they could fair against Boston, Cleveland and Orlando is another story.
Will the Lakers repeat as champions? Will the Celtics reclaim their title? Or will the Spurs say healthy and be back as title contenders?
Which team will be at the top of the heap this 2010?
Photo Source: http://lakers.topbuzz.com/gallery/d/271268-1/Ron+Artest+smiles+in+a+Lakers+jersey.jpg
http://djbaker10.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/2005-manu-ginobili-tim-duncan-tony-parker-photograph-c12040268.jpg
NBA Preview: Beasts In The East (1st of 2 Parts)
Potent threat inside and outside
So who’s going to dominate in the coming NBA 2010 season?
If you’re an NBA aficionado, I’m sure you wish your favorite ballclub ends the season with the championship.
Unfortunately, there can only be one champion after 82 regular season games and16 playoffs victories counting the Finals.
NBA TV has been running some interesting previews on how various teams would fair come the 2010 season, which by the way kicks off this Oct. 28 (Manila time) featuring a blockbuster match up between the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics and the 2007 runner up Cleveland Cavaliers.
Reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, locks horns with cross-town rival Los Angeles Clippers to test how far the latter has gone in their off-season manpower stock-up.
Anyway, in my mind, I figure that the top three teams expected to dominate the East this season are in this order—Boston, Cleveland and Orlando.
“Old” Big Three Gets Help
I say Boston is a shoo-in to regain homecourt advantage all-over the power packed Eastern Conference after boosting its line up with the off-season blockbuster acquisition of one-time NBA champion
Boston's top acquisition
Rasheed Wallace, a strong low-post operator and a credible three-point threat as well.
The Celtics also injected a speedy forward Marquis Daniel to the line up to ensure fresh legs in time for the Playoffs considering that Boston’s Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are not getting any younger.
Of course, Eddie House is expected to figure prominently in Boston’s rotation to spell Allen and give the Cs a resident outside threat.
No Longer A “Doughnut” Team
For the Cavs, on the other hand, the arrival of long-time NBA superstar center Shaquille O’Neal has given them a legitimate strong big man to complement the slashing-dunking-and-three-point shooting Lebron James.
Finishing with the home court edge all over the league last season following their franchise-best 66-16 win-loss tally, the Cavs were tipped to win their first-ever NBA trophy last season.
But their lack of a legitimate low-post threat was completely exposed when Cleveland succumbed to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, 4-2 in their Eastern Conference Finals.
Two more 6’8” forwards in Jamario Moon, along with ex-Boston Leon Powe, bring more depth to the Cavs’ menacing bench.
Moon, who rose to fame as Toronto Raptor before being dealt to Miami last season, is a great open-court player—loves to run, can play defense and adds excitement as well to the Cavs because of his athleticism.
Powe, on the other hand, adds championship experience and physical presence for Cleveland, something Cleveland lacked during the 2009 Playoffs. He could easily be a help to O’Neal in banging bodies inside the paint.
With O’Neal in tow, James can get more help on offense. Throw in Mo Williams, who loves to shoot it from the outside and the Cavs now have a legitimate three-pronged scoring threat.
“Magical Ride” With Carter
Meantime, the Magic didn’t leave any stones unturned in ensuring that the 2010 season would be a “magical year” that would end with a Larry O’Brien trophy to hoist.
Though Orlando eventually lost an inside-outside scoring threat in Hedo Turkoglu to free agency, the Magic managed to get a superb replacement in the presence of veteran Vince Carter.
Carter, who during his younger days, is noted for his high-flying ways, has learned to improve on his outside shooting, a style that easily fits into the Magic because coach Stan Van Gundy’s system includes an offense that rely on three-point shooting.
Bench depth has improved as well for the Magic in the coming 2010 season with the entry of slasher-forward Matt Barnes, athletic power forward Brandon Bass, veteran center Adonal Foyle as well as playmaker Jason Williams, who is coming out of a one-year sabbatical.
These are the NBA’s Beasts In the East. Tomorrow, I’ll come up with my own picks for the Best in the West for 2010.
Photo Source: http://nimg.sulekha.com/Sports/original700/shaquille-o-neal-lebron-james-2009-10-3-12-41-36.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_42w5-R0zz2g/SlayCbVHadI/AAAAAAAAH0E/D8oCGhluaJ4/s400/Rasheed+Wallace+Boston+Celtics+Press+Conference.jpg
Faithfulness In Small Things
Miami Heat coach Eric Spoelstra was here in Manila more than a month ago to conduct a basketball camp and teach high school kids some of the fundamental skills in the sport.
Spoelstra (right) had the opportunity to mentor young NBA star Dwyane Wade.
The 38-year-old Spoelstra is a Filipino-American, being the first Fil-Am and Asian to become the head coach of an NBA team.
His father, Jon Spoelstra used to be an executive in NBA teams like the Portland Trailblazers, the Denver Nuggets, Buffalo Braves and New Jersey Nets.
Spoelstra piloted the Heat to the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs recently where Miami, led by the comebacking Dwyane Wade, succumbed to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games.
Though currently the youngest ever to handle the head coaching chores in the NBA, Spoelstra’s climb to the ladder of coaching success was something anyone can learn from.
In an interview at Basketball television with host Lia Cruz, which I just saw last night, Spoelstra said there was nothing superb he did on his way up to becoming the head coach of the Heat.
Instead, he simply developed the heart of serving the team at any capacity, even “to the point of picking up the dirty laundry of the players”.
From doing minor tasks, including serving as the team’s cameraman during his first few years with the Heat in mid-1990s, Spoelstra became the team’s scout, helping some of the team’s players develop their skills further till becoming Miami’s main coaching guy.
His high point was in 2006 after being instrumental in helping the Heat win the franchise’s very first NBA championship while serving under the tutelage of legendary coach Pat Riley.
We do have a vast number of Filipino coaches in the country who are talented and have the ability to be world-class as well.
But again, talent alone is not enough. Rather, it’s the willingness to be faithful in small things, in the seemingly obscure tasks you do that you become successful.
As Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
No one may recognize the little things you do in your school or work, but God sees it. Let Him reward faithfulness.
Photo Source: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/paul_forrester/02/02/spoelstra/wade-spoelstra.jpg
