Can Lakers Finish Off Nuggets in Denver?
The Los Angeles Lakers are in familiar grounds for the second straight playoffs series. They are up, 3-2 and a chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the second
Lamar Odom is the X-Factor in the series. Will he stay consistent for the Lakers?
straight season.
However, there are some questions going through my mind as the Laker fans at the Staples Center celebrate following Los Angeles’ pivotal 103-94 Game 5 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Could the Lakers really finish it off come Friday (Saturday in Manila)? Could they sustain the momentum they now have at hand? Will they crash the boards the way they used to in Game 5? Will Lamar Odom play with more consistency?
Will the Lakers’ bench contribute more consistently? Will the Laker defense starve the Nuggets’ offense like they did in Game 5 against Carmelo Anthony (did score 31 points but shot only 9-of-23 from the field and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc)?
Will they be mentally tough going back to Pepsi Center so that they could finally finish off the Nuggets and take a few days off before playing in the NBA Finals?
These are barrage of questions that go through my mind right now.
Questions that I was thinking of especially since the Lakers were also up, 3-2 against the Houston Rockets in the semifinals, following their smashing 118-78 win also at the Staples Center. Only to find the Rockets back at their heels with a Game 6 win that forced a winner-take-all Game 7.
Of course, the Lakers went back to attack mode in Game 7 to seal the deal, 89-70 and advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets.
Though some people might say the Rockets series is entirely different from the Nuggets series, the point is the way they have approached the game, which at times seem inconsistent.
Denver does have more athletic guys to contend with—aside from Anthony, the Nuggets still have JR Smith, Dahntay Jones and the two bruise brothers Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen who are not afraid to mix it up and bang bodies against LA’s Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Odom.
Well, Laker coach Phil Jackson had been there a lot of times in the playoff battle. He certainly will do everything he can to prepare LA for a game-clinching Game 6 win.
The only question is, “Will the Lakers be committed to finish off the Nuggets?”
What do you think?
Lebron & Cavs' Favorite Song — Staying Alive
Will Game 5 be Lebron James and Cleveland's last game for the Playoffs?
As I watch how the Orlando Magic dismantle the Cleveland Cavaliers for a commanding 3-1 series lead, league MVP Lebron James and his crew are now one game away from taking a long vacation instead of being “witnesses” to a grand championship ending they’ve been dreaming all season long.
After that tough 114-116 overtime Game 4 loss at the Amway Arena in Orlando, I’m 87 percent sure that the Cavaliers are going down in the series.
And I’ve got some reasons for that.
For one, there’s no doubt that James has been the star of the series, scoring almost at will and making the Magic suffer on defense with his numerous moves to the basket.
He torched Orlando with 44 points in Game 4. Though his team still came short against a Magic team that is determined to prove critics that they deserve to be part of the so-called NBA elite teams.
I think Cleveland’s biggest problem in the series the lack of bench depth.
I’ve shared this to a friend of mine who is an avid Cavs and Lebron James fan.
After the Cavs’ starting unit, coach Mike Brown has nothing much to offer except Ben Wallace and Josh Smith. Daniel Gibson, Wally Szcerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic weren’t able to see much action altogether in the series, a big reason why James, Delonte West and small Mo Williams were not as effective as they used to come the final period.
On the other hand, Orlando’s got Mikael Pietrus, reserve center Marcin Gortat and Anthony Johnson to come off the bench to provide solid support for starters.
The last time an NBA team managed to come back from a 1-3 hole was the Phoenix Suns when they did it against a then young Los Angeles Lakers in 2006. Back then, the Lakers had been riding mostly at the back of Kobe Bryant, something that’s basically happening more or less for the Cavs.
It’s definitely going to be a tall order for Coach brown and Lebron to try to bounce back and win three straight against the Magic.
History is against the Cavs. They’ve lost 10 of their last 10 meetings against the Magic. And they are also 0-4 against the Magic this season.
With all these stats staring flatly at their faces, the Cavs will either have to fight back against history or simply roll the red carpet for the Magic.
But one thing is sure, Lebron and the legion of Cavs fans will be “witnesses”—witnesses to an end of a seemingly dominant run or a continuous fight towards a championship.
You Can Be In The Playoffs
Ah the playoffs!
The Playoffs! What players in the NBA are waiting for. And that's what the fans are waiting for. Diving for looseballs. All-out effort. Flying past the stands...
It’s been close to a month since the NBA Playoffs kicked off with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers, two squads which finished with the best records, leading 14 others teams in the march towards collaring the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy.
The NBA Playoffs is a far different playing field compared to the pre-season or the regular season, which featured 82 grueling games.
The atmosphere in the Playoffs is definitely different. The crowd is wilder. The fans much, much more involved. Just look at the sea of red that trooped to the United Center to root for the Chicago Bulls when they clashed with the Boston Celtics, the reigning champions during the first round.
Though the Bulls eventually lost in seven gripping games, no doubt, the Chicago fans made a huge impact in building the confidence of the young Windy City outfit. A team that featured future NBA stars like Derrick Rose, John Salmons, among others.
Surprises didn’t end there. The Playoffs also unveiled a much-improved Houston Rockets—a team already missing resident star Tracy McGrady for the remainder of the season.
As if that’s not enough, 17-year veteran Dikembe Mutombo went down with a playoff and later on, career-ending injury in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers. Then, Yao Ming followed suit in Game 3 in the second round when he re-injured his foot while playing against the LA Lakers.
But look whose giving the title favorite Lakers a run for their money? The Rockets!
What’s with the Playoffs? Expressions like—“It’s all for the marbles!” “No retreat, no surrender!” “No-tomorrow!” “Never-say-die!” And “Win or Go Home!” Flood the minds and hearts of players and coaches alike.
Truth is, we ought to treat life like it’s the Playoffs not just sometimes, but DAILY!
Colossians 3:23-24 says, 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
As a student, treat it like it’s a Playoffs—giving your best in school, preparing for your project ahead of time and studying because you know it’s not just for your own gratification, or for your parents, but for God.
As a single professional, it’s giving your 100 percent effort even when your boss isn’t looking around.
As a father or mother, it’s prioritizing your family—your kids and your spouse—loving them, caring for them and always offering your relationship to God.
Ah the Playoffs! There’s nothing like it! Well, what are you waiting for? It’s Showtime!
