Global Basketball Trotters

Game Zone News Is Now Open!

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:47:00 +0000

To all our readers, please be informed that all updates and basketball news are now at our new site. You can go to Game Zone News at http://www.gamezonenews.com for the latest news and updates in the sporting world.

Thanks and hope to see you there.

NBA Goes Easy on Blazer’s Threat

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:50:00 +0000

It seems weird that a team can go nuts over a dispute that could mean losing millions of dollars. But thanks to the fine people of the Portland Trailblazers, Darius Miles is technically being disallowed to play for any team, at least for now.

The problem all started with this ridiculous stipulation that if Miles would play 2 more games for any team that dares to sign him. Under the agreement:

If Miles plays in two more games, his $9 million salary for this season and next will go back on Portland's salary cap, making them a luxury tax paying team this season and depriving them off $9 million in salary cap flexibility they would have had next summer.

Of course the Players Union is stepping up to safeguard the Miles’ case but the NBA seems to be employing a hands-off policy.

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed up Darius Miles to a second 10-day contract, defying the Portland Trailblazers’ threat. Will they go after the Grizzlies for doing so?

The Grizzlies have also been playing with Miles. Already signed to an initial 10-day contract, they purposely cut him off and re-signed him to a second 10-day contract to avoid being obliged to sign him up. Well, that is the NBA for you.

(Source) ESPN

Marbury Could Make the Celtics Worse

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:02:00 +0000

No harm intended but adding Stephon Marbury to the Boston Celtics now could be a recipe for disaster. The controversial guard who seems to be missing in action for close to a year right now is still in arrears with the New York Knicks and with the trade deadline fast approaching, Marbury has made it known that he is open to rejoining Kevin Garnett.

The Celtics are pursuing him but maybe this is because they are in a slump. Losing 7 of their 9 games is not really something the Boston organization will be happy about but just the same, adding controversial manpower may disrupt the fluidity of their offense.

If the Celtics are indeed inclined to sign him up, it would be best to get him on board next season. If he is signed up now, chances are he may be riding more time on the bench to adjust to the new plays of Boston Coach Doc Rivers.

Knowing Stephon Marbury, we all know he is not fond of not getting playing time. Wasn’t that the reason why he had this conflict with the Knicks in the first place?

Chris Paul Sets New NBA Record

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:25:00 +0000

New Orleans Hornets’ standout Chris Paul set a new record for most consecutive times having a double-double garnering at least 20 points and 10 assists to start a season. He raised the bar to six consecutive games, a record previously held by NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.

Chris Paul claims that he was only able to do this amazing feat because of his teammates who converted his passes and validated them as assists. From this, we see that he isn’t a player who takes all credit for his achievements. He shows us that basketball is truly a team sport. His incredible talent and unselfishness has helped him achieve great things.

CP3 was the fourth overall pick of the New Orleans Hornets in 2005. He eventually won the Rookie of the Year Award. By just watching Chris Paul, you could anticipate that he will eventually beat an NBA record set by NBA Hall of Famers.

The record-breaking stat-line happened during a win over Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Chris Paul recorded 21 points and 13 assists. He led his team in bouncing back from two consecutive losses after winning their first three games of the season.

Tyson Chandler recorded 13 points and hauled down 13 rebounds to help Chris Paul lead his team over the Heat. David West also scored 21 points. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 30 points.

The Hornets defeated the Heat with a final score of 100-89.

(photo taken from http://www.nba.com)

Brandon Roy Strikes Again

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Just a few days after I wrote about the excellence of Brandon Roy, he has proven me right when I said that he is a player to watch out for. Brandon Roy showed that he is a player who can hit crucial and clutch baskets for his team. His most recent victim was the Houston Rockets.

With his team tied with the Rockets in the overtime period, Brandon Roy hit a turnaround jumper to give his team a two point lead in the dying seconds. After that, Yao Ming hit a foul-counted basket and converted the free throw leaving 0.8 seconds on the clock. Portland called timeout and drew up a play. Brandon was very disappointed at himself because it was he who committed the foul and allowed the Rockets to take the lead. He wanted to redeem himself so badly. How did he do it? He hit a 30-foot jumper to give his team the win.

Although Brandon Roy only made 6 out of his 18 attempts going 33% from the field, he proved to everyone that he can take and make the shot when it matters. Brandon showed no fear and displayed confidence in himself as he knew that was his shot to take. No one else wanted that shot more than Brandon Roy.

The Blazers beat the Rockets 101-99.

(photo taken from http://www.nba.com)

Allen Iverson Traded to the Pistons

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:34:00 +0000

Allen Iverson is now the newest member of the Detroit Pistons. He was sent to Detroit in exchange for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.

There is only one problem in this transaction. Reports say that it seems like Antonio McDyess is not willing to play for the Nuggets. Allen Iverson on the other hand has spoken about this trade. He said that no matter where he plays, he’ll be giving it his all.

This trade will give both teams a different look compared to before. Other teams will have to re-adjust their style of play when they play Detroit and Denver. Detroit will be a faster and more explosive team. They will have Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey and Richard Hamilton manning the guard positions. On the other hand, Denver will now have a better half court offense because of the acquisition of the forever-composed Chauncey Billups. If Antonio McDyess decides to suit up as a Denver Nugget, it will really help the Nuggets’ frontline. A huge void will have to be filled due to Marcus Camby’s departure in the offseason.

Development by the younger guards of both teams convinced them that their superstars could be moved. Rodney Stuckey for the Pistons and J.R. Smith for the Nuggets are quickly developing into the voids that are left by the departing stars.

Allen Iverson is averaging 18.7 points and is dishing out 6.7 assists in the first three games for the Nuggets. On the other hand, Chauncey Billups is averaging 12.5 points, 5 boards and 7.5 dimes per game. Antonio McDyess is averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds in the team’s first two games.

Let's talk about Dwyane Wade

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:10:00 +0000

Dwyane Wade has been quieted by injuries in the past seasons. It seemed like his hype died down after he led his team achieve every NBA players dream, an NBA championship. Along with winning an NBA championship, he also won that year's MVP award in the finals.

As this season begins, Dwyane shows us his true capabilities once again as he seems perfectly healthy. He gave us a taste of how well he really plays in the Beijing Olympics where he led his team in scoring amidst NBA Superstars like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James on his team.

What makes Dwyane Wade a great player is his unselfishness and desire to win. He is a tremendous competitor and great leader on and off the court even at a young age. He was one of the NBA’s elite before he was injured. Now that he’s healthy, he will surely return to that state once again. Dwyane is also one of the best slashers in the league complemented by his accurate mid-range jump shot. He developed into one of the NBA’s best a few seasons ago but was slowed down by unfortunate injuries. In the first two games of this season, Dwyane Wade is averaging 23 points, 8.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks per game.

The real question now is whether Dwyane Wade could lead his team back into the postseason and show that they are championship contenders. I believe that with the Heat’s current roster, they can’t win it all. They could get to the postseason but they lack that dominating inside presence they had to win the championship when they won in the finals a few years ago.

Dwyane just needs more help and I’m sure he’ll be capable of bringing the glory days back to Miami as before.

Brandon Roy Leads his team past the Spurs

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 07:24:00 +0000

Brandon Roy bounced back from a terrible season-opener by scoring 26 points, making 10 of his 18 field goals attempted. He also had seven assists, grabbed five rebounds and stole the ball three times. Brandon led his team, along with Lamarcus Aldridge, over the San Antonio Spurs, 100-99, escaping with a needle-hole-like margin.

Brandon Roy scored only 14 points in the first game of the season against the Lakers who slaughtered his team. Brandon went 5 of 15 for the night. It seemed like he couldn’t get his rhythm going.

In his second game of the season, he showed everyone why he was one of the best players on his team and in the league. He shrugged off a terrible performance and led his team to a victory. Brandon Roy scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half.

The Spurs almost pulled their amazing comeback off with a barrage of three point baskets due to their unselfishness and ball movement. The Spurs hit 5 three pointers in the 4th quarter alone. In the dying seconds, Michael Finley missed a 12-footer on the break that would have given the Spurs the win. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 27 points and grabbed 10 boards.

Lebron Shows Larry Brown and the Bobcats Why he is King

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:12:00 +0000

video taken from youtube.com
In Cleveland’s home-opener, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers gave Charlotte’s debuting coach, Larry Brown, a not-so-pleasant welcome as the Bobcats’ coach. The Cavs defeated the Bobcats 96 - 79.

Lebron James displayed his usual MVP-like performance scoring 22 points, dishing out 9 dimes, and grabbing 9 rebounds. He was one assist and one rebound shy of another one of his triple double performances. Fellow Cavalier Daniel Gibson scored 25 points, 20 of which came from the 1st half, to lead the Cavaliers in scoring. Newcomer Mo Williams did his share of damage by scoring 17 points and dishing out 7 assists for the night. Ben Wallace led the Cavs on the defensive end grabbing 10 boards and swatting 5 shots.

Aside from his great stat-line, Lebron James displayed quickness and strength when he hammered (could be an understatement) two dunks while leaving the Bobcats’ defense lost in translation. The first one came in the first few minutes of the game when he penetrated down the lane and left his defender dumbfounded as he could only watch Lebron from the backseat. The second one came in the fourth quarter in the open court where he was fouled and was still able to throw it down.

Jason Richardson led the scoring load for the Bobcats. Gerrald Wallace scored 13.

Derrick Rose Lives up to the Hype

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:50:00 +0000

In Derrick Rose’s debut in a Chicago Bulls uniform, he was able to provide the fans with something to look forward to. Derrick Rose was drafted first overall by the Chicago Bulls in the last NBA Rookie Draft. Derrick Rose played for Memphis College for one year before signing up for the draft. As a player in Memphis College, he averaged almost 15 points and 4.7 assists. He played a key role in leading his team to the NCAA Championship where they lost to Kansas.

Derrick showed signs of maturity on the court and incredible quickness. He was a player who has so much potential. Now, Derrick shows us that he is capable of being an NBA team’s playmaker. In his NBA debut, Derrick scored 11 points, dished out 9 assists, and was accountable for three steals. He displayed flashes of potential greatness as he showed spectators his amazing quickness and floor-leadership.

Although Derrick had an impressive first game, he also showed his lack of experience by committing 4 turnovers in the game. This shouldn’t be a worry though because he is still a young player and has many more years to come and many lessons to learn. He has the potential to be one of the NBA’s premier point guards.

NBA Regular Season Opening Games

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:57:00 +0000

There are three games scheduled on the NBA regular season’s opening games. These three games will give us a quick taste of the season ahead.

The Cavaliers and the defending champion Celtics will tip-off the season openers. We will see a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals. This will be very interesting because of Mo Williams’ debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers. We will see how big his effect on the team’s performance will be. As for the Celtics, well, we’ll see if the Celtics are really serious about repeating as NBA Champions this season.

Next up will be the Bucks going against the Bulls. This game isn’t as hyped up as the Cleveland-Boston game but it will show us the regular season debut of Richard Jefferson with the Milwaukee Bucks and of course, the 1st overall pick in the Draft, Derrick Rose with the Chicago Bulls.

Last but surely not the least, the Portland Trail Blazers play against the runners-up in last season’s NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers. This game will be the one-year delayed debut of last year’s first overall pick, Greg Oden. This will also be the first time Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum will be able to play together. We will see in this game how well these three players will play on the court.

It is game time NBA fans. This is no longer preseason. It’s the real deal for the NBA teams. Each team will be giving 110% to capture that first victory and hopefully many more to come.

Injuries plague teams even before the start of the season

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:39:00 +0000

Numerous injuries have occurred since the beginning of the preseason. It all started with Gilbert Arenas' knee surgery (hopefully his last) and then came Monta Ellis, mo-ped accident, and so on.

News about injured players haven’t stopped coming for a while now; sprained ankles, injured knees, torn ligaments, bone spurs, poked eyes and much more. Duration of these injuries may vary from days to months. There are some unfortunate cases wherein the player may even miss the whole season; a problem Washington Center Brendan Haywood may possibly face along with Philadelphia Bigman Jason Smith and Portland Forward Raef Lafrentz.

Right now, there are more or less 90 injured players on the NBA’s injured list and players listed as day-to-day. Some of these players include Stars like Gilbert Arenas, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Allen Iverson, Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd, Baron Davis, and Monta Ellis.

These injuries are unavoidable in basketball. That is an unfortunate truth. It is sad that with the season starting in a few days, there will be players who will be missing games. Now, all we can do is wish the players well; stay away from injury and to those injured, get well soon.

This season, I believe, may be one of the most unpredictable seasons especially with the offseason moves of teams like Golden State and Philadelphia.

If you would like to view the injured list, just click the link below (as of October 17, 2008):
NBA.com

Shaun Livingston signs with the Heat

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:29:00 +0000

The Miami Heat has signed returning Point Guard Shaun Livingston. Shaun Livingston has been out for a while now due to a major knee injury. He injured his knee while going for a wide-open lay-up when he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Shaun Livingston was a fourth overall draft pick in the 2004 draft. His game was improving fast. He is a 6’7 point guard who can take it strong to the hole and was already developing an outside game before he was injured. He was well on his way in permanently taking over the Point Guard spot for the Clippers.

This free agent signing would be a great move for the Heat if Shaun Livingston could play as well as he used to. This will do well for the Heat’s rebuilding program. He would blend well with the team because of his pass-first attitude and his great athleticism. He will be teaming up with Shawn Marion, Dwyane Wade, and newcomer Michael Beasley.

Note: The Miami Heat finished last place in the standings last season. They won the 2nd overall pick in the Draft Lottery and they used their pick to take NCAA freshman sensation Michael Beasley. The Heat are probably far from winning a championship with the make up of their team now. But with the addition of new players to their lineup, things could turn around for them in terms of making the postseason. (As long as Dwyane Wade stays healthy of course.)

Ben Gordon Stays with the Bulls

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:47:00 +0000

Ben Gordon has just reportedly signed a qualifying offer with the Chicago Bulls, his former team. Ben Gordon was a 3rd overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. He has led the Bulls in scoring for the past three seasons with 18.6 points per game. He is well-known for his magnificent 4th quarter performances.

Ben Gordon showed signs of doubt that he will be suiting up for the Bulls this coming season. The Chicago Bulls will have a problem in their player rotation now that they have Ben Gordon back. They recently drafted Derrick Rose. Obviously, he will be seeing a lot of playing time to develop his young talent and to gather experience in the NBA.

The Bulls have Larry Hughes, Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose, and Ben Gordon in the guard spots. Whose playing time will mostly depreciate? I think it’ll be Ben Gordon’s due to his height disadvantage. Kirk Hinrich is a much better passer than Ben Gordon. Larry Hughes is a much better defender. Derrick Rose, well, he is the 1st overall draft pick. It would be a waste if he would spend much time on the bench.

I think there are a few options for the Bulls. One, trade Ben Gordon for a player that could help them out on the frontline; Two, play a 3-guard rotation where Joakim Noah could play center and Luol Deng or Tyrus Thomas could play the 4-spot. It will be a very difficult decision for the Bulls on what they will do.

Honestly, I like Ben Gordon but I don’t think that the Chicago Bulls is the team for him.

Gilbert Arenas undergoes 3rd Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Bad news again for Agent Zero fans out there, Washington Wizards Star Gilbert Arenas has undergone another surgery. He will be out until December which means he will miss training camp and the start of the regular season.

So now, the Wizards are left with Antonio Daniels and Dee Brown as their choices for starting point guard. Roger Mason Jr. has moved on and has joined the Spurs. The much anticipated return of Gilbert Arenas has become another let down to the Washington Wizards’ fans. The Wizards’ organization announced that they were aware of losing Gilbert Arenas for another few months prior to signing him to a $111-million six year deal during the summer.

After Gilbert Arenas’ breakout season with all those clutch cold-blooded game-winning baskets, we have yet to see Gilbert Arenas back to his normal self playing on the court. Actually, he played a few games last season but once again, he injured his knee and had to undergo another surgery. He missed the playoffs due to that surgery.

Will we really see Gilbert Arenas, Agent Zero, play in December? Will he ever be able to recover from his knee injuries? The Wizards’ organization seems to believe so, should we? Well, let’s all hope Gilbert Arenas recovers soon and doesn’t have to undergo another surgery. Get well soon Gilbert!

Mick Pennisi Goes to San Miguel Beer

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:22:00 +0000

San Miguel Beer (formerly known as Magnolia) has acquired the services of former Red Bull hitman Mick Pennisi, further beefing up their roster to make up for injuries to their star players like Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle. His addition is a welcome move and with that, expectations for the SMB franchise to perform better seems to be all the more high.

Pennisi is the last remaining member of the Red Bull championship run. He now joins Lordy Tugade who had already joined the SMB franchise a year ago. Red Bull for its part got two future draft picks in exchange. (Fair Trade???)

Earlier last year, SMB also acquired three stalwarts from Red Bull but were later traded. They were:

1. LA Tenorio (Alaska)
2. Larry Fonacier (Alaska)
3. Enrico Villanueva (Purefoods)

While Red Bull will always be home for these players, you never know what coach Yeng Guiao has up his sleeve. He seems to have a knack of whipping up a competitive team and keeping quite about it.

Coach Yeng is perhaps a model coach to which most wannabe coaches should follow. Like perhaps this coach from a team who said that they will win the championship yet lost?

Source

How will Ron Artest do in Houston?

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:33:00 +0000

The Houston Rockets acquired Ron Artest in an offseason trade which sent rookie Donte Green and Guard Bobby Jackson to the Sacramento Kings. Some other players were involved in the trade to satisfy both teams’ salary cap.

Let’s talk about Ron Artest.

On the court, he is a total lockdown defender. He can shoot the long-bomb and is an exceptional slasher. He can guard four different positions except for the Centers; obviously because of the greater height advantage.

Here come the reasons why a team might not want Ron Artest. There are times when Ron loses his cool. He explodes. He has a tendency to be violent just as we saw in the brawl between him and fans in the Detroit. He also has a tendency to argue too much with officials. Technical fouls have been a problem for him on the court.

In my opinion, Ron Artest still has a chance to put his head into order. He has that chance in Houston where his team is really a contender because of the presence of Yao Ming and T-Mac. With an efficient and level-headed Ron Artest, the Houston Rockets will be a team to watch out for. Artest has to learn to channel his intensity and put it to the right use. Instead of blowing his head and act violently against officials, he could just fuel his team with his intensity into playing better on the court.

Note: We saw the change with Rasheed Wallace. He was a hot-headed player in his previous teams until he found a home in Detroit. Maybe this will be Ron’s turn to change.

Memphis Signs Iranian Hamed Haddadi

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:19:00 +0000

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed a 7-foot Center from Iran. He played for the Iran National Team that competed in Beijing. He was the only player who averaged a double-double in the Olympic competition. He averaged 16.6 points and 11.2 rebounds.

Hamed Haddadi also showed an inside presence on the defensive side. He averaged 2.6 blocks in Olympic competition on top of the previously mentioned statistics. He could help the Memphis Grizzlies improve their record this season. I doubt that with their team this season, they could be considered playoff contenders.

The Memphis Grizzlies were also impressed in his performance in the Mountain Revenue Competition. The Iranian team went against NBA competition. Hamed had averages of 14 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.

The real questions that go through my mind are these:

Was Hamed Haddadi really an impressive player? Or was he just impressive because he was in a team with sub-par talented players?
How will he fair against NBA big men? Will he be able to compete with the more agile and stronger players? Will he be able to keep up with the pace in the NBA?

Jamaal Magloire joins the Miami Heat

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:49:00 +0000

The Miami Heat have reportedly signed unrestricted free agent Jamaal Magloire to an offer sheet. The Heat will be trying to find the answer to the void that Shaquille O’neal left when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

Jamaal Magloire made a name for himself in 2004 when he was with the New Orleans Hornets. He was voted into the 2004 All-Star game and surprised people with what he was really capable of. Since then, his career has gone downhill. His averages and playing time have declined.

The Miami Heat will give Jamaal Magloire another chance to prove his worth. He now has a second chance to help the Miami Heat win more games. They were the league’s worst last season only garnering 15 wins in 82 games.

The Miami Heat took their time in choosing the Center fit for their team. The Heat passed on Theo Ratliff, DJ Mbenga, Lorenzen Wright and some others. They probably felt that Jamaal Magloire would fit best in the Heat’s style of play.

Jamaal Magloire will be joining all-stars Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade, as well as 2nd overall pick Michael Beasley.

Kevin Duckworth Dies at 44

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:58:00 +0000

"Today is an extremely sad day for the Trail Blazers family," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said. "Kevin will be remembered by fans as one of the most popular and recognizable players to ever wear the Blazers uniform, but to people who knew him, he'll be remembered as one of the warmest and biggest-hearted."

Source

Most of the NBA fans may not know who Kevin Duckworth was. He was among the premier centers back in the 1990’s, perhaps best remembered for helping the Portland Trailblazers reaching the NBA Finals that year against the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls. Among his teammates back then included Clyde Drexler, Buck Williams, Terry Porter and Danny Ainge. They lost to the Bulls that Year 4-2 in what was perhaps one of the most competitive teams that the Portland Organization has ever assembled.

He first initially played as a second round draft pick for the San Antonio Spurs before he was traded later on to Portland in exchange for Walter Berry. He also had stints with Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers. After those memorable years in Portland, his career took a dip, ironically in the same fashion that Portland did. He is likewise a two-time NBA All-Star Selection.

There has no word yet on the actual reason of his death. But just the same, “The Duck” will always be remembered for his talent, warmth and contribution to Portland and the National Basketball Association.

May his soul rest in peace. Thanks for the memories “Duck”!

Boston Signs up Darius Miles

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:55:00 +0000

Don’t look now but the Boston Celtics seem to be bent on defending their crown as they have signed up another underachieving superstar in the person of Darius Miles. After losing key player James Posey to Charlotte in the off-season, the Celtics have been looking for another key player to add to its fold. And they did and what a catch it was!

Miles last played for the Portland Trailblazers averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds. He was originally drafted 3rd in 2000 by the LA Clippers and has yet to set a name for himself. A superstar in his own right, perhaps Boston is the right stop for him, the current NBA champions!

"Darius has been in twice for workouts with us and has impressed us with his progress, health, and attitude;" said Danny Ainge, Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations/General Manager. "Darius will have the next couple of months to prove to myself and Coach Rivers that he can help us win."

Source

USA brings home the Gold Medal

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:04:00 +0000

The Redeem Team of Team USA has achieved their ultimate goal of securing the top spot in the Beijing Olympics Men’s Basketball Division. The team had an unblemished record of 7-0 prior to the Olympic Championship game.

Team USA was set to face Spain. Earlier in the tournament, Team USA faced Spain and beat them by 37 points in the elimination round. But beating a team by 100 or 1 in the past is disregarded when the Championship game comes. Both teams start from zero. The team who executes better will be rightfully called champions.

The final score of the Championship Game was 118-107 in favor of the Americans. That game was the closest game in the tournament for Team USA who had beaten their opponents by an average of about 30 points per ball game.

The Spaniards were able to keep the game close until the final quarter. With this win, the Americans were able to prove that they could win even in close games. Dwyane Wade led the team in scoring with 27 points, Kobe added 20, and Lebron had 14.

In the impressive performance of Team USA in the entire tournament, it was their teamwork, unselfishness and defense that brought them the gold medal. Fortunately, these superstars were able to set aside their egos and were able to play as a team.

It wasn’t the Kobe show. It wasn’t the Lebron show. It wasn’t the Melo show. IT WAS TEAM USA.

(photo taken from http://nba.com)

Thank God It’s Ginebra! ..beats Air21 97-84

noreply@blogger.com (bryboy) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:58:00 +0000

photo taken from Philippine Sports News

Don’t get me wrong. I am no Ginebra fan. But compared to Air 21, I am glad that the Ginebra Gin Kings won the 2008 Smart Fiesta Cup Champion at the Philippine Basketball Association last night to the tune of 97-84. What made it sweeter is the fact that they did it despite the dirty and rough plays of the Express locals. Of all their players, only import Steve Thomas got my respect. The others? Zilch!

From the ball boy all the way to their egotistical head coach, Bo Perasol, they are full of hot air. Sure, they got to the finals but it was all because of Mr. Steve Thomas. I agree that his presence and inspiration was the reason but as far as the team is concerned, sorry but they are all a bunch of couch potatoes.

Wynne Arboleda, Homer Se, Ranidel Ocampo, Arwind Santos, Gary David, KG Canaleta? Gosh who are these people?!? I don’t even see a semblance of humbleness in them. Oh here comes the coach saying that it is all part of character. HAH! If perhaps Air21 showed some humble things such as playing fair and some modest proclamations, then perhaps you would have much of the fans’ support. But NO. Especially for the coach who uses his favorite phrase “I HAD NO DOUBT IN MY MIND”. Read the papers folks, you can count how many times he used this. I guess that is all he knows to say. Maybe if he just approached the way that modest coaches like Siot Tanquincen, Yeng Guiao or Chot Reyes, then maybe he would have not eaten his words.

Gary David has been astrocious. Ever since he came to this ballclub, his ego has been at an all time high. Canaleta is an overrated player. Just because you were chosen over Ren Ren Ritualo doesn’t mean you are THAT GOOD! Arwind Santos? Geez CHOKE TIME! He cannot even make the simple follow-up.

But alls well that ends well. Air21 is not yet primed for a championship. Maybe if they learn the magic of humility and learn to shut up then lady luck may just smile on them.

For Ginebra, I salute Eric Menk, Ronald Tubid (a former Air21 player) and Junthy Valenzuela. Oh and also the best import of the conference, Chris Alexander. You deserve it buddy!

Congrats to the Ginebra Gin Kings, the 2008 PBA SMART Fiesta Cup Champs!

NBA Three Team Trade

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:05:00 +0000

NBA Veteran Mo Williams will be joining the Cleveland Cavaliers this coming season after being involved in a three team deal. The deal also involves Cleveland’s NBA veterans Joe Smith going to Oklahoma City and Damon Jones going to Milwaukee. Oklahoma City will be sending Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin to the Milwaukee Bucks. In return, the Bucks will be sending Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City. (Oklahoma City Sonics was Seattle Supersonics in the previous NBA Seasons)

The Cavaliers expressed their contentment in acquiring Mo Williams. Danny Ferry, Cleveland’s General Manager, believes that Mo Williams will be able to help the team win. Mo Williams averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field in 66 NBA games last season.

Mo Williams is known for his versatility. He is capable of controlling a game’s tempo for his previous team. He is also able to penetrate the lane and create for himself and for teammates. To complement his speed and slashing, he has a steady hand from outside the NBA-three. He will be able to stretch the defense to create space for his teammates.

Three Team Trade Summary:
Cleveland: Mo Williams
Oklahoma City: Desmond Mason, Damon Jones
Milwaukee: Luke Ridnour, Adrian Griffin, Joe Smith

Andre Iguodala re-signs with the 76ers

noreply@blogger.com (jammyc) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Restricted Free Agent Andre Iguodala has just signed a six-year $80 million contract with his team, the 76ers.

Andre Iguodala has proven in the past few years in the NBA that he will be able to lead his team and contribute in order for his team to win. He is an athletic guard/forward who has good range on his jump shot. He is also an intimidating defender because of his length and quickness. He averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.09 steals in 82 games the last NBA season. He was healthy throughout the year and didn’t miss a single game.

The Philadelphia 76ers is now a team to take note of in the NBA. They were a surprise in last year’s playoffs when they were able to last 6 games with the Detroit Pistons.

Returning players Andre Miller, Samuel Dalembert, Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams, and now, Andre Iguodala will be joined by one of the top low post scorers in the league, Elton Brand. They are now going to be a tougher team to beat especially in the Eastern Conference. They will no longer be underdogs in the postseason because of the signing of an all-star. The expectations for this team will be a lot more compared to last NBA season.