For the 12th time the Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA Championship. When it comes to sharing Boston and Los Angeles are the definition of selfish, with a combined 52 Finals appearances and 32 Larry O’ Brian trophies.
Archive for May, 2010
The Truth Sports: NBA Finals Preview
Posted 31 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
Category Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
NBA Western Conference Finals: Game 6 Recap
Posted 30 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant scored nine points in the final 2 minutes, finishing with 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Phoenix Suns 111-103 and return to the NBA Finals for the third year in a row.
Bryant, with his 10th 30-point performance in his last 11 postseason games, moved ahead of Jerry West and into a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second-most 30-point playoff games at 75. He has a ways to go for the record of 109 held by Michael Jordan. “Kobe’s so good, “ teammate Lamar Odom said, “he makes incredible normal for us.”
Ron Artest added 25 points. But the night belonged to Kobe Bryant who has unstoppable during the Conference Finals. Bryant has the all-time lead for 30-point playoff road games when his team has the chance to clinch with 8.
Amare Stoudemire, in what may have been his last game with the Suns, scored 27 points but struggled to a 7-of-20 shooting. night. Nash added 21 points and nine assists in his 118th playoff game, the most for anyone who has never reached the finals. “You might say we overachieved,” Nash said, “but we’re a good team.”
Goran Dragic scored 10 of his 12 points in a fourth-quarter rally that got Phoenix within three points, but a steal by Odom, and a big buckets from Kobe sealed the win.
Lakers will face the Boston Celtics, who they lost to in 6 games in 2008. (Finals preview coming Monday) NBA Finals begin Thursday.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 6 Recap
Posted 28 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Celtics had a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Magic fought back to take the series to Game 6. Unfortunately for Orlando their “Magic” ran out. Celtics win big 96-84, to earn their 21st Finals apperace in franchise history.
The Celtics came out early looking to crush the Magic lead by their Playoff MVP Rajon Rondo. Rondo had the first 7 points finishing with 14 points. Rondo took a hard fall in the second quarter, leading to Doc Rivers putting Nate Robinson in the game. In 9 minutes Robinson had 13 points increasing the Celtics lead in the 1st half, and through the remainder of the game.
Celtic captain Paul Pierce had a slight drop in his numbers in the last two games. He rebounded with a 31 points, 5 dimes, and 13 boards game on 60% shooting.
Orlando had caught fire from deep in the last two games, and as the saying goes “Live by the 3, die by the 3!” Magic shot 6 of 22 from beyond the arc for 27.3% shooting. Dwight Howard appeared to be the only Magic player to show up. He finished with 28 points and 12 boards, while hearing boos and jeers the entire night from the Boston crowd.
Vince Carter showed a flash of why he was brought to the Magic in the second quarter scoring 13 points cutting the Celtics lead to 13 at the half. Carter returned to Playoff form scoring only 4 more points finishing with 17. Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson combined for 18 points on 8 of 25 shooting. Not the numbers you want from three of your starters in an elimination game.
The Celtics now await the winner of Laker-Suns, and regardless of the winner the Celtics will be heading to their court for Game 1 on Thursday.
The World is Odom’s!
Posted 28 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
In this era where superstars are crowned off hype, premature of any accomplishments, Lamar Odom remains humble and unaware what power he possess. At his size, quickness, ball handling capabilites and 3-point range he appears to have a European skill set. But his style is purly playground-esqe. Lamar has yet to achieve true awareness to how unstoppable he can truly be. There are a limited few big men in the league that could defend him.
Maybe the reason Odom has yet to reach his potential is due to the large shield he stands behind named Kobe Bryant. Having a player that does all the tough stuff, like scoring routinly as the clock runs down makes you stagnant. Trevor Ariza had the pleasure of watching Kobe get him a championship ring. Ariza then went to a team where he was watched by the other players expecting him to know what to do. When MJ retired Scottie Pippen got to go a season and a half being watched, and was thrilled to have MJ back. Unfortunately for Odom, Kobe isn’t going anywhere. But since when is winning championships a bad thing.
During this years Playoffs Odom has showed flashes of greatness. He is averaging 10.9 points and 9.3 boards, and had 19 points and 19 boards in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers are unstoppable if and when Odom plays at the level everyone knows he is capable of. Hard part is Odom realizing this himself.
NBA Western Conference Finals: Game 5 Recap
Posted 27 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
The Lakers return to Los Angeles and get back to business, improved defense (15 turnovers for Phoenix), deflections ( 7 steals), and 10 blocks. Ron Artest beat the buzzer with a wild bank shot after rebounding Kobe Bryant’s miss, and the Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 103-101 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, but Artest was the improbable hero with just his second basket of the night after missing back-to-back threes on the previous possession. Pau Gasol had 21 points and 9 rebounds.
The Suns rallied from an 18 point deficit to tie the game with 3.5 seconds left. Of course the game winner went to Kobe, who air balled the shot. Ron Artest got the rebound and with 1.8 seconds left put it the basket off the glass.
Steve Nash had 29 points and 11 assists, and was the only consistent player the Suns had. Channing Frye had 14 points, and 10 boards. The Suns bench went from scoring 54 points in Game 4 to 31 in Game 5.
The Lakers had 28 dimes to the Suns 19.
Game 6 is Saturday night in Phoenix, where the Lakers can clinch the chance to play for their 16th championship. Lakers lead series 3-2.
Ron Artest / Craig Sager Interview: QUEENSBRIDGE
Nike AF1 Hi Brown/Brown
Posted 27 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Sneakers
Category Sneakers
A new colorway of the classic Nike Air Force 1 Hi has been spotted, with an expected release sometime in mid-July. I haven’t been a fan of AF1 since they became the shoe EVERYONE wanted. These renew my faith in the sneaker,
The off-white upper is constructed with suede and a few select panels of tumbled leather. The midfoot, forefoot and Swoosh are all solid, but it’s the heel-most area and quarter panel of this AF1 that sets it apart. Those areas display a pattern of stripes made of black dots. A white midsole and gum outsole ( I just love gum outsoles’) sit underneath, and a bit of red is used on the branding on the heel and tongue tag. More images after jump. {props}
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 5 Recap
Posted 26 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Orlando hadn’t caught fire from deep against the Celtics all series. That quickly changed in Game 5 as the Magic hit 9 of 15 threes in the first half tying a Playoff record. Orlando finished with 13 of 25 from deep, helping them to end Boston’s four game road winning streak, 111-92.
When the Magic get going from deep as they did tonight they are tough to beat. They shot 52% from deep. Jameer Nelson was big for the second game finishing with 25 points and 5 dimes. Dwight Howard was solid finishing with 21 points, 10 boards, 5 blocks, and 2 knockouts.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Helping the Magic in the win were the double technicals called on Kendrick Perkins in the first half resulting in his ejection. If losing Perkins wasn’t bad enough, an elbow from Dwight Howard gave Glen Davis a concussion and knocked out one of his teeth. Marquis Daniels also left the game with a concussion….it was that bad for the Celtics.
Boston looked a tad lethargic early, appearing if they were conceding the win and focusing on Game 6 back in Boston. Paul Pierce remained in the game when Doc Rivers decided to empty the bench. He finished with 18 points. Rondo was unable to get the ball into the rim, shooting 7 of 15 from the field and 5 of 11 from the free throw line. He finished with 19 points, and 6 dimes.
The Celtics were out rebounded 43 to 26.
Game 6 is Friday in Boston. Celtics lead series 3-2.
Posted 26 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category NBA
Category NBA
Sort of wish Kobe would have made his “Rabbit Face” face when he had this ridiculous photoshoot.
NIKE X STABLISHED PROJECTS : HOUSE OF HOOPS
Nike found Stablished Projects, and asked for a series of illustrations of basketball icons: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Stephen Curry. Each image is almost life size and has an incredible amount of detail.
The illustrations were printed on wood panels, and installed at the Footlocker/Nike House of Hoops store at Serramonte Mall, in Daly City, California.
Images in the store after the jump. Continue reading “NIKE X STABLISHED PROJECTS : HOUSE OF HOOPS” »
NBA Western Conference Finals: Game 4 Recap
Posted 25 May 2010 — by Phillip Pyle
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
This stat should some up this entire recap. Suns bench 54 points, Lakers bench 20 points. Suns even the series winning 115-106.
The Suns bench caught fire from deep, including Channing Frye who had missed 17 straight shots(3 short of the record 20 set by Sam Cassell with the Boston Celtics in 2008) finally found the touch finishing with 14 points on 4 of 8 shooting from three. Amare Stoudemire lead the Suns with 21 points and 8 boards.
Just like Game 3 the Lakers fell under the “zone defense magic spell” trying to shoot over the defense instead of taking the ball to the basket. Lakers went 9-28 for three, for 32%. Kobe was the only Lakers that wasn’t phased by the zone finishing with 38 points, 10 dimes, and 7 boards.
The Suns are the smaller team but out rebounded the Lakers 51 to 36.
Game 5 is Thursday back in Los Angeles. Series tied 2-2.
