Archive for May, 2010
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 4 Recap
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Orlando finally showed up to the Conference Finals. In a game where they make 10 three-pointers, and miss 13 free throws the Magic defeat the Celtics in Overtime 96-92.
The Boston Celtics, one win away from the Finals started Game 4 in cruise control. Paul Pierce was the majority of the offensive load early and the defense wasn’t at the same level of intensity. Pierce had 32 points, and 11 boards.
Ray Allen hit 5 threes, and Garnett had 14 points. Rondo left to the locker room before halftime for muscle spasms, and had to have an effect on his play. He finished with 9 points on 3 of 10 shooting, and 8 dimes.
Orlando had everything to lose, and the finger pointing had already begun after losing the first two games in Orlando.
Dwight Howard had only 7 points in Game 3 and seemed to be in another place mentally. Tonight he finished with 32 points,14 boards, and 4 blocks. He was more active and focused then he had been all series. Jameer Nelson stepped it up finishing with 23 points and 9 dimes.
Vince Carter had 3 points, and was benched late for Matt Barnes. JJ Redick’s contribution off the bench has been the only bright spot for the Magic during this series. He had 12 points, making key shots in the 3rd quarter to keep the Celtics down.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Orlando. Celtics lead series 3-1.
NBA Western Conference Finals: Game 3 Recap
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
With 8:47 left in the 4th quarter, Suns head coach Alvin Gentry put Steve nash back in the game while Lamar Odom gave the Lakers lead. Phoenix went on a 17-6 run to get up by as much as ten and held on to win Game 3 118-109.
Amare Stoudemire had yet to show any intensity all series, and was a game away from losing a lot of cash this off season. He exploded in Game 3 with 42 points tying his Playoff career high, and 11 boards. He went 14 of 18 from the free throw line, while the Lakers as a team went 16-20. Phoenix had a 42-20 advantage at the stripe, +21 in makes.
Steve Nash was his usual brilliance with 17 points, and 15 assists. The Suns also got a big lift from Robin Lopez who finished with 20 points on 8 of 10 shooting. The Suns lead the league in 3 point% during the season, but shot a paltry 25% from deep. Fortunately for Phoenix the Lakers were lulled into the same game, shooting 9 of 32 from deep.
Kobe Bryant went to work early hitting seven of his first nine shots, finishing with 36 points 11 dimes, and 9 boards. Pau Gasol had 23 points and 9 rebounds, but that was about all the Lakers could muster against the surprise Suns zone-defense. Lamar Odom was a big factor in the first two games vanished back itno his candy factory in Game 3 fouling out with 10 points on 4-14 shooting.
Suns look to tie the series on Tuesday. Lakers lead the series 2-1
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 3 Recap
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
The TD Garden in Boston made sure that their energy would fuel the Celtics in their first home game in the Conference Finals. The Crowd, and the Celtics “D” was too much for Orlando as they get to experience what Atlanta went through last week. Boston wins in a blowout from start to finish 94-71.
There comes a time in all battles, when one knows that he is the best, and the Celtics proved it in the first quarter of Game 3. The Boston Celtics suffered no let down in the first quarter after the two wins in Orlando. Celtics come out shooting 54% in the first en route to a 27 -12 lead. They hold the Magic to 4-17 shooting and 6 turnovers. Before Jameer Nelson hit two free throws the Magic had gone 5 minutes without scoring, which gave them only 7 points.
Rondo finished with 11 points, and 11 dimes. Early in the game Rondo stole the ball from Jason Williams in a glorious display of hustle and finished with a layup that described the game and maybe the entire series, with the Celtics up 3-0.
Glen Davis lead all Celtics with 17 points.
The Celtics team stats were staggering, 23 assists comapared to 10 assists for Orlano. The Magic had 17 turnovers compared to only 7 for the Celtics.
Orlando got absolutely nothing from their best three Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Jameer Nelson. combining for 37 points, on 13 of 36 shooting. the team shot 37% from the field and 8-30 for three for 26.7%.
The Celtics go for the sweep Monday in Boston. Celtics lead series 3-0.
NBA Western Conference Finals: Game 2 Recap
Category Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Phoenix Suns
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns played tougher in Game 2, but the Los Angeles Lakers played better, period. The Lakers full of options, took full advantage of the Suns lack of defense to take a 2-0 lead, winning 124-112.
Pau Gasol was pretty much unstoppable scoring 29 points on lay-ups and quick cuts to the basket. Lamar Odom who has played up and down his entire career has played the first two games of this series with a much more focused output then I have ever seen. Odom finished with 17 points on 7-10 shooting, 11 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. After Game 1 Amare Stoudemire said Odom was “lucky” to have gotten 19 boards. Amare finished Game 1 with only 3 boards, he had 6 in Game 2.
The Suns plan to double-team Kobe Bryant in the first half backfired. It lead to 13 dimes from “Show-E” himself , the highest by a Laker in the postseason since Magic in ’96 against the Houston Rockets. He also had 21 points, but his ability to get others the ball quick led to Gasol’s scoring and left Ron Artest WIDE OPEN. Ron Artest had 15 points at the half, finishing with 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting.
The Suns may need to go all LOS SUNS on the Lakers if they are to have a chance. Steve Nash struggled early and late, coughing up the ball twice when the Suns had finally cut it to two. He finished with 11 points and 15 assists, but he and Stoudemire combined for 10 turnovers. The Lakers had 14 turnovers total.
Bright spots for the Suns(no pun intended) was the play of Jason Richardson, Grant Hill, and Jared Dudley, who combined for 65 points and 8-14 from three. The Suns had more 3-pointers in the first half (6) than they managed in all of Game 1 (5). Defense must be the only focus, at least better defense, and someone wake up Channing Frye!
Enjoy the video of Dragic attempting to end the stellar career of the Sith Lord Joey Crawford!:
Game 3 is Sunday night in Phoenix. Lakers lead series 2-0.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 2 Recap
Category Boston Celtics, NBA, Orlando Magic
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Paul Pierce wants back in the Finals and displayed to the Magic in Game 3 that they are merely a road bump along the way. “Our fans won’t let us relax,” Pierce said. “We’re going to try and close it out in four games.” Pierce scored 28 points(22 at the half) and the Celtics hung on against another late run from Orlando to win 95-92, taking a 2-0 lead heading back to Boston.
Pierce knocked down two clutch free throws before fouling out sending Vince Carter to the line. Haunting Vinsanity’s dreams tonight will be the image of him blowing two clutch free throws. Rajon Rondo had 25 points, and 8 dimes.
Ahead 11 points to start the fourth quarter, the Magic once again went on a last second attempt at victory. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen didnt play as well offensively as in Game 1, but Garnetts fall away and conifent Rondo jumpers sealed the game.
Dwight Howard had 30 points, and Vince Carter and J.J. Redick scored 16 apiece. The Magic’s were held to 39% shooting and were outrebounded. Game 3 is Saturday night in Boston. Celtics lead series 2-0.
Bellaire-Yates Charity Game (Tobi Oyedeji Memorial Fund)
Category High School Hoops
Tobi Oyedeji
The Bellaire Cardinals and Yates Lions will meet in a charity basketball game to benefit the family of Bellaire senior Tobi Oyedeji, who died on Sunday from injuries resulting from a car crash.
The game will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Houston ISD’s Delmar Fieldhouse at 2020 Mangum Rd. Because the game falls outside of the University Interscholastic League calendar, head coaches Bruce Glover and Greg Wise can’t serve as coaches for the game and only graduating seniors from each team will participate.
All proceeds will go to a memorial fund set up in Oyedeji’s name, the “Tobi Oyedeji Bellaire Class of 2010 Memorial Fund.” The fund is set up at Amegy Bank and donations can be made at any Amegy Bank location.
The festivities on Wednesday will include a slam-dunk contest and a 3-point shooting contest. Tickets will be $5.
Yates (34-0) won its second consecutive Class 4A state championship this season and finished ranked No. 1 in the nation in all five national high school basketball polls. They also set several national records and won 58 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Bellaire (35-2) won its sixth consecutive district championship and advanced to the Class 5A Region III finals where they lost to eventual 5A state champion Bush. The Cardinals were ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A heading into the game. Bush finished the season ranked No. 1 while the Cardinals finished at No. 5.
Oyedeji, 17, played center for the Cardinals and had signed to play basketball at Texas A&M. He was an All-Greater Houston first-team selection and the District 20-5A most valuable player this season.
