Category: NBA
Ron Artest saves the day for the Lakers in game five
28 May 2010
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The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have had an interesting postseason to say the least as they have had it very easy at times and have also really struggled at times.
In the first round of the playoffs, a young and motivated Oklahoma City Thunder team lead by arguably the best scorer in the league in Kevin Durant gave the Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money as they beat the defending champs twice. Even though the Lakers eventually advanced to the second round after six games, Kobe Bryant and company were tested much earlier than anticipated and many people started second guessing the Lakers chances of repeating as NBA champs.
In the second round, things got much easier as the Lakers faced off against an outmatched Utah Jazz team which went down in four games. After the sweep of the Jazz, the defending champs looked like they were back to form, but they still had to get through their division rivals in the Western Conference Finals going head to head against the Phoenix Suns.
Despite the Phoenix Suns having somewhat of an unexpected breakout year after trading Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were the overwhelming favorite to advance to the NBA Finals.
In the first two games of these Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers were on fire as just dominated the Phoenix Suns from start to finish in both games one and two. Not only were the Lakers playing great as a team, but Kobe Bryant was damn near unstoppable as the Suns just had no answer for the Black Mamba.
Heading into game five, the series had taken a drastic change as the Phoenix Suns were able to win two straight games on their home floor with some solid zone defense that completely confused the Lakers offense.
Throughout most of game five, the Lakers got back to their dominate ways and at one point got out to an 18 point lead, but the Suns were able to battle back and cut the lead to just three in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter.
With time running out, the Suns only hope was to hit a desperation three and that they did with Jason Richardson get lucky with a banked three with 3.5 seconds remaining.
Of course, as usual, this was Kobe time! Everyone knew that the reigning NBA Finals MVP was getting the basketball, but they did expect him to try and pull off a catch-and-shot with 3.5 on the clock. Despite having plenty of time to set up a good shot, Kobe immediately shot the ball will missed everything, but luckily Ron Artest was there to save the day as he caught Kobe’s air ball and put it right back up to finish off the Suns 103-101.
Needless to say, with time expiring, Artest’s put-back turned out to be the game-winner and despite just scoring four points, Ron-Ron was the hero in game five.
Now the series will head back to Phoenix for game six in which the Suns will be facing elimination for the first time in the Western Conference Finals.
Gilbert Arenas following in LeBron James footsteps by changing his number to 6
12 March 2010
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It has been a very disappointing few years for Agent Zero of the Washington Wizards as he has either been riding the pine with injuries or causing trouble off the court, but one thing remains the same for Gilbert Arenas, he is getting paid! Not all that long ago, the Washington Wizards made a bold move by signing Gilbert Arenas to a huge seven year contract of $110 million dollars. Now that sounded like a deal that was worth to the team a few years back, but now it looks more like one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history as he has been nothing, but an injury prone, trouble making and seriously overpaid NBA superstar.
Just recently Arenas frequented the headlines due to his locker room altercation with teammate Javaris Crittenton when the two point guards drew their guns on each other after arguing over a gambling debt. Fortunately, the conflict was resolved before and gunfire started, like it would anyway, but the damage was already done as both players were ultimately charged and subsequently suspended for the rest of the NBA season.
Now that Gilbert Arenas has nothing to do, but think about how he put his NBA future and huge contract in jeopardy, the former All-Star point guard has decided to start fresh with a new number by changing his jersey number from number zero to number six.
Ironically enough, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James also decided to make the change to number six only a few weeks ago as a tribute to hall of fame shooting guard and arguably the best player ever to play the game in Michael Jordan. The reason for the change was because King James believes that the number 23 should be permanently retired in honor of the six-time NBA champion.
Top NBA free agents available right now
03 March 2010
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Michael Finely (former team San Antonio Spurs): Of all the NBA free agents available in the second half of the regular season, the San Antonio Spurs recently released veteran guard Michael Finley is arguably most desirable of the lot as he could definitely help out a title contending team or a playoff team looking to fill the roster before playoff time. The one team that seems to be interested in Finley already is the Boston Celtics who always seem to be on the lookout for aging veterans who can help him off the bench like they did with veteran point guard Stephon Marbury last year.
Kenny Thomas (former team Sacramento Kings)
Over the years forward Kenny Thomas has been one of those players that always gives you a solid performance never get much recognition as he has one of the PJ Brown or Kurt Thomas type big men that aren’t flashy, but put up solid numbers.
After being released from the Sacramento Kings, Kenny Thomas is need him second half of the season.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (former teams Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards)
Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off perhaps the biggest trade or the most beneficial trade before the NBA trade deadline on February 18 by sending center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the Washington Wizards in exchange for versatile forward Antawn Jamison.
The trade raised a lot of eyebrows as it was ready obvious that the wizards would just buy out Big Z’s $11.5 million dollar expiring contract and waive him, 30 days later, the Cavs will be able to sign him once again as they try it on an NBA title at season’s end.
So even though Big Z has gotten interest from teams like the Dallas Mavericks and couple of other teams, he will ultimately end up back in Cleveland.
Larry Hughes (former teams New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings)
in part as a Tracy McGrady trade which sent him to the New York Knicks, veteran point guard Larry Hughes was sent to the Sacramento Kings, but was ultimately bought out and waived.
Unfortunately, Hughes has an injury that will keep him out some time and stopped other teams from pursuing him, but as the season progresses I won’t be surprised to see him land somewhere.
Wally Szczerbiak (former team Cleveland Cavaliers)
This list seems to be filled with four Cleveland Cavaliers players and here’s one more in sharp shooting Wally Szczerbiak who is basically retired, but would consider coming back if it is where the Cavs.
Boston Celtics barely get by the Kobe less defending champion Los Angeles Lakers
20 February 2010
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All season long the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have had injury problems to some of their best players like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and most notably Kobe Bryant, but despite being banged up throughout the season, the Lakers have been arguably the best all around team in the league and have a legitimate shot of repeating as NBA champs at season’s end. At the beginning of the NBA regular season, the Lakers had to play without Pau Gasol who had a nagging hamstring injury that kept him out the first 11 games of the season. Fortunately, the Lakers were able to go 8-3 in that 11 game span without Pau Gasol in the paint, but a big reason for the Lakers success in that time frame was due to Kobe Bryant altering his game by becoming more of a low post presence.
Even though Kobe had some great success in Pau’s absence, the more physical game took its toll on the reigning NBA Finals MVP as he started to accumulate a series of injuries like a broken finger, back spasms and most recently a sprained ankle.
Once Pau Gasol got back on the floor it was business as usual for the defending champs as they got out to 38-13 record with Kobe in the lineup, but the injuries became too much for the Lakers superstar and he had to take some much needed time off to heal from his ailing injuries.
Even though a broken finger sounds like something you just can’t play through, it didn’t seem all that difficult for Kobe to adjust to, but after spraining his ankle against the Denver Nuggets a few weeks back, he had to end his 235 consecutive games played by sitting out against the Portland Trailblazers. With Boston facing Denver on Sunday, check out the latest NBA odds at the best USA online sportsbooks.
Fortunately, the Lakers really stepped it up in Kobe’s absence and were able to win four straight games against the Portland Trailblazers (at the Rose Garden), San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz (in Utah) and the Golden State Warriors. The first three wins were impressive and the fourth was to be expected against the lowly Warriors, but the true test came on Thursday night against the Boston Celtics.
Coming into this game there were reports that Kobe would be ready to go, but as it got closer and closer to game time, Kobe was listed as doubtful and eventually out of this game against their arch rivals.
All game long against the Celtics the Lakers were hanging with the Atlantic division leaders, but when it came down to crutch time, Kobe time, in the fourth quarter and the Lakers looked confused on the last play of the game with 2.2 seconds remaining down by one point 87-86.
On the inbounds play, the basketball ended up in Derek Fisher’s hands, but he was only able to jack up an awkward shot that didn’t even hit iron and the Lakers lost their first of five games without Kobe Bryant. for the fastest and easiest way to make a wager on the NBA, check out the best American Express sportsbooks.
NBA Eastern Conference teams looking to make a trade before the deadline
18 February 2010
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The Western Conference had the first team to draw blood in the trade sweepstakes as we get closer and closer to the NBA trade deadline on February 18th. The Dallas Mavericks made the deal with the Washington Wizards to bring Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Texas while sending Josh Howard and Drew Gooden to the nation’s capital, but this trade looks like it was just the beginning of a very active trading session which will most likely be dominated by teams in the Eastern Conference. These trades may have a big impact on the upcoming USA online sportsbooks action.
Miami Heat
With a win on Tuesday night over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat were finally able to get back to .500, but they are nowhere near satisfied as they seem to have their sights set on upgrading their roster with the likes of Amare Stoudemire.
The Heat will have some stiff competition with the trade deadline looming as the Cleveland Cavaliers also their sights set on Stoudemire, but Dwyane Wade’s squad might have the advantage with Jermaine O’Neal’s expiring contract and youngster Michael Beasley.
Trade bait: Jermaine O’Neal, Michael Beasley
Cleveland Cavaliers
This season the Cleveland Cavaliers are in somewhat of a desperation mode as they try and do everything they can to convince LeBron James to stay in Cleveland for as long as possible. The only way they can see LeBron staying with the Cavs is if they can surround him with some better talent, namely Amare Stoudemire.
Along with wanting to bring in Stoudemire, the Cavs are also interested in Troy Murphy, Antawn Jamison, Corey Maggette and Andre Igoudala as a backup plan.
Trade bait: J.J. Hickson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been pretty banged up this season with injuries to everyone of the big three (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce), but despite their injury problems they have played well this season and still have a legitimate shot of contending for a title in the Eastern Conference. Check out the latest NBA odds at the worlds best online sportsbooks.
Even though the Celtics are still looking good right now, they can’t avoid the trade rumors involving Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Ray Allen.
It is unlikely that Boston will make a deal, but if they do, it will almost certainly one or both of these players.
Trade bait: Ray Allen, Glen “Big Baby” Davis
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have had their fair share of problems this season and haven’t really been the promising young team we all saw take the Boston Celtics to the limit in the first round of the playoffs last season.
With that being said and the Bulls have been considering making a trade before the trade deadline in an effort to make a late push for the playoffs in the second half of the season and possibly clear some cap space of the upcoming free agent market this summer.
If the Bulls do make a deal, it will most likely include Tyrus Thomas as the center piece.
Trade bait: Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich, John Salmons, Brad Miller
Other teams in the East in trade market: Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers