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Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers for winning the 2009 NBA Champs. Kobe Bryant and company did it. Yes they’re the best team in the NBA right now as they beat the Orlando Magic in 5 games with a 99-86 win in the Magic’s home court.

I’ve never been a fan of Kobe Bryant but I must say that I was impressed by his performance, leadership and the attitude he brought in this series and into the game of basketball as a whole this season. He was more mature and he really deserves respect for what he has accomplished.

As a whole, the Lakers were really the more experienced and the hungrier team this series. Coming from a tough loss to the Boston Celtics a year ago, they knew what had to be done in order to win the championship. They knew that it would take more than Kobe’s offense or even the triangle offense to finish off their opponents. They knew that it would also take defense and discipline among the whole team. And they did what they realized that’s why they’re now the NBA Champs.

As for the Orlando Magic, you really have to give these guys credit. They weren’t favorites to reach the NBA Finals with the defending champs Boston Celtics and Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers trying to dominate the East. But as always they were just a resilient team who didn’t give up. They will still be strong next year but Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis will be 30 years old once the season starts and they’ve already reached their ceiling. They would have to find other ways to help improve their lineup if they would still want to compete next year for the championship.

Here’s a clip of game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic

Kobe Bryant may not be the MVP this year but he is in the NBA Finals and he is trying to lead his team to the championship. In the 13 years that Kobe has been in this league, we have seen MVP-like performances and amazing moves that we just can’t get enough of right? He has constantly impressed both fans and haters of the Lakers and his moves are something that a lot of people idolize.

Thanks to the NBA’s youtube channel, they’ve taken all the best plays of Kobe Bryant in the 2009 season and compiled it in one video. So to all Kobe and Los Angeles Lakers fans I’m pretty sure you will love these Kobe highlights: Read the rest of this entry →

At least I was right in choosing them? Well, as I was pretty confident that the Magic would win game 2 of the NBA Finals, I put some money on them and they were able to cover the +6.5 as they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96.

I really thought that the Magic would actually win this game and not just in the odds. Well, they could have won it if Courtney Lee made his layup with less than a second remaining. But of course, we can’t put all the blame on him, could we? It was a total team effort and the best team would win that game. And so the Lakers did.

Even if my predictions in Orlando getting the win went wrong, I’m still quite happy with the predictions that I’ve made the other day. Some became reality like how Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu would bounce back. 

The two of them combined for 56 points on 20 of 38 shooting from the field and they combined to make 9 three pointers, which is four more than the whole Lakers team. Lewis scored 18 points in the 2nd quarter too keep the Magic close to the Lakers.

We also saw that the defense of the Magic improved as evidenced by them forcing Kobe Bryant to 7 turnovers and blocking his last second shot in regulation. While there defense improved, the Lakers also had a steady defense to force the Magic to commit an alarming 20 turnovers. 

Dwight Howard was there and he had a monster game in trying to lead his team past the Lakers. He finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks. He had a great shooting night too going 7-9 from the free throw line. However, he was also forced to 7 turnovers, which just cancels Kobe’s.

The thing that I might be wrong was Rafer Alston’s maturity. Well, it’s clear that he is being affected by the return of their real starting point guard, Jameer Nelson. He hasn’t voiced out anything yet, but it’s quite obvious in the way he has been playing. In game one, he said that there won’t be any problems, but it’s clear that he was affected. Yes, he sat the whole second quarter and you could lose your rhythm but you’re a proffesional. You have a job to do and he has to remember that this is the NBA Finals. You’ve got to play like you deserve to be here. If only Alston and Nelson could have just played better then the Magic could have won this game.

If you ask me who’s going to win game three I still don’t know. But one thing’s for sure, if they lose game three it’s over. That’s quite obvious especially against the Lakers. I’ll let you know by tomorrow who I think will win game three. I’m quite excited how about you?

The Orlando Magic were beaten by the Los Angeles Lakers in game one of the NBA Finals. It wasn’t just another loss because we are now in the Finals and every thing counts. Both teams have worked so hard this year that you wouldn’t want to give your opponent even the slightest chance of getting a win. That is what the Lakers did in game one but I’m doubting that it will happen in game 2. I like Orlando’s chances of winning game two even if it’s not in their home court and even if the odds are against them. Here’s why: Read the rest of this entry →

In time for the 2009 NBA Finals, rapper Lil Wayne made a song about Kobe Bryant. Claiming to be the greatest on the verse (as can be heard in his song), he really impressed me with his lyrics. I love it when he said “I call him King Bryant now let the crown show.” This is really for the championship and in a way, I believe, is taking a shot at Lebron James that maybe Kobe should be “The King” and not him.

Well, maybe this might start a battle between rappers about them rapping about their favorite player. Jay-Z on Lebron James? Possible. Let’s hear it Jay-Z!

Here’s a youtube clip of Lil Wayne’s “Kobe Bryant” song: Read the rest of this entry →

With the first game of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers hours away, let us look at the player matchup between the guards, forwards, and center position.

Guards

The Los Angeles Lakers have of course the best shooting guard of this decade as the Nuggets found out in the Western Conference Finals. But besides him, there aren’t any other guards that have stepped so far in the playoffs. Derek Fisher? Maybe. Sasha “The Machine” Vujacic? Not really. Shannon Brown? Could be. The fact is, outside Kobe Bryant, the guards of the Lakers haven’t been that consistent. Read the rest of this entry →

I’d like to congratulate the Orlando Magic for beating the odds and of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. I’m sure that they’re celebrating before they plan for their Finals showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers. They’ve overcome a lot in this playoff and they deserve it. But I’m not sure Hedo Turkoglu will really overcome Read the rest of this entry →

With minutes left in the first game between the LA Lakers and the Denver Nuggets, it sure looked like the Nuggets could hold on and stop their ten game playoff losing streak against the Lakers. That looked possible until Kobe Bryant and Trevor Ariza took over.

Kobe, who finished with 40 points, made six free throws in the last thirty seconds to help the Lakers escape the Nuggets 105-103. Ariza also played big down the stretch as he Read the rest of this entry →

I’m just excited for this year’s conference finals as we see two new teams – the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets. The Magic will be facing Lebron James and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers while the Nuggets will go head to head with Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers.

Here are my predictions: Read the rest of this entry →

Everyone knew that the Denver Nuggets were going to be an emotional team coming into game 5 of their series with the Dallas Mavericks. This was after the off court incident between Kenyon Martin’s mom Lydia Moore and Mavs owner Mark Cuban. It was settled as Cuban apologized but the Nuggets had to settle something else. They had to finish the series. Read the rest of this entry →