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Around the NBA: Notes and recap

October 29, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Around the NBA

The wait is over as the first two days of the 2009-2010 NBA season is over and done. We saw strong teams get beaten, players coming back (Mr. Arenas!), rookies who don’t play like one and more and more exciting plays. It’s just exciting isn’t it? So here are some of our thoughts from the first two days.

  • The Cleveland Cavaliers are 0-2 after losing to the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors. Lebron James has been fantastic in the first two games but we still think that their lineup isn’t that strong this year even with Shaq and new addition Anthony Parker around. The Cavs need to get things together or else…
  • Gilbert Arenas is back! We know it’s just one game but if you saw how he played he had thing in control on his way to a 29 point game where he had 9 assists. He didn’t record any assists but he shot well,10-21 from the field. It looks like the 2 years did his body good as he tries to revive his career.
  • We loved Andrew Bynum in his first game where he posted a line of 26 points, 13 rebounds while shooting 9-15 from the field and 8-10 from the line. We have a good feeling that he will stay healthy this year.
  • The Philadelphia 76ers really had a hard time against the Orlando Magic and we don’t like what we’re seeing with Elton Brand. As for Marreese Speights, this guy really looks like he will battle Samuel Dalembert for minutes and he could end up being their starter by December.
  • So much for Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy saying that Dwight Howard can hit close to 75% of his free throw attempts. He started the year going 3-6.
  • (more…)

Wallace agrees to sign with the Celtics

July 06, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Basketball News

The Boston Celtics are stronger on both ends of the floor with Wallace

In what appears to be a very crazy off season in the NBA, the Boston Celtics and the camp of Rasheed Wallace makes it even crazier. Wallace is expected to get a two-year deal using the mid-level exception (expected to be about $5.6 million to $5.8 million).

The Celtics All-Star trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, owner Wyc Grousbeck, coach Doc Rivers, and president Danny Ainge met with Wallace last week.

Once Wallace signs the contract, the Boston Celtics will be one of the favorites to win the East or at least challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. As we know the Cavs and the Magic improved their lineup this off season in order to rise above a much improved Eastern Conference.

Will the Celtics sign Big Baby Davis?

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nba playoffs 2009: day 25

May 14, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Uncategorized

The Orlando Magic were beaten by Glen “Big Baby” Davis’ buzzer beater in game 4 and they wanted to make sure they didn’t have any more close finishes in this series against the Boston Celtics. Well, that didn’t happen in Game 5 as they blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead and make it close again in the final minutes of the game. The Celtics won 92-88.

The Celtics can thank Stephon Marbury (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 23

May 13, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Playoffs

It looks like the Boston Celtics just love an exciting finish to their games as they finished game 4 with a buzzer beater by Glen “Big Baby” Davis to win 95-94.

No one on the court would have guessed that Big Baby was going to take the last shot as the ball was originally with Paul Pierce but he got doubled. (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 21

May 11, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Uncategorized

Heading into game three without Jameer Nelson or Rafer Alston, the Orlando Magic looked like a team that would lack leadership with a thin back court. No worries as 34-year old veteran Anthony Johnson did his job to help the Magic win 117-96 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Of course, the Orlando Magic wasn’t just about the back court, they were more of their one man front court – Dwight Howard. He was everywhere on defense – rebounding and blocking shots. He finished the game with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 19

May 08, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Playoffs

Paul Pierce only scored three points in this game but the Boston Celtics still won game 2 against the Orlando Magic, 112-94. Thanks to Eddie House’s 31 points, a triple double by Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen’s 22 points, the Celtics have tied the series.

Rajon Rondo had his third triple double of the playoff with 15 points, 18 assists and 11 rebounds. He also had two big dunks in the second half to help keep the momentum going. (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 17

May 06, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Playoffs

After a very long seven games against the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics get little rest and battle the Orlando Magic in the conference finals. The long first round could have taken its toll on the Celtics as they clearly struggled and looked slow in the first three quarters that led to the loss against the Magic, 95-90.

Dwight Howard also had a slow start after serving a one game suspension the previous game but still finished with 16 points and 22 rebounds. (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 14-15

May 04, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Playoffs

Everyone, I think, would agree that the series between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks is one of the more boring series in the first round this year because of all the blowout games. Good thing there’s the issue with Josh Smith’s failed dunk attempt and the feud going on between this two clubs. And of course, there’s Mr. Dwayne Wade who had his ups and downs in this series but is still exciting. (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 13

May 03, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Playoffs

The Boston Celtics-Chicago Bulls series has been one of the best non-finals series in recent years or even of all time as game 6 became a thriller as it went to triple overtime. The Bulls went on to win this game 128-127.

Derrick Rose scored 28 points and blocked Rajon Rondo’s potential game-winner. He also had big help from John Salmons’ 35 points and Brad Miller’s 23 points and 10 rebounds. But the biggest help came when Joakim Noah stole the ball from Paul Pierce and had a go-ahead three-point play. (more…)

nba playoffs 2009: day 11

April 30, 2009 By: Ongai Category: Playoffs

Another series is over as the Dallas Mavericks finished off the San Antonio Spurs with a 106-93 win to end the series at 4-1. This win ends streaks for both sides as Dallas advances past the first round for the first time since 2006 while the Spurs are eliminated in the first round for the first time since 2000.

Dwight Howard was just dominant in the Orlando Magic’s 91-78 win over the Philadelphia 76ers to take a 3-2 lead. He had 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds that led to not only a win but a coaching feud between the two coaches.

Brandon Roy played like a champion as he was really sick and just had to take an IV shot prior to game 5. No problem here as he scored 25 points to lead the Blazers to a 88-77 win to avoid elimination.

“I’ve been involved in games when I didn’t feel well and played well. Some nights when guys come in under the weather they play their best games. And Brandon had one of (more…)