Big Lesson for Paul Pierce

The 2010 NBA Finals ended with a high intensity and with sheer drama. Both teams got their heroes to lean-on when their play seems to plunge. It was a wear and tear games that pitted the number 1 and number 2 successful franchises in the NBA history. The 2010 Final series definitely let us saw yet another classic Celtics-Lakers rivalry in a deciding Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics played a resilient game that every Celtic’s fans can smell a victory in the first 3 quarters but in the end succumb to the Lakers defense in the final quarter of the Game 7. The Lakers won the series by beating the Celtics 83-79 and captured their 16th NBA title, one shy away from the Celtics 17th NBA title.

It was a sweet-repeat for the Lakers who celebrated their latest championship title with a parade that saw thousands of fans lined in the glittery streets of Los Angeles. Everyone was ecstatic from the Laker’s players to Phil Jackson, especially the 2010 Finals MVP Kobe Bryant have assured the fans if still given a chance to compete and if luck was still on their side will try to vie for the Laker’s three-feat-repeat. 

During the final series the players have their own moments, but for us, this player have gotten our attention that we observed have step-out boundary. We don’t know if was the product of his over-confidence but Paul Pierce have made much noise since the 2010 playoff. In a series between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic at the Eastern Conference Finals, when the Boston Celtics was ahead 2-0 going home, Pierce posted in his Twitter account “Any body got a broom”, a statement that not only mock the Orlando Magic but also means an impending sweep for the Magic at Boston. Most of the NBA spectators may have believe in those statement specially when they defeated the Magic in Game 3 and where up 3-0. But when the Magic defeated the Celtics for two straight games, in Games 4 and 5, many believe that was a product of a bad karma, as an effect of Pierce’s action and conduct by not just underestimating the Magic but also determine Magic’s destiny. Though the Celtics defeated the Magic in Game 6, Pierce action was still unforgotten.

Pierce’s miscalculated actions was also repeated this time at the NBA finals when the Celtics have defeated the Lakers in Game 2. Paul Pierce stated that the Celtics is not coming back again at Staples Center for Games 6 and 7, that he and his team intend to finish the Lakers in Boston. What a twaddle statement that came from Pierce who was surely in full confidence going into Celtic’s home court. But again Pierce statement was spoiled when Kobe Bryant together with the rest of the Lakers defeated the Celtics in Game 3 and made sure that the road of NBA finals will end at the Staples Center in L.A. A second bad karma pierces Paul Pierce when the Lakers defeated them in the Game 7. It was a big lesson that was slap on Paul Pierce’s face. Hope someday he will learn to be humble after a success came to him. Take a look on Kobe Bryant that despite winning 5 NBA rings, we had never heard underestimating an opponent, instead he remains humbled. Hope this big lesson will ever mark on Paul Pierce that someday he will learn to control his emotions and learn to shut up his mouth for a while.

Glen Big Baby Davis and the Celtics Bench Crushed the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers got a bigger problem now to face and it’s bigger than Andrew Bynum’s knee injury problem. It is the Boston Celtics bench not the starters, that will probably will give more headaches to the Lakers as the series is now tie 2 games a piece. The Celtics defeated the Lakers 96-89 with a big help coming from its bench players who have superb job in the game that coach Doc Rivers doesn’t bother to put them in longer playing time in the fourth quarter of the 2010 NBA Finals at TD Arena, Boston.

The bench onslaught of the Lakers started in the fourth quarter when the Lakers lead 62-60 as the final quarter starts. Doc Rivers gave his starters except for Ray Allen, a rest for the final quarter and tell them to get ready when things come up different when he deploys his bench players. So it was, a great bench scoring barrage started to hurt the Lakers, that Rivers didn’t bother to deploy his starters on the game who became cheerleaders at the courtside. The bench did all the hustle that was mostly with Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace, Nate Robinson and Tony Allen that extended their lead in the fourth quarter. The Celtics bench had outscored the Laker’s 36-18 in which 10 of Lakers bench points came from Lamar Odom who played at center after Andrew Bynum did not came back to play in the second half due to sore knee. Even Garnett and Pierce had only joined in the game when it was already 2:51 left.

But the big difference was all Glen Big Baby Davis that had done so much damage to the Lakers hope of making the series 3-1. Davis played more than 22 minutes in the game scoring 18 points, grab 5 rebounds and was 4 of 4 in the free throw line. It was Davis’ star who outshined the All-Stars in the game. Even Kobe Bryant’s game-high 33 points and Paul Gasul 21 points failed to outshine the hustle and energy that Davis impact on the game.

Game 5 will again be played in the TD Garden, Boston, Sunday, and it is a now a 3-game series and is still a long way to the 2010 NBA Title. Lakers have less than 48 hours to make a plan to stop the Davis onslaught. If the Lakers win in Game 5 the pressure is on the Celtics but if a game like Game 4 happens in Game 5, then the pressure in on the Lakers going on their home.

Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics will Come Back to Los Angeles

When Paul Pierce and his Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic at the Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida, in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals last May 18, where they are up 2 games to none, the Celtics was in full confidence especially the Celtic’s co-captain Paul Pierce as they went home believing that they could sweep the Magic in TD Garden, Boston Massachusetts in Games 3 and 4. Pierce even posted in his Twitter account a statement - Anybody got a broom? It was a piercing taunt on Dwight Howard and the rest of the Magic who was out-muscled by the Celtics in 2 close games, losing in a close margins of 4 points in Game 1and 3 points in Game 2. 

In Game 3, on May 22, true to what they intend, the Celtics trashes the Magic 94-71 in front of 18,624 crowd mostly Celtics fans at TD Garden, that put the Celtics to a commanding edge of 3 games to none. Though it was Celtic’s Glen Davis that shines with 17 points, Paul Pierce was only a game away for reaching his dream of sweeping the Orlando Magic. But Howard and his Magic crushes Pierce’s dream as they found their magic back in their hands defeating the Celtics in 2 straight games in Game 5, on May 24 by OT 96-92 and in Game 6, on May 26, 113-92 in Orlando that shatters the sweet- sweep dream of Pierce. Though the Celtics finally defeated the Magic in Games 6 on May 28, 96-84 in Boston, Pierce know that it was a lesson not to underestimate anybody.

Before we could further go, I’m no anti-Celtics or anti-Pierce here. It is just based on what I observe, base on 2010 NBA Finals and Playoffs colorful game, I’m merely adding more colors here for the game’s excitement in my own opinion. 

As I go on, in the 2010 NBA Finals, that featured the two winningest teams in NBA history, Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers and Paul Pierce’s Boston Celtics are again going to battle for the 2010 NBA plum for the 2nd time. The Lakers and Celtics have met for a total of 12 times in the NBA Finals. The Celtics has won in 9, having won the first 8 meetings and 2 for the Lakers, it is perhaps the most storied rivalry in NBA history. As the Finals is heating up, adding the drama in the game is Paul Pierce’s taunt of Lakers after they defeated the Lakers in Game 2, on June 6, 103-94 via Ray Allen’s terrific 3-pt. shooting barrage at the star-jam-packed Staples Center, L.A. After the game, Paul Pierce stated that they will not come back in L.A., intending to finish the Lakers in Game 3, 4 and 5 at their homecourt. Have Pierce not learned? Because there is so much lesson from the past to learn and for the humility of Pierce, Kobe Bryant and the unlikely Game 3 hero Derek Fisher not just silent the Celtics fans but also Pierce by defeating the Celtics 91-84 at TD Arena.

Hope that Pierce is reminded that this ain’t the Lakers they have defeated easily in 2008 NBA Finals, at that time don’t have Andrew Bynum at its midst. They have now the defensive expert Ron Artest whose job is to slow Pierce that is somehow effective. Their bench is have grown so much. The Lakers now, are tough and an avenging defending champion. If the Celtics may win the Game 4 and 5 they will still comeback in L.A. where things are tough and different.

To put it right, Pierce should execute well first before forecasting a win or underestimate, he should look back what was his Celtics was once without Garnett and Ray Allen. Game 3 was a big lesson. Perhaps, when you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.

For Once and Four All forget a Fifth Vazquez-Marquez Fight

Here we come at last to see the fourth and maybe the last fight between Israel Vazquez (44 wins, 4 losses and 32 wins by KO) and Rafael Marquez (38 wins, 5 losses and 33 wins by KO) this Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the home of the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers, the very first place where the first Vazquez-Marquez fight was tough and fought competitively.

The Vasquez-Marquez 1 on March 3, 2007 was considered one of 2007’s great fights that showed us Vazquez knocking Marquez in the third round but the fight ended in the seventh round when Vazquez’s nose was badly broken and couldn’t breathe anymore that made Vazquez quit the fight.

Three months later, saw us the rematch on August 4, 2007 that was named Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year for 2007 in which the third round saw us both fighters standing toe-to-toe punishing each other that had become the Ring Magazine Round of the Year. Though Vazquez suffered cuts over both eyes, he kayoed Marquez in the sixth round.

The third fight, seven months later on March 1, 2008 was perhaps the best fight of the three fights that showed us Vazquez and Marquez standing toe-to-toe and trading bombs with each other for twelve grueling and punishing rounds. Though Marquez knocked-out Vazquez in the fourth round, he was deducted a one point for low blows in round ten and received an eight count in the final seconds of the round twelve that earned Vazquez a thin split decision. That fight was named Fight of the Year of 2008 by Ring Magazine and the fourth round was Ring Magazine’s Round of the Year. 

And now for the fourth time the aging fighters will again punish each other in a fight that could end all their  fights. So what will happen if Marquez wins and will even the fight with Vazquez, does this means for a fifth fight? For us, they have given us one of the greatest fight trilogy in boxing history that are comparable to the intensity of other great boxing trilogies as like with Ali-Frazer, Barrera-Morales, Holyfield-Bowe and Gatti-Ward, a fifth fight would be enough for us or even a fourth fight is better if avoided. Yes, we need a great fight, but for them they need to fight someone better in order to prove how great they are, for a great boxer means fighting the best out there not fighting the same fighter for the fourth time in a long span of time. Too much time wasted to prove how great they are. They should fight someone with the calibers of Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez. Yes, fighting with each other for the fourth time could prove who’s the greatest between them, but in boxing, fighting the best is a road to boxing greatness.

L.A. Lakers beats Phoenix Suns grabbing a 2-0 lead

Pau Gasol poured 14 of his 29 points in the 4th quarter and the defending NBA champs easily roared away in the final minutes for a 124-112 dismantling of the Phoenix Suns. Gasol grabbed 9 rebounds and had 5 assists, is the game’s top performer where he and Kobe Bryant who has a double-double (21 points and 13 assists) had a superb offensive game that work against the Phoenix Suns that is one of the NBA’s highest-scoring teams. 

For the second straight game, “We want Boston!” chants rained down from the Staples Center crowd in the final minutes. It only fuels the fire of revenge for the Green Team who ousted the Lakers in 2008 NBA finals 4-2. If things will run smoothly for these two teams, the 2010 NBA Finals will feature two NBA Champions for the past 2 years. It will be an exciting match-up again, a classic Lakers-Celtic rivalry. 

After Kobe Bryant scored 40 points in Game 1, it was now clearer for the Phoenix Suns whom they must guard and double-team. But double teaming Bryant is not an easy task, as last year’s finals MVP ended making a record of the most assists (13 points) by a Lakers player in a postseason game since Magic Johnson in 1996. Although Bryant’s streak of six straight 30-point game ended, it open a lot of scoring opportunities for his team mates by dishing easy assist. The one who benefited the assist most was Gasol who draws foul each time Bryant dishes an assist on him. Ron Artest has a high scoring night too, scoring 18 points along with Lamar Odom who had a double-double too (17 points and game high11 rebounds). Bynum also contributed 13 points despite playing with an injury.

Game 3 will be held in US Airways Center at Phoenix, Arizona. It will be tough hole for the Phoenix Suns to get out having the fact that the Lakers have only lost once in franchise’s history in a best-of-seven-playoff series after taking 2-0 lead. Unless the Suns figures out a way to beat L.A. there will be a Hollywood and Bean Town showdown (if things run smoothly too for the Celtics) in this year’s NBA Finals. Grant Hill who is having a hot game, scored 14 of his 23 points in the 3rd quarter that help the Phoenix Suns erased a 14 point lead by the Lakers and came to tie the game at 90 a piece in the end of the 3rd quarter. Steve Nash had a double-double, too, (11 points and a game high 15 assists). Jason Richardson scores a team high 27 points while Suns all-star forward Amare Stoudemire scored 18 points who was booed by the fans when he put down Lamar Odom’s superb Game 1 double-double (19 points and 19 rebound), calling it as a lucky game for Odom.

No it was not just pure luck but also about skills. Amare should close his mouth and find answers for the deep hole that they are in right now and must do find-out if his Phoenix Suns has the luck to get even and win the series for them.

The Boston Celtics did the Unthinkable

Oh man, that was a close game! A back to back losing effort in 2 close games for the Orlando Magic that made the Boston Celtics up 2 games to none in the NBA Eastern Finals. What a mockery for the Orlando Magic who sweeps the two teams they have meet in the 1st and 2nd Round NBA Playoff (Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks respectively) and are now facing the same looming sweep at the hands of the surging Boston Celtics.

As the Boston Celtics was getting out the Amway Arena and in the city of Orlando they know in their minds that there will be a sweep and a revenge for the team who ousted them in last year’s 2nd Round Playoff. Celtics’ Paul Pierce even posted in his Twitter account: Anybody got a broom?, that somehow taunt Dwight Howard who’s game high 30 points could not prevent Orlando Magic’s meltdown in the series. It was a night of mistakes for Orlando Magic where Vince Carter missed two shots at 31.9 seconds left in the 4th quarter . J.J. Redick’s failure to call a timeout with 6.9 seconds left wasted the precious seconds by dribbling the ball in few steps that never gave a chance for the Magic to advance the ball after a time out resulting to Magic's lost 95-92 last Tuesday night at Amway Arena, Orlando.

Paul Pierce made a piercing 28 points for the Celtics, whose burden of mounting task of guarding Lebron James has ended when his Celtics kicks King James’ Cleveland Cavaliers out in NBA championship picture last week. Though Garnet, Allen, and Perkins only combine for 24 points, the game top performing player was Rajon Rondo who again put on his heroic uniqueness come playoff time scoring 25 points with 8 assists and 5 rebounds, in which Magic’s point guard Jameer Nelson could not stop. It was just a perfect plan executed well for the Celtics that made the Orlando feel their magic is going to gone.

The Orlando Magic needs to show what was left in their armory when they face the Celtics at the TD Arena this coming Saturday night, May 22, it is after all a playoff full of sweeping, but also a playoff where home-court doesn’t matter. Orlando got only two games to make the series even at their enemy's home-court. Pride comes before a fall, as Dwight Howard declared at the post game last Tuesday night. It will be a game 3 full of pride, so never miss it.

NBA Western Finals: Welcome Phoenix Suns in L.A., You’re Not in San Antonio Anymore

The last time Kobe Bryant scored 40 points in the postseason was during the opener game of 2009 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic. This time, in NBA Western Finals Kobe Bryant scored 40 points and the rest of the L.A. Lakers crushed the Phoenix Suns 128-107 Monday night at the star heaving Staples Center.

Los Angeles Lakers’ message after the game to Steve Nash and the rest of the Phoenix Suns was clear as the blazing sun in their logo: You’re not in San Antonio, Texas anymore, until someone kick our ass from our throne, we are still the reigning defending NBA Champion. Clear and simple but true to its sense, that perhaps they still have the strength in capturing their 16th NBA Title. 

It was a scoring feast for the defending champs with a combined offense and defense effort. Bryant dominated the scoring with 40 points who is among the most dangerous post season scorers seen in NBA history, even having an injured knee. Backing him up is Pao Ka Pow Gasol who scored 21 points with 2 block shots, Lamar Odom with 19 points and a monstrous effort of 19 rebounds and who could forget the ala Dennis Rodman style of Ron Artest who scored 14 points. With no Andrew Bynum backing-up the starters who only scored 4 points but playing with injury, the Laker’s bench joined the scoring onslaught of Phoenix Suns with a combined 44 bench points. It was a dominating night for the Lakers who won their seventh straight playoff game.

Amare Stoudamire was again at his best, scored 23 points but grabbed only 3 rebounds. Steve Nash had a decent night with 13 points and 13 assists but could not find some answer in the Lakers dominating game. Though the Suns hadn’t lost since April 24 and had a come-backing campaign in Western Conference Finals since 2006 they are now facing a different team, a defending NBA champion, whose team roster are much taller, had too much talent, and had Kobe Bryant that is unwelcoming in their turf. 

The loss had snapped the Phoenix Sun’s 6 game playoff winning streak since winning against the Portland Trailblazers and sweeping of the San Antonio Spurs. Steve Nash and the rest of the Suns had only less than 48 hours to find some solutions of how to kick the Lakers in Game 2 at Staples Center Wednesday night.

UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans

UFC 114 Rampage vs. Evans will be UFC’s upcoming event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada this coming 29th of May 2010. The main event will match better rivals Quinton Rampage Jackson and Rashad Suga Evans.

It’s been a war of words for both former UFC light heavyweight champions, just like when the two fighters are on a heated argument after Rampage defeated Evans’ close friend Keith The Dean of Mean Jardine at UFC 96 last March 7, 2009. The two fighters were suppose to slug with Evan’s light heavyweight belt, but a jaw injury during a fight with Jardine prevented Jackson from taking his belt back. That allowed Lyoto The Dragon Machida to step in for Jackson’s mantle as Evan’s challenger in his UFC light heavyweight belt, But Machida grabbed Evan’s belt by knocking out Evans in Round 2 at the UFC 98 last May 23, 2010. Rampage was suppose to fight Machida for the belt but instead became a coach on Season 10 The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights that will match him against his nemesis Evans.

UFC 114 full fight card is stacked with five TUF season champions: Rashards Evans of Team Franklin in Season 2, Michael Bisping of Team Ortiz in Season 3, Diego Sanchez of Team Lidell in Season 1, Amir Sadollah of Team Forrest in Season 7 and Efrain Escudero of Team Nogueira in Season 8. Season 1 TUF winner and former light heavyweight champion, the ultra popular Forrest Griffin was suppose to fight Antonio Rogerio Little Nog Noguira but was replaced by Jason Brilz due to a shoulder injury.

The completed UFC 114 Card is listed below.

Main Card

Quinton Jackson v.s. Rashad Evans (Light Heavyweight)

Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller (Middleweight)

Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow (Heavyweight)

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz (Light Heavyweight)

Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway (Welterweight)

Preliminary Card

Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim (Welterweight)

Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon (Lightweight)

Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe (Lightweight)

Luiz Arthur Cane vs. Cyrille Diabaté (Light Heavyweight)

Aaron Riley vs. Joe Brammer (Lightweight)

Jesse Forbes vs. Ryan Jensen (Middleweight)

NBA Eastern Finals: The Green Machine is Back!

Things are going smooth for Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C.’s Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoffs and are now looking to rebuild another Celtics Dynasty with the complete and healthy lineup of the Celtic’s Big Three - Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. With its newly upgraded bench players that added the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Michael Finley, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels, this could spell trouble for any Celtics’ opponent.

Doc River’s Boston Celtic is having a good run for another title chase since winning the NBA Plum on 2008. They have lost their title defense at the hands of Dwight Howard’s Orlando Magic in the 2009 2nd Round Playoff in a decisive Game 7. It was the first time for the Celtic Franchise to fail at a playoff series after leading 3-2 and it was mainly due to Boston’s main man Kevin Garnett who got injured in the regular game loss against the Utah Jazz and was out in the entire 2009 Playoff. But now, things look much different as the Celtics is becoming more dangerous once more as the NBA Eastern Finals is heating up.

The chase for Celtics’ 18th NBA Title started with a trashing of Dwane Wade’s Miami Heat in the Eastern 1st Round Series 4-1 and last week, Celtics stunningly defeated the highly favored 2010 MVP King Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers 3-2 in the Eastern 2nd Round Series, that could make Lebron think about his future with the Cavaliers and maybe opt to sign with the New York Knicks to chase his own ring. And now, looking for a revenge against the Orlando Magic, with the healthy lineup complete, with the playoff ascend of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen’s come-backing shooting arsenal and Celtics’ Big Men physical therapy on Dwight Howard, they have smother the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals by a 99-88 win and take 1-0 series lead.

It was a dominant playoff for Doc River’s Boston Celtics whose franchise was founded in 1946 that got 17 NBA Championships (the most for any NBA franchise), 20 Conference Titles and 28 Division Titles, plus 21 retired numbers of great Celtics players (that included Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird) who won the NBA Valuable Player Award for an NBA record total of 10 MVP awards. And who could ever forget Boston Celtic’s legendary coach Read Auerbach who got nine NBA championships, none as most Celtics fan would say. What a long list for a winning franchise and maybe this year’s Boston Celtics could add some victory on that list.

Game 2 will be played again at Orlando Magic’s Amway Arena on Tuesday night, May 18.

Amir Khan Kayoed Paulie Malignaggi

It was a superb win last Saturday Night for the British boxer by way of Pakistan Amir Khan in knocking out and shutting down Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi at 1:25 of the 11th Round of the fight at the Madison Square Garden.

Khan brutally pummeled the flamboyant Malignaggi against the ropes and threw series of uncontested blows that made referee Steve Smoger stop the fight in the 11th Round. Malignaggi didn’t argue with the referee’s decision, tapping his chest and congratulating his opponent on the victory. 

Khan’s victory was well worth the wait, where he earned the glory for his patience in his young career. Khan was once kayoed in Round 1 by Brandeis Prescott in 2008, but now under the care of superstar coach Freddy Roach has won five straight fights. In this fight, it took him almost two weeks to secure his visa and a trip from U.K. to Canada to make his highly anticipated debut in the United States of America. The former British Olympian never put things in his head that could ruin his plans for the fight where he traded verbal jargon and argued with Malignaggi in Friday’s Weigh-In event inside the Essex House that the tempers for both camps boiled over. It’s where the jostling, pushing and shoving was made that left several fans to have bruises. He simply executes perfect boxing skills that were taught to him by Freddy Roach and the result was a devastating loss of Malignaggi.

 

Khan’s victory could only mean he is now being catapulted at the upper echelon of the Junior Welterweight Division. So who’s next for The Ring’s No. 3 rated 140 pounder? Some prospects are being considered by Southbend Wall, a fight with Marcos Maidana, who is the mandatory challenger for his WBA Jr. Welterweight Belt will be good, or a rematch with Brandeis Prescott to avenge his kayoed loss is better but for us, the best is by taking on fellow titleholders Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander, undefeated young talents the Ring Magazine ranks Nos. 1 and 2 respectively. Can Khan unify the belts of 140 pound division? Time and Khan can only tell.

Last Night Event Results at the Madison Square Garden:

Amir Khan TKO 11 Paul Malignaggi
Victor Ortiz W 10 Nate Campbell
Daniel Jacobs W TKO 2 Juan Astorga
Breidis Prescott W TKO 3 Jason Davis
Kelvin Price W 6 Tor Hamer
Denis Douglin W TKO 2 Joshua Onyango
Jamie Kavanagh W TKO 2 William Ware