Lakers vs Celtics in 2008.
We're back in the old fashion deja vu finals,except that's this time it is Kobe versus Garnett, Pierce and Allen.
I give you my pronostic : 4-2 for the Lakers.
Why?
The Lakers has proven to be capable on the road more than the Celtics.
Secundo, Kobe want it like Michael jordan wanted it; Maybe you don't know but these two guys are sicks. Madness are inside them, they want to win so badly that their partners becomes punchy balls. And Kobe want to have a Jordan season: MVP of the year, MVP of the playoffs, golden olympics medals and prove that he can win without Shaq.
The lakers has the best bench of this NBA season, and 2 guys, I'm not talking about bench guys like Cassell for the Celtics, who have reached the finals together Kobe and Fisher.
The Lakers are long and athletic on the wing.
The celtics needs someone to defend on Bryant meaning that they would have to sacrifice one of their three heads: Pierce, Allen or include James Posey in the 5.
The important matchups:
Garnett vs Odom: The edge to Garnett but Odom has been incredible and if it doen't failed mentality, he can keep up with the speed of Garnett. Turiaf is going also to use his body on Garnett.
Kobe vs Allen, Pierce, Posey: Kobe the winner.Who can stop him? He'll have to chase Allen but he loves it and the two doesn't really like each other. Posey has long arms but we 'll see a lot Kobe on the line.
Maybe the best here is Pierce, he has improve his defense,. He's strong and can post Bryant.
Gasol vs Perkins, Powe and Brown: winner Celtics; Gasol is long but has been a little tender against the spurs. The celtics trio are tough and will muscle him inside. Gasol will have to use his touch.
Fisher vs Rondo: winner Lakers. Rondo is young, fast and a really good rebonder for his position. But Fisher doesn't turn the ball a lot and he can defend fast guard like Rondo. Cassel is there also for the celtics but he is to prone to shoot the ball before to serve his partners.
What we know:
We'll see Kobe a lot on the line.
Allen has to make his threes. We'll see a lot of them.
The Celtics is one of the best defense in the league. The Lakers one of the best offensive machine.
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Bye bye San Antonio
San Antonio did it once again. Incapable to reach the NBA finals 2 years in a row. One of the reason this year has been the injurie of two majors players, Parker and Ginobili. If Parker has maintain his status and statistics during the playoff run, it wasn't the same for Ginobili.
In fact the sason 07_08 has been so tuff in the west conference that a team like Golden State (50 wins in the season) has been eliminated. And That Ginobili who has fight and produce an mvp caliber season to fight and obtain the home court advantage. Unfortunately for the spurs the load was to heavy for the argentino, and Manu has never be again the same after the hornets-spurs serie.
The numbers of Parker and Duncan were predictible, but the Spurs really needs Ginobili to be on the top. He is the poor's Kobe Bryant. Unpredictible, an offensive machine and a hard nose defender, when he is healthy. In fact he has the same season as Kobe last year. Forced to take the team on his shoulder in order to reach the playoff or a good position.
What the Spurs have learn with this defeat?
They need a solid power forward to support Tim Duncan. The spurs has been destroyed by David West in the hornets series. The lengh og Gasol, the rapidity of Odom in the offensive block has contributed also to the destruction of the Spurs in the Lakers serie.
They need more athleticism in the wing. Finley and Horry are showing their age. Someone like Idoka even if he's 30 years old can take Finley place.
And maybe it would have been better to force Kobe go to the line. Bowen has been spectacular on Kobe, even if the guy has put great numbers. Kobe is apart like Michael Jordan was and maybe like Lebron James will be. The only guy who can stop him is himself. So you have to play smart defense and force him to go on his weakness. Meaning playing a one man game . But by force him to share the ball, the spurs has created confidence on the Lakers roster.
Give also credits to Fisher to defend so well on Parker and force him to play away from the paint.
In fact the sason 07_08 has been so tuff in the west conference that a team like Golden State (50 wins in the season) has been eliminated. And That Ginobili who has fight and produce an mvp caliber season to fight and obtain the home court advantage. Unfortunately for the spurs the load was to heavy for the argentino, and Manu has never be again the same after the hornets-spurs serie.
The numbers of Parker and Duncan were predictible, but the Spurs really needs Ginobili to be on the top. He is the poor's Kobe Bryant. Unpredictible, an offensive machine and a hard nose defender, when he is healthy. In fact he has the same season as Kobe last year. Forced to take the team on his shoulder in order to reach the playoff or a good position.
What the Spurs have learn with this defeat?
They need a solid power forward to support Tim Duncan. The spurs has been destroyed by David West in the hornets series. The lengh og Gasol, the rapidity of Odom in the offensive block has contributed also to the destruction of the Spurs in the Lakers serie.
They need more athleticism in the wing. Finley and Horry are showing their age. Someone like Idoka even if he's 30 years old can take Finley place.
And maybe it would have been better to force Kobe go to the line. Bowen has been spectacular on Kobe, even if the guy has put great numbers. Kobe is apart like Michael Jordan was and maybe like Lebron James will be. The only guy who can stop him is himself. So you have to play smart defense and force him to go on his weakness. Meaning playing a one man game . But by force him to share the ball, the spurs has created confidence on the Lakers roster.
Give also credits to Fisher to defend so well on Parker and force him to play away from the paint.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Greg Oden, the next Ralph Sampson?
Remenber the 1983 draft, R.Sampson is the future, the number 1. Taller than 7ft, the guy has the softness of a guard and fly like Drexler. Sampson was supposed to form with Hakeem Olajuwon the first twin towers, the original before Tim Duncan and Robinson, before his knees vanished.
But history can be cruel and has a tendancy to repeat. Oden is suppose to form a tremedous pair with Aldridge. Thus we can only hope that Oden will not be the next "no knees Sampson". And as I said history is a cycle including the recent one of Amare Stoudemire. Oden is young, strong, even if he looks like my grand'pa, and intelligent. So expect him to work on his offensive game. However Aldridge will be a focus point in attack after a strong summer league with the addition of the skilled Fernandez, who is playing actually in spain for a birth in the next olympics. Portland has a nice young core to build around and wait and see this year. In fact, what will be the situation in one year? Oden is the face of the franchise. And with only the limit is the sky for Lamarcus Aldridge, how will be the status in the team... A future clash Marion#Stoudemire or "I get off the bus" like Tracy Mc Grady did in Toronto. The days of the twin towers seems to be far away...
But history can be cruel and has a tendancy to repeat. Oden is suppose to form a tremedous pair with Aldridge. Thus we can only hope that Oden will not be the next "no knees Sampson". And as I said history is a cycle including the recent one of Amare Stoudemire. Oden is young, strong, even if he looks like my grand'pa, and intelligent. So expect him to work on his offensive game. However Aldridge will be a focus point in attack after a strong summer league with the addition of the skilled Fernandez, who is playing actually in spain for a birth in the next olympics. Portland has a nice young core to build around and wait and see this year. In fact, what will be the situation in one year? Oden is the face of the franchise. And with only the limit is the sky for Lamarcus Aldridge, how will be the status in the team... A future clash Marion#Stoudemire or "I get off the bus" like Tracy Mc Grady did in Toronto. The days of the twin towers seems to be far away...
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
FIBA 07
Exit the FIBA america tournament... no defense, no public, a fast break exibit. Even if I like show , close games are more funny. So I can't wait to see this argentina team with Ginobili, Oberto , and Scola reunited. Anyway thanks Kobe & Co for the run and see you in the Olympics.
Well here in Europe, the heavy loaded starts, and the stars Nowitzki, Parker, Gasol are already shinning. But Beyond Greece and Spain, the favorites, almost any team can reach the third place. The last ticket for an ultimate qualification before the next Olympics. So Wich team will be on the winner. I'm french so you know where my heart is. And please Wake up Boris Diaw!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Sommeren saga
Om sommeren i NBA, den proffesjonelle amerikanske basketligaen, er det vanlig at drama og business blander seg. Og når det skjer i Hollywood, spør vi oss hvem som har skrevet filmmanuset. Etter et vanlig usedvanlig år, gikk Kobe Bryant ut i den første runden av NBA's playoffs.
For en mann som lever i den daglige sammenligningen av Michael Jordan, er det nok. Kobe Bryant er den selvutnevnte nye Michael Jordan. Han var den eneste som kunne bære arven etter Jordan. Men siden 2003 er ikke lenger Kobe i dette bildet: Nå snakker mediene om Lebron James eller Dwane Wade. Og i 2005 var Dwane Wade Champion og MVP (beste spiller) i NBA-finalen. Dette året var det Lebron "King" James som var i finalen mot San Antonio Spurs.
For Kobe det er ikke god: Ikke god for business. Ikke god for sin framtidige historie innen NBA. Han vil ikke se ut som den en som kunne ikke vinne en NBA finale uten Shaquille O'Neal. I alle typer sport, eksisterer forholdet mellom ego og business.
Så Kobe Bryant lager bråk: han vil ut fra Los Angeles Lakers. Han skriver på websiden sin http://truth.kb24.com/ at han vil ut fordi han vil vinne.
Men hva er sannheten mellom Kobe og Los Angeles Lakers?
Først og fremst er det umulig for Los Angeles Lakers. Hvis Kobe forsvinner, trenger de en figur som kan selge billetter. En sportsmann som kan tiltrekke Hollywoods personligheter/kjendiser.
Unntatt Lebron James eller Dwane Wade er det ikke så mange som kan gjøre dette. LA må bare vente på de beste mulightene.
For Bryant er 'eastern conferance' et stort marked, spesielt New York, men også et svakere nivå. Adjø til Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Denver. Adjø til Bruce Bowen og Raja Bell, de to beste forsvarerne mot Kobe Bryant. God dag Spike Lee, The Larry King Show... Dessuten, på grunn av en spesiell status i kontrakten hans, kan Kobe gå hvor han vil. Hva vil han? Vinne i et stor marked og gjøre svakere konkurranse mot James og Wade. Som Jordan gjorde det samme mot han selv.
Summer in NBA is a soap opera sometimes boring, other time a poor "Desperate Housewives" show. After the Garnett trade to boston, the Donaghy scandal and illegal bet in NBA, the case of Kobe Bryant is still waiting to be resolve. Remenber a few month ago Bryant give the lakers an ultimatum: build a team for the championship this year or trade him. Until now, the lakers has been really calm. C'mon guys: Kobe, Mr 82 pts in a game, mister 50 pts for breakfeast. Do something. Meanwhile Kobe is practicing with USA team and asking himself if he will never be on the same level with Michael Jordan, The Lakers seems to be more interessing by attracting the celebrities of hollywood. Unfortunately for Kobe.
And to access the club of Duncan, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Shaq, it's a long way. Kobe knows that he needs some help to shadow the new generation of Wade and Lebron as Jordan did for him. All we know, it's that we will see Kobe in gold and purple next season, and until the market of february, he will have to bring his team on his shoulders, as he did for so many years. Unless Jermaine O' Neal show his face in L.A to make him smile.
For en mann som lever i den daglige sammenligningen av Michael Jordan, er det nok. Kobe Bryant er den selvutnevnte nye Michael Jordan. Han var den eneste som kunne bære arven etter Jordan. Men siden 2003 er ikke lenger Kobe i dette bildet: Nå snakker mediene om Lebron James eller Dwane Wade. Og i 2005 var Dwane Wade Champion og MVP (beste spiller) i NBA-finalen. Dette året var det Lebron "King" James som var i finalen mot San Antonio Spurs.
For Kobe det er ikke god: Ikke god for business. Ikke god for sin framtidige historie innen NBA. Han vil ikke se ut som den en som kunne ikke vinne en NBA finale uten Shaquille O'Neal. I alle typer sport, eksisterer forholdet mellom ego og business.
Så Kobe Bryant lager bråk: han vil ut fra Los Angeles Lakers. Han skriver på websiden sin http://truth.kb24.com/ at han vil ut fordi han vil vinne.
Men hva er sannheten mellom Kobe og Los Angeles Lakers?
Først og fremst er det umulig for Los Angeles Lakers. Hvis Kobe forsvinner, trenger de en figur som kan selge billetter. En sportsmann som kan tiltrekke Hollywoods personligheter/kjendiser.
Unntatt Lebron James eller Dwane Wade er det ikke så mange som kan gjøre dette. LA må bare vente på de beste mulightene.
For Bryant er 'eastern conferance' et stort marked, spesielt New York, men også et svakere nivå. Adjø til Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Denver. Adjø til Bruce Bowen og Raja Bell, de to beste forsvarerne mot Kobe Bryant. God dag Spike Lee, The Larry King Show... Dessuten, på grunn av en spesiell status i kontrakten hans, kan Kobe gå hvor han vil. Hva vil han? Vinne i et stor marked og gjøre svakere konkurranse mot James og Wade. Som Jordan gjorde det samme mot han selv.
Summer in NBA is a soap opera sometimes boring, other time a poor "Desperate Housewives" show. After the Garnett trade to boston, the Donaghy scandal and illegal bet in NBA, the case of Kobe Bryant is still waiting to be resolve. Remenber a few month ago Bryant give the lakers an ultimatum: build a team for the championship this year or trade him. Until now, the lakers has been really calm. C'mon guys: Kobe, Mr 82 pts in a game, mister 50 pts for breakfeast. Do something. Meanwhile Kobe is practicing with USA team and asking himself if he will never be on the same level with Michael Jordan, The Lakers seems to be more interessing by attracting the celebrities of hollywood. Unfortunately for Kobe.
And to access the club of Duncan, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Shaq, it's a long way. Kobe knows that he needs some help to shadow the new generation of Wade and Lebron as Jordan did for him. All we know, it's that we will see Kobe in gold and purple next season, and until the market of february, he will have to bring his team on his shoulders, as he did for so many years. Unless Jermaine O' Neal show his face in L.A to make him smile.
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