Cleveland defence keeps home record perfect
December 30, 2008
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Miami Heat 93-86 to move to 16-0 at home and 26-4 overall. The Cavs came back from a 10 point deficit in the final quarter. It was the defence that helped turn the match around as the Heat had no answer to the hustle and in your face defence.
LeBron James topped the scoring with 33 points for the match, while Miami’s Dwayne Wade had 29 points on the night.
In other matches the Boston Celtics ended their two game losing streak with a 108-63 thumping of the Sacramento Kings. The Celtics saw their 19-game win streak come to an end against Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. That loss was followed up with another loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The Denver Nuggets had an away win over the New York Knicks 117-110, the Mavericks also won away from home with a 98-76 win over the LA Clippers. The Hornets just got the win over the Pacers, 105-103 while the Lakers easily won at home against the Warriors 130-113.
The best win streaks are now the Cavs with the 16-0 home record and the Orlando Magic who have won their last seven straight. This record goes on the line against Detroit on Monday night.
Can anyone challenge Boston and Cleveland in the East?
December 7, 2008
In Saturday night NBA action the Cleveland Cavaliers once again trounced their opposition. They along with the Boston Celtics are looking most likely to make the NBA Eastern Confernce finals. In the match against the Charlotte Bobcats, LeBron James and his team won 94-74. A 30-14 opening quarter setup the match for the Cavs. James top scored with 25 points.
The Celtics are tops in the Eastern Conference with a NBA best record of 19-2, with the Cavs just behind on 17-3. At this stage of the season it appears to be a two horse race in the east.
Over in the Western Conference the LA Lakers are setting the pace with a 16-2 record. They are looking likely to make the NBA finals again. Denver and Portland who both are 14-7, along with the Houston Rockets are most likely to prevent the Lakers from reaching the NBA finals in 2009. Dallas have also clicked lately and have a 9-1 record from the last ten matches and are 11-8 overall.
Los Angeles Lakers go to 14-1
December 1, 2008
The LA Lakers moved to 14-1 with another comfortable victory against the Toronto Raptors 112-99. Andrew Bynum and the bench players got the job done in the fourth quarter. Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant sat out the final quarter after scoring 24 and 23 points respectively.
Bynum got a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. It is the fourth time in the past five games that he has got the double-double. The 14-1 start is the Lakers best start since they went 16-1 in the 2001-02 season.
Nets 117-109 Suns
The New Jersey Nets went wild in the final quarter of their road match against Phoenix. They outscored the Suns 43-24 to take a come from behind 117-109 victory. Devin Harris scored a career-high 47 points, including 21 in the final quarter. Steve Nash topped scored for Phoenix with 26 points and added nine assists. Amare Stoudemire had 25 points and 11 rebounds before being ejected with his second tech foul just 3:24 from the end of the match. The win for the Nets ended a 14-game losing streak at Phoenix.
Bulls 92-103 Sixers
The Bulls played in their final game of a seven game roadtrip against Philadelphia. In the Sixers roster was former Bulls player, Elton Brand.
In Sunday’s game the Bulls were led by Ben Gordon who scored 21 points, Drew Gooden 20 and Derrick Rose netted 18. Rose also racked up 10 assists to get a double-double. It was the first time Rose had double figures for assists this season.
The Bulls fought back from an early deficit to win the match 103-92. The Sixers opened the match with a 34-24 first quarter. Brand had nine of his 21 points in the first quarter. The Sixers extended the lead to 15 early in the second quarter before the Bulls made their move. Chicago took the lead when Deng made a jump shot with 3:38 left in the first half. The score was 55-52 in favor of the home team at the half.
Chicago took a stranglehold on the match with a dominant 31-11 third quarter. Gordon scored 13 third quarter points to push the Bulls to 83-66 at the end of the quarter.
Larry Hughes hit three 3-point shots in the final quarter to help the Bulls stay out in front. The Sixers have lost four straight.
Trail Blazers 96-85 Pistons
The Pistons lost for the fourth consecutive Sunday going down 96-85 to the Trail Blazers. Lamarcus Aldridge top scored 27 for Portland, Rip Hamilton was best for Detroit with 18. Allen Iverson could only manage nine points with 2-9 shooting.
Rockets 94-104 Nuggets
Without Carmello Anthony for a large part of the match, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Houston Rockets in Denver, 104-94. Chauncey Billups was the man for Denver with 28 points, including 11 in a 19-7 third-quarter burst that edged the Nuggets clear of Houston. Carmello Anthony only played 14 minutes and scored just four points after being forced out with an elbow injury. The single digit scoring ended his 221 double figure games at 221. Yao Ming topped the scoring for the Rockets with 18 points. Houston were without the services of both Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier through injury.
The big two win again in the NBA
November 24, 2008
As each day passes in the 2008-09 NBA season it is looking more likely that the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics will again fight it out for the NBA championship. Both teams have the best record in their conference.
On Sunday night the Celtics (13-2) were in action against Toronto (6-7) on the Raptors home court. The Boston team took control early as they opened with a 32-20 first quarter. At one stage the current NBA champions were ahead 21-6.
The Raptors got the margin down to 10 going into the halftime break but then Boston again outscored their opponents by 12 points in the third quarter. The score going into the fourth quarter was 95-73.
Ray Allen scored 21 points as Boston completed a start to finish 118-103 victory, this made it five wins straight. Allen’s backcourt partner Rajon Rondo also made a good contribution, and along with Keven Garnett scored 15 points. Chris Bosh scored 24 for Toronto.
The LA Lakers played the Sacramento Kings in LA. The Lakers lead early only to see the Kings take the lead in the second quarter. The Lakers then had to do some work to shake off the Kings. It was mid-way through the third quarter that the Lakers pulled away before recording a 118-108 win.
It is getting boring, but Kobe Bryant top scored for the Lakers with 24, Pau Gasol provided good backup with 16 points. For Sacramento it was John Salmons that matched Kobe’s 24 points. The Lakers were sloppy and committed 18 turnovers but still got the win.
In other games Detroit were beaten by the Timberwolves in Detroit. The Timberwolves were way too good for the Piston and ran out 106-80 winners. Randy Foye starred for Minnesota with 23 points and a career high 14 assists. Foye had been told by his coach to be more aggressive and with this at the back of his mind he delivered for the Timberwolves.
Allen Iverson by his own admission had a stinker of a game, he shot just 3-11 and scored 9 points. Tayshun Prince was best for Detroit with 20 points. Since Iverson has joined the Pistons they have been hot and cold. The highlights have been the victories over LA in Los Angeles and the Cavaliers.
The 76ers were lead by Elton Brand as he scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help his team to a 89-81 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
The Denver Nuggets have outscored the Chicago Bulls 31-16 to charge away from the Bulls in the final quarter. The Bulls after starting slow came back to lead the match 99-96 with 5:17 to play. From there the Nuggets came alive with a 13-0 run, thanks to 10 points in the last five minutes from Kenyon Martin. He shot an amazing 10-10 from the field including one 3-pointer on the way to 26 points.
Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said the Bulls’ fourth quarter collapse was simply due to an offense that got out of sync, something that can happen with a young squad. For the Bulls it was Ben Gordon who starred as he scored 28 points, hitting 5-of-7 3-pointers.
Roy Snatches game from Houston with clutch three pointer
November 7, 2008
Brandon Roy shoots to win the match. photo Getty Images
Brandon Roy has pulled off a miracle against the visiting Houston Rockets. His team was down 98-99 with just 0.8 seconds left on the clock when he ran hard, stopped, caught the ball and shot all in one motion to see the ball go swish through the net for a game winning three pointer from 30 feet away from the basket.
Both teams were locked at 90 at the end of regulation time. Portland then had the lead with two seconds to play. Yao Ming took back the lead with 0.8 to go after a jumper that he sunk as he fell away from the basket and a foul shot.
Then came the big shot to win the game. The three pointer took Roy’s points for the night to 17. His teammate LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27. For the Rockets Tracy McGrady scored 30 points.
Houston are now 3-2 for the season and Portland are 2-3. The Rockets play the Clippers in LA on Friday night.
In the other game on Thursday night Orlando were too good for Philidelphia winning 98-88.
Allen Iverson heading to Detroit
November 4, 2008
Joe Dumars, Pistons President of Basketball Operations has pulled off what they are calling a blockbuster trade in the NBA. Allen Iverson goes to the Pistons in exchange for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb who are traded to the Denver Nuggets.
In the story on NBA.com they are saying McDyess is not happy to be going to Denver and he may retire.
It is reported according to a source close to the trade deals that Denver may allow a buy out of the contract for McDyess, he would have to give up about 50 percent of his salary, meaning he’d have to agree to take about $6.8 million of the $13.6 million he’s due in any potential buyout if he wants to play elsewhere. Otherwise, the Nuggets will keep him on their roster regardless of whether he decides to report or not.
What do you think about the trade? Any Pistons fans? What do you think?
Boston collects 2007-08 NBA championship rings and good start for Lakers team
October 30, 2008
The Boston Celtics faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in their opening match of the 2008-09 NBA season. Before the match they collected their championship rings and hoisted the 17th Championship banner for the franchise.
In the match that followed the Celtics pulled off a 90-85 win. Paul Pierce top scored for the champs with 27 points. LeBron James scored 22 for the visitors. Boston helped setup the win with a 24-13 third quarter. With just over a minute to play the Celtics were just three points in front.
Chicago Bulls scored a good first up win when they hosted the Milwaukee Bucks. All eyes were on the no. 1 draft pick for Chicago Derrick Rose. He put in a reasonable display as he grabbed 11 points. He had a few too many turnovers however it was his first NBA game of his career. The Bulls gave rookie coach Vinny Del Negro his first win by getting the better of the Bucks 108-95.
The final match on opening day saw the LA Lakers claim a comfortable win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The final score was 96-76. There was concern for the Blazers as Greg Oden left the game with a foot injury. The top draft pick from last season missed all of last year through injury and is now out for 2-to-4 weeks with a right foot sprain. The Lakers roster is looking good for another title challenge
I enjoyed watching some of the NBA action on broadband. You can watch the Celtics ring ceremony at NBA.com
If you want to chat or talk NBA head over to NBAFanTalk.com
Are you a fan of the NBA?
October 27, 2008
The 2008-09 NBA season is tipping off on Tuesday 28 October with three games. Both finalists and favorites to again meet in the finals Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are playing at home.
The Boston team will receive their NBA championship rings before they play Cleveland. This will be an interesting matchup as the Cavs could be one of the teams that knocks Boston from their spot at the top of the NBA.
If you are a fan of the NBA I have created a new community website that is just for NBA fans. It is at NBAfantalk.com Why not join in the community and meet NBA fans from around the world?
Are you NBA ready?
October 10, 2008
Check out this adidas basketball shoe commercial. They put together quite a cast of players. Some of the dunks are also pretty awesome. I wonder how much of it was scripted, and how much was just some super athletes doing their thing?
The NBA is now in pre-season. Some of the exibition games have been played and the season proper tips off on Tuesday Octoboer 28 with three games.
The NBA right now is taking the game to Europe with what they call the NBA Europe Live Tour. Four matches will be played as part of this tour. The first one was played on Thursday night in Paris where the New Jersey Nets got past Miami in overtime. The other matches will follow in London, Berlin and Barcelona. The New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards are playing in the last two cities.
Who is your tip for the 2008-09 NBA Championship?
What shoes does Marcus Jordan wear?
October 1, 2008
When your the son of Michael Jordan and you play basketball the expectations are going to be high. Marcus Jordan is the younger son of the basketball great. He was born on 24 December 1990 and is currently attending Whitney Young High School.
According to his entry at Wikipedia.org Marcus has already had his games broadcast nationally on three occasions.
If you are wondering what shoes the son of Air Jordan would wear it is not too hard to guess. Air Jordan’s of course. The ones he wears are however special editions. You can see pictures of Marcus Jordan’s Air Jordan shoes over at nikeblog.com
