Before I pen my thoughts ( I think this phrase is outdated now, who pens their thoughts anymore, we just key-in/type what we think but I digress) I have to say that I realized y'day that ranting against NBA should be least of my/our priorities, what with the inflation, war, ecosystem's near-collapse, poverty, racialism and more important issues out there in the open.
Having said that, lets get back on NBA. So in my office we were discussing the NBA finals (though my colleagues know that I become a raving lunatic every time someone mentions NBA League Officials or the Referees, they can't resist to needle me and I can't resist to be provoked) and my colleagues wanted my views on NBA finals and who will win it, now that Celtics are 3-1 up in the series.
So I'll share with you the breakdown of next there games;
Game 5 - Lakers
Game 6 - Lakers
Game 7 - Celtics
I'll also share with you why I think it'll be this way;
Everyone knows that Celtics have been a ragged team ever since the playoffs started so many have been surprised at their surprising lead over Lakers who looked infallible going into the Finals. Didn't Lakers defeat such teams as Utah and Spurs and didn't Celtics seem to be bumbling idiots while playing Atlanta and Cleveland.
So what makes them suddenly appear the claimants to the throne??????
Allow me, Ladies and Gentlemen to introduce to you;
David Stern and the
NBA Referees.
These two make me easy to predict how the league is going to play off the NBAs.
It really not that hard to predict actually, just go back in previous years; Remember when Mark Cuban screamed about Stern and the Refs. - Stern had no option but to get Mavericks into the NBA finals BUT because Stern hated the screaming, had Mavericks loose to a team that was totally undeserving to win the NBA final. Heck, that year, Miami couldn't even have been in the play-offs, if the games were called the way they should have been.
Don't mistake me, Dwayne Wade is as good a baller as there are in the NBA and the Big Diesel has his own presence on the court but if you look at the tapes of the entire season twice, you will still not know how they came in the play-offs or the bigger shock - went on to win the finals.
We can go back every year and you will see the same pattern - surprising teams appear in the play-offs and surprising teams lose in play-offs - remember Golden Warriors losing in play-offs last year! If only someone could look at all those game tapes and convince me that its a fair game out there.
Anyways, back to our current series; if you read my last column you'll recall that I mentioned the fact that Lakers will win two out of three at the home court - not because I was looking at skills of either team - I just concentrate on Stern and Referees.
So my prediction is league will try to show that Lakers have got a huge shock to their system by this sudden loss(wink, wink) and hence will rebound and win the next game.
In fact, it will be such a big rebound ( read- the winning margin of Lakers in game 5 will be around 15 or more points) that they will go on to win the next game - the game 6th at Celtics home court - oh! what a shocker!
The game 7 will be a winner for Celtics - oh because they are at home court!
Now you may say; wasn't it the same home court that your predict that will loose the previous game (game 6 of the finals) on! How can a court change its color in two days!
If you ask that, then all I can say is you don't know this NBA league.
Stern has decided that East must win the trophy this year and that's that.
Showing posts with label celtics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celtics. Show all posts
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
I may be old but I love to watch the Circus
Oh not the real circus. I can't stand the overly painted faces anymore and by that I mean, the painted faces of ladies in the audience, but more on that, some other day.
Lets get back to the Circus or as David Stern calls it, his Kingdom - NBA - the basketball farce spectacle.
Lakers /Celtics game has started and the TV channels and Media is trying to create an artificial sense of Rivalry - the great Laker and Celtic rivalry of the past! Unfortunately, except for people in Boston and LA, no one is really hyped up. So you know what it means - Stern's Desperation at its peak!
So technically, LA should win this game based on their strengths and being a superior team ( hold on Celtics fans! I have nothing against Celtics but lets admit, we have all watched them in these play offs and we know how they played and besides if you have read my previous blogs you know my lack of interest in Lakers) but I'm confident that Referees will ensure that game goes to Celtics so Celtics fans - relax! It doesn't matter how both teams play, Celtics will win.
On the other hand, if by any chance if referees are fair (and probability of that is equal to you or me winning a lottery) and Lakers win this game, this will be a sweep for Lakers! Lets watch!
Lets get back to the Circus or as David Stern calls it, his Kingdom - NBA - the basketball farce spectacle.
Lakers /Celtics game has started and the TV channels and Media is trying to create an artificial sense of Rivalry - the great Laker and Celtic rivalry of the past! Unfortunately, except for people in Boston and LA, no one is really hyped up. So you know what it means - Stern's Desperation at its peak!
So technically, LA should win this game based on their strengths and being a superior team ( hold on Celtics fans! I have nothing against Celtics but lets admit, we have all watched them in these play offs and we know how they played and besides if you have read my previous blogs you know my lack of interest in Lakers) but I'm confident that Referees will ensure that game goes to Celtics so Celtics fans - relax! It doesn't matter how both teams play, Celtics will win.
On the other hand, if by any chance if referees are fair (and probability of that is equal to you or me winning a lottery) and Lakers win this game, this will be a sweep for Lakers! Lets watch!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A short post Celtics / Pistons Game 5
So the Celtics & Pistons game 5 is about 30 minutes away and I just got a glimpse of the pre-game shoot around on TV and they showed Paul Pierce shooting the ball.
OK maybe I'm getting over myself and tripping but the dude looks tense and fatigued! If this is the guy they are going to rely on,they should not.
Celtics will loose this game!
OK maybe I'm getting over myself and tripping but the dude looks tense and fatigued! If this is the guy they are going to rely on,they should not.
Celtics will loose this game!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Spurs win !!!
Was there ever any doubt!
You bet there was. I for one, was unsure if they could recover from the physical fatigue from some very tough games they have had, one-after-another, ever since the play offs started.
Anyways, MANU did what he does better than any other 6th player in the league, take and make some shots and change the game.
G I N O B L I
Don't forget though that Kobe almost stole the thunder right under from Spurs when he started hitting big threes seemingly without even trying hard. Man, that guy can play. There are a few superstars in this league who, once they are in the air, no matter where they are on the floor or how their body is positioned or who is in their face or what quarter it is or how many points they are down to - once they are in the air, the ball is going in.
Apart from Kobe, Vince Carter & T Mac clearly fall in that category, of course, only on the days they come to play on.
Anyways, at least the series is interesting now. The only scary thing that I felt after the game was that in post conference news Kobe was so relaxed that it was scary. That's a dangerous sign for the opposition, always. On the other hand, Odom was definitely tensed up when he went on to say, "put this one on me" .
We shall see !
Oh how about the match tonight - Celtics and Pistons. Will Ray Allen reappear - yeah the same guy who was lost once the play offs started! Irrespective, Pistons will come out sharper and my guess is they will win tonight. Darn, there I was, thinking they will finish Celtics off in 6 games and here
we are wondering which Piston team will show up!
You bet there was. I for one, was unsure if they could recover from the physical fatigue from some very tough games they have had, one-after-another, ever since the play offs started.
Anyways, MANU did what he does better than any other 6th player in the league, take and make some shots and change the game.
G I N O B L I
Don't forget though that Kobe almost stole the thunder right under from Spurs when he started hitting big threes seemingly without even trying hard. Man, that guy can play. There are a few superstars in this league who, once they are in the air, no matter where they are on the floor or how their body is positioned or who is in their face or what quarter it is or how many points they are down to - once they are in the air, the ball is going in.
Apart from Kobe, Vince Carter & T Mac clearly fall in that category, of course, only on the days they come to play on.
Anyways, at least the series is interesting now. The only scary thing that I felt after the game was that in post conference news Kobe was so relaxed that it was scary. That's a dangerous sign for the opposition, always. On the other hand, Odom was definitely tensed up when he went on to say, "put this one on me" .
We shall see !
Oh how about the match tonight - Celtics and Pistons. Will Ray Allen reappear - yeah the same guy who was lost once the play offs started! Irrespective, Pistons will come out sharper and my guess is they will win tonight. Darn, there I was, thinking they will finish Celtics off in 6 games and here
we are wondering which Piston team will show up!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Basketball Predictions come true - Spurs win & so do others exactly as I said
So I'm feeling good right now. Spurs win and the only slight miss hit in my predictions ( if you read my earlier blog*) was that I thought Lakers /Utah series will go to 7 games.
Before I go back to Spurs here are my predictions for the conference finals:
Pistons/Celtics - Pistons in 6
Lakers/Spurs - Spurs in 7 OR Spurs in 5. Oh I know, Spurs in 5 is impossible you say. Here's my thought - If Spurs can win the game 1 of the series then it will be either a sweep (don't shoot me Laker fans - I'm just a messenger) or Spurs will win in 5. SHOCKED!
Finals: Spurs/Pistions - Spurs in 7
Gooing back to Lakers/Spurs, I know this is a shocker Moreover Spurs winning the game # 1 of the series is like the chances of being hit with a lightening - not only impossible but incomprehensible. If you are a Lakers fan then you may even consider this reprehsensible. I must mention though, not before long, I used to be one myself.
Ok I say that Spurs can win the series from Lakers based on two important thoughts
1. Spurs maintain/keep their momentum that they are carrying from game 7 with Hornets, while the Lakers play rusted from the rest
2. This is very important: David Stern & his henchmen sorry, I mean Referees, do not intervene on his behalf.
The story this year will be Spurs and Pistons - not waht Stern/League /Refs/ want but what should happen logically based on the team performances. I can't deny though that my Lakers/Spurs prediction is very very very tight. If you have seen lakers play the past few days, you know, they are playing like a team possessed so I know the peril I am getting into by making this bold prediction. Pistons/Celtics on the other hand I have no qualms about. Sure a good number of poeple will like Celtics to win and sure they have a home court advantage ( if the series goes to 7 games, it will only be because of this factor) but they have been struggling excatly as I thought and said before the play offs.
Of course, its well known and now even documented that Stern would like nothing better than a Celtics and Lakers final to revive old rivalry, bring back old days etc. BUT that is exactly that - OLD days.
Oh, I do understand Stern's dilemma and savvy though. As basketball czar, he has to make sure that all metro markets are well covered, all demographics specially white paying customer's wishes are well taken care of, keep promoting new players to keep the excitement going ( remember LeBron is the "King" - what a baloney of hype), keep fans interested in the game and teams and this is not an easy task, the downside of ruling like a czar however is that genuine plays and players get bumped off in the season and experienced fans can't help but feel that games are manipulated through Refs.
Still if you are a fan, you will not and you can't stop watching! Its an addiction, a fix, a need even though it may cause you to seethe when you watch the games.
What are the alternatives if you are a hard core NBA fan! Switch to another sport, Stop watching NBA! Move to Asia! Not happening! So we grumble, ooh aah in each game, curse the league and then go right back to watch the next game and start the grumble cycle all over again.
So like I said, if league can somehow keep people interested and yet not really influence the results of a game/series, that will be awesome and real exciting too.
Well any ways , going back to Spurs/Hornets game 7, I was almost shocked to see Spurs get some calls their way and even though I thought they should have got some more & obvious calls in their favor, it was true that Hornets didn't get some calls. Specially strange was the sequence when Manu tried to make it tough for Chris to take the last second shot. First of all it was a no call so it was bogus right off the bat but then after calling it a foul, the refs in their wisdom decided that the "foul" was committed after the buzzer went off. Really! That's not what the replay on the TNT showed, but hey, I'm not complaining, Spurs got that one and god knows they deserve that and many more calls just based on the fact they have been on the wrong end of the foul calls so many times, that it is tragically comic and poetic justice.
Lets get set to Pistons/Celtics now!
Before I go back to Spurs here are my predictions for the conference finals:
Pistons/Celtics - Pistons in 6
Lakers/Spurs - Spurs in 7 OR Spurs in 5. Oh I know, Spurs in 5 is impossible you say. Here's my thought - If Spurs can win the game 1 of the series then it will be either a sweep (don't shoot me Laker fans - I'm just a messenger) or Spurs will win in 5. SHOCKED!
Finals: Spurs/Pistions - Spurs in 7
Gooing back to Lakers/Spurs, I know this is a shocker Moreover Spurs winning the game # 1 of the series is like the chances of being hit with a lightening - not only impossible but incomprehensible. If you are a Lakers fan then you may even consider this reprehsensible. I must mention though, not before long, I used to be one myself.
Ok I say that Spurs can win the series from Lakers based on two important thoughts
1. Spurs maintain/keep their momentum that they are carrying from game 7 with Hornets, while the Lakers play rusted from the rest
2. This is very important: David Stern & his henchmen sorry, I mean Referees, do not intervene on his behalf.
The story this year will be Spurs and Pistons - not waht Stern/League /Refs/ want but what should happen logically based on the team performances. I can't deny though that my Lakers/Spurs prediction is very very very tight. If you have seen lakers play the past few days, you know, they are playing like a team possessed so I know the peril I am getting into by making this bold prediction. Pistons/Celtics on the other hand I have no qualms about. Sure a good number of poeple will like Celtics to win and sure they have a home court advantage ( if the series goes to 7 games, it will only be because of this factor) but they have been struggling excatly as I thought and said before the play offs.
Of course, its well known and now even documented that Stern would like nothing better than a Celtics and Lakers final to revive old rivalry, bring back old days etc. BUT that is exactly that - OLD days.
Oh, I do understand Stern's dilemma and savvy though. As basketball czar, he has to make sure that all metro markets are well covered, all demographics specially white paying customer's wishes are well taken care of, keep promoting new players to keep the excitement going ( remember LeBron is the "King" - what a baloney of hype), keep fans interested in the game and teams and this is not an easy task, the downside of ruling like a czar however is that genuine plays and players get bumped off in the season and experienced fans can't help but feel that games are manipulated through Refs.
Still if you are a fan, you will not and you can't stop watching! Its an addiction, a fix, a need even though it may cause you to seethe when you watch the games.
What are the alternatives if you are a hard core NBA fan! Switch to another sport, Stop watching NBA! Move to Asia! Not happening! So we grumble, ooh aah in each game, curse the league and then go right back to watch the next game and start the grumble cycle all over again.
So like I said, if league can somehow keep people interested and yet not really influence the results of a game/series, that will be awesome and real exciting too.
Well any ways , going back to Spurs/Hornets game 7, I was almost shocked to see Spurs get some calls their way and even though I thought they should have got some more & obvious calls in their favor, it was true that Hornets didn't get some calls. Specially strange was the sequence when Manu tried to make it tough for Chris to take the last second shot. First of all it was a no call so it was bogus right off the bat but then after calling it a foul, the refs in their wisdom decided that the "foul" was committed after the buzzer went off. Really! That's not what the replay on the TNT showed, but hey, I'm not complaining, Spurs got that one and god knows they deserve that and many more calls just based on the fact they have been on the wrong end of the foul calls so many times, that it is tragically comic and poetic justice.
Lets get set to Pistons/Celtics now!
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