Are the Redeem Team ready ?

This is probably the question many of us are thinking now.

It's the Olympic time, and the most exciting basketball showdown will happen. Only tough teams can play in the quest for the Basketball Olympic Gold.

Defending Champion Argentina sure is raring to win it back to back while 2006 FIBA World Champions are out to forget what happened to them in Athens. Sweeping the elimination was their only great achievement in 2004 but come knock out game, they were booted out by Team USA. So expect the Spaniards to be more aggressive.

And now the Redeem Team, Le Bron James,Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are mature now, and surely that experience in 2004 have toughen them up.

Plus with the addition of Kobe Bryant,Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd, I think this Redeem Team have a pretty fair chance of bagging the gold.

It's gonna be a very tough competition, but I think the Best World Basketball Team in the Olympics is Team USA,not of course unless other team upsets them.

Celtic's Pride Returns

I was wrong at my prediction that Lakers would win the Finals in Game Six, turns out that it was the opposite, it was the Green and White of the Boston Celtics that dominated the Finals.

It was imminent that the Celtics would win the Championship after Game 4, down by as much as 24 points in the second half. The Celtics rallied down the stretch to beat the Lakers 97-91 in Game 4.

I thought that the Lakers have the greatest comeback in the Finals in Game 2, but they fell short.

It was hunger and determination that paved the way for the Big Three to win their first NBA title. It was the 17th Championship for the Celtics and the first one after 22 years. Last time around was with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish the original Big Three back in 1986.

Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen each scored 26 points to lead the Celtics. While Finals MVP Paul Pierce added 17 points.

The Lakers simply have no match against Kevin Garnett who simply outsmart, outhustled, outrebounded and sometimes knock Pau Gasol down. Gasol was just too soft for Garnett to crack offensively. Also, the bench of the Celtics outplayed its counterpart, thanks mainly to veterans Sam Cassel,James Posey and PJ Brown.

Can they do it again next year ? Only the Big Three cans answer.

The Lakers are still Alive

This time the L.A. Lakers survived the onslaught of the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with a win of 103-98.

Winning the Game 5 of the NBA Finals cuts the deficit of the series to 2-3.Game 6 Would be tough because I am pretty sure that the Celtics want to end the series right away.

No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in NBA history.The Lakers are only two wins away from doing that. But up against the Mighty Celtics, I think that they might have a hard time doing it.

My prediction that Lakers will win it six games is already history, now that the Celtics can end it Game 6.

The Lakers started the Game once again with an early big lead just like in Game 4, but this time they managed to hold on to it.The Celtics even tied it at 90-all with less than 5 minutes remaining.This time Kobe Bryant diplayed flashes of brilliance down the stretch.

I think that Game 6 will be toughest of the series with the Title on the line for the Celtics and survival for the Lakers.

It's Lakers Time

It's Lakers turn to host the NBA Finals for three straight game. They will be hosting from Game 3 to 5.

I am sure sure that the Lakers are aching to bounce back in the series and finally gab a win in tonight's game.

You see how dangerous they were in Game 2, erasing a 24 point deficit in just over four minutes. They could have won that game had Sasha Vujacic made his three point with over a minute left.

The Lakers 0ffense and defense were tremendous at that time, although they missed their last two important field goal.

The Celtics should be very afraid, they are the underdogs here in this series. Expect the Lakers to bounce back.

The MVP, Kobe Bryant is trying to prove something and that is winning a championship without Shaq. Expect him to play hard in the next games.

It's game time.

CELTICS VS LAKERS

Much have been written about these two fabled teams. The Lakers and The Celtics finally faces each other once again the NBA finals after twenty one long years.

The Lakers and the Celtics met 10 times in the Finals from 1959-87, with the Celtics winning the first eight. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar were the pillars of that Lakers team against Larry Bird and Kevin McHale of the Celtics.

Now comes a new breed of Lakers and Celtics.

This is Kobe Bryant's chance to prove that he can win a championship without Shaquille O' Neal. Although he got the support of another 7 footer, lanky Spaniard Pau Gasol. Pau Gasol has more perimeter shot compared to Shaq. Gasol can shoot the three at any given time. Kobe and Pau are the new dynamic duo of the Lakers.

The Big Three of the Celtics are veterans out to prove their greatness in the league. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce wnat just one thing in their mind. A championship before they retire. Although they don't have championship experience, it is their supporting cast who can teach them how to play at cruch time. Sam Cassel and James Posey are champions who can instill the virtue of how to be a Champion.

This is the Celtics chance to redeem themselves, who never have success at the league after the 1986-1987 season, failing to advance in the Finals for 21 years.

What's exciting about this series is Phil Jackson's record of surpassing Red Auerbach. With his tenth title at stake. I am pretty sure that he will do everything just to get that exclusive tenth championship ring. He will than be named the greatest coach ever. Six championship with the Chicago Bulls and three with the Lakers, another one is coming unless the Celtics stops his team.

My prediction Lakers will win it in six games.

It would be Great if the Lakers face the Celtics in the Finals

The L.A. Lakers just trounced the defending champions San Antonio Spurs to advance to the Finals. Lakers won the series 4-1.

The Last time that the Lakers advanced to the Finals was in 2004. Led by All Stars Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Karl Malone transferred to the Lakers that season hoping to bag a championship before he retires. But destiny would not permit it, the Lakers lost to the Pistons in the Finals, putting an end to the career of Karl Malone with no Championship won.

Luckily for Gary Payton, he was signed up by the Miami Heat in 2005-2006 season and got a Championship with Shaq, Wade and the rest of the Heat.

Now Kobe Bryant has a shot of getting the Championship ring without Shaquille O’Neal around.

This time around help will come with Spaniard Pau Gasol. Ever since the trade of Gasol to the Lakers, Lakers are on a roll. Gasol easily blended with his new team. Pau Gasol easily adapted to the triangle offense instilled by Phil Jackson.

Boston or Detroit ? That’s the question that’s been buzzing now. Boston has 3-2 lead over the Pistons, but they are not yet out.

It would be great if the Celtics reach the Finals. It would be renewing fabled rivalry. But if the Pistons make it, I am pretty sure that they want to repeat what happened four years ago. While Revenge will be on the mind of the Lakers.

Lakers get Upgraded

The L.A.Lakers became stronger now with the acquisition of Spain’s greatest Basketball player today, Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. In exchange for Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton and two first round draft picks. The Lakers have added another versatile player in the team’s rich roster history.

I think the Lakers now can surpass the first round of the playoffs with Gasol’s inside and outside play. I mean he’s not just a big man, who can not only dominate the boards but also scores and pass.

Pau Gasol is the main reason why the Grizzlies made it to the playoffs for consecutive years, but they just can’t seem to overcome the first round and they never won a single game in the first round.

He is one of the international players who made a big impact on the NBA. Some of his teammates from Spain also made it in the NBA namely Jose Calderon and Garbajosa.
That team dominated the 2004 Olympic elimination until they were ambushed by the struggling Team USA led by Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson.

But they somehow redeemed themselves winning the FIBA 2006 Basketball World Championship by beating Greece in the Finals.

His addition to the Lakers team has bolstered their ranking in the NBA and somehow diminished the ranking of the Grizzlies. Now I think Kobe will be happy now, he now had a proven superstar teammate.

Can’t wait for Pau Gasol’s first game for the Los Angeles Lakers.