Diary NBA

Fascination at the end of the regular season

2010-03-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

Aaron Brooks is fascinating many NBA fans. Despite stars like Nash, Rondo, Parker, Williams, Paul, etc, Brooks is one of the most efficient point guards in the league. He averages 19.6 points and 5.2 assists in his third season. He was selected 26^th in the 2007 Draft by the Houston Rockets after his career at the University of Oregon, in which he started to show his shooting ability when he won a NCAA three point shootout contest. Brooks averaged 11.2 and 3 assists in 25 minutes per game during the 08/09 season and became the starter point guard when Alston signed with the Magic. This season is one of the most important players for the Rockets with almost 36 minutes per game.

Undoubtedly he is a fast player. Like greased lightning. Impressive with the ball, he can easily break his opponents' waists. Aaron Brooks can make it easy from long range as well. At present he is a the top of the 3-point shooters list with 177 shots made form beyond the arc.

Here we have an example. Three amazing buckets at the end of the Rockets-Knicks on March 21^st to win the game.

The Forgotten Brother

2008-09-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

When the people speak about Los Angeles (as far as basketball is concerned) we always have Lakers team in mind. Chamberlain, Jabbar, Magic, Shaquille, Kobe have had great influence in this trend. It has happened even more in Spain and the rest of Europe since Pau Gasol signed with the gold and purple franchise. Batman, Joker, Spiderman and other celebrities in Hollywood drop by the Staples Center every evening. But it happens that these court changes into red and blue when the other team of the city has to play: the Clippers. The “forgotten brother” is one of the three teams that have never won a NBA title (championship, division or conference), but they are building a very interesting squad for the upcoming season. Outside presence with Baron Davis, one of the best point guards in the league (maybe the strongest one), and other players like Ricky Davis and Cuttino Mobley. Besides, inside power with the acquisition of Marcus Camby who averaged 9.1 ppg, 13,3 rpg, 3 apg and 3bpg the last season, plus Chris Kaman and the contribution of Al Thornton (who shows a lot of promise) and the experience of Tim Thomas. Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Brian Skinner, Shaun Livingston are other members that will take part in this project.

Glamour and rivalry increase in LA, ¿will the audience and spectators of Clippers increase as well? Yes with me.

Are we crazy?

2008-08-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

Undoubtedly, summer is the time of year for rumors in sport. In Spain the media focuses in football (soccer) above all, but this summer of 2008 we are getting more news about NBA players that will land in European teams next season. The interest began when Juan Carlos Navarro decided to come back to F.C. Barcelona because of a great contract that he could not turn down, much better than anything he could have signed in NBA. Then, as far as Spanish players are concerned, Jorge Garbajosa followed Navarro when signed a 3 million euro by year contract with the Russians of Khimki. Motivated by a good project as well, he followed his ex mate in the Toronto Raptors Carlos Delfino who will play with the Russians too. The trade of Josh Childress from Atlanta Hawks to Olympiacos has been one of the most surprising player movements. The 25-year-old will play in Greece with a contract of 20 million dollars for the next 3 years. It is certain that his dunks will appear in the best plays of the week in the Greek league and in Euroligue too as it happened in NBA, and his hair will be a sensation as well. Later there was a rumor about Jason Williams and his possible trade to Maccabi Tel Aviv, but finally Carlos Arroyo will be the point guard of the Israeli squad for 2,5 million dollars by year. Players like Brezec, Nachbar, Krstic and Boykins are also moving to Europe.

Up to now, everything seems more or less normal. In general, we are speaking about players who look for more minutes in the games and more money for their accounts, thanks to some multimillionaire owners. But what seems insane is the so-called offer that Olympiacos has made to acquire Lebron James’ services for 2010, giving him a 40-50 million dollar contract by year. I do not know how to say this, but I do not believe that this situation can arrive. Firstly, James already earns about 38 millions with his contract and the publicity agreements with Coca-Cola, Nike or State Farms (according to Forbes magazine). Contracts to be revised in the following years. On the other hand, I cannot imagine him coming to Europe to develop his career being only 25 by that year, despite an unlikely NBA ring in his finger in the next two seasons. He is already the under-25 person that earns more money every year in the USA, and I do not think he crosses the ocean for a few more millions because he is becoming a great legend in the most prestigious basketball league. And legends do not do that. Personally, I could not imagine what to do with such amount of money, but I do not manage those sums actually. Let’s be realistic.

A pleasant summer recipe

2008-07-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

It happens that you are in Dublin for 15 days for an issue related to your job. You are there up and down, cannot stop, and you feel disconnected from news in general and from NBA particularly. But suddenly, anywhere at any time, a conversation may arise about the topic that this blog tries to cover; even with someone you have already met. It is enough with hearing a comment or catching a glimpse of a sign that gives you cause for the big question: “ah, do you like basket?”, or specifically: “do you like NBA?” When the answer is “yes” some comments come up. First, each one explains his/her likes and preferences; maybe: “I prefer…” or “What I like the most is…”, but an accurate way is always found to keep a pleasant conversation. You can speak about the past or the future, or both can be mixed to establish a relationship between Sabonis and Marc Gasol, for instance. It is July and you talk about the Olympics, the American national team and the Spanish one. About Calderon, Kobe, Pau Gasol, etc. Add some beers at Temple Bar and cook it for several minutes.

Winning Bet

2008-06-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

There are bets that end fine and there are other ones that not. There are flashy players signings that finally work and others that are better not to think about. Many times important decisions and money are not use at all, but sometimes they can mean a ticket for the NBA title. When Boston knew that they would pick 5^th in the 2007 draft, ending with the possibility of signing Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, Danny Ainge, general manager of the Boston Celtics, made a decision that would bring his team to the top of the basketball world a year later. That decision was based in a radical change in the plans that the team had in that moment for the future. In principle, that project was to collect some young players around a star, Paul Pierce, plus a 1^st or 2^nd draft pick. But with a 5^th choice it was already impossible.

The big decision, although it was thought-out, was made quickly. That night of the 2007 draft the Celtics transferred Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak plus the 5^th pick for the Seattle Supersonics star Ray Allen who was 32 years old. Ainge kept working and later, that summer, he signed the superstar Kevin Garnett, 31 years old, in an exchange for Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, all young players who were 22, 22, 25 y 21 respectively, the veteran Theo Ratliff (34), and a first round pick in the 2009 draft. That meant a drastic change in the plans for the team and everybody could guess their intentions: “we want the NBA ring”. From that moment of the preseason they were not the team with only 24 victories in the previous year but they turn into the most serious candidate for the title. The confirmation arrived as the games, weeks and months passed and they finished the season with 66 victories. Some of us had doubts when Boston had to play 7 games in the first rounds of the playoffs, but finally the experience, the “hunger” and the possibility of lose the last train to the title for veterans like Pierce, Allen, Garnett and others like Cassell, P.J. Brown, Posey or House, made the dream come true, and they beat L.A. Lakers in a final that relive the ones in the 80s. Garnett and Allen achieved what Malone and Payton could not in 2004.

Lakers, to the Finals.

2008-05-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Lakers became the champions of the Western Conference and classified to the NBA Finals after beating San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the last round of the west. Some decisions of the referees may have influenced on this outcome. After the fourth game, the NBA admitted that officials made a mistake when they did not call the last foul made by Derek Fisher on Brent Barry when he made a 3-point shot. The 3 free throws could have meant the victory for the Spurs and the2-2 in the playoff aggregate.

But the fact is that the Lakers have only lost 3 games since the playoffs began, and that fact has also been important for the physical condition of the players. They were quite more rested and that was decisive to come from behind in the score in several difficult moments, especially in the first game. We must remember as well that San Antonio arrived to the final after defeating New Orleans in very tough 7-game semifinal. The Californian squad comes back to a final 4 years later after they lost roughly in 2004 against the Pistons (4-1). That was a reason for Phil Jackson to leave L.A. and for Bryant and O’neal to “get divorced”.

Kobe Bryant has been a decisive player one more time able to win a game almost by himself. In this final he has averaged 29.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals, with a 53% in field goals. 17 of his 39 points in the last game arrived in the final quarter; and in the first game he had 27 after scoring only 2 points in the first half. Fans said lots of things about Kobe against a tough defender like Bruce Bowen before the conference final, but a curious fact is that Kobe had 11 free throws in the 5 games against Spurs and 96 against the Jazz in 6 games. With this or that defender, with fouls or without them, he has shown again his motivation and his ambition that are automatically the same that his team’s.

There Can Only Be One

2008-05-24T05:35:00.001-07:00

At the end of the season, the champions may say that they have won the championship in a season in which 4 of the most legendary NBA teams competed in the Finals. Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers have won 37 NBA championships and have 57 conference titles. Besides, 8 out of the last 10 NBA rings have been shared out amongst Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007), Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002) and Pistons (2004). The last championship that Boston Celtics won was in 1986 when they defeated in the finals Olajuwon’s Rockets.

In the East, Boston is favorite since they signed Allen and Garnett at the beginning of the season, but they have been the only team that needed to play 7 games in the previous rounds before the conference final. They’re taking on the always candidate Detroit Pistons, which stars have been playing together for several seasons. They beat the Celtics last Thursday in the Garden so they have recovered the court advantage.

In the West, San Antonio Spurs has been another candidate to win the championship for many seasons with the same stars that won it in 2005 and 2007. After they defeated Phoenix without many troubles, they suffered to defeat the most surprising team of the season, New Orleans Hornets. They won the decisive game in the New Orleans Arena resorting to their survival spirit and their experience. The rival is Los Angeles Lakers that has recovered the highest ambition since they acquired Pau Gasol in February. Gasol, Odom and, of course, Bryant are the keys. Kobe is extra-motivated since his team signed Pau and he has been performing his best basket. His prize: to be named MVP of the regular season.

This year, the finals will be really tough. Every play and every basket will be decisive.

Kobe-Duncan NBA Spot

2008-05-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

"There can only be one" NBA campaign is one of the most impressive ever. You never get tired of watching these amazing advertisments.

Introductions: Where Worldwide Fans Happen

2008-05-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to this blog on which a mere NBA fan writes from time to time. First of all, I would like to apologise for any mistake I may have in my posts as far as vocabulary and grammar are concerned due to I am not a native-English speaker. I am from Spain but my life and career are quite related to English language. I will try to translate the posts that I write in Spanish, which can be visited by clicking in the link above “Spanish version”, whenever I have time enough.

At the same time I encourage you to write down any comment you feel like to, and to get in touch with me through them.