The Finale Rematch

6/7/2014 10:57:36 AM

It’s on again, like an Alicia Keys and Kendrick Lamar soundtrack, as after one exhilarating season accompanied by tune-up changes in roster and several off-court controversies as well as shifting of records, statistical averages and awards garnered, it all comes down to one grand finale—two teams squaring off against each other once again.

Rematch!

5/24/2014 1:34:03 AM

As far as the series is concern, several foes faced each other yet again in the Conference Finals. It’s Miami versus Indiana at the East Finals; while on the West, it’s Oklahoma versus San Antonio once again since ’12.

But before Miami rolled to even their series against Indiana (as of time of writing), how these two fared up against each other for the second straight year?

The King's Ascension To The Throne.

11:54:22 PM | 6/24/2013 | Monday

It was for all the marbles. It’s more known as the do-or-die match, or sudden death, or much simpler term, “the decider.” This is the Game 7 of the Championship series of the National Basketball Association between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. The very last game of the 2012-2013 NBA season. One last game to play. One last game to watch. To witness the last two teams standing at that point.

One will rise and one will fall. One will earn a legitimate bragging right, one will lose it. One will rise in the history, while the other falls and will end their season on a broken note, as both legacies will be on the line. There’s no such thing as “records,” “statistics,” and even the so-called “winning tradition.”

Clutch Game

11:49:29 PM | 6/20/2013 | Thursday

Of all the games that went on for this year’s NBA Finals, this seems that the Game 6 was the best of them all so far.

Look, Tim Duncan played the first half as if he was not on his 37-year-old self. How about a 25-point and 8-rebound effort, for the 15 year veteran? And that stat was before halftime, by the way.

Second half, we saw the old LeBron, the more energized one, the one that really carried the team on his shoulders like the way he did on his stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers? He scored more than 20 of his 32 points came on the second half and overtime, despite committing huge mistakes down the stretch. He had a triple double to accompany his usual large number of markers.

Defensive Dominance (The San Antonio Spurs' Run To The 2013 NBA Finals)

11:16:51 PM | 5/28/2013 

Author's note: (re-updated 6/19/2013 2:32:57 PM) as of this writing, the Spurs are on the verge of winning the NBA title if they will win Game 7 at Thursday Night in Miami (Friday morning, Manila time)

They’re quiet, they worked under the radar, and more than being either the “underdog” or “dark horse,” they will just surprise you with their winning ways. Perhaps very rare number of people, if not “nobody,” talked about this team, which defied signs of aging, just to compete and win games… yes, even if they’re one of those few teams that are already been mainly treated as the “elders” at the current NBA generation. I am talking about this defense-oriented team by the name of the San Antonio Spurs.

Vintage: Manu Ginobili

3:11:37 PM | 6/17/2013 | Monday

Dwyane Wade’s a la ’06 effort was matched up well with Manu Ginobili’s epic act during the 2005 Finals.

He struggled on his shooting during the previous playoff games. And he’s on very usual off-the-bench roles. More than that, he’s been a huge disappointment for some of the fans, just 34 percent on his shooting and averaged just 7.5 points prior to the fifth contest.

That went on until Greg Poppovich adjusted something that went into the Argentinean’s favor.

Vintage: Dwyane Wade

2:30:51 PM | 6/17/2013| Monday

Vintage – that is the word to describe Dwyane Wade’s epic performances against the Spurs in Game 5. And for the third time though, it appeared to be another blowout game after the other for the NBA Finals as the Heat leveled their series to 2 apiece after that 106-93 victory at the Alamo city.

Statement Block

2:00:37 PM | 6/13/2013 | Thursday

Miami heat level the series last week before that huge game 3. Let’s take a lookback though. How on earth did that happened?

4th quarter story, just like any other big games during the previous part of the 2012-2013 season, both regular and post season wars.

The first three quarters appeared like a deja vu sequence for both teams in Game 1. Close fight. But if the game 1 turned in the visitor’s favor. This time, it went on the home team. We saw the last few minutes of the third quarter swindling into the side of Miami Heat. They had a 10-point lead after 36 minutes of action.

But then, just in the middle of the scorching run by the Heat, so was this emphatic block by one of their superstars in Lebron James.

3s for Game 3

2:13:41 PM | 6/12/2013 | Wednesday

How did San Antonio won Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals? Check out this video.

So, there you go. 16 long distance shots made by the San Antonio Spurs in this third game against the Miami Heat in the championship series. That’s already a wrecking record, as they broke the previous mark of 15 3-point shots set by 3 teams before them. And take note, they’re making those shots quite accurately, as they’re shooting 50 percent from there (16-of-32). How about that? You always hearing the guys like Mike Breen of ESPN goes “Green from downtown! Bang, that’s good!”

Predictions: 2013 NBA Finals

12:10:00 PM | 6/5/2013 | Wednesday

Author’s note: This blog post is actually the 4^th and final post of the “Predictions: 2013 NBA Playoffs series.”

Okay, two teams remained. They’re standing firm and tall. But only one of them will prevail and emerged victorious. So the big question: Which team will win the 2013 National Basketball Association Championship?

Predictions: 2013 NBA Playoffs – Part 3: Conference Finals

3:25:14 AM | 5/22/2013 | Wednesday

It’s the Final 4 on the greatest basketball show on the planet. Last 2 teams standing, all for the bragging right to bag down the trophy for their respective conferences. Still on the best-of-7 format, who will take home the crown and a huge step forward to the big dance?

Predictions: 2013 NBA Playoffs – Part 2: Second Round

11:03:11 PM | 5/7/2013 | Tuesday

As of press time, here are the results of the 2013 Playoffs in the second round:

Western Conference Game 1:  Oklahoma City Thunder 93, Memphis Grizzlies 91; San Antonio Spurs 129, Golden State Warriors 127 in double overtime.

Eastern Conference Game 1: Indiana Pacers 102, New York Knicks 95; Chicago Bulls 93, Miami Heat 86.

Sixteen teams down to the eight, so it’s gonna be a clash between the elite eight forces after opening the post-season part a la march Madness’ Sweet 16. I’m talking about number, eh? So don’t be confused, folks.

Let’s start from the final four between the best of the wild wild West.

Predictions: 2013 NBA Playoffs – PART 1

1:41:08 AM | 4/19/2013 | Friday

Well, it’s been a long while since I last made my own analysis and predictions about the games around the Association. And we’re talking about the post-season party, of course. It’s time again to give my take on who and what team will be hot and not for the 2013 National Basketball Association playoffs.

Thunder on a surprise run?

Well, not totally.

The HEAT is on once again for the Miami and Thunder will strike again for the Oklahoma City squad as the stage is set for the National Basketball Association finals game 1 today Manila time.

The Western Conference has been the home of the powerhouse ball clubs lately, and one of them is the Oklahoma City Thunder whom had been a major force to reckon since they almost surprise the Dallas Mavericks on their battle fro supremacy, which they had lost, by the way.

The Thunder had won 47 games in a shortened 66-game season, enough for the second spot in the Western Conference, plus a major addition to its roster – a big shot maker in a bulky point guard named Derek Fisher.

Almost a numbers’ game.

Here I go again. I just noticed something about the NBA again. A part of me has been addicted to the sports’ statistics. Well, not totally though.

Well, the Oklahoma City Thunder had defeated the San Antonio Spurs in an incredible run. Look, the Spurs had won 20 straight games before losing the last 4 to the Thunder. It was almost a stunning run, coming out short of tying the Houston Rockets’ 22-game winning streak few years ago.

And asking about the Thunder’s finals appearance to the upcoming NBA Finals?

Vintage.

Vintage.

I just can’t imagine how the San Antonio Spurs made another stunning run at the game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against a perennial contender named Oklahoma City Thunder.

They won 19 straight, something that is quite not familiar to the team that had been relying on the key veterans. Maybe experience helped them winning it.

I have to admit, when these two teams about to squared up in the said stage, I have to pick the younger Thunder squad over Spurs. Hmmm…. maybe because they can outrun the defensive team and not to mention, Kevin Durant scored in various and even mysterious ways. How many times have he nailed a game winner despite the outstretched arms of his opponent? How athletic can he be when he gets banged up in the air and still throws it down? Wow.