Nba

Continue reading "Who Will The Los Angeles Lakers Meet ..."

It's four hours before the second game of the 2010 season. I'm in the 9th in of the Opening Day- night- game and one out away from seeing the Sox win for the fourth time I've watched this game. It was that great of a game. Truly, it's taken me this long just to digest the game. I've been savoring it since the 8p.m. start and even now I think the 0-2 pitch to Curtis Granderson in the 9th was a strike, especially given home plate umpire Jerry West's expansion of the strike zone as the 4 hour game went on. I enjoyed a season's worth of emotions over the 9 innings, and ultimately I was reminded just how special a ball game at Fenway Park can be.

Continue reading "Opening Day Thoughts, two days later."

This is just not the Celtics' year. Last night's game 7 looked like a game 4 in a 3-0 series. The Celtics came out without their energy, all out of sync. Clearly, they missed KG. Ray Allen, who we needed to step up, finally did, but he was the only one who showed up to play. Meanwhile, Orlando 21-13 from three point land, was just too much to handle and every shot they took led to me biting my nails off and praying for a comeback that never came. This game was a tough one for Boston to handle; we were losing all game and never made the run that they usually can.

Continue reading "The Celtics Lose Game 7 and Boston ..."

No better day than Mother's Day for the Celtics to get the victory they desperately needed. Up to this point in the series, every game has been a blow-out; the Magic had won 2 and the Cs 1. In yesterday's game, both teams came out on fire, and we knew that this was going to be a fight to the finish.Pierce set the tone for the Cs and scored a game high 27 points, also 3 rebounds and 4 assists; just what the Cs needed from their captain. (Note: when Pierce has scored over 40% a game in the playoffs we are 4-0.)  It was still a 2 point game at the half and then Allen scored 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Rondo stepped it up with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Now, as the Professor says, when Rondo plays well, the C's win; and Rondo played well but he got major help from Big Perkins with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 2assists, 1steal and 5 huge blocks, and the man of the night  -- Big Glen Baby Davis!!! He had 21 points and 6 rebounds, but the biggest shot of the night that knocked me on the floor was the last shot of the game. The Celts had possession in a timeout with 11.2 seconds remaining and the Cs down 1. Big Baby had hit the Cs last jumper with 37 seconds on the clock but even then you expected the ball to go to Pierce or Allen; not this time. Pierce held the ball at the top of the 3point line as time ticked down and no one in Boston could sit down!With the clocks ticking it's down to seconds...4..3..2...Pierce passes to Big Baby and with 1 second and the buzzer going off just after the release, nothing but net!!!!!!! Big Baby was the hero in an amazing must win game in a 95-94 final and now they come back to Boston with momentum, exactly what C-Nation need!! What a game, amazing and intense; that's why the NBA rules!!! This game also proved we can hang in there when in foul trouble because Pierce, Baby, Perkins and Scalabrine (who played great Defense) were all in foul trouble early and Doc was able to handle it. So game 5 -- I can't wait --at the Garden would be a great win; MIT thinks we will win by 8-10 points, I believe this series is going to turn into the Bulls series where the last possession can determine the game.  I am sticking with my original guess with G, Dato, JR, A, KC, Jon, Rach, Ro, Hannah and even Murray, that this is going 7 just like last year.   So Go Cs!

Continue reading "The Sky's the Limit for Big Baby and the Celtics"

Steroids has officially gone postal.

The list of all-star players who have been revealed to be using steroids: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Alex Rodriguez, now.......MANNY RAMIREZ.

Continue reading "Manny being Manny: The Latest twist ..."

The Celtics came out with that fire and determination in their eyes last night and showed Orlando exactly where they were(OUR HOUSE) and who the Champs are (The Cs, of course]!!!  The Cs got a quick lead from the beginning of the game and did not let it go; in fact, they did what I had hoped--if House, Scale, and Marbury could give us one good quarter of ball, we'd take it.

Continue reading "Boston Celtics: Now that's Playing in our House!"

If Kobe Bryant expects to win a championship this June, he needs to trust his teammates more. If he doesn't, the Lakers will not only struggle to win the Finals, they may have trouble even getting there. Last night's loss to the Houston Rockets, putting them down 1-0 in the series, is to me, enough cause for concern. Phil Jackson needs to sit down Kobe and tell him the same thing he told Jordan: trust your teammates more.

Continue reading "Memo to Kobe: Be like Mike"

Say Swine Flu keeps spreading. Say it gets worse, like "Outbreak" worse, and the majority of people in the US get it, including LeBron James. I still don't think I could beat him one-on-one. Even if it was first to score. Or if we played "PIG." Remember when Jordan had the flu in the '88 playoffs, and he dropped 47 against the Knicks, AT the Garden??? We spectators/bloggers/sports fans seriously over-estimate the flu. If LeBron had swine flu, not only would he stuff me like a Quizno's Torpedo, he would still be able to beat the following athletes/teams:

Continue reading "LeBron could beat me with Swine Flu"

People are calling this the best playoff series ever, but it all comes to an end tonight. This has been a back and forth epic battle with a different "main man" stepping up for both teams in each game (including the 4 overtimes in 6 games, an NBA record). 

Continue reading "Boston Celtics: It's All Come Down to This"

"There's no analysis here...what happened?!" - ESPN's Steve Levy, 4/27/09

The New Orleans hornets suffered the all-time-tying worst playoff loss in NBA history yesterday, getting stomped on 121-63 by the Denver Nuggets. Don't wet yourselves, Nuggets fans. The Hornets just played THAT BAD. Here are the Top 10 Reasons why they shouldn't bother showing up for Game 5:

Continue reading "Top 10 Reasons the New Orleans Hornets ..."

I'm a Kobe fan. Huge Kobe fan. He's practically my generation's MJ. Nothing against MJ, I just never saw him play much. I went to the United Center once, when I was seven, and all I remember is Scottie Pippen's crew-cut and cotton candy. Also, I'm from D.C., so the fact that MJ ruined the entire development and chemistry of an up-and-coming Washington Wizards team, just so he could milk a little more limelight, doesn't really sit well.

Continue reading "Why Lakers fans should worry about ..."

This is not something I normally do, but it seems like everywhere I look and listen, there are faulty NBA power rankings. I have no choice but to improve upon what I've seen and heard. It's about that time for me to get my two cents in, but quickly I have to go over a couple rules:

Continue reading "NBA Power Rankings"

We're about 35 games into the NBA season right now -- nearly to the midway point -- and the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are holding on to the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. I doubt that's the way it will end, however, because the list of teams that are on the outside looking in is quite an interesting one: Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Indiana Pacers (to name the true contenders).

Continue reading "Eastern Conference Playoff Race Will Get Dicey"

Dear readers:

I'd like to begin my blogging on this account by thanking each and every one of you who have taken the time to read my content in the past, and those of you who will do the same in the near future. A special, personal thanks goes out to the readers who have provided me with direct feedback.

Continue reading "Welcome to JFro Sports Journalism"

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I like a little violence, in sports that is. I think most people who like sports agree. The biggest reactions from spectators usually occur after a big coll

Continue reading "Violence Has It's Place"

 "The Big Three," "Drive for 17." With all the media attention focused on the two recently-added all-stars and the team's comeback this season, a young player's name may have gotten lost in the shuffle, Rajon Rondo. Sure, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and KG are the present heroes of the Celtics, but it's the young players like Rondo who are the future of this franchise. With his remarkable intelligence at the ripe age of 21, Rondo is a promising leader as point-guard for a team that will undoubtedly be successful in the playoffs for several more years. Look at where he's led his team so far. Although he makes some unwise decisions, this is to be expected from a second-year player. Some fans have criticized Rondo's inexperience as it was evident in game five of the finals against the LA Lakers. During one play, Rajon Rondo had an opening and took it to the paint, but instead of finishing, he dished the ball to Pierce for a jumper from beyond the arc, which missed.

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Its been 25 days since Dice-K last took the mound, leaving after 4 innings with a right rotator cuff strain. He takes the mound late this afternoon looking to gain back that Fenway momentum after a night of squandered opportunities that resulted in a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals. The Cards send rookie pitcher Mitchell Boggs to the mound making only his 3rd major league start. That name makes me think of only one thing-- the chicken man, Wade Boggs, the Sox 3rd baseman for 10 years.

Continue reading "Dice-K returns!!"

My little brother is in baseball heaven this weekend--he's been a lifelong STL Cardinals fan now doesn't have to pay airfare to STL to see his favorite team. In march the national networks to celebrate the series: FOX TV is airing Saturday's game and Sunday's game will be the TBS game of the week. Like most die hard fans from Red Sox nation, this means muting the TV set and turning on the radio. It should be a good series, Wakefield takes the mound to open the series tonight.

Continue reading "THe Cards are here!"

How quickly we forget. Just last year Kobe Bryant was a whining malcontent who was estimated by just about everybody to be a cancer to the Lakers organization. He was a ball hog who shot first, and thought about winning second. He was the type of player who would rag on his teammates in front of a camera in a department store parking lot, and the type of employee who would throw his employers under the Buss any chance he got. It seems that winning changes a lot of things for Kobe, but even more so for Laker fans.

Continue reading "MVP or FWT? (Fair Weather Teammate)"

Though they don't seem as devastating as the Soriano/Pujols loss I wrote about yesterday, two key players have gone down on two other teams today. Cleveland put Victor Martinez on the DL, while Seattle placed its once-reliable closer JJ Putz back on the DL, both with elbow injuries. And unlike Soriano's freak fracture, there were hints at undiagnosed problems with both Martinez and Putz.

Continue reading "Two Big Injuries, Day Two"

If this trend continues then Boston fans have nothing to worry about.  With home court advantage throughout the playoffs the Celtics have the inside track to the NBA title.  I have never seen anything like this before.  Home court advantage is obviously important, it is why teams play the whole regular season and it’s why Major League Baseball puts it up for grabs every July in the All-Star game.  But I didn’t know that playing in front of your home crowd mattered this much. 

Continue reading "Looking For A Road Win"

            Yesterday I chose the Detroit Pistons to come out of the East.  It was a very difficult call between then and the Boston Celtics and I do believe the Celtics are the better team but as I said I think their energy will run out.  The Celtics played every game like it was the NBA Finals this season and like the Mavericks last year it will cost them in the playoffs.  Today I discuss the other side of the bracket and tell you how the West will be won and who will win it.

Continue reading "NBA Playoff Preview: WEST"

They are finally here.  After months of riveting basketball and a Western Conference race that went down to the last night of the season, they are here.  Of course, I would be talking about the 2008 NBA Playoffs.  The playoffs that have a chance to be the best in a long time.  When was the last time a 50-win team is an 8 seed and has basically no chance of winning their first round season?  When was the last time 2 of the best teams in the lead and 2 of the 5 teams that have a chance at winning it all, met in the first round?  Forget all of that, when was the last time people were excited to begin the 2 month stretch for the title?  Before any of this can begin we must take a look at each series and make some (gulp!!!) predictions.

Continue reading "NBA PLayoff Preview: EAST"

Very rarely does an MVP race turn out the way last year’s American League race did.  A no-brainer.  It was obvious to see that Alex Rodriguez would win and by a large margin.  Usually there are two or three candidates and you can make a case for all of them.  This years MVP race in the National Basketball Association is no different then the AL race last season though, it’s just no one sees it.  There are seven or eight people who you could make a strong case for but picking the winner is easier then people think.  That’s only if you use my way of finding the true MVP.

Continue reading "Tight NBA MVP Race? Not In My Eyes"

Everybody knows Paul Pierce can score.  His reputation in the NBA is that of a tenacious scorer, capable of tormenting defenders and taking over offensively for stretches, using his combination of size and grace to muscle or slash his way into the lane or to the rim or to create space for his silky smooth mid-range jumper.  Unfortunately for Pierce, this is all he's been known as, and for several years he has been seen as only a ball-hogging chucker who couldn't defend anyone, more focused on padding his stats on an irrelevant team than winning games.  While this characterization seems fitting enough given the performances of him and his team for the past few seasons, this season Pierce has shown to the world what dedicated Celtics fans have known for years, that Pierce is a well rounded and versatile player on both ends of the floor, both willing and able to do whatever it takes to get his team a win.

Continue reading "The Complete Truth"

     Battles between titans are always filled with their share of anticipation, but rarely do the opponents bring in so much shared history as in the Final Four slugfest-to-be that is Kansas vs. North Carolina.  Besides giving college sports fans one of the greatest championship games in history in 1957 when the Tarheels defteated Wilt Chamberlin and the Jayhawks 54-53 in triple overtime, the entwined history of these two powerhouses that follows should lead to one of the most anticipated Final Four matchups in history.

Continue reading "Roy's Boys vs. The Big Blue Phog: ..."

Last night in the Rose Garden the roaring powerhouse that is the Charlotte Bobcats smoked the Blazers. Wow. The Blazers looked like a bunch of rookies. Imagine that. They couldn't score a single bucket in the final 4:28. This prompted the Oregonian's Jason Quick to speculate on whether or not the team has "checked out for the season."

Continue reading "Bad game? Yes. Quit? No!"

Young, homegrown talent played a significant part in the Red Sox title run last year led by Dustin Pedroia winning the Rookie of the Year and Jonathan Papelbon definitively closing out games. Clay Buchholz pitched a no hitter in his second major league start, Jacoby Ellsbury stepped in when he was needed and became a vital part of the offense, and Jon Lester got the win in the World Series clincher. All are expected to be key contributors to the team this season. However, this influx of talent from the minors has not left this cupboard bare as Boston’s farm system still ranks in Baseball America’s top 5. Here are some of the next big prospects to keep an eye on in camp this spring and follow their progress this summer.

Continue reading "Boston Farm System Still Flush With Prospects"

The always entertaining and God praising Magic Johnson professed that the excitement and allure of the NBA All-Star Weekend "is back! It is Back!" Wow, Magic, that is amazingly profound! The truth of the matter is that the All-Star Weekend is NOT back ... it just happens to be the ONLY All-Star event in professional sports that is any good and can captivate a decent pool of the sports viewing public. I mean seriously, what is it competing against?

Continue reading "All-Star Weekend is Back?! Sure it is!!!"

Apparently the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns have agreed on a trade that would send Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. I believe this is simply a knee-jerk reaction to the Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol (a brilliant move by L.A., by the way) and do not see how this trade can make sense from the Suns' vantage point.

Continue reading "Shaq Headed to Phoenix?"

On April 28, 1982 the world changed forever: Christopher Zane Kaman was born. At 7 feet, 265 pounds, he was the most dominant baby since Shaquille O’Neal to ever to post up an obstetrician. Twenty-one years later, this promising phenom was given his shot when he was drafted sixth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2003. The rest is history.

Continue reading "Kaman Saw and Conquered"