In the Western Conference Semi-Finals, the San Antonio Spurs finally cruised past the Golden State Warriors in Game 6. Despite the fact that the Warriors’ Playoffs trip ended early, this team, with all the great talent it possesses and the low age-average looks really promising for the years to come.
First of all, they got solid players in every position.
Stephen Curry at point guard showed that he might be the next big story of the NBA for the next seasons. He delivered superstar numbers almost every night through the regular season, with almost 23 points per game, seven assists and an amazing 45.3% shooting from long range. He set an NBA record for most three-pointers made in a season, with 272.
Curry is the son of former NBA player and sharpshooter Dell Curry and is continuing the legacy of his father the best way.
His non-selection for the All-Star team was heavily criticized by many NBA analysts. Judging from his general performance and the fact that he carried his team all the way till the sixth spot of the Western Conference, he well deserved that All-Star spot.
However, there are several aspects of his game that put his “superstar” characterization in doubt. His size limits him to specific positions and roles in the game. His lack of strength also makes him vulnerable sometimes against lockdown opposing defenders. Of course, relying on the three point shot is risky. It takes time and effort for any shooter to set out pace that will accompany him for hisentire career. Hopefully Curry can retain his level of play and improve his skills for the next seasons.
Although there is no question he is a talented player, being featured along with the established superstars and the true monsters of the NBA, like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe and Howard is not an easy task. So for the moment, he can rather be considered as a rising star than a true superstar.
The great fact about the Golden State Warriors is that they have lots of potential. Three core players – Curry, Thompson and Barnes – are under the age of 25. AndrewBogut and David Lee are under 30 and that’s the way you build a young team with a starting lineup that can protagonist in the NBA for at least half a decade.
That’s the reason why Warriors fans should see this year’s elimination by the Spurs as a challenge and not as disappointment. Every team has to go through fire and iron to become successful. A loss and a Playoff exit might strengthen the team and any team more than a win. Golden State will have all the time to seek their revenge from the aging ensemble of veterans in San Antonio the next years.
Four out of five starters are under contract for the next three seasons. This means that the team can also build a supreme chemistry and with a couple of good off-season movements, the Warriors future course can be bright.
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During the 2012 NBA finals, we saw the Miami Heat smash the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. LeBron James finally redeemed himself and won his first ring, alongside Chris Bosh and D-Wade. It’s true that the Heat put their Championship chances in jeopardy, after Bosh’s injury during last year’s Playoffs. However, The King stepped up and zipped the mouths of all his critics about his late-game performances and his inability to deliver in crunch time.
So what has really changed since then?
Well, Miami’s chances have surely become better. LeBron, after a close-to-unreal season won his 4th MVP award in the last five years. The Heat recently knocked off the Bucks in just four games. They broke the franchise record for most wins in a season, with 66. They are putting on display a game that proves they possess what it takes to repeat. Plus they have a more powerful roster from last season. After managing to retain the core of the team, they added Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis in their arsenal. They were really tough for any team to stop throughout the season. Most of their opponents had to just pick their poison when they were facing them.
Is there a team that can really beat the Heat in seven games?
First of all, it was a season with many injuries of star players. Even when the Playoffs started, many key players for strong teams were not in their full health.
Let’s take it one by one. The most dangerous opponent for the Heat at the moment is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the fact that Durant lost his fellow superstar Russell Westbrook, they are still arguably the best team in the West. Although Durant is having another great season putting up huge numbers, the team could actually be less powerful than last year, when they got hammered by Miami. Kevin Martin is surely a great player off the bench and a terrific shooter. However, the loss of James Harden is surely was costly for Oklahoma. Now, with Westbook sidelined, there were many voices that the repeat just got easier for the Heat.
Apart from the Thunder, the Spurs could post a threat for the Heat, at least theoretically. Gregg Popovic’s veteran ensemble is always a countable opponent. They showed their force in the first round when they swept the injury-depleted Lakers. Health is a concern for them, too. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker experienced some injuries and were not at their 100% at the start of the Playoffs. They should be ready come NBA Finals time.
In the West, the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks are the two teams that could seriously assail the Heat. The Knicks rely much on the offense of Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith and that could be a problem for them. Keeping in mind that the Heat’s defensive system is very effective against the pick and rolls and also the fact that Miami has the defensive guru in the name of Shane Battier in their roster, it could get tricky for the Knicks to exploit them.
Indiana on the other hand proved that they came to fight. They broke New York’s home court advantage last night, taking Game 1 of their series. They also troubled the Heat extensively during their matchup last year. Miami finally advanced after Game 6. Nevertheless, LeBron and Wade hit the wall of Indiana’s big men, Hibbert and West. Should the Pacers roll past the Knicks in the East Semis, the Eastern Conference Finals will really be interesting. Of course they are still playing without their rstar Danny Granger, who is out due to a knee injury.
Miami will have to overpass the obstacle of the Chicago Bulls. This is yet another of the many teams that lacks of its best player. Derrick Rose, one of the best players in the NBA has yet to play this season. There is much speculation about his return during these series. However, nothing is certain and of course it’s questionable which version of him we’ll see after his extensive time off the courts. Chicago will also play without All-Star forward Luol Deng, at least in Game 1.
There is no doubt that the Heat are capable of winning any team currently in the NBA even with all players at full health. But now, their road to their second consecutive Championship might be a bit easier.
With their win against the Sacramento Kings in the season finale the Los Angeles Clippers secured the 4th seed in the Western Conference. They also won the home-court advantage for their first round opponents, the Memphis Grizzlies.
This was the ideal way for LA to finish the regular season, the best in their franchise history. Everything is set right now for that success to continue to the postseason. The Clippers now have their whole roster – finally – available as the Playoffs begin.
Chauncey Billups recently returned to the lineup. With his experience he can be a great factor to complement the star duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and assist on making plays. Throughout the season Vinnie Del Negro’s team has shown that it has a perfect balance between the first unit and the reserves. Players like Jamal Crawford, Caron Butler and Matt Barnes can provide the veteran presence needed in any team when the ball gets heavier and every detail counts. This is another essential factor that could make the difference between a win and a loss in the Playoffs.
In the first round the Clips will face the Memphis Grizzlies. The two teams played against each other again in the first leg last year. That time the Grizzlies had the home court advantage but LA won the series. Also, they just recently beat Memphis during their latest regular season meeting, on the 13th of April. With this win the Clippers sealed the season series, 3-1.
Things now are a bit different from last year for both teams. First of all, the Grizzlies changed the core of their team with the movement of Rudy Gay. Especially the offense has shaken up after that trade. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph take now more load in scoring, supported by Conley.
Also, the Clippers look like a much more complete and mature team this season. They were dangerous last year. However, this season LA has proven to be lethal when they are able to reach their top level of performance and retaining their fast-paced offense. Chris Paul is having one of his most productive seasons of his career, not statistically but in the aspects of leading his team and making things easier for his teammates. His matchup against Mike Conley will be key for both teams and could turn the scale in one team’s favor. LA’s frontcourt will also have to play hard against Gasol and Randolph and limit their chances for easy hoops.
There’s no doubt that Clippers fans should be excited. Finally they have the chance to celebrate their first Division Title and see their team finish in the top 4 in the Western Conference. Also, this could be one of the few seasons in franchise history that there are vital chances for LA to win a Championship. Their Playoff course shall determine if they are deservedly considered as the bosses of the City of Angels or their success this season was circumstantial.
It was a close one last night for the Clippers. It was a game that was decided in the last seconds or maybe wasn’t it? The fact is that LA suffered another loss against a top-4 team in the Western Conference. The final score wrote 104-102. Tim Duncan made a clutch 3-point play to give the Spurs the lead with about two seconds left in the game. However, can we be sure that this was the moment the game was decided?
With about two weeks left in the regular season, it has been clear for the Clips, that in order to win teams of the caliber of the Spurs, the Thunder or the Nuggets, they will need to fix the details in their game. Those small details can make the difference between a Champion and a Championship Contender. The Spurs are surely in the first category. As for LA, we’ll have to sit back and anticipate their bestperformance in the Playoffs.
San Antonio is a team that has cruised in the first spots of the Western Conference for the past years. It’s really incredible to see a team that won the NBA Championship 6 years ago to still conquer its entire Conference and have great chances to chase the title once again. The most interesting fact is that the Spurs have retained their roster core since that time. Despite their aging players, they still are red hot while on court. Of course, the guidance of Gregg Popovic has been a major factor for the team’s success through the years.
As for LA, they will have to make things happen now. There are no excuses. In two weeks, the story will be “win or go home”. And if you go home, you’ll have to wait awhole year to even have a shot for a Championship again.Vinnie Del Negro’s team will possibly face the Spurs during the 2nd leg, if they finish in the 3rd seed and the Spurs remain 1st. Alternatively, if LA finishes fourth, then the only possibility to play against San Antonio would be in the Western Conference Finals.
No matter which will be the opponent, the Clippers will have to fix some serious issues if they want to increase their chances for a better run. One problem that was exposed during their matchup against the Spurs was free-throw shooting. One can clearly see the difference: The Spurs shot at 95.2% from the charity stripe, 20-21. The Clippers went for a disappointing 57.1%. The team’s starting center, DeAndre Jordan hit in just one of his eight attempts. Griffin went 4 out of 5, but this could be circumstantial. That’s a difference between a Champion and a contender. Defense is another sector of LA’s game that has to be fixed, especially against three-pointers. They are trying to improve in that category, but when the Playoffs start there will be no more time for experiments.Clutch plays can also make the difference. There has to be a consistent option, a player that can set plays without committing turnovers and score easily when the ball weights 10 times more than normal, with the game on the line.
At the moment, one could say that the Clippers don’t seem to have the force to eliminate the Spurs in a 7-game stretch. Of course, things can turn upside down till the time they meet again.
The Miami Heat are ready to write history in yet another sector of the NBA. After their recent win against the Detroit Pistons, they have now extended their winning streak at 25 in a row. The NBA’s record for the longest winning streak throughout its history is still held by the Los Angeles Lakers.
LA managed to win in 33 consecutive games during the 1971-72 season, when Wilt Chamberlain was in the team’s roster. This is also the longest streak of any American sports team. The Lakers closed out that season after winning a total of 69 games and went on to be crowned as NBA Champions, marking that season one of the mostsuccessful ones amongst any professional team in the history of sports.
The Miami Heat can challenge this record right now and also ink their names in the golden pages of the NBA’s history book. If they continue to prevail and win one game after another, they can be remembered as one of the best teams to ever participate in the league. Up to now, when we talked about the NBA, the best teams and players to every play in the league, the first ones that came in our minds were the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan, the Lakers with Chamberlain, Magic and Abdul-Jabbar and the Celtics with Larry Bird. Now the Heat have a great chance to protagonist in that list, too and LeBron James can be considered as one of the greatest to every play the game.
14 games are left in their schedule till the end of the regular season and they are also considered as the team with the easiest schedule until the playoffs. They will have to win another 8 games to match with the ‘71-’72 Lakers and that last game would be against the Philadelphia Sixers. In-between they will have to roll past the San Antonio Spurs and also the New York Knicks, two games that could possibly end their superb streak. Nevertheless, the Heat, led by the Big Three, have proved that they can literally win any team, even the Spurs or the Thunder.
Of course, Miami will need not only the winning-streak record but also this year’s Championship and maybe the following year’s, too, in order to verge the glory of the legendary teams of the Chicago Bulls or the Los Angeles Lakers. Those teams used to dominate the league throughout the years. At present they do have what it takes to reach this top-tier level. What will be needed from now is duration. Since LeBron and Bosh landed to Miami to join D-Wade, Miami recorded a great course, with one Finals appearance, one Championship and counting. The question from now on will be if they can stay healthy, retain their core under the new CBA that penalizes teams with high payroll and continue to perform the way they’ve been this season. If they succeed in these, then not only can they surpass the Lakers’ winning-streak record but they can also be remembered as a dynasty in the NBA for many years to come.
Miami Heat Vs Lakers Tickets are always available for their upcoming games. Next time they will face each other would be in the 2013 NBA Finals!
It was another great experience for the spectators in Houston and all the fans watching a home. The 2013 All Star game has now come to an end and left the best memories behind. The Western All Stars shined during the game, with Durant and Chris Paul leading the way to a 138-143 win. The Oklahoma Thunder forward became the first player in history to score 30 points or more in three consecutive NBA All-Star games and Chris Paul, with 20 points and 15 assists won the MVP award. It was another great success for the superstar Clipper who is having one of the best seasons in his career and has put his name a strong candidate for the regular season MVP award.
The weekend started greatly with rising stars challenge when we saw a game that had nothing to be jealous of the All Star game. The fans had the chance to enjoy some great moments with devastating dunks and great performances from the future NBA stars. Terrence Ross won the Slam Dunk contest with some acrobatic moves and Kyrie Irving was named this year’s 3-point Champion.
For once again, this All-Star game it was a time for celebrations, having fun and enjoying basketball. It was also the time to see weird things happen, like Howard making threes and LeBron getting rejected twice by Kobe Bryant. We also saw some great dunks and alley hoops, most times uncontested because after all, it’s the All Star game. For the Eastern All-Stars, Carmelo Anthony finished with 26 points and Dwyane Wade with 21. LeBron had 19 but shot just 7-18 from the field, after shooting an almost unreal over 60% for his last 6 games before the game.
As usual, a ton of celebrities added more shine to the game. Chris Tucker, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris and Jay-Z together with his wife and singer Beyoncé were amongst the spectators. Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo and John Legend all performed during the game to make the atmosphere even more enjoying for all the people watching. After the game’s first quarter former Houston star and 7 footer 6 center Yao Ming was honored.
The All Star break always gives a chance for relaxation and fun for the players and coaching staff. However, with the second half of the season started, the teams now will have to regroup and focus on their goals, because things tend to get tougher and more serious as we approach the playoffs.
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Kobe will record his 15th straight All Star appearance, all as a starter, while in the meantime he leads the votes overall for the third time in his career. This is well deserved by him despite for the Lakers being just 11th in the West. The 34-year veteran superstar is leading the league in scoring with 30 PPG and also is also shooting a career high 48% from the field this season.
Also at guard Chris Paul will make his appearance as a starter for the 4th time in his career, his sixth time generally as an all-star. Paul has been the leader of his team this season and has managed to change the whole picture of the Clippers together with Blake Griffin and the rest of the crew. He is averaging 17PPG and also almost 10 assists and he has provided some huge games for his team, lifting LA over tough opponents. His presence and his basketball IQ is what makes him so special, as he has the unique ability to make every teammate look better, a skill that only a few players in the entire NBA history possessed. Paul had a tough competition this season with Russel Westbrook for the starting point guard role, but managed to finish ahead from the Thunder’s star at votes.
At center we find Dwight Howard, his seventh straight All-Star appearance and his sixth as a starter. Although his team has not had a rather successful season till now, the monster center is putting huge numbers almost every game in rebounds and field goal percentage. He is averaging almost 18 points per game, 13 rebounds (first in the league) and 2.5 blocks. Even with some ups and downs in his performance, Howard is still considered to be one of the most, not to say the most complete players down the block and his starter role is well deserved.
Blake Griffin will also start for his 2nd time in an All-Star game, his third appearance overall. He is averaging 18 points on a 53% shooting from the field and also 8 rebounds per game. His has provided some huge games this season for the Clippers and also boosted the team’s 17-game winning streak that broke the franchise record. Apart from all the numbers and the stats, Griffin might be one of the strongest and most enjoying players to watch in the entire league, with all the dunks and alley-hoops his putting down.
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Much criticism has fallen on the shoulders of Kobe Bryant lately regarding his individual defensive performance. Of course, the whole Lakers team is circled by clouds regarding the general team picture and this season’s record. After lots of statements from other players, coaches and journalists, Kobe may have proven the best way that he is still capable of playing NBA All-Defensive Team-like defense.
You can question many things about Lakers’ defensive system. You can easily say that Howard is not the inside presence the team needs or that Mike D’Antoni is not utilizing the whole roster the best way possible. But to say that Kobe is not playing good D? Well, ask Brandon Jennings or Kyrie Irving about that. During the last games of the Lakers, Kobe was assigned to guard two of the most lethal point guards in the league and of course the best players of each team. How did he do? He held Irving to just 15 points on 7-15 shooting from the field. He is averaging 23.6 points per game on almost 46% shooting. Two days later, Jennings finished with just 12 points on 4-14 shooting while being guarded by Kobe. His numbers this season are 18.3 Points per game and 40% from the field. But it’s not just that.
Defense is way more than individual effort in basketball. Every team needs a good defensive tactics and a well understanding of how the system works in order to play effectively. This requires a firm setup from the coaching staff and a good execution from the players. Of course Coach Mike D’Antoni isn’t known for his superior defensive systems. But you can’t either blame Kobe for the team’s run this season. In fact, Kobe might be the only player who is playing like a true superstar and leader, as he is supposed to do, on both ends of the court. Yes he might have started to age and yes NBA requires all good players to be good athletes in order to compete. However Kobe has certainly not entered the stage of his career when he can’t compete any more at the highest level. This was made clear especially after the statements of both Irving and Jennings, who had the chance to taste a bit of Kobe’s defense the last two games. Both of them pointed out the great defense they faced and also stated that it was a huge factor for the outcome of the game. The Lakers came up winning both of these games.
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Despite his youth, Eric Bledsoe has proven that he is a top caliber point guard. He was selected at the 18th spot during the 2010 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder and was traded right away to the Clippers. Judging from the outcome, LA should be glad to land a player like Bledsoe.
He never really had a true chance proving his potential, but even off the bench, one could say that he can become one of the best point guards in the league. After all, the league lacks of true point guards that can set up plays and find ways to make things easier for their teammates.
Although Bledsoe might not be the ideal pass-first playmaker, his quickness, his terrific ball handling to go along with his long range shooting ability can make him a valuable member in any team in the NBA. The playing style of most teams has changed drastically during the past years. Today, we don’t see the old-fashioned teams, when the playmaker advanced the ball, the guards were on the wings shooting or penetrating and the centers filled the middle. With so much talent on the floors of the NBA, we can see many times Power Forwards playing as point guards setting up plays and centers hitting threes. That’s why any player must possess a variety of skills to become successful and have a chance to compete against the others. Eric Bledsoe is surely one of them.
Because of the injuries of teammates Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups, Bledsoe had the chance to start for two consecutive games and guess what, he recorder season highs. It’s clear that Coach Vinnie Del Negro shouldn’t worry so much about his injured players as long as Bledsoe is available. At least he shouldn’t rush them back. When asked about the possibility of starting for an NBA team, the third year guard out of Kentucky replied: “I’m just focused on winning and learning how to win right now.” It’s so important for him and his maturity to be alongside veteran point guards Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups. Playing with them every day, even at practice, is the best school for any young player to improve his skills. Plus, we know that both Paul and Billups are like on court assistant coaches.
So the answer to the question about Bledsoe possibly starting for an NBA team is surely affirmative. The future is projected bright for Eric, as soon as he manages to retain his improving performance and stays healthy. But even at this stage of his career, he could easily start for many NBA teams, not to say above half of them.
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It’s no secret that every time the trade deadline approaches, teams get more aggressive pursuing players and contriving trades. This year is no exception to that rule. One of the most discussed possible movements currently is the trade of star forward Rudy Gay. He is an all-star caliber player with great athletic and physical abilities and a true scorer. He is also only 26 years old and really has the potential to upgrade any team he will fit into. But should the LA Clippers consider making an offer for him?
Well, first of all Rudy Gay will be expensive to acquire and to maintain. He is currently earning $16,5 million for this season and he is owed a total of $53 million for the next three seasons. We are just about $1 million under the luxury tax, which means the cap space needs to be cleared for Gay’s arrival. Possibly, in a trade, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler and one other player from the Clips could be packaged, so we can land Gay in LA. Is it worth it?
Well, as great as a player Gay is, he surely will need the ball in his hands a lot of time. He is certainly an upgrade at Small Forward and he can easily create his own shot, but does this team lack of a scorer? Also, Gay is an excellent rebounder for a small forward, averaging 6.4 RPG for his career, but when it comes for defense, you can’t state that he has a similar performance, despite his athletic skills.
In my opinion, with the great balance we’ve seen from our guys and with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford on the team, I would had to think twice before answering. It may sound great having Rudy Gay on our roster, but if you think of what we will lose in order to get him, then it most probably wouldn’t be a great idea to run for the trade. It’s not only about the players we’ll lose, it’s about the chemistry we have already built and that’s why we perform so well almost every night. We are in the best position since our franchise was founder. A winning team shouldn’t be changed.
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