Congrats Lakers!

I couldn't follow the historic game 7 because I was locked in a seminar. I got text updates from friends. Many other participants were busy with their phones following the game too. At close to 12nn, the speaker, apparently noticing we were reading text messages, nonchalantly asked who won, almost in unison we said 'the Lakers'.

Anyway, congrats Lakers and Lakers fans. Now you see the value of Artest. While most players would thank their surgeons/physical therapists for fixing their bodies. Artest thanks his shrink for fixing his head. What a guy.

Still gung-ho on a Cavs-Nuggets finals!

People and the NBA seem to favor a Cavs-Lakers finals. Since I am anti-Kobe and not really a Cavs fan, I'd like to see a Cavs-Nuggets setto. I believe the Lakers got lucky in Game 1. They managed to "steal one" at home. I also think Kobe cannot dominate on a nightly basis anymore. The only kink on the Nuggets is Karl's jinx. He almost always is good early in the season only to crumble in the playoffs. He had that chance in the 90's with Kemp/Payton with Jordan's fling with baseball. But he cannot rise up further come the playoffs.

But now, the Nuggets did what I expected of them, to win one in LA. In doing so, I believe, Karl is over the hump in the finals. The win makes the Nuggets a mentally tougher team. Moreover, the Lakers miss Tex Winter.

On the other hand, the Cavs may have lost one at home. But I think it was a fluke. The Cavs will win game two and dominate the Magic from now on. I believe it is not yet Superman's time. It is still the King James show.

There can only be one.

Amazing happens

Where amazing happens. An Orlando Magic fan is demanding an apology from Glen Davis after the Celtics' thrilling win in Game 4 yesterday, where Big Baby hit the winning shot with no time left. No this is not a joke, it is true. The fan sent an email to the NBA complaining that Davis crossed the line, literally, and embarrassed his son. In the e-mail, the fan said Davis conducted himself like a "raging animal with no regard for fans' personal safety." According to him Big Bay shoved his 12-year-old son with such force, that the boy's baseball cap catapulted into the air and the boy went tumbling into his courtside seat. Apparently the fan and his son sits at VIP row A seats 5&6. Here's a video of Big Baby's heroics and the funny (not to the father) incident. Check 0:59.

Amazing shot. Amazing fan. Hahaha.

NBA predictions

I am busy this week watching the NBA first round playoffs, among other stuff. With the Suns out of it all, I was rooting for the Celtics to win again but with The Big Ticket sidelined for the playoffs I switched allegiance to the Cavs.

I am still anti-Kobe though I still predict a Lakers-Cavs finale. The Lakers are the heavy favorites in the West. Kobe is playing a much controlled game. Perhaps he is put on a leash by Phil Jackson, to preserve him for the final push where he his pent-up desire to take over the game will be unleashed. Or perhaps, he is not that young anymore. There is a better chance for the West teams to upset their top seed than for the East teams. The Nuggets, barring another post-season bad luck for George Karl, stands the best chance. They are followed by the Mava snd the Rockets. The greatest thing going for the Lakers is that they are all healthy at this time. Tex Winter suffered a stroke but expect Phil Jackson to make that a rallying point.

In the East, the Celtics cannot ride on emotions to make it all the way. I believe emotions can only sustain the charge for only three games max, after which, the body will not respond and the other team's pride and emotion will in turn carry them through. So emotions can carry the Celts, net of Garnett and Powe-less, past the young Bulls but they will be tested to the hilt and further weakened by the second round. The Cavs on the other hand are healthy with the King James not even in his primest.

The expected Lakers-Cavs setto is very evenly matched. The Cavs cannot be trumped in the forward position with King James on their side. The middle decidedly goes to the Lakers with Gasol, Bynum, Odom. The guard position again goes to the Lakers. The coaching, too, shows advantage for the Lakers with Phil's nine rings waiting for the tenth so each finger will have one. So in the Lakers-Cavs finals, the Lakers will be the heavy favorites. But I am still rooting for the Cavs. Because I am anti-Kobe.