Oklahoma City Thunders Take Game 1 of NBA Finals 2012

Game 1 of the best of seven NBA finals between the East big3 against the West big three. To make it short, its the Oklahoma City Thunders against the Miami Heat.

Early in the game the heat came out strong posting double digit lead with Battier and Chalmers nailing their 3 point shots. But the Thunders hang through, and ended the first half just behind by seven points 47-54. I myself although not a fan of both teams knew that this Heat lead is not safe, especially the way the Thunders played in the West semifinals against the Spurs, and true enough they did show how tough they are in the second half.

In the second half the tandem of Westbrook and Durant led the charge as they finished the 3rd quarter with a 74-73 lead, thanks to a driving layup by Westbrook plus a foul on Miller that resulted in a and 1 by Westbrook. Miami never recovered the lead again. A basket by Durant and Sefolosha up their lead to five at 78-73 and the Thunder just keep rolling on.

In a battle on MVP versus the scoring champion, Kevin Durant won this one as he finished with 36 points with 23 of his points coming in the second half and 17 of those point in the final quarter.While Lebron James had 30 points for the game, 23 of those came in the first three quarters, but only managed to score 7 points in the final quarter. 

Russell Westbrook added 27 points for the Thunder while Dwyane Wade had 19 points but have a miserable shooting night going 7 for 19 in the field.

Game 2 will still be played in Oklahoma.

San Antonio Spurs Beat LA Clippers 102-99 to enter West Finals

Compared to the first three games, this was closed in the final period. San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan scored 21 points while Tony Parker added 17 and the San Antonio Spurs beat Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 sweeping LA Clippers 4-0. The Spurs now advance to the Western Conference finals, and will wait for the winner between the Oklahoma Thunders and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spurs now extend their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third best postseason streak in franchise history.

The San Antonio Spurs trailed most of the final quarter but was able to tie the score twice in the final 3:32 before the big three of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker took over.

With 10.5 seconds left in the game, the Clippers still have a chance to tie the game in the final quarter and maybe send it to overtime but Los Angeles Clippers star point guard Chris Paul missed a shot, that spelled their doom. 

The Clippers were led by Chris Paul with 23 points, while Blake Griffin added 21 point. 

San Antonio Spurs beat Los Angeles Clippers 96-86 to take 3-0 series lead

Tim Duncan scored 19 points for the San Antonio Spurs, helping to engineer a 24-0 run in the third quarter after the San Antonio Spurs trailed by 24 points, and the Spurs defeated the Clippers 96-86 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their second round NBA playoff series.

Tony Parker added 23 points, while Spurs rookie Kawhi Leonard had 14 points to help the San Antonio Spurs with their 17th in a row and improve to 7-0 in the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Clippers were led by Blake Griffin with 28 points, while back up guard Mo Williams added 19 points for the Clippers, who face some daunting task as no team in the history of the NBA has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

The Clippers were on fire on the first quarter which saw them leading 22 points 33-11 on the first quarter, but the Spurs cut that lead by the end of the first half to 10 53-43.

Then came the second half, after a quiet first half Tim Duncan helped the Spurs control the third quarter when they outscored the Clippers 26-8. The Spurs took their first lead during a 23-0 run on a fadeaway jumper by Tim Duncan, who scored nine points in the outburst that put them ahead for good, at the end of the third the Spurs are ahead 69-61. The Clippers never got back then.

Game 4 will still be played in Los Angeles. 

Los Angeles Lakers Superstar Kobe Bryant Gets Offer To Play in Italy

While the NBA lockout is still not over, plenty of NBA players are being offered to play for different countries. Even a superstar like Kobe Bryant has also been given an offer from Italy to play. Kobe Bryant has been offered a $6.7 million, one season contract to play for the Italian team Virtus Bologna, appealing to his childhood memories of growing up in the country.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar spent part of his youth in Italy while his father played there. He speaks Italian, prompting Bologna to hope he might return if there's an NBA lockout.

Virtus Bologna general manager Massimo Faraoni tells that he's been on conference calls between Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, Bologna president Claudio Sabatini and main sponsor Canadian Solar, which would provide the cash for such a deal.

"I Think the fact that he's lived in Italy makes this appealing to him," Faraoni said.

Virtus has given Bryant four different contract options, stretching from the 1 year deal to two month and one month options, and a per game deal that would come out to $739,640 per home game.

All of the offers are pretax and would allow Bryant to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends.

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose was paid $400,000 each by Manny Pangilinan

The 3 superstars who played two games here in the Philippines have been reportedly paid $400,000 each for the exhibition games held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The amount that have been given to the NBA superstars was first reported by Sports Illustrated writer Sam Amick.

Wow, $400,000 is equivalent to almost 17 million pesos, and that's for two games only. Well I think that's within their talent fee, considering those three, are superstars in the NBA, and those amount are nothing to Manny Pangilinan. But the real winner in that event are the fans, man if it was held here near our place, I would surely watch it.

The Smart Ultimate All Star Weekend was brought about by the major sponsors of the Philippines National Basketball Team, the Smart Communication. Chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Manny Pangilinan was the main man behind the invitation of NBA Players to play in the Philippines.

Kobe Bryant, CP3 and other NBA Superstars vs PBA All Star and Smart Gilas

Wow, that's all I can say. I enjoyed watching online when Kobe went to visit Manila, and played briefly for the UAAP Selection against the Smart Gilas. It was a great to see such player of Bryant's caliber to play along side our college up coming stars and our countries representative Smart Gilas.

If that wasn't enough Kobe will come back on July 23 and 24, not by himself but together with several NBA stars like Hornet's Chris Paul, the King's Tyreke Evans, Thunder's James Harden.

Chot Reyes, the executive director of MVP Sports Foundation was the one who made the official announcement yesterday in a media conference inside the Big Dome, with him at the presscon were PBA Chairman Rene Pardo, Commisioner Chito Salud, and MVP Sports Foundation president Al Panlilio.

The PBA selection will be the first to play the NBA team on July 23 at 7pm and Smart Gilas on the next day at 1pm.

Tickets are at Php 5,500 for the patron, Php 3,800 for lower box, and Php 1,600 for the upper box section. General admission tickets are priced at Php 300.

For more info please visit the PBA website www.pba.com.ph

Most Consecutive Losses to Start a Season in the NBA

The New Jersey Nets started the 2009-2010 season with a record 18 defeats in a row from October 28 to December 3 2009.

Most Assists in one quarter in the NBA

Steve Blake of the Portland Trailblazers recorded 14 assists in the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 22, 2009. Blake matched the marked set by John Lucas of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets on April 15, 1984.

Most NBA Championship Titles won by a Coach

Well if your a basketball fan, I'm sure you already know who this person is. In 2009 Phil Jackson won his 10th NBA title as head coach, surpassing Red Auerbach nine titles. Jackson won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in 1991-93 and 1996-98, and four with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-02 and 2009.

Highest 3 Point Field Goal Percentage for an NBA Player (Career)

Steve Kerr recorded a 3 point field goal percentage of .454 playing for six different teams from 1988-89 to 2002-03.

Highest Margin of Victory in a NBA Play-Off Game

The highest margin of victory in a playoff game happened on April 27, 2009. The Denver Nuggets beats the New Orleans Hornets by 58 points, in a play-off game that they won 121-63, matching the Minneapolis Lakers 133-75 win over the St. Louis Hawks in 1956.

New Look Magic stop Streaking Boston Celtics

A good move perhaps? After all the trading the Orlando Magic has done on its lineup. Maybe we are beginning to see the fruits of those trades. After defeating the league leading San Antonio Spurs the Magic then snaps Bostons 14 winning game streak with a 86-78 win, and they won this one with Howard playing most of the game with foul trouble and scoring only 6 points. The Magic led by Bass 21 points and old reliable Turkoglu with 16 points. Kevin Garnet top scored for Boston with 22 points. After struggling early in the season the Magic decided to change their roster and traded Lewis for Arenas and send Carter, Pietrus and Gortat for Richardson, Turkoglu and Clark.

Yao Ming Declared Ready To Play This Season

A good news to Houston fans and also to the NBA. Yao Ming who miss the last year season after undergoing surgery on his left foot, was cleared by team doctor to resume basketball activities. The Rockets will open training camp on Sept 25. They will travel to China in mid October for two preseason games against New Jersey. With Yao back the Rockets would be a playoff team entering this season. But I doubt would make a serious threat to the Lakers.

SUNS, MAGIC AND LAKERS ADVANCE TO NEXT ROUND VIA SWEEP

Phoenis Suns won against the San Antonio Spurs 4-0, the Phoenix suns finally gets to defeat their long time nemesis the spurs, not even with Steve Nash having to play with an almost close right eye can stop the suns. Well for the aging Spurs it's a sorry loss, having acquire Richard Jefferson is still not enough to for the Spurs. For the Suns their reward for having defeated the Spurs is the defending Champs, The Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers sweep the Utah Jazz 4-0 but compared to the other two who advance to the next round, the Jazz really put up a good fight against the champ. But I guess having been push to the limit by their first round opponent the Thunder, the Lakers where just to focus to be defeated in this one. My favorite game is the game 3 between the two, wooow it was a see saw battle right to the very second. But i guess that loss really took the wind out of the Jazz. With the Lakers win, all they need to do is defeat the Suns to go back to the NBA finals.

On the East the Orlando Magic has yet to be defeated on the playoff, they are already 8-0 after sweeping the Atlanta Hawks 4-0. this one was just a lopsided match, I didn't even bother watching the game, after seeing how the Magic demolish the Hawks. And maybe with the addition of Vince Carter and a healthy Jameer Nelson, maybe this time they'll win it all. But that remains to be seen since their other opponent the Cavaliers and the Celtics are lock in 2 games a piece and by the look of things maybe we'll be seeing another game 7 showdown between these two.

MOST THREE POINT FIELD GOALS IN AN NBA CAREER

Reggie Miller scored 2,560 three point field goals for the Indiana Pacers between 1987 and 2005, a career record for an NBA player.

LONGEST TENURED NBA COACH

Jerry Sloan has spent 22 seasons coaching the Utah Jazz, a post he took up in 1988. Jerry also holds the record for the most technical fouls in an NBA career. As of March 15, 2007, he was whistled for 413 fouls in his career as a player - with the Baltimore Bullets and Chicago Bulls - and as a coach - with the Bulls and Utah Jazz.

MOST POINTS SCORED IN ONE QUARTER BY A PLAYER IN NBA

The most points scored in one quarter by an individual in the NBA is Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets. Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points in the third quarter playing for the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 10, 2008. Carmelo Anthony ties the mark set by George Gervin playing for the San Antonio Spurs against the New Orleans Jazz on April 9, 1978.

FIRST TWINS IN THE NBA TO BE SELECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND

Twins Brook Lopez (right) and Robin Lopez (left) from North Hollywood, California, USA, are the first twins selected in the opening round of the same NBA draft. Brook was the 10th overall selection by the New Jersey Nets and Robin was the 15th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns.

FIRST COACH TO WIN TITLES IN NBA AND WNBA

Paul Westhead is the first and, to date, only coach to win championships in both the NBA and WNBA. Westhead guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA title in 1980 and the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA title in 2007.

SHOULD JAPETH AGUILAR BE BANNED FROM THE PBA?

Japeth Aguilar the number 1 overall from this year PBA draft, refused to sign with Burger King. His decision prompted Burger King team manager and current PBA chairman Lito Alvarez to propose before the PBA board that Aguilar be banned from all PBA games.

Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo, Alvarez's predecessor, said Aguilar broke PBA rules. He, however, did not specify which rules. “Burger King was shortchanged and that is not fair. The PBA has to stand for its rights and we will not allow anyone to make a mockery of its rules. Japeth will have to find a win-win situation. Otherwise, the PBA can do without him,” Trillo said. Aguilar is expected to face stiffer sanctions from the PBA, including a lifetime ban. The Philippine Cup kicks off on October 11 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Now is it right or is it possible to ban a player from playing in the PBA cause he did not sign with the team that drafted him? how about those other players who were pick by other team( especially those in the second round) and later was not signed by their team. Should the team be penalized for not signing the player they have picked? This case with Japeth is a familiar thing in the NBA most recent is Ricky Rubio case though lets not dwell deeper in that issue.

I myself don't know the reason why Japeth Aguilar didn't sign with Burger King, maybe he think he can gain more experience playing with Smart Gilas, or maybe he can become a much better player under coach Toroman. Or is it the recent FIBA Asia where he wasn't given the playing time by Yeng Guiao?

What do you think will be the right verdict for Japeth's case?