It's been a long, long time since I've posted on here but I've been looking at the website for a while now and realize how much I miss posting here. So here are some random tidbits about my life that have happened since the last post (ages ago).
1. Currently a Freshman at UCLA. Majoring in Undeclared Engineering (intended: Mechanical Engineering). Joined the Baja team (building off-road vehicle to race in competition at end of year).
2. Giants won the World Series - I definitely am not a baseball fan, but you gotta have some love for the home team...yes, definitely jumped on the bandwagon and bought a Giants t-shirt.
3. Miami Heat - Most hated team in all of sports right now. Perhaps even more than Man U. Also on a depressing note, Lakers are 8-0 and my beloved Celtics are 6-2. Boston's definitely going to make it to the finals this year...and probably win it with the great amount of talent on the team (Jermaine O' Neal in particular will boost the play).
4. Tiger Woods getting too much action. Self-explanatory..
5. San Francisco 49ers probably provided their fans with the largest amount of disappointment so far (halfway through the football season)....Mike Singletary = all talk and just scary looking...can't do crap.
1. First, oh the mighty Celtics how you guys just kill me. So, the major trend of this series will be the epic clash between Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose (36 points, 11 assists - Playoff Debut and the most calm and composed player I have ever seen (almost)). Anyways, Ray Allen, doing his thang, missing his shots during the beginning of the playoffs as usual.
“I heard it all,” Rose said, matter-of-factly. “I want all the pressure as a rook and people saying I can’t lead the team. We fed off of it.”
- Derrick Rose's new nickname: The Beast.
Anyways, this was a hefty loss for the Celtics especially since it was at home...with a wild set of fans. Celtics should regroup, watch tape, and get their heads outta the gutter.
2. Next, Blazers vs. Rockets (All the Yahoo analysts picked the Blazers, I do too). Rockets just had everything going for them - superior offense, kinda sorta stopped Brandon Roy, all around good play. The Blazers were never really able to get some sort of momentum going, but I'm sure they'll be able to rebound. If Aldridge picks up his play and Brandon Roy + Steve Blake keep a steady backcourt, the Blazers have this in the bag. Aaron Brooks had an unusually nice game, especially from beyond the arc...I say it's a fluke. Yao had a perfect game (literally 9-9 from FG, 6-6 from FT).
3. Philly/Magic game was probably the best game so far. Sixers really pulled off quite an upset especially with a nice comeback in the fourth quarter. Iggy's shot dumbfounded me - definitely one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Honestly, the Sixers have a shot at this - I doubt they can stop Dwight, but if they can suspend the perimeter shooting of the Magic that'll help tremendously.
Good start to this year's playoffs, I'll try to keep updating as much as possible. Stay tuned.
Fail (sorry, but I couldn't say it in any other way) This season has been injury plagued and, frankly, extremely depressing. They started off decently, but ever since then they have had hot streaks and cold streaks - losing to teams both bad and mediocre. I don't see the passion and "team cohesion" that was present last year and the will to win has gone down a level or two.
Honestly, even with Celtics bias, they don't stand much chance of getting into the Eastern Conference Finals. Chances are they'll have to face the Magic in the second round and with no KG they don't really have a good shot. Perkins and Powe are fantastic big men (don't get me wrong), but they have nothing on Superman -___- I still love you and will be cheering for the green. Oh, and thankfully Danny Ainge had a speedy and successful recovery from a minor heart attack Thursday. One of the best GM (still probably the best) in the game right now.
My Playoff Predictions:
Eastern Conference 1. Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Hawks all make it to second round. 2. Cavs destroy the Hawks, the Celtics/Magic will have a memorable series where (unfortunately) the Magic win. 3. Cavs win the Eastern Conference finals in an epic battle.
Western Conference 1. Lakers (need I say more?)
Finals Hmm...LeBron vs. Kobe probably the hottest topic this whole bloody season. Yup, Cavs are going to win. LeBron James will show his true colors, his blood and grit, and flat-out stomp the Lakers in the finals. Yes, call me crazy but it is feasible and highly likely in my eyes.
Well here were my favorite moments from this year's All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, AZ.
Runner Ups: Daquean Cook upset in 3PT competition, Derrick Rose winning skills challenge, BDL had some hilarious videos.
5. Nate Robinson's Lex Luthor - I missed the dunk live, but boy when I saw it, it was spectacular. Loved the idea, the look, and everything. Moreover, using Dwight (Superman) as the prop was hilarious and fantastic. (It helped that D-Howard was cooperative). Boy, that little guy has hops
4. Kevin Durant's miraculous G-E-I-C-O comeback - He was down to OJ Mayo early on...but talk about clutch. His half court shot from behind the tables was INSANE. Here's a clip...Mayo also had a ridiculous shot from the stands.
Mayo and Durant are upcoming superstars no question.
3. Kevin Durant's 46 point performance Rookie/Soph. game - He's a slow starter, but when he starts he's unstoppable. His size and agility give him a great advantage over most players at his position. Forcing defenders to step out on to the arch opens up inside shots for other players. Anyways, Durant just made everything. When it rains, it pours. I love Kevin (and Jeff Green too!). OKC does have a future.
2. Shaq/Kobe Co-MVP's - During the interview with Craig Sager (the guy's suits are ridiculous) Shaq said something like Kobe and I are biffles. We never really had a rough patch in our friendship etc. Bull****. More like it would have been awkward to say you still hate the guy who's sitting right next to you. Anyways, good to see these two have recovered some sort of friendship. Both had eggcelent games last night. Congrats.
1. Shaq's Dance with Jabawockeez - Classic. Truly Classic Shaq
Here we go again. Painful as it was for me, I applaud the Lakers performance. Even though Kobe was anti-clutch, his teammates picked up during the end of the 4th and OT to lead them to victory. He did knock the ball out of Pierce's hands during regulation forcing House to chuck up an ugly three that burned my eyes. Anyways, a couple notes on the game. Celtics played with Garnett in the lineup after his brief recovery period. Lakers were Bynum-less...you would think it would be a repeat of last year's finals. Think again..LA proved their toughness as they were down for a majority of the game. They have gained something this year that they lacked previously - willpower. Oh, and the Lakers have stopped both of the longest winning streaks in the NBA (Celtics 19 game streak and 12 game streak).
Check out the Basketball Jones w/ JE Skeets and Tas Melas - love those guys.
Well, most of you watched this high-intensity game.
The Magic pulled off a major upset and stopped history from repeating itself by finally beating LA at Staples. Down the stretch (especially in the fourth quarter), I noticed the Lakers not able to keep up with the sharpshooting of Jameer Nelson. Nelson, who hit 3 key 3 pointers over the course of the 4th quarter, ultimately kept his team in the game. On the other hand, Bryant struggled continuously during the 4th going 3-11 and missing 2 crucial jumpers (strange, eh?). They are on a two game losing streak! Next up: The Cavs. Who's going to stop LBJ's overpowering body?
It's not looking so bright for the Lakers right now, but I'm sure they'll get back on track. Just a note: In their last 9 games, the Lakers have allowed 8 of their opponents to score above 100 points. Defense is something they need to work on if they want to get back into shape.
Celtics have won four straight (even though they played mediocre teams) it is just what they need to get back on track. Rondo had a stellar game with 8 points, 9 rebounds, 14 assists, and 2 steals. Out of the Big-3, Allen was on target with 25 points (8-12 shooting)...with 0 assists and 1 rebound. He should plan on being more aggressive in and around the net. During his days in Seattle, he average 5 boards and 5 dishes, more or less. Now it's more like 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Anyways, keep shooting Sugar Ray, you'll always be good at that.
Some other surprises...OKC defeated the Pistons! Blasphemy! No not blasphemy. Durant and Green led the Thunder to a horrifying defeat over the Detroit Pistons. Both teams shot terribly, but in the end, OKC had about 12 more FT attempts, 17 more rebounds, and 9 more assists. Teamwork my friends, teamwork.
Philly's win over the Spurs was solid. Don't have much to say about the game though.
I am a concerned and devoted fan of the green team. They have fought, struggled, won, but ultimately it has all led to this. Every team has their ups and downs, but this is just bewildering. After a near flawless start of 27-2, the Celtics have been 2-7 in their last 9 games. I have looked everywhere and anywhere for answers to the question: Why? I don't want to blame the team or the organization. Time and time again, the Celtics have proved themselves...remember the playoffs last year where they struggled in every round (especially with the young, naive Hawks). This has probably been the lowest the team has been since the arrival of the Big 3. Here I will try to explain potential reasons why...
Team Chemistry - Well, I was reading the article Wojnarowski wrote, and he really hits the nail when he mentions KG's overbearing nature. Obviously, I have tremendous respect for the Big Ticket. The guy is more focused than a fat kid eating his chocolate cake. Out of the Big 3, this is always how I've viewed them in terms of leadership.
KG - The King - He leads the way for the team, both on and off the court. His emotional nature has trickled down to each of the Celtics' players. Every night he plays his heart and is the only person who has never given up or complained about his team. Remember those days in Minnesota? Yes, they were losers but you never heard a peep out of KG. He has a right to be the leader of this veteran Celtics team. But then again...is it too much for the younger guys like Rondo?
Pierce - Well, Paul Pierce is just Paul Pierce. All my Laker buddies hate him to death. Well, screw you (sorry about that). Pierce has been with the Celtics since day one and has seen this organization in the pits and on the hills of glory. He understands the team, the organization, the coaches better than anyone else. His tendency to go the rim is not a sign of weakness, but a strategy, well, that apparently works. He's KG's number one man. Out of the Big Three - Pierce and KG share the closest relationship.
Ray Allen - Both KG and Pierce have admitted that in hairy situations, Allen is their go to guy. However, Allen's inconsistencies on the court (esp. from the 3PT line) have hurt the team this year. One game he went 0-9 from beyond the arc. Another game he was burning hot. He is sort of the third wheel in this superstar lineup. There's not much to say about Allen other than his presence as a veteran and semi-consistent shooting patterns.
Anyways, Rondo and Perkins are both young and talented but are not all-star or superstar caliber players. Part of the frustration lies within the veteran's inability to rely on the bench and fellow starters. At first, the team's trip to Europe was a great bonding experience. The championship run made the team as tight as a Boy Scout knot. The Laker game (quite a psychological game) has something to do with the team's failing to score and play defense.
Fatigue - Celtics have to be freakishly tired. The tremendous win streak must've was quite a toll on the team. The pressure to keep the fire going has led to a deterioration in the team's playing. December was a pinnacle for the team (until the LA game). Points, assists, steals, and rebounds have all gone down in this last month. Losing has a psychological effect on people. Relentless play from the Celtics in the last year or so have only compounded this cold streak by weakening them physically and mentally. (Click the link)
No more Irish Luck - The Irish luck disappeared. The magic. The love. The fight. All gone in the course of 2 weeks. Lucky green? This team was meant to repeat. I'm not giving up...the Celtics are being lead by bloodthirsty hound(s). KG wants another ring - no doubt. I expect sometime by the end of this month for him and his team to get back on track even though they face a couple tough teams including the Magic, Suns, Detroit. Anyways, they're out of luck and it's time for the team to use some serious willpower and light up the basketball court like the olden days.
Bench - Bench sucks. Sorry, but an overeliance on Eddie House and Tony Allen (injured) is a primary reason the Celtics cannot trust the bench. Rivers has to exercise his options with O' Bryant and Pruitt. Pierce, Garnett, and Allen are all playing more this season. The abundance of pressure and stress is taking a toll on the oldies.
Anyways, enough blabbering.
Dear Celtics, You better get your head out of the dumps. Start playing like you did in the beginning of the year. Ray Allen shoot 3's like you did with the Bucks and Sonics. Pierce keep getting fouls and playing like a stud. Garnett, relax a little, the team won't thrive under your constant eye. Rondo, you have some serious potential with your passing abilities - play hard. Perkins, learn from Garnett and play with that passion. House, T. Allen, Powe, and the others on the bench, you guys need to step it up for the starters.
Love always, Sanjeev
P.S. I love you.
Listen to Jump Around - House Of Pain written by a true Irish.
Click edit above to add content to this empty capsule.
This year's NBA draft has several great guards and a few strong forwards/centers. Here are the rankings/ratings on my top 5 prospects of this NBA season.
1. Greg Oden - This "rookie" has been recovering from knee issues for the last year or so. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the coming year. Size/strength/talent wise I'm pretty sure he'll make one of the top 7-8 centers in the league immediately. However, he will have to continue conditioning and strengthening his body to become one the top big men in this bone-crushing league. Offensively, I don't expect him to do much as he was mainly drafted for a threatening defensive presence. He average 4 blocked shots (4 blocked shots), 15 points, and 10 rebounds. Some solid stats for a potential solid player. His impeccable blocking capability and superior rebounding skills give him a boost over most of the other rookies this year vying for the best first year big man. I will give this handsome hunk an B+. (I am a tough grader)
Pros: Defensive abilities have flowered. Makes him one of the best.
Cons: Offensively, he is average. Another primary concern that remains is his health.
2. Michael Beasley - First off, his off court follies will hurt my grading of him. To me, people who can't focus on their jobs don't deserve to do too well. The reason he is on my top 5 is because he is an extremely talented player. After watching highlights of Beasley and Love, Beasley seemed to be the better player. His court awareness and his ability to creates shots is phenomenal. Moreover, his high school stats are drop-down crazy (Take a look: about 50 PPG, 20 RBG, 8 BPG) - Yes crazy is an understatement. But he still performed like a star during his time at KSU with more humanly stats. Unlike the other top large prospects in this draft, Beasley will prove to be the #1 offensive threat (with Kevin Love in a close second) this year. I give him a B+/B.
Pros: Talent, pure raw talent. This kid is amazing on the court and if focuses on the game (i.e. conditioning, watching tapes, playing hard at scrimmages, learning from mentors) he has the potential to become a very dominant PF.
Cons: Off court follies = Lack of focus. Especially in Miami, these youngsters might have the tendency to go a bit Tipsy. I don't want him to become another Ron Artest, Dennis Rodman, and the ilk.
Beasley/Rose Summer League Highlights
3. Derrick Rose - Out of my top 5 picks, he is my favorite. He has loads of talent - passing, court vision, and shooting. He just needs to work on a few things...taking better shots..ball handling (maneuvering with the ball), and learning how to handle screens. I read something about this on ESPN, and was in accord with David Thorpe. If you watched the NCAA finals last year, you noticed he lacked the ability to utilize screens to his advantage. He took some really nice shots, but also made some irrational choices. The problem is, he had average stats in college, 15 PPG, 5 APG, and 5 RPG. The only way he can become a solid player is if he practices against the big dogs. Eh...about a B-/C+
Pros: He has an excellent work ethic. He has lot of potential - passing and shooting wise.
Cons: Although he played extremely well during HS, he played averagely in college. Hopefully he can recreate his HS performance or else he'll soon find himself floating among the free agents.
4. Kevin Love - A really bright rookie with good knowledge of the game, and great physical abilities. Unlike Oden, Love is capable of moving extremely fast without the ball giving him a major advantage over other big men. Offensively, he is capable of shooting, postsing up, and taking it hard to the rim. He is the antithesis to Oden in game play as he needs to work on defense. Better timing for blocks, boxing out some more, and other drills can really help Love become a dominant PF/C. I would have to give him around a C/C- (because his defense needs some serious help)
Pros: Excellent agility for big man, solid offensive player(probably what made him a relatively high pick in the draft)
Cons: Defense...and I mean defense - blocking, lockdown defense, rebounding, etc.
I was too tired to write a 5th...so I ended up with 4. I'll list the next few top players who I know less about
Boston Celtics- The reigning NBA champions held onto their Big 3 throughout the offseason, and with Rajon Rondo maturing into a great pointguard, there is a strong chance for a repeat of last year. However, they still have a relatively weak center position, and the depth of the roster is questionable. But that didn't stop them last year. Now, their superstars have had a whole season of experience together, so you can bet on seeing them at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Lakers- The biggest change the Western Conference Champions have from last season is Andrew Bynum is back. The 7-foot center was injured early last season after an amazing (and very surprising) start. Only 20 years old and mentored by one of the all-time greats, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, there's no doubt he's going to keep getting better. With a lineup of Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Bynum, it's hard to find a weak point, but let's see if they can work as well together as the Celtics.
Detroit Pistons- There's little doubt that the Pistons have the most depth in the league. Adding Aaron Afflalo, the 6-5 guard from UCLA could be the boost they need to bring them back to the finals. Aside from Rasheed Wallace's temper, everything about the Pistons has been consistent from their defensive focus to their balanced scoring. Although they don't have the superstar power of many teams in the league, they arguably play better together than anybody else because their starting lineup has been relatively unchanged throughout the years with the notable exception of Ben Wallace to the Bulls. Don't be surprised to see the Pistons up there with the Celtics in the East.
New Orleans Hornets- The clear underdog last season because of their inexperience, the Hornets put together an absolutely spectacular season with a lineup that few could have guessed would finish 2nd in the west. Chris Paul finished second in the MVP voting behind Kobe Bryant. Paul, who is only 23, obviously has superstar potential. With a young team enables them to play the fastbreak offense better than anyone in the league, the Hornets are just going to keep getting better. We'll just have to wait and see if the other teams can keep up.
The 5th spot is pretty close. With Ginobli out, the aging Spurs are looking slower than ever. Adding Shaq to the Suns was clearly a big mistake since a halfcourt offense is not their style. Dallas hasn't seemed to recover from their shocking loss to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs a couple years ago. The Rockets and the Cavaliers have been very inconsistent, their success dependent on the performance of Tracy McGrady and Lebron James, respectively. I'll give the 5th spot on this list to the Jazz because when they are at their best, their strong offense led by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer is nearly unstoppable. They'll have to step up their game to compete with the best in the west though.
In the long awaited matchup, Team USA cruised by Greece with a 92-69 victory. Looks like the "redeem team" is playing up to par. Dwayne Wade claims the team played like they "wanted to win. We played together." Kobe finally found his shooting touch going 7-14 from the field with 18 points. Bosh had 18, Wade had 17, and James had 13. Greeks shot 41% from the field and 22% from beyond the arc - Team USA had some bonecrushing defense giving no breathing space for the struggling Greek team. I really want Team USA to utilize their Big Men some more they could really do some damage down in the paint. Their next matchup is Spain - the world champions.
After this fantastic display of basketball, Team USA looks in good shape to secure the gold medal. China is leading the overall medal count by 1 (they are at 35) US is at 34. Lets keep it up.
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The two sports I have truly been following during the Olympics.
1) Basketball - Team USA just cruised on by crushing Angola in a 97-76 victory. LeBron James used his body to muscle his way through the defense of the African champions. Wade had 19 points, Dwight had 14, and James had 12. However, the US continues to have a tough time from beyond the arc. They face their toughest opponent next, the Greeks. Last time the two teams confronted each other the Greeks won 101-95 in one of the most depressing games I've seen. From that time, Team USA has strengthened both mentally and physically so I am relatively certain they can win. US will need to improve from the three point line in order to secure a victory against the possibly best European team. Good luck.
2) Swimming - Probably the most exciting Olympic sport to watch. Of course Phelps is 3/3 in his quest to beat Spitz's record of 7 golds. The 400 m relay was one of the most exciting swimming races I have seen. Jason Lezak showed you true spirit, determination, and willpower. As corny as this sounds, I was extremely proud to be American. Natalie Coughlin got the gold for the 100 meter backstroke as well. Aaron Peirsol, the laid back California native, won the men's 100 meter backstroke. Great job! Stay tuned for more news...
Check out this hilarious video from the Sydney Olympics 00'
Why do people choose the United States to work, live, and play? Is it the freedom? The power? The American Dream? Regardless of the reason, USA has been the ideal destination for all professionals, especially for basketball, as the world did not need the 1992 Olympics to see who dominated the sport (although it did help). This is why the recent trend of professional basketball players preferring the European market over the American market strikes me as surprising. What completely knocks me off my wooden chair is the world's best basketball player announcing the possibility of playing in Italy. (This could possibly be worse than Chris Kaman playing for the German national team because his grandfather lived there for a few years) Yes, the MVP of the National Basketball Association, the winner of the Western Conference, and a USA Olympian, said he would leave his cozy home and million dollar automatic Lamborghini for fifty million dollars a year in Europe. Now I did the math and it occurred to me that he could buy fifty Lamborghinis (he wouldn't have to pay the shipping fee since he would be living in Italy), but I still can not imagine why someone who gets a seven foot Spaniard just because he throws a tantrum would take off to go to... well ... Italy. What can he buy for 50 million dollars that he can't for 20 million? I don't know about you, but hearing that Josh Childress prefers the Euro to the dollar is much less terrifying than Kobe Bryant contemplating spaghetti over cheese burgers.
Well...we won't share political opinions but McCain ain't got nothing on this.
Quite versatile - shooting, driving to the rim, rebounding, passing - now that's a great player. Oh my, this is frightening - Ex-Presidential Candidate John Edwards admits to having an affair. Check out this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080808/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_affair
It doesn't sound right, but it just might happen. Lebron James is the latest name in talks of NBA players going to Europe. The difference is that he is one of the most prominent athletes in the game today. A defining icon of the NBA. James' contract with Cleveland runs through the 2010-2011 season, but he can choose to opt out the year before. But why would he want to leave the world's biggest basketball stage? Money. And money can make you a global icon. So how much is James asking for? No less than $50 million dollars. Per year. Ludicrous as it sounds, a deal like that for one of the best players in the world may not be too hard to come by. At least in Europe. Unlike the NBA, the European league does not have salary caps, and the euro is continuing to increase in value in comparison to our dollar. Despite these trends, Joel Litvin, the NBA's president of league and basketball operations, is confident that there will not be a need to remove the salary cap in order to compete with offers from Europe. Although James only plans to play abroad for a year or two before returning to the NBA, it's hard not to worry about what kind of precedence this could set. It's too early to know what kind of impact this trend could have on the NBA, but it doesn't look good. I guess only time will tell...
After finishing up a relatively easy exhibition schedule with the exception of the game against Australia, Team USA got off the private plane and landed among a throng of Chinese basketball crazed fans. They were all wearing American jerseys with some of the biggest names - James, Bryant, Wade, etc. Although the Team is focusing on basketball - they need some down time. They plan on visiting the Great Wall of China and watching other Olympic events. Even Coach K wants to take a break. The Hall of Famer NCAAA B-ball coach, after months of practice, desires some rest before the Olympics. However, nothing will stop the team from achieving their goal - the Gold Medal.
Seems like Team USA got too much of a confidence boost from the last couple of commanding victories. The final exhibition match against Australia proved to be a grueling test. The Americans played horribly, 3/18 from beyond the arc and 20/33 from the FT line. Despicable numbers that parallel to the match they lost 2 years ago in Greece. Wade and James led the team scoring wise - 22 and 16 points respectively. Australia did not play its best player, the Bucks' Andrew Bogut, until the fourth quarter(which just compounds to the embarassment). Going into the half the US only had a 4 point lead. Fortunately, Wade and Anthony stopped a 11 point run the Australians made in the third, and pushed the lead back to double digits. If you watched the game on ESPN 2, the Americans played with half the spirit they did of the other games. Weak shooting, sloppy defense, no hustling were the ultimate reasons for this near loss. Hopefully they can recover quickly and get back on track.
David Stern has to be mad. International players have developed a steady fan base here in the Americas. Now, the players are slowly migrating back to their home countries or neighboring European countries. Nenad Kristic - Russia. Bostjan Nachbar - Russia. Carlos Delfino - Russia. Primoz Brezec - Italy. Arroyo - Spain. Heck, even one college kid Brandon Jennings went straight to Italy instead of the NBA. As my fellow author said earlier, Childress is moving to Greece. The pay is on par with the NBA if not even better and there are several other countless benefits to moving. It will be interesting to see how many more players move back to other countries - Europe, Russia, etc. I want to keep track of how many players move out of the US and into other countries. Once the African American players start moving out of the NBA and into Euroleague and other basketball associations, David Stern might just have an anxiety attack. Oh wow. Now LeBron James just claimed if he gets an offer of 50 mills a year from a Euro team he would play in Europe. That shows you how money oriented these individuals are. I mean your leaving all your fans, friends, family - and ultimately tougher competition just for the big bucks. And well David Stern (if James were to move) might just run off a cliff. Image from: http://www.judiciaryreport.com/images/david-stern-after.jpg
I guess I can hardly call it surprising considering the blockbuster deals this past season. After the Celtics started off the season with trades to get Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Lakers (Dare I say) stole Pau Gasol and the Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal midseason in attempts to match. The Lakers' and Celtics' success gives these other teams little choice but to do the same. Even though it wasn't unexpected, it is still shocking to see this many superstars swapping jerseys. Elton Brand to the Sixers, Baron Davis to the Clippers, Corey Maggette to the Warriors, James Posey to the Hornets... and Josh Childress to Greece? The Hawks are looking to veteran guard Maurice Evans to fill Childress' role. Teams who fell short of the playoffs are looking for a fresh start with new foundations. Others make minor improvements that will hopefully be enough to push farther in the playoffs this coming season. The primary criticism of the Hornets was their inexperience, while the Spurs were hammered for their aging lineup, and both teams have made moves to change that. Is your head spinning yet? Mine too. We'll just have to wait until next season to see if each deal proves to be an upgrade or a bust.
USA cruises by in an easy victory over the European Champion, Russia. 89-68. Kobe did most of the heavy offensive damage leading the team scoring 19 points, Carmelo scored 17, Wade scored 16. AK-47 (Andrei Kirilenko) scored 18 points for the Russians, in a game where the American had control since the first quarter 20 point lead. Coach K decided to play a small lineup since LeBron and Carmelo are the big guys on the team - odd if you ask me. US has been placed in Group B which has some formidable opponents including African Champion Angola, Spain, Greece, and Germany. Hopefully the success continues for Team USA who are looking to end the 8 year drought since the Sydney Olympics in 00'.
The Men's basketball team has started off with a hint of hot coal underneath their bellies. They easily beat the Canadians and Lithuanians. In the match against the Lithuanians, Kobe had to avenge his previous encounter with Sarunas Jasikevicius - who massacred the US team last time due to superior perimeter offense(7 3-pointers last Olympics total of 28 points in the game). However, Kobe playing an adequate amount of offense with some excellent in-your-face defense slowed down the international three point superstar. Kobe, Dwight, LeBron, and Wade won in a great collaborative effort. US won 120-84. Hopefully, the success continues on for Team America.
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