Finals Bound

For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers are Western Conference Champions! Their reward is representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals for an unprecedented 30th time. The Lake Show finished off the Denver Nuggets last night in convincing fashion with a 119-92 victory. The Lakers finally looked like the team that dominated the West the entire year, as five players scored in double figures. They were lead by the best closer in the NBA in Kobe Bryant, who had 35 points and 10 assists. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom each scored 20 points, and Trevor Ariza added 17 points for the Lakers, who without question played their best game of the postseason last night.

The way the Lakers played last night reminded me of the way they played in the 2006 playoffs, when they nearly upset the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers play at their very best when Kobe Bryant is the facilitator of the offense. Of course you're going to get better results when you have guys like Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol around you as opposed to 2006 when the Lakers had guys like Kwame Brown and Smush Parker. Last night Kobe was the facilitator, as he got other players involved early, and then took over when he had to. It didn't hurt that the team shot a scorching 57% from the field. The stat that impressed me the most was that of the 43 field goals the Lakers made, 28 of them were assisted. It also was very encouraging to see the Lakers go a perfect 24-24 from the free throw line. At this point it really doesn't matter who comes out of the Eastern Conference, because if the Lakers play the way they did last night during the entire Finals, they will win the championship easily.

So who will the Lakers face in the Finals? It will either be Cleveland or Orlando. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals will tip-off at 5:30, and Orlando has the opportunity to finish off the Cleveland since they have a 3-2 series lead. This is must win game for Orlando. If they don't win tonight, there is no way they are winning a Game 7 in Cleveland, especially now that the Lakers are in the Finals and the NBA will do anything to have a Kobe vs LeBron Finals. If I had a preference on who I would rather see the Lakers play, I would say Orlando. The Lakers would have home-court advantage, plus I would love to see LeBron James not get to the Finals. 

I emailed Matt "Money" Smith from AM 570 KLAC last night. It was pretty cool, we messaged back and forth on our opinions on the Eastern Conference. I was very surprised that he was able to email me back so quickly, but it was great and he was very friendly. I plan on emailing him regularly from now on. Money is really a great guy. I love listening to him on the PMS Show and on all the Laker pregame and postgame broadcasts. I actually met him in person one time at the Staples Center, and he is one of the nicest guys out there. 

Thank God for online podcasts. Since I've had a lot of free time the past couple of weeks, I have spent nearly five to seven hours a day listening to sports radio shows online, and getting a feel for how the professionals act on-the-air. I've been listening to "The Loose Cannons" and "The PMS Show" on AM 570 KLAC, in addition to "The Mason & Ireland Show" on 710 ESPN. If I'm up early enough, I sometimes listen to "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd, and "The Jim Rome Show". Since I won't be on-air with the Blaze for another two months, I figure listening to the very best professionals is the next best thing to do. 

I started work at 8:00 a.m. this morning, so I was up at 7:00 a.m. and now I'm tired as hell. If only Arizona State didn't cost so much so I wouldn't have to pay for part of it....Damn out of state tuition.

Weekend Preview

The Los Angeles Lakers will try to finish off the Denver Thuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals tomorrow. Should the Lakers win, they will become back-to-back Western Conference Champions and advance to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. The Lake Show is coming off of an impressive 103-94 victory in Game 5, a game in which Lamar Odom redeemed himself from his dismal Game 4 performance by scoring 19 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and adding four blocks. Game 6 will be in Denver, with tip off scheduled at 6:00 p.m.

By the way if your wondering why I'm referring to the Denver Nuggets as the "Thuggets", then take a close look at the players on the team. I really want to know how much money has gone to all of their tattoos, it's crazy. I mean the guys on Denver have tattoos everywhere, and when I say everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE. If I didn't know any better, I would think Denver is a team full of ex-convicts.

Getting back to basketball, the Lakers were in the exact situation in the Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets as they are now. They had a 3-2 series lead, and had to play Game 6 on the road. Instead of finishing off the Rockets, the Lakers came out and played one of their worst games of the year. I really hope things are different this time, although beating the Thuggets in Denver is going to be very tough. I'd like to have some confidence in the Lakers, but they are just so inconsistent that I really can't see them winning tomorrow's game. The one scenario in which I can see the Lakers winning is if Kobe Bryant dominates the game, and the Lakers play exactly the way they played in Game 5. The problem is the Lakers won't be getting all the calls from the referees that they got in Game 5, and bench players normally play better at home, which is bad news for the Lakers. I'm expecting Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith, and Chris "Birdman" Andersen all to have huge games. Ultimately I see Denver winning this game and forcing a Game 7. But hey, I thought the Lakers were going to lose Game 5, so what do I know?

The Cleveland Cavaliers kept their season alive, as they beat the Orlando Magic 112-102 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Magic now lead that series 3-2, with Game 6 being played in Orlando on Saturday night. LeBron James had a phenomenal Game 5, scoring 37 points, while adding 14 rebounds and 12 assists. I trust that Orlando will hold on to win this series, but in the back of my mind I can't help but to think that LeBron will somehow lead Cleveland back from a 3-1 deficit and pull off one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history. I really hope that doesn't happen since I don't like seeing LeBron win, yet for the Lakers sake, it may be better if they play Cleveland and not Orlando. Who knows, all I can say is both of the Conference Finals have been absolutely spectacular, and I'm hoping for the best with the Lakers.

So how about them Dodgers? I'm so preoccupied with the Lakers that I can't fully enjoy the fact that my baseball team is absolutely dominating right now. The Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 today, as the Blue Crew improved their record to 34-15, which is best in the MLB. The Dodgers have a 4-game winning streak, and have three games left with the Cubbies before returning to Chavez Ravine next week for a  9-game home stand. Tomorrow's game in The Windy City is scheduled to start at 11:20 a.m., and Chad Billingsly will be on the mound for the Dodgers as he will attempt to win his seventh game of the season. 

Denver Debacle

I predicted a Lakers loss in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, but I didn't think they would be embarrassed the way they were last night in Denver. The Lakers were outrebounded, outhustled, and outplayed by an inspired Thuggets team who clearly played with more desperation. The Lakers lost 120-101 in what was one of their worst performances of the year. In what was an opportunity to take a 3-1 lead and virtually end the series, the Lakers came out and played much like they did in Game 4 in their series against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers were outrebounded 58-40, and allowed J.R. Smith, Chris Andersen, and Linas Kleiza to combine for 40 points and 18 rebounds. Here's a stat: Nene, Kenyon Martin, and Andersen combined for 42 rebounds, THE ENTIRE LAKER TEAM COMBINED FOR 40 REBOUNDS! Lamar Odom and the rest of the Laker bench was atrocious, but Odom in particular as he went 1-of-8 from the field. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol seemed to be the only Lakers who got the memo that there was an important basketball game being played, as the duo combined for 55 of the Lakers 101 points. The Lakers also missed 11 free throws in the game. I don't understand how these players can get paid millions of dollars, yet they can't make free throws. 

Not to be a sore loser, but Denver got a lot of calls going their way. I'm usually not one to complain about the officiating, but my gosh Denver got almost every call in the second half. The officials didn't call a flagrant foul on Dahntay Jones for intentionally tripping Kobe Bryant, yet they called a flagrant foul on Andrew Bynum for knocking the ball out of Chris Andersen's hands. I don't think the NBA could have made it anymore obvious as to who they wanted to win this game. Conspiracy theory anyone?

I was disgusted with the Lakers play. They frustrate me just as easily as they make me happy. I don't know if I have ever seen a championship caliber team play as inconsistent as the Lakers do. One night they look unbeatable, and the next night they look like a team that should have never made it this far into the playoffs. Not only did the Lakers get blown out, but they also gave the Thuggets a lot of momentum headed into Game 5. The Thuggets beat down LA even with Carmelo Anthony playing his worst game of the series. I'm certain the winner of Game 5 will win the series, and I hate to say it, but I really don't know if it will be the Lakers. Inconsistency doesn't win championships, and you can argue that the Lakers are lucky to have even won the two games they have in this series. If it weren't for costly Denver mistakes in the final minutes of play, they could have easily swept the Lakers by now. The one thing I will say is that every time the Lakers have been tested and every time they have had to win, they have. They will have home-court advantage and Denver will have to win at least one game at Staples Center to win the series. Game 5 is Wednesday at 6:00 in Los Angeles.

Weekend Wrap

One of my best friends who goes to the University of Illinois and lives in Texas came back to Agoura Hills to visit this weekend. It was definitely nice to see him and catch up again. Four of my best friends from high school and I were all together this weekend for the first time in a few years. It's crazy how things change from year to year. My friend who came out to visit is engaged, and he's only 20 years old. At this time next year he will be a married man. The wedding will be in St. Louis, Missouri, and I'm hopeful that I will be able to attend and be an usher in the ceremony. I've never been to the midwest before, so that's definitely an event I am looking forward to.

Other than the Dodgers losing two out of three games to LA's fake team a.k.a the Angels, the weekend in sports was a great one. The Lakers won Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, a win that is the Lakers biggest of the year without question. The Lakers now have a 2-1 series lead headed into Game 4, which is tomorrow at 6:00. I hope the Lakers realize the opportunity they have in front of them. With a win tomorrow, the Lakers can go up 3-1 headed back to Los Angeles, where they could close out Denver at Staples Center. The Lakers were up 2-1 in their last series against Houston, and then got blown out in Game 4 and consequently ended up going seven games. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling Denver will win. I'd be both surprised and impressed if the Lakers could take Games 3 and 4 in the Mile High City.

Well so much for the Cleveland Cavaliers momentum from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Forty-eight hours after LeBron James hit his miracle 3-pointer, the Cavs fell to the Orlando Magic 99-89 in Game 3. The Magic now lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 on Tuesday in Orlando. 

So What?

So I guess making one game-winning shot in the playoffs all of the sudden makes you the greatest player ever right? Well, that's the way people are making it seem from LeBron James' buzzer-beater in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Finally, "King James" comes through himself when the game is on the line. LeBron hit a miracle 3-pointer that gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a 96-95 win over the Orlando Magic. There were over 25 status updates from friends I have on facebook that related to LeBron's shot. Statuses ranged from "LeBron James is not human" to "LeBron James will be the greatest player of all-time." I'm sorry, but does ONE game-winning shot all of the sudden make you the greatest player ever? What if LeBron had missed that shot? Would people be saying that Hedo Turkoglu is the greatest player ever? For crying out loud, Turkoglu's shot that put the Magic ahead with one second left in the game wasn't exactly a gimme shot, and I don't hear anyone giving him credit. Settle down people, it's one shot. I only wish that LeBron would have missed that shot, I can only imagine the number of excuses people would have given as to why he was unsuccessful. I'm sure he would have been "fouled" or gotten pushed or something like that, after all LeBron can no wrong, so if he had missed a potential game-winning shot, it wouldn't have been his fault. 

The fact is, LeBron's shot didn't just win Cleveland the game, it saved their season. Cleveland was 39-2 at home in the regular season, yet they were one second away from losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals in front of their fans. Had it not been for LeBron's miracle, Orlando would have swept the series, guaranteed. Cleveland had a 23 point lead in the game and blew all of it. Once again, were it not for LeBron, this series would be over. Assuming there are no more miracle game-winning shots from LeBron the remainder of the series, I'm expecting Orlando to easily win the series and advance to the NBA Finals. I hope people can finally start to realize that Cleveland is not as good as people think. I have said that this entire year, and even if Cleveland gets to the NBA Finals, they will not win the championship. Cleveland's record against the Lakers, Celtics, and Magic in the regular season was a combined 2-6. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals is tomorrow at 5:00 in Orlando. Oh I forgot to mention the last time Cleveland played Orlando in Orlando, they lost by 29 points. Best of luck Cleveland!

It really is ridiculous that the media and NBA fans portray everything LeBron James does to be the best thing ever. It's a shame because all of this sucking up to LeBron makes me dislike him, even though I don't want to. I mean my goodness this guy hasn't won a championship and people are already calling him the greatest player that will ever play the game. I try really hard not to mention Kobe Bryant when I talk about LeBron James, but I usually end up having to so I can prove a point. Let's see, when Kobe Bryant was LeBron's age, he had THREE NBA Championships. Whether Kobe winning three titles was because Shaquille O'Neal was on the team is not important, Kobe has the titles, end of story. It is sickening to see the treatment LeBron gets by everyone, it really is. Did you see the expression on LeBron's face after he hit the game-winning shot? He looked like he had never hit a game-winning shot in his life. I'll give the guy credit, the shot he made was incredible, but that is the first time LeBron has won a game that mattered in his career with a buzzer-beater. Enough of my ranting, after all people reading this probably can't believe there is someone who doesn't like LeBron James. It's not that I don't like him, it's just the constant sucking up that bothers me. As a Laker fan, I really hope the Lakers and the Cavaliers can win their respective series so the LeBron-Kobe matchup will take place, and we can see Kobe Doin' Work. 

Just Another Night For Kobe

Well Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was just another great performance by Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba once again showed just how great he is, as he scored 40 points including 18 in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 105-103 victory over the Denver Thuggets, I mean Nuggets. The Lakers really had no business winning this game. Denver dominated them on offense, and led for a great part of the game. Carmelo Anthony played the best game of his playoff career, as he scored 39 points on an astounding 14-of-20 shooting from the field. But costly turnovers down the stretch, and missed free throws are what cost Denver this game. It's early in the series, but I think it's fair to say this is going to be one hell of a matchup.

The story of the night of course was Kobe. I mean what more can you really say about the guy other than the fact that he's just amazing? Kobe took over the game in the 4th quarter much like he usually does when the Lakers need him. He put his stamp on the game by scoring 15 points in the final seven minutes of the game, and making clutch free throws that sealed the Lakers victory. Kobe even played with a dislocated finger, yet he fought through the pain and made sure the Lakers did not drop the opening game of the series. Here's a stat for you: Last night was the 17th time Kobe scored 10 or more points in the fourth quarter of a Lakers playoff win in which they were trailing during the final period. Amazing. The Lakers are going to need Kobe to play the way he did last night for the entire series. Only two other Lakers scored in double figures, and while the rest of the Lakers couldn't figure out Denver, Kobe quickly put his stamp on the series. Another stat, and one Laker fans will love to see: Phil Jackson is 42-0 all-time in the playoffs when his team wins Game 1 of a series.

It's games like the one last night that should remind everyone that Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA. Don't get me wrong, I think LeBron James is phenomenal, but Kobe has the best killer instinct of any player really since Michael Jordan. When Kobe is on the floor, you know the Lakers will always have a chance to win. His desire to win and his will to take a game over at any time is truly amazing. The rest of the Laker team was mediocre last night, and Kobe realized that. He knew he had to take over and he did with ease. I have watched Kobe ever since he came into the NBA in 1996, and I am continually amazed at some of the performances he gives on a consistent basis. Again, I think LeBron is great, and in a couple of years he will without question be the best player in the league, but let's not forget what Kobe has already done, and what he is still capable of doing. Maybe when LeBron wins a championship or two, then we can put him amongst the game's greatest. 

Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals is Thursday at 6:00 in Los Angeles.

LA's JV team a.k.a the Los Angeles Clippers won the NBA Lottery and now get the #1 pick in the NBA Draft! I'm eager to see how the Clippers screw up this time. The last time the Clippers had the #1 pick, they drafted Michael Olowokandi, and that didn't turn out so great. Yep that's the Clippers for you, drafting a guy who isn't in the NBA anymore, and passing up on guys like Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Dirk Nowitzki, just to name a few. If the Clippers aren't absolute retards (which they are but that's besides the point) then they will draft Blake Griffin out of Oklahoma with the #1 pick. As incompetent as the Clipper management is, I don't see them being that dumb to pass up on Griffin. But then again it is the Clippers, so anything is possible. I feel bad for Griffin, he was by far and away the best player in college basketball this past season, and his reward for that is going to the worst franchise in NBA history. Oh well, he'll be getting paid millions of dollars, and I hate to say this, but he'll probably end up like every other Clipper star usually is....injured. Although I love seeing the Clippers fail miserably, I hope Griffin can help turn that franchise around, and by that I mean maybe help the Clippers win more than 20 games next year. 

The Dodgers are continuing their stellar play much to my delight. The Blue Crew's 28-13 record is the best in Major League Baseball, and they have won two in a row over the New York Mets, who are considered to be one of the best teams in the National League. I'm pretty certain I will be attending my first game this season at Dodger Stadium this weekend when the Angels come to Chavez Ravine.

Today's forecast in Agoura Hills: Sunny with a high of 83.

Western Conference Finals

We are less than two hours away from the start of the NBA Western Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference Finals begin tomorrow night, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Orlando Magic. Tonight it is Game 1 between the top two teams in the West, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers won three out of the four meetings in the regular season, including two out of three since Chauncey Billups became a part of Denver. 

Denver steamrolled through New Orleans and Dallas in the first two rounds of the playoffs, as they won both series in five games. The Lakers in my opinion have had an easier road to get to the Conference Finals, having faced the Utah Jazz and the depleted Houston Rockets. The problem is the Lakers inconsistent play has many critics wondering if they can get by the Nuggets, who have played extremely well on both sides of the ball so far this postseason. The Lakers have shown that when necessary, they can dominate a game as they did in Games 2, 5, and 7 of their series with Houston. 

Believe it or not, I think Denver is a better matchup for the Lakers than Houston was, even though they played four games without Yao Ming. First of all, Denver is going to put Dahntay Jones on Kobe Bryant. Yeah I haven't heard of Dahntay Jones either, and he is nothing in comparison to Shane Battier. I expect Kobe to attack Jones right away since Jones is prone to foul trouble. Kobe torched Denver in the regular season, averaging 31 points on 47 percent shooting. The Nuggets big men may be bigger in size, but they are not as physical as guys like Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, and Carl Landry were. Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin is tough, but Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both have the height advantage over Martin and will likely exploit it. The one advantage I see Denver having is at the small forward position with Carmelo Anthony. The Lakers will likely put Trevor Ariza on Anthony to try and slow him down, however if it comes down to critical fourth quarter possessions, look for the Lakers to put Kobe on Carmelo. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum need to dominate. When both play very well, the Lakers are almost unbeatable. 

The key to the series for me is the bench play. Denver's bench has been a huge reason why they have been so successful this year, while the Lakers bench is arguably the deepest in the league. Denver will send J.R. Smith, Chris "The Birdman" Andersen, and Linus Kleiza on the floor, all of whom are capable of being difference makers in the game. The Birdman has become Denver's source of energy and defense off the bench, while Smith is averaging over 16 points in the playoffs. The Lakers have guys like Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, and Luke Walton that can come in and give quality minutes so Kobe and Pau can rest. The Laker bench will need to play well and keep the pressure on Denver.

While Denver could playing the best basketball right now, I still don't think they are the better team. Denver is finally playing a team that is evenly matched to them, plus they do not have home-court advantage. The Nuggets have not won a playoff game at Staples Center under George Karl, and that is something they will have to do if they want to advance to the NBA Finals. With all the criticism and doubts being thrown at the Lakers, they will be fired up and ready to play. I think Houston prepared the Lakers very well for this series, and let's not forget the Lakers have not worked hard to get to this point just so they can lose. Kobe Bryant is the best closer in the game, and when the Lakers play to their full potential, I really don't think there is any team in the NBA that can stop them. Denver is great, but the Lakers are still the class of the West and still the team to beat.

Pick- Lakers in six

And Then There Were Four

Well I, along with the rest of the city of Los Angeles can breathe a sigh of relief now that the Lakers avoided one of the biggest upsets in NBA Playoff history. The Lake Show defeated the pesky Houston Rockets 89-70, and won the best of seven series 4-3. The Lakers are now in the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row, and will play the Denver Nuggets for the rights to advance to the NBA Finals. 

The Lakers got off to the start they hoped for in Game 7, as they led 22-12 early in the first quarter and never looked back. Pau Gasol dominated on both ends of the court, as he led LA with 21 points and 18 rebounds. Andrew Bynum was very impressive as well, scoring 14 points, grabbing six rebounds, and making his defensive presence felt. Kobe Bryant didn't even play that well, yet the Lakers still dominated and silenced doubters. I can only wish the Lakers play the way they did today in every game in the Western Conference Finals and avoid the unnecessary drama of a Game 7.

Houston deserves a lot of credit for their valiant efforts in this series. They have a great future with guys like Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, and Shane Battier. Maybe they can hope Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady get hurt again, because they seem to play better when both of those players aren't on the court. 

The Nuggets-Lakers series should be very entertaining. I think the Nuggets are a better matchup for the Lakers then the Rockets were, and if the Lakers play the way they did today throughout the entire series, I think the Lakers will win easily. 

The Boston Celtics are finished!!! The Celtics lost Game 7 of their series to the Orlando Magic. Not only are the Celtics eliminated from the playoffs, but they are probably done winning championships for quite some time. The big three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce will be one year older next year, and LeBron James and Dwight Howard are emerging as the top two players on the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. For me, there really is nothing better than seeing Boston sports teams fail. I hate the Celtics, the Red Sox, and the Patriots, so any misery they and their fans suffer is my joy and pleasure. 

Getting back to the Eastern Conference, Dwight Howard and LeBron James will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers will face off. I can see this series going to either team, but Cleveland is playing so well that it's hard for me to pick against them. Besides, the NBA wants a LeBron vs Kobe finals matchup, so they will probably do everything in their power to make sure it happens.

Manny who? The Dodgers are doing just fine without their star slugger, as the Blue Crew have won four out of their last six games, and have won two series on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Florida Marlins. The Dodgers have a 26-13 record, which is currently the best in the MLB. 

Tomorrow night is a big night in television. We have the two hour season finale of 24, plus WWE Monday Night Raw. Judgement Day was decent, but not great. Luckily for me I got to watch it for free online instead of dropping 60 dollars on Pay-Per-View. The season finale of Survivor was excellent, and to no surprise J.T., the hick from Alabama ended up winning.

Tomorrow's forecast in Agoura Hills: Sunny with a high of 90. 

Rockets Blast Off on Lakers

Well it's only fitting that the Lakers-Rockets series is going to seven games. After all, who wouldn't expect this since the Rockets are playing without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady? Oh wait, you mean the Lakers have gotten blown out in the two games in Houston since Yao's injury? The only word that can describe the Lakers performance tonight is pathetic. I'm pretty sure the Clippers could have given a better effort than the Lakers did tonight. I was disgusted watching this team play, and really for the first time was ashamed of the team and the coaching staff. I guess the past two games in Houston have given me an inside look on what it's like to be a Clipper fan. They're used to mediocre performances from their team, and it sure looked like the Lakers were trying to give them some competition tonight.

Tonight's game was a virtual repeat of Game 4. The Rockets dominated from the start, and led by as many as 18. The Lakers were resilient though, as they cut the lead down to two at one point in the 3rd quarter. The Lakers were never able to get over the hump and now must find a way to regroup for Game 7. What bothers me the most is that it's not even the Rockets superstars that are beating the Lakers, it's guys like LUIS SCOLA and CARL LANDRY. Give me a freaking break Lakers! I mean at least let Ron Artest beat you. The way the Lakers played in Game 5 is exactly how they should have been playing all series. Tonight they looked flat, they were horrible on defense, and they could not make shots to save their lives. 

I love Derek Fisher, but it's about time Phil Jackson starts Jordan Farmar. Fisher has played like absolute garbage this series. Tonight he shot 1-7 from the field and went a stellar 0-5 from 3-point land. Kobe Bryant had 32 points for the Lakers, who lost for the third time in the past 18 games when they have had a chance to close out a series.

The Lakers focus now shifts to Game 7, which is in Los Angeles on Sunday. Despite how poorly the Lakers played tonight, I can't say I'm terribly worried that they will lose the series. Sure anything can happen in a Game 7, but if there are two people I want on my team for a Game 7, it's Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. Kobe has averaged more than 35 points in games after the Lakers have lost. Kobe simply will not let this team lose in the second round, especially to a Rockets team that the Lakers have dominated at times in this series. In Game 5, the Lakers won by 40 points. Staples Center will be rocking, and the Lakers will advance to the Western Conference Finals to face Denver, guaranteed. If they lose, so help me God.

What A Year It Has Been

On my final night of my freshman year at ASU, I was able to enjoy a nice Laker blowout. The Lake Show is one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals after they destroyed Houston 118-78 in Game 5 of the best of seven series. This finally looked like the Laker team I have seen all year. They were aggressive on defense, they looked great on offense, and they were energetic. The Lakers more than made up for their pitiful performance on Sunday, when they lost 99-87. Andrew Bynum started at center and played well, scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds. The duo of Pau Gasol and Bynum were unstoppable, and I expect to see the Lakers close out the series in Game 6, which is Thursday night in Houston at 6:30

My freshman year at Arizona State is all but over. I have to write one final story for my news writing class, and then I will be done. How fast the time has gone. It seems like yesterday that I was moving in and meeting a new group of people, and now I am moving out with a year full of unforgettable memories.

It's only been one year, but I already know that coming to Arizona State is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Over the past year I have gotten to know so many fun, loving, and interesting people. I have met people that are just as crazy about sports as I am. The guys I am living with next year are a few of the closest friends I have ever had in my life. Coming into my freshman year, I didn't know what to expect. Never in a million years did I think I would have as much fun as I did this past year. Everyone I have gotten to know in Cronkite Village has had an impact on me in one way or another, and for that I am very grateful. 

Not only has the social life been great, but the extra-cirricular life has been spectacular. It took me all of three weeks before I made my debut on the Blaze 1260 AM. The times I have had at the Blaze have been great. From doing Bottom of the Sixth, to calling three ASU Basketball games this year, I have had a fantastic experience in student radio. The experiences with the Blaze have only cemented the fact that I know Sports Radio is the career I want to pursue. I would be ignorant if I didn't give my praise to the one who has made this all possible for me: God. He has blessed me with the opportunity to be at ASU, and to be involved with the Blaze. Without him, I would be nothing. I also have to give my deepest thanks to my parents, who have supported me and sacrificed so much for me to be here. They have been my biggest supporters, always encouraging me and listening to me every time I was on-the-air. Without their love and support, I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am now.

The time has come, so for now, I say farewell to ASU. I leave the desert later today, and will be back in mid-August. I hope the next three months of summer go by as quickly as this past school year did. This year has been a blast, and I can only hope next year is even better. 

Mother's Day Massacre

The Lakers blew a golden opportunity to put away the Houston Rockets, as they were beat 99-87 in Game 4 of their best of seven series today. Not only did the Rockets beat the Lakers without Yao Ming, they made it look easy. Point guard Aaron Brooks led the way with 34 points, and Shane Battier added 23 for the Rockets, who are now 4-0 all time against the Lakers when playing without Yao. 

Houston started the game on a 22-7 run, and from there it was obvious the Lakers were both lethargic and taking the Rockets lightly. They played horrible defense and gave away turnovers, which led to easy points for Houston. The halftime score was 54-36, and at that point I figured the Lakers would make halftime adjustments and come out strong in the third quarter, but I was wrong. Houston outscored the Lakers 29-18 in the third quarter. Oh I forgot to mention Aaron Brooks alone scored 17 points in the quarter. Yes you read that clearly, AARON BROOKS had 1 point less than the entire Laker team in the third quarter. To make matters worse, Laker forward Lamar Odom left the game with back spasms in the middle of the third quarter. Then there is Kobe Bryant, who finished with 15 points on 7-of-17 shooting. In the first three games, Bryant averaged 35 points and took more than 25 shots in each game. 

It's as if the Lakers were surprised to see the Rockets play with heart after they lost Yao Ming for the year. The Rockets are down two centers, so why Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum didn't get the ball down low every possession is a mystery. When the game was over in the fourth quarter, the Lakers finally went to Pau over and over, and what do you know, they won the quarter by 17 points. With Yao out, a faster pace favors Houston. The Lakers cannot get caught playing Houston's style of play. They need to slow it down, and hold Houston to perimeter shots, but CHALLENGE them.

The Lakers blew a golden chance to put Houston away. If they had won, they would have taken a 3-1 series lead going back to Los Angeles, and they would have sucked away any momentum from Houston. Now the Rockets believe they can win, and frankly the Lakers should be worried. They are not playing anywhere near the level they can, and considering that Cleveland and Denver are playing out their minds right now, I don't even know if you can guarantee the Lakers can win the Western Conference. I love Phil Jackson, but part of the blame of this pathetic performance today has to fall on his shoulders. The Lakers need to make adjustments, and they need to wake up and realize this Rockets team is for real and out for blood. The positive thing is that the Lakers split the two games in Houston, and now have home court advantage again. All they need to do is win on their home court and they will advance to the Western Conference Finals. Game 5 is Tuesday night at 7:30 in Los Angeles. 

It's Just Manny Being Manny...

A day after the Dodgers set MLB history, they were hit with a....BAM! And no, I'm not referring to the sound of the bat after a Manny Ramirez home run, I'm referring to the hammer that Major League Baseball brought down on the Dodgers slugger today. Manny has been suspended for 50 games effective immediately for violating the MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Now let's make one thing clear: Manny DID NOT test positive for steroids, rather he tested positive for a substance that is on the league's banned list. According to Yahoo Sports, the substance Manny tested positive for is called HCG, which is a female fertility drug  (Atta boy Manny!). Manny claims he didn't know the drug was illegal, but the fact is he will now be put in the same category as Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Roger Clemens as far as people that have been implicated in the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The difference is that unlike Bonds or A-Rod, Manny has been suspended by this drug policy. Say all you want about Barry Bonds, the fact is he has never been suspended. Say all you want about A-Rod, the fact is he has never been suspended. The thing I am most disappointed in is that Manny should have known better than to put something in his body if he had ANY doubt that it could have been illegal. Instead of going to some random doctor in Florida, he should have consulted a team physician and gotten a medicine that is approved by Major League Baseball. Because of his choice, Manny will lose about $8 million of his $25 million salary.

This is a devastating blow not only to the Dodgers, but to all the fans that treated Manny like a God. Never would I have thought that any other athlete in Los Angeles would be on an equal popularity level as Kobe Bryant, but Manny is. He is the reason why so many people pay good money to go to games, I mean for crying out loud there are a couple of sections at Dodger Stadium referred to as "Mannywood". I expect Dodger fans to support Manny through all of this, but even I being the loyal Dodger fan I am will have a hard time looking at Manny the same way I did before. Never did I think Manny would ever be caught using a banned-substance. At this time, I really have to wonder if there is anyone in the game that isn't taking some sort of performance-enhancing drug. It's because of instances like these that so many people look at baseball as a joke.

Manny was batting .348 with six home runs and 20 RBI's. The Dodgers still have the best record in baseball at 21-8, and lead the National League West by 6 1/2 games. Manny's absence will have a huge impact on the play of guys like Orlando Hudson, Andre Eithier, and Matt Kemp. Not only is Manny a leader on the field, but he is a leader off the field as well. He is the calming presence in the Dodger clubhouse, and he taught players to have fun while playing the game. There is still a lot of information to be revealed, but for the time being, Manny has ruined his reputation. He will now be treated like an A-Rod or a Barry Bonds in opposing ballparks (Not that he wasn't already). It's sad that six out of the top 12 leaders in home runs could potentially miss the Hall of Fame due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

I'm still in shock, I never thought Manny would ever cheat, but I guess at this point, it's not surprising. It is only a matter of time before the next superstar is caught, which is very sad. The thing is Manny came clean and admitted his use, and for that I can forgive him. I am still happy he is a Dodger, God knows the Dodgers would not be anywhere close to where they are now if it wasn't for him. I know that the LA fans will welcome him back with open arms on July 3rd, when he is eligible to rejoin the team. The fact is the Dodgers can win without Manny, and now is the time where manager Joe Torre makes his veteran leadership felt in the clubhouse. Torre has had experience dealing with the media when he was in New York, and he will have to do the same now in LA. If the Dodgers can go .500 in the time Manny is gone, they will be fine and will probably still win the division. But until July 3rd, the Dodgers will be without their best player, and a city will be without its hero.

Tempers Flare, but Lakers Prevail

Fasten your seatbelts ladies and gentleman, we've got ourselves a series. The Los Angeles Lakers evened things out in Game 2 of the best of seven series, as they defeated the Houston Rockets 111-98 behind Kobe Bryant's 40 points. Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who have now won 14 of their last 16 playoff games at home. Lamar Odom got the start over Andrew Bynum and played 34 minutes. Jordan Farmar came off the bench and logged in more minutes in Game 2 than he had in the entire postseason, as he was a big part of why the Lakers outscored Houston 20-5  in fast break points. 

After seeing Kobe Bryant shoot poorly in Game 1, I expected him to come out right away and put his imprint in this game. He did that immediately in the first quarter, as he went 7-of-11 from the field and scored 15 points, while Pau shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and finished the quarter with 13 points. I have said time and time again that if I was a head coach, and I had to pick one player to have in a must win game, there is no question it would be Kobe. Knowing the magnitude and potential championship implications this game had, Kobe came out on fire and willed his team to victory. Like he did in Game 4 of the Utah series, Kobe put the Laker team on his back and put on a "Jordanesque" performance

This game was boiled with emotions. There were two ejections, five technical fouls, and one flagrant foul called. Derek Fisher was ejected at the end of the third quarter after getting a flagrant-two foul for throwing an elbow at the head of Luis Scola. Fisher's hit was great for football, but his foul will most certainly result in a suspension of Game 3. Ron Artest was ejected for receiving two technical fouls after getting an elbow to the throat from Kobe. I knew this would be a physical series, but there appears to be bad blood between the two teams. The NBA is reviewing Fish's foul, and I'd be shocked if he wasn't suspended for Game 3. 

It was a great win for the Lakers, but the next two games in Houston will determine the Lake Show's fate in the series. LA has to win at least one of the games to keep their hopes of advancing alive. If they lost both games in Houston, they will lose the series. Game 3 is tomorrow night at 6:30 in Houston.

Houston, We Have A Problem

Well that wasn't exactly the result I was hoping to see. The Houston Rockets shocked the world after they beat the Los Angeles Lakers 100-92 in Game 1 of their best of seven series. Yao Ming had 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Ron Artest added 21 points for the Rockets, who are playing in the second round for the first time since 1997. Kobe Bryant scored 32 points and did his best to keep the Lakers in the game despite playing with a sore throat. Bryant scored 22 of the final 42 points for the Lakers, who lost at home in the playoffs for only the second time in the past 15 games.

I can't find the proper word to describe my feelings on this game. Upset? Frustrated? Worried? Annoyed? Well all of those words can apply after watching the Lakers pathetic performance. Give a lot of credit to Houston. They were better on offense, they were more physical, and they were out to prove that they will not be intimidated by the Lakers. Every time the Lakers made a run, the Rockets would respond with a run of their own, as they were in control of the game the entire time. While I'll give credit to Houston, I can't help but to note on how poorly the Lakers played. Two stats that stick out are that the Lakers went 2-of-18 from three point land, and they went 12-of-19 from the free throw line. Pau Gasol was pathetic and so was Lamar Odom. Gasol finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, however he got a few baskets in garbage time. Odom had nine points and five rebounds, and went 1-of-6 from the free throw line. While Kobe had 32 points, it took him 31 shots to get there. It's clear the Lakers do not do well when Kobe shoots a lot, as they are 2-7 in the last nine playoff games Kobe has taken more than 30 shots. 

I love Phil Jackson, I usually don't criticize or judge any coaching moves he makes, but I was not pleased with the fact that Andrew Bynum barely played. In 15 minutes of play, Bynum had 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting. I really don't understand why Bynum was sitting on the bench for most of the second half, he played solid defense on Yao Ming while he was in, and he was actually able to make his shots unlike Gasol. It makes no sense to me, but I don't have nine championship rings so I'll leave it to Phil to make the coaching moves.

The good thing is that it's a seven game series, and there is still plenty of basketball to be played. The Lakers lost home-court advantage, but if there is any team that I can trust to win a game on the road, it's the Lakers. It was a week since the Lakers last played, and they sure showed signs of rust. I expect the Lakers to rebound and win Game 2, but at the same time, I expect Houston to come out with a fire as their confidence is sky high right now. Game 2, which is Wednesday night at 7:30 in Los Angeles is now a must win for the Lakers. 

So how about them Dodgers? The Blue Crew won again tonight, as they improved their major league leading record to 19-8, and 11-0 at home, which is the best start at home in National League history. Manny Ramirez and Andre Eithier hit back-to-back home runs for the Dodgers, who have now won five in a row. The Dodgers are one win away from tying the best home start in major league history. Hopefully they can keep up their stellar play, but as I said before, I care way more about the Lakers right now and really can't fully enjoy the Dodgers success just yet. 

WWE Monday Night Raw was less than stellar tonight, but it was still entertaining enough to help me forget about the Lakers loss. Randy Orton and The Legacy injured Shane McMahon, as they "shattered" his ankle with a steel chair. Shane O'Mac will probably be out of action for quite some time with his "injury". Judgement Day is two weeks away, but I doubt it will be a good Pay-Per-View as the matches scheduled so far really aren't anything to get excited about. 

Tomorrow is my last regular day of class, and then I start finals on Thursday. I am done with school a week from tomorrow. Today's forecast in Phoenix: Sunny with a high of 100.

Second Round Preview

The second round of the NBA playoffs began today, as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 109-95. I'll give a Lakers-Rockets preview, but instead of giving previews for the other matchups, I'm just going to give my predictions.

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs #5 Houston Rockets

The Lakers are the deeper, longer and more talented team in this matchup. Coming off a 4-1 series win against the Utah Jazz, the Lakers had a few days to rest before finding out they would be playing Houston. The Rockets are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1997 after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.

 The Lakers beat the Rockets all four times in the regular season, and the average margin of victory was 13 points. The Lakers have the advantage at almost every position, with the exceptions being at the center and the small forward. Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks played great in the Portland series, but in his two starts against the Lakers in the regular season, he was very ineffective as he averaged eight points while shooting 5-of-14 from the field. No one will get an advantage over Kobe Bryant, who really seems to enjoy playing against Shane Battier and Ron Artest. Kobe was very effective against Houston in the regular season, and I don't see anything that Artest or Battier can do other than fire him up. The one distinct advantage Houston has is their big man in the middle. Yao Ming is the best offensive center in the NBA, and has improved his defensive play tremendously. Yao will surely be tested on defense in this series with the Laker duo of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. With Bynum expected to be inserted back in the starting lineup, Lamar Odom will now be coming off the Laker bench that played very well against Utah. 

While Houston looked good against Portland, I just don't see any way that they give the Lakers a legitimate scare. The Rockets do not have the individual talent to threaten the Lakers, and they are very susceptible to being shut down for long periods of time. At this point the only thing that can stop the Lakers is themselves. Expect the Lakers to play with more intensity, as they have been criticized for seemingly playing careless basketball against Utah. With Kobe leading the way, the Lakers should roll through this series onto the Western Conference Finals. Game 1 is tomorrow night at 7:30 in Los Angeles

Pick- Lakers in five

#2 Denver Nuggets vs #6 Dallas Mavericks

Pick- Nuggets in six

In the Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #4 Atlanta Hawks

Pick- Cavs in seven

#2 Boston Celtics vs #3 Orlando Magic

Pick- Magic in six

First round prediction results: 6-2