LeBron James on Letterman 2012 NBA Champions Miami Heat
Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
LeBron says Ibaka is 'stupid'
LeBron James fired back at Serge Ibaka, calling him "stupid" after the Oklahoma City forward said people were giving James too much credit in the NBA finals for his defensive play.
"I don't really care what he says, he's stupid," James said at Tuesday morning's practice. "Everyone says something to me every series, then (the media) tries to get a quote. It's stupid."
Ibaka, who is considered one of the top defensive players on the Thunder, told the Palm Beach Post, "LeBron is not a good defender. He can play defence for two to three minutes but not 48. LeBron can't play (Kevin Durant) one-on-one."
James and Ibaka were both on the NBA's All-Defensive Team this season.
Three-time league MVP James has drawn high praise in the 2012 postseason for the way he has shut down the other teams' top scorers like Durant and forced them to take fouls.
Miami heads into Tuesday night's game four with a 2-1 series lead. Part of the reason is three-time scoring leader Durant has gotten into foul trouble the last two games and has been sitting for long stretches on the bench when the Thunder need him on the floor.
Congo's Ibaka, who is in his third season, has a league leading 56 blocks in 18 playoff games this season.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
NBA Micro-Movie: 2012 Finals - Game 1
The 2012 Finals have begun! Watch the highlights from game one of the Heat vs Thunder series in our Mini-Movie format.
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2012 finals playoffs mini movie oklahoma city thunder miami heat lebron james kevin durant james harden russell westbrook thabo sefolosha dwyane wade chris bosh haslem mario chalmers mike miller serge ibaka kendrick perkins nick collison game 1 fans excitement highlights slam dunk layup pass amazing phantom basketball NBA BIG
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Boston Celtics and Miami Heat Tie Up Series 3-3
Before tonight's game six of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, Massachusetts was awash with Celtic Pride. From front page newspapers like the Boston Herald, to talk radio and local news coverage, residents of the Commonwealth were already celebrating as if the Celtics had already amassed the series. Even Boston's Mayor Menino, who is nicknamed "Mumbles," got so caught up in the hysteria that he flubbed the names of Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett. But after tonight's game, it looks like Celtics devotees will have to wait until game 7 to claim victory. The Boston Celtics lost in game six to the Miami Heat, final score 98 - 79. A complete blow out by the Heat. The funny thing about Celtics fans, and New England sports fans in general, is their tremendous amount of enthusiasm. Boston sports fans are undeniably loyal, comically vocal, and their spirit can never be conquered. The loss to the Miami Heat tonight doesn't even effect them.
As a bandwagon Boston sports fans, I've come to a conclusion as to why Bostonians, and New England at large, are undeterred by a loss to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Sure, tonight's failure is a letdown, but it's almost as if we don't even recognize the loss. It doesn't affect our enthusiasm for the team. We just ignore the outcome and move towards the next game with the same vigor and confidence that we had prior to the loss. The reason we are so readily able to look beyond a defeat is because Boston sports have suffered so many improbable and dramatic losses in the past, that we don't even feel disappointment anymore. Whether it be the "Curse of the Bambino" or the Giants last minute Superbowl win over the New England Patriots, we are undisturbed by these disappointments. It has become a part of our expectations for our sports teams. Whether it be the Boston Celtics or the Boston Red Sox, any time our favorite teams make it to the finals, we cheer and roar with unbridled support. If they fail, we just move on to the next season. We don't mourn the loss and we don't feel disappointment. Not anymore. It's so engrained into our history that it rolls off our backs like water beads on an oil slick.
Some people may think that this instilled and almost natural view is negative and counterproductive. After all, don't New Age guru's claim that positive thoughts breed positive results? In truth, I think it's great that as Boston sports fans, we can handle disheartenment so easily. While other fans may get stressed out or lose complete faith in their team, we never lose faith that at some point, we will win again. It may not be this year, it may be in 80 years, but we know at some point it will come to pass. And until that day, we don't live with hope and disappointment. We live with assurance, confidence and pride. Those are the genuine qualities of a Boston sports fan.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Celtics hope to repeat history against LeBron
LeBron James appreciates the irony. Matching up against the Boston Celtics, on the road, with the season on the line. He faced it in 2008 and lost. He faced it in 2010 and lost, removing his Cleveland Cavaliers jersey for the final time as he left the floor that night.
And now in a championship-or-bust season for the Miami Heat, James heads back to Boston for another win-or-else game. "It is fitting," James said.
The Celtics lead the Heat 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, and on Thursday night (Friday morning, PHL time) will look to clinch a third trip in five years to the NBA finals. If they succeed in Game 6 -- or Game 7, if it comes to that -- all three of those most recent Boston trips to the title round would come at James' expense.
His first five games at Boston resulted in three wins. His 19 games there since have also resulted in three wins.
No team, maybe no other building, has befuddled James as much as the Celtics and the arena they call home. He's had a 45-point effort there in a loss, a 42-point effort there in a loss, a 27-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist effort there in a loss. Another loss on Thursday, and his ninth season will end as the previous eight did -- without a championship.
"I know how much pain this team has given me over the years," James said. "So I guess it's only right that we would be going up there in an elimination game. In order for us to keep our season going, we've got to win in their building. So that's what it's about."
It's no secret that the expectation -- both internally and externally -- for the Heat is to win championships. That's what James famously vowed to get when he came to Miami in July 2010, and after losing in last season's finals to Dallas, it's been the only goal for the Heat in what the team has steadfastly referred to as a no-excuse season.
James won his third MVP award this season. He's averaging 29.9 points in the playoffs, six points better than his pace from a year ago and one-tenth of a point away from Kobe Bryant for the league's postseason lead in that department. And if Miami loses on Thursday night, the Heat season - and James' - will go down in most circles as a failure.
"We have to do this together," Heat forward Chris Bosh said. "He's going to do what he's supposed to do, and we're going to do what we're supposed to do. We're going to do it together. We live and die together. You can't just single him out. People have to stop doing that. It's a team sport. If he performs, he's going to perform, and he's going to do his job."
Even with the Heat down in the series after a 94-90 home loss the previous night, Wednesday's practice in Miami did not have a funereal mood.
James was chatting and laughing as he shot free throws with some teammates toward the end of the workout, not far from where Heat President Pat Riley sat at his customary table to watch the proceedings. Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem teased each other about how much the other read, or didn't read, while enrolled at Florida. Mario Chalmers and assistant coach David Fizdale were talking about nuances of Boston guard Ray Allen's game.
"I think we're all disciplined enough to compartmentalize and focus on the challenge that we have ahead of us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It never is easy on your journey to try to be an NBA champion. You'll always have these tough moments where you have to come together and go through that moment together. You can't skip it. There isn't an easy way."
There usually isn't an easy way against Boston, which is why this core of James, Bosh and Dwyane Wade came together in the first place. James wanted to increase his odds of winning a championship. Bosh wanted to get in the mix for one. When the Heat lost a first-round series to Boston in 2010, Wade vowed that Miami would get back to title-contending or he would go elsewhere.
"We got together, we want to compete for a championship, we want to win a championship every year," Wade said. "To us, it's not about outside expectations. It's our own expectations. You think if we lose, you guys are hurt by it? No. We are hurt by it.
"This is what we love to do," Wade added. "This is what our families love us to do. It's what we work all year for. We put a lot into it, obviously, as well as the other teams in the NBA. This is our job. So we're going to try to go out there and do our job and try to get a win."
That burden will largely fall on James, of course.
"No one said it was going to be easy," James said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge, me personally. I'm looking forward to it more than probably anyone on the team. So I'm going to lead these guys in the right direction, and hopefully it results in us winning."
Otherwise, it'll be another long summer.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to try to come through for our team," James said. "(Tuesday) night I felt like I could have made a couple more plays, and I didn't. But at the end of the day, if you play hard, you go out there and lay it on the line, the numbers will take care of itself. And you can be happy with it."
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Thunder advance to the NBA Finals
Call it a passing of the torch.
The young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 63-48 halftime deficit to shock the veteran San Antonio Spurs, 107-99 on the Thunder's home-court, putting them through to the NBA Finals, Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time).
The Thunder trailed the series 0-2, with the Spurs riding a 20-game win streak, but their resolve never wavered, pulling off a four game sweep to ride into the Finals with home-court advantage in tow.
Oklahoma City opened the third quarter on a 12-5 run that got them to within five points, 67-62, on a Kevin Durant triple, 7:11 left in the period. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili pushed their advantage back to nine, 71-62, but the Thunder countered with a 17-6 blast, with Durant draining yet another triple, to take the lead, 79-77.
Charities by Stephen Jackson and a score by Tony Parker allowed the Spurs to take a slim 81-80 lead entering the fourth, which they extended to 83-80 after Ginobili drew first blood in the final period. But the tight OKC defense held the Spurs without another field goal until the 5:26 mark of the quarter, getting a Tim Duncan hook shot to San Antonio to within two, 91-89.
Back-to-back triples by Derek Fisher and James Harden dug San Antonio a six-point hole, 99-93, 3:13 left to play, but the Spurs gamely pressed on, chipping it to two-points multiple times.
With under a minute left though, a dunk by Kendrik Perkins restored the advantage to six, and James Harden nailed clinching free throws shortly after, to seal the Thunder win.
Kevin Durant, who played the entire game, tallied a game-best 34 points, along with 14 rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks.
Teammate Russell Westbrook added 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while James Harden chimed in 16 markers, five boards and four dimes more.
Tony Parker finished with 29 for the Spurs, but his spectacular play in the first half seemingly vanished down the stretch. Tim Duncan posted a 25-11 performance, while Stephen Jackson came off the bench to provide 23 points, missing just one of his seven triple attempts.
The Thunder now await the winner of the Boston Celtics - Miami Heat series over in the Eastern Conference Finals. -
Source: GMA News
Monday, June 4, 2012
NBA: Thunder roll over Spurs, on the brink of making the NBA Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder moved one win away from the NBA championship finals after a 108-103 road victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) gave them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Kevin Durant top-scored for the Thunder with 27 points while Russell Westbrook provided a further 23 and James Harden 20 as Oklahoma City resigned the Spurs to a third consecutive defeat for the first time this season.
San Antonio won the opening two games of the series, part of a 20-game winning streak, but are now staring down the barrel at extinction having lost at home for the first time since April 11 (April 12, PHL time).
The Thunder led at each break and by as many as 14 during the second quarter before the Spurs clawed back.
Seemingly beaten when down by 13 late in the fourth, San Antonio plundered 11 unanswered points to draw within two only to see Westbrook snap the streak with a clutch basket.
Harden then sucked the life out the Spurs with a great three pointer with just 28 seconds left.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich tried to spark his offense by starting regular sixth-man Manu Ginobili for Danny Green, but despite a game high 34 points it wasn't enough.
The series continues in Oklahoma City with Game Six on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time). - Reuters
Monday, May 28, 2012
Gasol would like to play for the Bulls
Bulls.com columnist Sam Smith writes that versatile big man Pau Gasol might be exchanging Hollywood for the Windy City, citing Los Angeles Lakers insiders who tell him that "Gasol would like to play for the Bulls."
The 32-year-old Spaniard averaged a career-low 17.4 points, to go with 10.4 rebounds this past season with some questionable playoffs performances, including back-to-back single digit games against the Denver Nuggets in the first round, and some fourth quarter disappearing acts in the Western Conference semifinals versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the same column, Smith also wrote, "You hardly need any sources for is to see [sic] how he and Bryant basically can't stand one another....That was because Bryant and Gasol were constantly at odds. And that came out several times in the playoffs with the two frequently arguing on the court and Bryant again questioning Gasol's heart."
Gasol currently is on the books for two more seasons at more than $19 million dollars per year.
Chicago is entering an off-season of questions, after Derrick Rose tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The doctor who performed the surgery to repair the tear said the former MVP could miss an entire year while recovering from the injury. - AMD, GMA News
Friday, May 25, 2012
Iverson wanted to play in the PBA
Prominent import agent Sheryl Reyes wasn’t the least bit surprised about the idea of former NBA superstar Allen Iverson playing in the Philippines. In an interview with NBA TV, host Rick Kamla noted the Philippines as a possible destination for the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player, after Iverson made an appearance in the Philadelphia 76ers’ match against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
“Yeah, dati pa,” said Reyes about Iverson’s interest in possibly coming to the country.“I’ve tried to hook up with Moore Management, which handles him, pero mukhang ,alabo because of the amount. But Allen was really interested and his interest even grew when he learned that several other ex-NBA players were able to play in the PBA like DerMarr Johnson, Rodney White and Donnell Harvey.”
Iverson, according to Reyes, is close to Johnson, his former teammate with the Denver Nuggets. Johnson played last conference for Barako Bull in the PBA.
“Iverson is a good friend of DerMarr and he was the one who encouraged Allen to play here, but when we talked about the contract details, he can’t bend down for a low contract,” Reyes said.
“Iverson wants $120,000 a month,” said Reyes. PBA imports are paid a maximum of $20,000 a month for their services, according to uniform league contracts.
Listed at just 6-feet, Iverson would have easily been eligible to play in the ongoing Governors’ Cup, which caps the height of reinforcements at 6-foot-5. Iverson, however, would have to deal with being at a height disadvantage against taller imports — a risky proposition for PBA teams.
The PBA wouldn’t have been Iverson’s first stint playing for an international squad. In 2010, Iverson signed a two-year, $4-million deal with Turkish club Besiktas. But he was let out of his contract after incurring a left calf injury that required him to go back to the United States for treatment.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Allen Iverson returns to Philly
With the Sixers a game away from elimination in their series against the Celtics, the franchise decided they could use a little inspiration. With that in mind, the team brought back Allen Iverson to deliver the game ball before tonight’s Game 6.
NBA star-player, disguised as old man, plays pickup. Guess who it is?
"Pepsi MAX went to a pick-up game in Bloomfield, NJ pretending to shoot a documentary on a basketball player named "Kevin." When his Uncle Drew came into the game, some magical things happened. "
Monday, May 21, 2012
Thunder closed out the Lakers in Game 5
MVP: Though Kevin Durant was brilliant and more efficient, let's throw these honors to Russell Westbrook, whose incandescent third quarter spurred the rally that ultimately buried the Lakers.
X Factor: Andrew Bynum had a strong start to the game, but found himself in foul trouble and ended up with 10 points and 4 rebounds in what looked like a lackadaisical effort. A dialed-in Kobe netted 42 points.
That was ... exciting. The Thunder played an immaculate second half, with all three of their key perimeter playmakers showing up. They gave NBA fans every reason to believe the Western Conference Finals against the juggernaut Spurs will be a special series.
Thunder's Kevin Durant buries Lakers: NBA playoffs
Thunder 103, Lakers 100
LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook scored 10 of his 37 points during a stirring fourth-quarter comeback, Kevin Durant added 31 points and hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder seized control of the second-round series with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4.
Serge Ibaka scored 14 points for the second-seeded Thunder, who took a 3-1 series lead and moved to the brink of their second straight trip to the Western Conference final.
Oklahoma City improved to 7-1 in the postseason with a tenacious rally on the second night of back-to-back games against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, who scored 38 points in Los Angeles' fifth loss in seven games overall.
The Thunder finished Game 4 on a 22-8 run, punctuated by Durant's 3-pointer and two late free throws from James Harden, who had 12 points.
Game 5 is Monday night in Oklahoma City.
Spurs sweep away Clippers: NBA playoffs
Spurs 102, Clippers 99
LOS ANGELES — Tim Duncan scored 21 points, Tony Parker added 17 and the San Antonio Spurs rallied in the final minutes to beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night, closing out the series 4-0 and advancing to the Western Conference final.
The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best post-season streak in franchise history.
Danny Green and Gary Neal added 14 points each, and Manu Ginobili and Thiago Splitter had 11 each for the Spurs.
San Antonio could find out as soon as Monday night who it will play next. Oklahoma City leads the Lakers 3-1 in their series, with Game 5 on Monday.
Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin added 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Clippers, who blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter. - AP
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Denver's McGee may play for Gilas Pilipinas
MANILA, Philippines – There is a big chance that the Denver Nuggets' 7-footer JaVale McGee will play for the Philippine national basketball team, better known as Smart Gilas Pilipinas.
That is, if McGee will be granted Filipino citizenship by the House of Representatives.
 |
| Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) dunks the ball as Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (L) watches during Game 5 of their first round NBA Western Conference basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, California, May 8, 2012. Photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters. |
In House Bill 6169, or Act Granting Philippine Citizenship to JaVale Lindy McGee, Antipolo Congressman Robbie Puno asked his colleagues in Congress to grant McGee Filipino citizenship so he will be eligible to play for Gilas.
"Pinaka-importante, nanghihinayang tayo na sa huling FIBA Asia ang pumatay sa atin ang mga naturalized players ng ibang bansa," Puno said. "So paano kung may mangyari kay (Marcus) Douthit, sana meron pa tayong isa pang naturalized player in McGee, at bata pa s'ya, he's only 24-years-old."
Smart Gilas head coach Chot Reyes clarified that the national team’s naturalized player is still Marcus Douthit.
"But then we are thinking that Douthit is already 31, turning 32-years-old. We have to make preparations for a younger player in the future," he said.
Ultimate All-Star
McGee became known worldwide after competing in the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Competition, becoming the first man to dunk two basketballs on two separate rings at the same time.
He first met Reyes when McGee came to the Philippines last July 2011 to play in a two-game series, the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend, with other NBA players including Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Derrick Rose.
But it was McGee who made the biggest impression on the Filipino fans, thanks to his dazzling array of powerful dunks and his on-court antics, which included 'planking' – or lying face down – on the floor of the Araneta Coliseum.
"(JaVale) really fell in love with the country, he liked Manila," Reyes said. "JaVale fit all the characteristics I want in a naturalized player."
"He's a 7-footer, he's tall, athletic, quick. He's not a slow big man... We felt that he was an ideal choice to be a naturalized Filipino and he agreed, he liked the idea," he added.
McGee took to Twitter last January where he announced that he will be willing to play for the Philippines if given a chance.
heard from @coachot that d Phil national team is about to be formed. Would love to represent d Phils if given d chance
— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) January 7, 2012
Reyes said that getting McGee naturalized was just the first step.
"Malayo pa naman 'yan. Right now, our naturalized player is still Marcus Douthit. Until the papers, the bill gets passed and there's still a lot of work to be done on the Denver Nuggets side with JaVale," Reyes said.
"The important thing is he himself wants to do it."
McGee was taken by the Washington Wizards 18th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft; he was traded to the Denver Nuggets this season.
In his four years in the NBA, McGee has averaged 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He made his first playoff appearance this season for the Nuggets, losing in 7 games to the Los Angeles Lakers.
He averaged 8.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks in the 7-game series; in the Nuggets' 102-99 Game 5 victory, McGee scored 21 points to go along with 14 rebounds.
Compensation
Reyes acknowledged that getting McGee to play for Gilas will come at a steep price.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (R) and Denver Nuggets' JaVale McGee eye a rebound during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference basketball playoff series in Los Angeles, California May 12, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
"The thing that we did here with the JaVale McGee situation is we thought outside the box," he said. "First, to be able to come up with a name like JaVale McGee, it really required some outrageous thinking."
"Obviously, the compensation, I’m not gonna deny that it's gonna come at a steep price. We just had to do some creative thinking here, and what we came up with the help of Smart, they're putting together a promotional campaign starring JaVale himself," Reyes explained.
"The package we are putting together is a combination of a Smart endorsement and playing for Gilas, and hopefully we'll be able to put together something that will be acceptable to JaVale."
Bringing McGee as the naturalized player for Gilas is not without its risks, however.
Although he has repeatedly shown the potential to be among the better big men in the NBA, he has gotten a reputation for being goofy and erratic.
Basketball bloggers in the NBA have repeatedly criticized McGee over the past season because some of his antics have angered his coaches and put games at risk.
McGee has excellent shot-blocking instincts, but still has a tendency to get caught out of position on defense. He remains a work in progress on offense, relying on his teammates to set him up for alley-oop dunks or easy lay-ups.
Long-term
If Smart Gilas gets McGee, it will be a major coup as the Nuggets player is a legitimate NBA big man; moreover, he is reportedly being considered to be part of the United States' reserve basketball team.
Reyes insists that the filing of the naturalization bill for McGee is only the first step, and there remains a lot of work to be done.
"The most immediate target is to get all the players that we picked to agree. But right now, we really have to be resigned to the fact that San Miguel is not going to allow their players to be part of the pool," he said.
Gilas had agreed with the Philippine Basketball Association on the creation of a 16-man pool of professional players, which Reyes revealed late last March. But with players from the San Miguel franchises not being allowed to suit up, the team will have to look at other options, Reyes said.
"We are going to figure out, do we replace those players or do we put together the cadet pool of the younger players that are left? We are not yet at that stage," he said.
"The second (priority) is to be able to get them to compete together and practice together," he added.
Reyes added that McGee will most likely be in town by August to train with Gilas in August, but he will not play for Gilas during the Jones Cup.
"Syempre, kailangang magtago din tayo. Ayaw natin ipakita sa kalaban ang gagawin natin," Reyes said.
The newly formed Smart Gilas 2 is targeting the 2016 Olympics, but first they must hurdle their regional foes and prove themselves as the best basketball team in Asia.
"The long term program for Gilas is to make it a continuing program that will allow the Philippines the best representation in the important international competitions," Reyes stressed. "FIBA Asia, Asian Games, all those big international competitions, that's the long-term plan for Gilas."
In the 2011 FIBA Asia Championships in Wuhan, China, the Philippines ended up in fourth place after a heartbreaking 68-70 setback to South Korea in the thrid place game.
Gilas actually had a chance to make it to the finals, but fell to Jordan, 61-75, in the semi-finals.
Douthit led all players in the tournament in scoring (21.9 points per game) and rebounding (12.2 points per game). – Editing by Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBNnews.com
Friday, May 18, 2012
PBA selection to face Yao Ming’s Chinese team in friendly game
A selection of PBA stars with B-MEG coach Tim Cone at the helm will welcome the Chinese Basketball Association’s Shanghai Sharks, a team co-owned by former NBA superstar Yao Ming, in a friendly game at the newly-built SM Mall of Asia Arena on June 28.
PBA operations manager Rickie Santos confirmed the news to InterAKTV, adding that PBA selection would be composed of 16 players.
Reports of a possible Sharks trip to Manila have abound since March, when representatives from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs met with Shanghai vice general manager Qian Anke and team leader Wang Qun along with officials of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to set up details of the visit. The trip is part of the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the PSC with China’s sports minister Liu Peng last year for further cooperation.
Santos said the original plan was to hold two games, on June 29 and 30, but the PBA declined because it had scheduled matches on those days.
News of a basketball team from China’s visit to the Philippines comes as welcome development, considering the two countries are in the midst of a standoff over Scarborough Shoal, leading to increased tension between them.
Earlier, a planned friendly match on June 12 between the Philippine national men’s football team and its counterpart from China did not push through, but Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta said that it was not related to the Scarborough issue. The Azkals, instead, are playing against Guam on Independence Day.
The Sharks’ trip is reportedly part of the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the PSC with China’s sports minister Liu Peng last year for further cooperation.
The Sharks are one of the most successful teams in the CBA, having captured the regular season and playoff titles in the 2001-2002.
Shanghai was also the ball club of Yao before he made a jump in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2002. Yao bought into the franchise in the 2009 after the team suffered financial issues.
It is unclear, however, if Yao is going to make the June trip.
(UPDATE: Yao will join the Sharks on their Philippine trip.)
Offers for PBA
But the Sharks aren’t the only squad looking to see action in the Philippines. A New Zealand club team has expressed its desire to play in a regular PBA tournament.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud, however, is cool to the idea.
“We don’t even have an invitational tournament, so I don’t think that’s possible,” he said.
source: Interaksyon.com
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
VIDEO: Kobe lob to D-Rose
Very rare!! MVP KOBE assist to MVP ROSE. THANKS TO M.V.P. (MVP Sports Foundation)
Filipino basketball fans were treated to a memorable star-studded exhibition game. Inviting NBA ALL Stars to have fun and play against our very own PBA All Stars. This is truly a once in a lifetime event and it will take a long time to see Kobe make another assist to Derrick Rose in a televised game...else where.. just ...so many highlights. We will surely not forget this happened at SMART-ARANETA Coliseum, Manila (July 23,2011 -7pm)
A great Exhibition game and a Memorable One!...made every Filipino basketball fan happy!
A Million Thanks to MVP Foundation, Smart-Araneta Coliseum and Mr. Kobe Bryant (IDOL) for bringing his friends, Derek Fisher, Derrick Rose (IDOL2), Kevin Durant,Chris Paul,Tyreke Evans, JaVale McGee, James Harden and Derrick Williams! THANK YOU IDOL! Hope we see you guys again here in Manila. :)
---------------Honors for this video------------------
July 25, 2011
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Sunday, May 13, 2012
Bulls' Rose has surgery to repair left ACL
CHICAGO (AP) -- Derrick Rose had surgery Saturday on a torn knee ligament, and the Chicago Bulls said they will give an update early next week on the recovery of their star point guard.
The team said in a statement the operation was "successful" but gave no timetable for his return.
Rose tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late during a playoff-opening win over Philadelphia on April 28. He came to a jump stop in the lane and his leg bucked, with the 76ers' Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen rotating toward him. He still went up again and passed to Carlos Boozer in midair before crashing to the court, sending a chill through the arena.
Without its leading scorer, Chicago lost the series in six games.
That certainly wasn't what the Bulls envisioned after capturing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the second straight season despite a long list of injuries. They were eyeing another big run after losing to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals last season but bowed out early, becoming the second No. 1 seed in as many years to fall in the first round.
Rose averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists, but it was a difficult season. The MVP a year ago, he missed 27 games because of groin, back, toe, foot and ankle problems that general manager Gar Forman has said did not lead to the ACL tear. Although the Bulls went 18-9 without him during the regular season, they weren't the same once he went down in the playoffs.
As if Rose's injury wasn't bad enough, the Bulls lost center Joakim Noah to a sprained left ankle in Game 3 and fell into a 3-1 hole before injecting some drama back into the series. They looked as if they were about to force a seventh game with a one-point lead in the closing seconds Thursday, but that changed when C.J. Watson passed to Omer Asik on a break rather than keep the ball.
Asik missed two foul shots before Andre Iguodala drove the length of the court as the defense parted and made both free throws after getting fouled by Asik to give Philadelphia a 79-78 victory.
Derrick Rose's Top 10 Plays of the 2012 NBA Season
Check out the top 10 plays from the regular season by Derrick Rose, the reigning league MVP!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Lakers to Face Thunder in R2 of 2012 NBA Playoffs
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers beat Denver 96-87 on Saturday to edge their first round series 4-3 and reach the Western Conference semi-finals where they will face Oklahoma City Thunder.
Pau Gasol finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds while Andrew Bynum had 16 points and 18 rebounds. Steve Blake scored 19 points and Kobe Bryant had a modest 17 points and eight assists for the Lakers.
Third-seeded Los Angeles also got 15 points from Metta World Peace in his return from a seven-game suspension.
The Lakers advance to play the second-seeded Thunder, who have had more than a week of rest after they swept the defending champion Dallas Mavericks in four games. Game one of the second round series is on Monday.
Al Harrington and Ty Lawson each scored 24 points for Denver, who fell just one victory shy of their first-ever postseason series win over the Lakers.
