Rivalry Revival

The wait is over. The revival of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry has finally started with game one in Beantown. (I predicted this matchup ever since Gasol came to Lakers in midseason) Unfortunately, the Lakers (who I support) went on to lose the game. What’s even more unfortunate is that league MVP Kobe Bryant, who I thought would make the difference, struggled. While part of it was due to the Celtics’ defense, Kobe seemed exhausted, especially in the final quarter – the part of the game that he usually dominates. His shot wasn’t there, and he never got his offense going. In fact, he didn’t have a layup (he had one dunk but it was an open court fast break play). Moreover, he was kinda forcing up some shots, especially in the 4^th quarter. Before the series started, I though that the Lakers would ultimately win because they had the NBA’s best closer and clutch performer in Kobe Bryant. Somehow though, he didn’t live up to this in game one.

Kevin Garnett, on the other had, performed like an MVP. He was all over the floor. He was not very efficient on offense, but he contributed in a lot of other ways. The biggest play of the game, aside from the back-to-back threes by Paul Pierce in the second half, was KG, against the odds, saving the ball at the half court line, which led to a Sam Cassell field goal. That play, to me, summed up the game. The Celtics were the hungrier and more determined team. Interestingly, the Lakers crumbled in the fourth quarter, which was rare for a Phil Jackson coached team.

The biggest x-factor was 38-year old PJ Brown, who worked tirelessly in the paint. He, along with fellow 38-year old Cassell, stabilized the inexperienced Celtics.

Going back to the series itself, NBA fans have been waiting for years to see these two teams play again. I was too young to have seen and remembered their last finals meeting in 1987, but I was able to watch their classic games on DVD.

I dunno if it was just me, but seeing both teams on the parquet floor in Boston gave me goose bumps as I remembered the Bird-Magic rivalry of the 80s. There are similarities: Boston has another “big three” – Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen instead of Bird, McHale and Parish; Lakers has their own Magic in Kobe, who has his own “flair” to the game; the Celtics are more defense minded and physical, while LA was more offensive minded. There are a lot of storylines too, aside from renewing the rivalry among the two winnigest teams in NBA history: if the Lakers win, Jackson would surpass Celtics legend Red Auerbach as the coach with the most NBA championship rings (both have 9 as of now); Pierce (who once admitted hating the Celtics as a kid) growing up as a Laker fan (in fact many of the players participating in this series have grown up watching the Lakers and Celtics); Luke Walton’s dad once played for the Celtics. I’m pretty sure David Stern’s quite happy seeing these two teams meet again – the teams who also met in the Finals (with the Lakers winning) when Stern entered the league back in the 84-85 season. Interestingly, the Finals MVP was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was 38 years old at the time. I guess it is not surprising then that Brown and Cassell are still able to contribute.

These things alone would make the Finals worth watching. Personally, I feel this is the best Finals match-up in years. And this year’s version, to me, is even better than those of the past. Don’t get me wrong, the 1980s rivalry was a classic. But today’s game is even more fun to watch: No short shorts. The athleticism of Kobe and KG, which was rare in the 1980s. And of course, today’s technology: high definition, different camera angles, super slow motion, the internet (which builds up the hype even more, moreover, liveblogging makes the games more fun).

The series has just started, and it will be a long and interesting one. Kobe will definitely play better – he has to. But right now, all I could say is this: the winners are the fans, me included!

Pacquiao joins the Nike Superstars

I just saw Manny Pacquiao's newest Nike international commercial this evening and it was really cool (got goosebumps while watching it). PacMan, the first Filipino Nike endorser, is shown with some of the world’s super athletes: Kobe Bryant, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, and Xiang Liu. It just goes to show the talent within the Nike camp.




It seems clear that Nike has the greatest athletes right now (and makes the best commercials too). Prior to this, Nike had the Air Force 1 (25th anniversary) commercial with NBA superstars Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Paul Pierce, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, LeBron James and Chris Paul.

There was also the commercial featuring the likes of Tiger Woods, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Ronaldinho, and Wayne Rooney on the same training ground.

Going back to the latest one, it would have been better if Tiger Woods was also in it. Nevertheless, according to sources, another Pacquiao Nike ad will soon air this time including the world's number one golfer.

Manny Pacquiao's first ad with Nike was entitled "Ang Mamatay nang Dahil sa ‘Yo", a thematic take-off from the last line of the Philippines' national anthem. The second ad is entitled "Fast Forward" and shows Manny’s routine training. Videos clips from this ad was what was used in the most recent commercial, which to me, was a compilation of the individual TV ads of the Nike superstars.

Ang Mamatay nang Dahil sa ‘Yo


Fast-Forward

Too many stars...

For the 3rd straight year, legendary Spanish football (soccer) club Real Madrid will not be taking home any major championship trophy, after their early exit in the UEFA Champions League. I woke up at 3 this morning just to watch them draw the 2nd leg of their last-16 match against English team Arsenal 0-0. Real Madrid lost on a 1-0 aggregate score since Arsenal won the 1st leg played at Madrid two weeks ago 1-0 on a brilliant goal by captain Thierry Henry. Although it was a goal-less game, it was nonetheless exciting till the end. I was of course rooting for Real, and they had lots of chances, including two near-misses by captain Raul. I also thought Ronaldo should have been awarded a penalty in the first half after being tackled from behind by Roberto.

This only proves one thing. The better team would always emerge victors. Sure, on paper Real Madrid would seem much better, with the likes of superstars Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham, and Raul in their squad. The club, led by president Florentino Pérez, who had recently resigned, has made a habit of buying at least one galáctico (superstar) every year. (A Galáctico is a term used to describe a world-famous soccer player who transfers to Real Madrid). To show you how much star-power its lineup has, over the past 6 years under Pérez's helm, these are some of the players acquired by the club:

2000 - Luis Figo (2001 World Player of the Year)
2001 - Zinedine Zidane (1998, 2000, 2003 World Player of the Year)
2002 - Ronaldo (1996, 1997, 2002 World Player of the Year)
2003 - David Beckham(2-time runner-up, World Player of the Year)
2004 - Michael Owen (2001 European Player of the Year)
2005 - Robinho (heralded as the next Pelé), Julio Baptista

Although this policy has certainly helped cement Real's status as perhaps the world's most prestigious and most popular club, it has so far had limited success on the pitch. If it's based on star quality, Real would certainly be the best team in the world. However, in the world of team sports, that's not always the case.

Recall a couple of years ago when the underdogs Detroit Pistons dominated the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals. The Lakers were a team of superstars - Shaquille O'neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton. They were also guided by a "superstar" coach in the name of Phil Jackson, a man with 9 NBA championship rings. One more would have made it a ring for every finger.

On the other hand, the Pistons did not even have one who could be considered a superstar. Sure, they had good players like the Wallaces (Ben and Rasheed) as well as Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, but none of them were big-names. What they had though was dedication to play as a team on both ends of the floor. They did not care who scored the most points or who got the biggest attention. They were clearly the better team on the court. And they surprised the Lakers and everyone else except me (I knew they were gonna win it all even before the playoffs) by winning the title in a modern day David versus Goliath story.

Another example would be the United States' basketball Dream Team, a team composed of NBA superstars. Of course, it was not like the original Dream Team that ran away with the Olympic gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona games. The players on that team, led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, were all superstars but they also knew how to play as a team. Perhaps, that would remain the greatest team ever assembled in the history of sports.

The most recent USA team, however, placed a very disappointing 6th in the 2002 World Championship and 3rd in the 2004 Olympics. How can a team led by Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and a whole bunch of other superstars lose? You may say that the rest of the world is catching up with the United States, but the bigger reason is that you can't simply toss in the best players and assume that they'd become the best team too. You have to consider the chemistry and balance, and how they play as a unit.

Team USA has began its preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. All players, regardless of their star status will have to do something new to most NBA stars: tryout for the team. Team USA director Jerry Colangelo announced the list of 23 players who will try out for the team in July. Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski will pick a 15-man roster (with 12 active players). Interestingly, 2004 USA co-captain Allen Iverson was not invited.

Unlike the previous Dream Teams, the roster will not be composed of the biggest names available. They would have more role players like Bruce Bowen, Luke Ridnour, and Shane Battier, who were all invited to the tryouts.

The bottom line is that these are team sports. The better team should win. It's not the name at the back of the jersey that matters, but it's the one at the front that's important.

And the first-half winners are...

The second half of the NBA season is underway. I look back at the first half and hand down my own set of awards to the deserving players.

Most Valuable Player

Kobe Bryant – There are 81 big reasons why number 8 is number 1. Many have compared him to the great Michael Jordan and why not? They have similar numbers. They have pretty much the same built, the same shoe company, the same charisma, the same moves, the same killer instinct, and even the same swagger. In fact, Kobe has surpassed MJ in some scoring feats, notable the 81 point game that is considered the highest scoring game ever recorded. The bottom line is Kobe is single-handedly carrying the Lakers, which would make the playoffs if the season had ended now. Right now, Kobe Bryant is the best NBA player – not LeBron James nor anyone else. His all around game is brilliant and his clutch shooting is even more impressive. And like MJ, there’s no one better with the ball when the game is on the line. Kobe Bryant has patterned his game after His Airness. And so far, he’s doing a good job at it.
(Runners-up: Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash)

Rookie of the Year

Chris Paul – This is a no-brainer. At the all-star break, Chris Paul leads all rookies with averages of 15.9 points and 7.7 assists on the season.. Speaking of all-star, he should have been in Houston as an all-star as he has carried the overachieving New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets to the seventh-best record in the very tough Western Conference. The fourth overall pick out of Wake Forest, Paul is the best rookie point guard in a while. For a third time in as many months, he has been named the NBA Rookie of the Month in the Western Conference.
(Runners-up: Channing Frye, Andrew Bogut)

Coach of the Year

Avery Johnson – Although experts pick Detroit’s Flip Saunders, I’d have to say Avery Johnson deserves the award more. He has steered the much improved Dallas Mavericks to the second best record in the NBA. Since taking over midway through last season, he currently has a winning percentage of 82% (59 wins, 13 losses). The “Little General” has transformed the once run-and-gun Mavs to a very respectable defensive team. Flip Saunders, on the other hand, has led the Pistons to the NBA’s best record. But let’s not forget that the Pistons were already a great team, having been in the NBA Finals the past two years and winning it all in 2004.
(Runners-up: Flip Saunders, Mike D’Antoni)

Defensive Player of the Year

Ben Wallace – It is only fitting that the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year should come from the NBA’s best defensive team – the best team for that matter. Big Ben, a two-time winner of this award, deserves it one more time, being the anchor on defense for the league-leading Detroit Pistons. As usual, he is among the league leaders in rebounds, blocked-shots, and steals. More importantly are the intangibles and hustle that he brings into the game. His defensive plays often have a big effect on the outcome of a game, just like his two blocks against Pau Gasol in the all-star game which ignited the Eastern Conference rally to win.
(Runners-up: Bruce Bowen, Andrei Kirilenko)

Most Improved Player of the Year

Boris Diaw – The emergence of Frenchman Boris Diaw has made people forget about Joe Johnson, who was traded to the Hawks last year. It was Diaw who was one of the lesser-known names involved in that trade. And as it has turned out, he has become one of the most versatile players in the league, and a fantasy stud. He is able to play all 5 positions on the court, which he has, making it easier for the Suns to run their offense without all-star Amare Stoudemire.
(Runners-up: Mike James, Smush Parker)