Boston's Big Three reign already over?

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors. This post was edited as the series went on to Game 4.

Boston's Big Three in a tough situation

In a battle between two of the East superpowers, we may have seen a momentous change of dominance between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.

As two of the league's best trio collide, this series has shown two different sides of the coin. One is a new, and still-at-their-prime trio, while the other seems to be seeing the sunset in their illustrious careers. For the Celtics "Big Three", this could be their last push for a championship crown, with Garnett nearing the end of his playing years. While, Miami's "Superfriends" is just seeing the start of what they are projecting to be a dominant trio that is looking to bring back the trophy to South Beach.

And in the first two games of the series, it seems like age has come up with the original Big Three. The Heat dominated both games all throughout the ball game, although not by a very big margin, with their youthfulness and athleticism. While the Celtics showed how hard it is for them to keep up with faster and younger legs.

Two of Miami's Big Three has also shared dominating performance in the first two games of the series. Dwayne Wade rampaged back in Game 1 with a whopping 38-point performance. While earlier, LeBron James shot the lights out with a 14-of-25 shooting, amassing him 35 points.

On the other hand, the Celtics' Big Three struggled to score heavily with the stingy defense of the Heat. In Game 2, Allen, Pierce, and Garnett scored 36 points, 1-point higher than James' performance. Overall, the Superfriends outscored the Big Three of Boston, 80-36.

In their two losses, the game was relatively close until the 4th quarter, where they just couldn't stop Miami's scoring. A strong 4th quarter defense from the C's will help their chances come Game 3. Injuries has also been a factor in this series. Rondo, Allen, and Pierce are all ailing right now. And a not-100-percent Big Three of the Celtics will be a major disadvantage to the already atletic and young Miami team.

In Game 3 though, Garnet showed up big for the Celtics. Turning back the hands of time, he led the Celtics to a big 97-92 win over the Heat. Garnett scored28 points on 13-of-20 shooting. The Celtics also got some inspiration from an injured Rondo, who got back in the 4th and played significantly after gaining a dislocated lebow injury in the 3rd quarter.

But come Game 4, it's Miami's Big Three in full force.The game earlier showed what Pat Riley has sowed in the off-season. As the Big Three of Miami delivered big numbers. Wade, James, and Bosh tallied

Is it time for them to wave the white flag? Not yet.


The most telling factor in this series is Rajon Rondo. If he's at his best, no one from the Heat can keep up with him. An aggressive Rondon, both on the offensive and defensive end, will giver headaches to the Heat. But a key elbow injury in Game 3 caused his game to be very limited. And his costly turnovers has doomed the Celtics earlier in Game 4.

All is not over for the Boston Celtics. But a 1-3 deficit is an insurmountable lead already for the Heat. And the age might be limiting them but I'm pretty sure that their hunger for the crown is still their. They just need to take it one game at a time.

Is this the end of the Lakers' dynasty?

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.


 Everyone in the arena were celebrating. A wave of blue and white cheering exuberantly for their team. The loud and proud Dallas Mavericks have swept the 2-time defending champs Los Angeles Lakers and ended their aspiration for a three-peat. And this series victory will go down in the history books. This is the first time a back-to-back defending champion was swept in the playoffs after the ’96 Rockets team. The last defending champion to be swept in the playoffs was the ’07 Miami Heat, who were swept with the Bulls in the NBA playoffs.

Last title run for Kobe?

As this series comes to a close, is this the sign of the end of the Kobe-Pau-led Lakers dynasty?

It will be a very daunting task for the Lakers to get back from this setback. Leading the list of errands that is facing the Lakers is finding a new coach. Phil Jackson has expressed already even before the season started that this will be his last season. And it seems like he won’t be breaking any promises he made right now. After all, his 11 championships, highlighted by his 3 three-peats back in Chicago, is already an achievement no NBA coach has ever done.

This early, two names have already been talked about by some Lakers fans on who will replace Jackson. Assistant coach Brian Shaw has been rumored to take the vacant seat that Jackson has left for the next season. But, doubts on whether he can lead the Lakers to another great run are floating. Plus, the question on whether he can handle the egos of these players.

The more reasonable and convenient choice, though, is Rick Adelman. He would be the perfect coach to handle the “rebuilding” Lakers next season as they try to build another dynasty. He has proven back in Houston that he can handle the pressure of winning games under many circumstances, like dealing with an injured superstar and numerous player movements before and during the season.

One more thing to worry for the Lakers is their bench. Their main weakness was exposed in this recently-concluded series. The Lakers bench was ass-raped by the Mavs bench. Actually, in Game 4 earlier, the Mavs bench MATCHED the total output of the WHOLE Lakers team (86). Though it isn’t that significant anymore as the game was already decided during the 2nd quarter.

For the Lakers to come back next season, they need to find a true point guard. Blake showed his inconsistencies the whole season and playoffs. Fisher isn’t getting younger too. And one more thing, they need shooters. It could be funny but they kind of missed a shooter like Vujacic. Someone who can open up the floor for the Lakers. And they really struggled offensively in this series, being too predictable by going one-one-one with Kobe or post plays from Drew, Pau, and Odom.

I also expect one among Gasol, Bynum, and Odom to be traded this off-season.

The Lakers are back from scratch. I can safely say that the dynasty that Mich Kupchak created by getting Gasol is nearing, or has reached it’s end. There’s no way for the Lakers to go but up. And that way must be taken up this off-season.

Alaska needs Mr. M and Star Magic

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.


 In yesterday's PBA game, we saw how the recent blockbuster trade benefited Air21 in their campaign this Commissioner's Cup. Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Peña, and Paul Artadi have masterfully led the Express to the last playoff spot, effectively eliminating B-MEG from playoff contention. The Express showed great heart and effort to get the win.

And at the same time, I was dumbfounded by how GREAT, yeah, how great Alaska Aces screwed up the game. It can't get any worse than what they showed in the last minute of the ball game.

It's a bad acting job for a team that is raring to get back at B-MEG, which came back from a 1-3 deficit in the '05-'06 Philippine Cup semifinals and eventually won the title, and swept them in the '09-'10 Philippine Cup Finals.


First of all, I can't find any good explanation for how Tim Cone and the Aces wanted to treat the game as a "playoff match" already (as what the courtside reporter mentioned last night). In the third quarter, Tim Cone used Paolo Bugia, Bonbon Custodio, and Brandon Cablay in the crucial stretch where Air21 built it's double-digit margin.

But hey! They found a way to come back into the ball game. Thanks to LD's thunderous jams, Alaska got as within three points. And with a minute left in the ball game, LD Williams may have finally realized what his teammates are aiming to do, after all. And he joined the partey!

Half a minute left in the ball game, the Express leading by three points, LD Williams went for an ill-advised three. Tenorio got the ball and went back to the three point line and threw the ball anywhere near the rim. Then, Borboran got the offensive rebound and went for another trey. Brick.

The Express got the ball and the rest is history.

But wait, there's more! Just when everybody thought that Alaska's show has ended already, there's still another class act waiting for all of the PBA fans. With the Express leading by five points, the Aces were taking time inbounding the ball, and when they did, Mr. Big Shot LA Tenorio SLIPPED awkwardly and lost the ball. With a frown in his face, it signified how sad he was to lose the game. And happy that they won't be facing B-MEG anywhere in the playoffs.


Obviously, it's a bad day at the office for the Alaska Aces. They played a really bad acting job.

As Alaska flops, B-MEG must re-group to fix themselves

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.


As the Commissioner's Cup ended unexpectedly for the B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados, it's time for them to re-group and lick their wounds from a fierce battle to prepare for the season-ending Governor's Cup.

B-MEG has no one to blame, not Air21, not Rain or Shine, and not even Alaska, but themselves.

The Llamados were facing the battle all-season long with most of their key players nursing their injuries. Raymundo started the season out of the country for his rehab, while Reavis has yet to play this season with his foot injury. Just as Kerby was about to return, Rico Maierhofer suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier this conference.

To put more insult to the pain, Don Allado and Jondan Salvador, B-MEG's key back-up  big men, were injured in the latter part of the eliminations. And as if the basketball gods have cursed B-MEG, James Yap suffered a calf injury that sidelined him in B-MEG's last three crucial games.

If I'm to be asked, injuries has been the root cause of B-MEG's struggles this season. With key players getting in and out of the injury list, chemistry has been a big problem for the Llamados. A key testament to that is their dismal assist-to-turnover ratio this conference. B-MEG ranks last in the assist department while is one of the worst in taking care of the ball.

Poor import scouting has also hurt B-MEG's chances this conference. Sub-par imports has taken a toll on the team's campaign. In connection to the earlier problem, repeated import changing has also caused B-MEG's team chemistry to struggle.

They must take this long break to regroup themselves and prepare for the next conference. Our injured players will have enough time to heal their injuries, especially for James Yap. Rafi Reavis' expected return come June will definitely boost our team's post defense next season. Sadly, Maierhofer will not return until the next season.

This is also the time for our team to scout for the import to fit the team. As much as possible, bring in the import candidates here in the country to practice with the team. Then, the team must decide for their official import as the next conference starts.

It will be a short and busy conference break for the Llamados. And as far as they're concerned, there's no way but to go up for the struggling Llamados 

Three's a charm for B-MEG?

Courtney Beasley

With their struggling performance in the on-going Commissioner's Cup, B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados decided to change their inconsistent import Shamari Spears with Courtney Beasley. This will be B-MEG's 3rd import this conference, after they started with Robert Brown.

Apparently, Spears asked to be released because he misses his family so much. His stint in the PBA with B-MEG is his first overseas work as a pro baller.

The need for a change  was long due for the Llamados, who found Spears to be consistently inconsistent with his performance. He is only averaging 17 points and a dismal 7 rebounds per game. Spears, though, managed to put up a stellar performance against Smart-Gilas, corralling 26 points and 8 rebounds; although he got majority of those against the 6"11 Slaughter who is still raw and needs further development on his game.

B_MEG's new import will bring in a different brand of game compared to Spears. With injuries to Jonas Vllanueva and James Yap, the Llamados gone for an off-guard who can play the perimeter. Beasley wil definitely boost the perimeter offense of the team, inasmuch as his decent low-post game will be a big plus for the team.

Part of the reason for letting go of Spears are the impressive showing of Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris as of late. In their last game against Smart-Gilas, both players recorded double-doubles. Raymundo scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Pingris recorded an 18-19 point-rebound output.


We'll see whether he'll give the team the much-needed lift they've been searching for tomorrow in his debut game against San Miguel..

Exeriencing Deron Williams in New Jersey

The Nets made a trade deal that shocked the whole NBA world last February 23, when theyacquired NBA All-Star point guard Deron Williams from the Jazz for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and two first round draft picks. With this move, the NEts now has a bona fide star that can help them build a team that will contend by 2013, when they move to Brooklyn's Barclay's Center.

However, several NBA insiders and analysts have projected Williams to leave the Nets even before they move to Brooklyn. Deron Williams has the option to opt out on the final year of his contract at the end of the 2011-2012 season. And most likely, if the Nets can't give Williams the pieces he need to contend in the playoffs, he may go away and leave the Nets with nothing.

Thus, the Nets' front office, led by general manager Billy King and the Nets' charismatic Russian  owner Mikhail Prokhorov, must build a playoff team in time for the next season to entice Williams in signing an extension. They will have Williams playing 102 games as a Net. And before the next season ends, they must have made Deron feel comfortable of the team.

But so far, everything is fine for the Nets. And with Williams' desire to help his new team improve, the morale of the newly-refurbished Nets team has been at its all-time high this season. After losing three games against Spurs, Rockets, and a close one versus the Suns, the Nets have played with so much intensity and heart in their next two games. The Nets swept the Raptors in the two-game bonanza of NBA to European fans in London. They won the first game, 116-103, and the second game via a heart-pumping triple overtime win, 137-136.

Together with Williams' arrival is the development of Lopez' game. In their last two wins, Lopez averaged more than 25 points per game. He also grabbed 14 rebounds in their last game, a rarity for a weak rebounding season for Lopez. The highlight, though, is his career-high eight blocks. Morrow and Vujacic, the Nets' two shooters, has also showed improvement in their production with Williams around.

In fact, the Nets, after the All-Star break, has led the league in assists with more than 26 assists per game. Obviously, this stat is led by Williams' great passing game that he brought to the Nets. Deron hasn't had an assists lower than 11 in his first five games as a Nets. His biggest assist output was an 18-assist performance in a losing effort against the Rockets.

All of this can be attributed to DWill's presence to this young team. His energy on the floor, highlighted by his pin-point passing ,leadership, and the will to win has inspired the whole team to play better.

And this is how the Nets experience Deron Williams.

J. Yap-Simon tandem - too much for their own good?

B-MEG's deadly duo - Peter June Simon and james Yap

Last conference, we saw the emergence of one of PBA's deadliest 1-2 punch in James Yap and Peter June Simon. Rookie coach Jorge Gallent was thinking of a strategy that would get them out of an early 0-2 record last conference. Then, he thought of putting the struggling Simon, by then, together on the floor with James Yap. And like a bread and butter, the two scoring machines blended perfectly,

The tandem led a severely-depleted B-MEG to a respectable 4th place finish last Philippine Cup.

This conference, once again, B-MEG started the Commissioner's Cup with a 0-2 record. This time, having the J. Yap-Simon tandem as their main offensive ploy.

Has the combo cooled off already? Or its just that other teams figured out how to disrupt these two?

B-MEG's offense, with this duo carrying a lot of the team's scoring load, has taken a toll on the ball rotation of the team. Low assist outputs of the team is hurting the team's offensive capabilities. Too much isolation plays for these two has led to too much turnovers due to predictability of the team's offense.

And more importantly, James' production and effectiveness on the court has been reduced due to Simon's talent. He's almost, if not the same, as skilled as James Yap that these two players have to give the ball up to the one who is hot. And right now, Simon is scoring slightly better than James.

That's why, coach JG thought of reversing his game plan back to normal. Putting the "Super Sub" back to his throne, and starting James Yap in their game earlier against Air21. And it seemed like the ploy went perfectly, as they drubbed the Express to the tune of 119-90. James Yap scored 22 points while PJ Simon contributed 19 in a well-balanced game that the Llamados showed.

Even with this scintillating performance, don't expect that we saw the last from this deadly duo already.