18 June 2010

Let's Go Lakers!

Today as many of you and my friends know is Game 7 of the NBA Finals.  Of course, it's also the World Cup, but I'm not a big fan of soccer as much as I am of basketball.  Anyways, I got to the office early enough, because I woke up quite early enough.  But, I had class!  So I missed most of Game 7.  But I was able to see what was happening the last minute and a half from NBA.com.  Whew!  The players didn't seem as ecstatic typical of NBA Champions, particularly "first-time" champions.  The way I see it, the Lakers really did pour out a lot of hard work this season, and it all paid off.  The championship wasn't given to them.  I don't know what Boston's reasons for losing this year - they certainly had their reasons why they weren't able to make this rematch with the Lakers last year.  Of course, the Lakers had some reasons why they lost two years ago to the Celtics: an inexperienced "new team" that includes Pau Gasol and an injured Derek Fisher.  But come on, Boston has four All-Stars: Garnett, Allen, Pierce, and Wallace versus LA's 2, Kobe and Gasol.  My opinion is, actually I never believed in these four Boston All-Stars: they can only win with 3 other All-Stars with them.  Now faced against just two quality All-Stars in Kobe and Gasol, they can't repeat.  I guess this Boston loss now somehow has proven my initial hypothesis.  Instead, the Lakers go for back-to-back at home in Games 6 and 7, and as NBA "World" Champions in 2009 and 2010.  Then again, maybe 4 is a bad number for All-Stars in your team.  Remember when the Lakers can't win with Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton on the team?  Then again, Boston's 4 players, plus Rondo, played very well compared to the Lakers' failed 4-All-Star team.

Okay, so I love basketball.  And this isn't supposed to be a basketball blog.  But I don't have a basketball blog, so pardon the rain of opinions.  I am just so happy today because of the Lakers' win.  They so deserve it.  I hope they stay healthy enough for a three-peat.  And that Phil Jackson stays one more year.  I am a Phil Jackson fan and I am very happy as well for the other Lakers players: Gasol, Odom, Bynum, Fisher, Vujacic, Brown, Artest, Farmar, and yep, Luuuuuuuuuuuke (Walton).  Actually I thought Trevor Ariza was better than Artest, because he was a better scorer and was a good enough defender.  But I am happy for Artest.  Phil Jackson knows what he is doing.  What the hell do I know?  I wonder if having a Dennis Rodman type of player on the team is a part of his strategy.  Maybe it is.

One other "win" that I see here is by Kobe in what I think is an unspoken, "who is better, Kobe or Shaq?" cold war.  Kobe now has one more Championship ring without Shaq, than Shaq without Kobe.  Well, of course Shaq is much older than Kobe so that might be a reason enough.  I just hate that people said years ago that Kobe can't win without Shaq.  Well, it's always a long road to the top of the mountain.

Anyways, there was class today.  Then I had lunch at the by-the-pound cafeteria.  Then a little bit of work.  Then...  Basketball!  Man was I smokin' hot today.  I'm not braggin' man - I am just gladly surprised about it. Maybe lucky?  Or maybe inspired by the Lakers' victory?  By the way, most of my relatives in the US - mostly based or was based in California, have been Lakers fans since the Show Time 80's.  This is the reason why I am a Lakers fan myself.  Actually Golden State should be my team because it's my "home team," me having stayed in Berkeley (just adjacent to Oakland) a number of times during my childhood days.  But the Lakers is my sentimental favorite.

Anyways.  We played a total of 4 games.  One was 3-on-2 and our team of 2 won that easily.  The next game was up to 15 and it was a close game that we lost.  The next game was up to 10, but after our team routed the other team 10-0 quite quickly (in ten minutes?), we decided the game should be up to 15.  I think we ended up 15-0!  It was very surprising.  The guy from Korea, the best baller among us, wasn't 100% well and so it had some effect on his game play (though he was still in his usual "who can stop that guy?" mode).  But for some reason, I was making a lot of outside shots!  Ah, I remember my glory days in basketball.  I'm lovin' it!  Only difference now though is that I just can't jump (that high) anymore!  I can't even touch the ring anymore.  I am too heavy now.  I should work on my jumping.

Anyways, after taking a little rest, I took a shower at the gym and went straight home to have dinner.  I had leftover Adobo (one piece of Pork) and Hainanese Chicken (now turned into Chicken Adobo).  It wasn't enough so I opened up a can of tuna.  Well, that's at least ~400 pesos and 15 minutes saved than if I had to go to the convenience store for dinner.  I feel good.  I feel like being more productive!  Actually, I usually feel more productive after basketball!

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