I was a very active basketball blogger for most of 2005 ~ 2013 and when you write and think about basketball as much as I did there’s one guy you write and think about a lot about and that is Kobe Bryant. In and around that period which happened to coincide with the rise of YouTube and social media he would win 5 NBA Championships, numerous all star, nba 1st teams, defensive teams and all sorts of fantastic accolades. As such he wasn’t only on my mind but pretty much anyone who followed sports. Within that period Nike invited me to cover two of his visits in the Philippines the 2nd of which in 2011 was a special event to remember. Fans from all over converged onto BGC and Araneta to catch a glimpse. It was so special even veteran event organizers were stunned at the scale. I wasn’t just jostling for position with local press, there were people from Agency France Press, CNN, Chinese, Indian and Taiwanese press all occupying what little space we had to get a good shot.
Continue reading “Kobe”Author: Gabriel
Thoughts On Raptors Win 2018-2019 Championship Against Warriors
Primarily my main thought is the obvious. There were so many key injuries that fans were robbed of what could have been a game for the ages. This is not to put down any of the remaining players’ efforts but that’s just it – they’re the remaining players – the only ones left still standing and some of them barely at that. While they did great, they’re not the players I want to see.
I want to see Kawhi and KD go head to head goddamet. The thought of those two going at it makes me giddy with excitement. Regular season, playoff or Championship, that’s a game I’d pay to watch, and I’m very very poor and stingy. Continue reading “Thoughts On Raptors Win 2018-2019 Championship Against Warriors”
Ito Ba Talaga Tayo?
Matagal nang natapos ang gulong ito ng isinulat ko to. It took time for me to take this all in. I didn’t think I would actually write anything because I didn’t want to add to the already deafening noise. Continue reading “Ito Ba Talaga Tayo?”
THE SUPER 8 TEAM ROSTERS AND BROADCAST OUTLETS ANNOUNCED!
Line-up of Asia’s greatest players and coaching talent graces Macau for the first time in history; games to be shown to fans across the region
Hong Kong, September 8, 2017 – The Super 8 is releasing team rosters and broadcast partners for the upcoming event this September 20-24 in Macau!
The lineup features invigorating matchups from championship teams from China, Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei. Japanese all-stars, Ryuichi Kishimoto (Ryukyu Golden Kings) and Yuki Togashi (Chiba Jets) will take on CBA all-stars Li Muhao (Shenzhen Leopard) and Hu Jinqiu (Zhejiang Guangsha Lions).
Teams aren’t sparing any of their star power for the event. Additionally, one of the most beloved players in Korea, Moon Tae-jong (Goyang Orion Orions), and the reigning foreign import player of the year in Korea, Ricardo Ratliffe (Samsung Thunders), face off against one of the most successful coaches in Chinese Taipei’s history, Hsu Chin-Che (Fubon Braves), together with elite guard, Joseph Lin (Fubon Braves) while Taiwanese-American sensation Douglas Creighton (Pauian Archiland) will no doubt be a fan favorite.
Continue reading “THE SUPER 8 TEAM ROSTERS AND BROADCAST OUTLETS ANNOUNCED!”
Spurs 110 Rockets 107, Lead 3-2; Call Me The Basketball Whisperer
So a few minutes ago I posted this on my Facebook:
Then Manu does this:
And I swear I feel like I’m the Basketball Whisperer or some sort of magician. But I’ll take it.
Continue reading “Spurs 110 Rockets 107, Lead 3-2; Call Me The Basketball Whisperer”
Wizards 115 Hawks 99; Washington goes to Round 2, Still My Potential Team To Watch
I mentioned in the past that Washington was my favored team to watch and that has to do with the John Wall / Marcin Gortat tandem, who play the pick and roll to a perfection reminiscent of the Malone – Stockton days. I’ve always felt there was no play as devastatingly simple, quick and effective as the pick and roll, but having two players who not only have a predilection for it but are athletically built for this purpose as well is a rarity in the era of the stretch 5.
Raptors 92 Bucks 89; Milwaukee Painful to Watch
3 minutes to go in the 4q Milwaukee Jason Terry made a three putting his Bucks up by 2, 80-78. It was an exciting three on a failed Middleton drive to the basket, resulting in a broken play. Seeing Terry alone near the top of the key he passed it to him, allowing ‘The Jet’ to do what he does best, sinking a big time 3.
After an 82-82 tie later on though, the Bucks expectedly collapsed. Once on a crucial play (although every play in such a tight game is crucial), Demar DeRozan (32 pts) drives from the left with a full phalanx of defenders ready to stop him, only for him to dunk it with both hands in an emphatic gesture that left Buck fans along with the announcer completely aghast.
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Cavaliers 119 Pacers 114 – Too Much Deer In The Headlights
In 2012, the LA Clippers dealt a 99-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in their first Game of the playoffs after trailing by as much as 27 pts.
This game was like that. I started watching in the 3q with Ind leading 74-52, a 22 pt. lead that would normally entail death for whoever is catching up.
Continue reading “Cavaliers 119 Pacers 114 – Too Much Deer In The Headlights”
MEM 105 SA 94; Grizzlies Win At Home
I wasn’t able to watch the game where Tony Parker was said to have relived his old ways, so I was looking forward to something like that coming into this game. So when I caught up in the 3q I was getting a little disappointed noticing he had only scored a point while the rest of his team was playing from behind. Continue reading “MEM 105 SA 94; Grizzlies Win At Home”
HOU 115 OKC 111; Rockets Ahead 2-0
Despite Russell Westbrook’s 51, the Rockets prevailed 115 to 111 on James Harden’s 35 pts., followed by Eric Gordon’s 22 and Lou Williams 21.
In contrast, OKC’s 2nd highest pointer was Andre Roberson with 12 and a tie for 3rd with Victor Oladipo and Doug McDermott scoring 11 each.
I don’t think anyone really expects OKC to go far in the playoffs but if you were to wonder why that’s the reason right there. While Westbrook is putting on a show that is blowing all our minds his teammates aren’t holding up the rest of the ship. The fact many of you haven’t heard of them adds to this thinking as well.
Continue reading “HOU 115 OKC 111; Rockets Ahead 2-0”