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about the king of pop, from cnn.com
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In 1993, Jackson's dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, released a statement saying that Jackson had a skin disease called vitiligo. The condition causes a person to lose melanin, the pigment that determines the color of skin, hair and eyes, in patches or all over the body. Vitiligo affects 1 million to 2 million people in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health, and no one knows what causes it
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now, we know
i have to admit. great CGI and more detailed transformations.
but there is the chuck-like plot (was that the intersect in cybertron language?) and the voltron combination.
but of course, megan fox and the decepticon girl.
the draft day kobe iv.
remember '96 (and vlade divac)?
I should have posted these just in time after the game 4 win of the Lakers over the Orlando Magic. However, I think that it would be wise to have all those biases and playoff hulabaloos out of our minds (I personally sided with the Lakers).
Way back in game 4 at the AmWay Arena, we have a dire situation during the last ten seconds of regulation time (as we all know, the game went straight to overtime, on which the Lakers dominated and thus gained a 3-1 lead over the Magic).
The score was 84-87 with ten seconds left in the fourth quarter, and Orlando has a seemingly tight control of the game after they let the Lakers catch up with them after leading by 12-points after the first half. After a slam dunk by Lakers forward Pau Gasol, the Magic failed to convert points for them. Dwight Howard's free throws were both brick, and the scoreboard didn't have a change.
Phil Jackson let his players inbound the ball from the other side. Trevor Ariza made the inbounds pass to Bryant, and the Mamba returned it to him. Ariza then made a cross-court pass to Derek Fisher, who was guarded at that time by Magic point guard Jameer Nelson. Fisher drove the ball and stopped 25 feet away from the basket, while Nelson pedaled until the 22-mark. The Lakers' veteran point guard, easily pulled up a shot from beyond the 3-point arc, with Nelson giving him enough space. A split-second later, the Lakers team were so much relieved and pumped up, as Fisher's shot gave them another chance at victory … in overtime.
And the rest, as we know is history. Kobe Bryant again did his part in making 2 crucial jump shots in overtime, plus a pass to Fisher for another trey that sealed the win. This year's Finals Game 4 would indeed go down in history as one of the greatest comeback games in the Finals.
But let's go back to the situation.
During that time (10.8 seconds left before end of regulation), the Magic had one crucial decision to make. The Lakers have the possession, and to prevent them from making a shot, or possibly a 2-for-1 possession that could bring the game in their favor), is to foul them. The Magic only have one team foul for the rest of the fourth period (dubious here…); however, since it was the last two minutes of the game, another foul would mean a trip to the line, having the Lakers score only two points instead of three. The Magic could then waste time and, possibly, make the two free throws if ever the Lakers go intentional… and could proceed to celebrate because the series could have been tied.
Simple, right? Plain and simple NO for this one, and what we're going to do is to break down all those factors in the decision-making process of fouling or not, and then assess what Magic coach Stan Van Gundy could have done, and if his wrong decision to not foul the Lakers was a way bigger mistake than most of us think.
Let's go first to the SOP (standard operating procedure), the general to-do during this kind of game situation. Most experts, players, coaches, and analysts alike, that logically, it is generally better to foul an opponent in a three-point game. I think that some of the conditions here would make sense and would convince us that it would be better to foul:
-penalty or not, the other team would be assured of only two points from the line (except in the situation of an offensive board and/or a putback, where the opposing team would get three points and tie the game)
-fouling and having the opposing team earn two points from the line would be better than taking the risk of letting a sniper get one from beyond the arc
-if in case the two free throws were in, the opposing team has no other chance of gaining the lead but to foul and go for a three-pointer in their next possession, given that the two free throws awarded to the leading team will go in. With this, we go back to square one and either the cycle will repeat or the opposing team would brick their treys.
Thus, the odds in these kinds of situation favor fouling over letting a three-pointer risk nailing a shot from beyond the arc and tying the game. Now, let's apply these lessons in the situation that the Magic, the leading team, and the Lakers, the trailing team, during the last seconds of regulation time.
On the offensive end, the Lakers should have no problem in both ways. The players on the floor were all good from the line, the worst being Lamar Odom, who had been better in free throws since the playoffs started. Also, plays from beyond the 3-point arc would not be a huge problem for them. Those in the number 1,2, and 3 position, namely Fisher, Bryant, and Ariza, can nail threes in tight-game situation. But of course, the difference between these two was the fact that the former would only give Orlando back the ball with the one-point lead, while the latter, though risky, would tie the game with little time remaining.
On the other hand, the pressure of defending lies on the Magic's hands. They have to lock down the shooters, but at the same time, they have to be careful for fouls during 2-point attempts that would go in, for it would be the same as giving the trailing team not only two points, but a chance for one more at the line. For the Magic, it would be harder, because they would be guarding opponents who are really threatening from both beyond and inside the three-point line.
After two missed free throws by Dwight Howard and a time out, Phil Jackson chose to inbound the ball from the other side, in front of their bench. Perhaps a few reasons in Jackson's mind during that time:
-he wants his guys to set up a running offense, which will be beneficial for them
-for a running offense, they could run away from a foul and be able to reach the 3-point line and make a quick shot
-if they had inbounded the ball at half court, they would give time for the Magic to set up its defense. However, a run-and-gun offense would give them less time to set up, and Bryant or Ariza could use their speed to get past their defenders and give a quick three (take note that the Magic have Alston, Pietrus, and Turkoglu on the floor, all of which lack the speed to defend Bryant and/or Ariza. In fact, following this strategy, Fisher would only act as a decoy to draw the defenders once he gets to the 3-point line. Alternatively, he could act as scorer once defenders swarm Bryant and Ariza).
This move of Jackson was pretty unusual (and risky, considering that they could have used a half-court inbound play which could save them some time). However, looking at his plans, risky may they be, it is a work of genius to come up with this, most especially when pressure will seep in with little time left and three points to get. If everything goes as planed, then swoosh, we have a silky-smooth three pointer that could tie the game and astound the Magic crowd.
But of course, the Magic are not statues that would stand motionlessly as the Lakers would execute this play. Of course, Stan Van Gundy has a strategy of his own. And probably, here are a few things that he has considered:
-there are still more or less 11 seconds left. It would be too early to go for a quick foul
-Why? He is thinking that if they foul the Lakers, they would make both FTs (on the floor are the best Laker FT guys), which would bring the ball back to them with a 1-point lead
-Of course, the Lakers would then force another trip to the line
-SVG was thinking that this would not be a good thing, because they have been cold from the free throw line. Dwight Howard bricked both his free throws that could have sealed the game. Hedo Turkoglu was way way bad either. (How about Jameer and Pietrus? Of course, the Lakers won't allow to give this one last possession to them.)
-Suppose that FTs miss, then the Lakers would get the ball, set up a play that would let them score a quick 2, and they win.
-But of course I would only be possible if there would be enough time to do all this.
-Thus the best strategy: give them a hard time bringing the ball down, and when the clock ticks to 7,6 or 5, then that is the time that they foul.
Following this line of thinking, everything was supposed to be DON'T FOUL… YET.
And it is because of this mindset that Orlando was able to let the Lakers, specifically Derek Fisher, get away with a three and the win.
However, this mistake was just part of a package of defensive mistakes for the Magic during the last stretch of the game. There were many factors during that last Laker possession in regulation time that contributed to that game-tying triple. Thanks to YouTube and the help of ESPN, I was able to notice a few (yet critical) defensive lapses.
The press. How could you press when the Lakers are going for a running offense? Shouldn't it be better to go down and set up the D so as to deny them a quick triple? SVG planned on either (a) denying the passing lane for the inbounds pass or (b) have L.A. use up some time getting the ball down, and when the time comes, get their hands ready to slap them a foul. However, if this was what SVG had in mind, it would be less likely to work. The Lakers frontcourt are one of the best passers in the league. They can come up with excellent long passes that deny a full court press of steals and turnovers.
Here's what happened: Turkoglu and Pietrus put their bodies on Bryant. Ariza passed it to the Mamba, and as soon as Kobe received the ball, he passed it to Ariza. But wait, there was a missing frontcourt piece. Where the heck is Derek Fisher? Right there, on the other side, one-on-one with Jameer Nelson. The result? A 3-on-3 on the other side of the court, the ones nearest to the basket. As soon as Ariza passed to D-Fish, we have a one-on-one situation behind the 3-point line.
And what about Howard and Lewis? They proceeded to defending the paint. Second disturbing question: why would you defend the paint, when the Lakers would go for treys? Let the Lakers score inside! For if they get a 2, Orlando gets the ball with a 1-point lead. Yes, I understand the FT-phobia of SVG, but it is not reason enough to leave a one-on-one situation from beyond the 3-point line (but to balance the situation, I think that the Magic miscalculated. They thought that the Fish would not be that good, considering that he missed his first 5 treys. Well, during that time, chance prevailed, and they were so wrong).
This would then bring us to the last critical mistake that should have been amended, for it was the easiest to do so. Jameer Nelson backpedaling and giving Fisher some space. Congratulations, JN, you just played great defense that you've let D-Fish have some space for a crucial three. Of all the mistakes that Magic made, this one was a mortal sin, and the Magic should have gotten the win had this been changed.
To sum everything up and give a clear stand on this foul-or-not-to-foul issue, all we can say is that generally, go for an immediate foul when your team has a three-point lead. The Magic thought otherwise and had a better idea; however, it just happened that they miscalculated. Logically, the Magic made the right move of letting the person who shot 0-5 from the arc to take his shot instead of letting the inside scorers get a 2 and then go for an immediate intentional foul, which could lead to more FT misses. In some ways, SVG made the right move.
Unfortunately, the Lake Show had luck… and a pretty good basketball IQ as their supporting cast.
A companion said "sometimes, winning is a part of losing." And I couldn't agree more, now that the Lakers have won their 15 championships under the leadership of all-time superstar Kobe Bryant.
After a sudden rise-and-fall situation last season, where they skyrocketed to the first place in the Western conference, took hold of the Conference Title, but lost to the Boston Celtics on a bad note, the Lakers stormed back to the playoffs. They made sure that the Larry O'Brien championship trophywill be theirs and theirs alone.
And with their effort, strategy, and luck, they finally got it. Lots of record-breaking games, one championship trophy.
And we do what all Laker fans do in this day: celebrate.
Some more juice: recap and an article on fouling coming up.
less than 24 hours from now, the first day will start.
well, here goes the last year of college for me. i'm nearly finished, and i know clearly where i'm headed.
i really don't have a precise idea of what's going to be next for me during regency. but all i know is this: that i have to work hard to keep myself afloat, ahead in the game in this final ten months of college.
and i hope that i will step out of ateneo and san jose not just with success, but also with lessons and values that would help me become a better person (and eventually help me with my regency).
and of course, i will come back in due time.
see you all in school.
LIT 191.15 A (Literature and Ideas I) - B-309
TTH 4:30-6:00pm (De Pano, Emar Ivery M.)
PH 104 G (Foundations of Moral Value) - C-114
TTH 1:30 - 3:00pm (Reyes, Ramon C.)
PH 117 A (Modern Philosophy) - C-114
MWF 3:30-4:30pm (Reyes, Ramon C.)
Ph 133 A (Philosophy of Science) - MMR
MWF 10:30-11:30am (Mariano, Michael Ner E.)
PH 140 A (Immanuel Kant) - CTC 301
Th 6:00-9:00pm (Bulaong, Oscar, Jr.)
TH 151 U (The Catholic Commitment) - B-209
MWF 8:30-9:30am (Rosana, Amalia Teresita B.)
The Los Angeles Lakers (West, 1st) face the Orlando Magic (East, 3rd) in an epic seven-game, 2-3-2 format battle, for the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy. Who can and will win it all? Let's take a look from all corners and perspectives.
Head-to-Head:
Lakers: 65-17 Record (36-5 Home, 29-12 Road)
Playoff Record: 12-6 (8-2 Home, 4-4 Road; 4-1, 4-3, 4-2)
Magic: 59-23 Record (32-9 Home, 27-14 Road)
Playoff Record: 12-7 (7-2 Home, 5-5 Road; 4-2, 4-3, 4-2)
Lakers-Magic Regular Season Series: Magic lead series 2-0.
We now go down to two teams who have good records both in the regular season and in the playoffs. With Cleveland eliminated, the Lakers now hold the best regular season record in this year's postseason, helping them out by giving them home court advantage. Similarly Orlando's record is pretty impressive, considering that for a few weeks, they were able to hold on to the top spot of the Eastern Conference, putting behind Cleveland and Boston until those two teams were again able to lead the East in terms of records.
Their playoff records show a lot of ups and downs, as well as their learning and experience that they gained in these post season games. The Lakers were hounded by inconsistency for the rest of the postseason, but in their last two games, they proved that for the Finals, they can really bring out the best in them and play. Orlando, on the other hand, showed that they can handle pressure exerted by the best teams in the East. They were able to handle the difficult Boston Celtics and finished them for good in their own home in the seventh game, and defeated Cleveland by stealing a road win in the first game. Both of them stand on equal ground.
However, the Magic have a real edge against the Lakers when it comes to their regular season series, albeit very slim. The Magic won twice, but with a small difference (Magic's lead in those two games only amounted to seven points). However, it would be near-negligible, since the Magic lost Jameer Nelson, who was the difference in those 2 games (if he would play, it is sure that he wouldn't be in his best form and could be a problem for the Magic), and the Lakers have provided solutions for their matchup problems and guarding the pick-and-roll. The only thing good about the Magic being 2-0 in the season is that they can give a scare to the Lakers who are itching for their championship ring. Last year, they were 0-2 against Boston, and they were beaten up 4-2. How about now?
Advantage: Orlando Magic
Offense
The Lakers' offense can wreck the defense. Period, and that's just about it. They've got lots of weapons up in their sleeves. Almost all the players in the rotation can work up the triangle and get inside shots easily. Shooters are not a problem, either. That is why they were crowned the kings of offense all through out the season, in spite of being inconsistent and lackadaisical most of the second half of the regular season and the rest of the postseason.
They have the most versatile players in the league when it comes to offense. Kobe Bryant and Trevor Ariza can muscle their way on the post and at the same time hit quick jumpers and open threes. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom undoubtedly are the best frontcourt crew, being able to score in and out of the paint at all times. When push comes to shove, these guys can either face their defender or serve as double or triple team decoys to give way for other teammates to score. Offensively, as long as Kobe controls the offense, the Lakers will be fine and dangerous.
Orlando has its own offensive weapons as well. They have Dwight Howard, who really dominated the paint for most of the postseason. All through out no one was able to guard him well. If they were able to contain Howard with double- and triple-teams, there will always be an open shooter that can bring down the house with a midrange jumper or, more dangerously, a quick-hitting three. Rashard Lewis, Rafer Alston, and Hedo Turkoglu can do that effortlessly. Thus, on their side of the court, there could be no problem for this team as long as they hit their shots.
One thing that Orlando's very potent offense can do is to force the defense to stretch, and that is very important considering that in reality, they have weapons on all areas of the court. Each of the Magic's players have found their perfect place in the court, and add to that the fact that Turkoglu's perfect place is everywhere. The "Turkish Michael Jordan" can either go around and search for a midrange spot, or, alternatively, distract the defense and force them to leave Howard or one of the shooters open. If this happens, then Orlando offense can be very scary. If not, then Orlando might just resort to force threes into going in, and that won't be effective in the Finals. What we need are sure shots, not hesitant ones.
As we talk Finals here, we have to give this to the Lakers. Undoubtedly, they have the offensive weapons, and they can experiment in any way they can without ruining their offensive momentum (remember Lakers-Nuggets Game 5?). They can switch roles and distract the defense. Kobe can be a scorer or a triangle facilitator, or he could be just there, waiting for defenders to pick on him and pass the ball to an open Lamar Odom or Pau Gasol. On all angles, Lakers have this one.
Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers
Defense
One thing that went very remarkably for the Lakers during their past playoff games was their impressive defense that was way better last season. The team was able to make stops, steal the ball (Trevor Ariza, anyone?), block shots, and close games by putting pressure on last minute inbound plays. They were able to take a good grip of the Utah Jazz's shooters for five games (if not for Deron Williams last-minute shot, the Jazz could have been swept for good). Against the Rockets, Ron Artest and Luis Scola both had problems with their scoring. Denver, on the other hand, was held down to less than 100 points, rendering their explosive effort against New Orleans and Dallas useless.
Individual defensive performances have to be noted here. The small forwards Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton already did a good job on defense, as they never let anyone pass by them easily. Kobe Bryant, with his usual defensive swagger, locked his man down and limited them to, most effectively, low point production (remember Ron-Ron and Melo?). Shannon Brown also did a great job on securing the D for the Lakers, being the big difference in the Lakers bench. If the Lakers defense work perfectly in the series, then Orlando has no choice but to let Howard score. And who would forget Pau "Mr. Softie" Gasol, who has already toughened himself up in this postseason series?
However, Orlando has the better end in defense. With the Defensive Player of the Year in their arsenal and a good, inspiring job on guarding LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, they could make an impenetrable wall out of themselves. During the rest of the East series, their defense was more than laudable. When they said they could force turnovers, they did it. When they positioned themselves for defensive and offensive boards, there's this big chance that the ball is theirs. And when Howard concentrates on his man, the paint would be an impossible scoring area. That's the Magic D. And this kind of D is quite scary. Orlando can destroy rotations and force players to sit and stand at the bench unnecessarily. They could irritate inside players and distract shooters. They could work out on the other team's offensive adjustments and still have tem come up with bad shots and turnovers. Defense Orlando-style is dangerous, just don't have Howard foul and foul.
Advantage: Orlando Magic
Frontcourt
The triple frontcourt combination of Gasol-Bynum-Odom can do about much damage from both sides of the court, that is, if they play at the level that they are expected to be at in this Finals series.
It is evident that Gasol will have to play as the Best Supporting Actor for this series. He has already been a big help to the Mamba by either opening up the paint for him or providing a high-percentage scoring opportunity. He has crashed the boards and rescued the team a lot of times by securing possessions and making those 2nd chance points. In fact, he is just another problem for the defensive team to overcome in this postseason. Andrew Bynum, on the other hand, seemed to have problems of his own as he entered the postseason, but there was room for improvement during the rest of the playoffs. In spite of bad numbers, he can find himself a place where he can score and a man whom he can defend. But more dominant in this postseason, though inconsistently, was Lamar Odom, who proved to be the difference in this postseason. In good shape, he brings LA to victory; however, if he is in bad shape, then the team may not be that good.
Of the three, it is Odom who carries the responsibility of providing support and plays both in and out of the paint. Can they hold on against the stronger bunch of Orlando big guys?
Undoubtedly, Orlando has the most dominant paint player in the league, and it is sure that they will use all of Dwight Howard's powers to get scoring opportunities inside (making sure that he gets the ball once he owns the paint) or outside (bringing it back to Orlando's shooters and dish out open threes). He has one of his best playoff performances way back in the Magic's battle against Cleveland, shooing off Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace in their spots and forcing bad inside shots. If there is a key player for Orlando that they would want to fully use, it would be Dwight Howard.
Join Rashard Lewis into the group, and we have a dangerous inside-outside combination. Lewis has a lot of versatility and flexibility up in his sleeve. He can slam over his opponents, or resort to simple, cheap drop shots, or run around until he gets an open three from the sides. For slow forwards, Lewis can be very dangerous for the defending team, and he won't hold back a bit.
In this frontcourt combination, add the next best thing in the paint. Enter Howard's second, Marcin Gortat, who can both do inside and outside plays on the offense and defense. He once showed his skill when he dunked over LeBron James and later on blocked his shot and humiliated him. If this guy explodes, he could be the closest thing to a milder version of Dwight Howard.
While the Lakers frontcourt suffer from inconsistency, Orlando has its own share of problems. For the Lakers, a silent Lamar Odom would not merit them a win, nor is an Andrew Bynum that could only give single digit boards. Orlando, on the other hand, has to be careful with their fouls. Once Howard recklessly uses up his fouls, it would be over for them. In the same way, Rashard Lewis will be rendered useless once he is pressured, something that the Lakers can and will do anytime. However, hats off here for the Magic, simply because their best weapon lies in the frontcourt.
Advantage: Orlando Magic
Backcourt
Team up Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, and we have lots of Finals experience. Add a previously unknown soldier named Trevor Ariza, and we have the most powerful frontcourt combination.
It is true that Kobe alone can do the job, but we also know that he can't do it alone in the Finals, and with his frontcourt crew, he has all the help he needs. Fisher might have had a bad defensive performance in the Lakers' past two playoff opponents, but he has been largely responsible for setting up plays and doing the catch-and-shoot from beyond the arc whenever Kobe dishes it to him. Nothing much about Trevor Ariza, except that his abilities are very obvious and need no further explanation. After two steals off an inbound pass and numerous high-performance dunks and high-percentage threes, he can be labeled Kobe's best wing man. In fact, Ariza will be an important factor in the Finals, that is if he learns to attack and provide points once Kobe plays his role as the league's most dangerous decoy.
Orlando has its own recipe of backcourt treats. Now that Jameer Nelson has returned, he could potentially be a threat... Or not, considering that he was on a four-month break because of his injury. Good thing Rafer Alston can pick up his play a bit and hit threes when needed. It is the same thing we can say of the Magic's number two, Courtney Lee, who could do jumpers and threes before you can say "face mask."
But of course, the difference in the backcourt lies with Hedo Turkoglu. His quickness and accuracy from afar has already pissed off a lot of opponents. He was "Mr. Fourth Quarter," who knew how to close the game when it comes to difficult opponents like Boston and Cleveland. He can hit quick threes, attack the basket, and effectively execute the screen-and-roll. For Orlando, Hedo is the perfect asset, the key to good shots, the most explosive player of the postseason.
But the backcourt matchup winner is fairly obvious. No one can guard Kobe when he goes hot from the field. No one can even have the guts to cover both Bryant and Ariza at the same time. Eventually, both will have no problem dealing with the defense. Similarly, the Orlando backcourt couldn't attack freely with those two defending. It's either they shoot or they pass to Howard, and most of the time, they'll be forced to the former in bad places.
Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers
Bench
Back-up players, in spite of having limited playing time, can also make the difference. Even if the starters were at rest, these players can stress the opponent and give them a hard time.
And the Lakers have done that as they let their bench close out unfinished business in the court. They have Lamar Odom on the bench, and when this guy is off the pressure of the starter, he can pull off stats as that of a real starter. Eventually, if we take a look at the Lakers' good games this postseason, we can see that Lamar Odom can grab double digit scores and boards playing more or less 30 minutes a game. More reinforcements arrive in Luke Walton and Shannon Brown, who so far have greatly contributed to the Lakers' team play on both sides. While Walton can secure the D and the open side shots, Shannon Brown proved to be an offensive force who shouldn't be underestimated. And even though Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic need to oil themselves up and increase their level of play, they already did well in maintaining the momentum of the Lakers in their big, crucial games.
Bench production could be one problem for the Magic, but the back-up squad would also provide problems if most of them are smoking hot in their performance. Snipers come in handy in the persons of Mickael Pietrus (who should also be commended for guarding LeBron James and Cavs' two-guards as well) and J.J. Redick (albeit playing very limited minutes). As mentioned, Marcin Gortat can establish his presence in the paint, and Jameer Nelson could give a scare. One thing that could be said of the Orlando bench is that they are the second revolver.
But this gun only has one bullet, Russian roulette-style. They do not have the same depth as that of the Lakers bench, who could play as well as the starters are. If Orlando would sit out its starters and go eye-on-eye with the Lakers bench, it would clearly show that Lakers have the more skilled, more experienced players who know how to use up their limited minutes. More importantly, the Lakers bench could greatly help their starters by going in and out of the game and still maintaining a high level of team chemistry. This one goes to Kobe's disciples.
Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers
VERDICT: The Lakers should win in 7 games. However, I am not saying this because they will surely do. I say this because they have to. They have returned to the Finals, and it is now the time for them to grab that championship regardless of who the enemy is. This time, it's a strong, tough, and physical Magic who could bring them down if they play lightly. It's time for Kobe to play like a real superstar and direct the offense and defense. The time for the Lakers to amend for their inability last season is now, and there is no other.
