WoW! Rain or Shine in the PBA Finals? What's their line-up? :cheers:

Yeng Guiao and a bunch of thugs. B-Meg got sissified.

^^ :lol:

grabe yung shooting performance ni 'Melo sa laban ng Team USA vs Nigeria. 37 pts in only 14 minutes

Team USA smashes records in rout of Nigeria
Fox Sports
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/basketball/story/Team-USA-156-points-Olympic-record-Carmelo-Anthony-37-rout-of-Nigeria-080212

The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team beat Nigeria 156-73 Thursday night, an epic blowout that answered the Americans' detractors and sent a clear message to let them be.

After two opening routs that provoked criticism of their slow starts and outside shooting, the Americans rewrote the record books.

They led by 26 in the first quarter, had an Olympic-record 78 points in the first half and Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, including 10 of 12 3-pointers, to break the U.S. single-game scoring record in less than three quarters.

''Our guys just couldn't miss,'' said coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Incredibly, they eclipsed the 100-point mark with 5 minutes still left in the third.

''When we get hot, it's a big problem,'' Kobe Bryant said. ''So you have all these guys on one team and then all get hot on the same night, it's tough.''

They broke the Olympic record for most points in a game with 4:37 still to play, and set U.S. records for 3-pointers (26), field goals (59) and field-goal percentage (71).

When Andre Iguodala hit a 3-pointer with 4:37 left, the Americans had surpassed the previous Olympic record of 138 points set by Brazil against Egypt in 1988. When the record was announced to the mesmerized crowd, all the players seated on the U.S. bench got up and walked single file past Krzyzewski, slapping hands with him and his staff.

Gentlemen, take a bow.

''It was just one of them nights where as a unit we had it going,'' Anthony said. ''It could have been anybody out on the court playing against us.''

The Americans even one-upped the 1992 Dream Team. The 83-point margin of victory was the largest in U.S. national team history, eclipsing the 79-point spread when Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Co. beat Cuba 136-57 in their first game.

The U.S. seemed intent on breaking Nigeria's spirit, and when that was accomplished with ease, the Americans made a profound statement with their marksmanship.

Nigeria was the first to get the message.

''When they shoot like this, I don't know if there is any team that can beat them,'' said Ike Diogu, one of the Nigerians who promised not to be intimidated by the Americans.

Bryant scored 16 points - 14 in the first quarter - for the Americans, who scored 49 points in the first, left the floor leading 78-45 at half and then doubled their total in the second half.

Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points, Kevin Love 15 and Kevin Durant 14 for the U.S., which will play Lithuania on Saturday. The Americans have won their first three games with ease, but now things are expected to get a lot tougher as they approach next week's medal round.

Diogu scored 27 to lead Nigeria (1-2), which was as good as done after Durant hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds in, snapping an 0-for-14 slump by the U.S. in the first quarter in the tourney.

Bryant was mostly a non-factor in wins over France and Tunisia, playing just 21 minutes and getting into early foul trouble. But from the outset against Nigeria, the two-time Olympian nicknamed the Black Mamba was as deadly as ever. He set the tone by scoring seven quick points as the U.S. (3-0) raced to a 13-0 lead, a haymaker that stunned the Nigerians.

Durant buried three 3-pointers, Bryant and Anthony added two from long-range and when Love, the NBA's 3-point champion, came off the bench and knocked down his first 3, the U.S. team's shooting gallery of stars had opened a 41-15 lead and made the p.a. announcer's pregame comment that ''anything is possible'' seem prophetic.

He was talking about a possible upset. The only surprise in the first quarter was when the U.S. missed.

''We were looking forward to this game, playing against the U.S.,'' Diogu said. ''You know we wanted to use this to show the world what type of team we are. We just came out flat, turned the ball over too many times and they made us pay every time.''

After starting so sluggishly in blowout wins over France and Tunisia, the U.S. came flying out of the gates, led by Bryant.

The Americans seemed intent on breaking Nigeria's spirit, and when that was accomplished with ease, they made a profound statement with their marksmanship.

Nigeria was the first to get the message.

''When they shoot like this, I don't know if there is any team that can beat them,'' Diogu said.

Anthony, who made five 3-pointers in the first half, put on a shooting clinic in the third quarter. With the U.S. bench standing in anticipation every time he touched the ball on the perimeter, Anthony made all five of his attempts, punctuating one that made it 97-54 by throwing back his head, laughing and shrugging his shoulders.

''It's a great accomplishment to get that record,'' said Anthony, who broke Stephon Marbury's scoring mark of 31 against Spain in 2004. ''We did it in a very highly classy way. We went out there and we played basketball. We made shots. We make shots like that and play the way we played tonight, that record could have came on any team.''

Anthony wasn't the lone sniper as the Americans made 29 of 46 3-pointers (63 percent), numbers that could stand for several more Olympiads.

Although an Olympic rookie, Nigeria, with 10 players who played college ball in the U.S., also has its share of pro experience.

Diogu, who was born in Buffalo, N.Y., after his parents emigrated from Africa, has played for eight NBA teams and Al-Farouq, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft, was traded last year by the Los Angeles Clippers to New Orleans in the deal for U.S. guard Chris Paul.

But there isn't a team in the Olympics that can match the American's celebrated roster with a combined 43 All-Star appearances, seven NBA titles and four league MVPs.

Krzyzewski gave his players the day off on Wednesday, a chance to relax and enjoy the games. Anthony and James Harden went to see boxing. Durant watched beach volleyball.

They came back rested.

And on target.

Jeric Teng-1
Jeron Teng-0

UST won against DLSU, 84-82

Jeric Teng-1
Jeron Teng-0

UST won against DLSU, 84-82

Best game so far for this season :cheers: 2 OT's.

UST historic comeback and winning against Ateneo by 1 point is also on my list.

LA Revilla almost won it for DLSU. Nauna lang yung buzzer :nuts:

Olympic Basketball:
USA won against Lithuania, 99-94

grabe yung shooting performance ni 'Melo sa laban ng Team USA vs Nigeria. 37 pts in only 14 minutes

The Olympics is where Carmelo Anthony would often excel more than the current best players in the NBA. He deserves to be the MVP if the US wins the men's basketball tournament.

Olympic Basketball:
USA won against Lithuania, 99-94


^^ Thanks to Lebron because if not for him, TEAM USA could have possibly been upset by Lithuania ironically after blowing out Nigeria just a few nights ago. This current USA team may be very talented but doesn't have the same kind of drive and focus that the Dream Team had.


USA survives scare against Lithuania
Fox Sports
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/basketball/story/team-usa-defeat-lithuania-mens-basketball-080412

When the moment arrived, the Americans responded.

They're still unbeaten, but no longer untested.

Pushed to the max by a fearless Lithuanian team smelling a world-shaking Olympic upset, the U.S. collection of basketball superstars united as one.

And LeBron James led the way.

Two days after running and gunning to a record-shattering 83-point win, the U.S. was forced to play a possession-for-possession game in the fourth quarter in a 99-94 win over Lithuania.

The Americans were in serious trouble until James - in his third Olympics - stepped up in the closing minutes.

''It was like LeBron said, 'I got this, I'm doing this,'' U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

James scored 9 his 20 points in the final four minutes for the U.S. (4-0), which had looked nearly invincible in thrashing Nigeria 156-73 on Thursday night while breaking several records. But the Americans were reminded that the path to a gold medal is loaded with traps and Lithuania nearly sprang one.

''You want to get tested,'' James said. ''The best teams want to be tested. We love the competition. We've got some of the greatest competitors in our league, in this world, so you want to have a game where you feel like you were tested, and we had that today.''

And then some.

The U.S. trailed by two points with under six minutes left before using a 15-4 run to put away Lithuania (1-3), which was seeking to duplicate its stunning win over the Americans in 2004 win at Athens, when the U.S. program dropped to its low point after decades of dominance.

However, James, who was an Olympic rookie eight years ago, refused to allow it.

The reigning MVP and a recently crowned NBA champion knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and after Paul stole the inbounds pass, James took a feed down the right side and delivered one of his trademark dunks, a basket that brought the American players off the bench and seemed to restore world basketball order.

Carmelo Anthony added 20 points, Kevin Durant 16 and Chris Paul added seven rebounds, six assists and four of the U.S. team's 17 steals. After making a record 29 3-pointers in their epic win over Nigeria, the Americans missed 23 of 33 attempts behind the arc and too often settled for outside shots.

The U.S. wasn't sharp on defense either as Lithuania ran a high pick-and-roll to death that the Americans never really figured out how to stop.

''We can play better offensively and defensively, no questions about that,'' Krzyzewski said.

It didn't help that the U.S. also missed 12 free throws, with Kevin Love going 3 of 8.

Linas Kleiza scored 25 points and Martynas Pocius, who played for Krzyzewski at Duke, had 14 for Lithuania, the longtime hoop power with three Olympic bronze medals on its resume.

Krzyzewski figured his team would be challenged sooner or later and was not at all surprised the first real conflict came against Lithuania.

''These guys are really good,'' he said. ''We needed this.''

No, this wasn't easy, and that may be good in the long run for the Americans, who couldn't have helped but feel a little overconfident after Thursday's game when they made 29 3-pointers, scored 78 points in both halves and put on a breathtaking 40-minute display of international basketball.

Lithuania had lost to Nigeria last month in a qualifying tournament, but that hardly mattered once the ball went in the air.

''It's always a great game when we play against Lithuania,'' Paul said. ''We knew this was gonna be a dog fight and those guys played an unbelievable, unbelievable game.''

With a roster featuring Kleiza, who plays for the Toronto Raptors, and several players who played collegiately in the U.S., Lithuania, went right at the Americans' star-studded crew from the start.

In fact, Lithuania outrebounded the U.S. 42-37 and for long stretches it was the sharper team on the floor. Lithuania also shot an impressive 58 percent (38 for 65) from the field. But with a bench like no other, the U.S. simply wore Lithuania down in the fourth quarter, forcing several turnovers to swing the game in the final minutes.

After Russia upset Spain 77-74 in the morning session to win Group B, Russia's Andrei Kirilenko said there isn't any team that can't be beat.

''One night you can have 156 points, and a different night the ball could start missing,'' he said.

The words seemed prophetic as the Americans never found its collective touch, never led by more than 12 and were lucky Lithuania misfired on some big shots in the fourth.

Krzyzewski gave his team Friday off, canceling practice to rest players coming off a grueling NBA schedule and allow them a chance to get out and to other events and root on their Olympic teammates. The day off may have cost the Americans a little of their edge as they came out somewhat sloppy.

With the medal round approaching quickly, the Americans aren't likely to skip another day at the gym.

''We can be more ready to play than we were,'' Krzyzewski said. ''But overall this was a really good game for us. Winning like we did was terrific for us.''

There will be better - and bigger - ones ahead.

Once preliminary play ends, it's on to the knockout round, where one slip can crush dreams of gold.

The pressure will intensify. The stakes will rise.

Lithuania was only a warmup, but after three easy games, the U.S. needed a game where losing was possible.

''You'd like to win every game by 30 points, light up the cigar or put your feet up,'' Krzyzewski said. ''We're better off now, now that we're through it.''

ang malas na shooting ng USA sinabayan ng maraming turnovers ng Lithuania, hirap sa rebound talga ang team USA against Lithuania..

^^ Carmelo Anthony also had 20 points so why credit only LeBron James' 20 points? :ohno:

Because James did things when it mattered most?

congratz Rain or Shine :D
:dance:

So the winning legacy of Welcoat in the PBL is now in the PBA in Rain or Shine. B-Meg were not able to recover from the loss of their import early in the 4th quarter. Plus they simply faded in crunch time.

Malas malas lang talaga nung 4th. Kahit point blank range shots hindi napasok.

Olympic Basketball:
USA won against Lithuania, 99-94

^^ Thanks to Lebron because if not for him, TEAM USA could have possibly been upset by Lithuania ironically after blowing out Nigeria just a few nights ago. This current USA team may be very talented but doesn't have the same kind of drive and focus that the Dream Team had.


^^ Carmelo Anthony also had 20 points so why credit only LeBron James' 20 points? :ohno:

Because James did things when it mattered most?

^^ Yup exactly. It is a team game but it was really LeBron, not Melo, that made the difference when it mattered the most in this game which was why I said thanks to Lebron because if not for him, TEAM USA could have possibly been upset by Lithuania. It's not a knock on Melo by any means. Hehehe... :) :) :)

Laki na talaga ng improvement ni LeBron. No more choking moments

OT: Check out the dugout celebration of Rain or Shine :banana:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4azyvD1_S-Q/UB97GL88T5I/AAAAAAAAFB4/ItyLu3_L6GA/s1600/erika-locker.jpg

When it rains, it pours! I don't know why the Rain or Shine players are getting crazy, is it because they won the championship in a grueling seven-game series or a hot and sexy Erika Padilla getting wet in her bosom fitting attire?

http://istoryadista.blogspot.com/2012/08/hot-sexy-erika-padilla.html

Laki na talaga ng improvement ni LeBron. No more choking moments

^^ Yup he finally broke out from that LeChoke period and the experience made him a much better player in the process. He has elevated his game to that next level of being one of the greats of the game. LeBron and K.D. brought their A game today to help TEAM USA secure another win. :cheers:

USA beats Argentina 126-97
ESPN
http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/olympics/post/_/id/3330/instant-analysis-team-usa-126-argentina-97

LONDON -- Some instant analysis of Team USA's 126-97 victory over Argentina on Monday night to wrap up Group A play:

How it happened: Another international team with expert ball and player movement poked holes in Team USA's vaunted defense for a half in the final installment of pool play before LeBron James and Kevin Durant finally dragged the Americans out of their game-and-a-half malaise.

Despite resting Luis Scola for the entire second quarter and resting starting point guard Pablo Prigioni entirely, Argentina found offensive success akin to Lithuania's on Saturday and was down by just a point at the break, with Manu Ginobili needing just five field goal attempts to record 16 points by intermission.

But LeBron hit Argentina with a quick nine points early in the third quarter, followed by a stunning 3 spree from Durant, whose five triples in the period helped Team USA turn a 60-59 halftime edge into a 102-76 runaway heading into the fourth.

The Argentines opted for rest at that point, having surrendered 42 points in the third, creating too big a deficit to overturn. Ginobili didn't score a point in the second half and watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench not far from Scola, giving Argentina a jump on preparations for its quarterfinal meeting Wednesday with Brazil for the likely right to see the Americans again in Friday's final four.

Durant finished with a team-high 28 points, highlighted by 8-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. James (18 points and five assists) and Tyson Chandler each got tagged with a fourth foul in the third quarter, but the offensive eruption ensured that the foul trouble would have no effect. Starting point guard Chris Paul added 17 points for the Americans.

What it means: Only a loss by at least 13 points could have dislodged Team USA from the top spot in Group A. The third-quarter surge instead sends the Americans into the medal round as the only team to navigate group play without a defeat.

Excitement about that achievement, however, was tempered somewhat by Team USA's early inability to impose its defensive will on the Argentineans, just as it failed to do in the Lithuania game.

How much encouragement that will give Brazil or Argentina -- two longtime soccer death rivals about to play for a spot in the Olympic hoop semis -- remains to be seen. As spotty as Team USA's defensive intensity seemed early and as basic as the offense occasionally looks, no one in the tournament has the ability to erupt quite like the Yanks did when they rode James and Durant in that third quarter.

And things certaintly haven't regressed to the point that Australia -- with injured center Andrew Bogut at home -- can realistically give Team USA reason to worry in the quarters. Not even after the Aussies closed group play with an 82-80 upset of previously unbeaten Russia.

Player of the game: Durant's shooting, good for 17 points alone in the third quarter matching Argentina's total for period, was impossible to ignore.

It's really a coin flip with James, given how LeBron got the ball inside to start the second and changed the personality of proceedings, but 8-for-10 shooting from behind the line tends to get your attention.

KD by a hair.

Play of the game: After supplying those momentum-changing nine points at the start of the third, James finally pushed Team USA into a double-digit lead with a dish.

His slick bounce pass on the break to Durant, with Kobe Bryant open on the other wing, led to an easy finish at the rim that got Durant going.

The result? Durant's 3 spree soon followed ... highlighted by a 30-footer that helped put the game out of reach.

Westbrooooooookkkkkkkkkk!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/384620_10151047913893463_1923030987_n.jpg

Source: Facebook:NBA (https://www.facebook.com/nba)

USA 119 - Australia 86


Semifinals:

Russia vs. Spain
USA vs. Argentina

^^
Kobe Bryant scored all of his 20 points in the 2nd half including the six 3-pointers that he made. While Lebron James finished with a triple-double, 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

Mamaw performance ah.

Usa will lose to argentina....who is with me?

Merong tsismaks na intentionally nagpatalo ang Spain sa Brazil para maiwasan makita Team USA hanggang sa gold medal game.

Report: New Howard to Lakers trade discussed
Fox Sports.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/orlando-magic-dwight-howard-proposed-trade-lakers-nuggets-76ers-080912

And we're back.

After Dwight Howard trade talks managed to stay out of the news for a brief period of time, it looks like trade talk is once again picking up.

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Magic, Lakers, Nuggets and 76ers are engaged in four-way talks about a blockbuster deal involving Howard, which would send the center to Los Angeles to team up with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.

The four teams have reportedly been engaged in talks for several days, and while no deal is imminent, sources tell Wojnarowski that the discussions have substance.

There are reportedly a number of moving parts in the ongoing talks, but the basic framework of a possible deal would involve Howard and Nuggets forward Al Harrington going to the Lakers, Sixers guard Andre Iguodala going to the Nuggets, Lakers center Andrew Bynum going to the Sixers, and Lakers forward Pau Gasol and Nuggets guard Arron Affalo going to the Magic.

The Magic would reportedly also receive draft picks and salary cap relief as part of the proposed deal.

Bynum may seem like the more attractive option talent-wise, but Wojnarowski reports that the Magic would have a better chance of moving Gasol in another deal to get further assets, and landing the Spanish big man would also eliminate the concern over whether Bynum would ink a long-term extension with Orlando.

It's also noted in Wojnarowski's report that Bynum's and Gasol's potential destinations could be fluid in the talks, but that in any event, one would go to Orlando while the other goes to Philadelphia.

We've seen plenty of rumors involving Howard this offseason, so we should probably tame our excitement at this point. However, talks have reportedly "grown serious" over the course of this week.

Usa will lose to argentina....who is with me?

imposible, pacing ng usa ang di kaya ng sinuman sa mundo...5% of winning ang argentina:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

^^ I think it's going to be US vs Russia for the Gold match with the US winning the Gold of course.

^^ I think it's going to be US vs Russia for the Gold match with the US winning the Gold of course.

Who's Russia's star player? Kirilenko? :)

alexey shved
mozgov
and mny others

Wow Lakers get Howard for Bynum and a 1st round draft pick. What a steal! With Kobe, Gasol, Nash, and Howard... Looks like Lakers will take the West and quite possibly have enough talent to actually beat the Heat to win the NBA title this coming season! :cheers:

Breaking News: Howard to be dealt to Lakers in four-team trade
Updated Aug 10 2012 1:54AM
http://www.nba.com/2012/news/08/10/dwight-howard-trade.ap/index.html

The Los Angeles Lakers have a deal in place to acquire Dwight Howard from Orlando in a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia, and the NBA has scheduled a conference call Friday with the four general managers to finish the deal, according to multiple reports.

Citing unidentified sources, ESPN first reported the deal was in place. The Los Angeles Times, citing unidentified NBA executives, later confirmed the trade. The Denver Post confirmed the Nuggets' end of the deal, and Yahoo! Sports also confirmed the trade, both citing unidentified sources.

A person with knowledge of the trade also confirmed the Denver portion of the deal to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not been officially announced.

Philadelphia would get Andrew Bynum from Los Angeles and Jason Rchardson from Orlando, while Denver would get Andre Iguodala from the 76ers.

Orlando would receive Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless from Philadelphia, and lottery protected first-round picks from each of the three teams.

Howard had asked for a trade to Brooklyn, but Orlando failed to work out a deal with the Nets, opening the way for the Lakers to get the All-Star center.

Howard averaged 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds in 54 regular-season games for Orlando last season. In eight seasons with the Magic, he averaged 18.4 points and 13.0 rebounds.

Breaking Down the Dwight Howard Trade:

Lakers Trade Andrew Bynum
Lakers Get Dwight Howard

Nuggets Trade Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington
Nuggets Get Andre Iguodala

76ers Trade Andre Iguogala, Nikola Vucecic, Moe Harkless
76ers Get Andrew Bynum, Jason Richardson

Magic Trade Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson
Magic Get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless
Magic also will receive a protected 1st-round pick from each of the other three teams.

Wow! Nash-Kobe-W.Peace-Gasol-Howard imba!

Dwight Howard headed to Lakers
ESPN
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8256377/dwight-howard-traded-los-angeles-lakers

All-Star center Dwight Howard was traded Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers, the last act of his long, drawn-out departure from the Magic. It took four teams, 12 players, five draft picks and countless rounds of talks with different clubs to get done, but it finally was completed Friday after the NBA reviewed and approved the deal.

The Lakers have scheduled an 8 p.m. ET news conference to introduce Howard.

So after an offseason where the Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith, now they're truly beginning anew. Howard is gone as well, the second time the franchise has lost a big-man star to the Lakers.

In 1996, the Magic watched Shaquille O'Neal sign as a free agent with the Lakers. At least this time, when they lost someone with the "Superman" nickname, they got something back.

"Well, it looks like Superman has found a home," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant wrote on his Facebook page.

A lot of players found new homes, including Andrew Bynum, sent by the Lakers to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers sent Andre Iguodala -- part of the U.S. Olympic team, set to play a semifinal game at the London Games on Friday -- to the Denver Nuggets.

"I know my best basketball is ahead of me," Iguodala wrote on Twitter.

Orlando got guard Arron Afflalo and forward Al Harrington from Denver, forward Moe Harkless and center Nikola Vucevic from Philadelphia, and forward Josh McRoberts and guard Christian Eyenga from the Lakers. The Lakers got Howard, guard Chris Duhon and forward Earl Clark from Orlando. The Magic also traded guard Jason Richardson to Philadelphia.

Orlando also gets five draft picks over five years.

"A primary goal for our basketball team is to achieve sustainability while maintaining a long-term vision. We feel this deal puts us in a position to begin building in that direction," Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said. "In addition to the six players joining our team, we will be in a position to maximize our salary cap flexibility in the near future, as well as utilize the multiple draft picks we have acquired going forward."

Howard will have to wait to make his debut with the Lakers since he is expected to miss the start of the regular season as he continues to recover from back surgery, multiple sources told ESPN.

The Lakers pulled off the deal and somehow kept Pau Gasol in the process -- something many didn't expect when the Lakers first started getting mentioned in the Howard trade mix.

The trade was announced during the Spain-Russia semifinal matchup at the Olympics. Gasol scored 16 points, helping the Spanish team reach the gold medal game with a 67-59 win.

Gasol admitted that he struggled to keep his focus fully on Spain's victory.

"It was hard for me to block it out completely," Gasol said.

While insisting that he was trying as hard as he could to concentrate on Spain's attempt to go one step farther than it did in Beijing in 2008 when it narrowly lost to the United States in the gold-medal game, Gasol likewise couldn't conceal his excitement about the Lakers' future as well.

"I think its something that puts in position of being a truly power team," Gasol said, "and a team with all the chances to go for the ring."

The Magic said they were also getting a second-round draft pick from Denver next year, a first-round pick from either Denver or New York in 2014, a conditional first-round pick from Philadelphia and a conditional second-round pick from the Lakers in 2015, and a conditional first-round pick from the Lakers in 2017.

One source briefed on Howard's plans told ESPN.com's Marc Stein the All-Star center will indeed stand firm on his intent to play out the 2012-13 season without extending his contract so he can become a free agent on July 1, 2013.
Going that route will enable Howard to decide how comfortable he is in Los Angeles before deciding whether to re-sign with the Lakers or join the Dallas Mavericks, who will have the requisite salary-cap space to sign Howard and who remain one of his preferred destinations from his original list of three teams (Brooklyn Nets, Lakers and Mavericks).

"If Los Angeles doesn't work out for Dwight, Dallas will be there waiting for him," the source Stein.

Howard averaged 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds in 54 regular-season games for Orlando last season. In eight seasons with the Magic, he averaged 18.4 points and 13.0 rebounds.

Howard has been an first-team All-NBA selection in each of the last five seasons, something only four centers in NBA history have done in at least four consecutive seasons. All those players have now been Lakers at some point -- Shaquille O'Neal (1996-06), George Mikan (1948-54) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-74).

And he would figure to make the Lakers even more of a title contender.

The Western Conference is loaded -- Oklahoma City is young, talented and likely to be driven after losing the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, San Antonio was spectacular last season, the Los Angeles Clippers are rising, and the Nuggets could be much better with Iguodala.

But the Lakers have clearly loaded up to make a run at what would be Bryant's sixth title next season. Steve Nash was added from Phoenix to run the offense, and now they've got Howard to occupy the low post.

"Unreal!" Bryant wrote.

Howard entered last season as the subject of trade rumors, especially since he could have opted out of his deal at season's end and become a free agent. He decided that he would not exercise that option, then found himself in another firestorm in April when Van Gundy said Howard wanted him fired.

Howard denied it. Ultimately, it didn't matter. Van Gundy's gone, Smith is gone, and now so is Howard.

He went to Los Angeles for back surgery in April, when it was announced that he would miss both the rest of the Orlando season and the London Olympics.

Maybe it was fitting that the surgery was in Los Angeles.

It's been Howard's home base ever since, and now it's where he'll work.

"We'd like to thank Andrew for all he's done for the team and the organization," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "Andrew has been with us since we drafted him at 17 years old and over the last seven years we have watched him develop into an All-Star player who has helped the team win two NBA championships. He's a special talent with a bright future."

Howard had asked for a trade to Brooklyn. Despite several scenarios being discussed, Orlando failed to work out a deal with the Nets, but remained determined to move their disgruntled big man.

"I wish nothing but the best for Big Bynum," Bryant wrote. "I hope he follows what was a great season last year with an even better one next year. I know LA is excited about the deal and rightfully so. The Lakers landed a piece that will hopefully carry the franchise long after I'm gone. I have spoken to Dwight Howard already and we are locked and loaded to bring back the title."


Breaking down Howard trade:

Who each Team receives in trade

Lakers: Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark

Nuggets: Andre Iguodala

76ers: Andrew Bynum, ason Richardson

Magic*: Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga

*- Magic also will receive a protected 1st-round pick from each of the other three teams and five overall draft picks

Suddenly, Lakers team to beat in the NBA
ESPN
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8254617/suddenly-los-angeles-lakers-team-beat-again

LOS ANGELES -- It's not hard to picture Dwight Howard in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform.

For the better part of the past two years, Lakers fans have superimposed a Lakers jersey on every imaginable image of Howard. Type in Howard's name into Google and you'd think he has played the majority of his career in Los Angeles.

It's not hard to picture Howard living in Los Angeles and enjoying life in Hollywood.

For the better part of this summer, Howard has been spotted around Los Angeles by the paparazzi as much as a Kardashian. He's on the Dodger Stadium video board during the seventh-inning stretch, going for a walk outside of his hotel in Beverly Hills and waiting in line with kids for ice cream at Sprinkles. He has been in the city more than any Laker this off-season.

And after Thursday's news that Howard will be traded to the Lakers as early as Friday, it's not hard to picture him winning his first championship in Los Angeles.

Yes, that's right Miami, there is a new challenger to your throne and this team has a "Big Four" to trump your "Big Three."

There will be no pep rallies filled with smoke and pyrotechnics when the deal officially goes down. Los Angeles usually saves such bells and whistles for championships but such a celebration in June is certainly what the Lakers have in mind now with Howard and Steve Nash.

And there will be no proclamations of winning "not six, not seven, not eight" titles but you have to believe that is what Kobe Bryant is now thinking as he sits next to LeBron James in London and counts his number of championship rings.

The window was supposed to be closed -- or at least closing -- on the Lakers' pursuit of a championship after last season and the new CBA was supposed to have locked that window shut for the foreseeable future.

This offseason Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss took a sledge hammer to that window and now it's wide open. In the process, they may have also made the Lakers the favorites to win the NBA title yet again.

After the disappointment of "basketball reasons" robbing them of Chris Paul, the Lakers somehow got Nash for a package of draft picks and the trade exception they received from the Lamar Odom deal with Dallas. Then they finally found the right mix of teams and players to get Howard from Orlando for Andrew Bynum and a protected draft pick.

If you're keeping track at home that means the Lakers essentially got Howard and Nash for Bynum, Odom and draft picks and were able to keep Pau Gasol in the process.

The Lakers have had their fair share of favorable trades in their history but this combination may top them all.

As great as the star power of Howard and Nash are, keeping Gasol as well as Metta World Peace when all is said and done is what makes the Lakers the team to beat going into next season.

If you thought the combination of an enigmatic and inconsistent Bynum and Gasol was hard to beat, try handling a front court of Howard and Gasol with World Peace freed up to focus on being a defensive pest.

And if you thought the Lakers were a potential contender with Derek Fisher or Ramon Sessions at point guard, try stopping them with Nash running the floor and directing the fast break better than anyone in Los Angeles has since Magic Johnson was running "Showtime."

The Lakers improved at the two positions where Miami is weakest. The Heat listed Joel Anthony as their starting center during the Finals but leaned heavily on Chris Bosh. It was a successful patchwork job that ultimately worked out for them but would be a matchup disaster against the Lakers' front court.

Miami also rode the hot hand of the much-maligned Mario Chalmers at point guard during the Finals and bypassed getting a more experienced veteran at the position this offseason. Their basic philosophy is to surround James, Dwyane Wade and Bosh with as many shooters as possible. It's a solid gameplan against most teams that are not rolling out a starting lineup of Nash, Bryant, World Peace, Gasol and Howard.

And for those of you in Oklahoma City, the Lakers are not looking past Kevin Durant and the Thunder. Oklahoma City's five-game dismantling of the Lakers in the playoffs this season on the heels of being swept out of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks last year was the wake-up call this team needed to realize it could not continue and contend maintaining the status quo.

When Oklahoma City eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs in May, Bryant smiled when he was asked about the Lakers' future. Despite a second straight ouster in the second round and adjusting to a new locker room without two of his closest confidants in Odom and Fisher, Bryant wasn't ready to quietly ride off into the sunset.

"I'm not fading into the shadows," Bryant said. "I'm not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere. It's not like one of those things where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappear forever. I'm not going for that.

"I'm not the most patient of people and the organization is not extremely patient, either. We want to win and win now. I'm sure we'll figure it out. We always have and I'm sure we will again."

It was an optimistic outlook that came to fruition Thursday but not even Bryant could have imagined the Lakers would end up with both Howard and Nash while finding a way to keep Gasol. The Lakers have not only figured it out, they have catapulted themselves back atop the NBA.

It may have seemed unimaginable a couple of months ago, but it's not hard to picture now when you look at the talent on this Lakers team.

kulang sa Legit Center ang Miami dapat mag Unload sila ng Guards for sure hahanap ng pantapat kay Howard yan

With Dwights addition to the lakers Kobe might have his last breaths on his career and for the O'brien Trophy!

Kobe must be grinning right now in London :D

damn howard to lakers .....

Kawawa si Bosh kay D12 :lol:

The Diva has landed on Hollywood and it's looking like Miami's reign is going to be short!

OKC is the last team to build a competitive squad through draft-picks.

manipis lang ang bench ng LA, pero head to head vs Miami sa starting 5, lamang ang LA

Spain Beats Russia. Gasol in an interview after the game said he is looking forward to be playing along side Howard. TEAM USA semi will be starting soon. Kobe shown smiling ear to ear more than usual. Bet Kobe is really happy Howard is on board as this will legitimize LA's shot in getting Kobe that 6th title he's been coveting, probably more. Lakers look hard to beat with a first five of Nash, Bryant, World Peace, Gasol. and Howard. LA bench lost Josh McRoberts and Christian Eyenga but got back Chris Duhon and Earl Clark (in the same Howard trade), signed Jamison, and resigned Hill though I doubt if they'll stop there given there are still good free agents available to fill out the roster. Dang with this Howard trade, looks like the LA Lakers have another dynasty in the making! Miami Heat better watch out, LA Lakers are back! :okay: :okay: :cheers:


Lakers win big with Howard deal
Fox Sports
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Dwight-Howard-Los-Angeles-Lakers-blockbuster-trade-Orlando-Magic-Andrew-Bynum-Denver-Nuggerts-Philadelphia-76ers-080912

Dwight Howard finally got his wish. He’s no longer a member of the Orlando Magic.

And while Orlando never did cave in to the superstar center’s original demand — a trade to Brooklyn to play alongside Deron Williams with the Nets — Howard may find himself in a more favorable situation with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers when the dust finally settles following his hellish divorce from the Magic.

The particulars of the massive four-team deal, approved by the league on Friday, look like this (try and follow me):

Howard will join the Lakers, along with Magic teammates Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. Lakers center Andrew Bynum goes to the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Magic swingman Jason Richardson. The Denver Nuggets get Sixers forward Andre Iguodala.

And in return for all this moving and shaking, Orlando receives Nuggets forward Al Harrington and shooting guard Arron Afflalo, Sixers rookie guard Moe Harkless and big man Nikola Vucevic, Lakers big man Josh McRoberts and small forward Christian Eyenga, plus three lottery-protected first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Got all that? Good.

The big winners in this blockbuster deal are unquestionably Howard and the Lakers.

Howard, whose uncooperative, aching back likely started feeling better sometime Thursday night, is now 20 percent of a deadly starting five that includes Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol — who, stunningly, was not moved in the monstrous deal — and Metta World Peace.

Howard has never been paired with a point guard in the same stratosphere as Nash, a big man as good as Gasol or a fellow superstar like Bryant, who should be reinvigorated by the newfound plausibility of another title. But now Howard will have all three at his disposal — and to think, that wasn’t even his first choice.

Of course, the six-time All-Star’s posh new predicament did come at a cost — emotionally, anyway. Howard’s reputation took a staggering blow as he bullied his way out of Orlando, following in the footsteps of his on-again, off-again enemy Shaquille O’Neal, who left Orlando for LA as a free agent in 1996.

The once-affable goofball Howard essentially backed his doting former team into a corner and robbed them of all their leverage, forcing the Magic to send him where he wanted to go, getting a coach fired, tearing apart a locker room and giving the proverbial middle finger to a fan base along the way.

Though he’s remained silent throughout the ordeal, Howard is certainly self-aware enough to realize how hated he now is by everyone not wearing Lakers purple and gold, and for most of those people (particularly Magic fans) their contempt comes with good reason.

That said, he’s also witnessed LeBron James rehabilitate his image over the last two seasons after snatching the throne as basketball’s biggest villain, and he knows that winning a championship — something he and the Lakers now seem tailor-made to do — sure makes that undertaking much more manageable.

And don’t kid yourself, these Lakers are absolutely a championship-caliber team with Howard on board.

The move to acquire the league’s best big man, Howard, stands as the capstone on an astounding renovation in Los Angeles that will put the 33-year-old Bryant in a much better position to tie Michael Jordan with a sixth championship ring than he was in May, when the Lakers got bounced from the playoffs by the plucky Oklahoma City Thunder.

Since the start of free agency, LA has turned the Lamar Odom trade exception and a bundle of putrid draft picks into the two-time MVP point guard Nash. They’ve bolstered the bench by signing 14-year veteran Antawn Jamison to a minimum deal. And they’ve basically swapped the promising but inconsistent Bynum for the steady and imposing man-child Howard.

It’s on par with LA’s fleecing of the Memphis Grizzlies to acquire Gasol in 2008, and it’s a testament to just how good general manager Mitch Kupchak is at building a winner. His Lakers, which were on the border of becoming an also-ran after this latest playoff flop, are now the class of the West, and maybe the class of the league, period.

But they’re also not the only winners in this exchange. Philadelphia and Denver also made out like bandits, and probably still can’t believe that they weaseled their way into the deal.

The Sixers managed to emerge with the second-best player in the trade, Bynum, while the Nuggets acquired the third in the Olympian Iguodala. And for the Nuggets, it didn’t even cost them the $13 million trade exception they still have tucked in their back pocket. Both these 2012 playoff teams have ostensibly made themselves better just by virtue of being facilitators.

On the other hand, it’s a curious deal for Orlando — the team that, you’ll recall, initiated all of this noise at Howard’s behest — to finally settle on, and in truth there’s not a whole lot of good news to be derived from the end result.

Simply put: the Magic got swindled.

I'd have taken Bynum for Howard straight up 100 times over the deal the Magic got. I'd have rather paid $82 million for a Brook Lopez-Kris Humphries frontcourt — another one-time Magic option — than this. I may have even just let Howard walk for nothing instead of volunteering for this robbery.

The disheartening but widely understood theory heading into this doomsday scenario always seemed to be that Orlando would lose Howard, bottom out this year and then start to rebuild in 2013, using the lottery picks, cap space and young talent presumably acquired in the Howard deal to remold their roster.

But in flipping Howard for Harrington, Afflalo, Harkless, Vucevic and a collection of ho-hum picks, the Magic have essentially done none of the above, handcuffing themselves from a flexibility standpoint and damning themselves to basketball purgatory for the foreseeable future.

As part of the Howard swap, Orlando rid itself of the hefty contracts of Richardson (three years, $18.6 million), and Duhon (two years, $6.75 million), but they were unable to unload Hedo Turkoglu (two years, $24 million) or Glen Davis (three years, $19.4 million) in the process.

Additionally, Orlando took on the costly deals of Harrington (three years, $21.5 million) and Afflalo (four years, $31.2 million), leaving them no closer to having significant cap space than they were to begin with, even if they cut ties with Harrington, whose final two years are only partially guaranteed.

The picks the Magic got aren’t helping, either, since all three draft selections — one from each winning bidder in the Howard deal — are lottery-protected. This means Orlando is looking at a trio of mid-first rounders at best, and anyone who remembers the Steven Hunter/Jeryl Sasser/Reece Gaines era of Magic draft history knows just how well those types of choices usually pan out.

What Orlando really needed was for a team like Cleveland or Toronto or Charlotte to get involved and somehow offer up a guaranteed lottery pick — like the one the Raptors gave to Houston for Kyle Lowry — so that the Magic could at least walk away with some semblance of hope that they can start the rebuilding process soon.

Instead, the deal left Orlando living out its worst-case scenario: broke, awful and hoping to get luckier in the draft than it did in this trade. The Magic are stuck in neutral until the next Shaq or Dwight comes along to save them, and history says those players — like relevant Orlando rosters — are few and far between.

Kobe is having a good 2 weeks! The Howard trade, the gold medal match this sunday.

His wife came to visit last week
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/10/article-2186577-14625FE6000005DC-448_634x383.jpg

then hanging out with Aussie swimmer and groupie Stephanie Rice!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/10/article-2186577-147ADCED000005DC-698_634x380.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/10/article-2186577-147ABB4B000005DC-507_634x652.jpg

LA Lakers not yet done dealing, sign shooter Jodie Meeks
GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/269263/sports/basketball/nba-lakers-not-yet-done-dealing-sign-shooter-jodie-meeks?ref=latest

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to bolster their roster, with LA Times' writer Mark Medina reporting that the team has come to terms with former Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter Jodie Meeks on a two-year deal.

The deal is said to be worth $3 million, with the second year being a team option, Medina adds.

The four-year NBA veteran spent his last three seasons with the 76ers. He played in all 66 games of the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, starting 50 at shooting guard, and averaged 8.4 points on 40.9 percent field goal shooting, 36.5 percent three-point shooting, and 90.6 free throw shooting, along with 2.4 rebounds.

Meeks, for his career, is a 37.1 percent three-point shooter.

It is expected that Meeks will back-up Lakers star Kobe Bryant at the shooting guard spot. The second-round draft pick in 2009 will also likely benefit from Steve Nash finding him open on the perimeter, and the space newly-acquired center Dwight Howard will carve out for him, while drawing double-teams.

Wala na, bulok na talaga sa bench si Goudelock.

US routs Argentina, faces Spain for Olympic gold
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=837012&keyword=sp_pba

LONDON (AP) – Kevin Durant scored 19 points, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James added 18 apiece and the US men's Olympic basketball team pushed aside Argentina 109-83 on Friday in the semifinals.

The US will play Spain for the gold medal – a rematch of the final at the Beijing Games won by the Americans four years ago. Spain rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Russia 67-59 in the first semifinal.

With James doing a little of everything, the Americans finally pulled away in the third quarter from the Argentines, whose strong outside shooting had them within six points at halftime. But the defending bronze medalists eventually cooled off and the US team moved into Sunday's final – as expected.

James added seven rebounds and seven assists before taking a seat in the fourth quarter.

Manu Ginobili scored 18 to lead Argentina, which will play Russia on Sunday for the bronze medal.

Itrade na si Blake at Sessions :lol:

Si Sessions nasa Bobcats na.

The NEW LOOK Los Angeles Lakers
http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/the_new_los_angeles_lakers/11432191

Okay, let's take a minute to look at the 2012-2013 Lakers roster:

PG: STEVE NASH

Nash brings leadership, an ability to coach a team on the floor and one of the best jump shots in the NBA. He played with a bunch of backups in Phoenix last year and had a fine season ... so imagine what he could do with this lineup? He is an excellent FT shooter and long range shooter which will open up things for the big men in the paint. He is a mess defensively and won't be able to guard Westbrook, Parker, Paul, Curry, Rubio or virtually any of the starting point guards in the west. With Kobe off the floor, expect Nash to be on it, giving the Lakers someone who can create a shot for themselves or someone else.

SG: KOBE BRYANT

Yeah, he's old in basketball years. But the addition of Nash and Howard helps him on both ends of the floor. On offense, Nash will take a lot of the ballhandling duties away from Kobe. Nash also can create for himself and others (Kobe was the only Laker who could do such a thing over the last few seasons). During Kobe's rest, Nash can lead the team and should keep the team on track (it has been hit or miss lately). On defense, Kobe doesn't have the be the lock down defender he used to be (which he isn't as much anymore). Kobe's scoring will go down from the 27 ppg of last season, but his efficiency should rocket.

SF: METTA WORLD PEACE

World Peace's job description got a whole lot easier. He needs to spend the bulk of his court time defending one of the opponent's top wings and how to find the open spots behind the three point arc. I'll bet that MWP will shoot more 3s than 2s this season. And they all should be wiiiiiide open. Still, he needs to perform because the Lakers have other options to go to.

PF: PAU GASOL

I have a feeling Gasol will have a bit of a re-breakout season. You figure that he spent last summer smarting from the venom of fans cracking on his horrid performance in the 2011 playoffs. Then in December, he was dealt in the Chris Paul deal ... that eventually got nixed. For the entire 2011-2012 season, Gasol's name was thrown in virtually every trade rumor -- even bad ones. Fast forward to today. He has Spain in the gold medal game against the USA, Steve Nash is there as a perfect pick and pop guy and now Howard is next to him as an elite defender. Oh, and he's not being traded and has basically re-gained to confidence of the organization. Again, Nash will use Gasol as a perfect pick and roll/pop guy in a mini offense. While Howard will want his touches, he won't clog up the lane as much as Bynum did for Gasol. For a guy who had no fit last year, Gasol is a glove this year.

C: DWIGHT HOWARD

Howard just made a poor defensive team pretty darn good. If he could do it for Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Hedo Turkoglu and Ryan Anderson, he'll do fine with Kobe and Metta World Peace. His importance will be blocked shots and rebounding. He will also be one of Nash's pick and roll guys who will receive a few alley-oops from the Canadian. He will have a fraction of the pressure of leading the team as he did in Orlando.

BENCH

F: ANTAWN JAMISON

This is a big, albeit quiet get for the Lakers. Dude averaged 17 ppg last season and will be asked to do nothing more than be a scorer off the bench. He can backup up either Gasol or MWP and just worry about filling up the bucket. He's a great locker room guy who has the respect of everyone in the league. He's played for coach Mike Brown before, played alongside a star before and even won a Sixth Man award with Dallas several years back. Plus, if MWP acts up or slumps like he did last season, Jamison could move into the starting lineup. Most likely he is the man off of a once sad bench.

G: CHRIS DUHON

Duhon isn't a great player by any means, but he has started over 300 games in the NBA and played in Chicago and New York before ... so L.A. won't be too large for him. His job will be to play his little minutes backing up Nash and keeping the offense moving. He's a decent three point shooter (the Lakers have been baaaaad at this and the offense Mike Brown wants to run involves having outlets for Kobe, Nash, Gasol and Howard that can knock down 3s).

G: STEVE BLAKE

Blake has been a bit of a disappointment in L.A. so this should be a make or break season for him. He has shown spurts of value (like against the Nuggets last postseason) and then looks like a liability. He should have an easier go of it this year since he will spend most of his court time as a 2-guard. He'll be Kobe's backup in a sense in the second team rotation alongside Nash. I think his offense will be easier to get and he should benefit from not having to handle the ball as much. His bad defense will get better with Howard ... as I can write that about everyone on this list.

C: JORDAN HILL

Hill was a nobody until the end of last season and the playoffs. Now, the Lakers are counting on him to be the go-to frontcourt backup. His job will be the same: crash the boards and work hard defensively. The fact he was scoring at all was icing. He will probably see most of his court time with Howard out and may even get to start right off the bat while Howard recovers from back surgery.

G: JODIE MEEKS

Let's put it this way: among Duhon, Blake, Meeks and Ebanks, one or two of these guys will move forward with Brown's trust to be the gunner on this team. Meeks could lead in that role since he is primarily a 3-point shooter. That's why he's here.

F: DEVIN EBANKS

Ebanks still is unsigned and technically doesn't have a roster spot right now. But the Lakers like him for his defense and his athleticism. His court time may be sporatic this season.

F: EARL CLARK

He should get more run at the beginning of the season while Howard is recovering from back surgery. Hill could start at center and Clark backs him up. From there, Clark will have to hope to emulate Hill and carve a niche out on this team.

G: ANDREW GOUDELOCK

The Lakers liked him last year and he could get into that battle for those precious few minutes as a gunner. Maybe not.

G: DARIUS MORRIS

Hopefully he can make this team and find a good suit guy. With Nash, Duhon, Blake and Goudelock ahead of him, Morris won't see much of the active roster.

G: DARIUS JOHNSON ODOM

See Morris. Johnson-Odom was the Big East player of the year and has a lot of toughness ... which Mike Brown loves. He may see more D-League action than anything.

C: ROBERT SACRE

Mitch Kupchak has really liked Sacre so I think he stays in some capacity. He may get some early season run with Howard hurt. Once Howard comes back, I see Sacre as a D-League guy to work on his game.

USA vs Spain For Gold Medal
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1293710-usa-vs-spain-olympic-basketball-gold-medal-tv-start-time-live-stream-more

LeBron James and Team USA (7-0) have blown away the competition and are on the verge of a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

However, the Americans now take on their toughest competition of the Games with a gold-medal final game against Spain (5-2). Both Pau and Marc Gasol have been making opponents suffer inside, while Jose Calderon continues to orchestrate the efficient offense.

After losing its first two games, Spain has won five consecutive games and come into this contest fresh off a come-from-behind victory over Russia. Pau Gasol led the way in the victory with 16 points and 12 rebounds in what was Spain's most resilient victory of the Games.

Meanwhile, the United States are playing like a team that won't even be contested in the final. They outright embarrassed Argentina 109-83 after beating them by six points prior to the start of the Games.

Kevin Durant leads the way for Team USA with 18 points per game, and has been the outright star for this team throughout the Games. His play has propelled his teammates and the shooting has been jaw-dropping from the Thunder talent.

After both Spain and the United States have made their promising runs, it will all come down to this one final showdown for the gold-medal.

Argentina vs. Russia - 6 pm

USA vs. Spain - 10pm

argentina for sure will take bronze...USA will take GOLD

pag matalo ang USA mamaya ayaw ko ng manood ng NBA :lol:

Grabe :nuts:

fast forward global basketbol...

pintados versus alhambrans
la '84, spain versus us

classic hur jae shot, fade away jumper ;)

Pro-Spanish crowd in USA vs. ESP.

Spanish team is the dirtiest playing team I've ever seen. They know it's the only way they can win.

NBC online feed announcers are horrible.

this is a down-to-the-wire finish. 4th quarter na. the US's lack in size is apparent. they're leading by just 1 point entering the 4th quarter.

USA won: 107-100

Gara ng TV5, delayed ng 30 minutes yung game. Spolied na tuloy :nuts:

orchestrated game!!!

laki ng deperensya sa talent, nagpapahabol, tapos kakalas

if team USA's premier NBA bigs were there, that game would've been put away by the americans in the 3rd quarter. save for the last 3 minuets and some seconds of the game, what kept spain's chances alive were the presence of the its big men, taking advantage of team USA's lack in size.

durant may have scored 30 points but i think, the play of the game for team USA was the pressurized 3 point dagger coolly connected by lebron james with just under 2 minuets left in the game. that basket made it 102-92 in the favor of the americans. it enabled them to have enough breathing room in the crucial last stretches of the game.

No more choking. :D

Pro-Spanish crowd in USA vs. ESP.

Spanish team is the dirtiest playing team I've ever seen. They know it's the only way they can win.

NBC online feed announcers are horrible.

NBC talking heads are all full of shit, not just in Basketball but in all sports USA participated in.

USA vs The World (2012 Participants only)

pg- Parker
sg - Ginobili
sf - Luol Deng
pf - Pau Gasol
c - Marc Gasol

g - Shved
g - Barbosa
f - Kirilenko
f - Scola
c - Nene

g/f- Huertas
f/c - Ibaka

Usa will lose to argentina....who is with me?

Sa CDR-Kinh nyo ho ata nabili bolang crystal nyo. :D

No more choking. :D

LeBrooooooooooooon :lol:

The King is having the best season of his NBA career

^^ Better follow up that one. Or else, The Superfriends of Los Angeles would win the championship next year :lol:

FoREVER LAKERS, Trust kobe,trust lakers....bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

The NEW LOOK Los Angeles Lakers
http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/the_new_los_angeles_lakers/11432191

Okay, let's take a minute to look at the 2012-2013 Lakers roster:

PG: STEVE NASH

Nash brings leadership, an ability to coach a team on the floor and one of the best jump shots in the NBA. He played with a bunch of backups in Phoenix last year and had a fine season ... so imagine what he could do with this lineup? He is an excellent FT shooter and long range shooter which will open up things for the big men in the paint. He is a mess defensively and won't be able to guard Westbrook, Parker, Paul, Curry, Rubio or virtually any of the starting point guards in the west. With Kobe off the floor, expect Nash to be on it, giving the Lakers someone who can create a shot for themselves or someone else.

SG: KOBE BRYANT

Yeah, he's old in basketball years. But the addition of Nash and Howard helps him on both ends of the floor. On offense, Nash will take a lot of the ballhandling duties away from Kobe. Nash also can create for himself and others (Kobe was the only Laker who could do such a thing over the last few seasons). During Kobe's rest, Nash can lead the team and should keep the team on track (it has been hit or miss lately). On defense, Kobe doesn't have the be the lock down defender he used to be (which he isn't as much anymore). Kobe's scoring will go down from the 27 ppg of last season, but his efficiency should rocket.

SF: METTA WORLD PEACE

World Peace's job description got a whole lot easier. He needs to spend the bulk of his court time defending one of the opponent's top wings and how to find the open spots behind the three point arc. I'll bet that MWP will shoot more 3s than 2s this season. And they all should be wiiiiiide open. Still, he needs to perform because the Lakers have other options to go to.

PF: PAU GASOL

I have a feeling Gasol will have a bit of a re-breakout season. You figure that he spent last summer smarting from the venom of fans cracking on his horrid performance in the 2011 playoffs. Then in December, he was dealt in the Chris Paul deal ... that eventually got nixed. For the entire 2011-2012 season, Gasol's name was thrown in virtually every trade rumor -- even bad ones. Fast forward to today. He has Spain in the gold medal game against the USA, Steve Nash is there as a perfect pick and pop guy and now Howard is next to him as an elite defender. Oh, and he's not being traded and has basically re-gained to confidence of the organization. Again, Nash will use Gasol as a perfect pick and roll/pop guy in a mini offense. While Howard will want his touches, he won't clog up the lane as much as Bynum did for Gasol. For a guy who had no fit last year, Gasol is a glove this year.

C: DWIGHT HOWARD

Howard just made a poor defensive team pretty darn good. If he could do it for Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Hedo Turkoglu and Ryan Anderson, he'll do fine with Kobe and Metta World Peace. His importance will be blocked shots and rebounding. He will also be one of Nash's pick and roll guys who will receive a few alley-oops from the Canadian. He will have a fraction of the pressure of leading the team as he did in Orlando.

BENCH

F: ANTAWN JAMISON

This is a big, albeit quiet get for the Lakers. Dude averaged 17 ppg last season and will be asked to do nothing more than be a scorer off the bench. He can backup up either Gasol or MWP and just worry about filling up the bucket. He's a great locker room guy who has the respect of everyone in the league. He's played for coach Mike Brown before, played alongside a star before and even won a Sixth Man award with Dallas several years back. Plus, if MWP acts up or slumps like he did last season, Jamison could move into the starting lineup. Most likely he is the man off of a once sad bench.

G: CHRIS DUHON

Duhon isn't a great player by any means, but he has started over 300 games in the NBA and played in Chicago and New York before ... so L.A. won't be too large for him. His job will be to play his little minutes backing up Nash and keeping the offense moving. He's a decent three point shooter (the Lakers have been baaaaad at this and the offense Mike Brown wants to run involves having outlets for Kobe, Nash, Gasol and Howard that can knock down 3s).

G: STEVE BLAKE

Blake has been a bit of a disappointment in L.A. so this should be a make or break season for him. He has shown spurts of value (like against the Nuggets last postseason) and then looks like a liability. He should have an easier go of it this year since he will spend most of his court time as a 2-guard. He'll be Kobe's backup in a sense in the second team rotation alongside Nash. I think his offense will be easier to get and he should benefit from not having to handle the ball as much. His bad defense will get better with Howard ... as I can write that about everyone on this list.

C: JORDAN HILL

Hill was a nobody until the end of last season and the playoffs. Now, the Lakers are counting on him to be the go-to frontcourt backup. His job will be the same: crash the boards and work hard defensively. The fact he was scoring at all was icing. He will probably see most of his court time with Howard out and may even get to start right off the bat while Howard recovers from back surgery.

G: JODIE MEEKS

Let's put it this way: among Duhon, Blake, Meeks and Ebanks, one or two of these guys will move forward with Brown's trust to be the gunner on this team. Meeks could lead in that role since he is primarily a 3-point shooter. That's why he's here.

F: DEVIN EBANKS

Ebanks still is unsigned and technically doesn't have a roster spot right now. But the Lakers like him for his defense and his athleticism. His court time may be sporatic this season.

F: EARL CLARK

He should get more run at the beginning of the season while Howard is recovering from back surgery. Hill could start at center and Clark backs him up. From there, Clark will have to hope to emulate Hill and carve a niche out on this team.

G: ANDREW GOUDELOCK

The Lakers liked him last year and he could get into that battle for those precious few minutes as a gunner. Maybe not.

G: DARIUS MORRIS

Hopefully he can make this team and find a good suit guy. With Nash, Duhon, Blake and Goudelock ahead of him, Morris won't see much of the active roster.

G: DARIUS JOHNSON ODOM

See Morris. Johnson-Odom was the Big East player of the year and has a lot of toughness ... which Mike Brown loves. He may see more D-League action than anything.

C: ROBERT SACRE

Mitch Kupchak has really liked Sacre so I think he stays in some capacity. He may get some early season run with Howard hurt. Once Howard comes back, I see Sacre as a D-League guy to work on his game.

Baka naman matulad lang din ito sa 2003-2004 Lakers team? :lol:

Here's Mike Krzyzewski's Impressive Vertical
http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1156570/coachk_medium.gif
Coach K, I hope you enjoyed that London Leap!

Russia trumps Argentina for bronze
http://scores.espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/basketball/men/recap?gameId=1171

LONDON -- The bronze-medal game ended with an ugly confrontation.

Alexei Shved scored 25 points -- 13 in the fourth quarter -- and Russia won its first Olympic medal in men's basketball with an 81-77 win on Sunday over Argentina, whose players angrily questioned the referees after the final horn following a wild scramble in the closing seconds.

Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points, Vitaliy Fridzon 19 for Russia, which finished ninth at the Beijing Games four years ago.

"Feels like gold for us," Kirilenko said.

Manu Ginobili scored 21 and Andres Nocioni 16 for Argentina, which was looking to add another bronze to its Olympic collection after winning one in China and gold eight years ago in Athens. But this tournament ended with Argentina's players without a medal and looking for an explanation.

"This is one of the most painful defeats of my life," Ginobili said.

Fridzon's layup with 5.2 seconds left sealed it for Russia, which came away with the ball after it changed hands several times near midcourt.

When the game ended, several Argentine players surrounded referees Bill Kennedy, Jose Carrion and Juan Arteaga in protest and guard Pablo Prigioni kicked an electronic clock off the scorer's table in disgust. A water bottle was thrown on the court that appeared to come from the stands.

Argentina had taken the lead after rallying from an 11-point deficit in the second half.

Ginobili's layup gave Argentina a 77-76 lead with 43 seconds left, but then Shved countered with a 3-pointer to put Russia back in front.

Nocioni missed a jumper from the corner, but it appeared Argentina might get another chance when Prigioni came up with the ball close to the sideline at halfcourt. But it was tipped away with bodies flying all over the floor and wound up bouncing to Shved, who alertly passed it up the floor for Fridzon, who drove in for his uncontested layup.

As the final seconds ticked off, Russia's players piled on each other near one foul line while Argentina's swarmed Kennedy and the other officials, screaming and demanding answers.

Ginobili, Nocioni and Scola all complained to no avail and Prigioni, who signed with the New York Knicks this summer, sent the substitution clock flying to the floor with his kick, an ugly display of sportsmanship by one of the world's best teams.

"I don't want to talk about the last play because we didn't lose it in the last play," Argentina captain Luis Scola said. "It's not the ref's fault, it was our fault. I was mad because I thought it was a foul. Doesn't matter, we didn't lose the game right there."

For the Russians, the bronze was the topping on a a strong tournament.

They came to the London Games as unlikely medal contenders, but won their group in preliminary play and appeared on a collision course with the Americans before stumbling in the semis.

Following the game, three bottles of Dom Perignon were carried into Russia's locker room.

This was a victory to toast.

"It's very important for Russia," Shved said. "We won bronze at Europeans last year. We won bronze at Olympics. Maybe we'll get a different medal next time -- maybe gold or silver."

This was probably the final game for Argentina's "Golden Generation," a group that became national heroes and gave their country international basketball relevance by beating the U.S. in the 2002 world championships and then again at the Athens Games in 2004, when they won gold.

Ginobili, 35, has already said this may have been his final tournament for Argentina, and Scola, Nocioni, Prigioni and Leonardo Gutierrez -- all holdovers from the '04 team -- are all in their 30s.

It ended short of a medal, and following the tough loss, the San Antonio Spurs star reflected on Argentina's stay among the game's elite.

"It is an impressive run, even though we lost," he said. "A third podium was what we were aiming for and it's very sad and disappointing to lose like this because it was in our hands and we let it slip. When we lost for the world championship it really hurt. It's been 10 years since, and the bitterness of that moment was gone and now I feel worst.

"But we need to keep our heads high. I'm still very proud of my teammates."

LeBron finishes off banner year by leading team USA to the gold and on top of the world
http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/basketball/story/_/id/8262212/2012-olympics-lebron-puts-usa-back-top-world

LONDON -- You see the back-to-back Olympic gold medals, the 50 straight Team USA victories in international play the past six years. You see the return to dominance of the United States in men's basketball and it's easy to forget how depressingly far down the program was in 2004, when the Americans lost three times in the Athens Olympics, and in 2006, when the U.S. lost to Greece.

LeBron James didn't forget. He was on those teams that lost, that were humiliated. But Jerry Colangelo and then Mike Krzyzewski told LeBron that Team USA needed him to be part of the country's effort to reclaim international basketball. "It was the lowest point, 2004 … a long road," LeBron said Sunday, eight years -- and basketball light-years -- later. "I'm happy to be able to say I was a part of us being able to get back on top."

As good as the U.S. is again -- remember, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Derrick Rose are injured and didn't come to London -- it's easy to make the argument that the road back might have hit a U-turn if LeBron hadn't gone all-in. And not just because he scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out a team-high four assists in 30 foul-plagued minutes. Kevin Durant had more points (30) and rebounds (nine) and Kobe Bryant had a nice all-around game; both were needed in Team USA's 107-100 victory over Spain.

But LeBron, along with Carmelo Anthony, figured so heavily in the bigger picture of re-establishing U.S. basketball, both on the court and as a brand. Anthony recalled Sunday how the two stood on the court by themselves after losing to Greece in the World Championships in Japan on Sept. 1, 2006, watching Greece advance and celebrate at their expense.

"Coach K had already sat us down and we talked for hours, I think it was in Las Vegas," Anthony said. "He said the rebuild was going to be a long journey, but a fun journey, and that we should try to block out 2004 … if we remembered it at all, let it motivate us. … [Losing to Greece] was such a bad feeling. We talked again as soon as we got back to the States, and I asked LeBron, 'Are you locked in?' And he said, 'I can't help but be locked in.' We lost in '06, but we knew we'd started something."

That '04 team played poorly and was perceived poorly, from the moment Team USA lost an early game to Puerto Rico by 19 points. It was said the members of that team weren't appreciative, that they didn't conduct themselves well, didn't know what it meant to be an Olympian. Many of the accusations were lies; the problem was the two most prominent members of that team, veterans Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, came with years of baggage, and no matter how hard they played or engaged with people, they were going to be seen as trouble.

LeBron, who was 19 at the time, was part of an absurdly young team, which included Anthony (who was 20), Emeka Okafor (21), Amare Stoudemire (21) and Wade (22). Asked about the '04 Olympic team Sunday, LeBron said in as diplomatic a way as possible, "There was a different attitude on that team towards the game and what it meant. We were just putting on the uniform and thought that two or three weeks of practice was going to" enable the U.S. to walk out and beat the best international teams.

Colangelo, the director of USA Basketball, was less diplomatic when he said of the youngsters, "They probably shouldn't have been there. They weren't quite ready and didn't yet deserve it."

But Colangelo and Coach K knew several of those players would deserve the honor in time and would be ready to assume the responsibility, starting with LeBron, who said Sunday, "Coach K went to Melo, D-Wade and me and said, 'I need you to make a commitment to … figuring out a way to get USA Basketball back on top.'"

Fast-forward to Sunday in London as James, despite four fouls, was there to get into the lane for a dunk that put the U.S. ahead 99-91. After Spain had cut the deficit to six again, LeBron fired the 3-pointer that made it 102-93 to essentially put away the game. In less than two months, he led one team to the NBA championship, another to Olympic gold. Throw in that he won the NBA's regular-season MVP, and LeBron James becomes only the second player in history to do that. The other is Michael Jordan.

"I'm fortunate," LeBron said, "to have been on two great teams. I don't take anything for granted."

But those teams -- both of them -- are great only because he's on them. I'm not certain that without LeBron, even with Durant and Kobe firing and Chris Paul making a couple of huge baskets down the stretch, that the U.S. holds off Spain … especially since Coach K's decision to "go small" means that LeBron's size (6-foot-8, 260 pounds) makes him a "big." The team's only true center, Tyson Chandler, recorded just two points and one rebound in less than nine minutes of playing time.

Asked whether the U.S. small ball will influence international play, Colangelo said after the game, "As the big man fades into the sunset around the world, there won't be any other choice."

It's hard to build any case other than that James is the best player in the world today. Bryant may be the best closer, and he may have one more championship thrust in him and can still dominate a game, but at 33 with 16 seasons of wear and tear, dominating night-in, night-out for an entire season like he did in his prime would be silly to even try. LeBron, at 27, can.

And what now makes him better than ever is that he's unburdened, sort of like Jordan was after he won his second NBA title, at the age of 28. Colangelo noted "the incredible amount of growth as a person, player and leader" LeBron has exhibited. "Winning his first NBA championship was big," Colangelo said. "But he knew this was big for him and his legacy."

There was no sense in any of the players on this team talking about whether they would play in Brazil in four years. Kobe won't and has said so. He'll be 37 with 20 NBA seasons of wear and tear. LeBron will have 13 seasons by then. Maybe LeBron will be passing the baton to Durant, who'll be only 27, or Anthony Davis, who'll be only 23. Durant started off the summer "passing up open 3-point shots, taking extra dribbles and I was messing up the offense."

Now, Durant appears to be all-in as LeBron and they had to be because Spain, with the Gasol brothers pouring in 41 points, Serge Ibaka getting 12 points and nine rebounds and Juan Carlos Navarro getting 21 points, is the second-best team in the world. The U.S. is better but not so much better that the Americans can be off-form and still win a game with such high stakes. Team USA beat Spain by 11 in 2008 in Beijing (though it was a two-point game with four minutes to play) and by seven this time.

The only thing that might get a raised eyebrow out of LeBron's outstanding performance from Sunday's game was seeing Pau Gasol, who seems rejuvenated now that he knows he's going to be a Laker for another run at a championship, get 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists (with only one turnover) in the gold-medal game.

But LeBron, not Pau and not Kobe and not Durant, leads the defending champs … of the league and of the world. When somebody asked him about joining Jordan in the history books and about playing for two such teams in one season, James allowed himself the tiniest of smiles and said, "I've had a pretty good run."

LeBron James has had one hell of a year
http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/lebron_james_has_had_one_hell_of_a_year/11445124

A regular season MVP. A Finals MVP. An NBA championship. And now a gold medal. That’s 2012 for LeBron James. Anyone else having that good of a year?

LeBron is just the second person ever to get all four of those in the same year. The only other person was the great Michael Jordan.

“It has been a great ride for me,” James said. “I could have never scripted it this way. I've had many dreams about it, winning an NBA championship and then following it up with a gold medal.”

”We all watched LeBron get over the hump in June when he finally got himself a title. He had a lot of help from his supporting cast on the Miami Heat, but he played outstanding. He was dominant, scored when he needed to, passed when he needed to and rightfully earned that Finals MVP.

In the Olympics, LeBron didn’t need to take over every game, but he made sure everyone knew he was there when they needed him most. He threw down some emphatic dunks when the U.S. needed some momentum and hit some big shots when they needed some points. He posted the first ever triple-double for the Americans in an Olympic game, which just goes to show you that he was out there doing it all.

LeBron has come a long way since the infamous “decision.” He’s been shaking off haters ever since and in the process of winning a championship and bringing home a gold medal, he may have finally converted a good majority. I’ve never had a problem with LeBron, but I understand the people that do. Now, I’m hoping all those people have come over to his side, because there isn’t much to dislike about him anymore.

Even after one of the greatest sports years of all time, there’s no time to rest for LeBron James. He’s got to defend his title, now against some even greater competition from the Lakers, who some are already handing next year’s championship. He’s also going to have to put in work if he wants to get past MJ’s six rings, which you know he does.

And while he’s doing all that, he can start thinking about whether or not he wants to defend his gold medal in 2016 in Rio.

US wins gold, beats Spain 107-100 in men’s hoops


http://touchfm.org/wp/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/a2014_gold-medal-winners-usa-basketball-2012.jpg

http://touchfm.org/wp/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/31d12_usa-basketball-wins-gold.jpg

http://touchfm.org/wp/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/c2e90_kobe-gold-london.jpg

http://touchfm.org/wp/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/69f4a_kobe-wins-2012-gold.jpg

List of results of the United States men's basketball team:

...............................W - L
Fiba Americas 2007 - 10 - 0
Olympic Games 2008 - 8 - 0
Fiba World 2010 ..... - 9 - 0
Olympic Games 2012 - 8 - 0

exhibition games:

USA vs. Brazil - 80 - 69
vs. Argentina - 86 - 80
vs. Great Britain - 118 - 78
vs. Spain - 100 - 78
vs. Dom. Rep. - 113 - 59
40 consecutive wins (4 consecutive titles) :cheers:



USA vs. Spain:

119 - 82 (Beijing Olympics)
118 - 107 (Beijing Olympics - Finals)
100 - 78 (exhibition game - Barcelona)
107 - 100 (2012 London Olympics)

gigil na gigil na ang Spain makabawi kahit sa exhibition game lang sana..:nuts:

^^While we've seen the last of Argentina's Golden Generation (Manu, Scola, Nocioni et al), I think Spain can still challenge USA even without Pau Gasol and JC Navarro (both 32 y.o.). They still have the core consisting of Pau's brother Marc, big man Ibaka and a bevy of good guards in Fernandez, Lhull , Calderon and especially Ricky Rubio. But it's going to be doubly hard without Pau in the low post.

Russia, if they can get their shit together, will be the future Eurobasket champions, and can challenge USA. They have a young 6'6 pg in Shved, and a big 7'2'' NBA center in Timofey Mozgov, backstopped by the versatile AK47.

France goes where Tony Parker goes, even with a team loaded with athletic players like Batum and Noah. TP will likely to retire from international competitions.

Lithuania always give USA the fits, but figures their time in the top level is waning as their players are aged between 29 to 35. too bad.

Brazil, the other South American power still relies on their aging NBA vets (Barbosa, Nene, Splitter and Varejao)..and no future prospects in sight.

Even in the age of basketball globalization, and more and more international players are playing in the NBA. I think the golden age of All Star International Players (Dirk, Yao Ming, Parker, Manu, The Gasol Brothers, Hedo, AK47 ) are over. Now, we only have, save for a couple, token European players. Solid but not superstar-type. So i guess USA will still be on top in the basketball world order.

^^ btw. Free Darko!!!

Team USA’s Own Symbolic Big 3
Warriors World
http://www.warriorsworld.net/2012/08/13/team-usas-symbolic-big-3/#more-7004

If you had the opportunity to watch the United States defeat Spain in the gold medal game earlier today, you might have noticed something without necessarily actually noticing it. When it came down to the last five minutes of the game and the Americans needed plays to be made, Spain threw a box-and-one defense at Kevin Durant, which led to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James making plays to close out the game with Chris Paul having a hand in it as well.

And once the game was won, Craig Sager interviewed a trio of players together, and not so coincidentally, it happened to be LeBron, KD and the Mamba.

At times, we can look for things that aren’t there, hoping to help make sense of what we fail to comprehend. But in this case, that was the group that had to be interviewed.

Before explaining why, let’s look to the past for a moment.

When the Dream Team hit Barcelona at the 1992 Olympics, the faces of the team and of basketball for that matter were Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. And really, it made perfect sense.

Magic and Bird had saved the NBA with their brilliant talent as well as their rivalry that started in the NCAA national championship game and then followed them to the professional ranks where they met on multiple occasions in the NBA Finals.

Michael Jordan benefitted from the accomplishments of both Bird and Johnson and capitalized off of them to take the league to new heights. By the time the 1992 Olympics started, Jordan wasn’t just the best player in the world but he was the sport. At a time when the internet did not yet exist, Jordan may have been the most well known athlete in the world given how dominant, charismatic and marketable he was.

Thus, with Michael Jordan hitting the prime of his career and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird well past theirs, the world wanted to see them. The Dream Team had other superstars, but nothing quite like those three; who even today enjoy an iconic and even almost mythic reputation that few can touch.

Fast forward to the present, and although the current trio pales in terms of accomplishments to their predecessors, they certainly hold a great level of respect and even prestige with fans and the rest of the league.

Indeed, Kobe Bryant is obviously still a great player, and also a contemporary to other superstars in the league, but in many ways, he represents the recent past of the NBA. His five championship rings , two Finals MVP trophies and four NBA All-Star Game MVPs are a reminder of his high level of play but also validate his legacy as not only one of the all time greats but also the face of the last decade of NBA basketball.

LeBron James would undoubtedly have to represent the present. He has consistently risen to the challenge and performed to a standard that has led many to bestow the title of best player in the game upon him and rightfully so. The former Cavalier just collected his first NBA title this past June and earned himself a Finals MVP to go along with his three league MVP trophies and his two All-Star Game MVPs.

James has for the longest time been known as the do it all player but took it to another level during the 2012 playoffs as he played and defended every position on the court on his way to a title. That versatility was exhibited during games with USA basketball as the 6’8’’ forward duplicated feats he displayed while playing with the Miami Heat. Between his passing, scoring, rebounding and defense, one could argue that he is the perfect prototype for a basketball player and the league stands to capitalize off of his talent and what he does for his teammates and his teams.

And then there is Kevin Durant.

If Kobe Bryant represents the past, and LeBron James is the present, Kevin Durant is clearly the future of the league. The Texas product has already captured three scoring titles, won an All-Star Game MVP, been named an All-NBA 1st teamer three times and led his Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals this past June. And he only turns 24 in a little over a month.

Kevin Durant has grabbed the torch from Kobe Bryant and become the NBA’s most prolific scorer but he is much more than that. The Thunder forward is a matchup nightmare, good rebounder, emerging defensive player and is now developing as a playmaker thanks to his improved ball handling. There will be a time when the league is his and that may be sooner rather than later given that as we speak, he has already arrived.

Despite coming up second to LeBron James in MVP voting as well as being considered as the de facto second best player in the league, the long-armed forward is an all world talent and he showed that during the 2012 playoffs but more importantly during the Olympics on a team of NBA stars and superstars.

Indeed, in the biggest game this current crop of athletes had to face in the Olympics, Kevin Durant showcased his impressive repertoire with a couple of 3-pointers, some shots at the rim and also by driving hard to the hoop and getting fouled. And when Spain decided to throw a box-and-one at KD, instead of fading into a corner or just pouting and demanding the ball, he became a ball screener, which created havoc for the opposing defense and even allowed LeBron to get an uncontested dunk late in the game.

The trio represents where the league was decade ago, where it is today and where it will be heading into the next few years and it certainly seems to be a great place.

Magic, Larry and Michae revolutionized the game of basketball and made it what it is today; but Kobe, LeBron and Kevin might just be the new wave to take it to another level, and that’s fine with me and should be fine with the rest of the basketball world.

The game is in great hands.

Lithuania always give USA the fits, but figures their time in the top level is waning

Not even close. We have a tremendous amount of young talent coming up and for the next two-three Olympic cycles at least, we'll have the most talented roster in the world apart from USA.

We're ranked second in the world among boys.

http://foto.terpe.lt/inkelti/20120815/i24_Untitled.jpg


Not to mention, we have the two best young talents in international basketball - guys, that are about make a big splash in the world of basketball

213cm Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors

9vuViOqFXXI


19-year old Valanciunas against Dirk, Kaman, Gasol brothers, Noah and other elite NBA big men

1xMkYT9bVXE


and then there's also 213cm Donatas Motiejunas, Houston Rockets

jrf4bl0Ze9g

oVGAuTPPLgY


their players are aged between 29 to 35. too bad.

Actually, the core of our team - Kalnietis, Pocius, Seibutis, Maciulis and Kleiza, are all 25-27 years old. The four 30+ year old's that played for us, were just one of the mistakes our idiot coach made this summer.

Not even close. We have a tremendous amount of young talent coming up and for the next two-three Olympic cycles at least, we'll have the most talented roster in the world apart from USA.

213cm Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors

Actually, the core of our team - Kalnietis, Pocius, Seibutis, Maciulis and Kleiza, are all 25-27 years old. The four 30+ year old's that played for us, were just one of the mistakes our idiot coach made this summer.

Yes, i'm familiar with Valaciunas and I think he's good to borderline elite. But as young and as good as he is, am not penciling him to lead Lithuania to the next level in the next years or so .

Hey, Im not wishing, but it's just my opinion. of course, i wont be disappointed if i'm wrong :-)

for me lithuania is the biggest counterpart of USA against USSR,Unified team,Argentina,Spain,Brazil,Yuguslavia,France,and puerto rico...

Montiejunas :banana:

Donatas Motiejunas, Houston Rockets

jrf4bl0Ze9g

oVGAuTPPLgY



^^ Montiejunas :banana:


^^ With a good draft and free agent signings, the Rockets still a good young team despite the fire sale. A Montiejunas and Asik frontline can be Houston's new version of the twin towers though the combination of the Dream and Sampson will be a hard act to follow. Lin and co. will surely be a fun team to watch! :cheers:

^^ The Houston Rockets are the NBA's version of baseball's MoneyBall, popularized by the wayyyyy-below-the-cap, the early 2000s Oakland A's

The MONEYBALL concept is to get the most efficient player per dollar spent, without ever going above the salary cap. This is not getting the most talented player, but getting the player that most commensurate his worth in dollars. Now, Houston pay players that will get them attain the team's goal, without overspending. This is in contrast with the free-spending ways of teams that show minimal returns like the New York Knicks and just last season, the Dallas Mavs.

^^ apparently, Houston is using some sort of statistical formula to compute for the player's efficiency. Then they base their salary on the players' overall efficiency. It's complicated. Read more: (http://austin.culturemap.com/newsdetail/01-19-12-14-27-what-exactly-is-the-plan-for-the-houston-rockets/)

Philly 76ers should be really good especially with Bynum on board. Really like what turned out to be an Iggy for Bynum trade. Philly got the better end of the deal. With Bynum, I expect them to be one of the top teams in the East battling to unseat The Heat. They are definitely going to be better than the NY Knicks.

Bynum receives star treatment in Philadelphia, willing to sign extension
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/31414-bynum-receives-star-treatment-in-philadelphia-willing-to-sign-extension

PHILADELPHIA—He heard the roar from hundreds of Philadelphia 76ers fans chanting “An-drew By-num! An-drew By-num!” the moment he stepped into the National Constitution Center.

Andrew Bynum instantly felt at home in Philadelphia.

He enjoyed his first days in the city so much, Bynum made it clear he wouldn't mind playing in that No. 33 Sixers jersey for more than a season.

“My first experiences here have been so great,” Bynum said, “I’m really leaning toward making this my home.”

With that proclamation, Sixers fans erupted.

The superstar, the organization and their fans craved since Allen Iverson split actually loved them back.

Imagine the sounds he'll hear after some clutch fourth-quarter buckets over a deep playoff run.

Wearing a Sixers T-shirt, Bynum made his first appearance on Wednesday since he was acquired last week from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team mega deal. Former Philadelphia All-Star Andre Iguodala landed in Denver and Orlando shipped Dwight Howard to the Lakers as part of the trades.

The Sixers scrapped the usual ho-hum press conference and turned Bynum's arrival into a full-blown pep rally that included moving the location from their arena to just a few hundred feet away from the Liberty Bell. The event was open to the public and fans arrived early to greet Bynum and Jason Richardson—and plunk down $30 bucks for some hot-off-the-presses Bynum T-shirts.

“It makes me super-excited,” said Bynum, who never stopped smiling.

The Sixers have every reason to feel giddy over this deal and what this means for the long-term future of the franchise. For years, Philadelphia has been mired in the middle of the Eastern Conference, only busting out last season under new ownership to advance to the second round for the first time in nine years. But the glow of that achievement soon faded once management realized the team had maxed out with veterans Iguodala, Elton Brand and Lou Williams. Iguodala was traded, Brand was amnestied and Williams was allowed to walk in free-agency, freeing up some needed dollars to make a move this big.

Bynum is the All-Star, the franchise player, expected to soon help the Sixers win their first championship since 1983.

Only 24, the New Jersey native won two championships with the Lakers. But in Los Angeles, the offense ran through Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

Bynum is The Man for the Sixers, the Center of attraction.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure,” Bynum said. “I want to be ready for it.”

But once the hoopla and “Beat LA!” chants quieted down, two questions loomed in the building that honors the US Constitution: Would Bynum put his John Hancock on a possible-five year contract extension; and how will his achy knees respond to treatment next month in Germany?

Bynum is set to make $16.1 million this season in the final year of his deal. If he waits until after the season, Bynum can sign a five-year deal worth nearly $102 million. No other team could offer Bynum as many years or as much money.

“I enjoy Philly, I’m from here, I don’t see anything wrong,” Bynum said. “I don’t see any problem why I wouldn’t want to stay here.”

Bynum is set to have injections of plasma-rich platelets that supposedly stimulate healing in arthritis-affected areas in both of his knees. Bryant, his former teammate, has credited the therapy with dramatic improvement in his own troublesome right knees and an injured left ankle.

Sixers President Rod Thorn said Bynum and his surgically repaired knees checked out fine after a lengthy physical on Tuesday.

“You’ve got to take calculated risks sometimes,” Thorn said. “Players of his level don’t come on the market every day.”

Bynum is coming off his best NBA season after averaging career highs with 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds while making his first All-Star team, starting for the West. He was the NBA’s third-leading rebounder and 20th-leading scorer, while also ranking sixth in the league with 1.93 blocked shots per game.

Bynum also avoided the injuries that have dogged him throughout a seven-year career since the Lakers made the New Jersey high schooler the youngest player ever drafted in 2005. Bynum played in 60 of the Lakers’ 66 regular-season games, missing four due to suspension.

Ah yes, that suspension.

Bynum may be the best center in the East, but he brings a touch of baggage that shouldered him with a reputation as being a handful, as well as a monster rebounder. He was busted three years ago partying at the Playboy Mansion posing with a girl on his shoulders during his rehab from a torn knee ligament.

Bynum served a four-game suspension this season for his vicious fouls against J.J. Barea in the Lakers’ final playoff game last spring.

He’s has declined to participate in certain team huddles, sitting down the bench by himself. He once slapped hands with opposing fans while taking a long time to leave the court after he was ejected from a game last season in Houston.

"I think somewhere along the line, maybe he said a couple of immature things here and there, but everybody has," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "I'm sure he'd be the first one step up and say, `Hey, I messed up.' The unfortunate thing in life, when you make a mistake like that, it's one video replay from living it again."

The Sixers would prefer more replays of Bynum's 30-rebound game like he had last season against San Antonio.

Except for some minor tinkering with the deep bench players, the Sixers should be finished with their roster overhaul. They added Bynum, Richardson, Brown, Royal Ivey, Dorell Wright and Nick Young to a team counting on returners Evan Turner, Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young to help make that second-round exit the start of something big, not a one-season wonder.

With one season left on his deal, Thorn is still calling the shots, even as the organization spent the summer interviewing general manager candidates. Thorn will remain with the team next season as a consultant and the Sixers would like to have a succession plan in place.

"That will happen over the next year but it's going to depend on who we can to terms with and who's out there," owner Joshua Harris said. "There's nothing imminent right now. Rod's still the GM of the team."

Thorn drafted Michael Jordan in Chicago. He's the executive who traded for Jason Kidd in New Jersey and turned the Nets into winners.

His boldest move with the Sixers is his best one yet.

The 2013 Lakers aren't the 2004 Lakers
ESPN
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/32444/the-2012-lakers-arent-the-2004-lakers

Before a "big three" became a requisite for NBA teams establishing credentials as serious contenders, it wasn't too long ago that a splashy big four graced the Association. It was assembled during the summer of 2003, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were joined by free agents Karl Malone and Gary Payton to create a genuine super-team. And ever since Dwight Howard's arrival in Los Angeles last Friday, I've heard fans and media likening Kobe-Pau Gasol-Steve Nash-Howard to the 2004 Lakers, and more often than not, that's a negative. That 2004 foursome is remembered as the last hurrah for the Kobe-Shaq-Phil Jackson three-peat era, a modern-day dynasty that nonetheless left potential on the table because of in-fighting. Those Lakers, beaten by the Detroit Pistons in five games during the Finals, are remembered as a failed experiment, the cautionary tale for front offices utilizing the formula of "instant championship: just add superstars."

With the Lakers now boasting among the splashiest starting fives in league history, naysayers are quick to cite the 2004 Lakers as a worst-case scenario for this 2013 Lakers team. The comparison is inevitable, but is it a fair one?

Yes, there are commonalities. Both teams featured four big names, each of which is a lock or near-lock for the Hall of Fame. Both teams were built by Mitch Kupchak and the Buss family with the blueprint of "championship or bust." But a deeper look makes it pretty obvious that there are massive differences. Most negatives surrounding the 2004 squad were part of a specific backstory, one not shared by the 2012 team. Below are four huge factors favoring the 2012 big four.

1. The coach and players are on better terms.
The discord between Kobe and Phil has been documented to death by now, most famously in "The Last Season," Jackson's diary of the tumultuous 2004 season. (Ironically, Phil was prompted to return in part to amend his largely negative portrayal of Kobe.) But the Mamba wasn't the only player failing to see eye to eye with The Zen Master. Payton sulked over his role in the triangle, and The Glove was often a tough customer when happy as a clam, never mind when he was surly. Those misgivings spilled onto the court and resulted in a watered-down version of Payton.

This year's incarnation, however, features no such conflicts. That's not to say everyone has bought into Mike Brown, no questions asked. Some prominent holdovers, notably Kobe, Gasol and Metta World Peace, expressed skepticism about their new coach throughout 2012, and I imagine Brown still hasn't truly proven himself. However, there's a difference between disenchantment and defiance, and the player who openly chafed most at Brown's authority -- Andrew Bynum -- is now the starting center in Philadelphia. Players and coach may still be feeling each other out, but outright hostility doesn't appear to be looming.

2. Kobe in a better frame of mind.
The entire 2004 season, for the Lakers and Kobe, played out against the backdrop of Kobe's legal situation in Colorado. A potential 20 years-to-life prison sentence was hanging over Kobe's head; the treatment he received on the road was often brutal and he sometimes hit the basketball court on the heels of a courtroom appearance. Nobody is mentally tough enough to not be affected by those circumstances. Despite playing exceptionally well given the circumstances, Bryant has admitted the setting drained him. It's hard to believe the entire team didn't feel the effects of his situation as well.

These days, Bryant is in a much healthier space. A once beleaguered image has been revamped. No. 24 jerseys fly off the shelves and Kobe is one of the most popular athletes on the planet. He even has evolved into an elder spokesman of sorts for the league. Yes, he can still spark debate, but Kobe is hardly the polarizing figure of 2004 anymore. Bryant also will never be the easiest teammate in the world. He'd be the first to admit it. But he's nonetheless more mature, and the days of wholesale alienation are largely behind him.

3. The contract status of players and coach is generally much better.
During the 2004 season, Kobe was in a contract year, and O'Neal, who Bryant had tired of playing with, was angling (rather loudly) for a contract extension. That in and of itself spelled trouble. Additionally, Phil's deal was ending, which didn't necessarily jibe with Kobe's wishes moving forward. On a smaller scale, Derek Fisher was willingly (if not necessarily happily) playing off the bench in a contract year to appease Payton.

That's a lot of uncertainty and conflict of interest and many reasons for resentment crammed into a 104-game campaign.

For the 2012-13 season, contractual waters are less choppy. Yes, Howard's impending free agency is the elephant in the room, but it's a pachyderm closer to cuddly Babar than that jerky elephant adopted by the Simpsons. There's no ambiguity regarding Howard on the organization's end. Negotiations will consist of conversations like, "Dwight, here is a contract for the maximum dollars and years allowable under the new collective bargaining agreement. Would you like to sign now or in a week, when we counter with the same offer?" And Howard seems happy to be in L.A. and, more importantly, aware that his reputation can't handle back-to-back soap operas. As oblivious as LeBron James appeared in the immediate aftermath of "The Decision," 2011-12 demonstrated he learned some lessons from the experience. I expect Howard will similarly look to avoid negative attention in 2013.

I'd be very surprised if Howard didn't re-sign, and another drawn-out saga would be pretty stunning.

As for Brown, he'll be on the hot seat if this bunch seriously underachieves, but for now he's under a multiyear contract and firmly entrenched in the franchise, making his situation radically different than Phil's in 2004.

4. The roster isn't sick of each other after years of building tension.
Forget Kobe, Shaq and Phil. By the time the 2004 Finals ended, I imagine guys such as Fish, Rick Fox, Devean George and even Horace Grant (having been a part of the hellaciously tense 2001 squad) were also tired of the bickering atmosphere. From the moment training camp opened, that season felt like the beginning of the end of a Lakers era.

This upcoming season doesn't figure to offer similar tension. I'm not saying recent days have been sunshine and lollipops. As I've noted several times, "fun" has been on short supply the past two seasons. Kobe and Pau, the longest-tenured Lakers, periodically snipe at each other, and their chemistry needs rediscovery. But a feud ain't brewin'. Kobe has a propensity for making Pau the occasional scapegoat, but also went to bat publicly for El Spaniard several times last season, and they were in regular contact during the London Olympics. Mutual appreciation remains.

In the meantime, between Nash, Howard, Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks and Jordan Hill, the rotation features plenty of new or relatively new faces, adding new energy to the mix.

So there are four reasons not to sweat matters. However, even if you're convinced star power, championship aspirations and the number "four" provide just too many coincidences to ignore, the bottom line is the 2004 Lakers made it to the Finals. Yeah, they came up short, but a championship isn't possible in the first place without a trip to the Finals. Had The Mailman not been playing on a bad leg that cost him 39 regular-season games and eventually forced him into street clothes for Game 5 -- with Grant already out -- the Lakers might have won the whole thing.

No, really. They might have.

Revisionist history has painted the 2004 season as a foolhardy attempt at latching onto two Hall of Famers whose careers were on life support. Well, Malone averaged nearly 21-8-5 during his previous season in Utah and put up 13-9-4 as the fourth option in L.A. Payton was coming off a 20-point, eight-dime campaign. Primes may have been in the rearview mirror, but these vets were hardly washed up. It just didn't work out, especially against a Pistons squad that played some of the most smothering defense in recent playoff memory. But the season wasn't a disaster, and fans should be mindful of the entire context.

If invoking this comparison means a Finals appearance as the baseline for "failure," I'll take my chances.

Does the Iguodala trade make Nuggets real contenders?
ESPN
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/49171/does-andre-iguodala-make-the-nuggets-contenders

Since trading away Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets have lost two straight first-round playoff series as the fifth or sixth seed and have been searching for a way to leap from promising to contending.

Can the presence of Andre Iguodala make the difference?

Young guns returning to action

Before diving into exactly what Iguodala will do for a team that ranked in the bottom third in defensive efficiency, let’s look at the rest of the roster. Like Oklahoma City, which can’t help but improve simply because so many of its top players are so young, Denver is loaded with baby-faced talent who embrace a culture of playing super hard.

Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler, JaVale McGee and Jordan Hamilton are 25 years old or younger. Even without adding anything else, another summer of work and another year of development should make this group noticeably better.

But adding Iguodala is even better, because he makes everyone’s life easier.

He’ll help out Lawson, who sometimes suffers from poor decision-making with ballhandling duties. He’ll take the defensive pressure off Gallinari, who will spend less time chasing smaller players around the perimeter and more time giving opposing power forwards migraines. And he’ll be the defensive leader any team with McGee desperately needs.

All three of those young players have star potential, and flaws. They also have experience beyond their years as a winning club and a new do-everything teammate -- real reason for optimism.

Andre the giant

There really isn’t a team on which Iguodala wouldn’t fit, but his style and abilities appear to mesh especially well with George Karl’s Nuggets. Spend just a quarter watching Iguodala fight through screens, close out shooters and attack the glass and you’ll see how incredibly fit and hardworking a player he is.

That quality, above all else, must be the calling card of the Denver Nuggets. These guys will play 10-deep, and they play hard and fast. They share the ball (first in assists as a team) and sprint the floor in transition. Denver runs so well that according to HoopData, it took five more shots at the rim than any other team in the league.

That’s good news because, excluding LeBron James, Iguodala is about as good as it gets as a transition finisher/passer, even though he hardly ever played with lineups in Philadelphia as athletic as those he’ll find in Denver. Iguodala also quietly improved his 3-point shooting last year, canning 39.4 percent. That’s big because the Nuggets' pick-and-roll-heavy half-court offense relies on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers from the weak side.

Denver was already one of the best, most efficient scoring teams in the NBA last year, but it was like filling up a leaky bucket because it also gave up points at the same rate as the lowly Washington Wizards. Iguodala is, of course, an excellent individual defender on the wing, but the Nuggets will hope he can also provide an organizing presence on that end. Paired with long, active guys such as Chandler, Corey Brewer and Gallinari, Iguodala can catalyze a fast defense that generates steals, deflections and even more fast breaks.

Admittedly, it’s tricky to speculate as to exactly how profound an impact he’ll have. Great NBA defenses are typically anchored by big men who rotate on time and protect the rim without fouling. As good as Iguodala was on the third-ranked 76ers defense, Elton Brand’s veteran savvy inside was crucial as well. Players such as Faried, Timofey Mozgov and McGee will need to step their games up to take full advantage of Iguodala’s smothering defensive presence.

Still, Iguodala-Brewer-Chandler might be the best three-man combination of wing defenders in the league, and it’s difficult to project Denver’s defense not improving if only by replacing the minutes previously allotted to Al Harrington.

As fast as you can go

The Nuggets were the second-fastest team in terms of possessions per game last season. Is it possible they’ll be even speedier this year?

Consider that with Arron Afflalo gone, there should be more minutes for Denver’s double-point guard lineup featuring Lawson and Andre Miller. As fast as Lawson is with the ball -- perhaps no guard is as fast with the dribble -- Miller has mastered the art of the hit-ahead pass -- he’s as good as they get when it comes to using the pass to push the pace.

The frontcourt will often be Iguodala-Gallinari-McGee, with Faried and Brewer in that mix, too. Complement those swift, explosive finishers with an ace distributor like Miller and a blur like Lawson, and you have an offensive machine.

The Nuggets are deep with speed. There won’t be many lineups that don’t have a decided collective advantage in end-to-end quickness against just about every team. But speed isn’t like size. Andrew Bynum is the biggest guy in the league, whether he wants to be or not, on a given night. But a fast player is only as fast as he chooses to play.

For the Nuggets to max out their ability, every player will need to commit to playing at that intense pace, because though they have loads of skill the peak talent on the Nuggets isn’t anything to shout about. This team is all about motor, about using effort level to unleash wave after wave of talented athletes toward the rim.

History suggests Iguodala can be the leader for such a team, and his new squad is chock-full of guys who just bring it night in and night out. The Nuggets will be as fun to watch as they are exhausting to face. They may not have a superstar, but few teams will put in such consistent 94-foot effort that it's easy to envision home-court advantage for the Nuggets in the first round of next spring's playoffs.

Philly 76ers should be really good especially with Bynum on board. Really like what turned out to be an Iggy for Bynum trade. Philly got the better end of the deal. With Bynum, I expect them to be one of the top teams in the East battling to unseat The Heat. They are definitely going to be better than the NY Knicks.

I really think the Sixers and the Nuggets are the true winners here. Denver added another all-star caliber player and lost only Affalo (and some draft picks), while Philly may have lose Iggy but gained one BIG all star in Bynum.

The only loser here is the pathetic Orlando Magic! The guys running that team are idiots!

^^ Yup I agree. Sixers, Nuggets and Lakers are big winners while Magic got robbed of any real return on investment for trading D.Howard. Big losers the Magic are.

is magic lose players but earned money???

what about the ROI of their new arena???

i think it is built for the superman and the future lebron in orlando last 2010

http://www.fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FNA2012815181520.JPG

FIBA ASIA under 18 in ulaanbaatar,MONGOLIA

our boys will be playing at 6pm, no streaming/tv coverage just live stats

http://www.fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FNA2012815181520.JPG

FIBA ASIA under 18 in ulaanbaatar,MONGOLIA

sleepy country but me fiba standard indoor stadium na rin sila.

tayo ba meron:lol:?

moa arena is not probably, spalding ang ring, mas malaki kesa sa fiba ring ang butas

ang araneta naman ay porter, di rin

schelde at mondo ang fiba standards backstops at ring

yes, actual courts are okay. the only isue are the seats/etc. moa is actually better than most places who hosted fiba asia events.

we hosted the last fiba asia champions cup. i think its at philsports

http://www.fibaasia.net/UserImages/BSF01201281723443.PDFhttp://www.fibaasia.net/UserImages/BSF01201281723443.PDF

PHILIPPINES 83-69 KAZHAKSTAN

2nd win for the Philippine team

can the magic still be a playoff contender, what's their new lineup?

^^ Nah Magic is in tank/rebuild mode and will be a lower tier team for several seasons. They still have Nelson, Turk, Big baby, Redick and added the likes of Afflalo, Harrington, McRoberts and rookie Moe Harkless. Not very competitive at all and will be a lottery team I would think. They'll end up relying alot on the draft because they were not able to shed/dump as much salary they would have wanted when they traded away D.Howard. They'll have to wait for salaries to expire before they can sign free agents of significance.

AKTV will broadcast the Jones cup 2012 tournament in national TV, with the following schedules:

Philippines versus Jordan (88 - 78)




Philippines versus Guanghua (Chinese-Taipei B)

Sunday, August 19, 3 p.m. LIVE
South Korea versus USA
Monday, August 20, 8 p.m.
Philippines versus South Korea
Tuesday, August 21, 3 p.m. LIVE
Japan versus Jordan
Tuesday, August 21, 5 p.m. LIVE
Philippines versus Japan
Wednesday, August 22, 5 p.m. LIVE
Philippines versus Lebanon
Thursday, August 23, 8 p.m.
Philippines versus Iran
Friday, August 24, 3 p.m. LIVE
Japan versus South Korea
Friday, August 24, 5 p.m. LIVE
Philippines versus Zhonghua (Chinese-Taipei A)
Saturday, August 25, 10 p.m.
Philippines versus USA
Sunday, August 26, 5 p.m. LIVE

Read more: http://indopinoy.blogspot.com/2012/08/jones-cup-basketball-tournament-2012.html#ixzz23ymCDiP6




Smart Gilas Philippine Team Line-up 2012
•Jayson Castro
•Ranidel De Ocampo
•Larry Fonacier
•Sonny Thoss
•LA Tenorio
•Mac Baracael
•Jeff Chan
•Gabe Norwood
•Enrico Villanueva
•Gary David
•Sol Mercado
•Marcus Douthit
•Garvo Lanete
•Matthew Rosser

Junmar Fanardo will be the number 1 draft pick in the PBA.

The Philippine U18 team lost their last group D match vs. Iran 93-72. They still advance to round 2. Where they take take on the three qualifiers from Group C including Chinese taipei.

UAAP midpoint
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Sports&title=UAAP-midpoint&id=57090

SEASON 75 of the seniors’ basketball tournament of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) hit the midpoint at the weekend. After four weeks of first-round elimination play it has been an eventful one for the league, highlighted by competitive games, improved parity and a number of surprises both in individual and team performances.

At the halfway juncture of competition we find five teams having the inside track for possible playoff spots. Tied atop the standings are the defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers who are both sporting 6-1 records. Closely behind at third are last year’s runners-up Far Eastern University Tamaraws at 5-2. Joint fourth are the De La Salle University Green Archers and this year’s hosts National University Bulldogs at 4-3.

The rest of the field -- Adamson University Soaring Falcons, University of the East Red Warriors and University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons- while not exactly out of contention yet will find the going tough as their identical 1-6 cards make for a major uphill climb.

Ateneo leading the pack is not at all surprising since it has been doing such for the last half decade, which it has used as a springboard to win four straight UAAP titles. As in previous years, the Eagles’ deadly combo of depth and balance has been a difference maker as teams are having a hard time keeping up with them. The nearest to a complete team to date, Ateneo’s "Drive for Five" is ever taking root.

One of the surprise packages of Season 75, UST has been turning heads big time. While the Tigers were expected to compete this season, not many really saw them pace-setting. Key to UST’s ascendancy is the further development of vital cogs Karim Abdul (17.6 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 1.6 spg and 1.6 bpg) and Jeric Teng (16 ppg) as well as the return to the roster of Aljon Mariano (12 ppg) and Clark Bautista (8.8 ppg). The twin developments have afforded UST a team that can compete sustainably with the big boys.

Lost some key pieces from last season yet the Tamaraws remain a contender thanks in large part to solid recruiting and system under Coach Bert Flores. FEU is a backcourt-fueled team now with Terrence Romeo (16.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 4.3 apg) and RR Garcia (12.6 ppg and 3.9 apg) leading the charge but it has been getting solid contributions from big man Anthony Hargrove (8.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 1.7 bpg) which makes them a dangerous crew moving forward.

Encountered a rough patch after a strong start, La Salle is back in its groove and making a strong case for itself as to contend with in the playoff hunt. Headlined by rookie phenom Jeron Teng (16.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg), the Archers under new coach Gee Abanilla is showing themselves as a resilient lot not to be taken lightly.

A bit underachieving vis-a-vis the expectations of it in the run-up to the season, NU, nonetheless, should not be counted out. Reigning league MVP Bobby Ray Parks (20.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5 apg, 1.9 spg and 1.4 bpg) is a motor on his own with his do-it-all game but may need a steady help from the rest of the team if they are to elevate to the "serious" contender class.

Surprising for the wrong reasons though is Adamson who after making its way to the Final Four last season finds itself scraping the bottom. The departure of key personnel from last year has rendered Coach Leo Austria’s team in reboot mode and things are not looking good still as veteran Alex Nuyles saw his college career abruptly cur with a season-ending shoulder injury.

The same goes for UE who is continuing to rebuild this season. The Warriors are showing flashes of brilliance but Coach Jerry Codiñera’s wards are obviously still a work in progress and need seasoning some more to return to the form it had a couple of years back.

While UP at the bottom is not an unfamiliar sight anymore, the Maroons are doing it this time with a "twist." This season the Maroons are merely "losing" games and not being "massacred." In its losses, State U has been going down by an average of 7.16 points, a far cry from the days of being trampled upon by a dozen or two. UP is showing more competitiveness this season albeit with much work to be done.

With the first half done, we should expect an equally competitive and exciting UAAP second half. It is the homestretch and darn if not all of the teams go all out.

UAAP 2nd round schedule

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=492871904056193&set=a.218694848140568.61262.114943805182340&type=1&theater

if you can't see it check it here http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=492871904056193&set=a.218694848140568.61262.114943805182340&type=1&theater

^^

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/408187_492871904056193_1734899340_n.jpg

Energen Pilipinas pulled off a huge victory over erstwhile unbeaten Chinese Taipei, 88-83, to advance to the quarterfinals of the 22nd FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship at the Buyant Ukhaa Arena in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/418633_372016639538223_943113150_n.jpg

JONES CUP 2012

SMART GILAS 2 def. SOUTH KOREA

82 - 79

^^
Gary David = Clutch

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422519_449947681716896_928026633_n.jpg
Source of pic: Facebook:PBA Memes (https://www.facebook.com/PBAmemesPH)

JONES CUP 2012

SMART GILAS 2 def. SOUTH KOREA

82 - 79

Club team daw nakalaban natin at hindi yung national team ng SK...can anyone confirm this?

^^
Yup, Anyang KGC is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League. Their roster features three national players. Sila yung recent champion ng Korean Basketball League.

the team that globalized basketball. the 1992 dream team documentary.

44164302

Here's Mike Krzyzewski's Impressive Vertical
http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1156570/coachk_medium.gif
Coach K, I hope you enjoyed that London Leap!


pat riley and mitt romney in common

...their hairline :)

2 PHL teams gutted out tough wins in a single day! Happy for Energen PHL U-18 and Jones Cup-Smart Gilas Teams.

NANALO PA ANG GILAS TWO POINT ZERO sa JAPAN

The Philippine U-18 team beat Bahrain to round off the second round with a record of 4-1. It's the same record as Iran and CHinese Taipei but because of the Tiebreaker they fall to 3rd place and meet KOrea Republic in the Quarters.

PHI/KSA - FAU18: Philippines’ win takes Saudi Arabia along to QF
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship): SEABA U18 Champions Philippines’ 99-72 win (Box scores) against Bahrain in their final Group F Second Round Game not only kept them on the winning track, but also took Saudi Arabia to the quarterfinals keeping Indonesia at bay.

Philippines, already assured of a place in the last eight, tied with Iran and Chinese Taipei – who had earlier in the day fought a protracted Overtime battle – all three finishing with an identical 4-1 win-loss record at the end of Second Round engagements. Iran and Chinese Taipei in that order finished ahead of Philippines in the goal average tie-breaker. Read more (http://fibaasia.net/NewsDetails.aspx?id=2578)

Bahrain vs. Philippines (http://fibaasia.net/FIBA_Asia_PhotoViewer.aspx?pid=4091)

http://fibaasia.net/FIBA_Asia_PhotoViewer.aspx?pid=4092

http://fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FPG201282202228.JPG

http://fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FPG201282202212.JPG

http://fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FPG201282202157.JPG

http://fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FPG201282202142.JPG

http://fibaasia.net/UserFiles/FPG201282202125.JPG

Smart Gilas 2 won over Iran 77-75 in a thrilling game...

Iran, RP and USA holds 4-1 record...

Smart Gilas 2 won over Iran 77-75 in a thrilling game...

Iran, RP and USA holds 4-1 record...

Team Standings: Aug. 24, 2012

Philippines 5 - 1
Iran 5 - 1
USA 5 - 1
South Korea 4 - 2
Taiwan (A) 3 - 2
Lebanon 2 - 4
Japan 2 - 5
Jordan 1 - 5
Taiwan (B) - 0 - 6

South Korea U18 def. Energen-Pilipinas U18, 90-77

good news for smart gilas, bad news for energen pilipinas :okay:

South Koreans did it again.

^^ dikit pa rin, kahit wala yung hindi pinahiram na mga taga Team A ng UAAP schools.

Team Standings: Aug. 24, 2012

Philippines 5 - 1
Iran 5 - 1
USA 5 - 1
South Korea 4 - 2
Taiwan (A) 3 - 2
Lebanon 2 - 4
Japan 2 - 5
Jordan 1 - 5
Taiwan (B) - 0 - 6

Is this for the Olympics qualifier? :cheers:

No. Just an international tournament.

World Championship qualifiers is scheduled next year.

Philippines nips Chinese Taipei, battles USA for Jones Cup title
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines staved off a furious rally by Chinese Taipei, 76-72, Saturday night in the 34th William Jones Cup at the Taipei Physical Education College gym in Taipei.

Gary David knocked down a dagger of a trey that gave the Philippines a 76-70 cushion with 40.6 ticks left.

The Nationals battle USA Sunday for the championship.

LA Tenorio, the Alaska Aces star playmaker, also came up big. He hit three triples in one stretch that helped the Philippines build a 69-60 lead.

But Chinese Taipei fought back pulled to within, 67-69, with still 3:10 left.

Tenorio though, answered back with a jumper that pushed PH ahead, 73-68, near the final minute before David’s cold-blooded trey sealed the Gilas Pilipinas’ sixth win in seven stints. Read more (http://sports.inquirer.net/59570/philippines-nips-chinese-taipei-battles-usa-for-jones-cup-title)

Is this for the Olympics qualifier? :cheers:

Jones Cup is just a glorified friendly games. This tournament has no bearing to our FIBA ranking nor an automatic slot to any FIBA sanctioned games.

yes, we know that, but the most important is experience

Who are the players in the USA team (Jones Cup)?

Mychal Kearse (6'5''-G-83) of Akita Northern Happinets Japan
Jermaine Barnes (6'5''-G/F-82) of Universal Phoenix Group LLC
Curtis Marshall (6'6''-G/F-83) of Lille Metropole Basket Clubs France
Marcus Melvin (6'8''-F-82) of La Union Formosa Argentina
Scott VanderMeer (7'0''-C-86) of Marinos de Anzoategui Venezuela
Josh Powell (6'9''-F-83) of Brujos de Guayama Puerto Rico
Wayne Arnold (6'4''-G-84) of Gwinnett Majic
Jordan Collins (6'10''-PF-82) of Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels Germany
Jermaine Dearman (6'8''-F/C-80) of Fukuoka Rizing Japan
Gerard Anderson (6'6''-F-87) of Los Angeles D-Fenders
Desmond Blue (6'11''-C-88) of Universal Phoenix Group LLC
Brad Reese (6'6''-F-88) of SLUNETA Usti nad Labem Czech Republic
James Justice (5'10''-G-89) of GIE Morrow Disciples

source: http://www.asia-basket.com/William-Jones-Cup/basketball.asp?NewsID=281353

magsisimula na yata ang championship match sa Jones Cup

latest score: 7-6 Philippines leads :okay:

6-10 @ 4:35 remaining, the Philippines leads USA by 4 points :cheers:

phil leads 76-75 with 8 seconds left!:lol: timeout tapos tayo ang may possession.

makapigil hininga @ 0.9 seconds remaining, 76-75

champion na tayo :cheers:

we are the 2012 jones cup champs by a cliffhanger of a finish!:cheers:

panalo PINAS!!!!

buti na lang pinanood ko ito. ganda ng laban!

makapigil hininga @ 0.9 seconds remaining, 76-75

+1

:lol:

buti kapos

Sa wakas we're champs again after 14 long years. Hats off to gilas 2.0. Tenorio showing his A-game and norwood was a beast on the paint.

http://www.kababayangpilipino.org/images/uploads/flag_philippines.gif
www.kababayangpilipino.org


MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!!! CHAMPION!

76-75... gilas pilipinas! panalo.. xD

congrats Smart Gilas Pilipinas for winning the Jones Cup 2012.:cheers:

Tenorio goes supernova as SMART-Gilas defeats USA to win Jones Cup
Against an American team with superior size advantage, it was the smallest man on the Philippine side who stood tallest.

LA Tenorio delivered the biggest buckets in the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team’s 76-75 victory over USA to bring home the William Jones Cup to the Philippines for the first time since 1998.

The Alaska point guard scored 20 points, including the go-ahead basket with 17 seconds to go to lift SMART-Gilas to the win.Read more (http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/tenorio-goes-supernova-as-smart-gilas-defeats-usa-to-win-jones-cup)

Smart-Gilas Philippines Named Jones Cup 2012 Champions :banana::banana::banana:

http://s7.postimage.org/shswyi963/Picture1.png

Against an American team with superior size advantage, it was the smallest man on the Philippine side who stood tallest.

LA Tenorio delivered the biggest buckets in the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team’s 76-75 victory over USA to bring home the William Jones Cup to the Philippines for the first time since 1998.

The Alaska point guard scored 20 points, including the go-ahead basket with 17 seconds to go to lift SMART-Gilas to the win.

Before that, the 5-foot-8 Tenorio masterminded a Philippine comeback from a 13-point second half deficit. The US squad was still up, 59-46, with a minute left in the third quarter before SMART-Gilas unleashed a 15-0 run capped by a Tenorio runner to give the Philippines its first lead since the first quarter.

It was a nip and tuck affair the rest of the way, with USA grabbing the upper hand on a fastbreak layup by Jermaine Dearman, 75-74, with 36 seconds left.

SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes drew up a play that saw LA Tenorio breaking down his defender, dribbling left, and coolly sinking an 18-foot jumper for the win.

The Philippines won the tournament for the fourth time in its 34-year history, the last 14 years ago when the Philippine Centennial Team swept the field to bag the title.


http://philippine-tv-ratings.blogspot.com/2012/08/Smart-Gilas-Philippines-Named-Jones-Cup-2012-Champions.html

Im doing my pelvic thrust move!!! Ang Saya! Go GILAS PILIPINAS!!!

Si Norwood ba eh nilalaro sa PF ngayong Jones Cup? Yan kasi napapansin ko e

Yes but he did play various positions depending on the size of the opposition. coach chot used his resources well during the tournament

The Champions!

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/556448_478186295533652_720771224_n.jpg

via Coach Chot

congrats^^

sana chapter by chapter ang pag-aanalisa ng laro para lalo pang mapagtagumpayan ng mga Pinoy ang international competition sa basketbol.

o nasanay lang talaga ako sa kakapanood ng dream team? ;)

Next step for SMART-Gilas: FIBA Asia Cup in Japan in September
http://cms.interaksyon.com/interaktv/assets/2012/01/chot-reyes-champion.jpg

The SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team will barely have any time to rest after its grueling title run in the 34th William Jones Cup.

The squad is slated to join the FIBA Asia Cup, the tournament that used to be known as the Stankovic Cup, slated on September 14 to 22 in Tokyo, Japan.

The tournament serves as a qualifier for next year’s FIBA Asia Championship, where three spots to the 2014 FIBA World Cup is up for grabs.

But beyond winning, it will serve as another opportunity to test the progress of the squad, which is eyeing to book a seat in world basketball tournament for the first time since 1978. The Philippines has been drawn into Group A of the tournament, alongside Asian powerhouse teams China and Lebanon and minnows Macau and Uzbekistan. The other group features Chinese Taipei, India, Iran, Japan, and Qatar.

The FIBA Asia Cup could also see a tweaked roster for SMART-Gilas. The squad’s Jones Cup lineup featured Ranidel De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Enrico Villanueva, Gary David, Jay-R Reyes, and Sol Mercado alongside naturalized center Marcus Douthit, former San Beda sharpshooter Garvo Lanete, and Filipino-American point guard Matthew Rosser.

Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger, Kelly Williams, and JVee Casio are also part of the pool. SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes could also choose to bring in new recruits to the squad.

A SMART-Gilas select team led by Tenorio, Thoss, and Baracael swept the Southeast Basketball Association Cup last July to gain entry into the Japan tournament.Read more (http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/next-step-for-smart-gilas-fiba-asia-cup-in-japan-in-september)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207215_487207494624462_1705833626_n.jpg

CHAMPS! + MVP LA Tenorio! (via Cherry Tiosejo-Reyes)

^^ WooHoo! Congrats Pilipinas! :banana: :banana: :banana: :cheers:

4WDEFOQXtho&feature=g-logo-xit

Congratulations to SMART-Gilas!!! :)

Mychal Kearse (6'5''-G-83) of Akita Northern Happinets Japan
Jermaine Barnes (6'5''-G/F-82) of Universal Phoenix Group LLC
Curtis Marshall (6'6''-G/F-83) of Lille Metropole Basket Clubs France
Marcus Melvin (6'8''-F-82) of La Union Formosa Argentina
Scott VanderMeer (7'0''-C-86) of Marinos de Anzoategui Venezuela
Josh Powell (6'9''-F-83) of Brujos de Guayama Puerto Rico
Wayne Arnold (6'4''-G-84) of Gwinnett Majic
Jordan Collins (6'10''-PF-82) of Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels Germany
Jermaine Dearman (6'8''-F/C-80) of Fukuoka Rizing Japan
Gerard Anderson (6'6''-F-87) of Los Angeles D-Fenders
Desmond Blue (6'11''-C-88) of Universal Phoenix Group LLC
Brad Reese (6'6''-F-88) of SLUNETA Usti nad Labem Czech Republic
James Justice (5'10''-G-89) of GIE Morrow Disciples

source: http://www.asia-basket.com/William-Jones-Cup/basketball.asp?NewsID=281353

Thanks! I thought they were active NBA players. :cheers:

WlzvqaRC6q4

Smart-Gilas Philippines Named Jones Cup 2012 Champions :banana::banana::banana:

http://s7.postimage.org/shswyi963/Picture1.png



http://philippine-tv-ratings.blogspot.com/2012/08/Smart-Gilas-Philippines-Named-Jones-Cup-2012-Champions.html

nice! :banana::banana::banana:

Congratulations to the Smart Gilas II team!! Hopefully some of the players from the SMC teams join in future tournaments.

^^ Congrats Gilas! :)

Si Norwood ba eh nilalaro sa PF ngayong Jones Cup? Yan kasi napapansin ko e

nope, norwood was more of a guard. minsan naging point guard din siya. in other words norwood is playing his own game kahit na yung height niya pang-typical na forward in the PH. that made him very effective.

nope, norwood was more of a guard. minsan naging point guard din siya. in other words norwood is playing his own game kahit na yung height niya pang-typical na forward in the PH. that made him very effective.

Ano nga pala height & weight ni Gabe Norwood?

CONGRATS TO SMART GILAS FOR WINNING THE 2012 JONES CUP

japeth aguilar can be included in Smart Gilas 2 to add height,he's very quick too for his height.

palitan si devance

Woohoo, congrats Gilas! :cheers::cheers::cheers:

PILIPINAS! :banana: :cheers: :applause: Superb performance by LA Tenorio. :okay:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205913_276558975790428_579828507_n.jpg
Source of pic: PTV Sports (https://www.facebook.com/PTV4SPORTS)

Small guy Tenorio is named Jones Cup MVP
From The Wires
August 26, 2012, 09:26 pm
TAIPEI – Smart Gilas-Pilipinas starting point guard L.A. Tenorio capped off an amazing breakout tournament overseas by emerging as the Most Valuable Player of the 34th Williams Jones Cup basketball tournament.

The Alaska playmaker was chosen as the best player of the 34th edition of the annual tournament following his scintillating performances in the Nationals’ last two games against Chinese-Taipei and Team USA that gave the Philippines its first major international title over the last 14 years.
Read more (http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/tenorio-emerges-jones-cup-mvp)

PILIPINAS! :banana: :cheers: :applause: Superb performance by LA Tenorio. :okay:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205913_276558975790428_579828507_n.jpg
Source of pic: PTV Sports (https://www.facebook.com/PTV4SPORTS)

Lewis Aldrid "LA" Tenorio.. ur d MAN!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Lakers can't bank on star-studded lineup on paper
Fox Sports
http://www.foxsportsohio.com/08/29/12/Lakers-cant-bank-on-star-studded-lineup-/landing.html?blockID=782119&feedID=3800

The Lakers have had a lot of great players. Here's our top five. On paper.

You hear that phrase a lot. In sports, it means a team sure looks good when you jot down the fancy names on the roster.

In the NBA, it means talking about the Los Angeles Lakers.

"On paper, they have the best team in the league," Kevin Durant told Yahoo! Sports.

"On paper, they probably have the best team in the West and probably in the league right now," Chris Bosh told WQAM radio. "On paper. I’m saying on paper."

Durant is a forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Bosh for the Miami Heat. Their teams met in the Finals, with Bosh and the Heat emerging as champs.

So you could say the Heat took the X’s and O’s on coach Erik Spoelstra’s paper and brought them to life — behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Bosh. The Heat were doggone good on paper, and in real life.

Now come the Lakers, the latest paper team.

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were already on the roster. Steve Nash and Dwight Howard were added this summer. That’s four All-Stars in one starting lineup, making the Lakers the paper to everyone else’s rock. But teams such as the Heat and Thunder believe they still have a fighting chance. At worst.

And history shows us they could be right.

Anyone remember the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers? They were a pretty good "on paper" team. But James, an over-the-hill Shaquille O’Neal and an inconsistent Mo Williams crumpled when playing with cohesion and class meant the most.

Conversely, Mike Brown was the coach of that Cavs team, and now coaches the Lakers.

Anyway, how about the Lakers of 2003-04?

Another great paper team, another disappointment — as Bryant, O’Neal, Gary Payton and Karl Malone fell in the Finals to the overmatched Detroit Pistons. At least, the Pistons were overmatched on paper.

Yet they scooted to the title, winning the best-of-seven series in five rather simple games. If you remember, then-Pistons coach Larry Brown preached that his team pulled the upset by playing "the right way." That, it seems, is the scissors to everyone else’s paper.

The Cavs and Lakers of yesteryear are just two examples. The list of teams that looked invincible but failed to win a title dates back to the days when league happenings were documented via chisel and granite. Or it sure seems that way.

To wit:

• Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone, Reggie Theus and the 1989 Atlanta Hawks.

• The Jail Blazers.

• Nearly every team for which Wilt Chamberlain played.

• Somewhere around 20 percent of those expected to unseat Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

• The 2010-11 Heat.

The last example may be the biggest reason for caution when it comes to today’s Lakers. After all, James and Wade alone supposedly could lift a team to 72 wins in their first season. Throw in a big man like Bosh, and . . . well, the Heat finished 58-24 and lost in the Finals (to the Dallas Mavericks).

"The best team always isn’t the one who starts out the season as the best team," Bosh warned.

"You still got to play the games," Durant reminded.

Both men speak the truth. The current batch of Lakers isn’t guaranteed anything but celebrated crowds and lots of TV time.

Kobe is 34 years old. Nash turns 39 before the playoffs. Howard is coming off back surgery. Metta World Peace is kooky. Brown’s philosophy is usually open for debate.

Then again, fans and media don’t often leave enough room for notations on paper. Just names. And when it comes to today’s Lakers, all they see is no less than four of the game’s brightest stars.

What will matter, of course, is that each individual accepts his role, responds well to coaching and keeps his eyes on the reason he was brought to town in the first place. That would be to finish one spot above second place.

On paper, no doubt, the Lakers appear to possess the very skills and savvy to make that happen. But as Durant, Bosh and the ghosts of paper teams of the past would tell you, the key is taking all those great names and turning them into something equally awe-inspiring on the court.

Otherwise, you'll likely be crinkled up, tossed in the trash and quickly forgotten.

^^ Ain't Ron Artest an NBA All-Star in 2004? :cheers:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205913_276558975790428_579828507_n.jpg
Source of pic: PTV Sports (https://www.facebook.com/PTV4SPORTS)

Tenorio, Alaska part ways
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=843713&keyword=sp_pba

MANILA, Philippines - LA Tenorio, the man who virtually carried Smart Gilas II to the Jones Cup championship in Taipei after defying Alaska’s order to stay home, is the prized catch in a frantic trade talks set by the Uytengsu ballclub yesterday.

At press time, four teams were reportedly working on a complicated deal that would eventually bring Tenorio over to Barangay Ginebra or San Mig Coffee (formerly B-Meg).

Tenorio, the most talked-about player today for his heroic feats in Smart Gilas’ Jones Cup championship run, was aware he’s bound to leave Alaska.

“No confirmation yet but they’re working on it,” Tenorio told The STAR.

Tenorio stressed, however, that he’s not asking for it.

Whatever happens, Tenorio said he’ll be committed to his mother ballclub even if he continues to play with the national team.

“Playing in the PBA is a job. Playing for the country is an honor and privilege which I will not forsake,” Tenorio was quoted as saying on-line.

Apparently, Alaska wants its players to concentrate now on its training for the next PBA season.

One possible movement by Tenorio is jumping over to Global Port for Jayvee Casio, then to Barako Bull for Willie Miller and eventually San Mig Coffee for Mark Barroca.

Another is just a three-way swap among Alaska, Global Port and Barangay Ginebra with Tenorio ending up with the Kings.

There’s also a report about a trade deal involving Alaska Aces Hans Thiele and Wesley Gonzales and Petron Blaze wingman Dondon Hontiveros.

There’s no word though on the status of Sonny Thoss and Mac Baracael, two other Alaska players who saw action with the Nationals and members of the Smart Gilas training pool.

Any deal will be subject to the approval of the league commissioner.

“The commissioner has been busy getting calls about possible trade transactions, but we’ve yet to get formal trade proposal,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

May Philippine domain na pala ang NBA.com! http://ph.nba.com/?gr=www

Biased talaga ang NAASCU season 12 broadcast ng NET25 sa laban ng AMA vs. New Era U!

Halatang nasa panig ng New Era U ang TV commentator sa lahat ng games ng New Era U. :ohno:

BTW New Era won 74-71 in a come from behind win against my alma mater.

Eagles shake off fighting Archers
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=844364&keyword=sp_pba

MANILA, Philippines - Holders Ateneo kept to the same script that its rivalry with La Salle has been following the last four years, outclassing the Archers, 77-67, in yesterday’s UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball tourney at a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ryan Buenafe, the burly forward whose stint as a starter was cut short by a disqualification in their last game against Far Eastern, came back strong with a career-best 24 points to provide the big difference as the Eagles repeated over the Archers this year.

It was the fifth straight win for Ateneo over its rival dating back to 2010. Stretching further to 2008, the Ateneans are 11-1 head to head with DLSU.

Ateneo coach Norman Black said the mission was clear before his wards took on the Archers before a crowd of 17,126.

“I know it’s a little thing, and it’s just one game but we really wanted to re-establish ourselves as the best defensive team in the league. For the first time, La Salle overtook us as No. 1 the last game and we really talked about reasserting ourselves. That was the focus,” said Black after hiking their league-leading card to 9-1.

Stats showed ADMU holding DLSU to a 23-of-67 shooting (34.3 percent). The Eagles shot better against the DLSU defense, making 27 of 64 tries (42.2 percent).

“We also got a big lift from the players, especially Ryan. He stepped up offensively for us,” said Black.

Buenafe, who was banished the last game against FEU after getting slapped an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical, made big shots after big shots for ADMU. He had nine points in a 26-10 start for the Eagles and completed his heroics with 13 more markers in the second half.

“We’ve noticed that teams are using the small forward position to double team Greg Slaughter. But with Ryan out there, it’s difficult for them to do that because Ryan’s a threat and he’s big,” said Black, also giving Slaughter (four points, 11 rebounds, three assists) credit.

In the first game, Jeric Teng hit the big shots down the stretch as University of Santo Tomas turned back Adamson, 83-79, to grab solo second with 8-3, while ousting the Falcons (2-9) from the Final Four. “Greg sacrificed; he didn’t force his shots and just focused on rebounding and defense, allowing his teammates to shine,” Black said, whose team played without JP Erram whose suspension was upheld by the technical committee.

Jeron Teng (22 points) and Almond Vosotros the way for DLSU, which slipped to 6-4 in tie for fourth with National U.

^^
Great game by Ryan Buenafe. :cheers:

Tenorio, Alaska part ways
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=843713&keyword=sp_pba

MANILA, Philippines - LA Tenorio, the man who virtually carried Smart Gilas II to the Jones Cup championship in Taipei after defying Alaska’s order to stay home, is the prized catch in a frantic trade talks set by the Uytengsu ballclub yesterday.

At press time, four teams were reportedly working on a complicated deal that would eventually bring Tenorio over to Barangay Ginebra or San Mig Coffee (formerly B-Meg).

Tenorio, the most talked-about player today for his heroic feats in Smart Gilas’ Jones Cup championship run, was aware he’s bound to leave Alaska.

“No confirmation yet but they’re working on it,” Tenorio told The STAR.

Tenorio stressed, however, that he’s not asking for it.

Whatever happens, Tenorio said he’ll be committed to his mother ballclub even if he continues to play with the national team.

“Playing in the PBA is a job. Playing for the country is an honor and privilege which I will not forsake,” Tenorio was quoted as saying on-line.

Apparently, Alaska wants its players to concentrate now on its training for the next PBA season.

One possible movement by Tenorio is jumping over to Global Port for Jayvee Casio, then to Barako Bull for Willie Miller and eventually San Mig Coffee for Mark Barroca.

Another is just a three-way swap among Alaska, Global Port and Barangay Ginebra with Tenorio ending up with the Kings.

There’s also a report about a trade deal involving Alaska Aces Hans Thiele and Wesley Gonzales and Petron Blaze wingman Dondon Hontiveros.

There’s no word though on the status of Sonny Thoss and Mac Baracael, two other Alaska players who saw action with the Nationals and members of the Smart Gilas training pool.

Any deal will be subject to the approval of the league commissioner.

“The commissioner has been busy getting calls about possible trade transactions, but we’ve yet to get formal trade proposal,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.
^^
PBA five-team trade:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/552011_351842491558577_61950419_n.jpg
Source of pic: Facebook:NBA and PBA Updates (https://www.facebook.com/pages/NBA-and-PBA-Updates/137049026371259)

Congrats Miami Heat for winning the 2012 NBA Championship! :cheers:

Team Phl, sisimulan ang training bilang paghahanda sa FIBA-Asia Cup
Ngayong araw na sisimulan ng Philippine basketball team ang kanilang ensayo bilang paghahanda sa darating na 4th FIBA-Asia Cup o Stankovic Cup, na nakatakdang gawin sa Setyembre 14-22 sa Tokyo, Japan.

Mamayang gabi, bubuksan ng national team ang kanilang training alas-7:30 sa isang sports arena sa Pasig City.

Kaugnay nito, haharapin naman ng Team Pilipinas ang Qatar national team sa isang tune-up game sa Sabado, Setyembre 8. Read more (http://www.bomboradyo.com/news/sports-news/128292-team-phl-sisimulan-ang-training-bilang-paghahanda-sa-fiba-asia-cup)

^^
PBA five-team trade:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/552011_351842491558577_61950419_n.jpg
Source of pic: Facebook:NBA and PBA Updates (https://www.facebook.com/pages/NBA-and-PBA-Updates/137049026371259)

So who will be Ginebra's starting point guard, will it still be Helterbrand or Tenorio?

the new york knicks will unveil their new uniforms for the 2012-2013 season.

the knicks and the nets have already started the rivalry.

Reggie Miller will finally be inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend (http://www.nba.com/2012/news/features/fran_blinebury/09/04/reggie-miller-hall-of-fame/index.html?cid=nba.2013)... Congratz to my all-time Idol! :banana:


the knicks and the nets have already started the rivalry.

How? :cheers:

Sana makasama si Ray Parks sa Gilas next year. Laki ng advantage nya sa playing position nya.

gilas 3.0 na si rayray,

parks
abueva
teng
ravena
sangalang(reserve)
slaughter
salva
ellis
hodge
fajardo
lee
buenafe(reserve)
alas
fil-am player(reserve)
mcgee

gilas 3.0 na si rayray,

parks
abueva
teng
ravena
sangalang(reserve)
slaughter
salva
ellis
hodge
fajardo
lee
buenafe(reserve)
alas
fil-am player(reserve)
mcgee

Sinong McGee yan?

^^Si Jayvee...hindi pa aprubado sa congress ang naturalization papers niya....

Lebanon, Uzbekistan next in line Gilas faces China in opener
MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas will be tested right in its first two games in the fourth FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan as it plays China on opening day Friday then Lebanon the following day.

The Nationals complete their stint in the Group A elimination-round play in taking on Uzbekistan on Sunday then Macau on Monday.

Team Pilipinas needs to make the top four in its group to qualify for the knockout stage of the 10-nation event originally named Stankovic Cup in honor of the longtime FIBA official from Serbia.

Other teams vying in the tourney are Iran, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Qatar and IndiaRead more (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/lebanon-uzbekistan-next-line-gilas-faces-china-opener-190221197--spt.html?fb_action_ids=4501438864891%2C459926927371990%2C2447648566412%2C529630473718824%2C521475184536428&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_ref=type%3Aread%2Cuser%3AA4w6i_jcSHAO-hOw4AB3mVYDqf0%2Ctype%3Aread%2Cuser%3A0kg87ctQzjXQjbxF2ZehMzbxCas%2Ctype%3Aread%2Cuser%3Angaa6Vwktwh2WmuVMZdkiPfwWUg%2Ctype%3Aread%2Cuser%3AHFuNjWxNzLOoJZJKCJDlU54qjEw%2Ctype%3Aread%2Cuser%3AuS861QJHm3oo8AFRoFlm294OsJg&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%224501438864891%22%3A140500839427601%2C%22459926927371990%22%3A140500839427601%2C%222447648566412%22%3A140500839427601%2C%22529630473718824%22%3A140500839427601%2C%22521475184536428%22%3A140500839427601%2C%224501436024820%22%3A402821436440056%2C%22482377438454144%22%3A402821436440056%2C%22464040976952241%22%3A402821436440056%2C%222447647886395%22%3A402821436440056%2C%224501464305527%22%3A160001850790386%2C%223948536707632%22%3A160001850790386%2C%224106812761462%22%3A160001850790386%2C%22500970056599127%22%3A327931280635714%2C%223926813561149%22%3A327931280635714%2C%22521479111202702%22%3A327931280635714%2C%224501914436780%22%3A427889660582113%2C%222447647166377%22%3A427889660582113}&code=AQAhL_AiOX1w_SF2WErLWoFAdFct5WVwD1zntJHUbx_Grh2Ub9QNA7jpEcTPm2aF7qXggXNuDH4oLeKz_rcA5U0JRHh5PTGcWe9sX2HwEyI5gI7Nm79t4TZJeIlsJy7LzIpvMNUNrYdVhhy_sOQ8UpTjEKT9wWdfGdwkU-EZRN2xPBk83awco3AjRffLs3mzlIxWhHTwWxwGhujJ6sElaH1B#_=_)

Parang hindi na nag-improve si Ravena this season....plus sa size niya ay dapat pointguard ang nilalaro niya since sa international play ay lalamunin ng offensive player ang depensa niya.

^^Si Jayvee...hindi pa aprubado sa congress ang naturalization papers niya....

Thanks! Akala ko si JaVale McGee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JaVale_McGee) ng NBA eh :cheers:

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/sports.inquirer.net/files/2012/09/600x450xsmart-gilas-senate.jpg.pagespeed.ic.HcmzMnjv1V.jpg
Senate honors newly crowned Jones Cup champ PH Smart-Gilas
By Matikas Santos
INQUIRER.net
4:37 pm | Monday, September 10th, 2012

http://sports.inquirer.net/61554/senate-honors-newly-crowned-jones-cup-champ-ph-smart-gilas

Thanks! Akala ko si JaVale McGee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JaVale_McGee) ng NBA eh :cheers:

^^si javale mcgee nga... 2014 or 2015,sa ngayon kaya pa naman ni douthit at pang world championships yung hanganan niya, 2015 fiba olumpic qualifying ay si mcgee na ang naturalized player ng pinas

^^si javale mcgee nga... 2014 or 2015,sa ngayon kaya pa naman ni douthit at pang world championships yung hanganan niya, 2015 fiba olumpic qualifying ay si mcgee na ang naturalized player ng pinas

Is Jayvee his nickname? :bash:

Brandon Roy returns from retirement! :cheers:

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/09/10/ricky-rubio-to-return-in-december-brandon-roy-ready-now-for-twolves/#?cid=nba.2013

^^si javale mcgee nga... 2014 or 2015,sa ngayon kaya pa naman ni douthit at pang world championships yung hanganan niya, 2015 fiba olumpic qualifying ay si mcgee na ang naturalized player ng pinas

Javale signed a monster contract with the Nuggets. In order to get his services, SBP must pay insurance money to the Nuggets proportionate to the contract he signed. Say if per year, he gets like $10 million, SBP must pay $1 million insurance money to get him to be released. so imagine if 2013 he plays for us in the FIBA Asia, then we qualified to the Worlds in 2014, so that's a good $2 million na agad. Eh hindi naman $10 million lang a year ang sweldo ni Pierre!


Just go for the cheap, young commodity. Like Denzel Bowles!!!

maghihigpit na daw ang FIBA sa eligibility rules ng mga duals... kailangan may pasaporte ng pilipinas ang player bago mag 16?

http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=848280&publicationsubcategoryid=69

LA VS Chinese player
http://cms.interaksyon.com/interaktv/assets/2012/09/2806385afd9511e1be981231380f620c_7.jpg
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/caption-this-la-tenorio-faces-a-tall-order

Javale signed a monster contract with the Nuggets. In order to get his services, SBP must pay insurance money to the Nuggets proportionate to the contract he signed. Say if per year, he gets like $10 million, SBP must pay $1 million insurance money to get him to be released. so imagine if 2013 he plays for us in the FIBA Asia, then we qualified to the Worlds in 2014, so that's a good $2 million na agad. Eh hindi naman $10 million lang a year ang sweldo ni Pierre!


Just go for the cheap, young commodity. Like Denzel Bowles!!!


^^ Yup Javale McGee signed an $11+M/year contract w/ the Nuggets. He is a high salary low IQ basketball player. He may be tall and full of potential but will also now cost a lot really just to play part-time. Not a "Smart" move imho. Gilas team should not go after this guy as they will not get the best bang for the buck so to speak. There are other players out there that cost less but just as talented and even better fit for our Philippine team. :cheers:

maghihigpit na daw ang FIBA sa eligibility rules ng mga duals... kailangan may pasaporte ng pilipinas ang player bago mag 16?

http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=848280&publicationsubcategoryid=69

Yep. Same problem yan nina Lassiter at Lutz last year.

maghihigpit na daw ang FIBA sa eligibility rules ng mga duals... kailangan may pasaporte ng pilipinas ang player bago mag 16?

http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=848280&publicationsubcategoryid=69

Collateral damage tayo ng Hagop Rule, named under FIBA Asia director Hagop who dissallowed "instant" citizenship rules abused by countries like Qatar. Qatar kasi grants citizenships to tall, athletic "mercenaries" from Africa ina an instant. What Qatar is doing is making these africans as natural-born Qataris.

Now, this is practice by Qatar is different from the "naturalization" process similar to Marcus Doughtit.

In the Philippines, if you're born outside of the Philippines, and your parent(s) has pinoy blood, then you're entitled to be called Filipino and reap its benefits (if there are any :nuts: )..So the case of Lassiter and Lutz, in the eyes of our laws, it is permissable. But it hardly passed FIBA Asia's own eligibility rules (napagbigyan lang kasi napakiusapan kasi nagalaro na raw sa SEABA).

In the eyes of FIBA Asia, any foreign born, playing as a citizen (not naturalized) must have a passport of the country before he turns 16. The real loss are the talents of Chris Banchero, Stanley Pringle and Scuba Holt and also Sol Mercado. They are half filipinos and can play in the PBA, but wont be eligible to play in FIBA Asia tournament because of the Hagop Rule.

With this rule, even Jeremy Lin cannot play for Taiwan! :banana:


*- noticed that im using FIBA Asia. because other continents' FIBA federations don't discriminant with players playing for their motherland.

Hagop Khajirian Logic.

Yikes Knicks implosion waiting to happen! What is the Knicks thinking? A team of headcases and social security recipients! :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

Knicks looking at Kenyon Martin
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/246481311307546624

Free-agent rumble: Knicks continue to rate Kenyon Martin as vet free agent they like best but NYK, to date, haven't sold him on vet minimum.

Aguilar's hope of becoming first Filipino NBA Player still alive
http://ph.sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--aguilar-survives-first-cut-in-d-league-try-out.html

The NBA D-League dream of Japeth Aguilar stayed alive over the weekend after the six-foot-nine big man made it through the first wave of tryouts of the D-League team Bakersfield Jam.

According to an article by Joseph Pimentel in the Filipino-American community newspaper Asian Journal which was also featured in a video on the local cable channel ANC, Aguilar was among 20 hopefuls who survived the open try out conducted by the Jam at East Los Angeles College which attracted over 80 players, most of whom came from NCAA Division 1 Pac-12 schools.

Aguilar, according to the report, scored 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, and added five rebounds and four blocks in a scrimmage. His performance earned him a spot in the "All-Star scrimmage", which will bring together the best players of that particular try out, as well as soft praise from the Jam coaches.

Jam head coach Will Voigt, quoted by Pimentel, called Japeth “an intriguing player” who has length and athleticism. Voigt sees Aguilar as a possible small forward, in contrast to the positions he played in the PBA and Smart Gilas 1. “He’s been playing as a four or a five (power forward / center) in the Philippines we’ll have to transition him into a three (small forward),” Voigt told Pimentel. “It’s going to be a process for him. But he’s shown flashes throughout the weekend that makes you want to see more.

“I thought his athleticism really stood out. He didn’t really shoot the ball as well as he has in the past. But his size and length, the way he moves, I think he just made a lot of plays just based on that.”

Jam assistant coach John Bryant echoed Voigt’s observations about the length and athleticism, but at the same time said Aguilar had to address the one thing that critics back home have repeatedly said about him.

“I think right now he’s a little too passive,” Bryant said, quoted by Pimentel. “He has to be the man. He has to be able to knock down that corner three [pointer] consistently and if that corner three is not working, then a one or two dribble pull up and shoot…I want to see him throw an elbow or something. Get out of his shell a little and play loose. [Then] I think he’ll really be something special.”

The coaches also said Aguilar, a former PBA no. 1 draft pick by Burger King, has to work on his ball-handling and outside shooting and needs to be more aggressive, while on defense he needs to learn how to guard small forwards. Bryant told Pimentel that Aguilar was a “raw talent” and that he “needs to bring all his skills” every day.

But before Filipino fans get excited, this particular try out was just one of four that the Jam will be conducting as they search for players to beef up their roster for the coming D-League season. The team will probably look at 400 or 500 players throughout the entire process. Last year, Byrant told Pimentel, four players on the Jam roster came from the try outs, of which two made it through the entire season.

In other words, the odds are still stacked against Aguilar. But the 25-year-old, whose contract with Talk ‘N Text expired recently, remains undeterred as he continues to pursue his dream of becoming the first full-blooded Filipino player of making it to the NBA.

“I can’t live without trying,” Aguilar said when interviewed by Pimentel. “I’m very determined to improve every day. I’m doing workouts everyday and spending a lot of time in the gym doing everything I can improve on.”

Japeth "AirJap" Aguilar Highlights
wUCGC3AQsfo&NR=1

Japeth "AirJap" Aguilar vs NBA Player Yi Jianlian
aj-xhQkrObs&feature=related

CHN/PHI - Profligate Philippines squander, let patchy China get away
TOKYO, Japan (4th FIBA Asia Cup): Philippines blew away a fantastic third quarter resurgence allowing China to hit back and sneak through to a 71-68 win in a pivotal Group A Prelim Round game at the 4th FIBA Asia Cup on Friday.

Having fought China on even keel for a better part of the three quarters of the game, Philippines unleashed a 20-7 fury over 10 minutes – across the third quarter break to seemingly nudge ahead towards an opening game win.

But China gambled by bringing the prodigious Wang Zhelin back – despite the youngster in foul-trouble – and reaped rich dividends by eking out the win. Wang, arguably one of the more talented youngsters in view was superb and solid under the defense glass and pulled down 8 of his game-high 14 rebounds in the final quarter to propel China forward. Read more (http://fibaasia.net/NewsDetails.aspx?id=2634)

May NBA 2k13 na ba para sa PC/Windows 7 64-bit? :cheers:

Yikes Knicks implosion waiting to happen! What is the Knicks thinking? A team of headcases and social security recipients! :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

Knicks looking at Kenyon Martin
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/246481311307546624

Free-agent rumble: Knicks continue to rate Kenyon Martin as vet free agent they like best but NYK, to date, haven't sold him on vet minimum.

They are trying to rebuild the old Nuggets frontcourt of Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, JR Smith, and Kenyon Martin as well as the old Nets duo of Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin which both old team line-ups made to the conference finals! Hehehe

78-68 Pilipinas

78-68 Pilipinas

Saan yan score?

Saan yan score?

Sa game yesterday vs Lebanon.

85-50 Philippines won against Uzbekistan

PHI/UZB - Philippines roll past Uzbekistan for their second win
TOKYO, Japan (4th FIBA Asia Cup): Philippines shut out their opposition for three quarters of the game with some tight defense tactics and thus cruised along rather smoothly to beat Uzbekistan 85-50 for their second win in three games in the Group A Prelim Round of the 4th FIBA Asia Cup on Sunday.

Jeffrei Chan’s 20 points led the Philippines win with coach Chot Reyes giving all his players more than 12 minutes each on the court. All, but Sonny Thoss figured on the scoresheet.

Reyes was more happy about the way his team defended. Uzbekistan were restricted to merely 33 points in the first 30 minutes when Philippines scored almost double that many points. Read more (http://fibaasia.net/NewsDetails.aspx?id=2643)

2-1

^^We will be finishing 2nd in Group A if we beat Macau tomorrow at 10:30 AM :okay:

UA5OZAHKR3w

hope Japeth Aguilar makes it to the the NBA Dleague or NBA,imagine millions of diehard basketball and NBA filipino and southeast asian fans will be added to it's viewership..

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/274359/sports/basketball/fiba-asia-cup-philippines-easily-dispatches-macau-wins-third-straight

FIBA Asia Cup: Philippines easily dispatches Macau, wins third straight
September 17, 2012 11:57am


The Philippines exploded for 14 straight points to start the game, and never let Macau taste the lead, as they romped to a 98-46 win, Monday in the FIBA Asia Cup, held in Tokyo, Japan.

The victory gave the Philippines a 3-1 record in the preliminary round, thanks to three straight wins after losing to China, headed into the win-or-go-home final round.

Ranidel de Ocampo opened the scoring festivities for the Philippines, followed by a basket and a free throw courtesy of Matt Rosser, as Gilas went up 5-0 early. But the real highlight was Jeff Chan, who picked up where he left off versus Uzbekistan, dropping 13 markers to give his side a 33-14 lead after the first quarter.

^^our next opponent in the quarterfinals would be either Taiwan or Qatar on the 20th :okay:

I'm a huge Golden State fan, but it's been very disappointing. They haven't been in the playoffs in over a decade. I hope they make it this year. They still have a chance.http://www.hkgn.info/09bh.jpghttp://www.hkgn.info/09dh.jpghttp://www.hkgn.info/09jh.jpghttp://www.hkgn.info/09ht.jpghttp://www.ymeu.info/test2.jpg http://www.hkgn.info/zamz3.jpg

^^our next opponent in the quarterfinals would be either Taiwan or Qatar on the 20th :okay:

if Taiwan is their next opponent sure ko panalo ang Gilas :banana:

^^What if it's Qatar? :D

I'm a huge Golden State fan, but it's been very disappointing. They haven't been in the playoffs in over a decade. I hope they make it this year. They still have a chance.http://www.hkgn.info/09bh.jpghttp://www.hkgn.info/09dh.jpghttp://www.hkgn.info/09jh.jpghttp://www.hkgn.info/09ht.jpghttp://www.ymeu.info/test2.jpg http://www.hkgn.info/zamz3.jpg

We Believe! Golden State Warriors have their best team line up in decades. The West will be tough but still this season will be very exciting for Bay Area fans! Play offs baby! Go Warriors! :okay: :okay: :cheers:

^^What if it's Qatar? :D

keep your fingers crossed lang hehe:nuts: sana may himala para panalo tayo..

I'm a huge Golden State fan, but it's been very disappointing. They haven't been in the playoffs in over a decade. I hope they make it this year. They still have a chance.

Err, they made the playoffs in 2007 and beat the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks, then eventually lost to Utah in the 2nd round.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Team A ba ng Taipei ang pinadala?

^^ Man those were the days! The atmosphere in the coliseum during the "We Believe" season was simply electrifying. Golden State Warriors team line up this season is a whole lot better and deeper than the "We Belive" Warriors team so hopefully things will again be looking up for the Warriors. Too bad though the NBA West is also a lot better and tougher now than before. If all goes well, Golden State will make the play offs again despite the tough competition and hopefully upset some favored teams along the way. They'll be competitive and should be exciting to watch. Too bad Nelly is no longer coaching as this is an improved Nelly kind of a team they have now.


2012-2013 Golden State Warriors Season Preview
By HOOPSWORLD
http://www.hoopsworld.com/2012-2013-golden-state-warriors-season-preview/

Last season the Golden State Warriors traded away star guard Monta Ellis for injured center Andrew Bogut. Bogut, formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks, had broken his ankle but the Warriors were thinking ahead to the 2012-13 NBA Season.

With the hope and expectation that Bogut will be healthy (along with guard Stephen Curry who also struggled last season with ankle problems), the Warriors believe their roster will compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

HOOPSWORLD takes a look at the 2012-2013 Golden State Warriors:

Five Guys Think…

If it wasn’t for the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in favorable deals, there would be no question that the Golden State Warriors had the best offseason in the Pacific. They were already set to improve greatly with a healthy Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry. Adding Carl Landry, Jarrett Jack, Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, and Draymond Green while re-signing Brandon Rush gives them the complementary pieces they need to make a playoff push. They’re not only positioned to make a playoff push this upcoming season, they should become a perennial playoff team, something they haven’t been able to claim to be since the 70s. The Pacific belongs to the L.A. teams, but the Warriors are closer to the top than they’ve been in quite some time.

Prediction: 3rd Place – Pacific Division

– Yannis Koutroupis


The Golden State Warriors are one of the few teams in the NBA that missed the playoffs last season that can realistically hope to make it this season. If Andrew Bogut can finally get healthy and play 75+ games the Warriors will have a top five NBA center holding down the middle. Health is also a concern for Steph Curry, whose ankle has given him fits, and if he is finally ready to go the team will also have a top-ten point guard running the show. Add an impressive pool of young talent like Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes, as well as a deep veteran front court with David Lee, Carl Landry and Andris Biedrins, and the Warriors could very well grab a share of the West’s playoff picture this season.

Prediction: 3rd Place – Pacific Division

– Bill Ingram


The Golden State Warriors are a team to watch in the 2012-13 season. If they can stay healthy, they could surprise a lot of people and sneak into the playoffs. The Warriors have quietly become one of the deepest teams in the league. They have several talented players at every position. Stephen Curry and Jarrett Jack are two very good point guards, Klay Thompson and Brandon Rush form a great one-two punch at shooting guard, Harrison Barnes and Richard Jefferson will both play significant minutes at small forward, David Lee and Carl Landry are both starting-caliber power forwards, and Andrew Bogut and Andris Biedrins give Golden State two solid centers. This is a very versatile group and Mark Jackson will be able to put together plenty of interesting lineups. With the Phoenix Suns taking a step back and the Sacramento Kings still a few years away from competing, the Warriors should finish as the third-best team in the Pacific Division behind only the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. If the Warriors can get everyone on the same page, they could grab one of the final seeds in the Western Conference.

Prediction: 3rd Place – Pacific Division

– Alex Kennedy


It will be exciting to see what a healthy Andrew Bogut brings to this team, especially if he’s playing with a healthy Steph Curry. Really, “health” is the operative word for this club, because with Curry, Bogut, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and rookie Harrison Barnes, there actually is a lot to like about this Warriors team. I don’t know that they’re necessarily playoff bound, but they’ll be close, and that’s a step up from having the seventh-worst record in the league last season.

Prediction: 3rd Place – Pacific Division

– Joel Brigham


Warriors head coach Mark Jackson entered last season guaranteeing the team would make the playoffs, but injuries and inconsistency derailed those lofty goals. Golden State is clearly entering training camp with the same mission in mind, but must bank on the health of point guard Stephen Curry and center Andrew Bogut, which is not what you can consider a certainty. If healthy, there is enough talent across the roster to compete with just about every team in the league with Klay Thompson and Carl Landry being two players who could emerge. Ultimately, the on-court product will be more polished in 2013 but the postseason will once again elude Golden State.

Prediction: 4th Place – Pacific Division

– Lang Greene


Top Of The List

Top Offensive Player: With the Warriors outside of true playoff contention most of last season, it’s easy to overlook the contribution forward David Lee made. Lee averaged 20.1 points per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. He was steady from the free throw line at 78.2 percent and also collected three offensive boards a night (9.6 overall). Since coming to the Warriors, Lee hasn’t had the opportunity to play alongside a true center. The Bogut/Lee tandem should be a powerful pairing this coming season.

Top Defensive Player: The Warriors have not been known as a defensive team for a long, long time. Coach Mark Jackson came in last year with the mantra of "defense" but the squad just didn’t have the personnel to execute that vision. Now with Bogut, a noted shot-blocker, in the middle protecting the paint, that should change. Still, the team’s best individual defender is Brandon Rush who would be the guy tasked to cover perimeter stars like Kobe Bryant.

Top Playmaker: When looking to acquire a big like Bogut, the Warriors had to choose between Ellis and Stephen Curry. Curry is both a potent shooter and capable playmaker. The difficulty last year was keeping him healthy but when his ankle is sound, Curry is clearly Golden State’s best passer.

Top Clutch Player: The Warriors want the ball in Curry’s hands with the game is on the line. Either he’ll make the right play or hit the big shot. Others like David Lee and Klay Thompson (the team’s rising star) have been known to make a big shot from time to time but Curry is the go-to player in the clutch.

Top Unheralded Player: The Warriors acquired Jarrett Jack for Dorell Wright, giving them one of the best reserve point guards in the game. Jack can capably start if Curry is out, back him up or play alongside him in a smaller backcourt. While both Jack and Curry (185 lbs.) are 6’3", Jack’s build at nearly 200 lbs. makes him less of a liability defensively against taller two-guards.

Best New Addition: Golden State selected 6’8" forward Harrison Barnes out of North Carolina with the seventh pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Barnes is a capable scorer who could prove to be a major get for the Warriors. Technically Bogut is a newcomer as well since he’s yet to play.

– Eric Pincus


Who We Like

1. Andrew Bogut: It’s easy to forget that before injuries (ankle, elbow, etc.), Bogut was one of the better centers in the league. He’s not necessarily a dominant scorer, but he can impact the game on both sides of the floor as a rebounder, shot-blocker and playmaker. Bogut changes the complexion of team, as long as he’s able to get and stay healthy.

2. Stephen Curry: Like Bogut, Curry is a high impact player who has had trouble staying on the floor. When he’s right, Curry is a potent force offensively with the deadly combination of speed, playmaking and the outside shot. On his career, Curry has averaged 5.8 assists per game while shooting 44.1 percent from three-point range and 90.1 percent from the line.

3. Klay Thompson: If there’s a list of players to watch this season with "Most Improved" in mind, Klay Thompson should be near the top. Thompson is a tremendous shooter/scorer who will only benefit further with the team’s improved depth. Expect the sophomore to have a tremendous year.

4. Depth: The Warriors have balanced depth, albeit imperfect, with Jarrett Jack, Charles Jenkins and Brandon Rush in the backcourt. If Harrison Barnes starts at the three, Golden State can bring Richard Jefferson, rookie Draymond Green and Rush in at small forward. Behind David Lee is veteran forward Carl Landry, who recently signed with the club. The team will need production from either Andris Biedrins or rookie Festus Ezeli behind Bogut. Biedrins has struggled in recent years but Ezeli may surprise as a defender/shot-blocker.

5. Offense: The Warriors have been a potent offensive team for the past few years, although last season’s injuries made the team far less productive. Golden State may be roughly 10-deep in scorers, although veteran Richard Jefferson isn’t quite as prolific as he was years ago in New Jersey. Suffice to say, the Warriors will be one of the top offensive teams in the league this season.

– Eric Pincus


Strengths

The Warriors are loaded this season offensively, which isn’t necessarily something new. The difference is better balance with true center Andrew Bogut adding a needed dimension to the roster. Golden State won’t suddenly become a lockdown, grind-it-out squad, but now they may have a chance to win a few games when scoring is at a premium. All that said, the Warriors greatest strength is firepower. Both Stephen Curry and Jarrett Jack are capable playmakers. Klay Thompson, Brandon Rush, Richard Jefferson and Curry can all shoot with range. David Lee, Carl Landry and Bogut can score in the post or off loose balls and offensive rebounds. Harrison Barnes can do a bit of everything and, even as a rookie, may prove to be an impact player in the starting lineup. The 100-point-per game line shouldn’t be a problem for Golden State, they may even be able to top the 105 mark.

– Eric Pincus


Weaknesses

Historically their biggest weakness, by far, has been defense, as in they didn’t play any. Now they have a fighting chance with Bogut, complemented by players like Rush, Lee, Ezeli, etc. Now the bigger concern is health. Curry had recurring ankle problems last year that seemed to mean a newly sprained ankle every few games. Bogut isn’t necessarily injury prone but he’s had two sizable setbacks in recent years with the broken ankle and a horrible elbow injury. The Warriors, on paper, look like a playoff team. They just need to keep their talent on the floor.

– Eric Pincus


What Needs To Be Said On Opening Day….

The theme for this year will be role definition. Our group has real potential if everyone plays to their strengths and accepts their role. For Andrew, that means anchoring us on the defensive end of the floor. Our shooters, Richard, Harrison and Klay, must focus on keeping the floor spread on offense. David has to set the tone on the glass and Brandon must be willing to step up and be our stopper on defense. If we put all the talents that you possess as individuals together in the right way – without anyone trying to do more than they are capable of – this team has a chance to be very good. But it will take discipline from each and every individual to play within themselves all season long.

– Anthony Macri and Brett Koremenos


The Burning Question

Can the Warriors stay healthy?

The Warriors are going to score in bunches. They may not have the best defensive squad in the league, but they may have the best defensive team they’ve had in years. The team has depth and is balanced with Thompson alongside Curry instead of a diminutive backcourt with Ellis. The competition atop of the Western Conference may be out of the Warriors’ range but they should be in contention for one of the bottom three playoff seeds.

Of course, that assumes that both Curry and Bogut play most of the year. A few games off here and there is manageable with almost any player, but the Warriors can’t afford to have those two in street clothes for any significant length of time.

– Eric Pincus

UA5OZAHKR3w

hope Japeth Aguilar makes it to the the NBA Dleague or NBA,imagine millions of diehard basketball and NBA filipino and southeast asian fans will be added to it's viewership..

How many times does a "reliever" in the US NCAA Basketball became successful in the NBA/D-League? Japeth Aguilar was just a bench-warmer when he played for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers in the Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States.

Gilas wary of Chinese Taipei's shooters
TOKYO – Smart Gilas Pilipinas has never lost a game to Chinese Taipei in the last three years, and the Nationals ache to keep their domination of the Taiwanese as they square off for a place in the medal plays of the fourth FIBA Asia Cup at the Ota Gymnasium here tomorrow.

Coach Chot Reyes and his troops have to get past Chinese Taipei in their 2 p.m. setto if they’re to duplicate or surpass the Philippines’ fourth-place finish in Beirut in 2010.Read more (http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=850589&publicationSubCategoryId=200&keyword)

Phl looms best bet to host FIBA Asia
TOKYO – The Philippines has emerged as having the best chance to host the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

Talks making the rounds on the eve of the FIBA Asia executive board meeting Wednesday were favorable for the Philippines which is bidding to host the biennial regional event for the first time in four decades.

For one, Iran, another serious bidder, has conceded the Philippines would earn the rights to host the Asian meet with the Tehran Times already reporting on Tuesday that the event will be held in Manila.Read more (http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=850484&publicationSubCategoryId=69&keyword)

Nice move, Hagop Khajirian!

Lebanon, not Philippines, to host FIBA Asia next year
InterAKTV (http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/lebanon-not-philippines-to-host-fiba-asia-next-year)

Lebanon, and not the Philippines, will host the FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship next year.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios disclosed the news to InterAKTV shortly after the FIBA Asia executive committee informed them that Lebanon was granted the hosting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier.

How many times does a "reliever" in the US NCAA Basketball became successful in the NBA/D-League? Japeth Aguilar was just a bench-warmer when he played for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers in the Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States.

I wish Japeth luck and hopefully gets into the NBA or the D-League. But he didn't even dominate in Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky is not even a big time b-ball university. I don't think he dominated the PBA too. I am just hoping that the coaches that have handled him have misused him. And not did not use his skill set.

Nice move, Hagop Khajirian!

Lebanon, not Philippines, to host FIBA Asia next year
InterAKTV (http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/lebanon-not-philippines-to-host-fiba-asia-next-year)

nakakabwisit ang gan itong balita :ohno:

huwag na muna sigurong magbid ang Pilipinas sa loob ng sampung taon para ma-realize din ng FIBA ang kanilang ginagawang pagtanggi sa Pilipinas bilang host ng Fiba-Asia Championship....1973 pa tayo last na naghost ng event na yan...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

Mamaya @ 1 pm - Philippines vs. Taiwan :cheers:

Goodluck Team Philippines!

Ano pala ang complete schedules ng laban, assuming na aabot sa finals ang pilipinas :D

Check out InterAKTV's website. :D

I wish Japeth luck and hopefully gets into the NBA or the D-League. But he didn't even dominate in Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky is not even a big time b-ball university. I don't think he dominated the PBA too. I am just hoping that the coaches that have handled him have misused him. And not did not use his skill set.

It will be a long and winding road for Japeth Aguilar in his NBA dream. :cheers:

Uy another try out. Very feasible that Aguilar may just make it in one of the NBA's D league teams. Good Luck AirJap! :okay: :okay: :cheers:

Report: Japeth Aguilar to work out with NBA Eastern Conference team
http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=850939&publicationSubCategoryId=200

MANILA, Philippines – As the NBA training camp nears, Japeth Aguilar’s chance of getting a shot at the NBA is increasing.

The 6-foot-9 former PBA top draft pick has been invited to a two-day workout by an Eastern Conference team this weekend, his US-based agent Chris McGarry told ABS-CBN News.

"We're very excited. This is very good for Japeth," McGarry told Joseph Pimentel of ABS-CBN News North America. "It means observations from tryouts and coaches, ranging from the Bakersfield Jam, ex-NBA trainers and staff, are satisfied with what they see in Japeth."

"Scouts like his athleticism, speed and what he brings on the court like hustle, rebound, blocks, [his] professional approach to the game, desire to learn and coachability," McGarry added.

Aguilar’s camp, however, did not disclose which Eastern Conference team has invited him this weekend. Last week, the former Talk n' Text player attended a similar workout hosted by NBA talent scouts, one of whom was reportedly from the San Antonio Spurs.

Aguilar is hoping to get a slot in one of the 28 NBA teams’ training camp rosters, which are allowed to jack up to 20 players maximum. The NBA training camp will open in October.

"We're not worried. It will take its own course," McGarry said. "He's mentally and physically prepared for the task at hand. He's in the best basketball shape of his life."

"He's upbeat and never been so excited in his life," McGarry said of Aguilar.

Actually AirJap kinda reminds me of the Chinese NBA player Yi Jianlian... kaso nga lang considered NBA flop si Yi Jianlian... Hehehe... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Comparison: Japeth "AirJap" Aguilar vs NBA Player Yi Jianlian
aj-xhQkrObs&feature=related

^^ Yi Jianlian averaged 12.0 ppg on his 2nd season with the Nets (3rd season in the NBA) because he was given more playing time where he started 51 out of 52 games played.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3214/yi-jianlian

^^ Yi Jianlian is a free agent if memory serves me right. Wonder if any team has picked him up already? No takers pa yata. After Yao Ming, came the much hyped Yi Jianlian who is considered a flop and now comes the much hyped Jeremy Lin. I for one am really looking forward to seeing how J.Lin will do with his new team the Houston Rockets.

Gilas continues mastery over Taipei to advance vs Iran
Manila, Philippines – Smart Gilas Pilipinas survived a big scare from Chinese Taipei, 75-68, Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the 2012 FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan.

Gilas continued its mastery over Chinese Taipei with an explosion in the fourth period and putting the cuffs on Taiwanese-American Douglas Creighton.

Creighton, who sizzled for 20 points in the first three quarters, was limited to just one free throw in the final period while the Filipinos found their groove from the outside.

Gilas, who has yet to loss to Chinese Taipei in the last three years, exploded early in the fourth period an 8-0 run to turn a slim 54-53 lead to a 61-53 spread. A Gary David three-pointer gave the Nationals their biggest lead at 14, 71-57, with 3:51 left.

The Taiwanese, however, refused to roll over and die as they unloaded a 9-0 run of their own capped off by Shih-Chieh Chen basket with less than two minutes remaining to come within five, 71-66.

Gilas steadied at the line and forced Chinese Taipei to miss and turn the ball over to grind out the victory that pushed them to a semifinal date with Iran, which blasted Uzbekistan, 79-37, earlier.

La Tenorio made two free throws for a 73-66 buffer before Jeff Chan scored on transition off a Chinese Taipei turnover to put the game beyond reach.

After getting ample rest in their final two preliminary assignments, Marcus Douthit came out fresh and paced the Nationals with 19 points and 18 boards. David, who was instrumental in Gilas’ fourth quarter run, finished with 14 points on four-of-nine three-point shooting.

In the other quartferinal pairings, Lebanon and Qatar are playing as of this posting while Japan and China will meet later today for the last semifinal ticket.

The semifinals will be played tomorrow starting at 1pm to be aired live on AKTV on IBC.Read more (http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=850952&publicationSubCategoryId=200)

Philippines vs Taiwan full stats here (http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/4142/06/07/93/42znGaFkc05M2/) :okay:

ugly win ng Pilipinas vs CT.

Philippines vs Taiwan full stats here (http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/4142/06/07/93/42znGaFkc05M2/) :okay:

Yes...:cheers: PH Gilas - strongest national team ever?

PH holds off Taipei, faces Iran in semis
By Mark Giongco
INQUIRER.net
3:11 pm | Thursday, September 20th, 2012


MANILA, Philippines – Gilas-Pilipinas II held off Chinese Taipei 75-68 Thursday to move on to the semifinals of the Fiba Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan.

It will only get tougher for the Nationals though, with powerhouse Iran next in line Friday in a much-anticipated semis clash.

The Philippines squandered a 14-point lead late after being held scoreless for more than three minutes.

Gary David nailed an open triple off a great ball movement that made it, 71-57, with 3:51 left.

The Nationals looked well on their way after that but it proved it was just calm before the storm as Taipei retaliated with a 9-0 run to pull to within five, 66-71, with still 1:52 left.

Marcus Douthit notched another double-double with 19 points and 18 rebounds to go along with four blocks while David added 14 points on four triples.

The Philippines’ sweet shooting turned sour but its defense held its ground led by newly-minted champion Gabe Norwood.

Norwood anchored a couple of defensive stops down the stretch with the last one resulting to a Jeffrei Chan layup that sealed the win.

http://sports.inquirer.net/63120/ph-holds-off-taipei-faces-iran-in-semis

^^We still need a 7 footer like JV McGee if we want to be in the World Championships :okay:

LIVE: 6:20 remaining in the 3rd quarter, Qatar up by 7 points against Lebanon 48-41 :okay:

1st EDIT: 55-54 end of 3rd quarter Qatar leads Lebanon by 4 points.

2nd EDIT: 6:44 of 4th quarter - Qatar leading Lebanon by 12 points, 68-56.

Could this be an upset by the 4th rank team of group B?

Hindi ko makita sa Interaktv yung mga match-up. Anong team na lang ba ang naglalaban laban sa semi-finals bukod sa Philippines vs Iran?

^^Qatar beats Lebanon, 79-72 :cheers:

^^Susunod ang Japan at China :D

nakakabwisit ang gan itong balita :ohno:

huwag na muna sigurong magbid ang Pilipinas sa loob ng sampung taon para ma-realize din ng FIBA ang kanilang ginagawang pagtanggi sa Pilipinas bilang host ng Fiba-Asia Championship....1973 pa tayo last na naghost ng event na yan...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

oo nga nakakaasar talaga,.. di bale talunin nalang natin sila sa lebanon basta walang luto

Hindi ko makita sa Interaktv yung mga match-up. Anong team na lang ba ang naglalaban laban sa semi-finals bukod sa Philippines vs Iran?

Qatar vs the winner of Japan vs China.

^^ Yi Jianlian is a free agent if memory serves me right. Wonder if any team has picked him up already? No takers pa yata. After Yao Ming, came the much hyped Yi Jianlian who is considered a flop and now comes the much hyped Jeremy Lin. I for one am really looking forward to seeing how J.Lin will do with his new team the Houston Rockets.

Yi Jianlian reiterates he wants to be in NBA, not Europe
Kurt Helin Aug 21, 2012, 9:16 AM EDT

There hasn’t been much of an NBA market for former No. 6 overall pick Yi Jianlian this summer.

After riding the Dallas bench last summer Yi had a strong Olympics leading China, well, until he strained his MCL in the final game. But he looked like a guy with the length, athleticism and shooting to last in the NBA.

And yet his phone hasn’t rung with NBA calls. It did ring with a call from Real Madrid recently, but Yi wanted $5 million that is now off the table. Yi is looking for an NBA job, someone close to him told NuiBball.com (a great site covering the Chinese Basketball Association).

Speaking to NetEase on Sunday, Lu Yu, a member of Yi’s representative team, said that although there has been communication with European teams, Europe is at this point a secondary option.

“For now, we’re not considering playing in Spain,” said Lu. “I can only say that Yi’s first choice is to return to the NBA.”

Europe may be Yi’s way back to the NBA, because of his play and injury history have NBA teams looking elsewhere. Usually an athletic 7’0” guy can get a roster spot in the NBA, even if it is riding the pine, but NBA teams are considering other prospects and moving on from Yi right now.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/21/yi-jianlian-reiterates-he-wants-to-be-in-nba-not-europe/

Qatar vs the winner of Japan vs China.

Thanks!

Hindi ko makita sa Interaktv yung mga match-up. Anong team na lang ba ang naglalaban laban sa semi-finals bukod sa Philippines vs Iran?

Japan vs qatar. Lebanon lost to the latter. Karma is definitely a b!tch:cheers:

ayus! wala ng china at lebanon sa SF! manalo sana tayo bukas against Iran, btw, di ba nag participate ang SoKor?

Nope, di kasali ang South Korea.

QAT/LIB - Qatar pull the rug from under Lebanon’s feet, enter semifinals
TOKYO, Japan (4th FIBA Asia Cup): The machine called Fadi El Khatib didn’t deliver according to expectations, and the factory called Lebanon stopped functioning properly. Qatar, masterminded by Tom Wisman off the court and marshaled by Trey Johnson on it, didn’t need a second invitation to capitalize on the opportunity and won the quarterfinal game 79-72 to take their place in the semifinals.

There are those rare moments when Fadi El Khatib has failed to return a match-winning performance. And unfortunately in this competition it came a day after the 33-year-old had convinced the FIBA Asia Executive Committee into choosing Lebanon as the host of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship. Read more (http://www.fibaasia.net/NewsDetails.aspx?id=2659)