NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

The NBA Title series ain’t what it used to be, by 10% to be exact. Ratings were down 10 percent according to an AP article in ESPN.

At first blush that seems kind of bad for a series featuring Phil Jackson going for his 10th coaching title and Kobe Bryant trying to prove he can be a one man band, but it has to be kept in the context of being compared to last year’s dream matchup of the Celtics and Lakers.

Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol did not have people turning on their TV's

Boston brought in Kevin Garnett and had a title starved large market in Boston. The Boston area has won in all other sports and they were ready for an NBA title. The Orlando market is a smaller area and Dwight Howard is less of a draw than the 3 amigos. That may change as Dwight improves, but it is fact for now.
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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

You snickered at him, didn’t you? You know, that time Kobe announced that he would like to win the NBA title without Shaq. You remember. Hey, did the same thing myself.

How many NBA players have announced they wanted to be the man and win the title without the help of another superstar? 4,203 to be exact. Kobe was one of them and you laughed.

This NBA title belongs to Kobe Bryant

Now Kobe has done it and done it in style. The Lakers are champions and it is because of Kobe Bryant and not Shaq or anyone else. Kobe has become the best two guard in the game and taken his team to the NBA Championship.

Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 15th NBA crown, defeating the Orlando Magic in five games courtesy of a 99-86 victory Sunday night. While this is Bryant’s fourth ring, it’s his first without O’Neal and as such the one that redefines his career and, indeed, ends the Shaq discussions.

It secures his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history and adds some measure of proof to the teammate testimonials that he isn’t the same me-first, often petulant player of his youth.

It wasn’t Kobe’s 32 points a game this series or Finals MVP honors that changed everything. It’s that he finally became the leader of a championship team, the center of a group that was built around him and the star who learned he couldn’t prosper until he stopped trying to do it alone.

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Long live the Kobe!

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Final Score: Lakers 99 Magic 86
The rest of this was written in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Kobe Bryant has been a complete player for a long time, but only now as he puts together a Laker Championship without the help of a big guy named Shaq, that Kobe’s complete game is being noticed. One of the best things he does is close out games. Kobe gives meaning to the saying ice water in the veins.

He passed the ball to Derek Fisher on both of his big threes the other night. That is right, he passed the ball. Most of the time we only think of Kobe shooting and scoring, but he does it all.

We are witnessing, before our own eyes now, the maturation of Kobe and possibly as soon as tonight the championship essence of Kobe.

He is the greatest closer of today’s game, finishing off foes with that legendary, step-on-your-neck killer instinct. But clearly Bryant has learned between those dynastic days of three straight titles and today that winning games all by himself is pretty futile. And maybe that’s why he started trusting his teammates more and at times serving as the game’s most glamorous decoy ever.
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Kobe does it all

It is midway through the fourth quarter and the Lakers have a huge lead in the game, the Magic will need a sizable miracle to get back into this game. Kobe is not going to allow that to happen and he may do it by passing!

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Why do you doubt this guy year after year, thinking he can’t coach his way out of a paper box unless he has a superstar box cutter on his team. That is the excuse you have used for years. Oh, Phil, he has that superstar player, that is why he wins.

The only problem with that argument is the other coach, the one coaching the team Phil is beating, also has a superstar player on his team and he is losing. Meanwhile, Phil just keeps on winning and it looks like the Lakers led by a superstar named Kobe Bryant, will win the NBA title for Phil.

Kobe Bryant believes in Phil Jackson

So can Phil coach? You bet he can.

When Orlando’s Dwight Howard missed his two free throws near the end of regulation, Jackson, his Lakers down by three points, chose to inbound the ball and have the Lakers go the length of the court. He figured that an inbounds pass at midcourt would likely have drawn an immediate foul.

Going all the way down the court, the Lakers were able to get the ball in to Bryant, then to Ariza and then to Fisher.

“I do think some of it the credit does belong outside of myself, to my teammates, to Phil,” Fisher said. “Just the way that he’s willing to stick with certain people that he believes can help get the job done. It’s not always about statistically what is this guy going to bring to the table.

“A lot of coaches won’t have that kind of faith, confidence, that kind of perseverance to figure he’ll be rewarded in the end. Phil doesn’t have to say anything to me. We’ve been together a long time, been through a lot of games. We understand.”

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

It is just that kind of day. The kind of Michigan day when you go outside and the cold rain beats down on your head and the sun is lost somewhere on the other side of the clouds. You know in the back of your mind that this is about as good as it gets and at least there is no snow. Yes, it is just that kind of day.

Someone at Florida International lost their minds and hired Isiah Thomas at the same time.

Isiah Thomas always brings the cherubic smile

How will Thomas be able to match the previous coach?

The Golden Panthers have lost 20 games in three of the last four years, and haven’t had a winning record since going 16-14 in the 1999-2000 season. FIU finished fifth in the six-team Sun Belt East Division this past season, and only averaged 693 fans for its home games — one of the lowest totals in Division I.

Thomas replaces Sergio Rouco, who was reassigned Monday after posting a losing record in each of his five seasons as coach.
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In Michigan, we still love Isiah Thomas, especially a whole lot better than this rainy cold weather. Isiah brought drive, determination, talent, and titles. We really liked the titles. He dominated as a small guy in a very tall guy’s game. Odd, because if he walked into the room, he would most likely be bigger than most average men. They listed him at 6′ 1″ and 190 pounds of rock hard muscle when he was playing.

Later, as a coach, the rocks turned out to be in his head. But Michigan is still behind Isiah and wishes him all the best. Come on, Isiah; show them boys that drive and determination that made you great as an NBA player.

Oh, and if you don’t? We will still love you. You brought titles. Geez, are we shallow.

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Tim Duncan, the Big Fundamental, goes to work on New Jersey

How do they do it?

They do it with defense.

The San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the Western Conference. They just extended their longest winning streak of the season with a 10th win in a row against the Vince Carter New Jersey Nets. They are one game better than the Kobe Lakers.

San Antonio 81 - New Jersey 70

That’s right, 70 stinking points.

“Think about this. They won the game shooting 33 percent,” New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. “That just shows you how good they are. Those guys are the gold standard. They make you grind it out.” source

Tim Duncan

As usual, it was Tim Duncan leading the way.

Tim Duncan had 29 points and 12 rebounds for his 37th double-double of the season, and the Spurs overcame their offensive struggles to beat the New Jersey Nets 81-70 on Tuesday night for their 10th straight victory.

Manu Ginobili added 12 points.

New Jersey

No more Jason Kidd in New Jersey, so now it is Vince Carter leading the way with 19 points. New point guard Devin Harris had 13 points.

One had to realize that before it was all said and done that San Antonio would be back in the saddle leading the way in the Western Conference.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will the Spurs be in the NBA Finals once again?

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

LeBron James All Star MVP - Time to get out of Dodge err Cleveland!

With David Stern happy to have NBA Marketing Icon LeBron James as the MVP of the 2008 All Star game, the world can move on.

If you had to lay odds, it had to be James as MVP.

The NBA is a marketing organization, not a sports organization. Right now the future of the NBA seems secure, with possible expansion out of the USA and many stars in the league, but it can change fast and David Stern knows that.

Don’t get me wrong, LeBron is so good he probably would win the MVP of the All Star game anyway, almost every year.

It wouldn’t be long until these pulsating final minutes of this fabulous All-Star Game ultimately belonged to the genius of its Most Valuable Player with 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. It wouldn’t be long until commissioner David Stern passed him his second trophy at 23 years old, and the world would see who the star of stars was again at New Orleans Arena.

“LeBron is a freight train when he goes to that basket,” West coach Byron Scott sighed. “He’s so big, and so strong – so quick and so powerful. It’s hard to stop him when he gets the momentum going like that.” source

Now it is time to plan for LeBron to leave Cleveland.

The Cavaliers will have a hard time putting together consistent teams in Cleveland.

Over the summer, LeBron, Bryant and Jason Kidd were grumbling teammates with Team USA. Bryant wanted out of Los Angeles. Kidd wanted a trade to Cleveland. And James just wanted someone to share the burden with him. Well, the two point guards whom Cleveland GM Danny Ferry had tried to obtain for two years – Kidd and Mike Bibby – are on the way to Dallas and Atlanta.

The NBA needs to keep LeBron on the highest stage possible. That stage would be Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Tim Duncan says “You have to stop me to get to the finals

The Lakers picked up Pau Gasol, so they would not lose any momentum when Andrew Bynum was injured. When Bynum comes back, you have a front court of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom to go with Kobe Bryant. Arguably a powerful lineup.

The Phoenix Suns dealt the Matrix for Shaquille O’Neal. The Suns needed a center to get past the Spurs and because the Gasol deal had moved the Lakers ahead of them. If Shaq can turn it on one more time for the speedy Suns with Amare Stoudemire moving to power forward and Steve Nash wanting to win a ring before he retires, then the deal will look brilliant.

Even the San Francisco Warriors picked up Chris Weber, because they have playoff potential and are seeking any edge they can find.

So the Spurs looked around and decided to take…no one.

Yeah, that is right. No one.

“I never feel pressure to make a deal,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We talk to everybody, just like the other 29 teams. If something makes sense, we’ll do it. But making deals because you feel pressure is a recipe for failure.” source

Now the San Antonio Spurs did sign Damon Stoudamire to fill in for the injured Tony Parker, but that is it.

Their record does not look quite as sparkling as usual due to various injuries, but come playoff time you still have to knock off the Big Fundamental if you want to win the West.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Are the Spurs still the team to beat?

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Shaq vies for another ring

The story will be written from here on out. The Shaq trade has implications for both conferences. The fallout can be seen everywhere. Can it be coincidence that the yesterday’s trade news for Pau Gasol to Kobe’s Lakers lost to the Hawks? You may have to read that twice. Shaq brings his presence and salary cap to Phoenix and new GM Steve Kerr. If Shaq is a bust then Kerr will again be a brilliant TV announcer. Kerr had a valid concern. The center-less Suns would never get out of the West.

The Suns have the best record in the West (34-14) but have not played up to their own expectations. Their interior defense is among the NBA’s worst. Kerr apparently felt that without a large presence inside, Phoenix could not combat the big men, such as Andrew Bynum and Tim Duncan, in the playoffs. source

If Shaq wants another ring, then Steve Nash can finish his career with a smile on his face.

Miami Heat

Meanwhile in Miami, the Heat can Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Rasheed Wallace calls for low post offense

In the pre Super Bowl marquee NBA matchup, the Detroit Pistons showed why defense wins championships.

Holding the powerful offense of the Dallas Mavericks to 29 points in the second half, the Detroit Pistons easily won the afternoon game.

Detroit had lost in Dallas in January in a typical Maverick racehorse affair. They were determined not to play that way this time.

A special focus was put on stopping the high scoring Dirk Nowitzki and it paid off with Dirk missing shot after shot in the second half.

The Mavericks, who were without starting point guard Devin Harris and sixth man Jerry Stackhouse, also shot a season-low 30.3% and made a season-low 23 shots.

The key was a relentless defense that involved more switching than usual on pick-and-rolls and a physical an aggressive approach to handling reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki. source

Coach Flip Saunders, who is better known for offense, has always been a strong believer in defense.

“When we are playing our best, that’s how we play,” said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who called Sunday’s defense the best he has seen on Nowitzki in his time with the Pistons. “We play physical, we get after it, we make teams react to what we do, and we don’t stay back. We become more proactive.”

Rasheed Wallace speaks

The center for the Detroit Pistons, Rasheed Wallace, had a ready quote before the game. Read more