NBA Superpowers: Preview Game 4 2011 Finals

Tonight's game Fits Tha Theme Of Tha Movie "I am #Number 4". Will the Mavs be playing catch-up all game chasing tha younger more illusive Stars of Miami to never prevail in the end, or will they poll their collective Super Powers once again to pull off a Scenario Altering Victory Over The Heat? The Seemingly Invincible Athleticism Of Miami's Fleet Footed, Building Bounding Super 3, Has Thusfar Proven To Be Enough To Counteract The Collective Mental Fortitude & Savvy Of The Precision Driven Machine Which Iz "Dallas". Will It Be The Dallas Gunslingers From The Wild West, Lead By "JASON THA KIDD"~"JET TERRY"&"DIRKALLAS THA MAVERICK K-NOWITZKI" or Will It Be The Perfect Storm From The East, Lead By "CHRISURRICANE BOSH"~"THUNDER KING JAMES"&"THA FLASH D-3" To Claim Victory In Game 4, And In Essence, Ownership Of Tha Power That Has Been Invested In This Series' Momentum Up To This Point. Whichever Team Is Able To Obtain, Harness, and Influence Tha Power Of Momentum For Tha Longest Periods Of Time Will Take Tha Next Leap Towards Championing Their Cause!

Love, Peace, & Hoops,
--JEDI

3 Things I've Learned From the NBA Playoffs

The 2011 NBA playoffs are in full swing and right now I've been eating, breathing, and sleeping basketball. I've watched playoffs in the past, but not as intensely as I have this season.  I've been so focused on watching games that I haven't even thought about updating this blog to share some of my thoughts about all that's been going on.

So, it's only been one week into playoffs, and already there have been enough twists, turns, and surprises that have kept us on the edge of our seats.  Here are 3 lessons I've learned so far this playoff season:

Basketball Is 90% Mental and 10% Physical

When asked about their recent losses, Doc Rivers of the Celtics said:

"...it bothers me that we're not mentally tougher..."

If you follow the Celtics like I do, you'll know that they've lost 3 out of the last 4 games (Clippers, Sixers, and Nets). These are games you would think that the #1 seeded team in the East could win quite easily.

One could chalk it up to injuries, fatigue, back-to-back games, new players, or whatever other reason that's been talked about on the Celtics blogs and forums, which I read on a daily basis. However, Doc hit it right on the nose when he said that his team is just not mentally tougher. The mental toughness and thoughts of players set the tone for how they play in the game.

Just a Little Rant: Men Crying in Sports

So, it's been a whirlwind few weeks since the trade deadline and NBA All-Star weekend. If you're a basketball fan like me, you probably already know about all the drama. I don't remember the last time so many trades happened all at once. Then there's all the talk about the Miami Heat. It's been an ongoing DRAMA this past week.

It began with Erik Spoelstra's statement after a loss to the Chicago Bulls telling the media that there were guys crying in the locker room...

Finally, Official Word: Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks

Finally! With the trade deadline looming, NBA basketball fans finally got the official word last night: Carmelo Anthony is going to join the New York Knicks.

But he's not the only one. The Nuggets will also send Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and Renaldo Balkman to New York.

The Denver Nuggets now have from New York: Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler, New York's 2014 first-round draft pick, Golden State's 2012 second-round pick, and 2013 second-round pick plus $3 million in cash.

Here's a clip of the press conference with Amar'e Stoudemire...

Can the Lakers "Turn It On"?

Besides wondering whether or not Carmelo Anthony will go to the Nets or Knicks, one question that has been lurking around is: What's going on with the Lakers?

The consensus among many basketball fans, myself included, is that the Lakers are just plain bored. After winning two titles in a row, it's only natural that they would get complacent. They're just waiting for the playoffs to come so they can just "turn it on".

But can you just "turn it on"...or is it better to create winning momentum to take you into the playoffs?

2011 NBA Dunk Contest: Blake Griffin Proves He Can Fly

Almost every year there is a rookie who comes into the NBA and causes buzz. This year that rookie is Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Early on in the season, every time I logged onto NBA.com, there was a video or article about a magnificent dunk Blake Griffin did. After a week or two of seeing these articles, I finally was able to catch a Clippers game on TV. I then believed the hype. Yes, Blake Griffin can dunk - and he's good.

In fact, Griffin is so good that he's revived the Clippers franchise. Basketball fans are tuning in to see this guy in action. According this article on Forbes, Clippers ratings are up 80% compared to last year while the Clippers' official website has experienced a 60% increase in page views.