The NBA will continue to market itself overseas this fall by playing multiple games in Europe. The NBA schedule will include two regular season NBA games. The Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves inside London’s 02 Arena on October 4th. There has been a rise in interest in the NBA in recent years in the UK due to England’s improved international team. After English NBA fans get to take in Kobe Bryant in person, the Lakers will travel to Spain to play Regal Barcelona. The Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets will play two games as well in London, while the Nets travel to China to play Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets. The New York Knicks are schedule to play in Milan against an Italian league team before traveling to Paris to play the Timberwolves. The NBA appears to be committed to growing the games exposure in Europe with the 2012 Olympic Games in London drawing near.

The Los Angeles Lakers had their doubters throughout the 2010 NBA Finals, but Kobe Bryant and company proved their critics wrong on Thursday night to claim the franchise’s 17th championship title. Many thought that after the Boston took a 3-2 lead heading back to Los Angeles that the Celtics were destined for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but gritty play from numerous Lakers made the difference. Bryant had an awful night from the field (making just 6 out of 24 shots), but brought down an impressive 15 rebounds. Although Kobe took home the NBA Finals MVP Award, it was his teammates that made LA’s championship possible. First-time NBA champion Ron Artest rose to the occasion with his trademark lock down defense on Paul Pierce, scoring 20 points, notching 5 steals, and hitting a absolutely crucial three pointer with one minute left in the game. Pau Gasol got the best of Boston’s Kevin Garnett in the end with a dominated performance down low. The Spaniard scored 19 points with 18 rebounds in 42 minutes on the court. It was truly a team victory for the LA Lakers last night. Hats off to Hollywood.

Although Phoenix were written off by many pundits after going 2-0 to the defending NBA champion Lakers, the Suns willed two victories at home to tie the series up with the Los Angeles. Amare Stoudemire and Robin Lopez gave the Suns a much needed intensity down low in Game 3, but it was Phoenix’s bench that was the star of the show in game 4. Channing Frye and Leandro Barbosa both poured in 14, while Steve Nash-protegee Goran Dragic ran the offense to perfection for a huge chunk of the fourth quarter. Suns head coach stayed with his bench until the final few minutes of the game, before putting in his well-rested starters to pull out the game. When the Suns and Lakers tip off at Staples Center tonight we shall see if Phoenix can play like they did at the US Airways Center. Kobe Bryant has played well in all four games of the series, but the superstar cannot do it all on his own. The Lakers will need Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, and Pau Gasol to play better than they did in Phoenix if they want to take the series lead.

If Boston and Los Angeles can keep up their  2-0 leads in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, the sale of 2010 NBA Finals tickets will be huge. Kobe and the Lakers will have a chance to get vengeance for their 2008 NBA Finals loss at the hands of the Celtics. A healthy Kevin Garnett has made all the difference for the ageless Celtics. After shocking Lebron James’ Cavaliers, Boston won the first two games of their series with the Magic in Orlando. The Celts will be looking to complete the sweep of Magic at Garden in Boston. Kobe’s looked dialed in thus far in LA’s series with the Suns. In game 1, the Suns got blown out 128-107 at The Staples Center thanks to Kobe’s 40 points. Phoenix put in a better effort in Game 2, but their old problem of inability to defend the hoop down low gave LA the win. If the Lakers-Celtics prevail we will have plenty to think about. Can Kobe get revenge? Do the three amigos of Garnett, Allen, and Pierce still have it in them? I don’t have any answers for you, but what I do know is that I’ll be watching.

The Boston Celtics scored a massive victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Tuesday night to win the fourth game of the seven game final NBA series and thereby lift the NBA championship title after a gap of 22 years. The landslide victory margin of 131-92 of the Celtics was achieved by excellent basketball skills showcased by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Paul Pierce the inform player for the Celtics in this NBA final series was rightly adjudged as the Most Valuable Player of the final series with an average of 6.3 assists and 21.8 points in the entire series. There is no doubt that the Celtic fans will be rushing to purchase tickets for the next season once the ticket counters open. 

The All Star player of Boston Celtics Paul Pierce’s excellent NBA finals form continued in Game 5 as well, as he scored 38 points in the game and took the Celtics to the brink of victory and the championship. The Los Angeles Lakers held on to a slender margin 103-98 win over the Celtics and the see saw battle between the two arch rivals thrilled the Lakers fans to the last minute. There is no doubt that tickets will be completely sold out for Game 6 at Boston. Pierce admitted that coming back from 16 or 17 points deficit in a crucial basketball game is always tricky and will not be successful every time.   

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant showcased some magnificent basketball skills as he scored 36 points in the Game 3 of the NBA finals against the Boston Celtics to keep the NBA finals alive with a scoreline of 2-1 in favor of the Celtics. Kobe Bryant’s cool thinking head in a pressure cooker-like situation helped the Lakers beat the Celtics by 87-81 last Tuesday night. The in form player for the Celtics in the NBA finals so far, Paul Pierce, could not perform to his full potential in this game. This win by Lakers has prompted more fans to purchase tickets for the remaining four games of this final series. 

The Boston Celtics got the better off their arch rivals Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals Game 1 last Thursday night at Boston by virtue of a tremendous comeback by Paul Pierce after treating an injured knee that he sustained during the game. The final result showed 98-88 in favor of Celtics and LA Lakers will have to buck up their game in a bid to take home the second game. Kevin Garnett top scored with 24 points, but it was Pierce’s determination in spite of suffering the pains of a damaged knee that stole the limelight on Thursday. The keenly fought Game 1 will surely increase the sale of tickets in the remaining clashes between the two basketball giants.