The

US basketball team continued its march for the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics by defeating

Greece 92-69 in their quarterfinal match. The team looks set shrug off the embarrassment that it suffered at the last Olympics and at the World Championships. It looks in formidable form with the likes of Chris Bosh and Kobe Bryant coming into form at the right time.

Kobe added 18 points courtesy of his 7-for-14 performance from the field. Bosh also added 18 points along with LeBron James 13. It was

Greece who had stunned the

US in the semis of the World Championships and this victory certainly helped to cure some wound.

Team U.S.A defeated

Australia 87-76 in the final exhibition game leading up to the Beijing Olympics. It was lackluster performance by the team being considered favorites. After looking unbeatable in the previous two games, the team had a tough time against the pesky Australian Team showing horrible shooting from 3-point line and free throws. However, the team’s suffocating defense in the 2^rd Quarter helped them escape embarrassment against a weak Aussie team that had rested its superstar Andrew Bogut. The team was caught napping in the 3^rd quarter allowing easy shots and layups. National team coach Mike Krzyzewski said that the team has to be at its best to have any chance of getting gold this year.

New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has a sore lower back and is listed as doubtful for the remainder of the Las Vegas summer league. He was out of New York’s game against San Antonio on Wednesday. After conducting an MRI, no significant findings were revealed. He will thus rest and get treatment for the rest of the week in Las Vegas before returning to Italy. Gallinari was hurt during the Knicks’ opener, a 97-94 victory over Cleveland on Monday. The tickets for the Knicks still continue to go fast.

Sharpshooter Daniel Gibson has been reported to have been signed by the Cavaliers for a five year term. The financial details are undisclosed as yet, and it might be a while before they are released. Gibson, who plays as guard, had a great last season with a career high 43% shooting record. He missed 18 games due to an ankle injury at Indiana. He will add some spark to the Cavaliers and so fans will be buying their tickets already for all their games.

The Los Angeles Clippers have signed free agent Baron Davis to a multi-year contract.  The terms of the deal have yet to be announced, as the signing reportedly took place today.  Davis has been with the Golden State Warriors for the past 3 seasons, as he was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets.  Davis is entering his 10th NBA season and brings him solid career numbers.  Last season with the Warriors, Baron Davis averaged 21.8 points per game, 7.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.33 steals and all this came while he did not miss a game with Golden State.  This has Clippers fans ecstatic as they have not had a player of this star caliber ever, and will give the Los Angeles area another player to root for in addition to the Lakers Kobe Bryant.

Its about that ti,e again!  The NBA Finals are underway and its going to be the ultimate classic showdown.  The Boston Celtics vs the Loas Angeles Lakers for a best of 7 series.  Can anyone stop Kobe?  Are the trio of Paul Pierce, KG, and Ray Allen stoppable?  We will have to find out.  I just scored my Lakers Tickets from Vivid Seats and got a great deal!  Its going to be non stop action and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

The Los Angeles Lakers could not press forward their advantage of leading 2-0 in the Western Conference finals and had to succumb to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 with a 103-84 loss that now puts the Western Conference finals score sheet at 2-1 in favor of the Lakers. Lakers  has said that he was totally responsible for the poor showing of his team in the Sunday’s game and admitted that his poor basketball skills resulted in the Spurs winning the game. He regretted for not making most of the free throws and said that he will be heading for practice straight in order to improve his over all game.

Larry Brown and Michael Jordan, the former players of North Carolina, who were desperately in need of a boost to their careers, have teamed up together.  Larry Brown has signed a four-year contract with Charlotte Bobcats as their coach. This will be Brown’s ninth job as NBA coach. Michael Jordan was in need of an experienced teacher to save him from his falling reputation as the NBA executive.

 

 

 Brown is happy with his new post and said that he cannot deny the request of Michael as they know each other for a long time. Larry Brown is 67 year old and will replace Sam Vincent. This is the fourth year of Bobcats in NBA and the mere presence of Larry will increase the credibility of the team. He is a coach with 1000 wins to his credit and Michael Jordan doesn’t want to put too much stress on his friend as he knows that Brown will make the team better.

 

You scratch my back, I scratch yours. This statement best describes the scenario that is the new partnership between Larry Brown and Michael Jordan, both whom are former North Carolina basketball players. Jordan has asked the 67 year old Brown if he is able to take up his ninth NBA coaching stint as head coach for the Charlotte Bobcats, and Brown needed little persuasion to agree. For that he was rewarded a four-year contract. Jordan is relieved as he now has the veteran Brown on his side to revive his sagging career as NBA executive while Brown now has the chance to increase his reputation as Hall of Fame coach. Ironically Brown is now back to where he first started his long standing teaching career.

Brown was hired to replace Sam Vincent who was brought in by Jordan himself even though he has had no prior NBA coaching experience. Vincent was let off last Saturday for failing to do his job well.

It was a tragic case of the giant stomping on the ant when the almighty Orlando Magic dragged the Toronto Raptors into submission with a 114-100 score during last Sunday’s NBA playoffs.

Things went from bad to worse for the helpless Raptors, culminating in a shameful defeat against the Orlando Magic. It must be said that their star players did not stand out like they should on the court. Most notably under-performing player was Rasho Nesterovic, who was the Raptors’ centre. He admitted that they were not ready for the onslaught dished out by Magic. Additionally, Sam Mitchell who was the Raptors’ coach, might have made the biggest mistake this season by rolling out a dusty starting lineup that was hardly used since last season. Andrea Bargnani was placed at small forward, but the Italian player only managed to score a measly five points in the game.

Things started looking up when the Raptors trailed only five points behind the Orlando Magic with ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but the opposing team scored ten consecutive points, finally crushing the Raptors’ spirit and determination.