Is NBA Trophy Coming Back to Cali?

Warriors win Game 5 outright take 3-2 Lead…Cavs DEPLETED!

The Golden State Warriors may be labeled the “Young Spurs” of the league after winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals 104-91 against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena in front of their home crowd!  The Warriors were the team with consistent energy all game along as the Cavaliers played a valiant game for three plus quarters to keep it interesting, but were completely depleted midway in the fourth quarter.

League MVP, Stephen Curry saved his best game for this pivotal Game 5 scoring 17 of his team high 37 points in the fourth quarter.  Curry was aggressive for forty eight minutes sensing his counterpart, Cavaliers point guard, Matthew Dellavedova is just out of gas with the number of minutes played in the series to this point.  Dellavedova could only contribute 5 points on offense.   Playing at home made it easier for Curry to get help from his teammates too. Four players scored in double figures while Warriors’ Finals MVP to date, Andre Iguodala starting only his second game the entire season played big again scored 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and gave out seven dimes plus 2 steals and playing tough defense on the best player in the world, LeBron James who scored his second triple double of this NBA Finals and his sixth in his NBA Finals career.  James finished the game with 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists!

LeBron James and his supporting cast played the Warriors tough for 3 ½ quarters, but the short rotation and high minutes for the Cavaliers starters took its toll midway through the fourth quarter when the Warriors scored back to back three pointers by the Splash Brothers, Curry and Thompson!  There were mental lapses by the Cavs particularly the King.  With less than 30 seconds remaining before halftime, James bringing the ball into the front court was called for an eight second call, and then he picked up a foul after Harrison Barnes slams a follow up miss by Curry with 3.2 seconds left before the half.  Cavaliers went down double digits at halftime.

At the 6:47 mark in the fourth quarter, the back to back three pointers by the Warriors put them ahead 85-80 and the Warriors never looked back.  They were able to stretch the lead and keep the momentum to control the game and take control of the series.

The Warriors can close the series out on the road in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday, June 16th at 6pm (EST).  If the Warriors are successful in Cleveland on Tuesday, then the Larry O’Brien Trophy comes back to CALI!

Cavaliers Fatigue Lose Game 4 of NBA Finals

The Golden State Warriors had not lost three straight games all season nor in the post season.  Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio would not change the pattern either as the Warriors regained home court advantage with the largest point margin victory of the series winning 103-82 to tie the series at 2-2.

Unlike the three previous games the Warriors did not have to play from behind to get the victory.  Although the Cavaliers opened the game on a 7-0 run, Warriors Head Coach, Steve Kerr called a time out to squash the run and to draw up a play for the MVP, Stephen Curry to get going early.  Out of the time out, Curry delivered from downtown cutting the seven point lead to four.  By the four minute mark in the first quarter, the Warriors had gained the lead at 22-20 and never relinquished the lead for the game.

Warriors Head Coach, Steve Kerr made another game adjustment by starting small forward, Andre Iguodala instead of center, Andrew Bogut.  The “small ball” lineup caused the Cavaliers some matchup problems plus the pace of the game exposed the fatigue settling in on the Cleveland Cavaliers players including the King, LeBron James.  At the half, the Warriors had gained control of the game and led 54-42.

MVP, Stephen Curry played aggressive from the start of the game and never let up forcing the Cavaliers to use multiple players guarding him because Matthew Dellavedova was exhausted due to the increased playing time minutes.  On this night, Curry hit for 22 points and got help from teammates, Andre Iguodala’s 22 points , Draymond Green busted out of his drought with 17 points, and Harrison Barnes connected for 14.  The Warriors deep bench gave them a big boost too.  Shawn Livingston and David Lee were very instrumental in the team’s victory combining to play about 40 minutes and contributing 16 points and 7 assists.

LeBron James gave the Cleveland Cavaliers fans a scare when he plunged into a cameraman while making a play at the 4:43 mark of the second quarter.  James would receive stitches to cover the gash on his head after the game.  James scored 20 points on 7 of 22 from the field.  James also has 12 rebounds and eight assists mostly to Cavs center, Timofey Mozgov who finished with a double-double game high 28 points and 10 boards.

With the series tied at 2-2, Game 5 will be played at Oakland’s Oracle Arena on Sunday, June 14th at 8:00 p.m. (EST) it’s down to a best of two games with three remaining before the NBA Commissioner gives the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the new NBA Championship Team!

The WNBA season is in the second week of the season which started June 5th.

The Mirror

Have you ever asked yourself, “Who invented the mirror?”  I found myself asking the same question for many reasons to find comfort in my own life.  The definition of the word “mirror” as a noun is a reflective surface, now typically of glass coated with a metal of amalgam that reflects a clear image.  As a verb it means show a reflection of…  A mirror is something that gives a true representation.

A German Chemist named Justus von Liebig is given credit for inventing the mirror over 200 years ago, but other forms may have existed as many as 8000 years ago!  Nature’s quiet pool of water is probably the first producer of a mirror created by God.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? 

Do you see a person a face you are proud to be? 

Do you see a person a face who needs to be a better person?

Do you see a person a face of LOVE, PEACE and UNITY?

Do you see a person a face who is filled with anger, hate and separation?

The world’s greatest entertainer wrote a song about the Man in the Mirror.  I was one of millions, no one of billions that wanted to be present at the greatest entertainer’s “Homegoing Celebration” in June 2009.  I was there, not only was I there, but I rode with family members to the Homegoing Celebration at Staples Center, then rode with members of the family to the repass at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  Wow, every big name in Hollywood and many important people of the WORLD were in attendance at the Homegoing Celebration of the greatest entertainer of the world who wrote, Man in the Mirror.

Just food for thought…

What does the police officer who acts out of proper conduct see when he or she looks in the mirror?

PLEASE STOP POLICE BRUTALITY!

LeBron James 2 Games Away From Leading Cavaliers to First NBA Championship!

Game 3 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio was another historic night for the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Ohio native, LeBron James as they handled the Golden State Warriors 96-91 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.  The back to back wins for the Cavaliers are the first two NBA Finals victories for the franchise since joining the NBA League in 1970.

At the post-game conference after Game 2 in Oakland, LeBron James called out the Cavaliers fans to bring their outdoor loudest voices and cheers for Game 3.  Well, not only did the Cavaliers fans bring the woofers, but LeBron was honored with the presence of Cleveland Brown Legend, Jim Brown at courtside!

Like all the great players, LeBron James showed up and showed out!  The King led his team with another staggering stat line of 40 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists!  Wow, only two assists away from his sixth triple double in the NBA Finals.  James had excellent support from Tristen Thompson contributing a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds while Matthew Dellavedova continues to shine in his role as the starting point guard replacing All-Star, Kyrie Irving.  Dellavedova gave the Warriors 20 points while still making it tough for the MVP, Stephen Curry to get a steady rhythm for the Warriors.

It seemed as Warrior Head Coach, Steve Kerr made the first major adjustment in the series by playing former All-Star, David Lee.  Lee definitely gave the Warriors another skilled big man on the floor, but with a struggling Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and splash brother, Klay Thompson shooting a disastrous 7-28 made it tough for the Warriors to gain momentum to push for a victory.

The Warriors were down by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but managed to get Curry loose for a few good looks in the fourth quarter to make the game close.  Curry finished the game with a team high 27 points,  but as I wrote earlier in this story, LeBron James showed up and YES, showed out!  LeBron took every big shot and made the right pass to a teammate to secure the Cleveland Cavaliers second victory in NBA Finals history!

Game 4 will be played at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 p.m. (EST).

Cavaliers Steal Home Court Tie Series at 1-1; James records fifth triple double!

I love God!  I’m glad I’m a child of God.  I’m thankful to my parents for my upbringing.  I’m thankful for my siblings.  I’m thankful God made me a parent to experience true unconditional love!

I’m glad my parents instilled God in our family very strongly and made going to church every Sunday a “MUST”.  I remember several Sundays when I would beg my mother to hurry after church, so we could hurry home in order for me to watch the NBA. 

One game that will always stand out is the 1980 Lakers vs 76ers Finals game 6.  Earvin “Magic” Johnson would play center for the Kareemless Lakers, center who had injured himself in the previous game.  I remember telling my mother, God really wants me to get home quick to watch the game, but my mother would say, “God will make a way for you to see the game after you worship Him!”

Well, I’m glad God made the NBA Finals a primetime event so the game is shown at a later time than in the 1980’s!

Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers made a statement with a defensive driven victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.  For the second consecutive game, the victory was decided in overtime with the LeBron James led Cavalier team winning 95-93 to tie the 4 of 7 game series at one game each.  James finished the game with his fifth triple double of his NBA Finals career with a staggering line of 39 points 16 rebounds and 11 assists while playing 50 of 53 minutes!  James was quick to tag his teammates for the victory especially guard, Matthew Dellavedova.  Dellavedova, Australian born attended college at St. Mary’s, but was not drafted.  He made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013 and with his hard nose, play hard every second on the court mentality has enabled him to find a home as the backup point guard to Kyrie Irving.  Dellavedova was a gnat on defense against MVP, Stephen Curry containing Curry for 19 points on a miserable 2-15 from beyond the arc.  Splash brother, Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 34 points.

The series shifts to the east coast for a 9pm (EST) start from Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday, June 9.  James has called out the Cleveland Cavalier’s fans to come out unbearably loud for game 3 to help motivate the team to another victory in hopes of taking a lead in the series while maintaining home court advantage which they stole from the Warriors in game 2.

Thank God for James Naismith, who created such a wonderful game with the peach baskets which evolved into one of the best games in the world with the greatest athletes!

Footnote: For the remaining of the Finals playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers will play without All-Star guard, Kyrie Irving who had successful surgery to repair a fractured knee cap.