Heat vs Thunder - 2012 NBA Finals: A 'Ballers' Battle

   

Who's Down to Ball?

 

This year's NBA 'b-ball' finals, between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, is all ball-n-swagg, baby! Finally the game 'b-ball' fans have been longing to see, a battle of young NBA greats and future champions will feature, arguably, the game's best two talents: 

  Lebron James and Kevin Durant!

While some odds and prediction makers seem eager to give Miami the nod in a seven game series, it might be a mistake to count OKC, the underdogs, out so soon and so easily. 

The Big3 in Miami -- King James, D. Wade and Bosh 
-- may be too hot to handle for the Boston Celtics, but getting into the paint won't be an acceptable proposition for the lengthy-likes of Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and a defiant Kendrick Perkins.

If OKC can keep, either, King James or D. Wade out of the box, forcing them to take perimeter shots, Oklahoma will likely earn their first NBA title. 

Considering Chris Bosh is just getting back to business, helping Miami advance to the finals with a solid performance against Boston in game seven, it's too soon to expect CB to remain healthy, as the series against the Thunder becomes more turbulent and physically challenging. 

The Thunder are a tight crew of young, hungry, athletic, fast, and way-too-talented bunch to be intimidated by Miami's brand of heat-game. No doubt, Batman and Robin (James and Wade) and the rest of the Heat can put-it-down with great athleticism and skill, too, but the bulk of Miami's "heat" is generated by these two heroic stars.

If just one of them, Bosh, James or Wade, isn't on-point throughout a series of fast-breaks served-up by OKC's thunder & lightening speed, the Heat's dynamic duo, along with their starting center, may just have to settle for champions of NBA-swagg-fashion.

And  the 'X' factor  no one seems to notice, except Oklahoma's coaching staff; the veteran leadership, experience, game I.Q., and poise of 5-Time NBA champ, Derek Fisher (aka: D-Fish), who is just as
determined to help his team earn [the] bling...and sport another NBA Championship ring on his 6th finger. 

Blame it on Kupchak, Kobe! 

Had it not been for Fisher's, "as usual", clutch play and court leadership, during an entire 4th quarter of game seven against the Spurs, the inexperienced Thunder were looking to self-destruct and possibly see another opportunity to be known as Kings of The Court, slip through their fingers.

Against a Miami offense fully heated and healthy, mental toughness and focus, fueled by a will-to-win and 'gotta-get-mine' attitude, must be OKC's most potent invisible weapon against  the 'zone' factor, or rhythm & flow of [the] D. Wade-King James connection.

Perhaps their "connection" will be disco'd by OKC's "quiet storm", represented by two young bolts of lightening:

Russell Westbrook and James Harden 

Hands down, Miami gets Ballerswagg's nod for Team with Most Swagg, but OKC...them boys look like they want it more, and could care less about swagg; they want that title. But to get it, they will have to take it from King James and Prince Wade -- who probably assume they deserve it more. Square Biz, Ballerswagg will be in the buildin'!

TicketFeeder - Basketball Tickets

  
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2K12 MIAMI HEAT

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS

2K12 NBA FINALS GAME SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN):


G1: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Tues., June 12, 9p)

G2: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Thrs., June 14, 9p)

G3: Oklahoma City @ Miami (Sun., June 17, 8p)

G4: Oklahoma City @ Miami (Tues, June 19, 9p)

G5: Oklahoma City @ Miami (Thrs., June 21, 9p)

G6: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Sun., June 24, 9p)

G7: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Tues., June 26, 9p)

2K12 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS

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Angelino's and Lakers say sad "so long" to Derek Fisher

 5 Time NBA Champion, point guard - Derek Fisher [aka:  'D-Fish']

It came as somewhat of a surprise to Laker fans when Los Angeles Laker point guard - Derek Fisher signed with the Golden State Warriors, after a long run and 'three-peat' championships with the Lakers. 

When he was traded to the Utah Jazz he helped lead them to the NBA - Western Conference Finals. L.A. fans were, no doubt, surprised and more than happy when 'D-Fish' returned home, in 2007, to help his beloved Lakers conquer the NBA crown, once again in 2010, for his fifth championship. 

Until today, most Laker fans assumed or anticipated that Pau Gasol would get traded, not 'D-Fish'!

No disrespect to Luke Walton, but hardly any fans were surprised to learn he got traded; many believe trading Luke was long overdue, and perhaps Shannon Brown should have stayed and played in the land of "G's", instead of Walton. 

But the news of Derek Fisher getting traded to the Houston Rockets for forward - Jordan Hill, hit L.A. like a ton of bricks!

No he's not the best PG in the league. No he's not the biggest baller, physically. No he's not the fastest or the best defensive player. What Fisher may have lacked, he more than made up for with smart play, hustle, emotion, heart, leadership and 'right-on-time' offensive juice. 

 NBA 'Ballers' Rep - Derek Fisher:

L.A. fans [do] realize and respect the business aspect of sports, but when Laker vets like Derek Fisher get

the hook, it is a bitter pill to swallow -- 'fuh sho'. "But no matter where he is, and who he balls with, Derek Fisher will always be a Los Angeles Laker...heart and soul". Big love to you and your fam, 'D-Fish'. "It was a stone cold groove, my man"!

Super Bowl XLVI - Sunday Showdown of Giants and Patriots

The game, players and comparison of this year's red, white and blue 'ballers', representing the New York Giants and New England Patriots, matters to those who cherish the celebrated tradition of watching professional championship football with good food, music, enthusiastic friends and fans, and big game plays; here we go again!

Whether witnessing America's greatest show at the house or tailgating at the stadium's parking lot, this year's 2012 showdown between the Patriots and Giants looks like it's going to be another gun-slinging battle between quarterbacks' Tom Brady and Eli Manning. 

So once the menu items and guests are considered and determined, the backyard is freshly manicured, and the deck, patio and bar-b-que pit is dusted off - drafting and printing the game-pool sheets, and gathering a few helpful pieces of game low-down intelligence would be the thing to do, for those hard core grid-iron gamers', who get-a-rush from having passionate arguments and debates about which team will be crowned champs of Super Bowl XLVI. 

  Regardless of the final score, a good contested battle is a must for dedicated, enthusiastic football fans who crave for brave and heroic athleticism. To help sort out a few facts and opinions in preparation for a fan's analysis, take a look at a few variables that may, or certainly will for some, impact the game's outcome (while keeping in mind..."any given Sunday" is subject to, like most of life's affairs,..."Murphy's Law" - a 'blues' the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens were, regretfully, unable to shake recently):

 

NEP vs NYG Season Productivity - By The Numbers:

Season Record:  13 - 3 - 0 (win % = .813)

Season Record:  9 - 7 - 0 (win % = .563) 

PTS:  32 (ranked 3rd)

PTS:  24.6 (ranked 9th)

YDS:  428 (ranked 2nd) 

YDS:  385.1 (ranked 8th)

Pass YDS:  317.8 (ranked 2nd)

Pass YDS:  295.9 (ranked 5th)

Rush YDS:  110.2 (ranked 20th)

Rush YDS:  89.2 (ranked 32nd)   

  

QB Rating - Brady:  (105.8) 

QB Rating - Manning:  (103.1)

Sacks:  (8, opponents 1)

Sacks:  (9, opponents 8)

Field Goals:  (4/4)

Field Goals:  (6/8)

Kick & Punt Return TD's:  (0)

Kick & Punt Return TD's:  (0)

Turnover Ratio:  (-3)

Turnover Ratio:  (+5)

So who's gonna "run this town" and earn the title...

the Giants...

or the Patriots?

On Sunday, Feb. 5, 2K12...we'll get our answer!

 

'SuperSwaggin' Cee Lo Green and Pop Diva Madonna to 'get-it-in' at NFL Superbowl XLVI - plus, Mike Epps Ambassador!

As far as NFL Superbowl halftime performances go, this year's 2012 show promises to be 'superswagged-out'!

No doubt, pop star - lady Madonna will bring her unique taste, talent and creativity to the stage, as expected, and all the swagg and extraordinary 'fantabulism', embodied in the personification of Cee Lo Green, 

could make for one of the most interesting and entertaining halftime performances, by a duo, in NFL history. Why? 

While it's not an unusual thing to witness performances by a duo during halftime shows, Superbowl XLVI promises to deliver "one of the biggest musical milestones this year!" 

Although hundreds of millions of viewers will witness America's biggest show on February 5, 2012 - this will be the first time the NFL's halftime production promises to be the "hype"; it will be imagined by Cirque du Soleil and Jamie King (Madonna's career choreographer).

And with a venue as large and accommodating as the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, besides the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Madonna, Cee Lo, and Cirque du Soleil will display quite an exciting, memorable, and spectacular array of talent.
 

Oh, and by the way...if you have any complaints about the show or wish to express your satisfaction, feel free to 'holla-atcha-boy'  --  comedian, actor, and this year's 2K12 NFL-SB ambassador 

Mike Epps 
(OA) Official Ambassador - Super Bowl XLVI 

 Yuh digg?

Firing of Oakland Raider Head Football Coach - Hue Jackson

  Just after the conclusion of his first season as head coach, the recent ousting of [now] former head coach of the Oakland Raiders - Hue Jackson, by owner - Mark Davis through his [new] general manager - Reggie McKenzie, came as no surprise to some, yet surprisingly to himself and his supporters. While some reports suggested that Jackson was too "power hungry" and wanted more authority and say-so within the Raider organization, others simply believe his press conference comments, right after losing the last game of the season, when he put his players 'on-blast' for not performing as expected, was cause for his firing. 

Whether it was actually McKenzie or Davis who made the call to dismiss Jackson still remains a mystery, but there's speculation that it was Davis' nod that put the act in motion. Perhaps we'll never know the real deal on this issue, but O.G. - Hue Jackson was respectful about the decision, and while "pissed" at his team for their lack of will-to-win attitude, he repeatedly accepted his responsibility, as head coach, for producing only an average (500, 8 and 8 record) season. 

"I was surprised, but I understand the decision", said Jackson during an interview about his termination.

Upon his release from the organization, the former head coach gracefully accepted his fate and wished the organization, and owner - Mark Davis, well and looks forward to furthering his professional career as a coach in the NFL.

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On a good note:  Although Jackson was surprised and obviously disappointed about his fall from Raider Nation, he still stands by his convictions and enjoys major support from long time friends and former teammates, namely, from his high school alma-mater in Los Angeles, California - Dorsey High School. 

During his senior year at Dorsey, Jackson was the starting quarterback for the Dons, who won the city championship in 1982. "So hard, so hard to be a Don!"...but not so hard to be a Raider...or maybe not?

With the Raider's poor performance history, and dark cloud of funk that's been plaguing the organization for far too long, Mr. Jackson might find himself better suited coaching personnel who execute plays like the Raiders of times past, instead of setting new record lows for most penalties; "coaches can only coach, but players must ball, homie!" 


Coach Jackson is a winner, and it's understandable that he let off a little steam about his feelings regarding his players - finally, a coach who said what he really felt and kept it "real".

Much love and good luck coach!

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The Latest Jackson Headline: 

"Bengals hire ex-Raiders coach Jackson as an assistant"

read all about it @ NFL.com!