Cody's Blog

After a dismal NBA Finals game 1, Ray Allen showed everyone why he is still the purest jump shooter left in the league today. Allen poured in seven three pointers in a row in the first half, putting up two in the first and swishing home 5 in the second period, scoring half of Boston’s first half points by himself. Those seven shots in a row set the NBA Finals record for most three point field goals in a row, and his 25-footer with 4:39 left to go in the third quarter gave him the NBA Finals record for threes made in a game with eight, passing the likes of Scottie Pippen and Kenny “The Jet” Smith. In a game that saw the Lakers dominating early and jumping out to a fourteen point lead, Allen knocked down shot after shot to keep Boston in the game, and his presence allowed the other Celtics to take over in the second half, and especially the fourth quarter, where Rajon Rondo scored 10 of his 19 points and collecting only the fifth Celtic triple-double in NBA Finals history and the first since the one Larry Bird tunred in during game 6 of the 1986 NBA Finals, scoring 19 points, dishing out 10 assists and snatching 12 sneaky rebounds for the C’s. The Lakers faltered when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, allowing Boston to outscore them 31-22 in the final quarter, propelling them to a 103-94 game 2 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo: Ray Allen buries a three in front of the Celtic bench as thousands of Laker fans look on in agony. Photo courtesy of Mark J. Terrill / AP.)

After 22 seasons, the 1997 MVP award, 13 All-Star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves, 630 long balls and 1,836 career RBI, Seattle Mariner outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. retired from the game of baseball on the night of June 2nd. After returning to the Mariners this season knowing he would probably call it quits sometime in the near future, Griffey served in a part time role, playing sparingly and serving as a leader in the clubhouse. Griffey Jr. saved the Mariners in the 1990’s as he as well as Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez and Alex Rodriguez played in such a way that ensured the Seattle franchise would remain in Seattle. Griffey achieved various feats during his career, ranging from scoring the winning run off of an Edgar Martinez in that memorable 1995 AL Division Series game, to hitting back-to-back homers with his Dad, Ken Griffey Sr. He was only batting .184 this year with no homers and seven RBI this year, but was a staple in the Mariner clubhouse, serving as the glue that held the Seattle team together. Griffey’s career did end on a good note, however, and his final hit was, fittingly, a game-winning pinch-hit single against Toronto on May 20. As he was surrounded and mugged by his teammates, Griffey was reminded of those earlier days in his career when he served up homerun bomb after homerun bomb and was the cornerstone to a franchise on the rebound in Seattle, making the organization what it is today. (Photo: Griffey Jr. displays the sweet swing that the fans in Seattle had grown to know and love. Photo courtesy of Andrew Webber-US Presswire.)

Kobe Bryant again showed the world what greatness in the postseason looks like. His 37 point game put him in elite company, tying him with Kareem-Abdul Jabbar at 75 games with 30 points or more in NBA postseason play. In his 14 years donning the Laker purple and gold, the twelve time all-star has earned almost every award possible, from an NBA MVP award in both the regular season and the finals to 10 all-NBA defensive awards as well as 12 all-NBA awards and a 2008 Gold medal in the Olympic games. However, there is still one thing that the sure-fire Hall of Famer has yet to do in his storied career; beat the vaunted Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Celtics and Lakers last meeting in the postseason occurred in 2008, when the Celts beat Los Angeles to take home the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. This year, Kobe and co. are looking for a reversal as he seeks his fifth championship ring and the teams second in a row. Bryant single handedly dished out crushing shot after crushing shot with either Jared Dudley or Grant Hill draped all over him. Every time the Suns made a comeback, Bryant silenced the crowd momentarily each time with tough fade away jumpers and three point bombs. Such was true in the second quarter, when, after Jason Richardson nailed a right corner three-pointer to cut the lead to eight points, Kobe calmly dribbled the ball up the court, stopped just left of the top of the key, and swished home a 29-foot three pointer (the regular line is 23′ 9″) to extend the lead back to 11 points with 12 seconds left before the half. However, the Suns wouldn’t give up. Down 17 points and just after a Goran Dragic 5 -foot jumper, Laker guard Sasha Vujacic was called for a flagrant foul when he elbowed Dragic in the face on the ensuing possession. Dragic converted both flagrant foul free throws, and then capped off the 6 point possession with a driving layup that cut the lead to 11 and got the crowd back into the game. But Kobe took over in the final two minutes, scoring 9 points and nailing the coffin shut on the Phoenix Suns icing the game with two free throws in the final 8 seconds, eliminating them from the 2010 NBA playoffs. With the Suns gone, Kobe’s eyes are now on the prize, as he and the Lakers will try and grab that much needed Finals victory over the Celtics starting on Thursday, June 3rd. (Photo: Kobe Bryant reacts after nailing a turn around jumper in the final minutes of the game. Photo courtesy of Chris Carlson AP.)

They are not ready to go home just yet. Down 3-0 against the seemingly better Celtic team, the Magic took a 96-92 win from Boston on the road in overtime. In that game, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson combined for 55 points. In game 5, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson scored 45 more points. But there was also a Rashard Lewis sighting in Orlando on Thursday night. Back from his Houdini disappearing act, Lewis scored 14 points on 6 for 11 shooting after averaging a total of 5 points a game in the previous contests. There was another reason that the Magic dominated the Celtics in game 5. They made their three pointers. Heating up in the second half of game 4, the stage was set for Orlando to make ‘em in game 5 at home, and did they ever. The Magic shot 52% from three, making 13 out of their 25 attempts. Another area that the Magic improved on that led to their blow out win to stay alive was their free throws. The Magic shot 80% from the line, with Nelson going 8 for 8 and J.J. Redick going 6 of 7 to lead the Magic in that department. Jameer Nelson had another huge game, scoring 24 points, dishing out 5 assists and added 80% shooting from three, going 4 for 5 including a shot from five feet behind the actual three point line as the shot clock was winding down in the third period to give the Magic a 13 point lead. After Rajon Rondo dominated the first three games, Jameer Nelson has made his case for why he is the best point guard in this series. Everyone contributed for the Magic, as each of the 10 players that saw action scored, and they had four in double figures, with four more guys one basket away. In a game that sponsored five technical foul calls and 54 total fouls called with one ejection (being Kendrick Perkins, who will most likely have it rescinded), the Magic dominated the game from the beginning and held on to grab a 21 point, 113-92 win and force a game 6. The Magic are only the tenth team in history to force a game 6 when being down 3 game to none, and have won 4 consecutive elimination games against the Boston Celtics dating back to the 2009 conference semifinals. (Photo: Jameer Nelson reacts as he pours in a 28 foot three oint shot to give the Magic a 13 point-lead. Photo courtesy of John Raoux AP.)

Knowing when to pull your starters and how long to ride your bench guys can be very tricky business. For Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry, the decision was easy. Let ‘em play! The Suns bench, led by an awakened Channing Frye and a solid Leandro Barbosa who each had 14 points each, gave Gentry key minutes in each quarter of play, particularly in the fourth. The bench played nine of the twelve minutes of the final quarter, and turned a 2 point deficit into a 13 point lead with the flick of their wrist. The bench players for the Suns out-shot their starting counterparts, shooting 45% (9 for 20) from three while playing the zone defense perfectly against the normally efficient Laker team. The Lakers still scored 106 points, but it was the Lakers starters versus the Suns bench for most fo the game. The Lakers guard Kobe Bryant did score 38 points and dish out 10 assists, but he was the only one contributing, as Pau Gasol only had 15 points while in foul trouble for much of the game and Lamar Odom also only added 15 points. The story of the game was the effectiveness of the Phoenix Suns bench, as they carried the Suns to a game four victory and a 2-2 series tie heading back to Staples Center in Los Angeles. Goran Dragic also posted 8 points, while Louis Amundson had 7 and sharpshooter Jared Dudley added 11 for the Suns bench. (Photo: Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire congratulate the bench during a timeout. Photo courtesy of Chris Carlson AP.)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and point guard Jameer Nelson knew that had to come up big in game 4 if they wanted any chance to extend their season and avoid a sweep from the Boston Celtics. Their 55 total points spoke for themselves. The Magic’s rejuvenated pick and roll offense allowed Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson to prosper all night, as they wreaked havoc on the usually solid Celtic defense, as they gave up more than 95 points for the first time in their last seven postseason games. In the first quarter, the Magic showed life in their game they hadn’t previously revealed in the past three games, as their up-tempo, run-and-gun style scored them 31 points, which gave them a 31-26 lead over the Celtics. The magic took a slight step back in the second, only scoring 20 points, but did take a four point lead into the half. In the third period, sixth man J.J Redick scored 10 straight Magic points including going 3 for 4 from three point line, bolstering the Magic lead. With two minutes to go, Orlando held a 7 point lead, but saw that dissolve as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen took over down the stretch. Paul Pierce got an and one on a locking foul and after the free throw, a botched last play led the two teams into overtime at 86-86. In overtime, the Celtics laid a huge egg, shooting 2-10 (both of those Ray Allen threes), while Jameeer Nelson scored the first six OT points on two bomb three pointers, and the magic held on to get a gut check, 96-92 win to avoid the sweep. Howard finished with 32 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Nelson contributed 23 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Perhaps the biggest contributor, however, was J.J. Redick, who scored 12 huge points on 60% shooting from beyond the arc. Trying to become the first team in history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, the Magic will lay it all on the line again on Wednesday as they look to try and froce a game six. (Photos courtesy of Winslow Townson AP)

For the past four days, the Phoenix Suns have listened to naysayers that said the Suns were finished after a mere two games. Before last night’s game, Amare Stoudemire vowed that 1; he would go off in game 3, and 2; that the Suns weren’t going quietly. Lets just say he is now 2 for 2 in his predictions. Amare Stoudemire scored 42 points and brought down 11 rebounds, giving him his third 40 point game of his playoff career. Perhaps the bigger feat, however, was that he shot almost as many free throws (18) as the entire Laker team did (20), and made 78% of them. Stoudemire also shot 63% from the field as he led his Suns to a game 3 win over the Lakers. The Lakers led by 3 at the end of the first quarter, but the Suns outscored the Lakers 25-15 in the second to take a seven point lead into halftime. Derrick Fischer and the Lakers wouldn’t go away however, and Fischer’s 11 third quarter points allowed Los Angeles to pull within three heading into the final stanza. The Suns took control of the last quarter with their super effective zone defense and used Amare Stoudemire’s 13 points to turn a three point lead into a 118-109 win. For the first time this postseason, the Lakers have lost when Kobe goes for 30 or more points (he had 36, 9 rebounds, and 1 assists), and the Suns found something that works on defense. The game was still played in the 220-230 total point range, but if the Suns play like they did yesterday again in game 4 at home, this series can get very  interesting very quickly. (Photo: Stoudemire reacts after drawing the foul in the fourth quarter. Photo courtesy of Matt York AP.)

The New Jersey Nets came into the NBA Lottery  with a 25% chance of grabbing the number 1 pick in the draft, which comes up in late June this year. Everyone figured that the Nets would grab the number 1 spot, draft John Wall, trade for another piece and then use co-owner Jay-Z’s relationship with LeBron James in an attempt to lure him to New Jersey. Well, those plans are shot. The Washington Wizards were the team that came out with the top pick when the dust settled, and even thought they already have Gilbert Arenas, will probably no pass on a chance to grab a talent such as John Wall. The Nets dropped to get the third pick in the draft lottery, and will most likely be drafting either DeMarcus Cousins from Kentucky, Derrick Favors from Georgia Tech, or Wesley Johnson from Syracuse. Don’t get me wrong; the Nets are still gonna get a real quality player on June 24th, but their failure to grab the number 1 overall spot may have cost them a crack at landing free agent LeBron James. (Photo courtesy of Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

With their backs against the wall, the Philadelphia Flyer’s found themselves down 3-0 in their series with the Boston Bruins. However, they rallied to win 5-4 in overtime in game 4. They then crushed the Bruins 4-0 in game 5, and after eking out a 2-1 win in game 6, Chris Pronger and the Flyers found themselves in a 3-3 series heading into the deciding game 7. In a series full of rallies, the Bruins tried to choke the Flyers early, going up 3-0 in the first period behind two goals from Milan Lucic and one from Michael Ryder. However, the Flyers got a goal from James van Riemsdyk in the final minute of the first period  to pull within 3-1. That was all the Bruins would get and they would have to hope to hold on the rest of the game. Philadelphia had other plans. 2:49 into the second period, wingman Scott Hartnell. Then Hartnell got in on the assist action, setting up center Danny Briere for his seventh goal of the post season and the 3-3 tie five minutes later. What would prove to be the game winning goal came on a Simon Gagne power play goal with 12 minutes in the final period, and as the final seconds ticked off of the clock, the Flyers became only the third team in NHL history to come back from being down 3-0 in a series. This come from behind fashion victory proved that the Philadelphia Flyers are an extremely resilient team, which plays to their advantage as they face off against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference finals. (Simon Gagne celebrates his go ahead goal in the Flyers 4-3 series win over the Bruins. Photo courtesy of Michael Dwyer/AP.)

Boston Celtic forward Kevin Garnett handed every big name free agent an example to follow. With the fifth pick in the 1995 draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Garnett with the hope that he would bring the starved T-Wolves a much needed spark. Although Minnesota was terrible, Garnett was the staple of the franchise, earning the nicknames “The Big Ticket” and “Franchise,” as he had been Minnesota’s franchise player. For the Timberwolves, Garnett was an 8 time NBA all star with the lowly T-Wolves, and also won the MVP in 2004 and earned five all-NBA defensive first team awards for five years in a row beginning in 2000. Realizing Minnesota was a desperate franchise with no hope of ever winning a title, Garnett bolted for the Boston Celtics, who had the pieces to win a title right away in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins. Sure enough, after a tumultuous 2006 season, the Celtics won the NBA title in the 2007-2008 season, giving Garnett his first title of his career. Garnett started all 26 games for th Celts in the playoffs that year, averaging 20.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3 assists a game while shooting 49.5% from the field. This year, the Celtics and Garnett are looking to return to championship form, with Kevin searching for his second NBA ring. In the clinching game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Garnett dropped 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, knocking off LeBron James and the sputtering Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Garnett’s actions may very well be duplicated this off-season in the NBA. With big market free agent names this summer like Chris Bosh (Toronto), LeBron James (Cleveland), Carlos Boozer (Utah), and Joe Johnson (Atlanta), the class is loaded, but they all have one thing in common; they haven’t won a title. If they have been paying attention to Kevin Garnett and his past journey to an NBA title, they may have something else in common; they all might change teams in the hope of grabbing their first, and always coveted NBA title. (Photo: Garnett slams on a fast break in their game 6 win over the Cavaliers. Photo courtesy of Jesse D. Garrabrant/AP)