Adios Lakers

When the 2020-21 NBA season opened, I predicted the Los Angeles Lakers to be back-to-back champions. But that was before Anthony Davis and Lebron James suffered injuries.  I always maintained that Davis is injury-prone and was only a factor when he’s healthy. But this season, he missed 30 games.  Davis started in Game 6 after missing the second half of Game 4 and didn’t play at all in Game 6.  He played six scoreless minutes in Game 6 with the Phoenix Suns having a picnic with Devin Booker pumping 22 points in the first quarter. Booker scored a game-high 47 points to eliminate the defending champions 113-100 in the first round. It was the first time in Lebron James career to be knocked out in the first round. The last defending champion to be booted out in the  first round  was the San Antonio Spurs  in 2015.  To recall, I predicted  a Los Angeles Lakers-Brooklyn Nets championship.  But I also said the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns could spoil the party.  The Denver Nuggets might even spring some surprises too.  The Nets could also miss the trip to the Finals, what with the way the Phila Sixers and Milwaukee Bucks are performing in the home stretch.  Injuries will always be the culprit, so contemders must really stay healthy.

Heart of gold

Damian  Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers, does not only possess a pair of hot hands but a big heart of gold as well. Lillard hit the news recently when he donated P1 million to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) which was hit by a fire weeks ago. Lillard who visited the Phlippines in 2014 and 2016, responded to the fund-raising campaign via social media, spearheaded by movie actress Yassi Pressman and partylist representative Ronnie Ong,  Lillard is a six-time NBA All-Star who led the Blazers to the playoffs this season. He played college hoops at tiny Webber State in Utah but was discovered by Portland in 2012, becomimg the NBA Rookie of the Year that season.  Lillard  hit one of  the most  memorable shots of the 2019 Playoffs, sending Oklahoma City Thunder home by draining a deep game-winning series clinching 3-pointer in Game 5 of the first round of the 2019 Playoffs.  It was the best run of the Blazers in nearly 20 years, defeating the favored Denver Nuggets in  seven games and advanced to the Western Conference Finals before being swept (4-0), by the  defending champion  Golden State Warriors.  In this year’s playoffs,  Lillard fired 55 points in a losing effort in Game 5 versus  the Denver Nuggets, who eliminated the Blazers 126-115 in Game 6, with Lillard scoring 28 points.  Lillard who was voted as NBA Teammate of the Year, will  always be in the hearts of Pinoy fans.

Chris Paul

 Of the Phoenix Suns had to plead with the coaching staff to get into Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul had to overcome an injured shoulder to score 18 points and 9 assists to help the Suns level the series 2-2. Paul asked Coach Monty Williams to give him a couple of minutes and see what he can do.  But did you know Paul got his first basketball hoop when he was only three? It was a plastic toy hung in his basement.  His brother made a court by putting tape on the floor.