Steph Curry try's to dribble pass Tony Parker

Steph Curry try’s to dribble pass Tony Parker

Good evening sports fans. Who would’ve thought first and foremost that the Golden State Warriors would beat Denver and advance to the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Now here’s is something no one in the NBA counted on. Who would’ve thought that the Warriors would be facing the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of this years playoffs. Well they did. Are you ready for this. Don’t get me wrong, it is what you thought. The Warriors lost, and now they’ve lost a record 30 times since 1997. But what is real significant is that the Spurs who won, barely got out of the contest without having a heart attack. They did say that Tim Duncan had the flu, but even still, the rest of the team didn’t look like the Spurs we’re used to seeing. The Spurs who are the No.1 seed in the Western Conference, didn’t look like the No.1 seed. As a matter of fact, the best team in the Western Conference had to come from behind to win Game 1, of the Semifinals, of the 2013 NBA Playoffs in double overtime.

What was true is what NBA aficionados figured that the Spurs would win. But it didn’t go the way they said it would. According to the Inside The NBA panel led by Charles Barkley, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, and Shaquille O’neal the San Antonio Spurs should pummel the Warriors. I’m going to go on a limb here, but I’m going to say it now. The Golden State Warriors will win this series. Should I say it again so that it’s clear and my reading audience will know that I didn’t stutter. The Golden State Warriors will win this series, if Mark Jackson can convince this team to play as a team. The reason I say that is because tonight’s contest was really just a matter of playoff experience versus playoff youth. The Spurs obviously playoff experience with Greg Popovich, versus Mark Jackson’s playoff youth. You could tell. Golden State played with the want, the heart and the athletic desire to win the game, but the Spurs played like they’d seen this re-run before.

The Warriors starting guard Steph Curry played brilliantly. He finished with 40 points, 11 assists. Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes both had 19 points a piece. Jared Jack finished with 15 points. Andrew Bogut finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. But the Warriors would need more than just brilliance to take game 1. It showed too. Because with all the great shots that Steph Curry made, he was still new to the playoffs and he’d never been to the second round before. Whereas Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Greg Popovich and the rest of the Spurs were well aware that it would take the team to win the game. You could see the differences in the two teams. At the beginning of the third quarter they asked Popovich how they were going too stop Steph Curry.  Pop just said, “I don’t know he’s pretty unstoppable.” Then he smiled and said, ” We’ll just have to work together to try to win.” It’s a lesson that Mark Jackson should be teaching his team. Greg Popovich smiled because he knew with everything Steph could do, eventually he would tire out and the Spurs would win as a team.

Tony Parker finished with 28 points, Danny Green added 22 points, Tim Duncan finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. I know it’s hard for us Warriors fans, but it’s a game like this that will define who the team is and where they’re going. This Warriors were ahead with 127-126 with 3.7 seconds left in the game when Manu Ginobli hit a 3 pointer to give the Spurs the win in double overtime. Ginobli finished with 16 points. It was later found out that his shot was not really supported by Coach Popovich. ”I went from wanting to trade him on the spot to wanting to cook breakfast for him tomorrow morning,” Popovich said. ”That’s the truth. When I talk to him and say, ‘Manu,’ he goes, ‘This is what I do.’ That’s what he’s going to tell me. I stopped coaching him a long time ago.” What was also significant is that Ginobli wasn’t hitting any 3 point shots most of the night. That’s why when he had the open look 3, I told my neighbor who was with me watching it, ‘He’s going to hit that shot.” The reason why I knew he was going to make it is because there’s a rule in NBA. Never give to many opportunities to veteran shooter.

You look at all the great shooters of the past, Reggie Miller, Larry Byrd, John Paxon, John Stockton, Ray Allen, and our own Steph Curry who is becoming a great shooter. You ask the defenders that had to guard them and they’ll tell you, never give veteran shooters too many chances because if you do you will pay dearly. Tonight it was Manu Ginobli, and the team that paid was Golden State.” On the last play, it wasn’t for me; they just left me open,” Ginobili said. ”I set a screen for TP (Tony Parker) and they both went with him and left me open on the weak side. When I caught it I just saw Brazemore flying. I just gave it a lot of air and it went in. I wasn’t even an option. They told me just go screen and stay far from the play. The play was for Tony or Boris. And they got confused.”

The reason why I believe Golden State can win this series is, because this happened in round 1 against Denver. The Warriors lost game 1 to the Nuggets by 2 points, but they won the series. Why? Because the outlasted Denver. ”We had a heartbreaker in Game 1 of the last series (against Denver),” Curry said. ”A last-second layup by Andre Miller. So we’ve been here before. But we know how to come back. We’ve been a resilient team all year. To have an opportunity to go 1-1, we still have a chance to do that.” If you didn’t watch the game, you missed just how tired San Antonio was from playing against the Warriors. The Warriors did something that hasn’t been done to the Spurs in a long time, and that is to push the number 1. seed to a double overtime at San Antonio. You could tell because it was affecting the Spurs physically. You should have saw Tony Parker. He was exhausted. That goes for Duncan, and Ginobli. They had to use the young second team just to stay in the game.

San Antonio can celebrate tonight. They got the win. But if Mark Jackson can coach like he’s suppose to, the Warriors can and will win this series. I do think that Mark Jackson should let the press know that the reason why they lost is because he didn’t coach them to play team ball in the last minutes of the game. He should be telling Steph to set up plays and not to take every last shot. He’d already got 40 points. It was time for the rest of the team to contribute. He needs to let him know that no matter how much he wanted to win it’s still the team that wins games not one person. Think I’m lying ask Michael Jordan. Hey, he went 8 seasons without a title before he started playing team ball and then the Bulls won a title. Am I telling the truth or am I just talking? Tell me what you think. Drop me line at our website, and remember, it’s ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM. Bay Area Sports Magnified!


Good afternoon sports fans. I was on a small hiatus. As I’ve said before this isn’t my day job. But I returned with another good piece of bay area sports. The Golden State Warriors are in the playoffs. We Warriors fans should be happy. Because after six long and excruciating years, the drought is over. So we should be happy campers right? Wrong! It’s true were in the playoffs, but now we have to deal with what the NBA calls playoff reality. That reality came on Saturday afternoon when Golden State tipped off against Denver in round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs. The reality came when Steph Curry hit a 3 pointer with 14.5 seconds left to play which tied the game up 95-95. With 14.5 seconds left 37 year old Andre Miller drew Draymond Green up to the free throw line then drove right past him and captured the win with a lay up, giving the Nuggets the 97-95 victory for game 1. Steph Curry finished with 19 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds. Klay Thompson finished with 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 block shots. The Warriors shouldn’t hang their heads


 

Evening sports fans. I’m sure by now you’re aware that the San Francisco Giants have went beyond the odds, and have done something in the post season that no other MLB team has ever accomplished. They won a post season record seven straight games to win the NLCS. Richard Ewing here of ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM In what was looked at as really the impossible, has become not only possible,  but has been done. The San Francisco Giants humble the St. Louis Cardinals with a stunning 9-0 beat down at AT&T Park in front of thousands of a cheering sea of orange and black.

I have to admit I should be ashamed of myself. I had lost faith when they were down 3-1 to the Cardinals, and for them to come back it just seemed impossible. I was covering them pretty closely at ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM. And then as you probably know I’ve got bills to pay so it was off to work I go. After watching MLB Tonight on the MLB Network, and spotted coverage of the post season playoffs on ESPN. The Giants playing ability did what it did to all of us, made me pay attention, and to go to my blog at ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM, start writing about them, and don’t stop. The Giants surge came in the third inning when they put together 4 runs and were ahead 4-0.

Because you show respect to your opponents, and we are talking about the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, your thinking surely the Cardinals will respond. But no, it was quite the contrary. St. Louis had no answer for San Francisco’s pitching. The main reason why? Is because of a combined effort from Barry Zito, Ryan Vogelsong, and Matt Cain’s dominance from the mound. Last night it was Matt Cain. Yes Matt Cain. You know, the same Perfect Game Matt Cain. Cain kept the Cardinals scoreless for 5 2/3 innings. He had good relief pitching support from Affeldt, Casilla, Lopez, and then Romo shut down the Cardinals season. The Giants have changed the view of baseball’s aficionados by having the “I’m not quitting” attitude.

 

They did it against Cincinnati when they were down 2-0 in the NLDS. The Reds are at home now. They did it again against a great St. Louis team. After these last two situations, I don’t know about you, but if I’m the Tigers, I’d rather loose the first two games and do what the Giants did, come from behind and win. The Giants bats were wide awake and they were hungry. Hunter Pence hit a double that appeared to have hit off his bat 3 times after it shattered from impact. Marko Scutaro, who became San Francisco’s “Orange Badge Of Courage” player after being practically ran over in game 2 went 3 for 4 hitting. And really it was that type of attitude.

That “Were not giving up even if you hurt us.” attitude. That’s why Scutaro who finished hitting .500 in the post season gets the MVP nod of the National League. What was also significant is that both of these teams the Cardinals and Giants are teams that won the World Series in a two year span and met to compete for the World title. First time that’s happened in MLB history. It was 8-0 in the eighth inning when Brandon Belted a home run that was the dagger in St. Louis Cardinal’s heart. The rain continued to fall and Giants fans could care less. Their Giants had just turned the “Impossible” to “I’m Possible.” The World Series starts tomorrow and the San Francisco Giants have taught me a lesson, never give up.

So thank you San Francisco Giants for a great season. I’ll be writing about our San Francisco Giants. Because really they’ve giving me something to write about. For more Bay Area Sports, highlights and insider news about your Bay Area Sports, remember folks it’s ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM. Bay Area Sports Magnified!


LaMichael James Brings Speed To San Francisco's Backfield

What’s up sports fans? Well I owe my readers another apology. I haven’t been writing lately, and they probably want to know why. Well as you probably know I don’t get paid to put together my blogs. So I do have to work for a living. But I do enjoy putting together a good sports piece, especially when they’re juicy. With everything that’s been going on trust me, I’ve got plenty to write about. What with The Sharks bowing out in the first round, Warriors appearing to tank their season to get the first round pick, and Aubrey Huff having anxiety issues with the Giants, all of which are juicy pieces to write about.

But, today nothing is more juicier right now than this piece. As you NFL aficionados may have already been drooling over the NFL Draft selections, you may have found out that San Francisco picked up LaMichael James at running back in the fourth round. Yes that same LaMichael James that ran for almost 7,000 yards in his career and last year continued to be a pivotal opponent against the Stanford Cardinal, handing Stanford two losses last season against the Oregon Ducks. Now I don’t know about you but when you look at the fact that San Francisco picked up former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, and Wide receiver Mario Manninham, who both have Superbowl rings. Not to mention they got Randy Moss if they need him.

It starts to make you think, hmm…  Do you kind of seeing where I’m going with this? It starts to make you wonder if the Niners are stock piling a arsenal to battle next season for NFC tile. I have to admit as far as the Niners got last season I’m sure a lot of players want to play here in the Bay Area now. But let’s get serious here for a moment.  This is also happening not just because of  good drafting, it’s because Jed York the Owner of the Niners is doing something he knows he has to do. See Jed, along with the Niner organization, have made serious concessions to bring a brand new 49er stadium to the city of Santa Clara, and if you do that your franchise needs to win ball games.

It’s one thing to lobby for something with a hefty bill, but if you do that and your franchise isn’t winning, your public won’t listen to you, and you give the critics all the ammunition they need to say no to the hefty bill your asking people to help pay for. So are the Niners gearing up to capture the NFC title? Sure, why not? They have to do it anyway. And besides with the title in hand it sends a message to the buying public of the new stadium, and the critics that building a new stadium in Santa Clara was a fantastic idea. “Look, were winning”. We Niners fans won’t argue that point. But I’m still trying to understand how they got LaMichael James. His career stats alone prove that any team in their right mind would’ve wanted this guy.

I understand it’s all part of the drafting system. I just thought he would’ve ended up in St. Louis or even Seattle. Afterall Seattle and Oregon or more geographically situated than down here in San Francisco. Well, on any rate we get LaMichael James speed here in the Bay Area. And are we happy? Yeah, we are. Go San Francisco !!! Do you think LaMichael James can make an impact right away or do you think it’s going to have to take some time for him to adjust to Harbaugh’s system. I want to hear from you. Tell me what you think. Remember folks it’s ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM. Bay Area Sports Magnified!


Believe It Or Not. Without Alex Smith San Francisco Will Be Starting All Over Again.

Believe It Or Not. Without Alex Smith San Francisco Will Be Starting All Over Again.

Good evening sports fans. I’m putting this piece together because I’m hoping that San Francisco doesn’t do what Peter Guber & Joe Lacob did. I know what you thinking, why am I still on the Monta Ellis trade thing? Because I’m a die hard Warriors fan and we Warriors fans know this is going to come back to haunt us later. I’m also a San Francisco 49er fan. I don’t want that to happen to me again, but it is looking that way. Alex Smith rejected  a 3 year $24,000.000 contract from Jed York and the Niner franchise. When he said no to that offer, he made his options of free agency apparent. What’s worse is because Peyton Manning is on the market, the Niners are also taking a look at Manning, along with Denver and Miami.

I was at a local haircut shop in San Mateo called Headlinerz, where I frequent there getting my hair cut. I must say they have some talented young hair cutters down there. Made me look half my age. While I was there some of the younger Niners fans were playing up the possibility of Peyton Manning starting for San Francisco. If they think signing Peyton Manning is going to get San Francisco to the Superbowl, they need to know a thing or two about the NFL. First of all to put together a winning franchise you have to invest time in the league first. It doesn’t happen simply because one player is playing on a team. Second, even if you have a decent core of players they have to do four things. 1. Play well together using the teams system, 2. As a team respect the leadership in the coaching staff and fellow players, 3. Know your competition, 4. Be better than your competition as a team.

I know a lot of young 49er fans want to see a big name franchise player like Peyton Manning taking snaps for San Francisco, but if  he did, it would still take time for Manning, who hasn’t played in two seasons to get used to Harbaugh’s system. Not to mention he’d also would be taking the risk of being hurt again. If I’m Jed York I would do whatever it takes to bring Alex Smith back and re-sign him in a hurry.  Let’s face it with Smith there’s no guess work. You have your quarterback who knows the system. You have a quarterback who respects his leadership of his coaching staff and his fellow players. Alex Smith knows his competition in the NFC West, you win your division you have a better chance of getting to the Superbowl. After last season there’s no question that as a team San Francisco was better than it’s competition in their division and even better against most of their east coast competition. Jed York, I hope your reading this, stay with what works.

Alex Smith is right now the best choice for San Francisco. It’s good for the Niners. It’s good for Alex Smith, and it’s good for the NFC West. When you take a good look at Mr. Smith, people talk about the turmoil he dealt with in his first five seasons with the Niners. It was turmoil. He had to endure 5, count them, 5 different offensive coordinators. So while Jed York & CO. were trying to figure out who was going to draw up plays for Smith, Smith meanwhile was running for his life and trying to do the best he could for the Niner offense. As everyone saw it was a disaster. But Alex didn’t quit. He could’ve hung up his hat and said, “That’s it. I’ve had it, I’m leaving to go play someone where else.” But he didn’t. He hung in there and patiently waited for the powers that be, namely Jed York to put together a system that he could really use. Once that was done Alex Smith started to be the quarterback every Niner fan had been waiting for in the last five seasons.

Now he’s  here, and with everything that’s happened it’s a no-brainer. I hope you get the common sense memo on this one Mr. York. Sign Alex Smith. He’s the obvious choice. Mr. York the Superbowl is in you hands, let Mr. Smith finish what he started. You bring Peyton Manning, Eli Manning or any other quarterback your going to ruin what we 49er fams have been waiting for for a long time, and that is to bring back 49er excellence. Does Alex deserved to be the next starting quarterback, or Peyton Manning? Tell me what you think. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment. Remember folks it’s ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM. Bay Area Sports Magnified!


What’s up sports fans. Well it happened. I’m sure by now your like me trying to piece together the last 48 hours of the NBA trade deadline, like a bad night of alcohol binging.  You know that feeling of a massive headache, not sure where anything is, and the worst is trying to piece together why you threw you pants in the shower. The good thing is those days are long gone for me. Some thirty years ago in college. I gotta be careful here. I might be revealing my age. The bad thing is we aren’t  in college we are in the present day of the last 48 hours of  the trades,  they’re for real and no one was drunk. Although some people might be thinking Joe Lacob, and Peter Guber were when they made a trade that Warriors fans and NBA aficionados might be scratching there heads about.

After 7 Seasons The Best 2 Guard In The NBA Is No Longer A Golden State Warrior.

I’m sure your well aware that in the last 48 hours the Golden State Warriors traded long time 2 guard, and scoring machine Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks. They also sent a developing and budding defensive standout Ekpe U’doh and 7 foot center Kwame Brown to Milwaukee. In return Golden State got Andrew Bogut and , god I can’t believe I’m about to write this, STEPHEN JACKSON!! Yes, our old Capt. Jack was expected to return to the Warriors. But hold on, wait a minute, the Warriors attempt to make up for this trade, by trading Capt. Jack to San Antonio for Richard Jefferson , T.J. Ford and the Spurs 2012 first round pick. Now I gotta be honest with you in the beginning of this trade I was extremely upset. Because I’m a Monta Ellis fan, and I just couldn’t see the W’s trading him before Andris Biedrins. What is also notable is as much as everyone is warming up to Steph Curry, and I agree, cause I like Curry too.

Ekpe Udoh

Ekpe We Will Miss You

But if I had to pick someone to get traded it probably would have been Steph. Simply because he’s not in my opinion as durable a player as the Warriors need right now. I just thought that Curry needs more conditioning. Well let’s face it, the whole team needs that. But to me if one of them has to go, it would’ve been Curry, with Andris. I also thought Andris would’ve be gone before Ellis would. And how do you just let a rising defensive player like Ekpe go? Okay so, we trade Kwame, which I can see that. He’s injured. But we trade an injured center to get an injured center? If this trade would’ve stayed the way it originally was portrayed I would be still upset. Getting Capt. Jack now is like trying to re-sign Chris Mullin. Don’t get me wrong Chris is a great player, and is in the Hall of Fame, but were not trying to get him to play now. His career is over.

Andrew Bogut Is Now A Golden State Warrior

Kwame-Brown Is Now A Milwaukee Buck

So is Stephen Jackson’s. If he try’s to comeback at the end of this season, who would sign him? I’m not trying to bad mouth Stephen Jackson either, it’s just that it is what it is. You play in the NBA for a time and then you move on to something else. Unless Capt. Jack can prove me wrong, I think after this season I wouldn’t be surprised if he did retire.

Lacob & Guber didn’t get run through the “You screwed the trade up.” ringer long enough before they cleaned it up by getting Jefferson and T.J. Ford. Richard Jefferson is a nice acquisition. Andrew Bogut on the other hand is still a work in progress. Larry Riley was on Comcast Sportsnet last night during the Warriors loss to the Celtics, and stated to Jim Barnett and Bob Fitzgerald that the Warriors doctors believe that Andrew Bogut injury to his leg will heal and he can be ready by next season. This is the problem I have with that prognosis. Doctors make mistakes all the time, and no one can know Bogut’s future, at the end of the day Lacob & Guber are gambling with the fans season with this trade. If it works this post I’m writing will probably get burnt off the internet. But if I’m right you who have read it will be remembering this post. I hope I’m wrong.

Richard Jefferson Is A Golden State Warrior

But they did get Jefferson, and on the business side of the NBA by trading Ellis, U’doh and Brown they’re looking for to the  future results of this trade. The problem I have is that when you look at the franchise track record for trades, it is down right brutal. If your a Warrior fan like me, then you know the saying. If we could bring back every player we’ve traded in the last five years we’d have the NBA championship for the next ten years. Bogut is 7’0 foot at 260lbs. He averaged with Milwaukee 11 points, 8 rebounds with two block shots per game. If he’s healthy he could add what the Warriors want, more beef in the paint. Richard Jefferson is 6’7 at 225lbs. He averaged 9 pts. and about 3.5 rebounds per game. But I think with him it’s playing time. I’ve seen Richard Jefferson light it up when he get hot. Well it doesn’t matter now.

What’s done is done. Warriors executives only want to dwell on the positives of this trade, and this season was short so the trade won’t really matter until next year anyway.  We will see Monta’s reaction on the court tomorrow night when the Milwaukee Bucks take on his former Golden State Warriors. What’s your take on the trade. Tell me what you think. Remember folks, it’s ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM Bay Area Sports Magnified!


What’s up sports fans? I bet you’ve been wondering why I haven’t put anything in my blog about Golden State’s 2012 season. Your probably wondering why I haven’t put a lot of time in covering at least the first game of the season. I’ll tell you why. Maybe it’s because I feel like this season, even though it is short, is just like every season that preceded it. If by some great miracle that the Warriors get into the playoffs, they most likely will be ousted in the first round. I say by some great miracle because this is a shortened season, So that means their chances are greatly reduced. Now most of you out there who are reading this for the first time might be thinking, that I’m not a Warriors fan. On the contrary.

 

 

I’m an enormous fan! I met Charles Johnson or (C.J) when I was nine years old. He used to live right around the corner from me. I still see his sister Michelle everyday on my way to work. No I don’t dislike the Warriors, I love them. But I’m also a realist when it comes to competitive sports, especially the NBA. I’ve been watching it too long to know otherwise. The Warriors owners in the beginning of the 2011-2012 season, as short as it is, wanted us to feel the way we Warriors fans felt back in 2007. We wanted to BELIEVE! But unfortunately the season is turning to be just like most of the seasons we’ve had in the past. Some people will start coming up with just about every solution they think will solve the Warriors winning woes, and put them on the right track.

When it’s obvious that the only way Joe Lacob and Peter Guber are going to get a winning season out of this franchise is to do like all the other winning franchise owners do, spend a boat load of money and get more competitive players. When they do decide to do that, go after the players that know how to win games. Go after Dwight Howard, and when I say go after Dwight Howard go and get him!! Don’t come at him with some rinky dink deal, out bid all the other teams and go get him! Go after Joakim Noah. Go after Rajon Rondo. Go after the players that will win you games. Go after Kobe Bryant if you can. Go after Tim Duncan, Chris Paul, Manu Ginobli, Joe Johnson or Tony Parker. If you need go after Lebron James or even Dwayne Wade.

Whatever player you think will help you win games go after him, and get it done!! Because if you owners think you can stand in front of the crowd of fans, guarantee playoffs by setting up a contract with the fans simply because it brings good PR, and think that’s going to change psychological profile of this franchise, which is to loose, your living in new ownership nieve land. Hey the clippers went after Chris Paul and Chauncey Billips, pair them up with Blake Griffin and where are they now? A top the Pacific Division, sitting at No. 1. Are you listening Mr. Lacob, and Mr. Guber? So far the shortened season and the sea-saw win, loose schedule has shown the same bad formula for Golden State, no consistency for winning games.

It’s sad. I know that when the new owners took the helm, they had good intentions. But really if they mean what they say they will re-evaluate their strategy and put together a plan of action that will get better results. Because right now we’re looking at the same old thing. Opposing teams will come in to Oracle Arena and they’ll be thinking not if they’ll win, but how they’ll win. What do you think? Am I talking loud and saying nothing? Or am I speaking the truth? What’s take on my rant? Send me a e-mail tell me what you think? Remember folk it’s ALLBAYAREASPORTS.COM Bay Area Sports Magnified!