Tag Archives: Dwyane Wade

Eastern Conference Finals Preview: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers

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If you stopped watching the NBA Playoffs when our depleted Bulls were bounced last week in round two, you may want to consider tuning back in starting tonight as the Eastern Conference Finals are about to get underway.

The post season is far from over as four teams remain (down from the original 16) and are looking to advance to the NBA Finals, the final round of the NBA Playoffs. In the Western Conference, the favored San Antonio Spurs are facing off against the underdog Memphis Grizzlies and already have a 2-0 lead in the series.

In the Eastern Conference, for the second year in a row the top seeded Miami Heat find themselves going head-to-head with the third seeded Indiana Pacers. That’s right, two of the Bulls biggest rivals will face-off to claim their throne as the biggest beasts of the East and continue their quest to an NBA title.

Let’s take a closer look at this interesting Eastern Conference matchup that is sure to keep Bulls fans tuning in just a little longer.

On one end of the court you’ll find the Pacers who have the league’s best defense led by big nasty Roy Hibbert and on the opposite side you have the defending Champion Miami Heat with the hottest commanding offense in the NBA led by four-time MVP Lebron James. Will the Pacers tough antics rattle Miami’s nearly perfect offense? We will soon find out. Here’s the need to know information for round 3.

Read the entire Eastern Finals Preview with Key Players, need to know facts and predictions at SportsDivasInc.com via Eastern Conference Finals Preview: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers | SportsDivas Inc..

Heat Take Game 4 in the Finals; Thunder Need to Rally

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It pains me to say this, but the Miami Heat are one game away from clinching the NBA Championship title. They lead the series 3-1 after they topped the OKC Thunder 104-98 in Game 4 and with the 2-3-2 format of the NBA Finals they have another home game for Game 5, all the odds are in their favor.

Here are some memorable moments from Game 4: 

  1. This little lady, Julia Dale, sang the National Anthem at last night’s game and man does she have some pipes for an 11-year-old. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t Julia’s first rodeo, she sang the anthem during the 2011 NBA Finals as well and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
  2. In general, people don’t like the Heat because of their attitudes and diva-like habits. Dwyane Wade embraced stereotypical Heat behavior when he “injured” his back on a nicely braced fall, hobbled off the court holding his back, and was back in the game bouncing around within seconds. FAKER. Wade finished with 25 points on 19 shots, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
  3. The West’s favorite fashion forward point guard has a brag and boo for Game 4. Russell Westbrook’s explosive 43-point performance in Game 4 ranks up there as one of the best in recent NBA Finals history (brag). Unfortunately, I think the majority of fans will remember his lapse of awareness in the finals seconds that cost the Thunder a chance to tie the game and sealed the deal for Miami (boo). Since 1985, only three players have scored more points in the finals and the list includes: Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Shaquille O’Neal. That’s an elite bunch if you ask me.
  4. King James had a king cramp in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Why was Bron Bron so dehydrated? Can’t handle the Heat? Or was he out at the clubs partying too hard? Regardless, watching Lebron sit on his little blue mat to stretch at the end of the game gave me a chuckle. James led Miami with 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.
  5. The Heat’s Mario Chalmers had one of the best games of his career; coming up big when it mattered most. Chalmers had a post-season high scoring19 of his 25 points in the second half, 12 of them coming in the fourth quarter when Lebron was struggling with his man cramps.

It’s not very likely that the Thunder will come back from being down 3-1 in the NBA Finals to claim the crown, but hopefully they put up a decent fight in Game 5. I’d like to see at least one more game in Oklahoma City before this series is over. Make’em work!

Top Reasons to Tune into the NBA Finals

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After months of playoff games, only the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder have survived to compete in the final battle to claim the 2012 NBA Championship title. Heat versus Thunder is very atmospheric. If you’re a diehard Chicago fan, the Thunder and Heat facing-off in the finals may not tickle your fancy, but here are some reasons to tune in:

The OKC Thunder and Miami Heat are one sexy matchup. Easily two of the most athletic teams in the NBA, this series will be an amazing display of basketball. The beasts of the East - Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh - are taking on the best of the West - Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The Heat are looking for redemption after blowing it in the finals last year to the Dallas Mavericks and the Thunder are young and eager to get their hands on the Championship trophy.

The “King” Lebron James. We love to hate “Bron Bron”, but he is the reigning MVP for a reason - he’s got game ladies, on the basketball court of course. Even if he makes your blood boil, it’s worth tuning in to cheer on the Thunder and keep King James from getting his paws on a Championship ring.

Kevin Durant’s Seamless Swagger. Durant is playing for his first NBA title at age 23 and just makes the game look so easy. If you’ve ever heard anything about fantasy basketball, you know Durant is a hot commodity because he is the top scorer in the NBA. The Durant-James matchup is perfection in the eyes of any basketball fan. Let the best player win.

The Bearded Warrior. James Harden has quite possibly the most impressive beard the NBA has ever seen. It doesn’t hurt that this sweet-shooting lefty can score some serious points from downtown or take it straight to the hoop. The Miami Heat should fear the beard because Harden could easily be the difference maker in this star studded matchup.

Fashion Forward Showdown. The duo of Lebron James and Dwyane Wade push the fashion limits in the East, but Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are demonstrating their fashion swagger in the West. Prepare yourself for some crazy fake-frames, some outrageously bright colors, and possibly something better than a Teddy Bear button up from Westbrook. If nothing else, you could be thoroughly entertained by the pre and post game ensembles.

What else is on TV? Other than the bachelorette on Monday nights, the summer TV lineup is a little lame, so why not watch some insanely ripped men run around the basketball court? If you’re a sports junkie, it’s still the best option since the LA Kings just won the Stanley Cup, baseball is too early to invest in just yet and football doesn’t start for a few more months.

What’s next: The madness deemed the NBA finals! Check out the schedule below, this isn’t basketball you’ll want to miss!

2012 NBA Finals Series Schedule (courtesy of NBA.com):

Game 1 – In OKC – Tuesday, June 12, 8:00 PM CT, ABC

Game 2 – In OKC -Thursday, June 14, 8:00 PM CT, ABC

Game 3 – In Miami – Sunday, June 17, 7:00 PM CT, ABC

Game 4 – In Miami – Tuesday, June 19, 8:00 PM CT, ABC

*Game 5 – In Miami – Thursday, June 21, 8:00 PM CT, ABC

*Game 6 – In OKC – Sunday, June 24, 7:00 PM CT, ABC

*Game 7 – In OKC – Tuesday, June 26, 8:00 PM CT, ABC

*if necessary

The NBA Playoffs Are Bringing Out All the NBA Divas

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What’s been more captivating during the 2012 NBA playoffs: the fashion on display during press conferences or the actual play on the court? At this point, the answer may be a tough one! The NBA hotshots are really pulling out all the stops when it comes to pushing the limits and taking some serious fashion risks. I do appreciate a man with confidence in his fashion sense, but it may be time to call the fashion police on some of these gentlemen.

Westbrook (left) and Durant (right) show off their swagger in Game 5

The biggest fashion statements have been made in the Western Conference by two of the OKC Thunder’s star players. Who are the two fashion divas you ask? Point guard Russell Westbrook and All-Star forward Kevin Durant. These two have gotten real sassy for the cameras off the court. Durant has been a fashion forward athlete throughout his career and his beige-and-black stripes are fine and dandy, but Westbrook looks like he may have gotten caught in a kaleidoscope.

Westbrook’s Teddy-rific Ensemble

The talented and often criticized point gaurd has been on another fashion level this post season and his game-day outfits have become the talk of the NBA playoffs. I think the collared shirt above was taken out of the Berenstain Bears collection circa 1990. Not too sure the teddy bear button-up would be perceived as intimidating by his competitors? Below are some more outrageous patterns Westbrook has donned in front of the press: fishing bait, graffiti and technicolor scary .

 

Westbrook’s flare has been rubbing off on the younger fans too. Kendrick Perkins Jr. has been dressing like Russell Westbrook during the OKC Thunder games.

Durant and Westbrook have kept people buzzing in the West, but the East has its own fashion enthusiasts. The Miami Heat’s “dynamic duo” Lebron James and Dwyane Wade always dress to impress. The Celtic’s point guard Rajon Rondo, who has been an animal in the Eastern Conference finals, has been taking some crazy fashion leaps as well – sometimes he hits his mark and sometimes he’s way off (see photo at the top of the post…YIKES).

If you’ve found yourself watching the NBA conference finals with the men in your life even though the Bulls are long gone, at least the pre and post game fashions can keep you entertained. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the NBA finals.

Deng Deng He’s Our Man

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Tonight the NBA is announcing the All-Star reserves and I think most Chicago fans have one man in mind for a spot, Mr. Luol Deng.

Deng is averaging 16 points and seven rebounds a game and is probably the Bulls’ best defender. I think he definitely deserves a spot. He’s going up against Celtics vets Ranjon Rondo (who I just can’t stand after he threw a punch at Rose a few years back in the playoffs) and Paul Pierce. Even though Deng missed 7 games due to a torn ligament in his left wrist, after returning the Bulls are 3-0 and have won by 23, 21 and 23 – he’s the man and I’m not the only one who thinks so, he has the support of his teammates and coaches too.

“I hope they’re good,” Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau told ESPN of Deng’s chances. “You guys who follow our team, I think you understand how important he is to our team. Lu doesn’t have to score to have a great impact on our team and winning. He plays great defense. He plays a great floor game. He moves without the ball. He makes the extra pass. And he has very good statistics, but you can’t measure his impact statistically. I know what he brings. I know all the coaches and all his teammates appreciate everything that he does.”

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, February 26, at the Amway Center in Orlando. Whoever is chosen will be joining Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, and Dwight Howard on the Eastern Conference team.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed because DENG HE GOOD!