Sheed's heading to Boston... and some retentions

SHEED JOINS THE CELTICS
MARION SIGNS WITH THE MAVERICKS
VAREJAO STAYS WITH THE CAVALIERS
HILL WILL CONTINUE CAREER IN PHOENIX

After a 5 1/2 year tenure with the Pistons, where he played a vital role in the Pistons' 2004 championship team, Rasheed Wallace is joining forces with the Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics. The 14-year veteran Wallace signed a 5-year contract with the 2008 Champions, as his hunger for a 2nd NBA Championship grows.

The man with a special unorthodox shot, Shawn Marion has signed up with the Dallas Mavericks after he spent the past 1 1/2 seasons with the Heat and Raptors. Marion who in his career with the Phoenix Suns had fought a lot of battles with the Mavericks will now join sides with the Mavs and 2007 MVP Dirk Nowitzki.

And in other news, Anderson Varejao will stay with the Cavaliers for the next 6 years and Grant Hill will stay another season with the Phoenix Suns.

TEAMSareGETTINGstronger
-kArLc-

BIG Free Agent signings and retentions.. and a Yao injury update...

TREVOR ARIZA SIGNS WITH THE ROCKETS
YAO WAITING FOR HOPE FROM INJURY
BUT ARTEST JOINS WORLD CHAMP LAKERS
TURKOGLU HEADING TO TORONTO
GORDON AND VILLANUEVA JOIN THE PISTONS CAUSE
OKUR AND BOOZER STAY WITH THE JAZZ

This has turned out to be a wild free agency season in the NBA. As Trevor Ariza who played a huge role during the Lakers championship run will join the Houston Rockets this year. Ariza would get $32 million, over the next five years with the Rockets.

Meanwhile, Yao Ming is waiting for hope after the Rockets announced he is out indefinitely and possibly the whole of next season, as team doctors found something worse on Yao's left foot that could threaten his basketball career. Yao has missed a lot of games  due to injuries since the 2004-05 season.

The Rockets signed Ariza fromt the Lakers after Ron Artest signed with the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers for the next 5 years. The 29-year old Artest will join forces with Finals MVP Kobe Bryant and guys like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, etc.

Hedo Turkoglu, fresh from his NBA Finals stint with the Orlando Magic will now head to Canada with the Toronto Raptors in a 5 year $60 million deal with the Raptors. Turkoglu declined a earlier offer with the Portland Trail Blazers after the Trail Blazers gave their best efforts to get Turkoglu to Portland.

The Pistons got a boost in their lineup, as Ben Gordon from the Bulls, and Charlie Villanueva from the Bucks will join the Pistons. Gordon and Villanueva signed 5-year deals with the Pistons.

The Utah Jazz can now breathe well as star forwards Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur will stay another year with the Jazz.

RON-RON is NOT WELCOME ANYMORE!
-kArLc-

BIGTIME TRADES... DRAFT HIGHLIGHTS

SHAQ HEADING TO CLEVELAND
VINCE CARTER FLYING TO ORLANDO
CLIPPERS PICK GRIFFIN #1
TIMBERWOLVES GET RUBIO AT #5
SPURS GET RICHARD JEFFERSON IN 3 FOR 1 TRADE WITH BUCKS
JAMAL CRAWFORD GOING TO HAWKS IN 2 FOR 1 TRADE WITH WARRIORS

Here are the top 5 picks in the 2009 NBA Draft:
1) CLIPPERS - Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
2) GRIZZLIES - Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut)
3) THUNDER - James Harden (Arizona State)
4) KINGS - Tyreke Evans (Memphis)
5) TIMBERWOLVES - Ricky Rubio (DKV Jovenhut Badalona)

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Shaquille O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns in a trade that sent Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland's secound round pick in 2010, and $500,000 cash to Phoenix. Shaq joins forces with MVP LeBron James as the Cavaliers could have found the missing piece to Cleveland's championship puzzle after their devastating defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals against Orlando.

As for the Orlando Magic, who came off a bitter defeat in the Finals against the Lakers, added a big piece in their quest to come back to the Finals. They acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets together with Ryan Anderson in exchange for Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and Tony Battie. Carter will join Dwight Howard & Rashard Lewis as Carter will play in his home state of Florida. He also gives more reason for Hedo Turkoglu to stay in Orlando as he has a player option wheter to opt out or stay next season.

The San Antonio Spurs, who are looking to get younger has added a young star. The Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks, as the Spurs sent Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas. The Spurs would look for Jefferson to back up their trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks acquired Jamal Crawford from Golden State for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. The athletic Crawford will join Joe Johnson and Co. as the Hawks would look to get deeper into the Playoffs next year.

AlotOFhugeBIGtrades!
-kArLc-

2009 NBA Finals Preview

When the season began in October, there were 30 teams with different stories and the same goal of bringing a championship to their respective franchises. After six months of battles during the regular season, only 16 teams remain to compete in the First Round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. But in the Second Round, only 8 teams remain. Then in the Conference Finals, 4 teams were still alive. And after all was over, there were two teams. One representing the West, the other representing the East.

And it all goes down to one final showdown..

2009 NBA FINALS

In this year's NBA Finals, the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers will face off against the Eastern Conference Champions Orlando Magic, in this best-of-7 series. For more about this matchup, here's the:

TALE OF THE TAPE
DWIGHT HOWARD
2009 Defensive Player of the Year
vs
KOBE BRYANT
2008 Most Valuable Player

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSLOS ANGELES LAKERS
Championships: 14 (5 in Minneapolis)
Finals Apperance: 30th
Regular Season Record: 65-17 (0.793)
Overall Rank: 2nd
West Rank: 1st
Division Rank: 1st
First Round: def. (8) Jazz (4-1)
Second Round: def. (5) Rockets (4-3)
West Finals: def. (2) Nuggets (4-2)
Coach: Phil Jackson
Key Players: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom
X-Factors: Trevor Ariza, Shannon Brown, Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar
Key Injuries: None

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

ORLANDO MAGIC
Championships: 0
Finals Apperance: 2nd
Regular Season Record: 59-23 (0.720)
Overall Rank: 4th
East Rank: 3rd
Division Rank: 1st
First Round: def. (6) 76ers (4-2)
Second Round: def. (2) Celtics (4-3)
East Finals: def. (1) Cavaliers (4-2)
Coach: Stan Van Gundy
Key Players: Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu
X-Factors: Mickael Pietrus, Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, Marcin Gortat
Key Injuries: Jameer Nelson

SEASON SERIES:
1st Game: LAL 103-106 ORL
2nd Game: ORL 109-103 LAL
ORL wins series 2-0

This is going to be a good NBA Finals between the Lakers who are looking for redemption after last year's defeat in the NBA Finals against the Celtics, and the Magic who are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995 and are looking to bring Orlando it's first NBA Championship in their return in the NBA Finals.

As for my pick, I want the Magic to win in this Finals, because the Lakers already had 14 championships in the rafters, the Magic have yet to enjoy the moments of being NBA Champions. The Lakers are a good team especially a guy named Kobe Bryant who has 3 championship in his name (with Shaq), but I'm going for the "underdog" in this series.

Once again, the big question is:
WHERE WILL AMAZING HAPPEN THIS YEAR?
WHO WILL BE CROWNED THE 2009 NBA CHAMPION?

Once again, I disabled replies on this blog. Haha.. so out of blog comments will never be heard..

THEREwillBEaNEWchampionFORsure.
LET'S GO MAGIC!
-kArLc-

WWE is moving to LA (from Denver), just because the Nuggets are still in the Playoffs

VS

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
vs
DENVER NUGGETS

What is the WWE thinking right now?? WWE was supposed to have Monday Night Raw in the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. But since the Denver Nuggets host Game 4 vs the Los Angeles Lakers on the same day and time as the WWE Raw event in Denver. The WWE announced they would move their programming for the week (Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW) to the Staples Center in Los Angeles (Home of the Lakers). As the WWE were literally "booted out" of Pepsi Center by the orders of Denver Nuggets' owner Mr. Kronke. For the Nuggets, they won Game 4 vs the Lakers 120-101 as J.R. Smith and Chauncey Billups scored 24 points each, as the Western Conference Finals is tied at 2-2. For the WWE, they moved RAW to L.A., and in one TV skit, they did a spoof of David Stern, Jerry Buss (Lakers owner), and Mr. Kronke (Nuggets owner) literally showing support for the Lakers.

"Note: If the Rockets faced the Nuggets, the Raw event would not disrupt the Western Conference Finals since Game 4 would be in Houston."

MOST OF THIS BLOG IS SCRIPTED. DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY LOL!

WWEmeetsNBA
-kArLc-

2009 NBA Playoffs : Conference Finals + Rockets 2009 season review

From the 8 teams that started Round 2, only four teams remain (2 on each conference) as the Conference Finals starts. The winner of each conference finals will have the right to represent their conference in the 2009 NBA Finals this June. Games will be very tough on each side as every team will be working hard as teams try to advance to the NBA Finals and give their franchise a chance to be crowned the 2009 NBA Champions.

So here are the matchups for the Conference Finals:

1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
1 Round 1: def. UTAH (4-1), Round 2: def. HOU (4-3)
2 DENVER NUGGETS
2 Round 1: def. NO (4-1), Round 2: def. DAL (4-1)
SEASON SERIES: LAL (3-1)



1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
1 Round 1: def. DET (4-0), Round 2: def. ATL (4-0)
3 ORLANDO MAGIC
3 Round 1: def. PHI (4-2), Round 2: def. BOS (4-3)
SEASON SERIES: ORL (2-1)


My reaction to the conference finals matchups is that I am looking forward to what will happen in the Conference Finals on both sides. The Battle for the West between the Lakers and Nuggets is going to be a good matchup as Kobe & Co. will face off against 'Melo & Co. for a shot at the NBA Championship. I'm wondering if the Nuggets can use the extra rest they had in the 2nd round to their advantage against the Lakers who went to a Game 7 and won against an injury depleted Rockets team who did not have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady playing. We'll see if Denver can keep this tremendous pace there enjoying. This is Denver's first time in the Western Conference Finals since 1985 when they also faced the Lakers, but lost in 5 games. But don't count the Lakers out since they still are a huge power in the West. Meanwhile in the Battle of the East between the Cavaliers and Magic. I am undecided since Cleveland has been cruising in this playoffs, sweeping their first 2 opponents in the playoffs, while the Magic knocked off the defending champion Celtics in Round 2, the momentum I think will favor the Magic since they knocked off the Celtics and they are back in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1996, but the Cavaliers have a powerful lineup led by LeBron James, the Magic have an answer vs LeBron as they are led by the highflying and shotblocking "man-child" Dwight Howard. Although I am undecided in this series, it's sure going to be a good series between this two powerful teams in the Eastern Conference as they fight for a shot at the 2009 NBA Finals.

Once again, the big question is:
WHERE WILL AMAZING HAPPEN THIS YEAR?
WITH BOSTON OUT, WHO WILL BE THE NEW NBA CHAMPION?

As for my beloved Houston Rockets, this has been a great season. Despite losing Game 7, the Rockets can be considered as winners, despite the many setbacks and injuries that have plagued the team all-season long (especially to T-Mac before the playoffs and Yao during Round 2). The Rockets were able to get out of the first round, and put the defending Western Conference Champion Lakers on the brink of elimination before eventually falling in Game 7. But the injuries to Yao and T-Mac had it's silver lining on the Rockets (besides the big three of Yao, T-Mac and Ron) as guys like Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Von Wafer, Kyle Lowry, Chuck Hayes, and the other Rockets picked up a lot of playoff experience that will be used on future playoff runs. I am now looking forward to a healthy Yao and T-Mac and a rejuvenated Rockets next season, and will be making a much deeper playoff run than this year. Maybe they can come out the NBA Champions next year, but anything can happen in the NBA.

Once again, I disabled replies on this blog. Haha.. so spammers and critics will never be heard..

LET'S GO ROCKETS!
THEREwillBEaNEWchampion
WHOwillBEtheCHAMPION?we'llSEE
-kArLc-

Everyone thought it would be over, but it will go the DISTANCE.

SERIES WILL GO THE DISTANCE
ROCKETS WIN GAME 6!
FORCE GAME 7 vs LAKERS

Prior to Game 6, most NBA fans thought the series between the Lakers and Rockets would end with the Lakers winning Game 6 against the injury depleted Rockets and advancing to the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets.

Once again, the Rockets showed the resiliency that we have seen during this playoff run against the Lakers, as they won Game 6 with the score 95-80. The Rockets force a Game 7 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. Aaron Brooks led the Rockets with 26 points and 4 assists, after scoring only 14 points in Game 5 where they lost by 40 points (78-118). Luis Scola added 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Carl Landry added 15 points and 7 rebounds on 6-6 from the field. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, but was held to 11-27 from the field (1-5 from downtown). Both the Lakers and Rockets will be in a "WIN or GO HOME" situation as the winner of Game 7 would advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets, while the losing team ends their playoff run.

This series will go the distance. Now I believe that they can make a deeper playoff run, even without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The playoff experience the Rockets are getting right now are useful for future playoff runs. Just like in Game 4 they showed a lot of resiliency, I just hope they can steal Game 7 in Los Angeles so that they would send a huge shockwave across the NBA. Most people (especially sportscasters) would think the Lakers would win on Monday (Sunday in the USA), but despite the odds stacked against the Rockets. I believe that they would defy the odds and shock the basketball world once again.

LET'S GO ROCKETS!
BEAT L.A.!
WIN GAME 7!
-kArLc®-

No Yao, T-Mac and Deke, STILL ROCKETS WIN!!

NO T-MAC....... NO DEKE.... NO YAO....
NO PROBLEM!
ROCKETS WIN GAME 4!
EQUALIZE SERIES vs LAKERS

After everyone heard the news yesterday that Yao Ming would be out of the Playoffs with a knee injury. Once again (like in other injuries the Rockets endured), many people now think that the Rockets amazing playoff run would come to an end against the "less-injured" Lakers (in 5 games).

But like the previous injuries that the Rockets have endured in recent years. The Rockets showed a lot of RESILIENCE AND HEART as the Rockets tied their series against the Lakers with a 99-87 victory in Game 4 of the best of 7 Western Conference Semi-finals. The Rockets force a Game 6 back in Houston.

Ron Artest played in Game 4, but he only manage to score 8 points, despite struggling offensively, he pulled of 10 rebounds. The heroes of the game were Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier, Brooks scored 34 points, while shooting 12-20 from the field (4-9 from downtown). Battier, meanwhile scored 23 points, while shooting 5-10 from downtown (6-12 from the field). Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes combined for 23 rebounds.

Kobe Bryant in Game 4, was held to only 15 points on 7-17 shooting. As the defense of Artest, Battier and Chuck Hayes prevented Kobe from taking over in Game 4, and the Lakers struggled offensively as they only shot 44.7% from the field while scoring 87 points which is their lowest point output in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

I can say right now is that the Houston Rockets are the most resilient team that you will ever see. Even though they may never win the championship, or win this series. No other team responds to a lot of adversity better than this team. Congratulations on the win, and I hope that your playoff run continues in the future.

I am proud to be a Rockets fan, in this country where people who watch the NBA support strong teams like the Lakers, Celtics, or Cavaliers. I will be a Houston Rockets fan no matter what happens.

LET'S GO ROCKETS!!
BEAT L.A.!!
WIN GAME 5!!
-kArLc®-

2009 NBA Playoffs : Round 2

After starting the 2009 NBA Playoffs with 16 teams who are aspiring to be NBA Champions. Only 8 teams remain in the road to the NBA Finals. The 2nd Round begins, where games will be even tougher than the first round as teams will try to make it to the Conference Finals.

So here are the matchups for the Secound Round:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS - First Round: def. UTAH (4-1)
5 HOUSTON ROCKETS - First Round: def. POR (4-2)
SEASON SERIES: LAL (4-0)
6 DALLAS MAVERICKS - First Round: def. SA (4-1)
2 DENVER NUGGETS - First Round: def. NO (4-1)
SEASON SERIES: DEN (4-1)

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - First Round: def. DET (4-0)
4 ATLANTA HAWKS - First Round: def. MIA (4-3)
SEASON SERIES: CLE (3-1)
3 ORLANDO MAGIC - First Round: def. PHI (4-2)
2 BOSTON CELTICS - First Round: def. CHI (4-3)
SEASON SERIES: TIED (2-2)

My reaction to the 2nd Round Matchups is finally the Rockets advance to the next round for the first time in 12 years. Now they will face the "mighty" Los Angeles Lakers. I believe they can pull of a surprise against these Lakers, the odds may be stacked against the Rockets, but in a never say die attitude. I believe they can pull a surprise against LA. As for the other matchups, I am surprised that the Mavs pulled an upset against the Spurs in the 1st Round, they can pull a surprise against the 2nd seed Nuggets. As the East went into order as the top 4 teams in the regular season are in the 2nd round.

Once again, the big question is:
WHERE WILL AMAZING HAPPEN THIS YEAR?

Once again, I disabled replies on this blog. Haha.. so spammers and critics will never be heard..

LET'S GO ROCKETS!
GET RED!
BEAT LA! KOBE SUCKS!
KOBE BRYANT will be eaten A-LIVEH!!!!
-kArLc-

ROCKETS ADVANCE!, BRING ON THE LAKERS!

FINALLY! ROCKETS ADVANCE!
WIN SERIES VS PORTLAND 4-2!
BRING ON KOBE & THE LAKERS!

The Houston Rockets are going to the second round for the first time since 1997 after they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 6 92-76 to win the series 4-2. Ron Artest lead the Rockets in Game 6 scoring 27 points, while Yao Ming scored 17 points, 10 rebounds. The Trail Blazers were led by LaMarcus Aldrige who scored 26 points, Brandon Roy scored 22 points as the Blazers came into the playoffs as the youngest team to play in this year's playoffs and their inexperience showed during the series where they lost Game 1 at home, then lose all 3 games in Houston. The Rockets will go on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.

Right now, I am 100% happy that the Rockets advance to the next round and end their streak of first round exits. But still there is a long way to go if they would become NBA Champions. Thank the Portland Trail Blazers for a thrilling series and we hope to see them again in the playoffs next season.

Now the chants of BEAT LA! and KOBE SUCKS! are in my head and I will do "smashmouth" on my friends who are Laker fans. As the playoff run continues for our beloved Rockets. Can they pull a huge surprise against the top seed in the West? Despite the odds stacked against the much favored-Lakers, I believe they can give them a run for their money.

GAME 1
Rockets @ Lakers
May 5, 2009

HOW SWEET IT IS!
WINNINGisSWEET
-kArLc-

Victory will have to wait... the randomness of this blog is unimaginable.

A random blog, for a random thought. The randomness of my thought caused me to write this random blog. I had to let it out.

Happiness will have to wait for me, as the Rockets lost Game 5 to the Trail Blazers in Portland 77-88, Despite the loss, the Rockets still lead the series 3-2. As the series will head back to Houston for Game 6. I hope they Rockets finish them at home, so that Brandon Roy's Playoff debut ends in a First Round EXIT, and the Rockets advance in the second round to face the Lakers. Sorry Blazermaniacs', I also like Portland, but when Houston and Portland square off, I would root for my beloved Houston Rockets.
LET'S GO ROCKETS! WIN GAME 6!

Then one random April day, as I was surfing the Internet, I found out that the Yuvienco's (Tristan's family) are right now part of my school from Grade 3 to 6, Headway School for Giftedness. It's been 3 years since I left for a Claretian high schol life, and a lot has changed overnight, like most of my teachers left, I only know a few people there, and standards have improved to something unknown within my sight.

But as my Claretian classmate once said to me:
"Ang totoong buhay ay nasa malaking paaralan"

HEY IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW, I can't WAIT!
BUT I STILL HAD TO TAKE THE MOCK UPCAT and ACET on that day, and I'll be out from 8:00 to 5:00.

INdepthRANDOMstuff
-kArLc-

2009 NBA Playoffs

Start:	Apr 19, '09
End:	Jun 18, '09
Location:	USA

Dates are not certain...

Let the 2009 NBA Playoffs begin.

The 2009 NBA Playoffs (the 2nd Season), will begin this April 19 (18 US time). As 16 teams who survived the Regular Season, will begin another journey on their way to the NBA Finals to determine who will be crowned the 2009 NBA Champions.

So here are the matchups for the First Round:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Can Kobe & Co. redeem last year's loss?
8 UTAH JAZZ -  Will Deron & Co. pull another uspet vs the best of the West?
SEASON SERIES: LAL (2-1)
4 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - How long can Roy & Co. last in the playoffs?
5 HOUSTON ROCKETS - Will Yao & Co. end their playoff woes without T-Mac?
SEASON SERIES: HOU (2-1)
3 SAN ANTONIO SPURS - Can Tim & Co. win another odd-year title without Manu?
6 DALLAS MAVERICKS - Can Dirk & Co. win again against the divisional rival?
SEASON SERIES: TIED (2-2)
2 DENVER NUGGETS - Will Chauncey & Co. bring the Mile High City a championship?
7 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS - Can CP3 & Co. get a championship to the "Big Easy"?
SEASON SERIES: TIED (2-2)

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - Will LeBron & Co. get to the promised land?
8 DETROIT PISTONS - Can Rip & Co. pull an huge upset against the overall seed?
SEASON SERIES: CLE (3-1)
4 ATLANTA HAWKS - How will Joe & Co. extend their playoff run?
5 MIAMI HEAT - How will D-Wade lead them further in the playoffs?
SEASON SERIES: ATL (3-1)
3 ORLANDO MAGIC - How will Dwight & Co. do in the playoffs without Jameer?
6 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - Can Iggy and Co. pull a suprise?
SEASON SERIES: ORL (3-0)
2 BOSTON CELTICS - Can Pierce & Co. repeat last year's glorious championship?
7 CHICAGO BULLS - Can Gordon & Co. pull an upset against the defending champs?
SEASON SERIES: BOS (2-1)

My reaction to the matchups are very very dissapointing since my team the Houston Rockets had a chance to take 2nd place in the West (since Denver lost their game) and win the Southwest Division, but they let it slip against the Mavericks (Spurs win their game vs Hornets). They had to settle for 5th place, and will face Portland without Homecourt Advantage. I still wan't them to be champions, but if they can't make it to the Finals, A first round win will be fine for me. But as the playoffs progress I will determine my pick for the finals.

The big question is:
WHERE WILL AMAZING HAPPEN THIS YEAR?

I disabled replies on this blog. Haha.. so spammers and critics will never be heard..

LET'S GO ROCKETS!
GET RED!
BEAT THE TRAIL BLAZERS!
BRANDON ROY will be eaten A-LIVEH!!!!
-kArLc-

kArLc® Reacts: T-Mac's season-ending surgery

It's been a long time since I had the kArLc® Reacts, this is the first for 2009. It is all about Tracy McGrady's season ending surgery.I lot of Rockets fans including myself are saddened to find out T-Mac has ended his 2008-2009 season, due to an injury on his left knee. He will have microfracture surgery this year and is hoping to return next season. McGrady has missed 19 games before he announced his season-ender at his website.

Reference: Mcgrady out for season, will have microfracture surgery

Since the Trade deadline is coming, the Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said that McGrady won't be traded before the deadline. Also Alexander stated that he would like to keep Yao Ming until the end of his NBA career. As Yao has been a model player for the NBA.

Reference: Rockets owner: McGrady staying put

My reaction to this story is that it's a good thing for T-Mac to end the season right now, because I don't want to see him in pain during the game, and to further worsen his injury. It may be tough not seeing T-Mac in the Playoff Push, but right now it is for the best of the Rockets franchise for the future.

I hope, like the other T-Mac fans around the world to see him playing like he never got injured, We hope to see him back healthy and stronger next season. We want "T-Mac to the RACK". and good luck..

T-Mac, don't let us down,
-kArLc-

WHAT AN ALL-STAR GAME!

Despite the classes, we were still able to watch the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in our classroom...

I really love the part when Shaquille O'Neal came in, and he dance with JabbaWockeeZ... I love his style of entertaining the fans...

I'm happy right now, because the WEST won against the EAST by the score of 146-119... Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal both won the All-Star Game MVP. I was a little bit dissapointed because the only Houston Rocket in the All-Star Game, which was Yao Ming only had 2 points and 3 rebounds..

Here's a little trivia for all:
Since 2006, the conference who wins the All-Star Game will be the champions in the NBA Finals:
2006 - EAST def. WEST, Champions: Miami Heat (EAST)
2007 - WEST def. EAST, Champions: San Antonio Spurs (WEST)
2008 - EAST def. WEST, Champions: Boston Celtics (EAST)
2009 - WEST def. EAST, Champions: ?!? We'll find out this June..

OVERALL, This has been a great All-Star Weekend!

THE WEST WIN!
-kArLc-

ALL-STAR SATURDAY NIGHT! and YEAR 3 of the NATION!

Two events happened today, the 3rd Anniversary of the kArLc® NATION! The web hub for everything about kArLc®, and today was All-Star Saturday Night from Phoenix.

Once again, thank you for the past three years of "Multiply"ing our world. I would thank Multiply for the three years I spend here on Multiply. I hope to last longer here.

Then today, it was All-Star Saturday Night in Phoenix, where before the All-Star Game tomorrow, there will be four major competitions. Like the Haier Shooting Stars, PlayStation Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, and the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest Here were the winners of the contest:

Haier Shooting Stars: Team Detroit (Afflalo, Laimbeer, Smith)
PlayStation Skills Challenge: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout: Daequan Cook (Miami Heat)
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest: Nate Robinson (New York Knicks)

So all defending champions: Team San Antonio, Deron Williams (DNP), Jason Kapono and Dwight Howard, respectively were unable to defend their title.

Tomorrow, it's going to be the main event of All-Star Weekend, the All-Star Game.

WHO WILL WIN, CHOOSE YOUR SIDE
EAST or WEST

-kArLc-

Championship Pick: I want a "new" NBA Champion...

Well, We know it's been a tough race midway through the NBA Regular Season right now, as the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Magic are fighting for the best in the East, while the Lakers are dominating the West... Here's who I want to be champions:

If I were to pick who I don't want to be champions this year, I'd picked teams like the Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs, they already had championships the past decade... No offense to fans of these teams out there.. but it's my choice and you've got to respect that... I know Laker fans are trying to redeem their loss to their Celtic rivals last year... and for Spurs fans who are wishing for another odd year championship (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009?).. give other teams a chance to win the GOLD!

Who I want to be champions?!?

I still want my first choice team Rockets to win the championship, I want Yao, T-Mac and Ron to taste GOLD, but if we were to lose again in the Playoffs, As my friends who like the Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs want to happen to my team again... Here are my other picks just in case the Rockets are knocked out of the Playoffs:
East: Cavaliers - Give LeBron a championship, Magic - Superman needs a championship or Hawks - A sleeping dark horse of the East
West: Hornets - CP3 can win the Gold!, Nuggets - Melo and Mr. Big Shot can do it or Trail Blazers - Roy, I know you beat my team at the buzzer, but you can be champions.

Remember this is my picks to win, please respect my choice.. If you don't like what I'm saying.. just don't read it... I'm hoping in the 2nd half of the season the Rockets can recover

I STILL BELIEVE IN THE HOUSTON ROCKETS!
-kArLc-

Pro-Basketball Championship Contender Jinx..... "MY PICKS WON'T BE CHAMPIONS!"

It's the first time I noticed.... after my pick for the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Alaska Aces lost against the Talk 'n Text Tropang Texters in Game 7, I realized that ever since 2006, my picks for the championship in NBA and PBA (since 2008) had lost.... Here's really what happened? What's the jinx about?

NBA:
2006-Battle of First-time Finalists: Mavericks vs Heat, Pick: DAL, Result: MIA 4-2 (L)
2007-3-time Champs vs First Timer: Spurs vs Cavaliers, Pick: CLE, Result: SA 4-0 (L)
2008-Rivalry Renewed: Celtics vs Lakers, Pick: LAL, Result BOS 4-2 (L)

PBA:
2008 FC-Ube Republic vs Barangay: Air21 vs Ginebra, Pick: A21, Result BGK 4-3 (L)
2008-09 PC-Thriller vs Capt. Hook: Alaska vs Talk 'n Text, Pick: ALA, Result TNT 4-3 (L)

To also add, my first choice teams never went to the Finals:
NBA: Houston Rockets
PBA: San Miguel and Burger King (formerly Air21) "since 2008-09 Philippine Cup"

When will my first choice teams, or even my picks in the finals win?!? Time will tell.. and I hope to end it soon

-kArLc-

What's on my Christmas Wish-List..

Christmas is coming, here is my wish-list.. The things that I want to get this Christmas:
1. Sony PSP - So I can take my game anywhere
2. A camera for myself - So that I won't borrow from my parents
3. iPod (maybe a nano) - So that I won't be using my father's iPod
4. NBA 2K9 - Need to upgrade my NBA game

There were more inside of my head, but I can't remember, hope I get at least one of these..

-kArLc-

WELCOME TO HOUSTON! RON ARTEST

It's official!!!

We had been talking about this for the past couple of weeks, and last August 14, 2008. Ron Artest is now a Rocket.

TRADE INFO:

To Rockets: Ron Artest, Patrick Ewing Jr., James Singletary

To Kings: Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene, 1st round pick for 2009

This is a good deal for the Rockets as Ron will add a bigger defensive spark to the already strong Rocket defense, He will also add some offense to the Rockets. Also this will create a ROCKET BIG THREE of YAO, T-MAC, and RON. Ron will be joined with Shane Battier which makes the Rockets with the deadliest defensive forwards in the NBA. Artest reunites with Rick Adelman, where he played under him for 1/2 year with Sacramento.

WATCH OUT CELTICS! THE ROCKETS WILL SHUT YOU DOWN!

kArLc