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®-

kArLc® Reacts: Yao Ming's Playoff-ending injury

YAO MING OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS

Could it get worse for my beloved Houston Rockets, well the worst did happen. Yao Ming is now out for the rest of the 2009 NBA Playoffs due to a hairline fracture on his left foot. This was found after an earlier diagnosis showed that he suffered a left ankle sprain during the Rockets' Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers 108-94. Although no surgery is required, he would be out for 2-3 months.

My reaction to this injury is that I am now questioning myself on how long the Rockets would last in the Playoffs without Yao Ming. And right now the Rockets have no legitimate center (Deke got injured in the first round vs Portland). I still hope that they can BEAT L.A. without Yao and T-Mac. Because we trust RON ARTEST, but if they would bow out of the playoffs. That would hurt a little, but I will be happy this year, because they got out of the first round.

BEAT L.A.
WIN IT FOR YAO
LET'S GO ROCKETS
-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-

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-