Congratulations to Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls for being named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA for the regular season 2010 - 2011.

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls Main Man
MVP of NBA 2010 - 2011 Regular Season
Image from Wikipedia

Rose became the youngest NBA player ever named MVP. A nice reward for leading his team, the Chicago Bulls to be the no. 1 team in the 2010-2011 regular season. He has followed Michael Jordan as the other Chicago Bulls player named MVP.

What a career trajectory!

2008 - 2009 Rookie of the Year
2009 - 2010 All-Star Selection
2010 - 2011 Most Valuable Player

The Chicago Bulls passed the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs but was upset by the surging Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal round playoff series. Worse, he sprained his left ankle in that last game.

Winning the MVP is good but winning the championship is the ultimate prize for Rose. But to do so, he needs to be 100% in uniform.

It is the same ankle he sprained against the Pacers. X-rays were negative thankfully.

If I am Derrick, I would be extremely annoyed going to check ups at this juncture of the playoffs even if I'm attended by lovely female attendants in sexy scrubs such those at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/ .

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Phoenix Suns 2011 Season Ends

One of the reasons I lost my zeal to blog about the NBA season like before was the sad state of my favorite team - the Phoenix Suns.

Today my beloved Suns ended their 2011 season with a win over bitter rivals San Antonio Spurs. Granted that Manu Ginobili suffered an injury, I do not consider this as a gimmie.

The Spurs started their three main guys - Duncan, Ginobili & Parker. A sign that the Spurs wanted to win the game and have a chance of securing through out the playoffs until the championship round. But since they lost, the Chicago Bulls holds that advantage.

I wonder what will happen to my Phoenix. But just like what they are named after, I hope that they do rise from the ashes of losing 2011 NBA Season and be the Phoenix Suns that will contend in the playoffs next year.

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Almost a month ago, I was happy to blog about the Chicago Bulls because I was able to watch them beat the much hyped Miami Heat.

Back then, the Bull's win for me is an indication that they are serious contenders in the Eastern conference in the play-offs.

To my surprise, the Chicago Bulls is now number one in the team standings in the Eastern Conference after their win against the Washington Wizards, 98 - 79. That is without Joakim Noah & Carlos Boozer.

Wow!

Perhaps they got more inspired seeing MJ & Scottie Pippen recently celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chicago's first NBA championship.

Well, the NBA championship is really won by the team that peaks right into the playoffs.

Though I agree that Derrick Rose should be the MVP of the regular season, (barring any major collapse of the Bulls) I'd still think the Celtics will prevail in the East though.

As for my favorite Phoenix Suns team, Captain Nash is injured and may be it is a little too late to catch the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8th place in the west.

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Loul Deng's crucial 3 pushed the Chicago Bulls past the mighty Miami Heat, 93 - 89 as the NBA 2010 - 2011 regular season veers to its homestrecth.

I was lucky to be able to watch an important NBA game especially in the east today, the much hyped Miami Heat visited the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

The first half was all Heat, with Lebron James ending the half rolling in a jumper, the Heat up 53 - 44. I decide to watch something else at the break.

When I switched back, the Chicago Bulls are now up 80 - 75 with less than 6 minutes to go. But James and the Heat scored 9 straight points to go up 84 - 80.

That is when the Bulls woke up.

Kyle Korver started the run with a three-pointer and then challenged Mario Chalmers' shot on the other end, leading to an offensive foul on Chalmers.

The Bulls regained the lead back on Rose's basket, 85 - 84. Deng's jumper at the top of the key and a long two by Rose, put the Bulls in control 89 - 84.

But the Heat weren't finished. Wade scores, and James completed an end-1 play to tie the game 89 - all with just 36.8 seconds left.

In the next play, Rose bid his time before driving on the middle against James, attracting a double-team from Wade that made Deng free for a corner three. Chicago up, 92 - 89 with just 16 seconds left.

Lebron James' tying three didn't even hit the rim. Korver was fouled and made one of two free throws to round up the scoring.

This great win by the Bulls, against the Heat no less, announced its contention for the east title. And now they really complete with Joakim Noah playing again.


Chicago Bulls logo and Miami Heat logo are taken from wikipedia.

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Finally, Carmelo Anthony will now be a Knick.

Reports are abound that the Denver Nuggets, the New York Knicks and in lesser extent, the Minnesota Timberwolves all agreed in a multi-player mega deal that finally put an end to the Melo-drama trade speculations.

Though the deal is yet to be formalized, the Denver Nuggets let go Carmelo Anthony to his favored city to play at [Knicks] along with Chaucey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman. In return, the Nuggets will get Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov plus draft pics. Minnesota, as part of this deal, will get Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph. There are other things involved but those are said to be the player movements.

Melo probably feels like leaping for joy at the top of the Empire State Building no less with this development. He has long given signs that New York is where he wants to play. Not to mention, he also get the $65 million extension.

For the price of giving four NBA starters for Anthony's talents, the New York Knicks are clearly following the blue print of the Miami Heat. And New York can still add another star come 2012.

With Melo, playing alongside Amar'e Stoudemire, the Knicks should be a shoo-in to make the playoffs in the next three seasons at least. And MSG can stand for Melo-Stoudemire Garden.

But to win a championship? they need solid bench play and, of course, defense.

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Any NBA team or their fans dread to see their players specially their stars donning medical scrubs. It denotes serious injury sidelining the players.

Even if injured players are taken cared of by competent men and women in lab coats & nursing uniforms, it is not good for any nba team. Even if injuries are not serious, it means missing time to play and to practice. That basically disrupts playing chemistry and momentum.

Take the case of Caron Butler of the Dallas Mavericks, seen below donning one of those scrub uniforms instead of his usual jersey. The Mavs are appearing to be a major contender when injury to Butler and then main man Dirk Nowitzki hit them. Nowitzki's recent return did not translate immediately to a victory.

Image from Yahoo! Sports Blog - Balls Don't Lie

Injuries can really affect the way teams achieve their peek form. Just look at the current NBA leader San Antonio Spurs, playing well because their guys are healthy, specially their big three of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. The much-hyped Miami Heat have strung together a number of wins but tail off with Lebron's injury first and then Bosh. Same with the Celtics who are surviving while fighting off a spate of injuries.

The team who becomes healthy after the all star break going through the playoffs stands a great chance of ending the season with an NBA championship title.

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The Phoenix Suns defeated the Houston Rockets 123 - 116 in Houston bolstered by the return of its star and leader, Steve Nash, into action.

Image from ESPN/NBA Gallery
Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Steve Nash did not played in the last two games because of a groin injury. His return is timely as he helped the Phoenix Suns stop its 3 game losing skid. He scored 24 points and dished out 9 assist.

My Phoenix Suns is now again at .500 winning percentage (7-7) which in the ultra-competitive western conference hardly gets you into the postseason.

Go Suns!

* I hope the front office of the Phoenix Suns make a strong move unto signing serviceable big man Erick Dampier away from Miami to at least have a decent inside presence.

* Phoenix Suns arch-nemesis San Antonio Spurs is looking like a serious contender for another title with its 10th straight win over another contender the Orlando Magic.

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The Phoenix Suns shot 22 treys to offset the frontline of the Los Angeles Lakers for a 121 - 116 victory and hand the defending champs first lost at its home floor in the Staples Center for their fifth win in the NBA 2010 - 2011 season.

Image via ESPN/NBA Gallery
Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jason Richardson led the Suns in scoring with 34 points with 7 three-pointers, off-season acquisition Hedo Turkoglu had 5, Channing Frye had 4, Goran Dragic had 3, Steve Nash had 2 and Jared Dudley added one. The Phoenix Suns almost match the record 23 made treys set by the Orlando Magic.

My sports weekend was great after Manny Pacquiao's facial drubbing of Antonio Margarito is followed by my Phoenix Suns returning the favor to the Lakers who already beat them at home this season.

I know 22 of 40 will not be on a nightly basis but maybe this is the identity that my Suns can embrace specially that they do not have an inside presence. A run and (3 point) gun team.

This is the first time that I noticed my Phoenix Suns move above the .500 mark in win percentage. I hope that beating the defending champs will boost their confidence and continue winning.

Go Suns!

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Steve Nash & the Phoenix Suns have dealt the Atlanta Hawks their first loss of the NBA Season 2010 - 2011 via a 118 - 114 win on the road.

That's more like it.

My Phoenix Suns had a balanced attack where 6 players scored in double figures to have their first win streak of the early NBA season and even their win-loss slate at 3 - 3.

Jason Richardson led Phoenix with 21 while Captain Steve had 19 points & 15 assists, including four important endgame free throws to seal the win.

The Atlanta Hawks started the season 6 - 0 and previously was the only undefeated Eastern conference team. Major offseason signee Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 34 points.

Go, Suns!

Image via Yahoo! Sports/NBA/Photo Gallery - AP Photo/Gregory Smith

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I resume blogging here simultaneous with the opening of one of the most anticipated NBA season in recent memory - the NBA 2010 - 2011 its 65th season. On a sad note at that as Phoenix lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 106 - 92.

As usual, I'm rooting for the Phoenix Suns to do well even if making the playoffs is unlikely in the demanding Western Conference.

I was in pins and needle as I monitored the Suns opener against the Portland Trailblazers on the net. Smiling on the time that they took the lead but quickly surrendered it and eventually losing to the Nicolas Batum led Blazers, 106 - 92.

Captain Steve had a lot of turnovers. I guess even the great Canadian needs adjustment in setting the tempo for his new teammates.

Well, even the much heralded Miami Heat lose their opening game of the season. Go Suns!

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