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How are the NBA Playoffs looking?! Some teams are all tied up!

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

Cavs vs. Pacers

LeBron James has managed to bring back the Cavs versus the Pacers. He had two big games scoring 46 and 32 points. The series is now drawn 2-2. He surely can lead the Cavs to beat the Pacers, but if the Pacers stay focused and make shots when it counts and they really want to beat the Cavs, they can. LeBron has sent home the Pacers for the past few years, can the tables turn on him this time? Either way, Suga doesn’t see LeBron James in the NBA Finals this year.

Raptors vs. Wizards 

The Wizards came back versus the Raptors in a heated game last night to tie the series at 2-2.

Celtics vs. Bucks

Giannis and the Bucks have been on a roll versus the Celtics coming from 2 down to tying the series 2-2 yesterday.

76ers vs Heat

Embiid and the 76ers lead the Heat 3-1.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans

Anthony Davis and veteran, Rajon Rondo beat the NBA odds, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to sweep the 3rd seed in the West, the Portland Trail Blazers! They are likely to meet the Warriors next for a much harder series.

OKC vs. Jazz

Ricky Rubio of the Jazz scored the 1st triple double for Utah in the Playoffs since John Stockton! Rubio’s impressive performance helped the Jazz take game 3 and go up on OKC 2-1 in the series. Westbrook of OKC said in a post-game interview that he is going to shut him down!

Rockets vs Timberwolves

After a few close games, the Timberwolves finally got a win versus the Rockets. The Rockets are still up 2-1 in the series.

Warriors vs. Spurs

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The highlight yesterday was the San Antonio Spurs playing with pure heart without their beloved Coach Popovich, whose wife died. The Spurs avoided the sweep by the Warriors and routed them 103-90. Aldridge and Rudy Gay played well for the Spurs, but the man responsible was none other than 40-year old Manu Ginobili with 16 points! Manu is now 3rd in all-time Play off 3-pointers made with 321, just passing Reggie Miller. Ray Allen still leads with 385, followed by LeBron James with 337.

With last night’s 132nd win, Manu with teammate, Tony Parker are the winningest duo in NBA Playoff history, taking over from his past teammate, Tim Duncan who was also paired as a duo with Tony Parker.

They head back to Golden State for Game 5, where it is likely that the Warriors will wrap things up. But it was a good win for the Spurs!

Don’t you just love this game?! Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Ginobili Hits the Game-Winning Shot for Spurs vs Celtics!

Spurs vs. Celtics last night lived up to Suga’s expectations to be an exciting game. The Celtics were out front early in the game, leaving the Spurs to play catch up for most of the first half. The Spurs came back strong towards the end led by LaMarcus Aldridge with 27 points. But it was veteran, Manu Ginobili who hit the game-winning three with 5 seconds remaining.

Kyrie Irving’s attempt for a game-tying three at the buzzer rimmed out and the Spurs overcame his 36-point effort to beat him and the Celtics, 105-102.

Watch “Spurs’ Manu Ginóbili Hits Game-Winning 3 to Lift Spurs over Celtics” on YouTube here:

What else happened last night?!

The Cavs 13-game winning streak came to an end despite the efforts and stats of LeBron James. The Pacers beat them 106-102.

The Warriors fought on despite being without Steph Curry who is out with an ankle injury. Kevin Durant a.k.a KD put up 36 points for their 102-98 win versus the Pistons.

Don’t you just love this game?! Keep watching the lead up to the Playoffs.

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this blog, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

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Elaine Thompson Burnt up the Track and the Celtics Avoided a Sweep vs Cavs!

It was quite an entertaining weekend in Sports, featuring Athletics at the National Stadium on Saturday and the Eastern and Western Conference NBA Finals.

JAMAICA INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL ATHLETICS MEET

Highlights

400m Women

Veteran, Novlene Williams-Mills won in 50.54 in a packed field. Although it was a slow race, she finished ahead of USA’s Phillis Francis (2nd) and Natasha Hastings (3rd).

I said it was a slow race because Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas destroyed the field in 49.77 in Shanghai last week in a World Leading time. These ladies have work to do.

3000m Steeplechase

Jamaica’s Aisha Praught Leer won with a new Meet record time! Promising outlook for long distance from Jamaica.

100m Women

USA’s Morolake Akinosun who anchored the USA’s team at the Penn Relays, came away with the win in 11.06. She finished ahead of Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle Lee Ahye (2nd) and USA veteran, Allyson Felix (3rd).

100m Men

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake finally had some good fortune and won in 9.93 ahead of USA’s Ronnie Baker (2nd) who finished in 9.98 and Mike Rodgers, also from the USA in 3rd.

200m Women

Jamaica’s Olympic Gold medallist, Elaine Thompson burnt up the track, sprinting ahead of her opponents on the curve and increased her speed and lead down the stretch. A spectacular run with a World Leading time of 22.09s.

Jamaica’s 400m runner, Shericka Jackson, tried her hand at the 200m and came 2nd. Is this a sign of greater things to come from Shericka?

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Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson leads the field down the stretch in the Women’s 200m

200m Men

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Canada’s Andre DeGrasse who won the Men’s 200m

Canada’s Andre DeGrasse had to run hard to win in 20.14 to beat USA’s LaShawn Merritt (2nd) and UK’s Zharnel Hughs (3rd).

Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade could not step up to the plate as usual and Warren Weir may need to consider an early retirement.

NBA PLAYOFFS 2017

The Cavs drstroyed the Celtics on Friday night to win by 44 points and to go up in the series, 2-0. It was an embarrassing loss for the Celtics in their own arena that many could not stay to watch, especially viewers at home in front of their televisions. Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas (IT) went to the locker room early during the game with a nagging hip injury. But if I were him I would run and hide too. They were throroughly disrespected by the Cavz. Even Cavs’ JR Smith had a petty moment, pretending to sweep a broom at one point in the game.

Before game 3, news broke that IT will be out for the rest of the Playoffs with the hip injury. So almost everyone wrote the Celtics off to lose in a sweep. But last night they came out without IT to compete and everyone contributed.

LeBron James only scored 11 points, his fewest points in his last 58 Playoff games! He was also scoreless in the last 16 minutes.

You have to question if this game was rigged by the NBA to save the Eastern Conference and the NBA. Because that loss by the Celtics on Friday was not only embarassing for them, but the league as well.

Either way, you have to say the Lepricon woke up and travelled with the Celtics to Cleveland after seeing Avery Bradley’s game-winning 3-pointer shot go in! Well done.

Watch “Avery Bradley GAME WINNER Celtics vs Cavaliers Game 3 May 21 2017 2017 NBA Playoffs” on YouTube here:

The San Antonio Spurs put up some fight on Saturday without Kawhi Leonard compared to their blow out loss in Game 2 vs the Warriors.  But they still fell short and Warriors are now up 3-0 in the series. Kawhi has been ruled out to play Game 4, so the Spurs may need something special in order not to get swept. Something special from LaMarcus Aldridge perhaps? He has been a complete disappointment.

So we wait for the inevitable Cavs-Warriors rematch in the Finals.

Stay tuned.

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

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Celtics Outlast Wizards in Game 7 to Play Cavs Wednesday!

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Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas and Wizards’ John Wall embrace respectfully after Game 7

John Wall and IT went cold in the late 4th and Bradley Beal kept it going for the Wizards with 38 points. However, the unlikely hero of the night, Kelly Olynyk, came up big for Boston from the bench in the 4th, finishing with 26 points!

Boston will head to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 5 years.

Upcoming games:

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Photo: ESPN Scorecenter

Warriors vs. Spurs tonight at 8pm.

San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out to play vs. Warriors in Game 2 after aggravating his ankle injury twice in Game 1’s 3rd quarter.

The 2nd time he aggravated the ankle, was by landing on Warriors’ Zaza Pachulia’s foot that slid slyfully where his injured foot would and did land. This occurred after Zaza contested the 3-point shot. Suga thinks it was a dirty play pulled off in a smart way. Cosigned by Stephen A. Smith who took a while to say it was ‘questionable’.

Coach Popovich says Zaza’s closeout on Kawhi was ‘unnatural’.

Zaza has responded saying he is not a dirty player.

The Spurs definitely do not have a chance versus the Warriors without Kawhi.

Celtics vs. Cavs tomorrow at 7:30pm.

It suits the NBA to have a Cavs-Warriors Final and that will be the likely outcome.

The ball is round though and the Celtics have risen to every occasion up to this point. So can Boston as underdogs upset the fairytale ending?

Stay tuned. Don’t you just love this game!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this blog, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

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Who’s Ready for the NBA FINALS?!!!

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Photo: www.otgbasketball.com

And then there were 5…

The Semi-Finals have not finished as yet but I am ready for the Cavs-Warriors rematch in the Finals!

Although you have to take match-ups into consideration, the other teams struggled in their series.

Spurs vs. Rockets

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Photo: www.expressnews.com

The San Antonio Spurs struggled without Tony Parker who will be out for the rest of the postseason with a leg injury and the Houston Rockets were able to level the series at 2-2. The Spurs came firing back on Tuesday night winning an epic game in OT but they had their star, Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury to worry about. Leonard sprained his ankle in Game 5.

The Kawhiless Spurs played in Game 6 as if they had no worries though. They closed out the series in 6, sending the Rockets home in a blowout, 114-75! How did they do it? Well, they have won without Kawhi before and truth be told, we should not have doubted them nor Coach Popovich.

It was a total team effort and they played the Spurs way. LaMarcus Aldridge finally came up big with 34 points. Patty Mills filled the spot of Tony Parker remarkably. Rookies, Jonathon Simmons and the future of the Spurs, Dejounte Murray stepped up and played well too. Not to mention Pau Gasol, the other big in the paint and Danny Green who was everywhere last night.

The Spurs completely shut down the Rockets from the 3-point line, which is their strongest area.

Well done Spurs and Congrats to Coach Gregg Popovich for eliminating all teams that exist in the West in the Playoffs. This was his first meeting with the Rockets in the Playoffs.

Where was the Beard? MVP who? Definitely not with that embarrassing performance. At the end of the first half, James Harden only scored 5 points and had 5 turnovers. I think based on the great number of turnovers for the Rockets last night, it was a bad decision to wear grey. It was if they were colour blind passing the balls to the Spurs who were in black.

Check this video out. What was Harden doing?! Watch “Harden’s Struggles | May 11, 2017” on YouTube here:

According to Stephen A. Smith, Harden looked like he was comatosed and Hall of Famers said he quit. I agree. Harden ended with 10 points (2/11 FG; 2/9 3-point line). He said he takes responsibility for their loss and isn’t quite sure what happened. He blamed the rhythm of the game.

James Harden taking responsibility for the Rockets’ loss in his Post-game interview

Celtics vs. Wizards

In the East, John Wall and the Washington Wizards found a new life to level the series with the Boston Celtics 2-2. But when Boston returned home they took care of business to make the Wizards face elimination in Game 6 tonight.

Suga thinks the Wizards will have the same fate as the Rockets.

Cavs & Warriors

In the mean time, the Cavs and Warriors are sitting pretty with lots of rest. They have created history, where 2 teams have started out the postseason 8-0!

Warriors swept the Utah Jazz and Cavs swept the Toronto Raptors. After being eliminated by the Cavs in the Playoffs for the 2nd consecutive year, it is said that Raptors’ Kyle Lowry is thinking about heading over to the West side to have a better chance of advancing to the NBA Finals.

Key Factors that would make a Cavs-Warriors Final Different from last year

● LeBron James is looking better than ever for the Finals and has improved his 3-point game.

● Kevin Love is not out injured and is back in the game making shots, though inconsistent.

● The Cavs acquired Kyle Korver from the Hawks. He holds the NBA record for the highest 3-point Field Goal % in a season with 53.6%.

● The Warriors lost Andrew Bogut but they acquired JaVale McGee who is a beast in the paint and strong for their defense.

● The Warriors also acquired David West from the Spurs who is a good shot-maker as well.

● The Warriors have K.D! Will he get his first ring?

But first, the Warriors play the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals this Sunday at 3:30pm ET!

Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

 

Teams are getting Destroyed in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs Semifinals!

NBA PLAYOFFS SEMI-FINALS !!!

Celtics vs. Wizards

Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics took care of the Washington Wizards on Sunday, even with IT losing a tooth during the game. They play Game 2 tonight.

Cavs vs. Raptors

The Cavs were pumped from very early in the game versus the Raptors. Check out how they set the tone below.

Watch “Kyrie Irving off the Backboard alley oop to Lebron James – Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 1” on YouTube here:

Another highlight was Shumpert’s disrespectful dunk over the Raptors’ Ibaka.

LeBron and the Cavs were so relaxed that they had time for fun and games in the 3rd Quarter.

Watch “LeBron James Pretends To Drink Fans Beer After A Foul | Cavaliers vs Raptors R2G1 | May 1, 2017” on YouTube here:

The game ended with the Cavs beating the Raptors 116-105.

Spurs vs. Rockets

The Rockets embarrassed the Spurs with a 126-99 bowout victory. They hit 22 3s and it was the Spurs’ worst post-season loss at home.

What happened?! The Spurs did not play their style of basketball. They played too fast pace, which hurt their offense resulting in many missed shots.

The realist in me says the Spurs can get 1 game, maybe 2 in this series. But if the Spurs really want it and they rise up and play like a Playoff team, slow down the pace and run their offense, they have a chance.

Warriors a.k.a Dubs vs Jazz

The Jazz closed out the LA Clippers in Game 7 in LA on Sunday. So the Dubs are stuck with the Jazz whether they like it or not. The Dubs’ concern? They wanted the Clippers because there is no night life in Utah.

Dubs play Jazz tonight.

On another note, where will CP3 go as a free agent this summer?!

Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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The Bucks and the Grizzlies were sent Home last night in the NBA Playoffs!

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The Raptors sent the Bucks packing in 6 with a late 3-pointer by former Spur, Cory Joseph. They will move on for a rematch with the Cavs in the Playoffs.

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Nothing but respecr shown between the two oldest players on the court who still played well this series. Vince Carter (L) and Tony Parker (R).

The San Antonio Spurs also move on from a spectacular series with the Memphis Grizzlies. Last night it was veteran, Tony Parker who stepped up big time with 27 points. Kahwi Leonard who played more minutes led the team to victory with 29 points.

Game 7s look doubtful for Round 1. If Suga had to choose 1, I would go with CP3 and the Clippers forcing a Game 7.

Here’s your Schedule for tonight! Enjoy!

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Photo: ESPN Scorecenter

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this blog, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

 

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Upsets Already in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs!

Current NBA Playoff Bracket status:

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Round 1 of the Playoffs have begun and we have already had 2 upsets. The Bucks beat the Raptors at home and the bigger story is the Bulls beating the Celtics in their house as well. However, even though the Bulls is the number 7 seed going into the Playoffs and the Celtics is number 1, the match ups are competitive. You cannot ignore the talent and experience of Rondo and D. Wade and the freshness and hunger of Jimmy Butler. This should be an interesting series.

The Pacers have kept close to the Cavs but have failed twice to overcome them. They don’t have what it takes to beat the Cavs this year.

In the West, The Trailblazers held their own versus the Warriors but the Warriors are just in a different class. They will keep the Warriors on their toes this series though.

The Jazz upset the Clippers to take Game 1 but I think these teams will go back and forth like the Hawks and Wizards in the East. They are the number 5 and 4 seeds respectively.

The Rockets rolled over OKC in Game 1. Suga believes OKC has what it takes to upset them but they have a lot of work to do.

The Spurs rolled over the Grizzlies in a Game 1 blowout. Game 2 was more competitive though, where the Grizzlies chipped away a 26-point deficit to a 4-point deficit. The Spurs regrouped and stretched the lead again to win and go up in the series 2-0.

During the game there was visible frustration from Zach Randolph for not getting foul calls, but it was their Coach Fizdale who was the most upset of all.

He went on a huge Post-game tirade on the Refs and is likely to get fined.

Watch “Grizzlies Coach David Fizdale was ABSOLUTELY TRIGGERED and GOES OFF on the referees!!” on YouTube here:

Coach Fizdale’s data does raise eyebrows but he should have quit while he was ahead. It’s not like he was playing a team like the Cavs. He was playing a team with class as well. ‘Kuwiet Kawhi’ is definitely not the type to cry for free throws. It just happens he got a lot.

Coach Fizdale has a ring from being on the Coaching staff for Miami so those Refs better recognize.

I assume they will come out hard at home. Hopefully the data is more reasonable for the rest of their series.

We’ll be looking out for the ‘They’re not gonna ROOK US’ T-shirts.

Tonight’s Schedule:

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Photo: ESPN Scorecenter

Enjoy!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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