Game Three: A Must-Win for the San Antonio Spurs

Game Three of the Spurs - Lakers playoff series will be in San Antonio. Having dropped the first two games in Los Angeles, Game Three becomes a must win situation for the Spurs. If the Spurs drop Game Three to the Lakers, the task then becomes monumental. If Game Three is a win for the Lakers, then the Spurs would need to win four consecutive games in order to advance. Two of those four games would be in Los Angeles.

There are some basic issues that the Spurs must address in Game Three:

• The Spurs need to be scoring more points. - With Manu Ginobili obviously injured and limited in what he can do, the Spurs need more scoring. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have been consistent in producing points but the Spurs need more offense from their other starters and bench.
• The defense needs to contain Lamar Odom. - Kobe Bryant will score his points. The defense on Kobe Bryant may be an attempt to limit the damage. However, Lamar Odom is scoring near the basket. The Spurs defense has to stop Lamar Odom’s scoring so deep in the paint. Even if it means allowing Lamar Odom to shoot distant jump shots, it would be preferable to his drives to the basket.
• The Spurs’ three point shooting has to improve. In Game Two, the three point efficiency was just slightly above twenty six per cent ( 6 - 23 ). This allows the Lakers too much focus on Tim Duncan.
• The Spurs need to exploit the defensive liabilities of Vladimir Radmanovic on the Lakers’ starting five. Vladimir Radmanovic is notorious for defensive lapses and it may be a means for the Spurs to build an immediately lead. That would engage the home crowd fans.

After Game Two, the Spurs have been called “old” and “tired” by the some of the press. Nevertheless, they are the reigning NBA champions. The Spurs have shown that they are resilient. This team beat a young and athletic Hornets team and did so from a two game deficit. As a former NBA coach, Rudy Tomjanovich, said, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion”. The Spurs know that their season rests on Game Three.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Using Google to Convert to International Currency

If you need to know the value of a certain amount of money, converted to an international currency, Google will do that easily. There is no need to go to a currency conversion site. In the Google search entry, just enter the conversion.

Here is an example. If you want to know the value of a hundred U.S. dollars in Canadian currency enter the follow query: “100 US dollars in Canadian money” (without the quotation marks). Google will provide you with the answer. Today, it is 98.599 Canadian dollars.

This Google feature is wonderful if you are traveling and having a difficult time doing the currency conversions by mental arithmetic.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Phil Jackson Is Rewarded By Jordan Farmar’s Play

Jordan Farmar’s post season play has been remarkably different than his regular season performance. Some of the media scribes have called it a “slump”. It was more a coming of age as a professional basketball player for Jordan Farmar. First, the Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets in the initial playoff round. With that, Jordan Farmar had to contend with Allen Iverson. In the next playoff series, it was the Utah Jazz and it was lessons from Deron Williams. And now, it is the San Antonio Spurs and a very quick Tony Parker facing Jordan Farmar.

Based on the stakes at hand and the on-court struggles that Jordan Farmar was having, the coaching staff of the Lakers could have justified reducing the playing time of their young point guard. To Phil Jackson’s credit, he trusted Jordan Farmar and played him in his regular rotation with the second unit off the bench.

In Game Two of the Lakers - Spurs series, Jordan Farmar richly rewarded the faith that his coach had in him. Jordan Farmar scored fourteen points, with five baskets on seven tries, one blocked shot and one steal. He shot fifty per cent from three-point territory. Further, Jordan Farmar made one of the spectacular defensive plays of the night. He chased down Ime Udoka and, from behind, he elevated and blocked an almost sure layup. Jordan Farmar did not give up on the play.

link: Game Two

Often, Phil Jackson is not given full credit for his coaching acumen. He has had superstar like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Some have wondered how much coaching is involved with stars such as these, except to have them at the arena by game time. However, these stars did not start winning until Phil Jackson was their coach. And as with Jordan Farmar, Phil Jackson is going through the process of watching some miserable play in order for his player to find success. In Game Two, Jordan Farmar started to repaid the trust.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Air Fares Instantly Becomes Costlier

Earlier this week, American Airlines instituted a fee policy for the first piece of checked luggage. Unfortunately for passengers, this is not the only added expense to air travel. Now there is an added increase to the air travel ticket:

“Continental Airlines and US Airways matched United’s airfare hike of up to $60 roundtrip late Friday night, leaving Northwest Airlines as the only major that isn’t on board yet.”

link: Continental, US Airways jump aboard $60 airfare hike

With the soaring cost of fuel, airlines are struggling to maintain profitability and trying to find creative ways to generate more revenue. If there is air travel for you in the near future, check the web site of your carrier regularly. The airline policies are subject to change daily - and undoubtedly, more creative fees will be initiated soon.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/