NBA 2008 Playoffs - Day Thirty-Two - May 21

the first half of the game, Kobe Bryant had two points, which he scored in the second quarter. Somehow, his Lakers only went into the half down 51-43. In the third quarter, with the Spurs lead being as high as 20 points, the Lakers went to work in the second half. And their hardest worker? Why, Bryant of course! KB24 went on a tear and scored 25 points in the second half, including the go-ahead basket with about 24 seconds left on the game clock. Fortunately for Los Angeles, a Manu Ginobili three-point attempt hit off the rim and Sasha Vujacic hit two from the charity stripe to put the game away.
Tim Duncan scored a Spurs-high 30 points, and added 18 boards and four blocks. However, it wasn't enough against the Lakers and its bench who helped kick the game back the Lakers' way. Vujacic and Jordan Farmar scored 18 of the bench's 21 points, a +10 differential relative to the Spurs bench. It must be noted that Phil Jackson's teams are 40-0 when they win Game One of seven-game series. We'll see if that unbelievable record continues, but one game at a time. Game Two is played on Friday. Lakers lead series 1-0.

Basketball Youth Development Festival

Held annually each June for men between 1998-2005 and between 2002-2005 for women, USA Basketball’s Youth Development Festival is an entry-level event that combines competition with off-court educational seminars. Featuring four USA teams from 1998-2004, in 2005 the men's Festival featured three USA teams comprised of top players who are high school juniors or sophomores from around the US, and for the first time the Festival also included four international teams. The 2005 women's Festival featured three USA team and one international squad. Festival coaches are top high school and AAU coaches. The selections of the players and coaches are made by the USA Basketball Junior Development Committees.

FIBA 2008 Americas U18 Championship

Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifier, the tournament originally was held every four years between 1990-2006. FIBA changed its calendar, however, and the tournament will now be conducted every other year, followed in the next summer by the FIBA U19 World Championship.
USA men’s teams boast of a sensational 29-1 overall record in the U18/junior qualifiers and won gold in 1990, 1994, 1998, and most recently in 2006 when the United States played host to the U18 Championship For Men for the first time in San Antonio, Texas. The USA men’s team also captured bronze in 2002. Hosts of prior U18 championships are: San Antonio, Texas in 2006; Isle de Margarita, Venezuela in 2002; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in 1998; Santa Rosa, Argentina in 1994; and Montevideo, Uruguay in 1990.
Some top players to have represented the United States in the past U18 tournaments include Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1994); Carmelo Anthony (2002); Michael Beasley (2006), Chris Bosh (2002); Dee Brown (2002); Nick Collison (1998); Grant Hill (1990); Alan Houston (1990); Andre Iguodala (2002); Stephon Marbury (1994); Mike Miller (1998); Quentin Richardson (1998); and Deron Williams (2002).

About Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m) high hoop (the goal) under organized rules. Basketball is one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world.
Points are scored by shooting the ball through the basket above; the team with more points at the end of the game wins. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it (dribbling) or passing it between teammates. Disruptive physical contact (fouls) is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled (violations).
Through time, basketball has developed to involve common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions, and offensive and defensive structures. Typically, the tallest members of a team will play center, the shortest member usually plays "point guard" while often the best ball handlers are guards. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have developed for casual play. In some countries, basketball is also a popular spectator sport.