Nba Tickets - Nba Title Contenders

by The British Library

Nba Tickets – Nba Title Contenders

Here are the teams I feel have a legitimate shot at winning the NBA title heading into the 2010-11 season:

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers are the two-time defending champs and have been to the NBA Finals in each of the last three seasons. They’re the favorite entering the 2010-11 season, but could get off to a slow start. Kobe is still on his way back to 100 percent after undergoing offseason knee surgery, so expect to see heavy doses of Pau Gasol early on. Gasol doesn’t sell NBA tickets as Kobe does, but he’s an integral part of the team’s success. If Bryant can return to form by midseason and stave off the aging process a bit, there’s no reason to think the Lakers won’t be representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this season. They’ve got size, a primetime clutch player and the best coach in the history of the NBA. It’s hard to bet against them.

Boston Celtics: The Celtics came within just one game of winning the title last season, despite the fact that everyone thought they were done going into the 2010 postseason. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are all a year older, but we saw that this team is capable of cruising through the regular season and turning it on in the playoffs. However, it’s risky to do that. The Celtics shored up their dearth of size on the inside by signing both Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal, a pair of veterans that will play in the middle until Kendrick Perkins returns. Having said all that, I still believe that this team can only go as far as point guard Rajon Rondo takes them. Rondo elevated himself into the conversation of best point guard in the league in the playoffs last season, but can he sustain that level of play for an entire season? If so, you might see the Celtics hoisting another championship trophy this June.

Miami Heat: The Heat had one heck of a summer, we all know that. Obviously the ultimate goal in Miami is to win a title, but I’m dubious of whether or not it can happen this year. I think the Heat will go through an adjustment period early in the season and could have some people pressing the panic button. They’re bound to figure it out, though, and should be a serious contender by the end of the season. However, it’s not going to be easy to overcome their lack of interior size, especially against big teams like the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh can stay healthy, they’re going to be tough to take down, but just how tough is really hard to figure at this point.

Orlando Magic: Believe it or not, I’m picking the Magic to win the title this season. I think they match up very well against the Heat, thanks to Dwight Howard in the middle and their outside shooting. They’re going to have trouble with Boston if they have to face them in the postseason, but I think Dwight Howard is ready to make a run at the MVP this season, which would put them over the top. I do think he’ll come up short of winning that award, but his offensive game could finally be coming around after working with Hakeem Olajuwon in the offseason. If Jameer Nelson can stay healthy and Rashard Lewis can have a bounce-back year, I think the Magic could end up not only being the best team in Florida, but in the entire league.

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Nba Tickets - Nba Title Contenders

Man wins $31M double jackpot with identical lottery tickets

Harry Black has won an amazing double jackpot worth $31M. (British Columbia Lottery)

Harry Black won an incredible $31.7 million in the lottery. But the way he accomplished it is even more amazing.

As the BBC reports, Black, from British Columbia, won the money thanks to his purchasing two tickets with identical numbers.

"This is a wonderful surprise to all of us," said Kevin Gass of the British Columbia Lottery. "While it's not known how many people buy identical tickets for a draw, it is the first time in the company's recollection that we've had this unique sort of win."

The $63 million jackpot was ultimately split four ways. Meaning that if Black had used his winning numbers on just one ticket, the jackpot would have been split three ways and he would have walked away with a still whopping $20 million.

Black, 66, is not only a huge lottery winner, he's also patient. The Surrey resident has been playing the same lottery numbers since he was 31—which means he waited 35 years for his enormous payday.

Black said he has always purchased two tickets with the same numbers.

For the record, the winning numbers were 02, 10, 17, 19, 44 and 47.

Black already knew he was holding the winning pair of tickets since April 13, but he didn't step forward to claim the jackpot until the end of May while making plans for how he'd spend the money.

“After this is done, I’ve got to get out of Dodge and do something I've never done in my entire life: Go on a holiday,” he told CTV.

Interestingly, Black said he has no plans to retire on his winnings. Instead, he’ll use the proceeds from the jackpot to build a home and go on vacation. He also plans to share some of the winnings with friends and family.

"I already got enough toys,” he said at the press conference where he was awarded his giant lottery check. “I worked hard for them. Maybe I’ll have time to play with them.”

Black said he’d never won more than $10 off a single ticket before. He purchased the two winning tickets at a local Chevron gas station.

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