The NBA has no shortage of exciting storylines, and rivalries have always made watching basketball more exciting than it already is. Some of these rivalries have defined careers and all of them have contributed to the NBA’s illustrious history.

Here are the top 10 rivalries in NBA history:

10. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

In the early 2000’s, the Sacramento Kings were one of the most formidable teams in the West, and posed one of the biggest threats to the Lakers dynasty helmed by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

The Kings came close to preventing the Kobe and Shaq from ever accomplishing a three-peat in the controversial 2002 Western Conference Finals, where the Sacramento squad led by Chris Webber took the Lakers to seven games but eventually lost. To this day, you can find basketball fans claiming that the Kings were robbed, but the challenge they posed to the Lakers is in itself already an astonishing feat.

9. Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

There’s no dispute that LeBron James is the greatest player of his generation, and the undisputed best player in the league for much of the 2010s. But there’s also no denying that Kevin Durant posed the biggest threat to the King’s throne, and some might argue that Durant has taken the top spot at this point in time.

James and Durant met in the playoffs for the first time during the 2012 Finals, where LeBron’s Miami Heat defeated Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant however got his retribution with the Golden State Warriors, beating LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals. With LeBron’s Lakers and Durant’s Nets now being among the frontrunners for the 2022 Championship, is another NBA Finals showdown in the horizon?

8. Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

The back-to-back NBA Finals bouts between the Heat and the San Antonio Spurs in 2013 and 2014 were among the most compelling playoff series in recent history.

With one team vying to establish a new dynasty and with the other looking to remain dominant, the Finals matchups between the Heat and the Spurs made for multiple career-defining moments, and it seems only right that the teams tied at 1-1 in their Finals matchups.

7. Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

From the end of the 90’s to the end of the 2010’s, the Western Conference were basically owned by these teams. Except for 2006 when the Dallas Mavericks made the Finals, all NBA Finals series from 1999 to 2010 featured either the Lakers or the Spurs.

With seemingly divergent approaches to the game, watching battles between the flashy Lakers and the methodical Spurs was always an experience for any basketball fan.

6. Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics

During the earlier days of the NBA, Philadelphia and Boston vied for supremacy in the Eastern Conference, and the rivalry transcended generations.

Whether it was Russell versus Chamberlain or Bird versus Erving, a Celtics and Sixers game always presented thrills, and the tension was always palpable in the building.

5. Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

In the late 2010s, it was almost a foregone conclusion that these two teams would face off in the NBA Finals. Both teams traded blows in 2015 and 2016, with the latter year bearing witness to perhaps the greatest comeback in all of sports.

Although the battle eventually became lopsided in favor of Golden State when they signed Kevin Durant, watching LeBron James’s Cavaliers duel with the Warriors made for must-see television.

4. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain

No other two centers were at odds in their generation, or perhaps in any generation, than Russell and Chamberlain. Both players were undeniably the best at their positions during their time.

While Russell wins the championship conversation, thanks in no small part to his prolific supporting cast, Chamberlain was the statistical juggernaut who set records that are yet to be beaten up to this day.

3. Michael Jordan vs. Detroit Pistons

Michael Jordan didn’t come out of the gate dominating the entire NBA. The young Jordan had to surmount the Detroit Pistons first before he became the legend that he is.

The Detroit Pistons’ infamous “Jordan Rules” posed a huge threat to Jordan during his early years, but Jordan eventually prevailed and it was after beating the Pistons in the playoffs when Jordan ascended to another level towards becoming the GOAT.

2. Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird

Two players whose careers were seemingly intertwined since their college days, Magic and Bird’s fierce duels brought millions of viewers to the NBA, and made the 1980s a great time to be a basketball fan.

Magic and Bird’s battles in the NBA Finals is the stuff of legend nowadays, and their rivalry is only eclipsed by that of their own teams.

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

It’s no surprise that the top rivalry in NBA history is between the two winningest franchises in the NBA. NBA Finals showdowns between these two teams always brought the intensity, and the rivalry has been ongoing for generations.

The Lakers are one ring away from tying Boston’s 17 championships, and although the Lakers are currently favorites for the title, the Celtics’ young core shows a lot of promise, and it’s not far from possible to see a Finals rematch between these two teams in the near future.

The “Street Foodz Ghana” is a new docu-reality platform that seeks to appreciate and showcase the authentic Ghanaian street food and its vendors to boost tourism.

Maxima Media, the owners of FoodBay TV and the creators and curators of StreetFoodz Naija, arguably Africa’s largest food docu-reality series, have expanded their tentacles on the continent with the arrival of StreetFoodz Ghana. The show was officially launched on Thursday, October 21, 2021, during a press conference and was highlighted by the announcement of Gino brand as the headline sponsor.

The debut episode of the show, which will be aired via AdomTV – 5:30pm (Saturday), MaxTV – 6:30pm (Saturday), Joy Prime – 6:00pm (Saturday) and GHone- 6.30pm (Sunday) on 30th October 2021, will carry compelling and exciting content and celebrate (among others) a diverse range of street food vendors who are often overlooked by mainstream media.

Out of 100 and more entries made, 13 Ghana’s best food vendors who qualified to partake in the main hottest food contest ever will compete for the Grand prize worth GHc 50,000, GHc 20,000 and GHc 10, 000 including bragging rights, the crown and the grand title of “King of Street foods in Ghana” — putting a lively culinary culture, unique palates, and frequently strange civilizations to the test.

The show will also explore the street foods and its vendors from across the capital. Archival footage is combined with face-to-face interviews and follows street food chefs and their history, which is intertwined with the big picture of how influential street food is on their native country.

Speaking at the official press launch held at the Alisa Hotel, Ghana, Georgina Abbam- Baidoo Amfo, Project manager, Street Foodz Ghana said: “We used this opportunity to take a tour around the country to select 13 street food vendors who would be trained for 13 weeks. The winner will be coming out as the Street Food King in Ghana and will also get his/her aerial space renovated, an SMS tool kit (branding), and a promotional video for advertising.”

Akua Obiri-Yeboah, Marketing director, GB foods Ghana declared her entity’s unflinching support towards this move since contestants and to a large extent, Street Food Chefs rely on their brand to serve millions of consumers.

“We felt this was a very good platform because the people we are targeting rely on our products and brands to feed millions of consumers. And based on the idea and discussion we had, we felt it was a good way to reach out to the food service outlets out there. We wanted to be part of it to let them know we place high value on them for patronizing our brand. We are looking forward to having engaging and exciting experience with the team at street food and vendors.”

Olufemi Ogundoro, Managing Director of Maxima Media Group also said the move is in line with the vision of FoodBay TV to put African food on the world food map.

“Food Bay TV is a dedicated platform which focuses primarily of food and lifestyle and showcases the best of African foods to the rest of the world. Ghana has the best culture appreciation in Africa. Ghanaians are proud of their heritage and equally proud of their food. That is why we have this platform to able to showcase the best Ghanaian street food, elevating the standards and majorly boosting tourism.”

Launched in 2019, Street Foodz show is aimed at promoting local cuisine, as well as supporting entrepreneurs in the food sector and rebranding street foods. Just like the maiden edition, and the subsequent one, the 30 minutes televised and digitally transmitted docu-reality series will showcase the best of Africa’s street food delicacies.

The premiere of the latest Efia Odo series “My African Love with Efia Odo” will mark a Diaspora success in the fall of 2021 in the United States. This groundbreaking series is produced by Koby Maxwell, the multi award-winning producer of Epic Nollywood-Hollywood film “One Night in Vegas” and CEO of KM Productions. It is co-produced by Jojo Andoh of Jo Kanin Productions and Nana Danso a.k.a chairman of ND Productions. Directed by Robert Peters

“My African Love with Efia Odo” stars popular Ghanaian actress and entertainer, Efia Odo. Also featuring is Andromeda Peters (Miss United States 2018/2019) in her film making debut with this series and the award-winning media personality, Charlie Dior. Household name, Chris Attoh, is our amazing presenter along with a host of others given an ecstatic feature on the show.

“The show is highly entertaining and a must watch!” Ama K Abebrese British-Ghanaian actress, television presenter and producer of “QUOTE”

“This is the beginning of a fantastic start for the African community, there is no limit!”

Joseph Van Vicker Ghanaian Actor, Movie Director and Humanitarian

The series is unlike any popular Hollywood love story. It dabbles in a rather unconventional twist in a lady’s quest to find love amidst betrayals and heartbreaks. She ignores the red flags and warnings from her friends and family of the absurdity of finding love on a reality show. Though they are vehemently against this, she goes ahead to personally host an auditioning for a selection of 15 men to contest in what she terms ‘an in-house competition’ in the hope of finding her one true love. The eviction process involves a true test of the competitors’ personalities in the most engaging ways possible. She is provided in-house support by her trusted friends, and the twists and turns bring an all-round overwhelming reality TV series experience.

The reality TV series will be officially premiered as a red-carpet event on 19th December 2021 in Accra, Ghana at the SNAP Cinemas (Accra City Hall). It will show for 7 days from the 19th of December, 2021 to the 25th of December 2021. The show will be released in 2022 across the world on major platforms and TV networks. Tickets are available for sale in all major shopping malls in Accra and at theatre box offices on November 1st. Momo payment and ticket delivery are available at these locations. Tickets are also available online.

For a list of theatres and platforms the series will be available on, and to purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com or www.myafricanlove.tv . Watch the trailer of the show via our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Moviegoers who purchase a ticket to see “My African Love with Efia Odo” at any listed participating theatre will receive a free T-shirt and poster signed by Efia Odo. This limited offer is only available till November 30th.

Facebook and Comic Republic have announced the launch of #NoFalseNewsZone online comic book, an exciting and educational comic series designed to help people think critically about the messages they see and read online. The series helps readers to identify false news and what they can do to help minimise its spread.

The online comic book, which comes in a three-part series will feature the stories of an experienced nurse, an intern reporter and a university student who are on their personal journey to educate people on how to curb false news, and also join the fight against misinformation to help create a #NoFalseNewsZone online.

“Facebook is excited to launch its #NoFalseNewsZone online comic book in collaboration with Comic Republic. We’ve come up with relatable and exciting stories to keep people entertained as we educate them on how to minimise its spread,” Oluwasola Obagbemi, Facebook’s Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa said, while commenting on the launch. “As a pioneer of innovation for human connection through social presence, Facebook has given people the power to build communities and bring the world closer together in new and profound ways. Our hope is that with this online comic book, people will make informed decisions by thinking critically about what they read, trust and share,” Obagbemi added.

Speaking on the collaboration, Comic Republic CEO, Jide Martin said: “In a world where we are online for everything essential, it is now critical that we protect our new reality. More than ever, with just one tap online, you can either make or mar a life. As such, we must all be accountable for the information we share on social media. Comic Republic’s mission is rooted in storytelling for a cause, so the #NoFalseNewsZone campaign is right up our alley and such a thrill to work on. I urge people to read and pass it on but most of all, really think before you share unverified messages with their contacts. We don’t need superpowers to do good.”

To download the #NoFalseNewsZone comic series, visit:

https://www.thecomicrepublic.com/site/web/NoFalseNewsZoneviewer.html?file=NoFalseNewsZone_facebook_October_2021_Comic_Republic_Web.pdf

Guests at hotels appreciate how they are treated and how their experience was at a particular place. When dealing with a resort, you need to employ these tactics to attract and maintain your clients. A resort is a place people go for a vacation to relax and have fun. Most resorts provide an all-inclusive for visitors that is food, lodging, and some other expenses. But how do you attract more people to your resort amid all the competition? 

Well, in this post, we focus on helping you to know ways of getting more guests to your fancy resort; buckle up. 

Go All in With the Architecture

Yes, the most significant way to lure those travellers is by building your resort with appealing architecture. Who doesn’t want to be in an impressive building for their holiday? Invest in good architectural companies that will blow your prospects’ minds making them unable to resist it. Tourists like taking photos of the places they visit, especially for social media influencers. If your resort is appealing enough to be part of their content, they will choose your resort over others. 

The design of the building should also include spacious ensuite rooms for your guest’s comfort. 

Spare No Expenses With Decor

The decor is an essential element in your resort. You can only entertain high-end guests if your decor is on point, which means, hire the best interior designers in the game to make your resort outshine its competitors. Also, design is not limited to the interior only; partner with renowned landscapers to transform your outdoors. Since it is a vacation destination, the outdoors play a vital role in maintaining your clients. 

Include a custom made pool that fits the overall design of the premises. The pool doesn’t have to be regular; ensure you add some eccentric shape, a hot tub, music, lighting, unique furniture to match, an infinity edge, among others. When installing electrical components, ensure you keep them safely in waterproof metal enclosures to void any accidents. 

Strategic Marketing 

Marketing is a crucial part of any business; hence, experts who understand the industry and the market well should be led by experts. Tourism is a global industry bringing in revenue to various countries. Although there might be good seasons and bad ones, it will never go out of business. For this reason, investing in your marketing team will propel your resort ahead of your competitors. 

Advertise the resort on television and radio, to reach more local people. You can also use travelling-based magazines and LED displays. Lastly, use social media. Social media has made marketing a bit easy since you only require to hire the right influencers to market your resort. You can pay them for the advert or offer them an all-inclusive free vacation on the condition they market for you. 

Recreational Areas and Activities

Make your resort stand out from the rest by offering additional recreational areas and activities. Resorts are meant for relaxation and fun, and if you add more fun to them, they will be the most preferred. Have a spa area that includes saunas, tanning areas, massages, pedicures and manicures, yoga, etc. These additional elements will be a plus for you, and you will attract more tourists. 

Activities like kayaking, zip-lining, surfing, snorkelling, diving, and so on will keep your visitors engaged while staying at your resort. Incorporate a dock system to create a seamless transition from the water to land. Plastic floating docks are the best.

Offer the Best Services in the Market

You might be wondering why some outstanding hotels do not have as many guests as expected; well, worry no more. It all comes down to the service. How you treat your guest will either make or break your business regardless of its size. Incorporate good values into your staff and ensure they follow the letter. People will never forget how you made them feel more than how the place looked. 

Good services include respect for guests, listening to their grievances, responding quickly and accordingly, and offering what you agreed on during reservations. Some of these may seem minor, but they will contribute to how your guests perceive the resort. 

Create an Online Presence

In this day and age, having a stable online presence will work best for your business. Build a website for your resort and include all the services offered to your guest. Optimize the website well to create seamless navigation whenever prospects are browsing. Remember to include pricing, rooms, advantages and setbacks, recreations available, and other crucial information guests might need. 

Be transparent to help you build trust in the market. Do not display a product or service that is not available as this will create doubt in your guest, and they will fail to book in the future. 

Conclusion 

It is not an easy job to please people, especially now that many have been exposed to various outstanding features worldwide. Guests want a comfortable place to stay while having their vacation. Be a provider who meets all the needs of what the market demands. Integrate the above guidelines into your resort and stay on top of the game. Your rivals will be nowhere near you since you will get all the high-end guests. 

If you’ve been paying attention to the real estate market recently, you’ll know that the seller’s market, which was strong before the pandemic began, has only increased since the start of COVID-19.

This means home prices are high and buyer competition is fierce. If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, you may want to consider putting your home on the market sooner rather than later because, while no one expects these conditions to disappear overnight, the coming months may invite more inventory to the market, as well as lower home prices.

Buyers are still highly incentivized

If you’re a seller, there’s certainly no need to rush. As the economy reopens and strengthens, buyers know the days of low mortgage rates — a factor that drove them to the market in waves — may be ending.

Many buyers are relying on these low mortgage rates to afford a home, despite prices being rather high.

Buyers will be locking in these rates and rushing to the market to take advantage before it’s too late. Sellers, you’ll want to take advantage while buyers are still highly incentivized to enter the market and competition is still high, as it may not last much longer.

Home prices are still high, but bidding wars are on the decline

In HomeLight’s Summer / Fall Report, real estate agents across the country noted that prices are still high, however buyers may be at their breaking point. In fact, realtors across the country have noticed buyers dropping out of deals at the last moment.

Due to the competitive nature of the market, buyers are having to bid over asking price in order to win the home of their dreams. Once they’ve made a deal, they’re left to ponder their decision and rethink whether such a lofty investment is truly worth it.

This often leads to sellers lowering their home price, as now there’s a stigma that something is wrong with the property. Realtors are encouraging their sellers not to get too greedy. If the bid on your home is too astronomical, you may find buyers drop out at the last minute.

Moreover, bidding wars are starting to diminish. While realtors were reporting about 20-plus bids per listing earlier in the year, the average listing now only receives about 5 bids.

While prices are still high compared to normal market conditions, these trends may indicate that buyers may see home prices drop in the coming months.

Inventory may soon return to the market

The main reason for such high home prices? Low inventory. Since most sellers were wary of entering the market during the pandemic, there simply was not enough inventory to match buyer demand. Thus, home prices skyrocketed.

Now that the vaccine is available to all who want it, sellers feel more secure and are beginning to enter back into the market. If you want to sell for the best price, contact your real estate agent in order to take advantage of the favorable market conditions.