NBA Season Award Predictions

NBA Season Award Predictions: 

Most Valuable Player: LeBron James (MIA)  <--- #nuffsaid 

Second Choice: Kevin Durant (OKC) 

Dark Horse: Chris Paul (LAC) 

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard (ORL) <--- AGAIN? 

Second Choice: LeBron James (MIA) 

Dark Horse: DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 

Rookie of the Year: Derrick Williams (MIN) <--- Tough call. 

Second Choice: Kyrie Irving (CLE)

Dark Horse: Kemba Walker (CHA) 

Coach of the Year: Vinny Del Negro (LAC) 

Second Choice: Eric Spolestra (MIA) 

Dark Horse: Gregg Popovich (SAS) <--- Been there done that! 

Most Improved Player: Tracy McGrady (ATL) 

Second Choice: Tyler Hansbrough (IND) 

Dark Horse: -N/A- 

All-Rookie Team 

G: Kyrie Irving (CLE) 

G: Ricky Rubio (MIN) 

C: Enes Kanter (UTH)
F: Derrick Williams (MIN) 

F: Kemba Walker (CHA) 

Defensive First Team:

 

G: Rajon Rondo (BOS) 

G: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 

C: Dwight Howard (ORL) 

F: LeBron James (MIA) 

F: Kevin Garnett (BOS) 

All-NBA First Team: 

G: Chris Paul (LAC) <--- Clearly I love Paul more than Rose. 

G: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 

C: Dwight Howard (ORL) 

F: Kevin Durant (OKC) 

F: LeBron James (MIA) 

Western Conference Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder 

Dark Horse: San Antonio Spurs <--- Been there, done that!  

Eastern Conference Champions: Miami Heat 

Dark Horse: New York Knicks 

NBA Champions: Miami Heat
Finals MVP: LeBron James 

Franchise Player

What sets great players apart from the ordinary ones? 

Skill? Maybe. 

Star Factor? Probably. 

We can name a million other reasons on why great players are great but one thing we forget is that they stay on one team for the longest time probably even ending their careers there. This isn't something easy. Along the way, money may lure you out of your current city. You may decide that it is more beneficial for you to play for this certain team since they have the better offer. Young players nowadays fall for that. They prefer to play for the team that presents them the best offer and not the team that best fits into their style of play. Plain and simple, MONEY TALKS! 

Another excuse on why players don't want to stay on their respective teams is that they want to place themselves in the best situation to win a championship. Isn't that familiar? Oh yeah. Those were the exact words that came out of LeBron James' mouth when he decided to head over South Beach and join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. (Yes, all of you might be thinking that I am finally dissing LeBron on my blog publicly. YAY for me.) 

That's just a BS excuse. You look like a coward doing so. You make yourself appear weak, unable to handle the pressure of leading a weak team to the championship. 

That's one thing I admire the most from great franchise players. Let's take for instance Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant was playing his greatest individual basketball season during the '05-'06 and '06-'07 stretch. He was the NBA's leading scorer; scoring virtually 30+ points in every given night. He demanded trades. He had a sex scandal (And is now currently in divorce court. LOL!) but he never gave up. 

Imagine a playoff team having Smush Parker and Luke Walton as your 3rd and 4th best players and still was one game away from upsetting the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs. That's freakin' insane! Is it even humanly possible to carry a team for that long? I don't think so. 

Franchise players stick to their team when the going gets rough. They find ways to build around their talent and not run away like a cat. Franchise players have the privilege to be remembered as players who stuck with their teams through thick and thin and they will be forever remembered which team they played for. (With the exception of Jordan. Let's face it, he'll never be remembered in a Wizards uniform) 

That's something missing in the NBA now. Gone were the historic rivalries, the Magic-Bird, the Celtics-Lakers, among many others but why? BECAUSE they never stay put on one team for one reason or the other. 

Do we have to feel sympathy for them very similar to what I/we felt for KG when he moved to the Celtics to win a title? NO. Players are paid for that purpose. They are paid to win at all costs. They are paid to fill the seats in the arena. They are paid to fill sponsorships. It is their duty and responsibility to do anything and everything to win. Under the circumstances, winning comes from the players personal initiative! You have to give yourself the permission to win. 


It's a privilege to be remembered for everything you've done for one city, one team, and in one jersey. Don't waste the opportunity. 

The Art of Basketball

Farewell Brandon Roy

How does a true shooting guard play? He is someone who is a volume scorer. Someone who can beat you off the dribble and shoot the lights out from beyond the arc. He is a triple-threat player virtually unguardable - you just can't find any way to stop him. 

Michael Jordan established the standards of a great shooting guard and how should one play. A quite tall player who is explosive and has the ability to score from anywhere. He is supposedly also a great perimeter defender, with versatility, who also has a knack of grab binga lot of rebounds. 

Over the past several years, there have a been a shortage of GREAT shooting guards. The only two players who we can place there namely Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade (for obvious reasons). Both Kobe and Wade can easily dominate the game but let us stop talking about them since this article is not about them. We are hear to mourn the loss of Brandon Roy, someone who has revitalized and re-energize the city of Portland. 

Roy was one of the highly touted rookies in the Draft Class of 2006 but his stock slid with team's not risking their draft picks to an established player with chronic knee problems. Roy was given a chance when he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the sixth overall pick in the draft and was later traded to Portland for Randy Foye, the seventh overall pick in the draft. 

From the get-go, the Blazers built their franchise around Roy pairing him with the second overall pick in the draft, Lamarcus Aldridge. Roy even won the Rookie of the Year that season with his stellar play and great marketing, ROY for R.O.Y, nothing better than that, right?  The following year, they drafted Greg Oden with the first overall pick in the draft ( I think still to this very day they regret making that decision). With all the luck in the world, the Blazers potentially formed a core group of young stars who can contend for a title in the next five years. Sadly, things have not gone their way, as usual, with all the injuries and bad luck in the world. Oden to this very day has played in less than 100 games with a variety of knee problems and injuries that needed major surgeries. Aldridge has been solid but has also suffered his share of injuries but not as devastating as the ones of Brandon Roy. 

Roy, as already previously mentioned, has had lingering knee issues for the longest time. It always seemed that he had an immediate cure to his injuries since he always seemed to come back strong, quickly, and effectively. Later do we know that Roy had more complexed problems than those repaired by a quick surgery. 

He has a knee condition that is called degenerative knees, or his knees don't have cartilage to protect the bone. The wear and tear of an 82 game season seemed to have caught up on his knees. Imagine the pain he is in day in and day out. It's virtually your knee cap touching the skin every time you ran and yet he seemed to hide the pain. An admirable act indeed! 

Come to think of it, in that state of excruciating pain, he was able to do many great things. His mid-range game, arguably the best in the NBA next to the Black Mamba's, dazzled and frustrated his defenders. Roy had a very explosive first-step to the basket, something that players could not defend even with able knees, and scored at will. He had enough spring in his legs to finish around the ring in every conceivable way. The thing I'd miss the most from Brandon Roy is his clutchness, if there's such a word. When the game is close, you know who to give the ball to. You wouldn't want to be on the opposing end when you know that Brandon Roy is going to take the last shot. He seems to make them with the utmost ease despite shooting it off-balanced, with a defender all over him, and in unimaginable angles. Roy is the epitome of a clutch player. A player with a never give up attitude who is going to fight 'til the very end. 

Knee injuries have derailed and destroyed a lot of careers. Players that COULD AND SHOULD have been in the Hall of Fame. Life always seems to bring down people destined for greatness. People who could have done so much more than what they did. We can easily sum that up in what Rocky Balboa once said,"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!" 

Life indeed is a b*tch but it is we who decide on how we want to deal with it. We can't escape the harsh realities of life. We just have to stand up and dare to begin! 

The NBA will miss the 3rd best shooting guard in the game in the present, any number's fine since my opinion doesn't seem to matter. A true professional who played the game of basketball in its simplest and most beautiful essence. A graceful player who showed up game in and game out hurt or not giving a show to the fans who cheer him on despite all his injuries. An admirable person who played even if it hurts. Most importantly, a player who respected the idealisms and values of the game and played it with all his heart. 

Thank you Brandon Roy! Thank you for everything you've done. I really do hope you pull of a Grant Hill and return to the NBA. It won't be complete without you! 

Shabazz Muhammad BEST High School Player Right NOW

Best player in the Class of 2013. Notice that he dunks everything with authority. #nuffsaid

Merry NBA Christmas Part 2 of 2

1.  7. Trades for the Free Agency Class of 2012 Dwight/Paul/D-Will

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams lead the charge for the Free Agent Class of 2012. Not as intriguing or powerful as the 2010 class led by LeBron James and company, this proves to be a strong class of future Hall of Famers.

We might see Dwight don the Laker colors such as what Shaquille O’ Neal did before. We might see CP3 running Mike D’ Antoni’s run-and-gun style offense over at New York with Carmelo Anthony and STAT. Deron Williams might just go to the team that desires.

Trades will place teams in position teams to again land a marquee player or they will result to trade for any of them.

Predictions:

Dwight Howard: Traded to the LA Lakers for Andrew Bynum and someone I don’t really give a damn about.

Deron Williams: Stay with the Nets and go elsewhere. You can’t really understand how this guy thinks. 

Chris Paul: Traded to the Clippers. Sign max contract extension.

2.  8. Gives the Oldies One More Shot

Will the Boston Celtics, or also more popularly known as the Retirement Home for the aged, get one more run at the Larry O’ Brien championship trophy? Will Kobe be able to carry the Lakers to another ring? Can Tim Duncan win championship #5?

With the given schedule, I don’t think teams such as these can have a good chance to compete for ring unless they tank numerous games. Thinking about how these teams value winning the regular season, tanking games would literally kill them.

The only logical chance for them to win is for them to qualify for the playoffs with lower seedings then come playoff time, beat the younger teams.

When you think of it, old teams should benefit from a shoter schedule since there are lesser games. Lesser flights, lesser road trips, among others but when you pack it that way, it’s a totally different story. There’s no logical sense concluding that Kobe’s knees are going to hold-up after this season. This league is going to literally KILL its old superstars!

3.  9. The Year of the Durantula?

Kevin Durant had another sound year last season. Dominating the opposition with his relentless scoring ability. Graceful finishing and a killer instinct, that sets Durant from the other young players in this league. There’s no way to defend him. He’s can kill you in any conceivable way. The question is, how do you want it?

I had Durant as my 2^nd option on winning the MVP behind LeBron. (Dang, I just hate Derrick Rose or what?) Durant led the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the eventual Champions, Dallas Mavericks.

Durant has already made a clear point, he’s the leader of this young Thunder team and that was further affirmed by the fact he got a massive contract extension with the team last summer. Durant has continued to blossom in every year he has been in the league considering the fact he was only 2^nd to Greg Oden. The Blazers must be shaking their head.

Durant is also a victim of timing. The time he enters the league, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are there and as he is already making his name, a ton of players come in after him but that’s life. We can’t complain about it. We just have to do our best and let Him to do the rest.

4.   10. Jimmermania?

Jimmer Fredette is in the NBA! Say what? Yes, the BYU standout who made waves last year in college joins the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. As early as now, he is already dubbed as the Savior of this franchise. A franchise, who a couple of years back was one win away from the NBA Finals.

Jimmer’s scoring prowess dazzled college basketball fans, scouts, and players. Who would ever think that a player would be scoring 30, 40, and even 50 points in a college basketball game? JJ Redick was the last player who shot the lights out but would you ever think a white guy from BYU could do it? I don’t think so.

Yes, Jimmermania is a noun that signifies the presence of a great player. A player who shoots the outside shot with relentless accuracy.

To me, I don’t like the way Jimmer Fredette plays. I don’t like players who shoot 30 shots a game and makes 12 of those and scores 30+ points. You giving disgrace to the game of basketball! Basketball is team sport and you should help in every other category aside from scoring. If it were just about scoring, as people perceive it to be, it’d be called Burning the Hoops.

But who am I to judge?

5. 11.  D-Rose 2.0 ?

Finally, a post-Michael Jordan Chicago Bull player wins an MVP award. Derrick Rose led the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference and led them to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the Big 3 in a grueling six game series.

Pooh, his nickname, dazzled the league with his courageous and relentless drives, something very similar to what Allen Iverson did then, minus the hits. Rose goes in the lane and seems to finish any shot with the greatest of difficulty channeling his inner-MJ.

Rose deserved the MVP. I can’t just continue to hate him for stealing the award but he did something magical last year, leading the Bulls amidst all the injuries to the best record in the East and that is something easier said that done. How many times did he have to save the Bulls? Countless.

Are we going to see a much better Derrick Rose? I don’t think so. Rose’s game will still be explosive but I think he’ll have lesser scoring opportunities with the return of Carlos Boozer. Boozer will now hopefully provide their scoring down low. Rumor has it that they are in hot pursuit of Jason Richardson and that is going to lessen his shot attempts. Is he willing to cut his numbers? Most certainly. Pooh ain’t too greedy.

6.  12. Sophomore Slumps?

You’ve reached #12. Sorry if I tired you out after reading but let’s make this quick, I hope. Last year, a lot of Rookie posted great numbers and were major contributors for their respective teams. Can we attribute their success to talent, hardwork, and thriving in the proper system or say they were lucky. Teams didn’t look too much at them and let them to their own thing. 

Sophomores usually have significant drops in their production, or what I like to call Sophomore Slumps. They go through that kind of stretch because they’d never expect that they been given that much attention both defensively and offensively this early in their career. There are very little players who don’t undergo this phase in their career and those are an elite few.

Will we see Blake Griffin bleed for every point? John Wall blocked at the rim countless of times?

Those scenarios are highly probable but can these sophomores prevent the slump? YES!

We’ve made a brief rundown on the league before it begins on Christmas. Were in for an exciting season full of ups and a lot of lows but the world is just happy to finally see players putting the basket down the hoop.

And It Drops…

Nothing But Net. 

Merry NBA Christmas Part 1 of 2

Christmas most definitely is going to be merry indeed. Yes, the most popular league in all of basketball, the NBA, is back after the 149 day lockout wherein the owners and the Players Association couldn’t get into an agreement on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Instead of openly discussing the features of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, a boring topic indeed, we should embrace the holiday spirit. In a time of gift giving and receiving, the NBA will cater to the most loyal fans in the entire world by treating them to five intriguing games on Christmas Day.

As an NBA fan myself, this lockout-shortened season will be an interesting one so here are the twelve things, in my opinion, that are the things we should look out for.

Why twelve? ‘Cause Christmas is coming, Baby and so is the NBA!

1.   Will LeBron Finally Win A Ring?

After “choking” on the NBA’s biggest stage, LeBron James enters his ninth season in the league still ring less. The only thing yet to be accomplished by “The King”, LeBron goes into the season arguably in the best shape of his life. Working out during the entire summer and “pre-season” with Kevin Durant and playing in numerous summer leagues, LeBron has seemed to expand his game more by adding a more consistent outside shot to his already unstoppable game. Will LeBron succeed? This writer thinks so. LeBron already has ALL the tools to succeed, a great physique, an array of moves, and strong team but can he finally get over the hump? There goes a saying, nothing can stop destiny and I think LeBron is destined to finally win his first championship. 

LeBron was grilled in the NBA Finals for his inability to make a shot. The Mavs did a brilliant job of placing a small and pesky defender on him and let him rely on his post game. He failed; shooting fadeaway jumpers without any sort of consistency.

LeBron, for me, was just a victim of his own talents. When he first entered the NBA, people, the media, scouts, and opposing teams told him to first work on his outside shot; something that took him an eternity to do and he’s still working on it. Let’s say LeBron’s shot has now become respectable, in the Finals, he had difficulty posting up against the likes of Jason Terry and Brian Cardinal. He’s just a victim of him own talents, attributes, and skill set.

Prediction: YES. Most certainly. Without a doubt, undoubtedly. Oh wait, I’m just that biased.

Season: 28-10-8-2-2 Season MVP/Finals MVP

  2.Back-to-Back-to-Back Games

Nothing the NBA has seen in over 14 years, the NBA condenses its regular 82-game season to a 66-game exhibition melee. We will see a total of 42 back-to-back-to-back games. No team is exempted from this even Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers play on the first three game nights. This most certainly adds fanfare and fits an NBA fan’s daily basketball appetite. Yes, this move indeed increases the media exposure of the league and makes its fans decide on which of the many games playing should they keep their eye on but is this going to lead to many injuries down the road?

The schedule in my opinion will benefit the younger teams such as the Heat, Grizzlies, Thunder, and Timberwolves. I don’t think Kobe and company can keep up with the tight schedule.

Prediction: YES

Will Greg Oden bust his knee again? 80% probable

3. Where is Chris Paul going?

The 2006 Rookie of the Year, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player in my opinion, has publicly demanded a trade to join his friend Carmelo Anthony in New York. Paul has been long rumored to join the Knicks but has consistently denied the fact that he wants to leave the Hornets. Three teams have slowly emerged as the front-runners to land Paul and to let him a sign a contract extension if they acquire free agent center Tyson Chandler.

These three teams are the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Imagine Chris Paul running the Celtics setting up KG down low, feeding Sugar Ray running of those screens, and giving the ball to Paul Pierce at his spots? This is going to make the Celtics unstoppable but are they willing to give up Rajon Rondo?

If Paul were to join the Warriors and their up-and-down style of play, will this make the Warriors the 2^nd coming of the Organized Chaos Phoenix Suns of ’05-’08 ?

Just recently, Paul was already bound to head over California and join the Los Angeles Lakers, a very shocking move to the NBA world. Imagine, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Andrew Bynum in one team? Dang! Luckily, commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade.

Chris Paul, to me, is the best point guard in the NBA. Someone’s whose proven himself over the years leading a horrible franchise to where it  is presently; Paul deserves all the credit. Paul is a pass-first point guard who can light up the scoreboard if it was necessary. A vocal leader and presence in the locker room, a great ambassador to the game, Paul’s image has always been clean but why does he want to greedily play for the big market teams? Only he knows…

Where does Chris Paul go?

Prediction: Boston. Danny Ainge is pursuing Chris Paul like a hot potato hoping that he becomes the face of the post-Big 3 Celtics. With the rate it’s going, it feels that it’s bound to happen.

2^nd Option: Rots over there in New Orleans.

4. Greg Oden’s Breakout Season?

The player who will be forever known as the old busted knee guy who was drafter ahead of Kevin Durant will in my opinion finally get to taste success in the NBA. I don’t think it’s fair to say I hate Greg since I thought he was the more logical choice over Durant in the NBA Draft before but it seems that talent couldn’t beat hardwork.

Oden rode the bench and stayed in the hospital bed for most of his NBA career with nagging and recurring knee injuries. I do think he is going to resign with the Portland Trailblazers and reshape his career and it will be Brandon Roy’s turn to ride the bench. That’s just really how much I hate the Blazers.

Greg is going to be dominant. A grandpa, yes but a dominating one.

By the way, I think he’s gonna have a scandal this season. Watch Out!

By the way, I feel sorry for the loss of Brandon Roy and his knees. :( 

5.  A Weak Rookie Class

Wait, this isn’t something worth watching out for but anyway. That’s how much I’m disappointed with this season’s rookies. Most of the good college players chose to stick it out over in their respective alma maters rather than test the rigid waters of the NBA Draft.

The only players to watch out for are Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two talented point guards who will try to reshape the futures of their respective franchises.  

Irving, only after playing eleven games for the Duke Blue Devils, was drafted first overall by the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs who are trying to still establish their identity after the LeBron James reign, will turn to this athletic and prolific scoring point guard. By the way, Kyrie’s a great name.

Rubio, is the boy wonder from Spain finally making his debut after much nagging and persistent contract issues. A Pete Maravich prototype who can pull of passes with the most unique angles is finally going to strut his for the T’Wolves. With a much improved outside shot, though it looks ugly (not saying mine is any better), Rubio can FINALLY give Minnesota a legit pass-first starting point guard.

6.   Ricky Rubio FINALLY makes his NBA Debut

Wait, this just seems like a repetition but it’s well deserved. Ricky Rubio is a beast PERIOD. I hope we can see the then 16-year old who dazzled skeptics with a two triple-doubles and a quadruple-double performance in the FIBA U-16 championships. 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists, and 7 steals, surreal numbers especially from a 16-year old kid.

Ricky’s development in my opinion has been hindered with his extended stay in Europe with Barcelona. Even if it seems amazing to think that he started for the 2008 Beijing Olympic and was able to match-up to the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and company.

The outside shot is the only thing missing from the game of Rubio. Something he has to constantly work on for him to be successful In the next level. He should build up more mass and hope to match-up against the bigger point guards of the NBA. 

Thoughts Away From The Game: Poem

If you think you are beaten, you are 

If you think that you dare not, you don't 

If you'd like to win, but don't think you can,

It's almost certain you won't. 

If you think you'll lose, you've lost 

For out in the world you'll find 

Success begins with a fellow's will, 

It's all in the state of mind. 

Life's battles don't always go 

To the stronger or faster man; 

But sooner or later the man who wins 

Is the man who thinks he can. 

-Arnold Palmer

The King and The Durantula: Striving For Greatness

As Nike's NBA Lockout campaign goes, "Basketball Never Stops", by the way I got to get a shirt of that remind me, NBA Players have done numerous things to keep them in tip-top shape. Several players opted to spend their long off-season playing overseas. Some, like John Wall and Josh Selby, decided to play in numerous summer leagues. As for two of the the Top 3 NBA Players now, they spent their summer working out together on top of playing in numerous summer leagues. 

Episode 1: 

Episode 2: 

As you can see, the title of their workouts as seen in LeBron James' official Youtube channel is, Striving For Greatness. The title seems fitting for this. Two of the greatest players of the current generation working together to challenge the other and further improving their own game. They've worked on strength and conditioning in the pool, gym, and even the football field but nothing seems to replace doing individual skills training in the basketball court. 

Sporting the latest in the Nike Basketball catalogue, LeBron and KD work on a variety of offensive drills to further improve their arsenal. We can see the both of them concentrating on their outside shooting ability. It's quite shocking to see that LeBron is shooting better than KD, obviously this happens in the video, it's LeBron's team who made it. Both of them seem to be ready for the grind of another season. LeBron is showing a much improved outside jumpshot and post-game while KD seems to be as good as ever. 

Let's just hope the both of them can make the MVP race this season a close and exciting one. By the way, I don't expect the Thunder to win the West but I do expect the King to win a ring this season. Just sayin'. 

Schedule of Games: December 1, 2011

On the first day of December, two different Xavier Basketball teams will play back-to-back in the resumption of the MMBL tourney.

MMBL Division 2: Xavier School vs ? 
Time: 04:00 PM 
Venue: Jacinto Tiu Competition Court 


MMBL Division 1: Xavier School vs Our Lady of Fatima University 
Time: 05:30 PM 
Venue: Jacinto Tiu Competition Court 


Let's support our different basketball teams as they are in their final stages of preparation for the upcoming Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball league as they will go for a historic 5-peat.

0 vs 0: Jared Sullinger and Austin Rivers

Two of my main men squared off in the Value City Arena over at Columbus, Ohio where the 2011 Maui Invitational Champs, the Duke Blue Devils, squared off against the also undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes. Instead of yapping about how the Buckeyes completely annihilated the Blue Devils with its tenacious on the ball pressure and selfless team oriented system, let us talk about the games of both Jared Sullinger and Subzero, Austin Rivers. 

Jared Sullinger PF/C Ohio State Buckeyes 

Stat line: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 8/14 FGs, 5/7 FTs, 2 turnovers, 37 minutes. 

The 2011 All-American and Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year awardee completely dominated Duke's big men even to the point Coach K had to remove Ryan Kelly, the Maui Invitational MVP, from the game because he couldn't keep up with Sullinger. Sullinger opened the game with his back-to-the-basket game shooting hook shots and muscling his way in for the deuce. When Duke went to a 2-3 zone defense with around 8 minutes left in the 1st half, Sully spaced the gaps and tried to find his open teammates. During the start of the 2nd half, Duke already made an effort to double Sullinger when he caught the ball and Sully struggled to find his shot, even had it blocked several times. Sullinger adjusted and protected the ball more and scored easily afterwards. 

Jared's weight loss has been evident in his game since he is able to move more fluidly. Sullinger's game is characterized by excellent hands and balance. He possesses strength several players in college have. One thing we didn't see from Sullinger in this game is his outside jumpshot. He attempted one three-pointer which missed but Sullinger does have that range. His dribbling skills were in full display as well as his passing ability. 

We cannot compare Sullinger to any player since his game is unique. A quite undersized big man who can score, rebound, assist, defend, run the floor, and has a selfless attitude. I do thing Sullinger is the best player in the country due to the hype and inconsistency of North Carolina's Harrison Barnes but we do have to give credit to the Ohio State coaching staff for surrounding Sullinger with talent which suits his game. Last season, most of their offense revolved around an inside-outside game but this year, it seems that Sullinger is more comfortable with it since the system allows him to create more opportunities for himself and his teammates. 

Austin Rivers PG/SG Duke Blue Devils 

Stat line: 22 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 8/18 FGs, 2/4 3pt FGs, 4/6 FTs, 37 minutes. 

Last year's High School Player of the Year, Austin Rivers had a so-so start to his college basketball career. He started the game missing several lay-ups, which he occasionally makes, and was a ball-hog. Coach K removed him for 3 minutes, which turned out to be his only rest in the game, and came back strong scoring Duke's next five points and continued to toy with the Buckeyes. Austin showcased his unmatchable quickness and his ability to create shots for himself and his teammates. In the first half, Rivers attacked the basket relentlessly scoring and getting fouled in the process. Aside from him and Mason Plumlee, no one played well for Duke which then ignited Austin's natural instinct to take over the game. 

After having success in the 1st half, Austin was defended better in the 2nd half. Ohio State tried to cut his angles and forced him to pass the ball to his teammates and which he did. Austin finished the game with only 3 assists, a far cry from what I thought. I personally thought he had around 5 or more assists from the way he tried to create for his teammates. When the game was out of hand, Austin tried to make the most of his offensive arsenal by trying to create for himself. At times, he successfully was able to do so but the ball was just in his hands for too long a time even Dickie V saying over the ESPN commentary that he had held the ball for 15 seconds and everyone was standing and taking pictures. 

Austin's game in College is much much different from the Austin Rivers we saw in High School. Over in Winter Park, he relied more on his 3-point shot compared to what we see now presently in Duke. In Duke, he's finding difficulty to create shots for himself since the defense in college is much tighter than in High School. Austin's quickness and explosive first step is still ever present and he is able to still attack the basket. We also haven't seen Austin's floater too much. Defenses have now forced Austin to go to his left, which he doesn't do too much in High School, but he's been able to make them in College. Hopefully, Austin's shooting touch, both from downtown and the charity stripe improve. 

Rivers' game is very similar to that of his idol Dwyane Wade plus the added outside touch. Austin needs to improve his off-the-ball game. He finds it very difficult to be able to be effective without the ball. Coach K also needs to let Austin run the point more often since this is his most comfortable position. Duke needs to also run more plays for Austin rather than giving the ball to Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, and Ryan Kelly. I do think Austin is going to bounce back and hopefully get an All-American spot. 

Quote of the Day: November 28, 2011

"At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don't. "

                                                                                                    - Andy Roddick 

LeBron James: OFFICIAL LOCKOUT MIXTAPE

Best player in the planet? Highly probable. Dominating? Very visible. 

Words can't describe LeBron James performance in the numerous summer tournaments he joined. He showcased the complete package from an All-Star such as him. Thunderous slams. A much improved fall-away J. Relentless blocks. The complete package, fellas! 

With the NBA season only about a month away, I do hope we witness performances such as these from the King. No more excuses! 

*I do predict he'll win the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and a championship ring this year. It's just speculation! LOL! 

Powerful Beyond Measure

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. 

Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. 

We are all meant to shine, as children do. 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

 It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

 As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. " 

                                                                               - Marianne Williamson 

A Graceful Reverse or a Powerful Slam?

Basketball is game highlighted by individual brilliance. Players who can change the complexion of the game with one magical move are the players we idolize; players whom we pay homage to. There are many highlights in the game of basketball and I'd like to think it's sport with the best set of highlights. Who would want to watch the Top 10 goals, homeruns, or touchdowns when all of them look exactly the same. Yes, to some extent there may be some degree of difficulty but it is only in the game of basketball where you can see people defying gravity. Players who hang in the air for an extra second or two and magically finish when they're about to land back on the ground.  

Now the debate sparks, what do the fans prefer? Do you prefer a powerful tomahawk jam or a seemingly impossible reverse lay-up? For me,  this is a no brainer. I highly prefer the reverse lay-up. Yes, I may seem like a lunatic, or am I, in picking this but the art of defying gravity is something worth marveling. Honestly speaking, many people can dunk the ball, in the NBA that is, and not many people are able to flick the ball when their eyes aren't looking at the target. 

Personally, I love dunks and I don't think no play can entice the crowd as much as a powerful dunk. My favorite dunk of all-time would have to be when a young Vince Carter jumped over a 7'2 center in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. That was Air Canada before the knee injuries and before, he never fails to amaze me on how he gets to elevate at that height at finish with power! 

Enough with the admiration for all the powerful dunkers in basketball history, Dr. J, Dominique, His Airness, Air Canada, The King, and even Air Up There! Let's go into my favorite reverse lay-up of all-time and it coincidently comes from one of the best dunkers of all-time, Michael Jordan. 

Jordan revolutionized the way we played basketball. The baggy shorts, the signature shoes, the arm bands, the tongue among many others but he also changed basketball. We attribute the success and the start of dunking to Julius Erving but I believe Jordan was the one who made a connection with the fans and allowed the fans to get in the game thus increasing the popularity of the dunk. 

MJ is not only known for his flashy dunks but also his acrobatic reverse lay-ups with "hangtime". Below is the video of my personal favorite MJ reverse. #nuffsaid He just magically makes  the crowd go insane and that is the power of the reverse lay-up.