NBA Draft Grades - A Michigan Fan's Perspective

	Team	Pick	Grade	Reason
1	Cleveland Cavaliers	Anthony Bennett	F-	Points deducted for: - Choosing Bennett. - Passing on Trey Burke.
2	Orlando Magic	Victor Oladipo	B	Points awarded for:  - Choosing a stud in Oladipo. Any B1G fan knows how good he is. Points deducted for: - Passing on Trey Burke.
3	Washington Wizards	Otto Porter	F	Points deducted for: - Being the Wizards. - Passing on Trey Burke.
4	Charlotte Bobcats	Cody Zeller	F--	Points deducted for: - Reaching for skinny, weak Cody Zeller. - Passing on Trey Burke.
5	Phoenix Suns	Alex Len	F	Points deducted for: - Passing on Trey Burke.
6	New Orleans Pelicans	Nerlens Noel	B	Points awarded for:  - Not discriminating against someone with a reconstructed ACL. Points deducted for: - Being named the Pelicans. - Passing on Trey Burke.
7	Sacramento Kings	Ben McLemore	F	Points deducted for: - Choosing a non-leader onto a team without leadership. - Passing on Trey Burke, who did this against McLemore. Hah!
8	Detroit Pistons	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	D	Points awarded for:  - Choosing a player with a cool name. Points deducted for: - Passing on Trey Burke.
9	Utah Jazz (via Minnesota)	Trey Burke	A++++	Points awarded for:  - Choosing the John Wooden National POY - Choosing a Michigan Man. - Choosing the best point guard in the draft. - Being a great pick-and-roll fit for Trey. - Being willing to sacrifice two important picks for this important player.
10	Portland Trailblazers	C.J. McCollum	B	Sorry, wasn't paying attention to this pick because I was too busy being excited about Trey Burke. Here. Have a B.
11	Philadelphia 76ers	Michael-Carter Williams	D	Still wasn't really paying attention. But hey MCW, remember that Final Four game where you were supposed to shut down Trey Burke? Hah!
12...21				Who cares. Didn't know these players, and it wasn't really time for Tim Hardaway Jr to be picked yet.
22	Brooklyn Nets	Mason Plumlee	F	Points deducted for: - Last few Duke big men are bench-warmers. Why will Plumlee be any different? - Passing on Tim Hardaway Jr.
23	Indiana Pacers	Solomon Hill	D	Points awarded for:  - Choosing a player with a Biblical name. Points deducted for: - Passing on Tim Hardaway Jr.
24	New York Knicks	Tim Hardaway Jr.	A++	Points awarded for:  - Choosing a Michigan Man. - Being a big market team that will allow for maximum exposure. Points deducted for: - The inevitable Melo ball-hogging that will reduce Timmy's opportunities.
25-60				Welp. No more reason to watch the draft! Congrats Trey and Timmy!

NBA Playoff Predictions - 2012

First Round
I know I haven't chosen any upsets, and I wish I could have, but I really just don't like any of the lower-rated seeds. The Clippers are the team that, in my opinion, have the best possibility of pulling an upset, but I really dislike them and I'm going to root for them to lose, so I just can't advance them in my bracket.

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago Bulls over (8) Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games

The 76ers didn't live up to the expectations they set in the beginning of the season, and they're an incredibly hot and cold team. If they're hot (which I hope they are...for basketball reasons...), I think they could put up a real fight against the Bulls, especially with Rose still getting back into the groove of things. They're coming off of a meaningless loss over the Pistons, which followed a 4-game road win streak. If the Sixers can convince themselves they can win, even after losing Game 1 (and maybe Game 2), I can see a really good series where the Bulls surprisingly struggle with the 8-seed. But if they lose the first two games, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Bulls sweep. It's funny how that works.

(2) Miami Heat over (7) New York Knicks in 6 games

Some "experts" like Stephen A. Smith say that it would be better for the Knicks to play the Heat in the playoffs as opposed to the Pacers, but I think they're dead wrong. They say that the teams like the Knicks match up better against the Heat than teams like the Bulls (whatever that means). But I remind you that the Knicks haven't won a game against the Heat all season long. They are 0-3 against the Heat, and while the playoffs may bring a little more intensity, I really can't see the Knicks taking this one. We know that the

(3) Indiana Pacers over (6) Orlando Magic in 5 games

I'm giving the Magic one win out of respect for Van Gandy, but no Dwight Howard? Forget it. Random aside: Now that I'm living in Indiana, I think I'm supposed to root for the Pacers. Go Pacers!

(4) Boston Celtics over  (5) Atlanta Hawks in 6 games

The Hawks ended the season pretty strong, but the Celtics were also straight up killin' people in late March and April. I think that the Celtics will be playing with extra motivation and push this playoffs, so I really can't see Atlanta winning more than 2 games against a super-experienced Celtics team.

Western Conference

(1) San Antonio Spurs over (8) Utah Jazz in 5 games

The Spurs really get no respect. They quietly nabbed the first seed from OKC on an active 10-game win streak, but still no one is talking about them. Many say that the Spurs are a good regular season team, but I don't think this stigma is necessarily true anymore because now instead of guys like Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley, they've got guys like DeJaun Blair and Daniel Green. But really, the Spurs post-season really depends on their big three - Manu, Duncan, and Tony Parker. Can they carry the team into the Finals? Can Manu stay healthy this post-season? We'll see.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder over (7) Dallas Mavericks in 5 games

I haven't watched much Maverick basketball this year, but I have watched a good amount of OKC ball. The Thunder are freakishly explosive and have a lot of different ways to score, and I just don't see a team like the Dallas Mavericks being able to stop them. Dirk won't be able to bail his team out against a much superior team this year.

(3) Los Angeles Lakers over (6) Denver Nuggets in 6 games

The Lakers are nowhere near as dominant as they have been the last few years, but if Bynum can keep his cool, I don't see how the Lakers could lose this series to the Nuggets, who lack that go-to offensive player. The big question on everyone's mind - Can Kobe win his first ring without Luke Walton? Who knows. I hope so. Kobe also won't have Metta World Peace's hustle and defense this series, but I think the loss isn't that great. Who would you need him to shut down on the Nuggets anyways?

(4) Memphis Grizzlies over (5) Los Angeles Clippers in 7 games

This isn't so much a pick for the Griz as much as it is against the Clippers. Sorry guys, but I just really can't Blake Griffin. He's a flopper and a whiner, and he doesn't even jump over the top of Kias. I think this series is really up for grabs, so what the heck. Grizzlies in 7.

Conference Semi-Finals Prediction
I was going to do descriptions and reasons why I'm picking the way I am...but I got lazy. So here you go. Just the picks.

Eastern Conference
(4) Boston Celtics over (1) Chicago Bulls in 7 games
(2) Miami Heat over (3) Indiana Pacers in 6 games

Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs over (4) Memphis Grizzlies in 6 games
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder over (3) Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games

Conference Finals Prediction
(2) Miami Heat over (4) Boston Celtics in 6 games
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder over (1) San Antonio Spurs in 5 games

NBA Finals Prediction
Oklahoma City Thunder over Miami Heat in 7 games


Closing Thoughts
I know what you're thinking. Caleb copped out. He chose what everyone thought would happen. OKC-Heat Finals. Just know that this is what I think will happen, not necessarily what I want or wish will happen. It was difficult for me not to pick the Lakers over the Thunder, and I'm kind of bummed that they're on the same side of the bracket, because I really don't think any of the teams on the other bracket can beat the Heat. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if the Celtics somehow found a way to beat the Heat in the conference finals (though I can't see Chicago doing it, to be honest), and I wouldn't mind at all if the Heat got knocked out even earlier than that.

Yes, you've figured it out by now. My entire thought process is wrapped around my deep desire to see the Heat lose again this year. Let's go NBA! Beat the Heat!

Happy playoffs, everyone.

Being an Asian-American Christian

I know I'm late to the party, but for those of you tired of seeing Jeremy Lin links on Facebook, this post isn't really going to be abount Jeremy Lin, I promise.

This morning, I finally read the Gospel Coalition post on "Linsanity and Asian American Christianity", and it really struck me just how much I resonated with all that the author was saying. This guy gets it. I almost cried at work because of how much he gets it. I grew up in a church with a super-conservative and fundamental head pastor with a heavily charismatic-leaning youth director. I grew up hearing more about Hudson Taylor than John Calvin, Martin Luther, and Jonathan Edwards combined. I didn't know the difference between Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists until college (and I still don't really know much about it). I've never cared too much for politics, and while I leaned right, I didn't really learn to care about abortion until just a few weeks ago, and I'm really still working through it. I wore T-shirts and shorts to church as a kid and played with all my friends, and I never really understood why so many white kids absolutely hated going to church. I've played at eaten dinner at nearly all of my family friends' houses, and I couldn't imagine a church where people (and kids especially) didn't break bread together. I now hang out with friends that have heard of but still don't really know who Pat Robertson is (Nathan, Jonny, Cory, and I were debating who/what he worked for just the other day). I grew up listening to James Dobson (or at least my parents did, much to my dismay), and I didn't really learn about his politics until college. I didn't know that cessationists even existed. I didn't know that people who didn't believe in the Trinity or in the resurrection could still call themselves "Christians". I never bought into the whole "this country is going to hell" argument of the degradation of the church. And until now, I never really realized how similar my childhood church upbringing was to so many of the Asian-Americans around the country.

Part of the recent Jeremy Lin fanatacism has made me realize how much (white) people just really don't get it. Most just don't understand what it means to be an Asian American.I was reading a Reddit thread about Lin's ethnicity, and one commenter said he was Chinese, and the next (who later revealed himself to be an Asian-American) corrected him and said he was Taiwanese-American. Then there was this storm of downvotes and comments that simply declared him "American", and that any other description of Jeremy Lin was inaccurate and offensive. Obviously, the Asian Americans on that thread tried to explain to the ignorant Redditors (kind of a redudant, I know) the dynamics of being Asian American. It's really become clear to me that people that don't regularly interact with Asian-Americans really just don't get what it means to be Asian-American. The more "progressively-minded", in their admirable desire to be inclusive, simply disregard our ethnicity, heritage, and cultural differences by welcoming us into the open arms of their proudly held identity of "American". The more segregated white, American-flag-on-their-pickup-truck types who rarely deal with us yellow people are surprised that we can speak English fluently and without accents, and immediately ask us if we were born in the States, if we speak Chinese, and what our favorite foods are.

It might just be me being second generation, and it might just be my more conservative leaning, but the former error annoys me much more than the latter. It really bothers me that there seems to be a shift towards being "color-blind" for the sake of political correctness, but in it, our culture and heritage is really lost. Preaching "American" homogeneity and being "inclusive" isn't respectful to our culture or identity, and while we don't want to be called "chinks" all the time, we want our cultural differences to be recognized and accepted as well. We are different. We know we look different. So don't pretend that we aren't. I'm not telling white people to throw rocks at Asian-Americans whenever they see us, but just like with any other cross-racial and cross-cultural interaction, trying to celebrate differences is greatly appreciated.

Moving to Fort Wayne, I've experienced a lot of people who treat me much more as an Asian than as an American, many of whom assume that I'm an immigrant. I really don't mind it too much, because most are well-intentioned and it does provide a venue for some interesting conversation (the pastor of one of the churches I visited was actually a missionary in Taiwan for some time!). That said, being Asian-American in a place like Fort Wayne really leaves me without people that worship in the same way as I do. I love great teaching, but I also like my Hillsong. Familiar hymns and classic Christian contemporary are okay, but there often just feels like something is missing for me to really feel comfortable in worship. I'm looking for a church that's interested in social justice, but I'm really not interested in mixing politics into my religion, as most of the Bible-preaching churches seem to do here. The families at the churches here seem nice, and I really don't know enough about the churches to really judge them, but it doesn't seem like "the church family" is really a family at all, compared to the tight-knit family back home in my Chinese church, with all the "Shu shu"'s and "Ah-yi's". All in all, being an Asian-American Christian here in Fort Wayne without many other Asian-Americans Christians, I feel like I'm different and alone, without others that have a similar background as me or people that worship God the same way that I do.

For those of you looking for some big new idea or grand conclusion that I'm going to make, sorry to disappoint. This was more of just a reactionary post, as the author of that GC blog post really hit the nail on the head in his description of Asian-American Christianity. I'm beginning to realize just how deep my Asian-American Christian identity is, and how it affects my worship and my church searching. I am proud to be an Asian-American Christian, and it isn't because of Jeremy Lin. Thank you God for creating me this way!

Thanks for the memories, MCCC!

Fun, semi-related post - The Origin of the MCCC Mando/Canto Divide

Glorifying God Through Basketball

We know that the ultimate purpose of our lives is to glorify God in all that we do. As the first Westminster Catechism famously puts it, "the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." As creation, we are created to and commanded to glorify God in all things.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Despite knowing that we are called to glorify God in all things, there are always areas in our lives that we try to keep for our own glory, refusing to lift them up to God for His glory. There are other areas in where the application of 1 Corinthians 10:31 isn't immediately obvious, but I think that it is our duty to think about how we can glorify God in all things and to consciously dedicate all aspects of our lives to him.

How can God be glorified in how I play basketball? I've been spending a lot of time in the gym this year, and I want to make sure that God is glorified in the many hours a week I am in the gym.

1) Play with all of my heart and never take a play off.

Colossians 3:23,24 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

God calls us to do everything in life for the glory of God, not for men. I am to strive to be all that God created to be. I shouldn't be lazy, slothful, or apathetic about the things I do in life, be it ministry, studies, or even basketball. There is tremendous freedom in knowing that when I play any sport, it's to the glory of God, that I don't play hard because I have something to prove or need to impress anyone, but because I want to use all of the gifts that God has given me to work up to my full potential.

2) Be a good teammate by encouraging my teammates.

Recently, my basketball confidence has been at an all-time low. Even though I shoot decently well in practice, nothing seems to go in during games, and I've also recently struggled a lot with turning the ball over. Because I usually go play basketball at around 10PM whichever day I decide to go play, I tend to play with the same group of guys. Some of these guys have been extremely encouraging to me and have been those great teammates to me, really showing love and grace to me, especially when I screw up. Not all of these guys are Christian, but it doesn't change the fact that they have modeled Christ's love to me in specific ways. If I ever was to really play basketball with Jesus (how sweet would that be?!), I don't doubt he would encourage and uplift the way that these guys in the gym have to me. In the same way, I need to imitate Christ in all things, extending the same grace to other players when they make knuckle-headed decisions or when they miss open jumpers.

3) Changing my style of play to foster a positive game environment (i.e. not being a dirty player)

Almost everyone who plays basketball with me knows that I'm kind of a dirty player. I foul a lot and use some cheap tricks to make up for my lack in size and skill. I do a lot of annoying little things that are border-line fouls that most people wouldn't call but can really impact a player's game (like "lightly touching" a player's stomach after taking a jumper and "lightly nudging" a player enough so that he goes out of bounds). Much of the way I play is an attempt to get a mental edge over my opponent. As most of you know, sports is enormously mental, and if I can get my opponent agitated, annoyed, or angry, I've won half of the battle. Players in a poor mental state make overly emotional decisions, taking bad shots (and missing good shots) or playing overly aggressive, making my job as a defender so much easier.

Unfortunately, I don't think Jesus is glorified by me being a dirty player. By no means does that mean I need to play soft or play any less aggressive, but I don't think it is God-glorifying for me to intentionally try to agitate the players I play against. Also, I really shouldn't foul players just because I know I can get away with it. Instead, I should be a person that people enjoy playing both for and against. I need to be a peacemaker, not a conflict-instigator.

Praise God for inventing sports for us to play! Let's enjoy his gift of sports and glorify him with it!

President Lebron

We all know that Lebron James calls himself the "King", but thanks to George Washington and friends (minus Paul Revere, according to Sarah Palin), we only have presidents in this country. In this post, I'll compare Lebron James with some of our US presidents.

Lebron James
Lebron James - Black

Lebron James - From Ohio

Lebron James - ESFP - "The Performer" (Meyer Briggs)

Lebron James - Likes to dance

Lebron James - Most of the country hates him

Lebron James - Pisses off the Cuban

Lebron James - Says things you know you can't believe

Lebron James - Chokes

US President

Barack Obama - Black

Presidents William Harrison, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, McKinley, Taft, and Harding - From Ohio

Ronald Reagan - ESFP - "The Performer" (Meyer Briggs)

Barack Obama - Likes to dance

Abraham Lincoln - Most of the country hated him

John F. Kennedy - Pissed off the Cubans

Bill Clinton - Says things you know you can't believe.

George W. Bush - Chokes

Bonus Photo:

There are many ways to look at this photo...

A post from a year ago: Lebron James - Self-destruction

Kobe's Work Ethic

I don't know how Kobe does it.

The Lakers lost a close one to the Heat last night, and Kobe decided to stay after to work on his shot and his game. He practiced for 80 minutes (article here). It was his third workout of the day.

I just got back from the CCRB after shooting around for around an hour. As expected, I started off pretty cold, but I soon started hitting all the shots I wanted to. My free throws were basically all going in. I actually made 4 corner three's in a row. I was hitting my jump shots. I felt pretty good, and thought to myself "I don't need to practice any more. I'm already pretty good."

And then I thought about Kobe. This guy is a 6-time NBA champion, a USA gold medalist, and has been the best player in the game for the last few years. And he practices harder than I ever would. He stayed after, and said "I just wanted to work on some things; I just wanted to work on my game." Kobe isn't content with where he is. Granted, it was after a loss, but still. Then there's this short Asian kid who shoots around for a little bit and think he's all boss and the top of the world, while Kobe is still trying to improve his game. Incredible. Kobe's drive is what makes him so great.

Desmond Howard tweeted: "This is Y I have so much admiration for Kobe as a professional athlete. http://yfrog.com/h3hdvyjj. His professional focus is unmatched" (here) and "Kobe put himself through a 1.5hr workout after every1 left the arena. http://twitpic.com/48cen3. He's not THAT GUY by accident. #DEDICATION" (here) So. True.

Where does this drive come from?! I don't know how Kobe does it...

[This all, of course, can be applied to more spiritual things , but I won't do so in this post]



Also, here's why I love the Lakers (written a while ago).


Why I Love the Lakers 

Lebron James - Self-destruction

In attempting to build his brand through a hyped up free agency, Lebron has turned the public against him and has completely destroyed it. His hour-long special has been blasted by fans, and his egomaniac-ism (yes, I made up this word) and selfishness has been made extremely apparent. The public also sees through his little charity stunt to his sense of entitlement of attention, especially when he's compared to the classiness of Dwayne Wade and the humility of Kevin Durant. It has been made clear that every decision he makes, even basketball decisions, is about money, and he is intent on being a billionaire, and fans will be more hesitant than ever to throw money that will only boost his ego. Lebron has quickly become the most hated man in America, as he steals an hour from millions as he beats around the bush before actually announcing his decision. In attempting to build his brand, Lebron has completely destroyed it.

On my Google Reader, I'm subscribed to Bleacher Report , which is a sports blog hosting site where anyone can start a sports blog (I might create one some time). Surprise, surprise there has been the most Lebron bashing I've ever seen in my life. Even on Facebook, many statuses are lampooning Lebron and his little hour-long Free-Agency Idol results show. Lebron is now known across the country as a self-absorbed, selfish, greedy player that still hasn't won a ring. Lebron is the new Brett Favre - you hear about him every day but like him less and less every day. The more you hear about him the more you want him to disappear and never come back. This free agency has destroyed Lebron's image throughout the country.

In anticipation of Lebron joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh tonight at Miami, here are three reasons why signing with the Heat is a bad decision:

1) Miami is DWade's city, and the Heat are DWade's team.
Dwayne Wade is the unquestioned leader of the Miami Heat, and the addition of Chris Bosh doesn't change that at all. Despite the recent down years in Miami, Wade is mentally tough and committed to both the city of Miami and to winning. Wade has demonstrated loyalty and classiness, which so many superstars seem to lack nowadays. While Lebron will without a doubt be the best player on the team, will he be the mental, emotional leader? Will Dwayne Wade let him take the reigns of the team?

I saw this quote on a Bleacher Report article: "Lebron James is Alex Rodriguez to Dwayne Wade's Derek Jeter." I couldn't have said it better. 

2) Miami isn't the best place to win a championship
After signing Lebron James, the Heat will need to settle with mediocre role and bench players to push them through the season. Sure, having Lebron and Wade and Bosh will create most of the offense needed, but unless they play every minute of the game, someone will need to replace them. Comparisons to the Big Three of Boston can be made, but the new "Super Three" of Miami won't have the support of Glen Davis, Eddie House, Leon Powe, or James Posey on the bench or Perkins and Rondo role playing (wow that sounds dirtier than intended). A crappy bench and crappy role players mean more minutes for the Super Three, and more minutes means more fatigue and effect on the body. Even if the Super Three win one championship, the physical toll that season will have on their body will make it extremely difficult to repeat.

The importance of a good bench is often underrated, but look at these statistics from the 2010 NBA Finals:
Game 1: 102-89 LAL. Bench 16-15 CEL.
Game 2: 103-94 CEL. Bench 24-15 CEL.
Game 3: 91-84 LAL. Bench 24-22 CEL.
Game 4: 96-89 CEL. Bench 36-18 CEL.
Game 5: 92-86 CEL. Bench 14-13 CEL.
Game 6: 89-67 LAL. Bench 23-13 LAL.
Game 7: 83-79 LAL. Bench 9-6 LAL.

Five out of seven times, the team with the better bench won the game. And if you notice, the two times where the better bench did not win the game, it was only by a margin of two and one points. You cannot win a championship if your bench and role players cannot score.

3) Miami isn't the best place for Lebron to build his brand.
Let me first make one thing clear: for Lebron to build his brand into a billion-dollar market, he must win championships. Without championships, he cannot hope to be anywhere near Michael Jordan.

Let's just assume that the Heat win a championship two years from now (after the Lakers three-peat next year). The market will undoubtedly be split between Dwayne Wade and Lebron, and if Lebron takes more credit than he deserves and pushes his brand too hard, it will backfire and he'll lose the respect of fans. However, if they win, James really might not be getting the majority of the credit. It won't be a "Lebron and friends" kind of deal, but more of a "Miami has a great team" split in credit. Lebron will never be able to be the one that everyone can easily point to as the MVP of the team. What if Dwayne Wade wins it? Lebron's brand will never explode as he wants it to.

If Lebron really wants to boost his brand into the billion-dollar empire he desires, he needs to win championships by playing out of his mind and being the most well-liked player in the NBA. Of these two factors, I don't think he has the capacity for the latter.

Kobe vs. Lebron 

Why I Love the Lakers

I admit it. I'm somewhat of a bandwagon fan. I've never supported the Lakers in their down years (I wasn't alive back then). However, I consider myself a pretty educated sports fan, and I feel that my love of the Lakers is fairly legitimate.

5) The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

I hate the Celtics. I can't stand Kevin Garnett. Sure, Garnett is only a recent Celtic, but I'm also a new NBA fan. Paul Pierce is too cocky. Rondo's arms are abnormally long, it's unfair. Kendrick Perkins is always angry. Baby Davis is a baby. I hate the Celtics.


This is what I call "Baby fat"

4) Likable Players

How can you dislike Lamar Odom and his obsession with candy? How can you root against Shannon Brown and his high-flying dunks? Sure, Derek Fisher can be a flopper at times, but don't you find it hilarious how much Luke Walton sucks or how Mbenga is made fun of by his entire team? No matter how much you disliked him as a Rocket, you have to admit that Ron Artest has cleaned up his game and isn't as crazy as he was before. But come on. LAMAR ODOM AND HIS CANDY! You can't hate the Lakers!



3) Fantasy Relations

As always, Fantasy sports always forms bonds between me and random players, and the Lakers have enough fantasy contributors that I've had at least one Laker on my fantasy basketball team every year. Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Ron Artest, thanks for contributing to my teams! I will continue to root for you no matter what team you're on!

2) Team Dynamics

The Lakers are very much like the Patriots of the NBA. Drama and selfishness aren't tolerated, and the team is always first. Of course this hasn't always been true, but the growth of Kobe Bryant as a leader has meshed the Lakers into a united steamroller in the Western Division. The Lakers have the perfect balance of experienced veterans and energetic youth, and everyone understands the role they have on the team. Like Belichick,  Phil Jackson is, as Skip Bayless calls him, a Zen Master that could care less about addressing the media and adhering to the league's rules about criticizing refs. The Lakers represent the perfect team.


(Also he kind of looks like KFC's own Colonel Sanders)

1) Kobe Bryant

The mental beast, the greatest player today. It's difficult to dislike Kobe Bryant. Sure a lot of people hate him, but it's really hard to hate the player he is. He shows up in big games and hits big shots. He's a cold-blooded killer and a fearless leader on the court and respectful and classy off of it. Kobe Bryant is a complete player. As Eric responded when asked if he was a Lakers fan, "I'm more of a Kobe fan."

Go Lakers!

Lakers, Celtics Game 2 Preview

This will be short.

What the Lakers need to do to win:
1) Stay aggressive and not settle for jumpshots.
2) The bench needs to play well as they did last game.
3) Rebound on the offensive and defensive end.

What the Celtics need to do to win:
1) Get more fast break opportunities
2) Defend the paint and grab boards.
3) Hit open 3's

After seeing what the Lakers have done, I fully believe they have the ability to easily win this series. However, the Celtics have more pride than most teams in the league, and they will come back angry. Kevin Garnett, who feels disrespected by Gasol, will play angry and aggressive. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there are a good number of hard fouls and technicals handed out.

Prediction:
Lakers 98, Celtics 90
Kobe Bryant: 30 points, 10 FT
Rajan Rondo: 20 points, 10 assists
Paul Pierce: 15 points

Lakers, Celtics Game 1 Preview

Series Preview

A lot has been said about how the Celtics are too big, mean, and physical for the Lakers to win. Pau is too soft, Fisher too slow, Bynum too injured, Odom too inconsistent, and Artest too loopy in the head. The Celtics are going to defend the post too well and run their fast-break offense too effectively for the Lakers to compete. This series is going to end the same way the 2008 series has.

This is exactly what Kobe needs to hear. Lakers fans point to Ron Artest being the defining difference between the 2010 and the 2008 teams, but I am convinced that this series is really Kobe's to win. Sure, Ron Artest brings a defensive presence and a toughness that the Lakers didn't have in 2008, but we only need to look to the leader of the team to find the team's real motivater. Kobe doesn't just want this championship. He needs it.

Even though Rondo has been touted as the best point guard in the NBA and the best quarterback in Boston (by Mark Jackson), Derek Fisher has defended Deron Williams and Steve Nash in the previous two series. Rondo's speed and athleticism won't be a surprise to Fisher. That said, Rondo's rebounding will be key, and if he grabs a lot of offensive rebounds like he did against the Magic, the Lakers could be in trouble.

think the Lakers bigs will have trouble with the combined defense of Davis, Garnett, Perkins, and Wallace. Kobe will need to soften up the defense and force double teams for his teammates to get open looks and easy buckets. Odom will need to play big, filling in for Bynum will explosive play.

I find it difficult to pick against Kobe in big-game situations, so here's my pick:
Lakers in 7. I think they'll win their first two home games and steal one at Boston. The Celtics have shown that they can win on the road, so they'll come back and even the series at 3-3, but I don't see the Lakers losing two straight home games. Lakers in 7. 

Game 1

The Celtics are very dangerous. But so is Kobe. Tonight, I think Pau will be overwhelmed by the physical play of the Celtics, making him less effective than he normally is. Kobe will shoulder much of the weight of the game, and if he shoots well, I don't see any way the Celtics steal Game 1. Ron Artest is going to be key playing at home. He needs to hit his open 3's, and if he keeps Paul Pierce from getting hot, the Celtics don't have many other players that can score consistently on the road against the Lakers.

The Lakers bench is going to prove their worth at home. Odom will play well at home, stepping up for Bynum, who probably won't play a very big role for the Lakers. Kobe will occasionally defer to his teammates, allowing them to gain confidence for the series, but he won't let the game slip out of his hands. It won't be a blowout, and the Lakers might have a good scare or two, but Lakers are going to win their first home game.

Lakers 90, Celtics 85
Kobe 25 points with 5 assists
Odom 15 points with 7 rebounds

Orlando Magic - Why There's Still Hope

Orlando is down 3-1. No NBA team has ever come back to win a series after being down 3-0, and after dropping three games to the Celtics, Orlando could be the first team to do it. Here are three reasons to have hope:

1.  Home Court Advantage

Orlando only needs to win one game on the road. If the Magic can rally behind their crowd and win their home games, they really only have one difficult game ahead of them in hostile territory. The home games are not given victories, as Boston stole the first two home games from the Magic, but if the Magic start thinking and playing like the monster of a team that they were in the regular season, they have a good chance of maximizing their home court advantage and winning the series. The Magic were 34-7 at home in the regular season, so the home court advantage could definitely be a big factor for them to come back.

2. Physical Youth

It's dangerous to concentrate too much on the effect of age on players, but the Magic have fresher legs both because of age and because of the long rests between the first two series. They are more equipped to handle  a long, grueling series because of younger players and (in my opinion), a deeper bench. As long as the Magic are in the game mentally, they should start winning the 50/50 balls and hustle plays.

3. Re-energized Stars

It's no secret that Orlando's star players like Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson underperformed the first three games of the series. In game 4, Dwight went 32-16 with 4 blocks, Rashard got his first double-digit scoring game against the Celtics this series with 13 points, and Jameer Nelson finished right below a double-double with 23 points and 9 assists. If Orlando's stars continue playing stars, I have no doubt that they'll have a chance to win every game they have left. The one big question mark for me is Vince Carter. He's the only player the Magic have that can truly create for himself, and if he doesn't perform, the Celtics will be able to defend the Magic much more easily.

Despite the talent and energy of the Orlando Magic, the team has one key factor missing.

Orlando is leaderless.
Orlando doesn't have a fearless leader, a player that takes losing personally and heaps the team's burden of winning on himself. Orlando has no MJ or Kobe to will their team to win. Adversity is difficult to overcome without a strong individual willing to shoulder all the weight of the team for the rest of the players on the team to look to. This could be the fatal factor, the nail in the coffin that will make it impossible for the Magic to come back and take the series from Boston.

...but wouldn't it be so great to see both the Bruins and the Celtics suffer historic comebacks? =D


Jameer Nelson, Running Back:

How Pathetic

Cleveland is pathetic. While this video is kind of cool and a little bit cute, in the end, the city of Cleveland really is a weak, needy subject of the King. An entire city is throwing itself at the feet of a single player, a single person:



If Kobe were to leave Los Angeles (which, classy as he is, he probably wouldn't), do you see the city of LA falling on its knees, begging Kobe to stay? Would its government officials serenade the star? Would its radio personalities try to woo him to stay? Certainly not! The sentiment would probably be more: "If you don't want to be here, be don't want you to be here either. But thanks for the many great years and titles."

Do you see Miami's men in sackcloths and ashes and their women wailing in the streets because Dwayne Wade could be leaving? Has the city crumbled at the thought of their superstar signing with another team? No. Because Miami isn't pathetic like that. They know that their city is great enough to create another superstar, that the franchise is strong enough to bounce back despite losing Dwayne Wade.

Not so with Cleveland. Cleveland knows that if Lebron leaves, they shrink back to obscurity. Their non-existent economy will become even more non-existent. Kids will stop going to school and crime will take over the city. Buildings will collapse, and the population will start to die off from tainted water. Government will officials have no choice but to cower in their homes, begging a new King to come and reign over the city. Even the baseball team will leave, leaving Cleveland only the perennial superpowers of the Browns and the Cavaliers. The city will be in ruins.

I truly believe that the entire city of Cleveland believes this. Why in the world would government officials sing in the song? It's one thing for radio personalities and fans to come out and publicly declare their love for Lebron, but it's another thing for the mayor and the government itself to come out as well. The city of Cleveland was, and will continue to be insignificant before and after Lebron James, and they know it! They are making a public statement that Lebron is what makes the city great, which frankly isn't very much. Cleveland itself has nothing to offer, so it is in fear that the one thing it does offer is now leaving. Cleveland sucks.

Pathetic. Just Pathetic.

In a more positive light, here's something much, much classier.

Thomas Jones, though far from a superstar, put up superstar numbers while he was on the New York Jets. He was released by the Jets (which was retarded, in my opinion), and signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets then paid for a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of the main section of the Kansas City Star (on page A11) to appreciate Thomas Jones:

I know that there are a lot of differences between this situation and Lebron's situation, but the Jets both maintained their integrity as a franchise and also appreciated a player who had given them so much.

Kobe vs. Lebron

This won't be a long post.

Kobe scored 40 tonight. He's a cold-blooded killer. He played physical getting the hoop, but he also burned Phoenix with jumpers from all around the court. He was unstoppable. Kobe doesn't always shoot lights out and he doesn't always get to the hoop, but his mentality and his drive pushes both himself and his teammates to never back down and never give up despite difficult situations. This is what allows Kobe to drain buzzer beaters and come back from huge deficits. This is why Kobe is still the best basketball player in the NBA. Kobe is a mental freak (mental meaning psychological, not retarded).

Lebron is the NBA's best athlete, hands down. He has the most potential and he's probably the most intimidating to guard (Dwight's being owned by Sheed and Shaq is mad old). When he drives to the hoop he's like an unstoppable bowling ball, knocking down all players in his path (whether or not they have their feet set outside of the restricted area). On defense, he's the most feared trailer on fast breaks and is an excellent on and off ball defender. Simply put, Lebron is a physical freak

The mental game of NBA is not emphasized as much as the more tangible physical traits of the game. This is where Kobe's main advantage over Lebron is. Kobe is a second coach on the floor, directing traffic and teaching players where to be both in-game and during practices. Lebron, though an individually intellectually gifted player, does not, probably because he cannot, coach the players around him.

In sports, outside of injuries, physical ability doesn't drop off cliffs. Players have on and off nights, but in the end, they perform in the same general area due to mere physical ability. On the other hand, mental composure is much more fickle. Consistency in sports is derived from a strong mental game, as embodied by Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, and Peyton Manning. They never lose their cool, never get flustered, and most importantly, they always believe that all situations are beatable. This is why to a certain extent, mental composure can be more important than physical ability.

Lebron lacks the killer instinct that everyone talks about, and I truly believe that until he develops that killer instinct or plays with a player with that killer instinct, he will never win a championship. Even if Lebron plays players with lesser physical ability than he (almost all others will), he will run into teams with a stronger mental foundation and a belief in themselves that will overcome him. Lebron gave up in the series against the Celtics; he gave up shamefully.

Biggest difference between Kobe and Lebron, as Tweeted by Skip Bayless: "When Kobe takes a game-winning shot, he really believes it's going in. Not so with Lebron."

To sum it all up:
Kobe's a psychological freak. Lebron is mentally challenged. 

Not So Random Photo: Take that, you stupid flopper!