Except for the Boston-Cleveland match-up every other conference semifinals series has begun. It's about to heat up so might as well take a look at the subplots in each best-of-seven match-up:
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Mastermind Sloan vs. Zenmaster Jackson - Both head coaches are inarguably the best in the business today and both among the oldest. Of course, Jackson has been more successful with championships with the Lakers and the Chicago Bulls--- at least two of them at the expense Mr. Jerry Sloan during the late 90's Michael Jordan-led squad that won back to back championships against a Jazz team that featured Karl Malone and John Stockton. Jackson will have to deal with a slew of pick-and-rolls again this time starring new stars Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.
To compare, Sloan has ZERO rings after 20 consecutive years with the Salt Lake City franchise... As important the ring is, in Sloan's mind this personal battle with Jackson might as well define his coaching career in the NBA. If Jackson grabs this series once again, the classy, tough and gentleman Jerry Sloan might as well be known as the Zenmaster's bitch. Yeah, that's a tough one to swallow, a very un-classy and un-gentleman-like eventual description of Mr. Sloan.
D-Fish vs. former team -
It was one of the touching stories in the 2007, an emotional and motivated Derek Fisher returning to the court in the second half of the action in the conference semifinals after spending some time in New York with his daughter*... He hit a game-changing three pointer to help the Utah Jazz win their series against the upstart Golden State Warriors... Fast forward to the off-season, after working a buyout (to be near his daughter) with the Jazz, he re-signs with his former team in Hollywood and now he plays against one of the rising point guards in the league whom he once mentored.
*Fisher's daughter underwent a surgery in her left-eye which was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer
Euro-flavored stars -
Pau Gasol is from Spain, Mehmet Okur from Turkey and Andrei Kirilenko, Russia. Russia and Spain met at the last FIBA Europe with the former edging out the latter with both players considered as the squad's stars for their respective countries. AK47 did guard Gasol in stretches of that match-up, we'll have to wait and see if Sloan uses this strategy to slowdown Princess Pau.
(2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs
Parker vs. Paul -
Not really a subplot but it's worth mentioning since we are talking about two of the best court generals in the association. One is more of a scorer, the other the ultimate distributor. You know i am cheering for the latter.
Duncan vs. Rising Bigs -
We all know what Tim Duncan can do, what we don't know is what the young guys (David West and Tyson Chandler) can offer... West (30 points, 9 rebounds) had a big first game to tow the Hornets squad to the Game One W even as Chandler had a big double double of 10 and 15. And TD? 5 points in 37 minutes on 1 of 9 field goal shooting!
Wells vs. his favorite opponent - Bonzi Wells had a great series against the Spurs two years back when he was with the Sacramento Kings averaging a double double against this same squad. With all the attention Paul and Peja Stokakovic will be getting, Wells will have a chance to make some serious dent against the defending champions. The question is which Bon-Z will show up? The aggressive or the lazy one?
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers
Po-Z vs King James -
This one is really overlooked. James Posey is one of the more underrated defenders in the game. He gives you toughness and he can give you a little bit of offense too. Talk of double teaming Lebron James is valid, but i will not be surprised if James can contain Lebron a little bit even in a single coverage.
That's just a few of the subplots i can think of... Some more random thoughts on the conference semifinals... Carlos Arroyo (point guard, Orlando Magic) has yet to have a good game in this postseason, he's working for a contract i will not be shocked if he explodes for a single game against his former Detroit team... You know how that works, "against ex-teams"... That said, Delonte
West (point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers) is playing against the team that drafted him... Speaking of bad postseason, Ben Wallace has not had a good game so far as well, the timing will be perfect if he can do it against KG...
All in all, every best of seven looks good and should go down the wire... The forecast: New Orleans over San Antonio in six games... Lakers over Utah in six... Boston over Cleveland in seven... and Detroit over Orlando in six games...
While i want upsets (Either one of Jazz, Cavs and Magic advance...) i don't see that happening at all.
It is a mad try at sanity. Over the looong weekend that featured lots of Z's and 15 hours at the beach i was able to (finally) pass by the little centro (or downtown) of Naga City last night to buy a few Naga-stuffs namely pinangat (frozen, a cross between laing and errr giniling seafoods i think) and pili-inspired chocolate bars (mazapan). And such the unavoidable vertigo happened, memories of an old-centro and what have you's (and not).
In multiple scenes in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, there were the "reverse building" scenes--- a representation of the "deletion" part of Joel's (Jim Carrey) memory and how he struggled against such process--- maybe it's the denial part that he wants her (Clementine, Kate Winslet) gone or maybe the sudden realization that he really does not want her to be put away and forgotten for good...
For most who haven't seen the movie, well i think you just missed half of your pain-infested life. The flick's premise is as simple as it gets: One man decided that the memories are too much and he wants them gone... One valentine day, there's this innovation from a local doctor offering services of selective memory-deletion. It's February 14 so it was just so apt that the doctor had many customers (or "patients" if you want to look at it that way...) including Carrey's character.
And so it goes, Joel decides he hates her (or at least the memories) and chooses to undergo the procedure. He meets Clementine after the deletion meaning she's a new found friend though both of them had already spent a considerable amount of time together in this lifetime. (Sidenote: Clementine also underwent the same procedure) After the mighty struggles and sad, sad trips on memory lane (For how much will you forget if you can't remember them all...) the process is complete. Joel/Clementine gone from Clementine/Joel's life... But oh, art imitates life and life is a sucker to everything art... Suddenly the film (and most often, life) provides the unwelcome but necessary twist... One of the doctor's assistant (Mary, Kirsten Dunst) leaks out all the confidential information from recorded audio tapes and paperworks to the unknowing patients... Emotional-chaos ensues of course and the saddest sight in the history of mankind is viewed.
The movie title Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is actually a quotation from a popular poem by Alexander Pope Eloisa to Abelard? An excerpt from the poem which was also used as a line in the film:
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
The Naga-reference wishes not to convey the thought of this melancholy--- forced or not. It's just a reminder that for all the things that is happening in our lives and for all the struggles with our inner-selves, one true thing remains: it's not a battle with the people you once spent your life with, it is simply that innate want of not letting go of the memories--- good, bad and everything in between.
The other day before going to the dentist i suddenly realized i have solved the levels of pain and the hierarchy of such in a lifetime. Agree to disagree, but first do feel the pain.
1. Toothache
2. Loss in a basketball tournament (Twice-to-beat advantage, twice beaten)
3. Break-ups
4. Non-texts
That in a gist is the definition of the state of being drunk. Three buckets of San Mig Light should do you in. Or a trio of Red Horse Beer jumbo should put you away. Or a bottle of tequila could bring you to the depths of hell and the bliss of heaven--- at the same time of course. Try it out, lose a grip and grab a bottle or two, and you will know what i mean.
In Magic: The Gathering terms (Unstable Mutation, the card on the left) is an Enchant Creature type of card. For the innocent Magic is a card game wherein you basically become the errrr... magician. With various card types, you can cast creatures, create spells etcetera etcetera. Now if you are really interested with the game might as well go to the official site: www.wizardsofthcoast.com. i want to explain further but it would be too complicated. Much more complicated than explaining Unstable Mutation, the state of being drunk.
To continue the analogy, after your personal limits of alcohol, you basically gain a bit of confidence. (Target creature gains +3/+3) Call it temporary reprieve from modesty and the unintentional omission of humility. This is where the fun begins. From personal experience the +3/+3 part was manifested in what i believe (even before alcohol sets in) what lacks in me. Suddenly, i feel i am 6 foot 2. Suddenly, i am the crazed action star who do his own stunts. Suddenly, i feel i can jump off rooftops. Suddenly, i just become a little more stupid than usual. The end result is never pretty: Not-so-baby gash inside your left arm plus one half-inch scar just at the top of your forehead to remind you of the battle with temporary insanity and full stupidity.
But it's not all negative you see. For stupidity has seen better days and stupidity might as well be the root of a real productive day. i can remember a few articles and pieces i have written were of quality in spite of the alcohol-infested brain. i know i am a better conversationalist after a Red Horse or two; i know i am a better at NBA Live Playstation after a single beer (There are limits, at three or four bottles i could be heaving half court shots already, by accident of course); i am not sure if i am a better person after a case or so, but heck i am pretty sure you'll be impressed and depressed by the genius and stupid in me, not respectively...
Going back to the analogy... After the drinking session, it's where the emotion ride begins. (Each round, put a -1/-1 counter on the creature during it's controller's upkeep) Where over-thinking overrules emotions and where over-feeling out-pace the overall thought process. At first you can handle it because you were off an emotional high (for the lack of better phrase)... You can even understand and accept the downgrade because well, you quite expected it... Then it hits you. Suddenly, you feel nothing (In Magic that's 0/0) and simply, dead. (In Magic, it's the same word)
That wasn't even the bad news because the next sentence says: These counters remain even if this enchantment is removed before the creature dies. Ouch. Drink moderately.
(Enough analogy for the day, i am starting to realize it's not even alcohol that has the closest comparison to the Unstable Mutation card)
Make that number one on my wish list in the NBA off-season! i know, i know that is simply a personal pipe dream, the chances are bleak and i am just getting my bias way ahead of me but it IS a possibility, right?
Jason Williams signs with the Phoenix Suns for part of the Mid Level Exception--- roughly around $3M per year with the duration of the contract running for 2 or 3 years. Come on Jason, you are not getting any younger and this will be the perfect team for your farewell performance. A team that will be running and gunning night in and night out. Not to mention, you'll also be reunited with Shaquille O'Neal whom you won a ring with in Miami.
With the mileage also up there (10 years in the league now, 33 years old) it's not unacceptable to think that White Chocolate can adjust to back-up minutes, say around 15 to 20 per outing and fill-in whenever Steve Nash needs rest or is injured. Sure, sure it's he isn't much of an improvement defensively but definitely he can do the point guard role a la the Canadian Captain whenever his number is called.
So what i will do the rest of this season and the offseason is pray that Williams believes that he can still help a team and that the Phoenix Suns will be the best team for him. Already there are rumors that he will sign with the Orlando Magic next year with the flashy and error-prone point choosing to play for a Florida team because that's the state which he calls home. That is not entirely bad news as he joins a young cast of players that include Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis and can even outplay the undersized and overrated Jameer Nelson for some stretches but Williams in Phoenix and their fast paced style will simply reignite and reborn Jason's career--- flashbacks to the Sacramento days and you'll know what i mean.
i don't know how fond Steve Kerr (general manager, Phoenix Suns) is of Jason and if he thinks the latter will be a right fit... The playoffs is not yet even over but i already have these wild ideas for the off-season.
It's never easy. Cheering for your favorite team or player in the NBA Playoffs when suddenly, there is no one to cheer for...
Earlier today, the Phoenix Suns were ousted by the San Antonio Spurs denying Steve Nash and the rest of the spurned Suns yet again... It's never easy losing. And never easy losing to the same team year by year...
In my entry sometime last week i really believed that this was going to be Nash's year for a serious run at an NBA championship, but the basketball gods would have none of it.
The western conference semis is pretty much set with the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz battling in the only first round series left. The Rockets trail the Jazz, 2-3 and will visit the Jazz's home court on Saturday. Tough task as Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer protect their own floor very well. This is the series which i am not cheering for the underdog because the winner of which goes up against the Los Angeles Lakers, which swept the Denver Nuggets in the first round. If i haven't mentioned it yet, i am a big time Laker-hater. Well since Shaquille O'neal blocked Jason Williams shot during the 2000 playoffs. That is practically the last memory of my J-Dub in a Kings uniform as he was traded after that season. Nah, it's not the players really as i have utmost respect for Kobe Bryant and other Lakers star this era--- it's just the Lakers are the prototypical "winning" franchise--- great and consistent program by the general managers... And this year, they have a chance to do something real special and go all the way. But of course, nothing beats a good underdog story... So it's more special if one way or the other a "weaker" team defeats this celebrated Hollywood squad.
In other match-ups, the Spurs will take on the up and coming New Orleans Hornets. Of course, you know by now that i will be cheering for the young guys composed of Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler. Chris Paul by the way is the next favorite-to-be... Well, until Jason and Steve retire.
The Spurs for all their class act is simply becoming a bore (Well, they are already a bore) winning year in and year out... At least an upset here will assure us of a new NBA champion.
In the East, the Boston Celtics took a 3-2 lead over the Atlanta Hawks and can close their series on Saturday... Kevin Garnett's C's better because they have no business at all slugging it out in a Game Seven against the lowly but upset-thirsty Hawks team that features Josh Smith, Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson... In the others semis act, the Orlando Magic took the easy 4-1 route over the Toronto Raptors and awaits the winner of the Detroit and Philly series.
Predictions for the rest of the weekend's matchups:
Philly forces a Game Seven against the Pistons but loses the decider... Then on Saturday, everyone closes out their respective series.
(Photos from yahoosports.com)
Mapagal ang buhay, klarado yan. Pero, nuarin pwede magtiklop na lang sana? Dae ka ogma, dae ka man mundo. Nasa tahaw ka sana. Minsan ma na pagmati. Bako ngani manhid, ta pagmanhid ka aram mo na mayo ka namamati. Iba ini: aram mo lang na mayo ka talaga namamati! Halat medyo maribong to ha. Basta. Maiintindihan nindo yan gabos pagnamatian mo na yan mayo na yan. Nabubuhay ka na lang ta nabubuhay ka. Ma ka sa taas. Ma ka sa baba. Nasa tahaw ka sana kang gabos. Masaen ka? Dae ka makasakat and syempre dae ka mo man gusto mahulog. Dae mo ngani aram kung masaen ka, lalo ng dae mo aram ang gusto mo.
Mapagal ang buhay. Mauli muna ko. Maisip pang lalo. Minsan, masmarhay pa siguro ang patal daeng gayo nagpaparaisip. Pati ang sobra patal ta malamang maski pagmati dae nya na naiintindihan o pirit na dae minamati.
Kasta ang buhay kasta ang buhay. Ok lang kudta yan kung yaon ka lamang kaso mayo. Mayo.
We've come to that point again. The End. All things find theirs one way and the other, so one should just take it, eh? Leave it all behind as people treat their past and just move on, right? We aren't even talking about relationships and people here for we are talking about a TV show. It might not be popular, it might not get the ratings we wish but still it is OUR TV show.
House of Hoops, meet The End.
Sports Desk got the boot then Finish Line found the same fate (Heck, The World's Most Amazing Videos also flirted with a little bit of air time) but all of the above eventually hit the wall.
Is it the ratings, really? Is it even the quality of the show? (i say, doubtful. i challenge thee.) Is it other things that we, the production team have no control? i really don't know. i am even at a loss on their future plans (Them, meaning the bosses and powers-that-be) for this certain show. Of course, somewhere deep down the most basic basketball fan in me wishes that the show will make a return next season. The fact is the show is the only basketball authority on Philippine TV that is complete with highlights, news and features which of course is everything and anything under the NBA.
Vito Lazatin, Bobby Yan and Lia Cruz are some of the better (basketball) hosts as well. Yes, despite Vito's infatuation with Chris Webber, Bobby's bias with the Boston Celtics and Lia's seemingly childlike appearance, they DO know their basketball. And i'll just leave it at that.
House of Hoops airs its final episode tonight over ABC. And i still hope, final for THIS SEASON only. We will see.
The weekend that was was overwhelming to say the least. In between depression and being down in the doldrums and a lot of other activities,it was interesting in a rather special way.
Mired in Mediocrity
Thursday night (my weekend starts with that day)... We lost out the "big game" in a very disappointing manner... Trailed by as much as 12 points for the first three quarters... Grabbed the lead with a little over 2 or 3 minutes... Lost the game* by 4 points... Meaning we are now out of the running for the Solar Antipolo Basketball League championship... Simply put, it... hurts. Despite holding the twice-to-beat advantage going into the semifinals match-up, we were dominated (one way or the other) in the series (From twice-to-beat to twice-beaten. Ouch.) and lost to the better team, which happened to be the defending champions...
All in all it was another disappointing (no better or more apt word) end to this conference. There's always next season (or conference) and the pessimist says mediocrity is awaiting my team once again. Play on... We'll be fucking racking up the L's next time but so what, we should be fucking playing once again. That is the good news.
*Stats: 1 point (0/5 FGs, 1/2 FTs) maybe 4 assists... 7 turnovers (pessimism settling in, am not sure if it is that exact number... Nonetheless...)
Random Ranch!
Last Saturday, i was invited to visit a ranch in Bulacan a (new) friend owns. i don't know which was more overwhelming; finally meeting Pau (Yeah, same as Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers) or being in that vast land of a place (And to think it was, undeveloped) In between the horse back-riding (first time) Jollibee (Yum with cheeze lang kasi libre...), yosi (Yey, pareho Marlboro Gold) and pangit-dog-walking (Pangit, that's her dog's name), it was such a nice afternoon.
New friends, new places. Your weekend can't go wrong with that. Would love to post the pictures of the trip but that's quite dependent on Pau herself for i forgot to bring a camera (Low quality phone shots posted on the left) but she brought one...
Anyway, i had a few realizations here and there but it seems i forgot about all of them all of a sudden. Intentionally forgetting them maybe... Life is unfair, life is unfair, life is unfair... i will stop now.
(And oh, Thanks, padod Pau!)
Shhh. i shouldn't have done this. Paranoia is going to whip my ass for posting about this one. 'cause you see every single time that i post before a big game, my team loses... Do or die. Deciding game. All for a slot in the Solar Antipolo Basketball League Finals. White Castle vs. Blue Ice. We are short-handed and lost our twice-to-beat advantage against the strong and tough defending champions...
We might as well suck tonight too. Oh well.
So God, man up: Give us a Celtics-Lakers Finals. That's right, I'm calling You out. Show us what You got. Rttghfnf ljmbkkk nmhgjk wqptrs ghdscv."
- Bill Simmons
Too damn funny. Especially the last part (quoted above, complete article at http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3357518
). i cheer for the Phoenix Suns and hope his prayer won't come true. However, am a big fan of B.S. religiously following his column. Comedy, sports and life in general. How can you go wrong with that writing?
(And oh, it's one of those moments as well when you read someone's craft and think could-have-been-my-line-times.) Short of the blasphemy (though, not really, God would agree), the Barranca Boys and some would agree that we have been blasphemous (though not really, Jesus would agree) by some stretch of the imagination during most drinking sprees.
A true story:
Barranca Boy 1: Manoy mo Jess, solido na ko, sundua na ko. (Translation: Jesus, you can fetch me now, it's been one solid run with life)
Barranca Boy 2: Tama Lord, pero pakiwalat na lang si mga Magic cards nya lalo na si red artificer pagkinua mo na siya. (Yesz Lord, but don't forget that he leaves the Magic with me, red artificer deck specifically , if and when you decide to get him for good)
Too bad this B.S. guy put it into writing and we (well, i) did not. So much for that, Bill Simmons is the man.
Lots of losing the past two to three days. After a great end with the fantasy leagues this was what transpired;
First, White Castle lost via a convincing margin (Forgot the exact score) to the Blue Ice squad in the semifinals of the 3rd Solar Antipolo Basketball League. That was the bad news. The other news is that we hold a twice-to-beat advantage for ending up with the #2 spot. The good news is that we have a chance to bounce back on Thursday for the deciding game two of the short series. i guess we will see what our team is made of.
Second, the Phoenix Suns lost back to back to the San Antonio Spurs first on Sunday then earlier today... The last one a 102-96 home drubbing by the tough and composed defending champions. Credit goes to Greg Popovich and the entire Spurs squad for completely outwitting the the inept Mike D' Antoni , who couldn't make the late in-game adjustments when it mattered the most. The 0-2 hole was the bad news. The other news is the series is not yet over for this one is a seven-game battle and will most likely be stretched to that limit. The good news is that the Suns are going back home to Phoenix. Stevee and the rest of the Suns could sure use some home cooking and tie this baby up.
Third and last but definitely not the least, Budoy (Reynaldo Canlas Jr.) lost his father yesterday after a fire in their house late Monday night. Apparently, the blaze was started by an open (extension) wire that got caught in a bed (Still to be confirmed)... For whatever the cause was the effect is obviously life-altering for my friend Budoy, who i know since being a classmate in Grade 1 at Naga Parochial School. i haven't talked to him since the incident, just a text of "condolence" and that's it. Now, do not get me wrong. To be blunt about it, i get weak on the knees, the heart and every body part when i hear unfortunate incidents such as this. To be honest about it, i am a weakling when life plays this kind of games to friends. The ever-depressed weakling in me emerges and clouds over the situation that i do not know what to do or say to the friends involved in such emotional situations... i am easily dragged by depression of others especially close ones...
That was the bad news. The other news is that everybody else is safe. The good news is that the rest of the Canlas family has their entire life ahead of them. i do not know Mr. Canlas Sr. personally outside maybe of a tagay or two at their place (i just remembered, i half-emptied that Eminencia bottle, which most probably belonged to him, four years ago. So thank you, Sir.) but what i know is that he wants this family to be strong and live their lives as if he is alive.
Do not get me wrong, making parallels of losing in basketball games and life is probably a shallow venture... But it's all about bouncing back.
The White Castle team could lose on Thursday but the team and myself will live through it. The Phoenix Suns could be swept by Sunday but Stevee and the rest will still play basketball.
Budoy lost his main man, but he will live through it and still play the game of life. If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. Kung ano gibohon mo, ika yan. Budoy is a smartass (you should know him to understand) in every sense of the word, but another (non)obvious thing about him is he is strong.
Kaya mo yan, padi.
Seriously now. Outside of the gloating part (hey, i've been using that word TOO MUCH these days am getting tired of it.) i just want to archive and record as much info as possible and maybe i can duplicate this feat next year. i know, i know pretty much all of life (including competitions) is random but hey, one of these days random will bow down to sequence as chaos will give in to organization. Drunkenmastershowman is Sir NoelZ and crafty is Raul M from BTV--- two worthy opponents that just did not know how to abuse the add/drop strategy. Noel Z did but when i abuse something i make sure it IS abused. Raul probably was just to busy to stoop down to my level.
All good, it was a gooood fantasy year--- i ain't even sure if i can achieve the same feat again next season. But hey, it's not about the championship, or the money (well...) it's about fighting for something and doing your fighting from deep within. It's called heart. It's called passion.
It was one of the touching stories in the 2007, an emotional and motivated Derek Fisher returning to the court in the second half of the action in the conference semifinals after spending some time in New York with his daughter*... He hit a game-changing three pointer to help the Utah Jazz win their series against the upstart Golden State Warriors... Fast forward to the off-season, after working a buyout (to be near his daughter) with the Jazz, he re-signs with his former team in Hollywood and now he plays against one of the rising point guards in the league whom he once mentored.
Pau Gasol is from Spain, Mehmet Okur from Turkey and Andrei Kirilenko, Russia. Russia and Spain met at the last FIBA Europe with the former edging out the latter with both players considered as the squad's stars for their respective countries. AK47 did guard Gasol in stretches of that match-up, we'll have to wait and see if Sloan uses this strategy to slowdown Princess Pau.
Not really a subplot but it's worth mentioning since we are talking about two of the best court generals in the association. One is more of a scorer, the other the ultimate distributor. You know i am cheering for the latter.
We all know what Tim Duncan can do, what we don't know is what the young guys (David West and Tyson Chandler) can offer... West (30 points, 9 rebounds) had a big first game to tow the Hornets squad to the Game One W even as Chandler had a big double double of 10 and 15. And TD? 5 points in 37 minutes on 1 of 9 field goal shooting!
This one is really overlooked. James Posey is one of the more underrated defenders in the game. He gives you toughness and he can give you a little bit of offense too. Talk of double teaming Lebron James is valid, but i will not be surprised if James can contain Lebron a little bit even in a single coverage.
